( Lin Mu's POV )
While everyone else was only viewed through a moderate lens of suspicion with regards to the murder of the Royal Counselor, Lin Mu was the only unfortunate one to not be given the same treatment.
Since the location of murder was her room, and she was the only confirmed individual to be alongside the dead counselor, she was subjected to a thorough interrogation by the Royal Guards, who treated her like the chief suspect.
"So why did the Counselor visit you at night? Why did you choose to seduce him?" An interrogation officer shamelessly asked, as he called Lin Mu a whore without explicitly using the word.
"The counselor visited me because we had an arrangement, in exchange for my virginity and a nights pleasure, he was going to help save my clan from the clutches of the Night Guild" Lin Mu admitted honestly, as he tried to play it off as a pre-made arrangement rather than her trying to seduce the counselor, to ensure that if details of their arrangement were leaked then both of their reputations were going to be dragged through the mud together.
"Do you really expect us to believe that the Royal Counselor tried to gain sexual favors from you in exchange to help your clan? Do you think anyone will buy that story?" The interrogator said, trying to discard Lin Mu's testament and intimidate her, however, Lin Mu remained unfazed.
"Well, you can choose to believe me or not…. But that won't invalidate the truth. I'm not the first one he's tried to take advantage of- you see….. if you open your eyes and interrogate the palace maids, I'm sure many will tell you the same.
So the question now is, just how many of them can you silence?" Lin Mu asked, her voice not wavering at all, as her words made the interrogator sweat instead.
Currently, the palace security had already failed in capturing Ben Faulkner, who had presumably managed to sneak out of the palace after a successful assassination once again.
By noon today, the entire StrongHaven City was most likely going to hear about the assassination of the Royal Counselor, however, under such circumstances, if rumors about his lecherous nature were leaked, then Ben Faulkner was more likely to be viewed as a hero who eliminated a pervert rather than a ruthless assassin who murdered the noble and loyal Royal Counselor.
Had Lin Mu been a normal citizen or a palace maid. She could have been sent to the gulags and detained indefinitely to suppress the truth of this matter.
However, Lin Mu was a Quarter Finalist in the Grand Tournament and was set to fight tomorrow in the Grand Arena.
Her sudden absence was sure to be impossible to justify to the masses and hence, although the royal Interrogators could try to intimidate and interrogate her today, they couldn't silence her version of the truth without securing her co-operation.
The Emperor had already given the royal guards explicit instructions that if they could not catch the murderer, then they were to keep the inconvenience caused to the guests to a minimum and hence, although the interrogator did not wish to let Lin Mu get away with her scandalous statement, he had no other option but to back off for now.
"Okay, recount the events that happened after the Counselor walked into your room once again….." The interrogator demanded, as Lin Mu let out a deep sigh and rolled her eyes.
"Do you get off on this? Is one of the criteria of becoming a Royal Interrogator, to be a pervert?
I've already told you the story 5 times. It's traumatic for me to recall it again and again too…. Just how many times more will you make me say it?" Lin Mu protested, as the Royal Interrogator felt a seething rage bubble up inside him listening to her comments.
Had he been given a free reign in this interrogation, he would have already used torture to extract the truth from Lin Mu, however, he had been prohibited from using such extreme methods.
Having been given explicit instructions to not be rude with the guests, his hands were tied as to how coarsely he could treat Lin Mu, which forced him to entertain some of her high handed attitude as well.
"One more time, please-" The interrogator said, as he was forced to use the word 'Please' to be polite to Lin Mu, as she sighed and narrated her story once again.
***********
( Meanwhile Julien D Evanus )
"Four hours have passed since the Royal Counselor's murder, and we are now two hours beyond the promised curfew," Julien stated firmly. "Marcus, I won't hear any more of this. End the search and release the guests from their rooms.
Remember, this is the Unity Palace, not a prison," he said admonishing Royal Guard Captain Marcus, who had proposed extending the curfew by another hour to continue the search for the murderer.
Despite his reservations, Captain Marcus knew he had to comply. He was acutely aware that releasing the guests might mean losing any remaining clues to the murderer's identity. However, the Emperor's commands were absolute, leaving him no option but to lift the curfew.
"I apologize for failing your expectations My Lord, if you desire my resignation, I'll resign right here, right now-" Marcus said, bowing his head in shame, as Julien waved his apology off.
"Not your fault, so stand straight-" Julien said, as he grit his teeth and wondered as to what the Elf King and the Barbarian Chieftain would be thinking.
"Whoever did this has made us a laughing stalk in front of the other races. My pride has taken a hit today…." Julien said, as his words caused his immediate subordinates present in the room around him to bow their heads in shame.
Everyone cursed Ben Faulkner from the bottom of their hearts at this moment, and vowed to bring him to justice for this incident no matter the cost.