Chapter 42: Interrogation
Chapter 42: Interrogation
Outside the Luna Nova Magical Academy, a large area of land that was originally a plantation has become a weedy wasteland because of the lack of maintenance. In the cottage next to the Academy Castle, Antoine and Reiner were discussing the next sales strategy.
Relying on the popularity of Piram Cola in the surrounding cities, Cola, a trendy drink, has gradually gained popularity and has become popular in the south of the country. With the influence of Mage Cards' marketing strategy, Luna Nova Cola has once again become a popular product.
In some areas where retail stores were underdeveloped, it was very hard to get a bottle.
Of course, most people still fancy the mage cards that came with Cola.
Due to the unprecedented good sales situation, Reiner had hired four skilled apprentices for Antoine to produce Cola non-stop. At the same time, he had also persuaded Antoine the previous week to temporarily relocate the alchemy workshop to the Luna Nova Magical Academy to ensure his safety.
Antoine didn't want to move at the beginning. He didn't think that Piram would really want to harm him, but to be safe, he eventually moved out of the house where he had lived for more than ten years.
"In the future, we can buy a few shops in the old street, one side as an alchemy workshop for the production of cola, and the other side as a direct sales store. At the same time, we can allow customers to spend money to visit the cola factory."
Reiner has now invested in Antoine Alchemy workshop in the name of Luna Nova Magical Academy, occupying 22% of the shares, and he himself has also occupied 31% of the shares, and the remaining was Antoine's shares. In a sense, Antoine Alchemy Workshop was now one of Luna Nova Magical Academy's businesses.
This kind of situation was very common. In order to maintain the operation of schools, larger academies would make various investments, including alchemy workshops and hospitals, lower-level schools, business associations, etc. Luna Nova Magical Academy probably also had some business in the past. It was just that it probably sold out all of its business.
"This proposal is not bad. According to our current performance growth efficiency, it may be achieved in half a year."
Antoine nodded. He followed Reiner's advice and cleaned up his face. Now he did not look as depressed as before, but like a normal middle-aged man.
Knock, knock...
A knock on the door interrupted the discussion between the two, and Antoine opened the door and found that it was a person he was familiar with.
"Officer Sheila?"
Sheila in uniform nodded to Antoine and said.
"Mr. Antoine, we followed your advice and laid an ambush in the Antoine Alchemy Workshop on Old Street. We arrested a few guys who intended to blow up your house earlier. You may need you to come to town and help us with the investigation."
"Blow up?"
Antoine was a little surprised. He didn't expect that what Reiner had warned him before would come true. That Piram would really find someone to endanger his personal safety.
"Mr. Antoine, you can go with the officer. I'll come later as well."
Reiner said, patted Antoine on the shoulder.
"Mhm, okay."
Antoine collected himself, then packed up his things and left with Sheila.
And Reiner, thinking for a moment, decided to wake Claire first and let her accompany him.
He needed a bodyguard who could fight.
......
After that, Reiner woke up Claire, who was sleeping while hugging a pillow as if she was hugging a big chunk of barbecued meat. To persuade this sleepy professor to accompany him, Reiner promised her that he would treat her to dine in the restaurant in Prester where the protagonist in "The Lonely Wandering Gourmet" once visited.
When the two arrived at Officer's detention center in a carriage, it was already after midnight.
The town of Luna Mia near Luna Nova Magical Academy was the town where the old street was located. It was under the jurisdiction of the City of Prester. Therefore, Leslie and Sheila were equivalent to the civil servants sent to the countryside from the city. They received warm hospitality from the local Officers.
They requested an independent cell to imprison Sanderson and blocked all information to prevent the real culprit from being alarmed.
Seeing Reiner and Claire, the two Officers smiled heartily, and then led them to the interrogation room with Antoine.
"This observation room can see what happened in the interrogation room, but the interrogation room cannot see this side."
Leslie simply explained. This made Claire very curious.
The three and Leslie came to the observation room and saw that in the room on the other side, Sanderson was locked in a chair with a dispirited expression, while Sheila was sitting opposite him with a few documents.
"Sanderson Gran, do you admit that you intended to blow up the Antoine Alchemy Workshop and kill Mage Antoine?"
Sheila asked sharply, causing Sanderson to shiver suddenly and look at the female Officer in fear.
"I, I don't know..."
Sanderson still believed that Piram would save him, just as it was written in novels. He would spend some money to buy the jail guards and save him, so he did not reveal the truth.
"You know, if you are instigated by someone, confess will make you receive less harsh punishment, but if you are determined to keep the secret, then we will think that you planned this crime yourself and what is waiting for you will be the death penalty."
Sheila said coldly, getting up and preparing to leave. Her words made Sanderson tremble, but he still didn't dare to betray his boss.
"We have interrogated your accomplices, they have already confessed."
When she left the interrogation room, she seemed to mention it inadvertently. Sheila's words made Sanderson stunned, his eyes became erratic as if he was thinking.
At this time, Leslie left the observation room and entered the interrogation room instead of Sheila. He took a glass of water and placed it in front of Sanderson.
"Sandson, I know you are not a bad person, but you have been deceived temporarily. If you can cooperate with our work, you can reduce your punishment."
Leslie fed water to Sanderson very tenderly, speaking earnestly.
"We have contacted your boss Piram already. He felt very pity that you had actually done something like this and said that he did not know anything about it. So, Sanderson, only you can save yourself now."
This was a standard good Officer and bad Officer routine used in interrogations. Sheila's sternness and Leslie's gentleness constituted a sharp contrast. But how would Sanderson know about this? Leslie's words quickly made Sanderson react.
Sanderson always thought that Piram would rescue himself, but Leslie's words broke his dream. Because of the panic and chaos, he did not even think about the possibility of Leslie and Sheila deceiving him.
"I......"
He was hesitant. But after thinking it over and over again, he finally spoke.
"Piram instructed me to do it."