Chapter 338 Interrogation in the Attic

"In the end, I still have to use you..."

Putting the "Ring of Madness" on his hand, Angel couldn't help but sigh as he watched himself in the mirror quickly transform into a featureless black-haired, round-faced woman.

Mr. A's gathering was banned by the official Beyonders, and no one at the Tarot Club was interested in this magical item, so she couldn't exchange the ring for gold pounds for the time being. And tonight, she had to capture Barron in the East District. Compared to the "Faceless Man" feature that simply changed her face, the "Frenzy Ring" that could make strangers ignore her appearance was obviously more suitable.

It was almost ten o'clock in the evening as agreed. Angel packed his battle equipment and came to the "Oak Bar" in the East District. He met Hugh Dilcha and Sherman, who were also fully armed and wearing hooded cloaks. The latter was participating in such a collective action for the first time, and his face was a mixture of nervousness and excitement. The short bounty hunter, on the other hand, looked calm, as if tonight was an easy and enjoyable mission.

The three hooded weirdos sat in the corner of the bar, attracting a lot of attention. Fortunately, Xio's figure was very recognizable, and she had made a name for herself in the bars in the East District, so no drunkards came up to pick a fight with her.

"Let's go. It's almost time. The residents nearby have all gone to bed, and the patrol officers in the East District won't be interested in coming out until the middle of the night. We have plenty of time."

After they discussed the details of the operation, Xio glanced at the wall clock and whispered.

The three of them left the tavern through the side door and walked for about twenty minutes along the street where many homeless people were wandering around and rummaging through garbage. Led by a bounty hunter who was familiar with the terrain, they arrived at a three-story building that did not look like it was from the Eastern District.

Compared to the dilapidated apartments on both sides, the paint on the exterior walls of this small building is still intact, and the windows are not leaking. At this time, a faint light is shining through a window on the second floor, which is extremely dazzling to the surrounding residents who are reluctant to turn on the gas lamps.

"He's not asleep yet. Should we wait a little longer, or should we just go in and finish him off?"

Quinn asked his temporary employer, Angel.

The latter pondered for a moment, untied the silver chain around his wrist, and performed a simple divination with the topaz pendant. After determining that this action was not dangerous, he said:

"Since he's at home, just do it."

She reached out her hand and tapped her chest, then used her invisibility ability in front of the two of them. Her figure disappeared as if erased by an eraser, and then a low voice came from the air:

"Miss Xiu, you go knock on the door and lure him out. Barron will be wary, but he won't just run away. I'll enter from the side, and we'll work together to ensure no mistakes. After we succeed, take him to the attic for interrogation. Sherman, you keep watch at the alley opposite the door. If anyone else comes, make a noise to alert us."

Although judging by the bounty on Barron's head, the opponent was at most a low-sequence Beyonder, Angel decided to act together to avoid any accidents just in case.

Hugh stared blankly at the direction where Angel disappeared. After a few seconds, he nodded, tightened his hood, and walked directly to the door of Barron's residence. Sherman also went into the alley, his eyes fixed on Hugh who was about to knock on the door.

Watching the two's actions, Angel nodded with satisfaction, walked around to the side of the building, and when Xio knocked on the door, he created a thin layer of ice to pry open the bolt on the inside of the window, opened the window and climbed in.

Behind the window was the living room on the first floor, which was simply furnished. Angel stood by the door leading to the corridor and waited quietly.

"Who is it?"

A mutter came from a voice with a distinct Backlund accent, but it wasn't directed at Angel, but at Hugh, who was knocking on the door.

The latter did not answer, but just knocked on the door more frequently.

There were light footsteps in the corridor, and Barron was obviously alert. Soon Angel saw a middle-aged man walking towards the stairs, holding a revolver in one hand and a short wooden stick in the other, slowly walking towards the door.

In her dark vision, the man had a brownish-red complexion and unremarkable facial features, which matched the characteristics described by the Hanged Man.

After confirming the target, Angel gently waved his arms in stealth mode, quickly releasing invisible spider silk, directing them to be laid out in the corridor near the door. After Barron, who was staring at the door and ignoring the movement under his feet, stepped in, he suddenly tightened the silk.

The tall man's limbs were suddenly locked together, leaving marks on his clothes and skin. He lost his balance and fell straight onto the carpet at the door.

Hearing the movement behind the door, Hugh Dilcha outside suddenly hit the door lock and directly broke open the flimsy wooden door. He quickly judged the situation with the help of the moonlight at the door and kicked Barron in the back of the neck, causing him to faint as he was about to shout.

"Ms. Watson?" Seeing that she and Barron were the only ones in the corridor, she asked tentatively, "Is it as planned?"

"Yes."

A reply came from the side, and Xio felt relieved. She carried Barron, who was two heads taller than her and weighed almost twice as much as her, and walked towards the attic. The power advantage of the Beyonder was clearly revealed.

————

"Bang--"

After tying Barron to a wooden chair in the attic, Hugh kicked him on the shin bone without hesitation. There was less muscle there, and even a strong man would feel great pain if kicked. Sure enough, Barron woke up immediately after a muffled groan, and looked around with a hint of panic in his eyes. Then he immediately suppressed his emotions and looked coldly at the bounty hunter in front of him who was only slightly taller than him.

"Who are you……"

Before he could finish his words, he received the same kick on his other foot.

"This is your attic. Even if the sound gets out, I can kill you first and then escape. Don't think about shouting or stalling for time, Barron."

Hearing the other party call out his name accurately, Barron's face darkened and he stopped talking.

"Very good. Now I ask you a question. Why did you come to Backlund? Do you have any accomplices?"

A powerful oppressive force emanated from Xio, causing Barron, whose legs were in great pain, to have a changing expression on his face, his mouth opening and closing again and again. But after a moment, he actually persisted, gritting his teeth and not speaking.

Among the teeth exposed at the corner of his mouth, a gold tooth reflected a ray of light in the dim light of the attic.

"It seems that I need some special means to make you open your heart..."

Seeing that his extraordinary ability was not effective, Xio did not get discouraged. Instead, he pulled out a dagger from under his cloak, hesitated for two seconds, and pointed it at Barron's left hand.

At this moment, Barron, who had just gritted his teeth and tried to hold back his threat, suddenly revealed an expression of extreme panic. His eyes widened, as if he had witnessed something terrifying that only he could see. Even a meter away, one could hear the sound of his heart beating rapidly, like a dull drumbeat.

Hugh was frightened by the other party's exaggerated performance. He took two steps back and looked behind him. He didn't find anything else that could cause panic. Then he turned his gaze to Barron. After that moment of panic, the latter had collapsed on the wooden chair, gasping for breath, his face covered in cold sweat, as if he had exhausted all his strength in those few seconds of fear.

"Keep asking."

A clear female voice came from the side.

Only then did she remember that there was a third person in the attic. It seemed that Barron's abnormality was caused by the power of this powerful and mysterious woman.

"Baron, tell me, what is your purpose in coming to Backlund, and who are your accomplices?"

Putting away the dagger, Xio approached the exhausted Barron and continued to ask.

"I... I'm here to take over Capin's job. That idiot was murdered in his own villa. I'm responsible for taking over his mess and continuing to send the kidnapped poor people out of Backlund and across the country."

This time the other party was extremely cooperative, and the expression of refusing to explain just now had disappeared without a trace.

"There were three other guys transporting them together. They didn't communicate with each other and were only responsible for their own lines. The person who contacted us was wearing a golden mask. I don't know who he is, and I don't dare to ask."

Golden Mask...

Xio immediately thought of the person who sold her the formula for the "Sheriff" at Mr. A's rally. Based on her and Fors's speculation, the other person was likely a member of the military and was developing her into a peripheral member.

But how could the military be involved in human trafficking? Was there a traitor among them, or was there another group using the same cover-up method, coincidentally also using golden masks?

And Barron mentioned Kapin. Sure enough, this guy behaved just as the rumors said, a despicable human trafficker...

Although his mind was full of thoughts, Xio continued to ask questions based on the arrangements before the operation:

“Where will those people be sold to, and to whom?”

"I don't know," Barron shook his head slowly, then trembled under the threat of Xio's outburst. "Really, we're only responsible for transporting people out of Backlund, and there are other people taking over. But I can see that most of them are seafarers, most likely sailors. From this, I guess these captured poor people will be transported overseas, such as the Rorsted Archipelago, or even the Southern Continent. However, there are a small number of special ones who were taken to a place not far from Backlund..."

After being intimidated by an unknown force, this guy became so easygoing? He even added his own speculation after answering the question...

Xio was a little confused. For the first time, she felt that her power as a "sheriff" was not so useful.

But she still asked:

"Where near Backlund? Were they killed there?"

Barron gnashed his teeth again, his face showing pain, as if the question was difficult to answer. He squeezed out a few unformed words from his lips:

"Backlund... is right here..."

"Right here, and you will be the one killed!"

An annoyed voice came from behind Xio, and at the same time, the door was kicked open with a bang.

She suddenly turned around and saw a middle-aged man in a black windbreaker, with long, thin cheeks and a stern face, walking into the attic. He closed the door with his right hand, pushed forward with his left hand, and spoke in ancient Hermetic language:

"Confinement!"

A dark golden light burst out, and the attic was instantly wrapped in an invisible wall. Not a sound or a spirituality could be heard.