I signed my discharge papers in the hospital first thing in the morning. I'm getting worried about Marina, and more so about my secret which she knows. I must get to her before any other Dragon Sage interrogates her for real.
Yehanna agreed to use her Cyber Angel Dragon for my fast transport, and we arrived at the detention center a few minutes right after their office was opened. When I was asked by the policemen what my business was, I immediately presented my Dragon Sage badge.
"My name is Ulysses Corasell, Dragon Sage of the Library. I have accepted Princess Amaryllis' quest to personally interrogate the criminal, Marina Koenji-Jogudra."
"Right away, Lord Corasell." The policemen bowed.
The policemen guided me in their office until I finally reached the detention center where Marina is kept. The crimson-brown-haired woman is being detained inside a room with a table, a chair, and a lamp.
The walls are made of a one-way mirror which makes every move the mafia leader takes is being watched, and she had no way of seeing whoever is watching her on the other side. It's such a classic interrogation room.
I'm just glad that there's no hint of the fresh wound in Marina's face or body, indicating that nobody has tortured her, yet. The bruises and the cuts on her skin must have been the damage she caused when fighting her rival concubine and that overpowered Pulsar Dragon two days ago.
What surprised me more is that there is already somebody watching her from the viewing room. A tall silver-haired man with crimson eyes, wearing the official uniform of the Royal Knights. It is my best friend Ross Bedivere with his early-morning cup of coffee.
"Ross," I muttered.
"Ulysses!" Ross smiled when he saw me. "Mary- I mean, Princess Amaryllis informed me that you'll be doing the interrogations for Marina. You will need the princess's signature for the paper works and you're lucky that I am authorized to sign the papers on the princess's behalf."
"Good thing that you're here then." I patted my friend's shoulder. "I want to make some negotiations."
"Negotiations?" Ross tilted his head in confusion. "Will you please elaborate?"
I just smirked, then opened the door inside Marina's interrogation room. Yehanna followed me and stood by my side.
Marina just looked at me with a poker face. I know she's acting like that so that nobody would suspect that we are in cahoots. We're being watched by the cameras installed at the ceiling of the interrogation room. I carefreely sat on the chair on the other side of the table and faced the mafia leader.
"Marina. I have come to a solution that will work on both of us." I said.
The mafia leader leaned back and crossed her arms. "And what is that, Dragon Sage?"
"Come on, don't be like that! You sounded like I'm aligned towards most Dragon Sages who are mostly assholes. You knew me back in the Magic Academy! You knew you can trust me!" I cried.
Marina chuckled a little. It seemed to be her first laugh ever since that operation to kill Claire Magnus.
"What is it then, Lord Corasell?" Marina leaned forward.
I presented a portfolio on the table and opened it. I revealed its contents which is a Magical Contract. I started to read the contract word-by-word.
"This Magical Contract shall bind Dragon Sage Ulysses Corasell and Marina Koenji-Jogudra. In this agreement, Ulysses Corasell shall grant conditional freedom to Marina Jogudra. However, Marina Jogudra shall follow three provisions of this contract. First, Marina Jogudra shall disclose everything she knows about Deva to Ulysses Corasell. Second, Marina Jogudra shall be under the supervision and custody of Ulysses Corasell. And lastly, Marina Jogudra shall become an official Dragonoid Contractor to Dragon Sage Corasell."
"Mmm." Marina crossed her arms and her smile shifted to an intimidating one. "You thought of this, Ulysses. You know how to play the processes in our empirical metropolis system. You're like a lawyer. An evil, corrupt lawyer."
"Handsome. You forgot handsome." I laughed. "Anyway, I need you to sign this Magical Contract."
"And if I don't?" Marina teased.
"Deva will come back from hell and drag you down." I joked.
Or maybe not.
Marina noticed Yehanna who's being so composed and cool. The dark-blue-haired beauty is just there like a normal guard should be, and not reacting to anything in our conversation. But somehow, Marina seemed to figure it out just because of Yehanna's existence in this room.
"I see how it is," Marina said. "Anyway, you know that I'm going to sign this Magical Contract either way. I don't have a choice, and I trust my former classmate in the academy. I will sign your contract and be your slave."
Marina grabbed the Magical Contract and started writing her signature at the bottom of the paper. While doing so, I immediately explained myself.
"You know I'm not making you my slave. It just says that I will have supervision and custody over you."
"Okay, fine. Whatever floats your boat, mister handsome sage." The mafia lord praised me with sarcasm. "Please take care of me from now on."
After finishing the signing process, Marina gave back the papers to me. Then, she flipped her hair and leaned backward.
"Now that's all and done!" I stood up and smiled. Then I looked at my newest official Dragonoid Contractor. "Stay here for a little while. I promise you; you'll be free before the sun sets."
I turned around and was about to reach the doorknob to exit the room, but then Marina's voice mentioned my name.
"Ulysses."
"What?"
"Thank you. I know I could count on you." Marina smiled brightly as she turned to Yehanna. "And you too, Miss Dragonoid Contractor."
I know that her thanks are not about her conditional freedom. She's thanking me and Yehanna for helping her execute her revenge. Now that Claire Magnus is gone, her mind is now filled with tranquility. I'm pretty sure Benjamin Jogudra can also rest in peace now.
I finally went and meet Ross who has been watching our fake negotiations. I gave him the portfolio and Ross took a glance at its contents.
"Marina will be in my custody. I need her detention transfer papers given to me before lunch break." I said.
"Hey, you may be a Dragon Sage and I'm just a Royal Knight, but you should slow down on ordering me around." Ross forced a smile. "I'm pretty sure I deserve some 'pretty please'."
"Shut your bitchin, Ross. You don't even call me handsome." I said as I looked around. "Anyway, where are the other mafia goons that were captured?"
"Oh, Mary didn't tell you?" Ross said. "They're all dead."
"What?"
"Prince Notes Viridescia executed them all on the spot. We're just lucky that I and Mary managed to convince him to spare Marina."