The investigation was in full swing and all people involved got questioned one-by-one. They were even observed for a period of time to make sure that they were really not the World Breaker. While the investigation was going on, the establishment of the Justice of Light in Lunaira also started.
Cygnus returned to his daily routine and the duke did not leave until the investigation was over. He waited for Cygnus's turn and when it came, they both faced the holy knight. It was a clear and sunny day when the manor received a letter stating that the investigation team was on their way, the duke was not pleased.
Instead of the duke, it was the butler who received their guests and they waited for a few minutes before they were permitted to enter the duke's study. As they entered, they could hear that the duke was still talking with someone regarding the matters of the duchy. The butler of the manor led them to the receiving area of the study.
After the duke was done and the butler sent the other man out, he finally faced the visitors who came for his son. He closed all the documents that were on his table and stacked them one-by-one before he stood up and went to sit with them. He silently looked at them after he sat and waited for them to say whatever they wanted to say.
"We were hoping that your son, Rigel, was also here." One of them started and he even smirked after he said that statement.
"My son doesn't need to be here. You can talk to me about your procedures and you will meet him later." Ulysses stared at the man who spoke and he did not remove his gaze even after he was done speaking.
"Insolence! You made us wait before finally facing us and that is how you talk to us!" The same man became furious because of the look that Ulysses was giving him. "This matter concerns the safety of our kingdom and our citizens and yet you are unwilling to cooperate?"
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt"Sir Romos, please tone it down. The duke hasn't told us anything about not cooperating. Besides, we will be meeting with the child later." One of the members of the team spoke and looked at Sir Romos who was fuming.
The man settled down as he swallowed his anger and waited for them to proceed. He gave the duke one last look before averting his gaze. The duke also retracted his gaze and focused on the explanation of the procedures that they would be doing.
"We will interview Rigel and we will also require you to submit some necessary documents and answer some questions. After those are settled, we will be observing Rigel closely in his day-to-day activities. One of us will be accompanying your son throughout the day." The person who calmed down Romos explained the procedure. "It would take us three days of personal observation before we can confirm your son's identity."
Ulysses sighed. All those procedures were making him uncomfortable and even more so because of Romos who was obviously there to humiliate him. But because it was an official investigation, he needed to cooperate so that they wouldn't be able to say anything against him or his family.
"We would also like to ask your wife and General Linius some questions if it is possible," the person added.
The duke clenched his jaws and took some deep breaths before he gave them an answer. "I'm afraid that you won't be able to talk with them. My wife's health is not in its best condition that's why I did not tell her about this investigation. I don't want to upset her and risk her life. On the other hand, I don't have contact with my son right now. He was sent to the borders and I don't even know if he reached that place alive."
This straightforward answer stopped the person who was acting as a secretary. She looked up and saw that the duke was serious. There was no hint of joke from his voice and all she could feel was anger.
"Then we will only ask you," the holy knight decided. The others with him nodded their heads and agreed.
Since he was the only one whom they would be asking they needed to adjust the questions they would be asking. Ulysses waited patiently while leaning back on his chair. He closed his eyes as he waited for them as patiently as he could.
The person who had been speaking cleared his throat to get the duke's attention. When he saw that the duke opened his eyes and finally looked at them, he started to ask questions. "We wanted to know if you noticed changes in your son's behavior these past years or months?"
Ulysses was silent for a few seconds before he finally answered. "Nothing, he has been the same ever since. The only thing that changed was that he gets to go out more often and explore the world outside of that dreary mansion."
Before they came to the manor, they already had a background on how the Ginehart family was in the past. The issue of them locking away their youngest son to some mansion was also dug up. The reason behind this action was not mentioned though so their knowledge was only shallow so they did not ask further.
"How about that butler who is always with him?" He asked again after he made sure that the secretary had recorded the statement.
"He has been with my son ever since he was a child. We employed him to take care of him and now he remained loyal to his young master. And, if you are going to ask me regarding the people around him, they are his friends." Ulysses answered with flinching.
They took note of the answer and asked a couple more questions before they finally finished. The secretary started to organize her records while the holy knight was thanking the duke for cooperation. The duke only dealt with them professionally, so that not a smile appeared from him.
Just as they got out of the study, they saw Rigel. The holy knight immediately called for the young man's attention. Cygnus heard his name and when he looked at direction where the voice came from, he saw the holy knight together with those who were assigned to the investigation team.
Instead of going down. Cygnus walked up to them with a smile. "Sir Onyx, are you here to meet with my father?" He asked even though he already knew why they were there.
"We were just done talking with him," he answered. "And we were about to go and talk to you too," he added.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmUlysses came out from his study only to see that the holy knight was already talking with his son. He frowned but couldn't do anything about it. He walked up to them instead and interrupted their conversation with a cough.
"Since Rigel is already here, why don't we return to my study and do your interview in there." He stood in between them and gave the holy knight a glare.
He couldn't see what the holy knight's expression was but he didn't care if he was disrespecting the man. They were inside his territory and inside that place he could do whatever he wanted. He patted his son's shoulder and turned around.
Cygnus followed behind his father without looking back at the holy knight. Onyx figured out that it would be better for them to cooperate with the duke. He looked at the members of the investigation team before he followed back inside the study.
They were once again seated and facing each other after their talk with the duke. The atmosphere became awkward as nobody wanted to talk first. If Cygnus was not maintaining his façade right now, he would be laughing already.
"What are we going to talk about?" Cygnus decided to break the silence and remove the awkwardness that was building up inside the room.
"They are here to monitor you because you are suspected of being the World Breaker." Ulysses took the chance to answer on behalf of them.
They were surprised at how straightforward the duke's answer was. They couldn't help but give the duke a look after his words were uttered. He really didn't hold back and with that their gazes went to Cygnus who was looking at them with wide eyes and his mouth opened in 'o' shape.
"But why would you suspect me of being the World Breaker? Did I do something wrong?" He asked them before he looked at his father with a frown. "I don't understand."
"The holy knight had described the World Breaker and for some reason you fit all of these descriptions that is why they are here to verify things." Ulysses reached out and patted the young man's shoulder before squeezing them gently to reassure him.
"What kind of descriptions are those?" He showed anger as he glared at the people who were there to interrogate him. "I couldn't believe that you would do this Sir Onyx even after I've helped you." He then glared at the holy knight.
"I apologize but this matter is entirely different from what we talked about back at El Merey." Onyx refuted so as to not give the impression that he was favoring someone.