People in Bideford and the surrounding fiefs are talking about the assassination attempt on the count's youngest son. Many people are wondering why someone would assassinate the youngest son. Usually, people will go for the successor first.
This incident has caused a lot of discussion among people in Bideford. Everybody has started to make their own speculations. The most important thing that is being discussed is who's the mastermind.
Some people said it was the big boss in the parchment industry who did it. After all, everybody knows that Riz is responsible for the decline in parchment usage.
Others suggest it is an old grudge some noble against the Ryntum.
And since the attempt happened in the square, a lot of merchants saw the incident firsthand and spread the news to their hometowns. It took less than a week for the news to reach the capital, shocking many influential people there. The incident even reached the king's ears.
"Wendall, did you hear the news?", asked Nicholas I, addressing his prime minister.
"Yes, Your Majesty. I have heard it," replied Wendall, the prime minister.
"It is hard to believe that this incident simply coincidentally happened just as we are in the middle of preparations against the northern nation," said Nicholas I.
"I will investigate this matter," affirmed Wendall.
"Report to me immediately if you find out anything," he instructed Wendall.
....
As for the Ryntum family, Josephine and Reina were shocked to hear the news. They never expected that someone would attempt such an act in a public place like that.
"Did that woman plan this?" Josephine pondered for a moment. "No, there is no way. She isn't brave enough to do something like this. Perhaps it's her father, that old man is a cunning fox."
She knows the Count's personality well. Her father is a noble under Count Gyalcakes. The Count never makes a move unless he is confident.
Meanwhile, on Maria's side, she throws a lot of stuff in her room. She is enraged and slightly panicked.
*Smash* *Smash*
"Damn it, damn it, damn it," Maria exclaims, her voice filled with frustration. She has been pacing back and forth in her room, feeling betrayed and shocked. She never thought her father would take such a drastic measure.
If this incident comes to light, all of Maria's misdeeds will be exposed as well.
....
Every noble who has visited the Ryntum mansion knows that it has four floors. However, nobody was aware of the existence of another underground floor.
From the outside, Ryntum's mansion appears as a beautiful residence situated on top of a hill, offering a panoramic view of the entire town.
However, things are not as simple as that. The hill was intentionally chosen as a location to construct numerous underground rooms and passages.
Instances like this are not uncommon. It is a common practice among nobles to have one or two hidden places like this.
After all, everyone possesses a few things they wish to keep hidden from others.
Richard is currently en route to the underground floor, after ensuring that Charlotte's injuries have been properly treated. He has brought Riz along to witness the interrogation process.
This marks the first time he has brought one of his children to this particular floor.
This floor houses several rooms with undisclosed purposes that cannot be made known to the public. The captured assassin has been brought to one of these rooms, specifically the torture room.
As they descend, they gradually hear a scream resonating through the hallway. Illuminated light seeps out from one of the rooms, indicating its occupation.
The odour within this room is far from pleasant.
"Ewww... What kind of place is this?" Riz asks, expressing his disgust the moment he steps into the windowless room.
The room is dimly illuminated by only a few flickering candles. Its atmosphere is worse than what one would witness in horror movies, encompassing elements of "horror," "dread," "bloodiness," and "fear" all in a single space.
"You know what room is this...," Richard replied.
Riz knocks on the wall to confirm his suspicion. "Sure enough, it's made with thick walls," he remarks. "I guess this is why I never heard any screams or sounds from the surface."
Within the room, a plethora of tools can be observed like the breaking wheel, the iron chair and many more. The presence of these diverse and inventive instruments leaves Riz in awe of human creativity and innovation.
There, Riz sees the captured assassin positioned in the centre of the room. His body is covered in blood and injuries, providing undeniable evidence of the hell he has endured for days.
Riz gazes at the assassin indifferently. He doesn't have the slightest pity or mercy towards him. Instead, he's holding back from laughing at the assassin's sorry state.
However, his action couldn't escape Richard's keen eyes. He lets out a sigh and speak under his breath, "He takes after his mother in this aspect."
He shifted his attention and inquired of the torturer, "Has he provided any information? It has been five days already."
"We have employed numerous methods, but he still didn't open his mouth."
"It seems he has a strong mind and resolves," Richard remarks.
"If that is the case, let us attack his mind," Riz suggests.
"Attack his mind? How?" Richard inquires.
"We can sever one or more of his senses. Then, we isolate him, deprive him of sight and sound, and leave him in solitude for a few days," Riz explained.
What he aims for is sensory deprivation and isolation.
The people in the room are left stunned by this idea. They have been in this job for years yet it never occurs to their mind that they could make people speak in a bloodless way.
"Since we have exhausted all the methods we know, let's try Riz's method for now. If it proved unsuccessful, we will think of another way.", Richard concurs.
He needs results right now or all the nobles in the kingdom will think Ryntum is a joke.
The torturer there quickly follows Riz's suggestion even though they are doubtful.
....
After a few days, the assassin finally confesses, divulging all the information.
The harrowing experience of isolation and sensory deprivation took its toll on him, and he no longer wished to endure such torment.
During the time he was isolated, he felt his sanity slowly slipping away, plagued by anxiety and hallucinations. His mind became a whirlwind of bizarre thoughts.
Upon hearing this, everyone finds it absurd that simply blocking the assassin's senses led to his eventual cooperation and surrender.
Riz, feeling disinclined to explain further, suggests that they try the method themselves to witness its efficacy firsthand.
The first to try it was the head knight, William. After undergoing the experience, he no longer exudes arrogance. Likewise, the other knights who follow suit also come to a realization of their own psychological fragility.
Back to the assassin, he was sent by the president of the Republic of Cerdeauxia to aid Count Gyalcakes in eliminating the last remaining royal bloodline of the Cerdeaux Dynasty.
The president fears that Riz, may one day come to Cerdeauxia and assert his right to the throne.
Hearing the confession, Richard also knows what Count Gyalcakes try to achieve. It becomes clear that the Count aims to install Robert as a puppet count under his control.
Richard expresses his frustration, "That greedy old man! He's been running around everywhere for the sake of power. It would be highly problematic if news about Riz's lineage were to reach the royal family of Bagyarosia."
"What are we going to do now, milord?" asks Edward
"You go and detain Maria first and summon Robert to return home," he commanded.