Alia pleaded, desperate.
"Why are you taking him!?"
The situation was all so sudden that Alia didn't have ti to think.
"What's the aning of this!?"
She had fought for him, using her Imperial Army perks to her favor.
But it was all futile.
Because they were out of the Imperial Army's reach.
An organization that operated outside of everyone's jurisdiction.
Seeing Brandon not even trying to resist, Alia had no choice but to stay down.
'Why, Brandon!?'
'Murder of Evelyn Cessna!?'
There was no way that was true, and in the first place, Brandon wouldn't even be capable of doing that!
'So…. wh—'
Before she could even voice out any of her thoughts, Brandon's hollow voice reached her ears before he was taken away.
"I trust you."
"...."
Alia could only stand perplexed as they vanished with Brandon soon after.
It was hard to process what just happened. Realizing sothing, Alia grabbed sothing from her coat's pocket.
Folded papers.
Brandon had placed it in her pocket a while back while he was dragging her outside the mall.
She was just about to unfold it, when soone called for her.
"Alia!"
Alia turned around.
"Miss Lianna…."
"I saw everything, why did they take Brandon away?"
"....I'm not sure."
Alia had no energy to even converse. She was really drained ntally.
"I should probably head ho for now…."
"Uh, okay…."
That being said, Alia headed ho. The mont she entered the living room, she slumped down on the couch, her mind in disarray.
Fireworks reverberated outside, everyone being excited for New Year.
But Alia couldn't feel the New Year spirit anymore.
"Oh, Alia? You're back. Where's Brandon?"
Erging from the kitchen, Belle looked around.
Alia's mouth opened, but no words ca out. She couldn't articulate her words properly, and rembering how Belle lashed out at Raven a few weeks back, she was afraid it would happen again.
But they had the right to know.
"Belle, listen—"
But before she could finish her sentence.
—Breaking News!
The television sounded out.
—The murder of Evelyn Cessna, a high-ranking mage and prominent figure in the city, has just taken a shocking turn. Authorities have arrested Brandon Locke, an Imperial Army student, as the primary suspect. Sources claim there is substantial evidence linking Locke to the scene of the cri.
Alia's hand flew to her mouth. Belle, who had been setting down a glass of water, paused mid–action, her eyes wide.
"What—what did they just say?"
Belle stamred, her voice barely audible.
Alia didn't respond. She couldn't. Her mind was reeling, her body felt disconnected, as if she was watching everything happen from a distance.
Belle rushed to the TV, turning up the volu.
—According to reports, Locke was apprehended earlier this evening by a specialized unit. No further details have been released regarding the evidence or Locke's motive, but this developnt has sent shockwaves throughout the city.
Alia's vision blurred. She felt her breath grow shallow as she recalled the scene in her mind.
Belle turned toward her, panic rising in her voice.
"Alia, what is going on? This can't be true, right?"
But before Alia responded, finally, she unfolded the paper inside her pocket.
She read the contents, and imdiately her eyes widened.
"Co here, Belle."
She gestured. Belle swallowed dryly and sat next to Alia. With trembling hands, Belle read the contents of the paper.
"...."
"What do you think?"
As if unable to believe it, Belle spoke flatly.
"Is my brother a stalker!?"
***
Thwack!
"Ukh!"
"Who do you work for?"
The mont Brandon was detained, he was bombarded by questions. Since he'd always deny the allegations, they treated him roughly.
His head hung low, blood dripping from his lip. His arms were bound tightly to the chair, his body aching from the repeated blows.
How the tables have turned.
"I told you. I don't work for Milis—"
Thwack!
Another punch landed square on Brandon's gut, knocking the wind out of him.
"Why did you murder Evelyn Cessna?"
"You think I could pull that off? I could barely decide between two won a couple months back."
Thwack!
"Answer the question." Explore stories on мѵʟ
Brandon coughed, spitting blood onto the floor. He lifted his head, smirking through the pain.
Another blow to the gut followed.
Thwack!
"Why did you kill her?"
The interrogator's eye twitched, but he stayed silent, waiting for more answers. When none ca, he gripped Brandon by the collar, lifting him slightly from the chair.
"Talk."
"Tuah!"
"...."
Thwack!
Brandon's body jerked forward, another punch sending a shockwave of pain through his ribs. He groaned but couldn't help the grin that crawled across his face.
It was just too funny.
The situation.
It was funny.
Everything had played out according to the mysterious entity's plans.
He really hadn't expected it.
But now that he knew what he was up against, Brandon had to do things differently this ti around.
Thankfully, he had put importance in making connections the past couple of months.
While he couldn't do anything at the mont, he had his full trust in Alia.
"You think this is funny? You're accused of murdering a high-ranking mage, and you're cracking jokes?"
"Alright, I get it."
"Then talk, and this will all be over with."
"Yeah."
"So?"
"I just talked."
Thwack!
"Your prints and blood were found at the scene of the cri. No matter how much you refuse to budge, we have circumstantial evidence that it was you. We're simply here to figure out your motive. You think we can't execute you on the spot?"
"You probably can."
A slight grin pulled up on Brandon's face.
"But you absolutely believe I'm a spy, no?"
That ant, out of every convict they had, Brandon held the most value.
For the hunting dogs, Brandon was probably the most important figure in the continent.
"You're playing with fire, Mr. Locke."
This ti, it wasn't the interrogator that spoke. A man, who slipped through Brandon's perception, stood by the entrance, crossing his arm.
Brandon undoubtedly knew who he was.
It was a hunting dog close to Raven.
A man who had taken down the most notorious convicts to this day, and was the person responsible for Lumian's revelation.
A duelist closest to Lucian Frost, in terms of swordsmanship technicalities.
Isaac Solace.
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