The team after securing the prisoners walked into the manors parlor just to see the Baron sitting on a sofa indifferent to what was happening around him after all he was a noble and would most likely be sanctioned or slapped with a fine worst case scenario he would be exiled .
His facial expression and the curled up mustache on his face truly repulsed Mason but he just stayed quiet.
" Lord Alexander, you know the crimes you have committed, now you have to accept the consequences for that . But before that I would like a list ." Helena said providing a pen and paper. " I want names of all your associates, their locations , safe house . Anything that would tell me more about your slavery syndicate."
" Could you pour me some wine dear ? " Alexander asked his eyes peering lecherously at Helena.
The room fell silent, most of them had experience with interrogating criminals but non of them knew what to do when interrogating a noble who was also a criminal. There was already an organization which was responsible for that and that was the papal inquisitors.
" Òbergrubenfuher, with your permission I would like to talk to the prisoner alone . " Mason asked.
Helena looked at him straight in the eye then looked at the other members of the team. Many of them were uncertain but eventually she left him alone with the Baron who chuckled and spoke out loud ,
" Is the empire declining that they would send a child to do the work of men."
Mason now walked up to the Baron who had been chained to a chair with orichalcum chains to dampen his magic.
" I would like the names of your associates, their locations, safe houses and any other things that would seem pertinent to this investigation.
That is what the captain would say as for me , I don't want any information. Weatheryou chose to give me any information or not will be your choice all I want to do right now is to torture you till your heart gives out. " Mason said with the most exaggerated smile on his face.
" What do you think you can do to me boy ?" Alexander spat.
In response Mason brought out a bullet and bit it open pouring the contents on the exposed thigh of Alexander.
" I have always wanted to try this." Mason said and lit up the gunpowder causing a very quick but very hot combustion capable of reaching 1300 ⁰C . As expected the Baron cried out in pain also added to the fact that he was chained down to his seat, he almost ran mad. So as expected for anyone who isn't a masochist he sang like a bird exposing names, code names, locations, safe houses and hideouts.
He had gotten what he needed so one would expect Mason to leave him be but that turned out to be false. Mason poured the gunpowder on his other thigh lighting it up and allowing the Baron to wallow in pain as he went out to deliver the list to Captain Helena.
When the rest of the team saw the state of Alexanders legs they were shocked not because of the state he was in , but because Mason didn't care about his social class as he was interrogating the Baron .
Inside the barons vast basement ,there were cages where people were being kept as if they were animals, about ten people were freed that day .
Then in his vault were tons of gold , precious stones and metals. There were even artifacts from when the humans pushed back to demons. There were also magic stones also .
They had been authorized to take a share of thirty percent of the entire loot. The rest were to be held secure till a separate retrieval team came for it .
As they waited for the retrieval team Helena called Mason outside to talk.
" I must admit, you are not as I expected you to turn out ." She said as she was taking off her armor, her tonnes upper body glistening in the sunset. " Academy students are known for flashy and exaggerated moves but even though I have not seen you fight , your weapons are quick and precise just like a soldier.
I hear that you have double attributes, runes and telekinesis. Rune mages are not necessarily known for their combat prowess and telekinesis has not been seen in this continent for over a century."
" What is your point Captain ?" Mason asked, clearly he was uncomfortable with this discussion.
" I don't trust you Herr Mason, and for me to trust you I would have to see your skill in battle without weapons, just pure skill only then would be able to truly understand who you are."
" Is that really necessary Captain?" Mason asked and Helena nodded.
" In that case , I would respectfully decline, rather I would like to use this time to find out the reason why we were sent on this mission. It is clear that even though you are are a high ranking soldier, knights should have been the most rational choice in handling this matter internally or rather the papal inquisition .
My intuition tells me that we've got something huge coming out way and someone with government power is connected to this and may be trying to cover his or her tracks .
How did the guards here know that we were coming, why were there hundreds of cages in the basement but only ten slaves. We are supposed to be arresting slavers who aren't weak in any way but still we have been given no weapons and you are all wearing a bulky cheap armor.
If you don't think it strange then it is you whom I must not trust."
Helena suddenly felt a massive headache creeping up in her temple. It was clear that she was out of her element here, killing demons now seemed much more easier than this.
" This seem to know a lot regarding this, so what do we do in this situation ?" She asked.
" Simple , these men have dishonored theirselves by trading a fellow human being as commodity. So regardless of strength and social standing there should be no survivors , they should simply just disappear. We take them all down, even their competition and those who have patronized their business. But most importantly with our loot, we would equip ourselves in such a way that our names alone would send fear into their hearts. Since the main culprit of this wants to clean up, we will clean up properly."