Inside of a dark room with a single yellow light.
A young man was sitting on a metal chair, his wrists bound behind him.
A black scarf was wrapped tightly around his eyes.
His breathing was uneven.
"I swear," he said again, his voice trembling.
"I don't know anything else. I've told you everything I know."
Across from him stood another man.
He wore a dark coat and gloves despite the room not being cold.
"You've said that already," the middle-aged man replied.
"People who tell the truth usually don't need to repeat themselves."
The young man swallowed hard.
"Please," he said.
"I don't know where the Staff of Germanis is. I've never seen it. I don't even know if it really exists."
The interrogator tilted his head slightly, as if considering the words.
"I don't like lies," he said.
"They waste time. And time is expensive."
He took a slow step forward.
The sound of his shoes echoed softly against the floor.
"You should understand something," the man continued.
"If you are here, it means we already believe you are connected."
"If you did not have the information we are seeking, you would not be here."
"You do not think of me or my friends as amateurs, do you?" the man asked.
The young man's shoulders shook.
"I'm not innocent," he said quickly.
"I know that. I've done bad things. Smuggling, information trading, black market routes I won't deny it."
"But this is different. The staff of Germanis is above my level."
"If…"
"If anybody from the Kakin military hears about that, I try to gather information about the Staff of Germanis; not only my life but also my family and all of our kin would be punished."
"The punishment would not end but continue as long as my bloodline exists to live..."
The interrogator smiled faintly.
He then walked to a small table near the wall and picked up a thin folder.
He opened it, flipping through pages that rustled softly in the quiet room.
"You were seen speaking with three different brokers over the last six months," he said.
"Two of them are dead. One disappeared. All of them asked questions about ancient objects that are hidden in "Kakin," the capital city, mostly in the museum of Halinarmas..."
The young man's breath hitched.
"I just passed rumors," he said. "That's all. Rumors are currency in my world."
"And rumors often lead to truth in my world..."
He closed the folder and placed it back on the table.
He glanced back at the man on the chair.
"If something like the Staff of Germanis exists," he continued, "Kakin would be interested. Very interested."
"I swear," the young man said desperately, "I don't have contacts in the Empire. I'm not that important."
The interrogator chuckled quietly.
"Importance is relative," he said.
"I am talking to you, aren't I?"
"It means you are important to me," the man said and then chuckled as he added.
"For now, of course..."
He stepped closer again, stopping just in front of the chair.
"Tell me what you do know, not what you think I want to hear. What you actually know."
The young man trembled, then nodded.
"There's… there's a group," he said.
"Four Hunters"
The interrogator's eyes sharpened slightly.
"Go on."
"They're working together," the young man continued.
"Not officially. They met through underground channels. Some sort of a website for them..."
"Names?" the interrogator asked.
"I don't have real names," the young man replied quickly.
"Just rumors. They have two combatants and two supports."
The interrogator nodded slowly.
"And they're searching for the Staff of Germanis," he said.
"Yes," the young man answered.
"Or at least they believe it exists. Something about it being tied to an old, pre-modern civilization."
"I don't really know much. All I know is these four hunters were looking for the staff."
The interrogator's smile widened, just a little.
"Interesting," he said.
"I don't know where they are," the young man added quickly.
"I don't know their next move. I just heard they were gathering information, buying old maps."
The interrogator straightened.
"That will be all," he said.
The young man blinked beneath the blindfold.
"That's it?" he asked cautiously. "You're… you're done?"
"For now," the man replied.
After finishing his work, the man left the closed room and stepped into the corridor outside.
The heavy door shut behind him with a muted clang.
A woman was waiting a short distance away.
She had long, bluish hair that fell simply over her shoulders, tied loosely behind her back.
Her clothes were plain, yet her posture was sharp.
She turned her head as soon as she saw him approach.
"So, Lionel, did you learn anything?"
Lionel smiled faintly, adjusting his gloves as he walked.
"Are you joking with me, Etila?" he replied. "Of course I did. You know I always do."
Etila did not press him.
She merely nodded once and fell into step beside him.
The two of them exited the building together, passing through security gates and out into the open air.
Outside, the scene changed completely.
Wide grasslands stretched out before them.
Lionel spoke first.
"There's movement," he said.
"Four Hunters. Independent, but cooperating. They're searching for something old, something tied to Kakin's early history."