Night had fully settled over the capital, yet in the interrogation wing it felt heavier than anywhere else.A wide stone chamber, a long wooden table, oil lamps whose flames swayed with every whisper of air…And at the center sat Marvin, turning through folders with a steady hand and eyes that did not know fatigue.
This was no ordinary day.For today… marked the beginning of exposing the spine of the network Darius had built for years.
The guards opened the door, and Duke Montefra entered with slow, deliberate steps, as if walking into a business meeting—not an interrogation hall.He sat down, crossed one leg over the other, chin raised with artificial confidence.
Marvin did not lift his head at first.He let the silence lay its weight across the room before speaking in an icy tone:
Marvin:"Let's be clear, Duke…No one is accusing you of direct theft. You're far too clever for that.But the timing of your decisions… is suspicious."
Montefra smirked."Timing? Is timing a crime now?"
Marvin pulled out a sealed document and slid it across the table.
"When you announced the increase of coal taxes in your domain…five days later Darius introduced his project to 'compensate for coal shortages.'"
Montefra gave a light chuckle:"Economic coincidence. Markets move."
Marvin raised another document."And what about granting Northern Mining Rights to Iron Dawn Company?A company founded one week before you signed the authorization."
Montefra leaned forward, like a wolf who knew every path of evasion."A new company looking for opportunity. That's good for the economy."
Marvin placed down a third, heavier document."The company is registered under an advisor working for Darius.The same man… who visited you the day before the contract."
Montefra exhaled with impatience."Businessmen meet. Where is the wrong in that?"
Marvin interlaced his fingers."The wrong is this: that same man attended your private meeting before the third crisis.And after that meeting… the entire mining situation of the kingdom changed."
Montefra froze.Not a single opening left to slip through.
Marvin leaned in slightly:"You weren't serving under Darius…You were coordinating with him.And that… is where the problem lies."
This time, the duke said nothing—no smirk, no retort.
Fitzberg entered with sharp eyes, but his fingers twitched with subtle anxiety.He sat down without waiting for Marvin to begin.
But Marvin had already opened the first notebook.
Marvin:"Before every crisis…caravans of your goods move toward the capital days beforehand.Your patterns are impossible to miss, Duke Fitzberg."
Fitzberg tried to appear calm:"A commercial precaution. Every family does that."
Marvin:"Curious.Only two groups in the kingdom do it:your family… and Darius's men."
Fitzberg's breathing stuttered for a moment.
Marvin opened the second notebook:"Six of your aides entered through the Eastern Gate—a gate exclusively used by Darius's men—before every one of his secret meetings."
Fitzberg:"I sent them to purchase supplies."
Marvin smiled slightly for the first time:"A gate that merchants don't use?"
Silence dropped like a stone.
Marvin opened the next page:"You attended three late-night meetings that were never recorded in the Noble Council.Why were they unrecorded?"
Fitzberg answered cautiously:"They weren't official… just discussions."
Marvin tilted his head:"Good.Then why were they held in a residence belonging to House Darius?"
The corner of Fitzberg's mouth twitched downward."It was a… private place."
Marvin replied calmly:"Privacy… or collusion?They look similar from afar…but the footprints you left distinguish the two."
Fitzberg left with the guards—head lowered for the first time.
The guards opened the door more forcefully this time.Ransville entered with an arrogant smile, wearing confidence like armor.
But Marvin's first sentence extinguished it:
Marvin:"You are not a foolish man…It seems I shouldn't suspect you…"
Ransville smirked with pride:"Finally… someone speaking reasonably."
Marvin finished the sentence:"…but rather confirm you."
Ransville's smile collapsed instantly.
Marvin placed two papers before him:"The funding chest you contributed to… was never registered in the Royal Council.Why not?"
Ransville:"It was preliminary funding."
Marvin:"All contributors… are from Darius's circle.Not a single neutral noble."
Then he produced another document:"This is a letter from a scribe in the North…stating you requested a message to be written without seals.Why?"
A brief freeze crossed Ransville's expression."It was… personal."
Marvin leaned forward until the paper was the only space between them:"Strange…because the letter refers to a meeting between three nobles—the same meeting that preceded the debt crisis."
Ransville looked down.His battle was over.
Marvin whispered:"You're not a follower…You're a coordinator inside Darius's network.And that… is more dangerous than loyalty itself."
Ransville left with the guards, while Marvin remained alone.He lifted his gaze toward the ceiling and murmured tiredly:
"We're only in the second round…"
He was the last to enter… and the sharpest of them all.
He walked in with confident strides, his cold stare attempting to dissect Marvin before the questioning even began.
But Marvin began exactly where he needed to:
Marvin (very calmly):"What makes you most suspicious,Lord Kassner… is that you leave no trace."
Kassner gave a deadly calm smile:"That's simply because… I'm not involved."
Marvin opened a thin page:"First witness: saw you at the port the day before the fourth crisis."
Kassner:"I was receiving goods."
Second page:"Second witness: saw you in the Noble Council—at the same time."
Kassner raised a brow:"They're both mistaken."
Marvin displayed the third document:"Third witness: a servant from House Valdo—claims you were there."
Kassner clenched his teeth:"That… is a lie."
Marvin stepped closer, lowering his voice:"The amusing part is this—none of these witnesses know each other.And none of them have a reason to lie…unless you are the one lying."
Kassner fell silent.A silence heavy… dangerous.
Marvin:"Your absence… and the contradictory sightings… are the evidence itself."
Kassner forced composure:"My absence doesn't mean conspiracy."
Marvin smiled:"But being in three places…at the same time…is impossible."
Kassner's expression froze—anger finally showing in his eyes.
Marvin ended the session with a merciless tone:
"No one disappears this perfectly…unless he has a very strong reason to vanish."
End of Chapter.