"Name?"
"Ash... Ash Heath."
"Age?"
"Not sure, I have amnesia."
"Gender?"
"Let me check... male."
"Race?"
"Uh... not a dog, I think?"
"Past experiences?"
"I really don't know. I told you—I have amnesia."
...
Through the two-way mirror, Bloodthirsty Hunter Amy watched the interrogation unfold. She heard the cult leader's nonchalant and audacious answers, which only fueled her rage. Her pupils narrowed into slits, and her fingernails elongated instinctively.
"Captain, does this scumbag think the Sin Pursuit Bureau is full of idiots? This questioning isn't going anywhere! Let me at him—I studied interrogation techniques under a priest back in school and even earned my Level 1 Interrogator Certificate. I swear on my priesthood, I'll make this bastard spill everything, even how he wet the bed as a kid!"
"Burn your certificate," Gerard replied calmly. "Twelve years ago, the amended Human Rights Act abolished the Interrogator profession and prohibited the Bureau from using torture. Violators face severe consequences—at best, they lose their hunter license. At worst, they face over a century in prison. The council has been watching us like hawks. If Ash Heath so much as has a bad night's sleep, we'll be in deep trouble. But if you're okay with the council sinking their teeth into us, I won't stop you."
"Hmph." Amy huffed, her fury tempered with caution. She changed the topic. "What about a Memory Extractor? He's been in custody for a while now—why hasn't anyone called one to retrieve his memories?"
"A Memory Extractor won't be coming," Gerard said.
"Why not? For a case this big, we need extracted memories as direct evidence, right? Isn't that mandatory under the Criminal Code?"
"It is," Gerard said. "But he's a special case."
"How so?"
Gerard glanced at her. "He's seen the Four Pillars Gods."
Amy froze, then realization dawned.
"Not just him," Gerard continued, "but all cultists associated with the Four Pillars. Their memories can't be retrieved."
He explained, "Memory contamination is one of the Four Pillars' specialties. One hundred thirty-four years ago, I worked a Four Pillars cult case. A Memory Extractor unknowingly accessed a cultist's thoughts and ended up becoming one of their followers. That's why this cult keeps resurfacing despite our efforts."
"Then what are we supposed to do?" Amy asked, dumbfounded. "We can't interrogate him, we can't extract memories... What's left? Let him go? Or make an exception?"
"No exceptions needed," Gerard replied. "There's a specific type of capital punishment tailored for criminals like him—those who are both heinous and fuel public outrage. The interrogation here is a formality. The real trial happens on the 15th at 8 PM, with the entire city as jury."
Amy nodded in understanding but couldn't resist throwing a final disdainful glance at the "cult leader" in the interrogation room. He was still babbling nonsense about his amnesia. She stuck her tongue out mockingly before turning on her heel and walking away, her gray tail dragging behind her.
Gerard stayed behind, watching the unproductive interrogation. Per the Human Rights Act, the questioning had to be paused every 15 minutes to allow the suspect a break. Inside, Ash was sipping water, occasionally touching the wound on his chest with a curious expression that quickly shifted to worry.
For some reason, Gerard had a nagging feeling that Ash wasn't lying.
His reactions—panic, curiosity, fear, confusion—all seemed genuine, like those of an ordinary person with amnesia.
Under the Human Rights Act, conditions like multiple personality disorder, amnesia, or mental illness could render someone legally incapable of standing trial, exempting them from criminal charges.
If a Memory Extractor were allowed and confirmed Ash's amnesia, he might even be acquitted.
But this was irrelevant. The Four Pillars' influence made Memory Extraction impossible. That decision had already been made.
"Judgment isn't my job," Gerard muttered. "The people will decide your fate. All I have to do is deliver you to them."
With that, he left to pursue the next suspect.
Lying on a clean, soft bed in his well-lit cell—complete with a private bathroom—Ash stared blankly at the ceiling, holding the case files he'd been given.
The more he read, the grimmer his mood became.
He had hoped the grotesque forms of the "angels" during their final moments had been some kind of fluke, but the truth turned out to be even worse than he imagined.
The hunters' accusations were spot on: he really was an authentic, grade-A cult leader.
The gods who had "granted" him power were none other than the notorious Four Pillars Gods. They were infamous in this world, each associated with chaos and destruction.
The Lord of Infinite Radiance, also called the Tyrant, pursued endless war and a world drowned in corpses. His followers killed indiscriminately, even among their own ranks. The Ruler of Wind, Rain, and Snow, also known as the Schemer, manipulated mortals with cunning and deceit. He delighted in granting his followers' wishes, only to drive them into madness. The Eternal Flame of Life, also called the Father of Plagues, was the source of all diseases. His followers became living cesspools of infection—suffering, grotesque, and undying. The Spirit of Dreamlike Freedom, also known as the Prince of Indulgence, represented unending desire. Of all the gods, he had corrupted the most mortals, reducing them to mindless creatures driven solely by base instincts.
Ash initially suspected the hunters were exaggerating or fabricating evidence, but the files were detailed and well-documented, complete with photos and accounts of Heath's crimes. The atrocities described were so horrific that Ash felt nauseous just reading them.
If Heath was truly this monstrous, then the Four Pillars Gods were undeniably evil deities.
By contrast, the Bloodthirsty Hunters pursuing him seemed to represent the forces of justice—or at least societal stability.
In just half a day, Ash had experienced the ultimate emotional whiplash. He had thought himself the hero of a classic underdog tale, only to learn he was the villain of someone else's epic quest.
He sighed heavily, rolling onto his side. "So I transmigrated into a cult leader... and just in time for the hunters to wrap up their raid. I'm basically here to pad their performance reviews, huh?"
No matter how much he tossed and turned, his thoughts kept circling back to one grim question: How are they going to execute me?
Despite the polite interrogation, free meals, and luxurious accommodations, Ash was certain he wouldn't be leaving this place alive.
Just as despair began to set in, a crisp notification sounded in his mind.
Ding!
Ash felt a sudden warmth at the back of his neck. A glowing interface materialized in his field of vision.
Heart pounding with anticipation, he deciphered the unfamiliar text:
"Dear Mr. Ash Heath, Prisoner #4001623, the Kaimon City Hall formally invites you to be the special guest on this month's episode of Blood Moon Judgment, airing live on Channel 1 at 8 PM on the 15th. Please prepare accordingly. A designated escort will ensure your timely arrival at the broadcast venue. If you wish to opt out, reply 'TC' to this message."
Ash stared at the screen, his mind racing. Judging by the ominous title, Blood Moon Judgment didn't sound like a game show. He quickly typed "TC" into the reply box.
However, another message popped up immediately:
"As you are currently under arrest, the messaging feature is disabled."
Ash groaned in frustration. "So the last part of the message was just a joke!?"
He guessed Blood Moon Judgment was his execution, but his attention had shifted to the glowing interface itself.
He touched the back of his neck, feeling nothing unusual, yet he was certain the interface was connected to something implanted there.
It seemed to function like a communication tool, likely common in this world.
Curious, Ash focused his thoughts on the "?" icon in the corner. A cascade of information appeared:
Name: "Heath's Awareness Screen"
Version: 14.4.1
Chip Model: Miracle 13
Current Status: Messaging Disabled, Network Disabled, Channel Access Disabled, Image Capture Disabled, Kinetic Output Restricted, Virtual Realm Access Disabled, Magic Output Disabled…
"Looks like I'm stuck with a demo version," Ash muttered.
One feature caught his eye, though: Aurora's Warlock Handbook.
He blinked in surprise. "What's that supposed to mean?"