Constructing-Style Wizard

Two guards held Noland Lee up from his left and right, escorting him into Sergeant Pims tent, and placed him on a chair fitted with shackles.

Noland Lees wrists and ankles were both secured by metal cuffs.

The electric shock collar around his neck was firmly attached to a magnet on the back of the chair, making it impossible for him to turn his neck.

Sergeant Pim waved his guards away and walked over to his desk, sitting down. His eyes, hidden behind the lenses of his glasses, showed no emotion as they stared at Noland Lee as if he were a dead man:

Sin Soldier No. 888, Ive looked at your file. Real name, Noland Lee Jarvis; you used to be a History Assistant Teacher at Bowerthain City College. Ive heard that you history buffs consider yourselves to be intelligent and keenly intuitive.

I suppose youve noticed my disdain for you and that I intentionally target you. But can you guess why? Go on, Sin Soldier 888 tell me your thoughts. Before Noland Lee could open his mouth, Pim raised his hand to stop him and then continued:

Drop the forced panic act, Sin Soldier 888. I specialize in internal investigations and have studied psychology I can tell if someone is genuine or fake from their micro-expressions. Youve done an excellent job at pretending, good enough to fool those without professional training, but not good enough to fool me. I advise you not to lie to me. Otherwise, every word you say might be a reason for me to execute you on the spot.

Noland Lees expression became serious as he realized just how hard it could be to deal with professionals.

He steadied himself, dropping the panic-stricken act and calmly saying:

Alright, Chief Officer Pim, since youve already said all this, lets be frank with each other. You asked me why you regard me as an enemy. At first, I didnt know, but something Corporal Mars said gave me a clue.

What did he say? Pim asked, with an air of arrogance.

Fuel. The fuel for the burning magic protective shield. Noland Lee replied.

Impressive, Sin Soldier 888.

Though Pim saw Noland Lee as an enemy, he couldnt help casting him an appreciative glance:

Im sure Pig Cook must have told you why he despises you, right?

The Death Herald Guild sees itself as the precursor of death and the sole harbinger of death within the Empire. The members of the guild cannot tolerate outsiders learning the undead runes.

I thought your answer would be related to the Death Herald Guild.

Soldier 888, Im somewhat interested in you now, and you might have the chance to work for me.

Noland Lee remained calm under Pims gaze.

He spoke evenly:

Any illegal force has significant financial expenses, and the Death Herald Guild is no exception.

Aside from illegally expanding its reserve members within the Empire and extorting money in the name of death, you all must find a stable, long-term financial backer.

Many businesses within the Empire can afford this. But only one company would be upset by the Imperial Army attempting to modify the undead runes.

That would be the Weston Group, which mainly deals in fuel and chemical manufacturing.

Am I correct, Pim? Its your sugar daddy who asked you to prevent the Imperial Army from modifying the undead runes, isnt it?

If the modification of the undead runes indeed removes the magic protective shield, then the Imperial Army will no longer place such massive fuel orders from the Weston Group. The Weston Group will suffer a significant loss, and consequently, the Death Herald Guilds operating funds will be drastically reduced. Thats the real reason why you all despise me.

Noland Lee shrugged slightly:

I can see it now. I, the most easily strangled Sin Soldier, either die now or join your Death Herald Guild and thoroughly destroy the plan to modify the Undead Runes. Then, like garbage, Ill be discarded by you. Either way, in the end, it seems I cant escape death.

Noland Lee looked at the solemnness on Pims face, knowing he had guessed correctly.

Pim was a member of the Death Herald Guild.

The Weston Group was indeed the financial supporter behind the Death Herald Guild.

The Broken Coffin plan.

Broken Coffin, Broken Coffin.bender

This coffin was not simply a magic protective cover shielding the Spirit Pivot.

Those complex chains hidden beneath the water, based on the magic protective cover, were also dragging the Tatis Empire into a coffin of death.

How pathetic and lamentable.

Noland Lee went on:

Ive thought of more than that, Pim. The tragedies that befell my parents, brother, and sister, as well as my own debts, were all orchestrated by you, right? Your goal was to force me, a young history assistant teacher with no experience or connections but top-notch academic skills among my peers, into the Imperial Army as bait.

Once I started modifying the Undead Runes, it meant that the fish you wanted to catch had taken the bait. That was the first step in your plan. The next step is to bring a pitiful person like me into your fold and turn me into a servant who you can use and send around, capturing everyone involved in the Broken Coffin plan.

Clap clap. Pim applauded, A wonderful speech.

He gave a faint smile, picked up the comb from the table, and spoke as he tended to his hair:

However, there is one point I must correct. After you join our Death Herald Guild, you will not die nor become a servant. You will return to the civilized world, living a legitimate and upright life as a respectable history professor. You may not believe me even if I give you multiple assurances but it doesnt matter. You only need to know that the Death Herald Guild needs the Academys support.

Pim put down the comb, slowly unbuttoned his cuff, and rolled up his sleeve while saying:

Alright. Weve talked enough, Sin Soldier No. 888. Whether or not you

compromise is not important to me. As long as youre still in the Suffering Borderland, you cant escape my scrutiny. Your patience and principles will be crushed by suffering one day. By then, Ill naturally appear before you and guide you towards a brighter future.

Pim rolled up his sleeves to his elbow, revealing his well-defined and proportionate forearms.

He pulled open a drawer and took out a tray filled with bottles and jars, then proceeded to mix some kind of potion in front of Noland Lee.

You should be grateful that youre currently in the combat phase. I have lots of things to do. I need to check on the soldiers conditions, gather ammunition, command soldiers to repair the barriers, and deal with the Undead Revival on the First Underground Level, etcetera. In short, Ill be extremely busy for the next period of time and wont have time to deal with you. Otherwise, Id bring torture devices from my car through the guards and entertain you a little, forcing everything I want to know out of your mouth with a more artistic approach.O

After preparing the potion, Pim held a bottle of yellow elixir and approached Noland Lee:

Youre lucky not to bear physical suffering. But that doesnt mean you can escape my interrogation.

Pims left hand shot out like lightning, grabbing Noland Lees cheek, using his thumb and index finger to open Noland Lees mouth.

He poured the elixir into Noland Lees mouth and confidently laughed:

Let me introduce this beverage to you. Its one of our Death Herald Guilds specialties called the Soul Interrogation Potion, specifically designed to deal with clever people like you. Its far more effective than the truth serums used by the Division Intelligence Unit Two. Itll definitely make you spill all your secrets. Enjoy it, Sin Soldier 888. Oh, right, I forgot to tell you. When the potion takes effect, youll feel as comfortable as if you were asleep, and wont remember anything when you wake up..