Light Fortress Chapter 6 - 6 5 Interrogation

6: Chapter 5 Interrogation 6: Chapter 5 Interrogation “Name.”

…Gu Shen.

“Age.”

Seventeen, plus one month and three days until my birthday…

I should remind you all that I’m still a minor, so whatever you are thinking of doing, you’d better think it through…

Some actions carry legal responsibilities!”

“Gender.”

???

Under the intense beam of the spotlight, within the confines of the interrogation room, a table stood flanked by three individuals.

Wei Shu occupied the left seat, Nan Jin the right, and directly opposite them sat Gu Shen. He was secured to his chair with vine restraints, squirming restlessly like a catfish and continually making faces at Nan Jin, who remained utterly indifferent.

“Residence.”

…Dongzhou Qinghe District Dateng City North Ring Residence No.

13 Building 703…

Are we going through personal identification here, big brother?”

After a standard round of personal information verification, Wei Shu gave a subtle nod towards the camera positioned in the upper right corner, indicating his signal.

The fundamental details matched; this young man had not uttered a single falsehood.

In front of the viewing screen, Mr. Shu, cradling a warm cup of tea, snapped his fingers with a discernible smile.

“Snap—”

Inside the interrogation chamber, the two vine handcuffs on Gu Shen reacted instantly, loosening their grip and dissolving into a cascade of fine ashes.

A sigh of relief escaped Gu Shen as he flexed his wrists, finally experiencing a sense of comfort.

He offered a grin towards the camera, punctuating it with a thankful nod…

He could accurately gauge that the elderly gentleman was not ill-intentioned; the restraints that had held him captive for a significant portion of the day, while tight, had thankfully inflicted no actual injury.

The formal interrogation was now set to commence, yet the lead interrogator, Wei Shu, slumped back in his chair, his mind adrift in contemplation…

During the helicopter journey to the interrogation facility, he had meticulously reviewed the young man’s file no less than ten times. From his birth details to any notable past events, the report painted a picture of an exceptionally ordinary young man.

However, at the critical juncture of the Deep Sea contact, a short video clip captured from a light rail train had been presented to him.

Under the potent influence of A-009’s unleashed power, nearly every light source within the train carriage had been violently extinguished, rendering clear identification of specific details exceedingly difficult. Nevertheless, it was discernible…

that this youth, bearing the name Gu Shen, had maintained an astonishing level of composure while engaging in conversation with A-009.

This was a rare occurrence, yet not entirely remarkable in itself.

A-009 was known to be an out-of-control entity, a certifiable “Madwoman,” whose full capabilities and nature remained largely uncatalogued…

but it was evident that remaining placid in her presence offered no protection, as anyone else would invariably find themselves reduced to a…

serene, lifeless corpse.

Astonishingly, within the recording, this very young man had somehow managed to pacify A-009!

Wei Shu slowly shifted forward in his seat, his once-handsome features contorting into a pallor that appeared almost unnerving under the stark interrogation room lighting.

Within the controlled environment of an interrogation, such a display was a tactical maneuver designed to exert psychological pressure.

The shackles had been placed upon this young man precisely because his potential “dangerousness” could not yet be definitively assessed; an individual capable of “taming” A-009 undoubtedly warranted the utmost level of caution and vigilance.

Drawing upon extensive past experiences, individuals exhibiting such seemingly unremarkable backgrounds often concealed a multitude of undisclosed secrets, possessed exceptional skills in deception, and exhibited extreme reluctance to communicate. Even within the confines of an interrogation room, they would refuse to cooperate. Wei Shu had anticipated confronting a formidable challenge, mentally preparing himself for an arduous and protracted engagement.

He articulated each word with deliberate clarity, stating, “You possess the inherent right to maintain silence. However, be advised that any statement you utter will be construed as admissible court evidence and meticulously recorded within your official file.”

The young man’s expression shifted to one of apparent bewilderment. A masterful act, Wei Shu surmised, but his keenly observant gaze detected the subtle, involuntary gulp of the teenager.

Hmm, a tell-tale sign of underlying nervousness…

Was his strategy proving effective?

Wei Shu continued, posing a direct question, “Could you recount the events that transpired on light rail train number 13 last night, precisely at 11 PM?

We are already in possession of the pertinent audio-visual recording; simply convey the events truthfully…”

“Ah, sir.”

Gu Shen interjected, a hand abstractedly scratching at his head: “My apologies…

I am genuinely feeling quite parched; might I trouble you for a glass of water?”

Wei Shu’s brow furrowed slightly.

“Ah, sir is keen to understand what transpired on the train, is that correct?” Gu Shen, having gratefully received and consumed the water, cleared his throat and began articulating his account with animated gestures, vividly recounting the terrifying ordeal on the train: “Allow me to elaborate…

That train journey was nothing short of horrifying.

I’m merely a young individual, and shortly after boarding, my eyes landed upon a colossal, oh, perhaps I should say a formidable lady…”

Wei Shu watched, utterly transfixed, as Gu Shen spun an elaborate narrative of his train experience.

This portrayal was a stark departure from his preconceived notions.

He wasn’t encountering a recalcitrant individual, characterized by silence and an unwillingness to communicate, but rather a remarkably gregarious personality who proactively divulged every detail.

Minor discrepancies existed within the light rail footage.

It appeared to have been adversely affected by A-009’s disruptive power, and the Deep Sea organization had only managed to furnish a fragment of the video, captured just moments before exiting the tunnel. Based on the teenager’s incredibly detailed and animated account, Wei Shu meticulously began to reconstruct the entire sequence of events.

Approximately half an hour later, a profound stillness finally descended upon the room.

Gu Shen slumped back into his chair, taking another substantial draught of water, and eagerly inquired, “Ah, sir, how would you assess my narration just now?”

He had deliberately omitted any mention of encountering the enigmatic girl clad in white and the subsequent appearance of the silver ruler.

This act of concealment served a dual purpose: to probe and to safeguard himself. The opposing party appeared oblivious to any irregularities, a fact that led to Gu Shen's disappointment, suggesting the train's surveillance systems might have been compromised.

"You've narrated it well enough; there's no need to continue," Nan Jin responded curtly. Her gaze shifted to the document in Wei Shu's hand, now densely filled with written information. This interrogation had clearly yielded significant results, with all anticipated questions receiving satisfactory answers.

This young man had managed to identify the characteristics of "A-009" during their initial encounter and, against all odds, survived the ordeal... Although the explanation he offered sounded utterly unbelievable, the living, breathing individual was standing right before her.

Despite Gu Shen's seemingly innocuous and innocent demeanor, Nan Jin was acutely aware that the incident on the train could not be attributed to mere chance... It demanded an exceptionally high level of observational acumen.

"Um..." Gu Shen inquired cautiously, "Officer, have you concluded the recording of my statement? May I be permitted to return home now?"

Nan Jin paused, her expression unreadable. Wei Shu remained silent, his fingers tracing patterns on the statement as he contemplated how to respond.

"Creak—" At that precise moment, the door to the interrogation room was slowly nudged open. "Teacher," Nan Jin said respectfully, rising to her feet. Wei Shu quickly approached to hand over the files as an elderly man, supported by a dragon-headed cane, stood at the threshold. He briefly surveyed the documents before smiling and gesturing for Wei Shu to remain. "Young man, come here," he said with a smile, beckoning to Gu Shen. "I shall escort you home."

That statement carried a peculiar undertone... Gu Shen took a step back, offering a sheepish smile. "You must be quite busy, sir? Actually, I've suddenly decided I don't wish to go home just yet... Staying here is rather pleasant, with the heating and the presence of beautiful ladies; all I require is a blanket."

...

...

Fifteen minutes later.

A sleek black business car proceeded along a suburban road, moving at an exceptionally leisurely pace. At this rate... arriving at their destination might conceivably occur at dawn. Gu Shen stifled a yawn as he settled into the passenger seat.

"As one ages, a cautious approach to driving becomes essential, particularly in the dead of night... An accident would be most unfortunate," the elderly driver remarked with a smile, turning his head. "Growing impatient, young man?"

Gu Shen managed a strained smile. "How could I possibly be..."

"Your boldness is not insignificant," Mr. Shu stated calmly. "I reviewed the surveillance footage from the train; your ability to deduce the 'answer' from A-009's newspaper through close observation demonstrates exceptional keenness, coupled with fortunate circumstances. Had there been any physical contact, you would now be nothing more than a pool of corpse fluid."

Hmm... it appears the footage concerning my reception of the 'ruler' is missing. Gu Shen tightened his coat, letting out an awkward chuckle. "Just luck, pure luck." This elderly gentleman, referred to with respect as Mr. Shu, bore a countenance etched with deep lines, yet his eyes remained remarkably clear, devoid of any cloudiness. His presence offered no sense of pressure; instead, it felt akin to basking in a gentle spring breeze.

"A typical individual encountering a 'Transcendent event' would not maintain your level of composure, nor would they appear so serene after surviving such an ordeal," Mr. Shu chuckled. "We are alone now; surely you have some questions you wish to ask?"

"...Indeed, I do," Gu Shen admitted with a quiet sigh. "However, some questions are best left unvoiced. I comprehend that much."

What an astute young man, the old gentleman thought approvingly. Yet, some answers can be obtained without the need for direct inquiry. "A-009 was affiliated with the Ancient Literature Society prior to her descent into uncontrolled chaos, an organization with reach across the Five Continents, dedicated to the research of forbidden sciences. She successfully harnessed the Extraordinary Power of 'corrosive dissolution' and, in her pursuit, propelled herself into a deep abyss," Mr. Shu recited matter-of-factly. "Subsequently... she transformed into her current state. Due to specific research requirements, we opted against immediate termination, choosing instead to continue her detention and transfer."

"You are fortunate to have encountered her and, moreover, to have survived. Now, individuals have begun to take notice of you... The world is on the precipice of significant change. Would you not consider aligning yourself with a greater endeavor... such as mine?"

Having concluded his proposal, Mr. Shu turned his gaze toward the young man with a smile.

"...Ah, I'm sorry, what did you just say? I didn't quite catch that."

Gu Shen's poorly executed pretense of confusion was accompanied by a pointed gesture out the car window. "I've been observing that the entire time." The car was indeed crawling along, and a limping dog trotted alongside it, seemingly engaged in a race at nearly the same speed. A dark line of exasperation appeared on the old man's forehead. He decisively pressed the accelerator. The roaring engine ripped through the silence of the night—

With a violent jolt, Gu Shen found himself pinned to the car seat. The elderly driver, with an impassive expression, had slammed the accelerator, maneuvering the somewhat cumbersome business sedan with surprising agility down the deserted suburban night road.

Ten minutes later.

"We've arrived."

The old man halted the vehicle, and Gu Shen stumbled out, his face ashen, only to double over against a wall, retching uncontrollably...

The old man's vengeful driving was far too intense; the speedometer had spiked to a terrifying 180 km/h!

As Gu Shen recovered from his bout of nausea, the old man surveyed the drab, aging apartment building before them. A flicker of something hardened in his eyes before he remarked with a hint of mockery, "You reside here? So impoverished, are we? Truly not considering aligning yourself with someone more influential?"

"Pfft."

Gu Shen shot a glare at the old man, who was idly fiddling with his fingers. "Poverty shall not sway my convictions, nor shall coercion break my pride. Do not even contemplate attempting to buy me off with wealth... My pride is immense."

"Oh... Is that so?" Mr. Shu let out a booming laugh. "Admirable, truly admirable."

"For the proud young man, here is my contact information." The old man slowly began to roll up the window, sliding a slip of paper through the shrinking gap. "Give me a call anytime your mind changes."

Gu Shen's eyes briefly registered the digits on the paper as he committed them to memory.

In an instant, the paper ignited on its own, dissolving into ash without a lick of flame. The old man, without lingering, swiftly drove away, the accelerator depressed, disappearing into the night, leaving only the drifting embers behind.