Nelsen grimaced when he heard Jacob's quickly agreeing without retorting or trying to inquire about what was happening.
'Did he know?' His heart sank; it was too terrifying, and Jacob became even more dangerous in his eyes. He said, "I agree to interrogation as well!"
Jacob's lips curled in disdain, 'What a sly weasel.'
The timer in front of them vanished, and the next moment, two white pillars rose from the ground before them and stopped when they reached their waists.
Multicolor lines started to shimmer on those pillars as SAAI's emotionless voice sounded.
"Please place your hands on the Truth Pillar!"
Jacob scrutinized the mysterious truth pillar and placed his hands on it with uncertainty. Although he didn't know what would happen, he had no choice but to cooperate unless he wanted to appear guilty.
When he touched the truth pillar, he suddenly felt a warm current passing through his entire body.
SAAI's voice rang again, but it sounded directly to his mind this time!
"Faceless Ancient, the Star Administrator Artificial Intelligence (SAAI), will ask you three definitive questions. I suggest you answer truthfully because any lie detected in them will be used against you and directly affect the final verdict.
"First Question: Are you a member of A.T.L.A.S or related to them?
"Please answer through your thoughts or speak loudly if you're not comfortable!"
'How convenient…' Jacob was surprised and awed by how effective this method was for condemning someone.
He replied through his thoughts, "I'm not a member of A.T.L.A.S, nor I'm related to them in any way."
Three seconds passed before SAAI's voice rang again, "Is this your final conclusive answer?"
"Yes."
"Second Question: When you sold the weapon to A.T.L.A.S, do you know it was A.T.L.A.S, and they were going to use it against the Star Network?"
"No, I have no idea at that time. I've only discovered the use of my weapon, like everyone else, on the day of the blast. I have no grievance or grudge against Star Network."
"Is this your final conclusive answer?"
"Yes."
"Third Question: Have you ever come in contact with A.T.L.A.S? If you have, why didn't you report to the law enforcement?"
Jacob frowned slightly, "That's two questions, but I still answer to show I'm not in cohort with them. I'd indeed come in contact with them once, and I'd killed them. There was nothing else to report since I didn't find their base of operation or plans."
"Is this your final conclusive answer?"
"Yes." Jacob impassively stated.
On the other hand, Nelsen was also going through the interrogation with the same yet slightly different questions.
"First Question: Are you a member of A.T.L.A.S or related to them?
"No, I'm not a member or related to them in any way."
"Is this your final conclusive answer?"
"Yes."
"Second Question: Have you ever sold or given your atomic weaponry to A.T.L.A.S or anyone?"
"I've never sold it to anyone, but I gave some of them to my daughter for protection."
"Is this your final conclusive answer?"
"Yes."
"Third Question: As the leader of Alchemy Guild, you are part of the plains' law enforcement, and it is your duty to make sure to root out every last A.T.L.A.S member. Did you do your duty as an enforcer?"
"I've done my duty solemnly! I've acted every time A.T.L.A.S comes to my attention. Furthermore, Faceless Ancient is a threat, and I've been after him from the start because I was afraid that a bombing incident like that day would happen if he carelessly sold his weapons. He should be incarcerated now to stop something like that happening again!" Nelsen coldly stated.
"Is this your final conclusive answer?"
"Yes!"
"Fourth Question: Have you ever come in contact with or been approached by A.T.L.A.S? If you have, what was your response?"
Nelsen's pupils dilated, "This question is irrelevant to the topic!"
"Is this your final conclusive answer?"
Nelsen frowned as he knew this wouldn't work, so he had no choice but to answer ambiguously, "A member once approached me, and I'd remained true to my duties."
"Is this your final conclusive answer?"
"Yes."
"Fifth Question: If A.T.L.A.S approaches you now and offers you something you truly want or takes something precious to you, will you betray your faction?"
"Again, this question is irrelevant and about something that had yet to happen and never will!" Nelsen retorted.
"Is this your final conclusive answer?"
"Why are you asking this question?" Nelsen questioned again.
"Is this your final conclusive answer?"
Nelsen gritted his teeth before he calmed his nerves. This was going way out of his hands. He became emotionless as he replied, "Rubbish! No, I will never betray my faction!"
"Is this your final conclusive answer?"
"Yes!"
At this moment, the truth pillars started to sink back into the floor, and Jacob was paying close attention to Nelsen after ending his questioning. He saw him frown more than once, which meant the old fox was not having a good time.
'Could it be he has ties with A.T.L.A.S? It's good news if he had. He's too dangerous for his own good.' Jacob's eyes shimmered with killing intent.
Nelsen suddenly looked over, and he was also staring at him with killing intent. He knew Jacob was far more threatening. In a way, like him, and he knew someone like him was far too dangerous to have as an enemy.
At this moment, SAAI's voice rang.
"Faceless Ancient, you have given conclusive answers to your 3-Question Interrogation and spoken 98% truth!
"SAAI deemed you not guilty!
"However, you have failed to report your encounter to the Law Enforcement. Therefore, you are being penalized with a 100 Million ZC fine. Please refrain from making such mistakes in the future. Anything related to ATLAS has to be reported to the law enforcement of your plains post hastily!
"Do you want to pay the fine or an alternative instated to ZC?"
Jacob frowned a little, but it was still not against him, and he was getting out of it with just a measly hundred million ZC and no other punishment, and his innocence was proven.
"Thank you. I'll pay with ZC."
Nelsen wore a dark expression as he knew a hundred million was chump change to Jacob at this point, and now Jacob was free, and he had lost his chance to take him down.
Now, it was his turn.
"Amiable Wizened Monk, you have given conclusive answers to your 5-Question Interrogation and spoken 64% truth!
"SAAI deemed you not guilty!
"However, your response to the 3rd and 4th was ambiguous and unsatisfactory, and your fifth conclusive answer was a lie. Therefore, SAAI deemed you unworthy of your current position as the President of Alchemy Guild! You are to forfeit your position to your successor within seven days.
"Your 2-Star Star Authority has also been downgraded to 1-Star Star Authority. You are penalized with a 1 Billion ZC fine, which is to be paid within seven days!"
Nelsen eyes widened as he was utterly appalled by this harsh verdict. Although he was deemed not guilty, his position was gone, star authority dropped, and he had to pay 1 billion ZC on top of that. It was nothing short of being judged guilty.
He had overestimated himself when he tried to outsmart SAAI—thinking of it as a mere AI was probably his biggest mistake. No matter how much control he had over his emotions, this test was never about just some nerve-checking to begin with.
The truth would've still been detected even if he had stripped away all of his emotion. This was how terrifying the Zodiac Plains was; he was nothing but an ant trying to mislead the sky that was everywhere.
"Hahahaha…"
Suddenly, a loud laughter enveloped the silent space, snapping Nelsen out of his despair. It was Jacob as he laughed wantonly, and it was filled with mockery and relish.
"Hah, I had to admit, I'm in awe of SAAI. Even something like you can't trick it. Oh, you also have my respect that you even tried. In the end, you are nothing but a son of a bitch who's under the impression that he's the King who controls everything."
Jacob looked dead in his eyes and stated, "And this is just the start of your harsh awakening to reality because I'm coming for you and your little sultry family until there's nothing left of it!"