Sylve and Vander are in front of General Wilkins, the General of Fulgoant District Military.
"General Wilkins, we are here to ask for your approval, but more than that, we're here to inform you of something."
General Wilkins, who was just rolling his sit left and right while playing with his fingers, immediately sat up and leaned forward to the two in front with his hands clutched together.
"What is it." He replied in a serious tone.
Vander stepped forward, "Recently, one of the Research Guild members Leon Stafford attempted to mass murder the entire guild. Luckily, Sylve and I managed to predict the nefarious schemes of this guy and were able to save the entire guild from death."
The General is quietly listening to what Vander is explaining. He seems to have the hint of what Vander was about to say next. As Vander explained what happened, he was scratching his head as he lowers his voice gradually.
"Gentleman, I cannot quite understand what you're saying."
Vander wring his hands and sighed exasperatedly, "Sylve, I can not do this any longer, I would really like to get things straight." He then paused for a moment, "General, pardon for the unnecessary drama."
Vander then straightforwardly explained to the General what he recently said to Sylve about his notion regarding Fulgoant's apparent situation.
The General was amused as to how he managed to come up with such an accurate prediction. However, behind the amusement was a lingering doubt on the back of his mind, 'How is this possible?' Could it be the two of them are deceiving him? He thought. Vander's predictions are too good to be true. Considering that Leon was a traitor, the two could be his accomplices. However, he decided not to show any doubt and remained silent as Vander was explaining his deductions.
"And with that, I'm here to propose something." Vander stared right into General Wilkin's eyes to show his sincerity. The General seemed to like such behaviour, but his doubts are still there.
He clasped his hands and stared back, "What is it?"
"We are here to ask for your permission to interrogate Leon?"
The General cackled, "Ha-ha! You could've asked the guards in charge! Why me?" With that question, the General's suspicions raised even more.
"Let me rephrase that question, sir." Vander bowed, "We are here to inform you rather, that we might jump into action whatever Leon might disclose upon us."
"Hmmm," The General suddenly rose up from his chair and started to walk around his table while his hands are inside his pocket, "I'm afraid I have to refuse. If you take action especially if it was instigated by a traitor, you could put the entire district." He paused for a moment as he lifted his finger, "No, you could even put the entire city in danger."
Vander's expression changed, his eyes narrowed, and he shifted a glazing gaze to the general, "What if we allowed one of your trusted guards to accompany us? He may apprehend us or meddle with our decision making if needed be." The General seemed to appease what Vander suggested. However, he maintained his dubious gestures in front of Vander. "I understand your doubts, you might be thinking that we might be surreptitiously aiding our former comrade in his nefarious schemes. Honestly, I don't want you to think that way General, when we are genuinely helping this district for this is my home, and even more, my birthplace."
The General curled his lips with his eyebrows furrowed, "Hmm, your proposition is not too bad, I admire young ones like you who have the courage," The General walked closer in my front. I'm somehow taller than him, but his stature is something to be admired. He stared at me with a chilling smile as he tapped both of my shoulders, "However, if it would seem like you are doing something out of ordinary, my soldier will not hesitate to kill you," He shifted his gaze to Sylve, "Even you, Sylve."
"I understand." Sylve bowed her head.
The General smiled cheerfully as he clapped his hands, "Good! Good! I'll be waiting for your performance, I'm expecting something good from you two." Both Vander and I smiled in response.
"Now, please wait outside as I call a soldier that will go along with you."
*****
"Vander's POV"
As of now, Sylve and I are waiting for the soldier that is assigned to escort us. We are currently sitting in a wooden chair located in the hallway near the General's room. This place looks quite vivacious and sophisticated. The floor is decorated with a long red carpet; massive windows are everywhere ornamented with magnificent curtains magnifying the grandiose aura of this castle as to how it seems to look. Why am I thinking about this at such a moment? Well, I just feel that it'll be a pain in the ass if this place will be wrecked by a giant kuishinbo.
"I think your plan worked," Sylve said all of a sudden.
"Why?" I furrowed my eyebrows, "At your back." She replied.
I turned my head backwards and noticed two huge men were approaching.
"Amazing. How did you do that?"
"Well, as a businessman, you got to play your cards well, this includes manpower, brute strength, resources, and the most important of all psychology."
"As a general, it is given that he's cautious and vigilant as he should be, I figured that it is something that we could use."
"How?"
"First, as he said, we could've just asked the guards to interrogate Leon? We can use your position for that and it'll be easy. But us, asking for his permission first, for him it could mean two things."
"What are those?"
"First, we are letting him know what our moves will be, it could benefit us both. Second, it's because we are planning something, as a general he should assume that every people in the guild same as Leon is a potential traitor or spy."
"So?"
"So I used all those possible things that he could think of us to our advantage. In other words, I'm making it look like we are doing neither what he thinks about us. "
"What do you mean?"
I raised my finger and swayed it left and right in front of Sylve, "Silly girl, I thought you are part of the research guild?"
She shoved my hand and scoffed, "I'm a creative thinker, not a strategist, we are smart in terms of inventing things, stop assuming that being smart is being like you."
"I'm not saying you're not smart though," I grinned, "Anyway, going back, first, notice how I spoke confidently in front of him as I said, it could be both, maybe we are confident that we can find a way to stop the giants, or maybe we are confident that we can get away as traitors. With confidence, I managed to make him think that we can produce actual results. Hence, here are the two soldiers approaching to help us. One is to help us, and one is to look over us. Do you understand what I'm saying Sylve?"
Sylve's eyes widened; it seems like she understood what I was trying to say, huh?
"So what you mean is-" I cut in her words and replied, "Yes, I was basically asking the General to lend us, two soldiers. In case we actually find something about Leon on how to stop the two giants, we can't possibly do it with just the two of us, and since I can't find a good reason for the General to lend us two of his men, I resorted to this underhand tactic."
I noticed Sylve's eyes sparkled; well, maybe I'm just that amazing. It can't be helped.
"What are you expecting from Leon anyway?"
Oh crap, I haven't thought about that.
"A-about t-that," I scratched my head. "I'm not sure if Leon really has something."
Sylve's bewildered eyes turned into infuriation as she heaved a deep sigh, "And here I thought you're amazing. Are we just gonna rely on your so-called hunches again?"
"Hey don't underestimate my gut notions, remember that it is what saved our lives earlier. Regardless if we succeed with this one or not, we have nothing to lose, at least we tried right?"
Two soldiers marched in front of us and bowed, the one with a claymore in his back bowed and shouted, "Good day sir Vander and miss Sylve, my I am Ludwig Schprenof" the other one with a spear did the same thing. Still, with less vivacity, "I am Indo" The two of them in synchrony shouted, "We are C-rank fighters of West Clil Yard District from Lumiere CIty, we are here to escort you in interrogating Leon as well as well as to provide assistance if needed be."
Good, good, everything is going as planned. I hope Leon will be able to provide us with some valuable information.