Chapter 333: Investigation.
Just like everyone had expected, the ash corps had immediately begun an investigation on the stolen artifact that same night to prevent people from disposing of evidence.
All suspects were brought in for interrogation, while all those in the area including adventurers were questioned on their whereabouts to make sure none of them worked for Xander.
“Can we get this over with, I have better things to do with my time.” Oliver Nystrom said with a nonchalant tone as he looked at the one-way mirror in the interrogation room.
He had been sitting in the interrogation room for close to 10 minutes without anyone coming to meet him, but he knew they were people on the other side of the mirror watching him the whole time.
That was when the door clicked open and a man in his early forties who had a heart-shaped face with perfectly trimmed sideburns and a pointed nose walked into the room.
On his body was a half-black cloak with red seams at both halves forming the ash corps’ insignia at the center when closed and under the cloak were multiple medals that showed feats were pinned unto a black suit vest.
It was Colonel Darius.
…..
“I didn’t expect the case to be so serious to get the colonel involved.” Oliver was surprised when Darius entered the room. Not as if he was worried, he was just surprised that Darius was involved in the case.
“Not only was an artifact stolen but there was an act of terrorism that occurred in the central region. So naturally, I am meant to get involved.” Colonel Darius said with a gentle smile as he took a seat opposite Oliver.
‘I am the prime suspect, so it makes sense that he is the one to interrogate me.’ Oliver thought.
“So tell me. What do you know about the theft of the Master seal artifact and the explosions that occurred in the Karius estate?” Colonel Darius asked.
For some in the demigod level, Oliver already knew the ash corps method of interrogation. They would listen to your heartbeat while using artifacts to force you to tell the truth.
Keeping his heartbeat steady was child’s play, but the main problem was being forced to say the truth by the artifact. So all he could do now was trust that the league of assassins would keep up with their own side of the bargain and protect him.
“That league of assassin member Xander stole the artifact and that 2 explosions went off at the houses of 2 regular members of the Karius family.” Oliver repeated exactly what the ash corps member that brought him for interrogation said.
“Where were you during the time of the theft and explosions?”
“In my mansion where I was arrested.” Oliver answered.
“Do you have any connection with Xander or any of the attacks that took place today?” Darius asked while checking for any microexpression or any slight change in his heart rate.
“No.” Oliver continued to give simple answers.
After 5 minutes of questioning, Colonel Darius asked the final question as he activated the truth artifact.
“Are all the testimonies you have given true?”
For a moment Oliver felt something pull at his consciousness, but immediately it appeared he returned to normal before answering.
“Yes…” Oliver answered.
With that being done, Colonel Darius left the interrogation room where Zola the head of the Karius family, Calton city branch, and his personal assistant Ashely were waiting for him.
“No change in heart rate, nor was there any form or sign of interference with the artifact, so he has nothing to do with the crime.” Colonel Darius said to Zola who was nowhere happy with the outcome of the interrogation.
He was furious but didn’t dare to show any of that in front of Darius because not only was weaker in terms of cultivation, but the rank of a Colonel was only below that of Prince Bryon who was the commander in chief of the armed forces of the entire eastern part of the empire.
All he could do now was stare at Oliver who was also looking at the one-way mirror with a smirk on his face. This made Zola boil with fury, but after a few minutes of continuously hearing the sound of grinding teeth, Colonel Darius decided to speak up.
“Hopefully we would find evidence in his house.” Darius said causing the grinding to stop.
…
Back at Oliver’s mansion.
Immediately he was brought in for investigation, Oliver Nystrom’s house was immediately searched for anything that could incriminate him.
Apart from going through all inches of the mansion the ash corps cursed artifact, Beholder, to check if he had any kind of shading deal with anyone.
They found nothing and worse, they didn’t find any form of interference with the artifact.
Interferences were used to prevent divination artifacts like the Beholder from seeing a particular event and this could only be done by those on the same level as the artifact.
A demigod could interfere with a demigod-level divination artifact, but that was if someone lower in realm was using the artifact. If the user was on the same level as the user and artifact they could easily see through the interference.
As for a situation when the interferer was in a higher realm than that of the user and artifact, the inference would succeed.
Depending on the level difference, it would come in form of a distorted static vision or a complete alteration of the interferers will which cannot be traced.
This was exactly what the league of assassins had used in both the lie detector artifact and the beholder, making it impossible to trace anything back to Oliver.
After the search was over, the ash corps had to free Oliver, but that didn’t mean they weren’t keeping an eye on him. 𝒷𝒹𝓸𝓿𝓁.𝒸ℴ𝓶
…
The next day.
All the teams had been sent to their different positions on the wall, just in time to watch the volunteers and adventurers undergo their own training.