The Interrogation and the Angel

Deep within the most remote confines of the Knight Order prison, in a place no detector could ever locate, Ren Daozhen was held.

“Something’s wrong… This shouldn’t be happening… The plot isn’t unfolding correctly…”

Ren Daozhen was confined within the prison cell, his hands and feet shackled to a chair.

On the wall before him, an array of torture instruments hung, their purpose unknown, yet the mere thought of them sent shivers down his spine.
These had not been here during his last visit.

Why was this happening?
He had merely wanted to retrieve his phone, only to be accused of infiltrating the Magic Device Institute to commit theft.
He didn’t even know where the Magic Device Institute was located; how could he possibly steal from it?

Beside a burning bonfire, a towering, bare-chested man with several scars across his head loomed over Ren Daozhen, exuding an overwhelming sense of oppression.

“What is your name? Where are you from? And what is your purpose in coming to the Theia Theocracy? I hope you will be truthful and cooperate with our interrogation and investigation.”

“Ren Daozhen. I am from… the Heavenly Dynasty. I arrived here by accident, not by my own will.”

“The Heavenly Dynasty? Is that the Eastern Xuan Realm? An accident? Can you elaborate?”

“It’s just… I closed my eyes, opened them… and I was here…”

Ren Daozhen inwardly groaned.
The man’s oppressive presence was so intense that he nearly blurted out his secret of being a transmigrator.

“Oh…”

The burly man let out an exclamation, drawing out the sound significantly.

“According to some passersby, your maid was seen at the Magic Device Institute, ordering weapons. Was this at your instruction?”

“No, Ciel is not my maid. On the contrary, she is my employer. I am her fashion designer. As for ordering weapons from the Magic Device Institute, I know absolutely nothing about it!”

“Fashion designer?”

“Yes, don’t let my current state fool you. I have a talent for design! Why don’t you release my hands, and I’ll draw something for you right now?”

“No need. Let me ask you again: why did you purchase that auction item? Even going so far as to spend a fortune?”

“Because that item was originally mine! I accidentally lost it when I arrived here. Then that accursed merchant guild found it and put it up for sale. I merely wanted to reclaim what belongs to me!”

“Your item? Do you have any proof?”

“Doesn’t the item have a password? If I can unlock it, isn’t that enough to prove my identity?”

“Merely unlocking the password is not sufficient to prove your true identity. We also need to verify its contents.”

“Verify… contents?”

“Precisely. We have already enlisted professionals to decrypt it. You only need to tell us what specific information is stored within, and we will cross-reference it to determine if you are indeed the owner of that item.”

“Wait a moment… wait a moment… You mean to say… you’re going to look through my phone?”

“Of course. How else can we ascertain the information and data inside without reviewing it?”

“No, you can’t! This is an invasion of my privacy! It contains things that are critically important to me. You absolutely cannot look!”

Ren Daozhen shouted with agitation, desperate to break free from his shackles.
His reaction was so intense it even startled the interrogator.

“Hmph, your reaction is rather excessive. Are you perhaps hiding some unspeakable information within?”

“No, please… not that… not that… anything but that… Alright, I admit it! I snuck into the Magic Device Institute and stole something… just please don’t look through my phone records!”

“…You vehemently denied it just now. Why do you admit it now?”

“Because I fear not being crushed to dust, but rather leaving behind a stained reputation in this world!”

Ren Daozhen declared with a solemn expression, as if bravely facing martyrdom.

“You are indeed deliberately concealing something. Since you are unwilling to speak, then there is no other way. We will have to invite our experts to provide some ‘guidance’.”

With that, the interrogator snapped his fingers.

Suddenly, a strange, old-fashioned tune filled the cell, its melody possessing a hypnotic, almost brainwashing quality.

“No… It can’t be…”

A chilling premonition seized Ren Daozhen, goosebumps erupting across his skin as cold sweat trickled down his forehead.

Behind the interrogator, four figures slowly emerged.

Upon closer inspection, they were burly men, their bodies rippling with muscle, clad only in loincloths, and their faces bearing lewd, unsettling smiles!

“Ah—?!”

Ren Daozhen’s face instantly turned ashen, as if he had encountered something even more terrifying than the undead knight.

“These four ‘Beatles Brothers’ of mine are our Knight Order’s interrogation experts. Each of them possesses unique skills, and no one has ever withstood their combined interrogation.”

“No… no… you can’t do this… Private torture is illegal! I’ll talk… I’ll tell you everything…”

Ren Daozhen frantically shook his head, desperate to escape this living hell.

“Don’t be nervous, my friend. It might hurt a little at first, but you’ll soon come to love the feeling!”

“Tsk, tsk, tsk… your skin is so fair. You must take good care of it, usually!”

“It’s a pity you’re so thin… but don’t worry… we’ll be very gentle with you…”

“These shackles must be uncomfortable, right? We’ll help you take them off now.”

The four burly men surrounded Ren Daozhen, their lewd gazes fixed upon him, and the atmosphere in the room grew considerably more tense.

“YAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH—Head Maid! Save me! M-m-m-m-m-m-m-m-me!”

“Ren Daozhen?!”

Ciel instinctively looked towards the outside, vaguely sensing a young man’s mournful cry.

“Don’t worry, he’s fine. It’s just a routine interrogation. At most, he’ll get a few scrapes.”

Across from Ciel, a golden-haired angel with six wings sat with her legs crossed, observing Ciel with keen interest.

“Allow me to introduce myself. My name is…”

“Belinda Hikari Uno, the eldest daughter of the Hikari family. You were born blessed by the gods, underwent a divine baptism during your sixteenth coming-of-age ceremony, and ascended directly from human to six-winged angel. You are a genius who shook the entire Theocracy, with the potential to become the future leader of the angel race. Who in the entire Theocracy doesn’t know your esteemed reputation?”

Ciel calmly recited the true name of the angelic maiden before her.

“And you? What is your name?”

“Ciel Universe, merely a commoner.”

“A commoner? Don’t be ridiculous. An S-rank adventurer, possessing the power of a Star Dragon—you, a commoner? Then what does that make ordinary people, not even commoners?”

Belinda scoffed coldly.

“Universe? You are not from the Cosmos family?”

“No.”

“…”