"The blacksmith shop doesn't have firewood?" Lucas sneered, "Mr. Rafal, do you think we're fools? You'll have to come with us."
"W-wait!" Wagner, usually arrogant, suddenly dropped to his knees with a thud and pleaded, "There must be some kind of misunderstanding! Please, spare him this time. I'll pay you whatever you want! You can even take over the shop if you wish. Just… please, let him go!"
It was no wonder Wagner was so desperate. His son, just recently released after being imprisoned for years, was about to be taken away again.
"I hope for your sake that your son is innocent," Lucas said, his face cold. "But if you resist, my men are waiting outside…"
"No need," Rafal responded calmly. "I'll go with you."
...
Outside the interrogation room.
Lucas quietly smoked a cigarette. In real life, he didn't have a smoking habit, but after becoming a law enforcer in the simulation, he found he couldn't stop.
The door creaked open, and two sweating enforcers stepped out. "Boss, he still refuses to say anything."
"I'll handle it," Lucas said without scolding them. After putting out his cigarette, he entered the interrogation room.
Inside, Rafal, once neatly dressed, now looked disheveled, his body covered in bloody wounds.
"Mr. Rafal," Lucas smiled, "Are you satisfied with our hospitality?"
"You really are the Smiling Reaper…" Rafal weakly muttered. "All it took was some charred scraps of paper, and you could drag someone in here for torture. Is this how your enforcers operate?"
"You seem to misunderstand us," Lucas said lightly, sitting across from Rafal. "Since when do enforcers need evidence to arrest someone?"
"You can torture me all you want, but it's useless," Rafal shook his head. "I don't know anything. Even if you kill me, you won't get a word out of me."
"Everyone who comes in here says something similar," Lucas placed a pear-shaped metal instrument on the table, smiling. "I heard that you're very intelligent, Rafal. Eager for knowledge, and became a scholar at a young age. You should know what this is, right?"
Rafal's expression darkened, and he murmured, "Pear... pear of anguish."
"Exactly. It's one of my favorite tools," Lucas casually turned the handle at the end of the device. The pear-shaped tool slowly split into four segments, opening up like a blossoming flower.
"If you shove this into a liar's mouth and twist it slowly, their mouth will gradually be forced open, tearing the corners of their lips and fracturing the jawbone."
Lucas explained the terrifying device with the same nonchalance as if introducing a toy.
Rafal's face darkened more and more.
"Well that's not its only use," Lucas chuckled. "Don't worry, we use it separately, and it's always cleaned and sanitized after every use—completely hygienic."
"You... you can't scare me," Rafal's face was drained of color, but he tried to maintain his resolve. "Torture me all you want. I won't say a word."
"You've misunderstood," Lucas shook his head. "This isn't for you. Bring him in."
As soon as he spoke, the door opened. Two enforcers entered, escorting Wagner, Rafal's father.
"You..." Rafal's eyes widened in realization. "What are you going to do?"
Seeing his son covered in wounds, the usually tough Wagner couldn't hide his pain. "Sir! My son is innocent! I'll take his place. Please, spare him!"
"Touching. Such a display of fatherly love," Lucas patted Rafal's shoulder. "Sometimes, watching someone else suffer is worse than enduring it yourself. You'll understand that soon enough."
"Prepare the device."
At Lucas's command, Wagner was bound tightly, and the dreaded device was placed in position.
As the ring was twisted, Wagner's face twisted with pain, though he couldn't utter a sound.
Rafal, sitting right across from his father, was forced to watch the excruciating torture unfold.
Even Lucas, who had arranged all this, felt a moment of complexity in his emotions.
By now, he rarely comforted himself with thoughts like, "It's just a simulation."
During the earlier simulations, especially in immersive mode, Lucas still deliberately played the role of a villain. But now, he found himself slipping naturally into that persona, without any pretense.
The only thing Lucas could do was make sure he kept the simulation separate from reality.
As Wagner's mouth began to split from the strain, even the two new enforcers looked uneasy.
"Still won't speak?" Lucas smiled. "Watching your father suffer doesn't bother you?"
"Monster! Demon!" Rafal cursed. "I swear the Anemo God will punish you!"
"If he finds me, I'll give him a nice spot," Lucas yawned. "Take a break. I'm going out for a smoke. Keep an eye on them, especially the old man—don't let him choke on his own blood."
Lucas lazily walked out, but as soon as the door closed, his face changed. Leaning against the wall, he vomited.
It wasn't a habit of Lucas's, nor was it because of the bloodshed. It was because the "protagonist" of this simulation vomited after every interrogation, as if by instinct.
"Damn it, why do they resist so much?" Lucas muttered, wiping his mouth. "It's just a matter of saying a few words."
At that moment, an enforcer appeared behind him. "Schultz has been brought in."
"I see. Take me to him."
In truth, Lucas didn't expect the blacksmith apprentice to know anything useful, but as an enforcer, he couldn't overlook any potential details.
"Don't be afraid," Lucas said gently to the trembling Schultz. "I know you're innocent. We just need to ask a few questions."
"R-really?" Schultz sighed in relief but still asked nervously, "Will Master Wagner and Rafal be okay?"
Lucas didn't answer, instead changing the subject, "How long have you worked at Wagner's smithy?"
"Eighteen years… this year will be my nineteenth," Schultz answered honestly.
"I really feel sorry for you," Lucas feigned sympathy. "Rafal was arrested at eighteen, and you've stayed by Wagner's side even longer than him. But Wagner always cared more for Rafal, didn't he? I imagine the smithy will be passed down to him."
"That's... that's how it should be, right?" Schultz replied, though a hint of dissatisfaction showed on his face. "After all, he is the master's real son."
"Nothing in life is a given," Lucas sighed. "If Rafal is found guilty, he'll face punishment, and when that happens, you'd be the only one left to inherit the shop."
Having experienced life as an illegitimate child in his past life, Lucas was familiar with the envy and resentment toward a rightful heir.
For a moment, Lucas saw the same look in Schultz's eyes that he had once seen in Eberhart's.
"Too bad," Lucas shook his head. "Without evidence, Rafal will be released."
"If... if I provide evidence," Schultz muttered, as if possessed, "would Rafal... would he never come back?"
"Of course," Lucas's heart leaped with excitement, though his face remained calm. "And not just that—you'll also receive a handsome reward."
"I... one night, I got up to use the bathroom and saw Rafal sneaking out with a box," Schultz said, trembling with excitement. "Out of curiosity, I followed him and saw... he buried the box under an oak tree."
"Excellent!"
Lucas's face twisted into a sly smile. "This piece of information is a great contribution."
"There... there's one more thing..." Schultz's expression became increasingly complicated as he mumbled, "Please... don't tell Master Wagner that it was me who informed on them."
"Don't worry," Lucas patted Schultz on the shoulder, smiling. "We enforcers are professionals."
Not wasting any time, Lucas immediately sent two men to the location Schultz mentioned. As expected, they dug up a box beneath the large oak tree.
It wasn't a wooden or metal box, but a heavy stone chest, likely designed that way to protect the contents inside.
Lucas brought the box back. Inside were some documents, books, and letters—not much in quantity, but their content was astonishing.
The materials were research collected by Rafal, all related to the so-called "Millennium Lie." The accuracy of the information matched up with historical events from a thousand years ago by over 80%.
Most strikingly, the names Eberhart and Vennessa appeared in the documents.
The records detailed the atrocities committed by the Lawrence family, the secrets behind the WindBlume Festival, and even the incident where Eberhart and the demonic dragon Ursa slaughtered a city together.
If this information were exposed, it would be catastrophic for the Lawrence family. This was far more than just a matter of "damaged reputation."
As for the letters, they were purely academic in nature—discussing the authenticity of documents and speculating on historical events.
What puzzled Lucas was that there was no mention of political discussions or any desire to threaten the Lawrence family's rule.
All the letters were addressed to someone referred to simply as "G."
...
Inside the interrogation room, the father and son continued to suffer.
One endured physical pain, while the other endured psychological torment.
Wagner had passed out several times from the torture, and Rafal seemed numb to it all.
"Still won't confess?" Lucas entered the room with a smile, addressing Rafal. "Your father's body can't hold on much longer."
Torturing a prisoner's family required delicate control. If the relative died, it could easily backfire.
"I've told you, I don't know anything," Rafal responded coldly, his face dark. "We're just innocent citizens, with no thoughts of heresy."
"Bang!"
Lucas threw the stone chest onto the floor, sneering. "This box should look familiar, don't you think?"
At the sight of the chest, Rafal's eyes widened, and for the first time, a look of despair appeared on his face.
The evidence was undeniable.
"If I confess..." Rafal said quietly, "will you spare my father's life?"
"Of course. In fact, I respect him. He's a good citizen, a good blacksmith..." Lucas nodded. "And a good father."
"Yes," Rafal began to speak, his voice calm, as he delved into long-buried memories. "Over a decade ago, I indeed came across the research of the 'Millennium Lie.' Back then, I dreamt of becoming a scholar. I had an insatiable curiosity for knowledge—especially history."
"As I studied historical records, I realized that nearly all of the past thousand years of history had been written by the Lawrence family. However, I noticed discrepancies between their version and the local folklore I had collected."
"Ahem!" Lucas cleared his throat and signaled the two enforcers to take the unconscious Wagner out of the room.
After all, the fewer people who knew about this, the better.
Once they left, Rafal continued, "These discoveries excited me. I began to collect more lost books and records. Along the way, I met others who shared my interests."
"Oh?" Lucas interjected, "Aren't you afraid I'll ask for information about these 'friends'?"
"They've gone to a better place," Rafal sneered. "A place where they can pursue knowledge without persecution."
Lucas pretended not to catch the sarcasm and smiled. "Go on."
"We compiled everything we found, held study sessions, and engaged in academic discussions. We wanted to uncover what really happened a thousand years ago."
Rafal's eyes glowed with a hint of passion as he spoke. "We uncovered truths that completely contradicted the official history."
"For instance, a slave named Vennessa may have led a rebellion against the old aristocracy."
"For instance, the demonic dragon Ursa may not have been killed, but instead left Mondstadt for unknown reasons."
"And… do you know the name 'Eberhart'? He might actually be the true founder of the Lawrence family. Not only that, but it was he who led the demonic dragon Ursa in the attack on Mondstadt."
"Enough!" Lucas interrupted sharply. "Nonsense! These are just wild speculations. Haven't you considered that these 'truths' could be completely wrong?"
"Of course, we knew it was possible that everything we believed was false..." Rafal looked Lucas in the eye, his expression calm. "But even if it's wrong, does that make it meaningless?"
Rafal's words sent a shock through Lucas. His voice turned cold. "What is the point of studying this history? Are you planning to use it to overthrow the Lawrence family?"
"As I said, we have no interest in politics. We are only driven by humanity's greatest desire..." Rafal smiled faintly. "The desire for knowledge."
"I've had enough of your kind!" For some reason, a wave of disgust surged in Lucas's chest. He grabbed Rafal by the collar, snarling, "Freedom, knowledge—what will it take for you people to just live quietly without causing trouble?"
Why can't you just live peacefully?
Why do you have to seek destruction?
Rafal didn't resist, his face expressionless as he said, "So, even the Smiling Reaper gets angry?"
Lucas let go of Rafal and frowned. "Fine. Tell me, who is 'G'?"
If this 'G' was still alive, he was likely the mastermind behind everything.
---
Author's Note: I wonder what's the other use of pear of anguish... He didn't elaborate..