The interrogation continued for some time, and I couldn't even tell how many hours had passed in that cat-and-mouse game. Every time we asked a question, the spy responded with extreme rudeness or gave confusing answers. As the king mentioned earlier, we had reached a point where we no longer knew if what he said would be true or just another lie.
In the end, I stepped back and observed the spy. It's not that I wasn't thinking of something that could help; in fact, there were some ideas circling in my mind. I was just taking some time to organize them in my head. After a while, I lifted my head and fixed my gaze on the spy. As usual, he seemed quite relaxed, even in the unfavorable situation he was in.
With a slight sigh, I began to approach the spy with slow steps. As I got closer, I felt his gaze fixed on me, his eyes seemed to capture even the slightest movement I made. A bead of sweat ran down his forehead, confirming that he was nervous.
(Maybe I can get some information if I apply a little pressure)
With this thought in mind, I approached the spy. Although his eyes were fixed ahead, it was obvious that he had noticed my presence. I began by examining his clothing, which was all black, from head to toe.
On his side, there was a small marking, as if something had been attached to his waist previously, but at the moment, nothing was there. This made me tilt my head and look around. On a nearby table, I saw a small bag, and as I approached, I opened it in the hope of finding something inside.
"When we captured him, the first thing we did was search his belongings. This bag was among them, but unfortunately, we didn't find anything interesting, at least nothing that would help us in our current situation"
The king approached and, with a clearly disappointed face, explained the situation. In the end, I decided to check for myself. When I opened the bag, I found only one item, a very worn piece of paper. One side of the paper was completely blank, while the other contained several commas and periods.
As I examined the paper, an ironic laugh echoed in the air. I turned my gaze in the direction of the laughter and found the spy's eyes fixed on mine.
"Hah, I warned you that you wouldn't find anything"
The spy said in a clear tone of mockery. Well, as the saying goes, "he who laughs last, laughs best" and I'm sure I'll be the one laughing last. With that thought in mind, I turned and stared at the spy. His eyes, though convinced, also showed apprehension and fear.
"You think so? I wouldn't say that. In fact, I think we've got something quite significant here"
I replied, keeping my gaze steady on the spy as I drew a smile on my lips. Hearing my words, not only the spy but also the king, the guards, and John were looking at me, confused and perplexed.
"What do you mean by that?"
Upon hearing the king's question, I raised the paper in my hands, holding it high enough for everyone in the room, including the spy, to see. With a smile on my face, I continued.
"At first glance, what's in this notebook probably seems like scribbles or random dots"
I explained, keeping the paper in plain view for everyone as I kept my gaze fixed on the spy. His words seemed to make him tremble slightly. I returned my gaze to the paper and examined the symbols closely.
"Follow the swim of the yellow fish"
I said suddenly and inexplicably. Though everyone appeared confused by my words, I noticed the spy's gaze twitched slightly for a brief moment. It was the only clue I needed to proceed.
"I wonder what these words mean... anyone have any idea?"
Though my response was somewhat abrupt, and I wasn't really expecting anyone to answer, in the end, it seemed the king had some inkling.
"In the Sea of Belfri, there's a school of yellow fish. They only appear once a week, so we really don't know what they do when they're not at the harbor... But what does that mean? Do you have any idea?"
The king's words prompted various thoughts to race through my mind.
(In my past life, if I remember correctly, there were some animals that could sense natural disasters and avoid them. It seems that applies to this world too)
After gathering all the answers in my mind, I looked at the spy. His gaze on me was filled with fear and apprehension. It seemed we had hit the mark.
"Some animals have the ability to detect natural disasters and avoid them. The message basically means we need to follow the fish to cross the ocean"
As my words echoed, everyone in the room delved into their own thoughts. The king immediately sent some guards to check if the theory was correct. If so, we would be closer to finding a way to reach the other continent. Meanwhile, the spy looked at me with disbelief written across his face. His formerly arrogant expression now showed fear and dread.
"How did you... How did you figure this out? This is a language passed down from generation to generation by the royal family, it's impossible for an outsider to understand it with just one look... Who the hell are you?"
Hearing the spy's words, I turned to him and approached, a sad smile on my face.
"Have you already forgotten me? Well, usually the aggressor forgets what they did to the victim, but I remember quite clearly"
I said, a touch of bitterness in my voice. After these words, I began to unbutton my shirt, then I removed it, exposing the scar on my chest. The king still stood behind me, and though I couldn't see his expression, I had spent enough time with him to imagine what his demeanor would be at that moment.
"You... you were the one who should have been killed, why are you still alive?"
The spy inquired. With his words, a contemptuous smile crept onto my lips.
"Who knows?"