Ark Chess Player.

Amiya nodded; her goal was quite clear.

Saving Private Kingslayer!

Chapter 304 Long Time No See, Faust

(The previous chapter has been significantly revised. Dear readers who have been following the story, please refresh the page! Sorry!)

--at the same time.

The Longmen Guard Bureau Building, the interrogation room for criminal suspects in the detention center.

The interrogation department was extremely busy, and the officers present had grim faces; the air was so heavy it seemed like it could be squeezed dry.

Since the incident ten days ago in Chernobog, a border city of the Ursus Empire, where the entire city was overrun by Reunion infected, Lungmen, as the closest mobile city in the region, has been like a high-speed machine, constantly accommodating escapees from Chernobog.

The massive influx of people will place a heavy burden on Lungmen. Moreover, those who come often harbor ill intentions. For example, there are wanderers from the desert, criminals expelled for violating international law, and… infected individuals who are eyeing Lungmen with predatory intent!

Thanks to Governor Wei Yanwu's keen political instincts, the emergency response bill he swiftly issued improved the efficiency of the Longmen border crossing, effectively curbing the overload of population flow. Most importantly, the officers of the Imperial Guard Bureau possessed emergency enforcement powers. In critical moments, there was no need for cumbersome proposals; they could directly arrest criminals attempting to cause trouble—in other words, act first, report later.

Good things are all good things.

After being granted emergency enforcement authority, the Royal Guard officers were able to arrest nearly sixty suspects per hour. That's an average of one arrest per minute—their efficiency rivals Anna's queue for hormone injections; everyone's been enhanced! Hurry!

And so, the good old days of the interrogation department guys eating hotpot and singing karaoke in the Guard Bureau building, clocking in and sleeping every day, and beating people and drinking after get off work, were over. Regardless of age or gender, anyone who entered through the Dragon Gate outer ring checkpoint and failed to pass would be sent for interrogation. If they arrested the wrong person, they'd be released; if not, they'd be directly criminally detained—a one-stop service. Next!

The interrogation department was immediately unhappy. They complained to their superiors, claiming that the officers in charge of checkpoint inspections were taking advantage of the situation! To reduce their workload, they were arresting people indiscriminately for interrogation – was that reasonable? This is outrageous!

However, their complaints were suppressed by the Imperial Guard, especially those who filed the lawsuit, who were transferred to the Lungmen Outer Ring Road checkpoint that same day.

The interrogation officers could only watch helplessly as their once-best superiors cheerfully led more suspects into the detention center. A true double agent, turning on you in an instant; this seasoned veteran was even more cunning than the prostitutes in brothels.

Happiness is often something you can grasp clearly, but dedication is often hidden.

To avoid dying suddenly on duty, the officers in the interrogation department had no choice but to voluntarily work overtime.

For the first three days, the officers in the interrogation department felt like they were living in a nightmare, seeing different faces every day when they opened their eyes.

Their job is to constantly pressure these people, using various psychological techniques to break down their defenses, obtain information that may or may not be useful, make judgments, and then write reports to submit to their superiors. After obtaining approval from their superiors, they are sometimes required to interrogate the same person repeatedly to verify whether the results are true and to repeatedly emphasize their authenticity.

This high-intensity workload tortures not only the prisoners but also the officers themselves, leading to many officers suffering from depression.

Even after doctors at Lungmen Hospital issued medical certificates, the Guard Bureau's higher-ups rejected the interrogation officers' requests for leave. In this critical moment, all Guard Bureau officers entered a state of high alert, remaining on standby and prohibited from leaving Lungmen even after their shifts.

Raising an army for a thousand days can be spent in just one moment.

Now is the time for everyone to contribute. It's one thing for the interrogation department to slack off normally, but now they want to slack off even more! They want an eight-hour workday, they want holidays. And if we give them holidays, do they want summer and winter vacations too? Even in death, this is a winter vacation! Think all of this through.

That's what they said, but in order to alleviate the pressure on the interrogation department, the higher-ups in the Guard Bureau still gave a lenient instruction.

Provided that no one dies, the interrogation department can conduct any interrogation, and any methods used are acceptable, even if they are rough.

The subtext of this statement is that as long as no one is killed, any method of handling the situation is acceptable. Even if the suspect is physically and mentally broken, as long as it can be determined whether the person is an enemy of Longmen, what their purpose is in coming to Longmen, and their identity information... that's enough.

The efficiency of the interrogation department immediately doubled, but this also allowed the darker side of human nature to flourish, gradually deviating from the proper procedures and teetering on the edge of chaos. Some began to enjoy the process of interrogating others, no longer viewing it as work, but rather as a form of leisure and entertainment.

This shift in mindset turned the detention center into a living hell overnight.

Even in the dead of night, one could hear the piercing screams coming from the interrogation room.

Where interrogation used to take at least an hour, now it's down to twenty minutes, or even just five. The officers have developed a tried-and-true method: For ordinary people who don't confess, they slash their arms and throw them into the cells holding infected individuals. If an infected person tries to resist, it's even simpler; Lungmen's criminal law has never been designed to protect the infected.

The forensic officers stand on the front lines against the darkness, yet they are also a group of pitiful creatures constantly battling danger and madness. As they gaze into the abyss, the abyss also gazes into them.

Ironically, when the officers of the Criminal Investigation Department formed a secret alliance of law enforcement officers, agreeing never to leak information about their violent enforcement, the former head of the Criminal Investigation Department, who had been transferred by Superintendent Chen, cleverly filed a report.

As a seasoned veteran, the former team leader was acutely aware of the Guard Bureau's corrupt mechanisms and understood that it only took a gentle nudge to shake morale. When he witnessed the insane speed of the interrogation department, he immediately grasped what it was like now.

Upon learning of the incident, Superintendent Chen immediately reported to Wei Yanwu. However, the Reunion Movement launched a surprise attack that very night. As a result, the matter was delayed again and again. Wei Yanwu did not take the matter to heart, but instead focused on confronting Alexander Sodan, the head of the Eagle Pulse Group.

In addition, the Reunion Movement launched an attack just three days later, giving them no respite whatsoever.

Furthermore, the disturbances caused by the new Longmen group in the slums diverted most people's attention.

If it weren't for the problems with the Silverwing security contractor who launched the attack on Rhodes Island Pharmaceuticals, the instructors of the Lungmen Guard Bureau's Special Forces Submarine Team, and the officers in the Guard Bureau Building's Witness Hall—which drew attention back to the Interrogation Division—perhaps no one would know what happened here, or what would happen next.

The failure of the Reunion Movement's nighttime raid a few days ago also allowed the Guard Bureau to successfully apprehend many suspects from the Reunion Movement.

The interrogation room door was pushed open, and the cautious, respectful voices of the interrogation officers outside could be faintly heard. It was hard to imagine that the officers, who had been so imposing just a moment ago, striking criminal suspects in the face with their batons, were now speaking in timid, submissive voices, revealing deep fear.

The suspect from the Reunion Movement awkwardly raised his scarred face, his dark green eyes shifting from bewilderment to alertness, bulging due to extreme shock.

"It's you?!"

This was the first time he had spoken since being detained in the detention center.

"haven't seen you for a long time."

Attorney Lin sat in the chair in front of the interrogation table, idly playing with the lamp on the table and shining the light on the suspect's face.

"Faust".

Chapter 305 In Search of Lost Memories (4K)

"Aren't you surprised? Why am I here?"

Lin Lu looked at the wounds on Faust's face, then at the untreated, mottled bloodstains on the table, and smelled the slightly sour scent of the interrogation room. His expression changed slightly, his pupils contracted, and he gradually narrowed his eyes. Even without using his digitized spiritual domain, he could still piece together complete information in his mind from these details and reconstruct what had happened here.

The interrogation team had no idea that they had just narrowly escaped death.

If Misha is taken away by the Guard Bureau, treated like an infected person who could be crushed with a single finger, and left in a sorry state by the interrogation department using their newly developed interrogation methods... then Lawyer Lin wouldn't mind helping Wei Yanwu with a thorough cleaning, just as a way of bleeding Lungmen dry.

Although Misha is not Lin Lu's person yet, Lin Lu is a rather stubborn person.

He will remember those who are good to him, silently and will not tolerate them suffering the slightest injustice.

Lin Lu once bought gifts for everyone involved in the Chernobog rescue project at Kroos's shop. He didn't just buy random trinkets, props, or candies; instead, he carefully referred to the operator information registered in the PRTS system to deduce the operators' preferences or daily necessities, and then selected different gifts from the purchasing department to give to them.

This shows that Lin Lu is a very thoughtful person, and he cherishes everyone who cherishes him.

Although Lin Lu used Kal'tsit's card at the time, it doesn't matter! Kal'tsit will be his sooner or later anyway. Besides, Lin Lu now has another way to pay, and neither transportation cards nor bank cards are as good as my dear Jessica.

As for those operators who stayed in Chernobog and never returned... Lin Lu silently kept them in his heart and would not forget them.

Misha may never know that the two days she spent carefully caring for the comatose Lin Lu would rewrite her life's destiny.

"...Long time no see, Lin Lu."

Faust lowered his head slightly, his long, dark green hair falling down to cover his eyes and block out the glaring light.

His back was drenched in cold sweat, soaking his dirty gray shirt, and his skin, ripped and torn by the rattan whip, throbbed with pain. But even when subjected to the brutal torture of the interrogation officers, Faust had never felt such terror.

"Don't be nervous, don't be nervous."

Lin Lu calmed Faust down, not wanting the boy to bite his tongue in his nervousness and accidentally kill himself.

"I still have a lot to talk to you about. Don't worry, we won't discuss the Reunion Movement's squad information, leadership style, origins, tactical distribution, etc. You might not believe it, but I don't need to know this information from you. It's not that I don't believe you, but I don't need it. Even if I knew, your identity in the Reunion Movement is definitely not as simple as a lackey."

Lin Lu turned off the light shining on Faust's face and gently pushed it to the corner of the table.

This desk lamp was meant to illuminate things, but in the hands of those in the interrogation department, it became a cheap and readily available instrument of torture. People who have been in darkness for extended periods develop highly sensitive vision; a sudden burst of bright light can cause discomfort, dizziness, and even blindness. Furthermore, the shadows cast by the light beam can shroud the interrogator's face, highlighting a deep-seated fear.

The initial idea behind a prop may be good, but regardless of its essential function, it will develop in different directions in the hands of those with ulterior motives. This inevitably brings to mind the difference between the Reunion Movement and this lamp.

Lin Lu sighed leisurely, "Those idiots in the Guard Bureau never intended to obtain any useful information; they were just blindly indulging their lust. Torture is all about the interrogation, not the torture itself. They don't take you seriously at all, subconsciously believing that the Reunion soldiers captured in the night raid are the most useless lackeys, not worth wasting time interrogating, since they won't get any good news anyway."

Lin Lu took a deep breath.

The air was filled with a sour smell, the smell of blood and vomit fermenting together.

"These curly-haired baboons from the Lungmen Guard Bureau, whose brains can't even fit a basic family hygiene emergency manual, can't they use their brains for a second to think about why a nobody who knows nothing can endure so much torture without uttering a sound? If every soldier in the Reunion Movement were as strong and stubborn as you, not only Lungmen, but even Ursus wouldn't be able to stop you."

Faust was slightly moved by what he heard. He slowly raised his head, but couldn't help closing his eyes, not daring to look the other person in the eye.

Lin Lu had let down his hood at some point, revealing his shoulder-length white hair tied high behind his head with a pale red ribbon, exposing his slender white neck. This hairstyle, far from adding a touch of effeminacy, actually enhanced his scholarly air and made him appear more handsome and refined.

He was like a man from five hundred years ago in the Great Yan Dynasty, his spirit concentrated and his energy focused, standing firm and unmoving.

With his deep, cobalt blue eyes, as dark as stars, Lin Lu calmly gazed ahead. His eyelids were lowered, and his cold glint was concealed, but the pressure he exuded enveloped every corner of the interrogation department. His mental pressure surged like a tsunami as it struck Faust.

"Om-"

Faust suddenly lost all hearing, his mind blank, as if an invisible hand was flipping through his thoughts, and he couldn't keep up with its pace. At that moment, he would rather be blinded by the beam of the lamplight than meet Lin Lu's eyes.

“...You are stronger than I imagined, Faust.”

Lin Lu was both lamenting and mocking.

He marveled at how Faust, despite having a series of hidden tricks up his sleeve, patiently endured them without unleashing them, never giving up even under torture, his will as firm as a rock.

He mocked the Royal Guard Bureau for being all show and no substance. The number of people in the entire Royal Guard Bureau who Lin Lu could even pick up his eye could be counted on one hand. Hoshiguma and Swire certainly counted, as did Superintendent Chen… and others who were obvious to all.

Faust's face was grim. He forced himself to look back at Lin Lu, his heart hesitating whether to take a gamble.

"Don't be nervous, as I said..." Lin Lu smiled and said, "I'm just here to chat with you today, that's all."

"..."

Faust's lips twitched slightly.

The underlying meaning of Lin Lu's words is—if you don't chat with me, then you're not being fair to me. Since you're not being fair, then I have to be fair to you so you understand what I mean. If you understand what I mean, you'd better show me some appreciation now, otherwise don't blame me for being impolite.

The culture of the Great Yan Dynasty is profound and extensive.

—Jingyan was overjoyed.

"What do you want to ask?"

Faust asked weakly, his voice lacking confidence.

What else could he do? The other party had already given him a way out; he only had two choices now. Either he would flip the table on the spot and get beaten up by Lin Lu while lying down and chatting. After a moment's consideration, Faust immediately backed down, secretly gathering his strength and waiting to see what would happen.

He wouldn't just sit and wait to die. Even if the chances of breaking through were slim, if he was desperate... he would have no choice but to take a gamble.

Lin Lu could tell that Faust was secretly gathering Originium Arts, but he didn't expose him directly. Instead, he casually said, "I'm very impressed with you. Your performance in Chernobog was particularly brilliant. You're a true sniper, calm and collected under pressure. When you strike, you're unpredictable and devastating, even ACE couldn't withstand you. If I hadn't prepared a backup plan and notified Scout's team to come and support me in advance, otherwise... I might still be stuck in Chernobog, becoming nourishment for the desolate frozen wasteland of Ursus."

Are you praising me, or praising yourself?

Faust's expression shifted slightly. He didn't quite understand why Lin Lu made it sound like... their confrontation in Chernobog was their first meeting. They had clearly met, fought, and nearly killed each other in the distant past.

Is it possible...

Faust slightly widened his eyes, his gaze, now familiar with the dim surroundings, unabashedly scrutinizing Lin Lu.

He used the faint light from the cold, dim chandelier above his head to compare it with the person's appearance in his memory.

There's no mistake. Even after five whole years, even if Lin Lu's hair and eye color have changed, he's still the same person. Rather, Faust doesn't understand why Lin Lu's appearance hasn't changed in these five years, as if he's been frozen at a specific point in time.

"interesting."

A meaningful smile appeared on Lin Lu's lips. Faust was sizing him up, but he was also observing Faust.

The "long time no see" they referred to didn't refer to the same time period. Lin Lu could feel the shadows of the past reappearing, but this time, since waking up, he had been constantly chased by the past. This time, however, he intended to actively seek out his lost memories.

"Let's have a good chat..."

The cool-toned chandelier swayed gently, casting flickering shadows on Lin Lu's face. It was as if his past and present selves were sitting here simultaneously, interrogating his former friend, now his adversary—Faust.

"Let's start with Elmoni."

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Time passes bit by bit.

After wandering through Faust's memories, Lin Lu sat in a chair and pondered for a long time.

"Ugh...mmm...haa! Haa...haa..."

Faust was under so much mental pressure that he was about to vomit and almost faint, but he dared not sleep yet, as he was still not out of danger. He forcefully cracked the Originium crystal on his thigh, letting the pain stimulate his numb brain, forcing himself to stay awake and not collapse.

In fact, Faust had not slept for two days and two nights, and his consciousness was already on the verge of collapse.

As an ancient nation, Yan Kingdom possesses a cultural heritage far surpassing that of any other nation in Terra, and naturally has its own unique approach to punishment.

The interrogation department had a keen understanding of the torture techniques employed by the Great Yan Ministry of Justice. They knew that pure corporal punishment was merely physical pain, and its effects varied depending on the race. If the victim was a Sarkaz, even the most severe torture would be like a tickle. Sometimes, simple punishments could have unexpected results, such as… sleep deprivation.

Faust spent two days in this dark basement, without seeing day or night, and without knowing how much time had passed. He only knew that he had never had a chance to rest, even when the interrogation officers were tired, they would still make him stand.

Before Lin Lu arrived at the interrogation room, Faust's neck was still bound by a noose, the other end of which was tied high to the ceiling along the wall, taut in a straight line. Faust's hands were tied behind his back, and he had to stand on tiptoe the entire time to reduce the pressure on his neck. If he relaxed even slightly, he would be suffocated and lose consciousness, dying silently.

Like domesticated beasts, they see no hope of survival.

This is why Lin Lu was impressed by Faust's unwavering will; he clearly had the ability to resist, yet he refrained from taking action.

"I won't completely believe what you say. You added too many personal subjective ideas in the process of recounting your memories, and left a lot of loose ends for me to think about, which distracted me. It's amazing that you can still maintain a clear mind and communicate even though your consciousness is almost giving out. In order to avoid being discovered by me for lying, every word you said is true, it's just that you didn't finish saying it."