Chapter 2:
"Confess." The figure in front of Bingling demanded once again. Slamming their palm against the table in front of them. Bingling said nothing, unimpressed by the try hard display of authority by the figure in front of him. He was within one of the isolated facility rooms of the station, the station in question was called the Sanctuary. Bingling and Bai Ling was separated upon the moment the duo was entering the space station that they were currently within. Currently in the process of being interrogated by a Lord Inquisitor of the AmhengOsa. This one clearly different than the other AmhengOsa, the one that had brought him to this station. Being of a clearly higher rank, if the title of his rank was already pointing out the obvious. The Lord Inquisitor uniform was also highly ornate, far more ornate than his lower-class subordinate.
However, even that AmhengOsa's uniform was far more decorative and ornate than even his father's finest dresswear. That was by no means a small compliment.
Bingling stared at the figure in front of him, their mask concealing their face from him. Though he didn't need to see their facial features to see the annoyance on it, their movements and body posture was more than enough of an indicator. Showing their frustrations almost as clear as day. This fact brought an amused simile on Bingling's face, he would admit he would be lying if he didn't. However, he was still well aware of the situation he was in so, held back his joy. Though, it still trickled out, and into a small smirk at the corner of his lips.
This didn't escape the eyes of the interrogator. From through the mask eye lenses he could feel the raw hostilely emitting from the Lord AmhengOsa. If looks could kill he would already be dead. "Do you find this amusing Bingling of House Ling? Do you not comprehend the current situation that you find yourself in at the moment?"
"I know enough, and my answer remains the same you have made a mistake. I, Bingling am but a simple business man, never had I committed such horrendous deeds that you lot, seem to be so adamant on convicting me of."
"Do not try to act so innocent!" The interrogator shouted, his voice booming off the echoing steel walls around them. A man, the person in front of him was a man, at least it sounded like one. Though Bingling knew it could be a trick, through a voice manipulation device. Such a thing was of the common in today's era after all, it wouldn't surprise him if that was the case here.
"You may have covered up your tracks well enough, however all evidences clearly point to your company, no matter how much redirection polys you have employed." The tone of the interrogator's voice rinsed in pitch, not hiding the anger that was building within. At this retort, Bingling seemingly rolled his eyes, before repeating the same mantra that he has said over the last few hours. Or was it minutes? He didn't care enough to even keep track.
"Once again, my company is nothing more than a simple entertainment enterprise. In no way would my company and I, ever purpose such crude methods that your order is accusing me of." Bingling then leaned back onto the back of his seat. All the while giving out an exaggerating sign. This only seemed to infuriate the interrogator even further, as the Inquisitor shifted in posture. Almost as if preparing to grab at him, his mouth opened. "My Lord Inquisitor." Before the interrogator could say another word however, one of the menial servants came through the door calling for him.
The Inquisitor turned on his heel, his exposed lower mouth curled in a snarl. The interruption clearly frustrating him, his teeth bared. He seemed to almost screamed out, but keep his discipline. Releasing a long sigh, regaining his composure looking back toward Bingling before turning to face his subordinate. Then without another word he walked towards the doorway.
Once near the doorway the lower rank AmhengOsa spoke to his superior in a hushed voice. Communicating something over to the Lord Inquisitor. Whatever it was must have been startling, completely unanticipated as the interrogator spun his head around so fast, it looked like he almost snapped his neck. Once again fixing that unfriendly gaze on Bingling from behind the eye lenses of the mask. He didn't need to be a psychic to know that.
The Inquisitor let out of scowl before trodding towards Bingling. Once back at the table he begrudgingly undid the sealing binds on his hands.
"Follow me." The Inquisitor commanded in far unkindlier tone than before if such a notion was possibly. Without even waiting on Bingling, he turned back around to walk towards the doorway out of the room. Bingling did as he was told, nonchalantly rising to his feet before casually following after the AmhengOsa. Walking past the lower-class member of their order, before the AmhengOsa fell in behind Bingling.
"Keep up." Commanded the Inquisitor waiting on him down the hall impatiently. Yet still Bingling casually strode towards AmhengOsa, once within distance the AmhengOsa strode off.
[So, care to elucidate me on the situation Mo Ye?] Bingling addressed in his mind. Mo Ye whom keep radio silent spoke for the first time in hours at least to Bingling.
[You were the one who told me to remain radio silent. Also, it has only been three hours since we've arrived on the (), and I can already tell you can already conclude just what is going on here without my help.]
[A little reassurance can't hurt now, can it?]
[No but there's not point if you already know the answer, no?]
During the short walk to whatever new location Bingling continued to converse with Mo Ye. This helped eased the boredom that has been building within him. Once upon a different set of doors, the Lord Inquisitor tapped at the holoprojection screen that appeared. Once reading his biometrics once he was near the door. Not long after he typed in what was required it opened. Revealing the spartan inheritor room to the outside. Inside the room Bai Ling was already there waiting on him at the corner. "Get in." So, with that Bingling did as he was told. Once inside, the doors closed shut behind him with slam, before the came the sounds of working mechanism locking. Sealing him and Bai Ling within the small confines of the space that remained dimly illuminated.
With this he was reaffirmed of his suspicions, the pieces that were starting to connected within his mind as he was escorted through the long corridor of the station. Only seconds have since the doors have sealed shut a chime rang out from the inner corner of the room. Right near where Bai Ling was standing at, or rather coming from the wall she stood in front of.
"Sir your father is on the line." Bai Ling then said leaning closer to the corner she stood. When she addressed him so formally, he knew this was serious. "Open the channel." Letting out of sigh, Bingling then positioned himself near the center of the wall no the projection screen before adding another command "Activate silence protocols." At the command a dim sheen of energy light came to life. Enveloping the room though not visible to the naked eye, the only hint of such technology being active was the thin sheer glowing line at the sides of the room.
At the same time frame the screen lit up revealing a face. The face of a middle age man, his facial features was sharp and well kept. Stern yet not unkind with a neatly trimmed hair, if Bingling wasn't familiar with the man one would never know through face value alone. As others would have assumed the man to have been in his mid-youth, if they could see the few strands of white-grey hair the only hint of his true age. "Well hello Chairmen Yazhu what pleasure do I have to offer for this esteemed self today." Bingling said not even bothering to hide the sarcasm within his voice. As he semi-glared at the figure projected in front of him.
"Cut the formality son." Chairmen Yazhu or rather Yazhu Ling the head of House Ling. Responded while still keeping a neutral face unmoved by the attempted jab by his own son, not even hinting at the bait before he continued on. "Here we're again I told you many times to cease in this dangerous obsession of yours." This caused Bingling to scoff again and he shifted in his posture. "I remember that when I left the house and started my own life, you and I had an agreement. Which include if not emphasized on those actions that I do, should not, will not affect the house. So how is it that the AmhengOsa seem to know about my connection and my activities?"
"Come now son you're a smart young man, surely you didn't think that the royal agents of the ruling Sovereign are so incompetent. That they couldn't figure out something so simple like that. As for the second part if I hadn't played some part, do you really believe you could have walk away from this station without any ramifications."
The caused Bingling to let out a huff once again with frustration but didn't retort his father's words. As he began to walk around in place. "The deal also include that you wouldn't interfere with my works, you're breaking your part of the deal. Would you believe your son to be so foolish that he would have a plan for such a plan for such a scenario? I knew what my action would entail."
"Sigh~, of course not you're your mother's child as well as my own." His father softly spoke. "However, I warned you since the beginning when you made this choice, that your obsession with resurrecting this.... outdated barbarism will lead you down paths you will never come back from." Yazhu Ling broke his neutral look now giving his son a worried look. One that conveyed true genuine worry and love towards his son. "I will not speak on the latest act that you have committed but there is still another chance to fix all this."
"Well~, then what do you want me to do then!?" Bingling shouted his eyes now glaring at the holoprojection in front of him his teeth bared like a beast. "I can't do holovsion and I can't use material goods for my projects. You're not really giving me much options here father." Bingling complained releasing his build up frustration.
"The problem here isn't the method of yours to achieve them but the product that you're advertising themselves. That is the issue."
"Why~, because you're worried about the fact that my projects would affect your run for the seat during the upcoming Crown Contest." Bingling fold his arms as he unleashed his tirade. "Once again that is not the issue here son, this 'entertainment' of yours promotes violence, we live in such civilized times. Why are you so obsessed with humanities past animalistic behavior? Projection such things through realistic holovison is not enough for you but now you've resorted to using live prisoners for such activities. Do you know just how much of an impact your products are having on society across the system?"
"I hardly see what's the big issue they're nothing more than a bunch of low-life criminals. The ones I've chosen for my project where those deemed too dangerous to be rehabilitate into society anyway, what better use for them other than to at least give society some pleasure before they expire." Bingling contemptuous defending his action over the last few weeks no months. There it was the true of it all of what the AmhengOsa were trying to pry out of him. This was the root cause of it all.
"Even if they are vile criminals and lowlifes of the realm, they are still human, human life is not to be toyed with. So, by the standard practice after they served their sentence they shall be reconditioned and rehabilitated into society." His father paused for one moment looking his son in eyes through the holoprojections before continuing. "We're a civilized society son, why must you be so fixated on the past we have no need for such barbarism."
"Yes-yes, we live in such a perfect world don't we~, no such thing as murder or inequality right? Spare me that bullshit talk father, don't tell me since you've been preaching that speech of yours that you've started to believe it yourself. At this point both parties knew they weren't going to come to an understanding Bingling least of all. As he turned away from the screen breaking eye contact with his father.
"Rules son. Without Them We Live like Animals you need to remember this." Yazhu Ling finally said after several seconds have passed. "We'll continue this at another time after you come home, I have arranged for a transport to come get you after I finish negotiating with the AmhengOsa be patient just a little longer son." Then without waiting for Bingling to even acknowledge his father's words the screen went dark.
Bai Ling at this point sudden moved from the shadow of the corner that she was hiding, and went up to stand beside her master. "Bingling now your sister is on the line for you as well." Mo Ye who was keeping silent throughout the whole exchange, between Bingling and his father suddenly alert him of the news.
"I sure am popular today."