Nick investigated the CZE for a couple of days.
When he saw that the CZE had a wife and two children, he was glad.
'I can use them,' he thought.
Naturally, Nick wouldn't hurt the CZE's wife or children. After all, they were innocent.
But the CZE didn't know that.
'The biggest risk to my new plan of growth is the possibility of suicide. When someone believes that their family is vulnerable, they are less likely to commit suicide.'
After watching the CZE for a couple of days, Nick made his move.
The CZE, an older man with black hair, sat in his chair, going through different reports and paperwork.
"Comply and survive. Resist and die," Nick spoke in the CZE's mind as he appeared in front of his desk.
His Barrier was active, submitting his credentials as special Agent to the CZE.
The man jumped up from his chair and tried to send a message with his Barrier.
But it failed!
It was like his Barrier had lost connection with the surrounding network!
"Who are you?!" the CZE spoke nervously as he looked at Nick.
If he hadn't seen Nick's credentials, he would have immediately run.
But this was a special Agent from Aegis!
If Aegis was onto him, he wouldn't be able to resist!
"We have conducted an investigation into the city and found a servant of a powerful Fallen in here. We have been watching you for several days, and we are certain of your guilt. You were colluding with this servant," Nick spoke.
Terror appeared in the CZE's heart. "I never-"
Nick silenced the CZE with an angry fluctuation of his Zephyx. "The judgment is final. Even if you were to show irrefutable proof that you didn't follow the Specter, it will not change."
"But you are in luck," Nick said. "There has been a recent policy change in how to deal with traitors. Our old policy demands that every traitor has to be killed."
The CZE was terrified.
"But that is no longer the case.If that were the case, we wouldn't be talking right now."
"Aegis desperately needs Heroes, and killing someone because they lost their way is wasteful."
The CZE looked with fear and hope at Nick. "You won't kill me?" he asked incredulously.
"No, but we must ensure that you will not fall back into this pattern. You will work for Aegis in the future as a conscript, but before that, you will undergo penance."
"P-penance?" the CZE asked.
"Punishment appropriate to the crime must be given. You have been sentenced to ten years of penance. If you manage to pass penance, you will join Aegis as a conscript."
The CZE's mind was going wild.
His entire life was being turned upside down.
"Your Barrier," Nick demanded, holding his hand out.
The CZE wrestled with himself.
But after several seconds, he sighed and complied.
He handed his Barrier over, and Nick pocketed it.
Of course, the Barrier wouldn't be able to properly resist Nick anyway, but that was not the point.
Nick had to keep what he was doing secret from Aegis.
The Barrier had records of Nick's Barrier, and if it somehow connected to the network again, it would send these records to the city's database.
That was also why Nick had used his Barrier's function to isolate Barrier communication.
As soon as Nick received the Barrier, he turned it off and got rid of the Zephyx absorber that powered it.
Next, he silently escorted the CZE out of the city.
"Why are we being secretive?" the CZE asked.
"This is none of your concern for now. If you get through penance, you will learn," Nick said.
Nick escorted the CZE to an isolated location in the wilderness.
On their way, Nick left the CZE's perception and made several illusions.
The CZE believed that they were entering one of Aegis' strongholds when, in truth, they went deep into the underground through a cave.
Nick kept emitting light to keep the Nightmare's influence at bay.
When they reached a depth of several kilometers,he escorted the man into a Containment Unit.
In the CZE's perception, they were entering one of many chambers in the stronghold.
The illusory people called it the penance chamber.
"Your sentence is ten years," Nick said. "We are not going to tell you how much time has passed during the penance, but after ten years, you will be released."
"For the next ten years, you will undergo significant suffering, but that is what you will reap when you sow despair amongst your fellow humans."
"During the penance, Aegis will protect your family, but if you fail to finish your sentence, that protection will end. Whatever happens then will not be of Aegis' concern."
The CZE took a deep breath.
He was glad that his family was looked after, but the pressure on his shoulder intensified.
His life had essentially met a dead end. From now on, he would forever be working for Aegis as a conscript.
So, that only left his family.
At least he could still take care of his family with his actions.
This meant he had a bit of agency over his life.
"Ten years, right?" the CZE asked.
"Ten years," Nick repeated. "After ten years, you will be released."
The CZE took another deep breath and nodded.
Aegis' credibility was their most important currency.
If Aegis went back on their words, all the captured Specters would no longer believe them.
At that point, getting information out of Specters would be impossible since they would believe that they would die anyway.
"Good luck," Nick said. "Get through this tribulation, and your family will not suffer hardships."
The CZE was extremely nervous, but he nodded anyway.
He didn't know what was waiting for him, but he knew that he had to survive!
For his family!
Nick left the Containment Unit and closed it.
This was a Containment Unit designed to suppress Demons, which meant that the CZE couldn't escape.
Nick felt a bit nervous as he operated the Containment Unit.
This Containment Unit had some added functions.
And they would be the reason why the CZE would suffer.
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