In the interrogation room, Panthonia faced a man named Polunius, the sole surviving gang member from the raid on a Salvaney stronghold the night before.
Dennisen stood outside, observing through a small window. He thought they could have captured more people alive, but Panthonia had been too aggressive. He had entered the mansion before the backup arrived, killing four enemies who didn't surrender immediately. Fortunately, Polunius surrendered upon seeing the security bureau, as he was the key target.
Panthonia seemed to have changed recently, but Dennisen couldn't decide if it was for better or worse. He worked harder and more effectively, but it also meant more killings and unnecessary punishments. These changes occurred around the time Hilsbeth appeared, but Dennisen didn't think she had influenced Panthonia. He was more concerned about Panthonia's dealings with Duke Koen. He knew they had private meetings but didn't know the details. In Dennisen's view, bureau members should focus on their orders and not get involved in politics.
That's why Dennisen chose to be an observer in this interrogation. Normally, he would find it hard to find a reason and opportunity to observe his partner. He hadn't given up on the idea of a mutually trusting partnership, but he didn't want to be the one who blindly gave everything.
"Polunius," Panthonia said, "last night, as soon as you saw us, you were lying on the ground. This is much more cooperative than expected."
The interrogated wiped his chin with four fingers as if brushing off food crumbs. "What could I do? My eyes may not be good, but I heard you guys kill everyone in the house one by one."
"I won't beat around the bush with you. When answering my questions, you should cooperate like last night. It's good for you."
"I don't know, buddy." Polunius shrugged, then clasped his hands on his thighs. "I must have been scared yesterday. Honestly, why did you arrest me? We just got together as brothers, didn't disturb anyone, and who knew you guys would suddenly..."
Panthonia stepped forward and punched him in the eye. Polunius and the chair fell backward onto the floor.
"Get up," Panthonia said. "I'll give you ten seconds to see if you can get up on your own. I was surprised that you could walk out the door on your own two legs. If you live another year or two, you'll crush yourself to death in your dreams."
Polunius, with a swollen eye, tried to sit up, but his elbow joints couldn't bend at the right angle because the flesh of his upper and lower arms quickly pressed together. He had to use his elbow to support himself and then slowly move backward so that he could straighten his back against the wall. When the back of his head finally hit the wall, Panthonia stepped on his neck with his right foot. Polunius gasped, and his face quickly turned ugly. He almost rolled his eyes up to look at Panthonia, unable to say a word.
"It won't take much effort for me to break your neck, but I won't be responsible for anything. When others come in and see your body, they'll immediately think that Polunius, because he was too fat, couldn't bear the chair, fell backward, hit his head on the wall, and broke his neck. Once this gets out, you'll be the biggest joke in the Salvaney gang or the entire Queen's District. How does that feel? Someone will finally remember you."
"Let me... get up..."
"I can move my leg and let you crawl up on your own. But don't pretend when you speak to me next. Got it?"
Polunius nodded laboriously, but it seemed more like he was trying to squeeze his eyebrows down. Panthonia removed his leg, allowing him to roll over and sit for a while, catching his breath, before propping himself up on the table.
"I'm dying," Polunius said. "Hurry up and throw me in jail for ten or eight years. Even if you let me out, I won't survive."
"Do you think Salvaney will definitely silence you?"
"Of course, if I'm the only one who survives in the room, what do you think he will do? Even if Salvaney spares me, I won't be able to stay in the Queen's District."
"Your attitude is cooperative, but you're saying too little."
"What can I do? As I said, I only know..."
"Polunius," Panthonia tapped his knuckles on the table. "Your attitude of being ready to let go of everything intrigues me."
"After a lifetime of dirty work, I'm prepared, and when it's time to give up, I'll give up. Saving my life is what matters."
"You haven't said everything you should. Like about your daughter."
"Daughter...? I don't have a daughter."
"You do. She's eighteen, studying at Stormwind Second National University. You opened an account for her at the Stormwind Bank under her name, with enough money for her tuition and living expenses for five years. Of course, you didn't let anyone in the gang know about it. From this point of view, I admire your secrecy."
"No, what are you talking about?"
"I haven't talked to her yet, about her father. But that's not important. What's important is that we know she's your daughter, and we have the right to freeze her account and have her expelled from school."
"Protect...? How can you say this is to protect her?"
"If this isn't protecting her, then what is? Spread the word to Salvaney that Polunius has been hiding a daughter outside, and now plans to entrust her to you?"
"No. Don't touch my daughter, or her money." Polunius tried to stand up.
"Sit down."
"Why are you telling me all this?" The interrogated sank back into the chair, his right hand shaking like a giant snail on the table.
"Because of your mistake, Polunius. I told you not to pretend, but you intended to brush it off again, telling me those irrelevant things. Anyway, your daughter's future is assured, and you can live securely in jail—what a beautiful future you've planned. But let me tell you, that kind of future doesn't exist unless you're willing to give something. About Salvaney, tell me everything you know. Now."
For the next forty minutes, Polunius talked non-stop. Salvaney's recent activities, possible criminal plans, internal changes within the organization, and things Panthonia hadn't expected to learn. But one thing mattered most to him.
"Salvaney drove people like me, his former assistants, away because he installed other people by his side. Outsiders. He spent a lot of money hiring assassins from that... Ravenholt, the estate. The ones trained by that famous... Jorach."
Panthonia frowned, listening intently.
"It's all because of your tricks... bribing our lower-level manpower, making beggars tail us, and so on. Now Salvaney trusts no one but himself. But he still needs someone to do the work, so he brought in those assassins. Let me tell you, because I opposed the idea, he kicked me out. When I saw the price those guys demanded, I thought, this gang is finished, not relying on its own brothers but spending so much money on outsiders. I guarantee you, even if you leave it alone, it won't be long before Salvaney falls by his own hands."
"Do you know what jobs he arranged for these assassins?"
"I don't know, didn't I tell you I got kicked out? But if you ask me, Salvaney probably wants to stir up something big... he's always been a madman. Knowing he's on his last legs, he wants others to remember his name no matter what. Be careful. I'm tired, buddy, and I have nothing more to say. Give me some water."
"My job is just to interrogate you. Other matters will be handled by someone else."
"What, are you leaving? What about my daughter, what about my daughter?"
"You can rest assured."
Panthonia stepped out of the room, locking the door behind him. "Did you understand everything?" he asked Dennisen.
"I never expected this. Driving away the old confidants and hiring assassins from elsewhere to do the job? Polunius was right, that guy is born crazy."
"Not necessarily. He rose to power through an unexpected war back then. Perhaps he wants to do something similar this time."
"So... what's your plan?"
"I have other matters to attend to, you handle Polunius. Also, freeze her daughter's bank account and talk to her in person."
"Is that necessary? Didn't you say..."
"I haven't made any promises to him. Or do you think I should be the one to talk to her daughter?"
"...Forget it, I'll go. Anyway, I don't think she did anything wrong."
"How do you know?"
"Okay, okay. My bad. I judged too early. But I suggest that if she's innocent, let her use that money freely after Salvaney's arrest. Is that okay?"
"It's worth considering."
Panthonia walked out of the security bureau's gates. He needed to find a way to verify the crucial information about Polunius because he had never heard such news before. But he didn't think it was a lie because Polunius mentioned a specific name: Jorach. Ten years later, those trained by Jorach Ravenholt were opposing him. His name had spread to Stormwind.