I knocked on the door of Vlad’s home—a palatial manor in Section One—and he emerged a few moments later. He looked us over with a suspicious expression, seeming to sense that something was up.
He let out a startled “Wha?!” the moment he saw Verrick. His eyes grew wide with shock. “What is the meaning of this...? Why are you—”
“Is there something strange about my being here?” Verrick asked.
“Hmm? N-No, it’s just... I’m surprised by such a sudden visit, that’s all. What have you all come here for, anyways?”
“There’s something we need to ask you about, son. I dropped in last night, but I just can’t seem to remember anything after that. You know anything about that?”
“You...don’t remember anything?”
“Isn’t that what I just said?”
“Yes, I... Yes, I suppose it is,” Vlad said, then paused to ponder for a moment. “It was quite a lively evening and you had more than a little to drink. It’s perfectly normal not to remember a night like that, I’d say!”
Verrick tilted his head, wordlessly showing his doubt.
“Doesn’t matter how lively the evening gets. I don’t drink. Don’t touch liquor: hate the stuff.”
“Well, I don’t keep track of what you do or don’t enjoy! All I know is that you did drink. That’s why you can’t remember anything today. So, is that all you came to discuss?”
“No, there’s more,” I said.
Vlad whipped his neck to fix his gaze on mine the moment I opened my mouth. His bright red eyes overflowed with white-hot rage. “I am a busy man! I don’t have time to waste listening to the prattle of some nobody languishing in rank B! Get out of my sight, all of you!”
“We’re nearly done. Could we just get a closer look at that ring first?” I said. Vlad was wearing three rings on his right hand. The two on his ring and middle fingers were inset with rocks that appeared to be devil stones, but the one on his index finger was simple and undecorated. It didn’t seem like his type of accessory at all.
“And why must you see it?” he asked, half shouting.
“To be perfectly blunt: we’d like to see it because we suspect you’ve hidden a needle on that ring. One that you can use to prick people during a handshake and brainwash them.”
“Huh?! What the hell are you on about? Accusing me of such nonsense is beyond improper!”
“I’m well aware that the insinuation is a little untoward. Still, will you show us the ring? If you do, we can clear away any uncertainty and cross you off our list of suspects.”
“Of course I won’t! Now get the hell away from here.”
“No can do. We can’t leave until you show us that ring, Vlad. Proving the innocence of the women involved in the attack depends on it.”
“Hurry up and show us the damn ring,” Favel snapped. The captain had been on the fence about Vlad’s guilt when we’d arrived, but now he was speaking sternly, as he would to a suspect. Tension hung heavy in the air, and Vlad seemed desperate to be rid of us. Just looking at him behaving all shifty, I could see why Favel’s tone had changed.
“‘Show us the damn ring,’ huh? What gives you the authority to speak to me like that?”
“I operate on behalf of the Public Safety Regiment,” Favel shot back. “When people act suspicious, I investigate them. That authority.”
“And why should that matter to me?! A man of your station ought to know about the privileges afforded by rank A!”
“I don’t believe those apply to you right now, Vlad. After all, I don’t see any proof that you are A rank,” I said.
“Proof? If it’s proof you need, then...” Vlad said, looking down at his chest. He searched in vain for a moment but there was no badge on his lapel.
“No dice. You can search your house too, if you like, but you won’t find it. Your emblem isn’t there, Vlad.” I withdrew a gold pin from my pocket. It was the very same one that had been stuck in Verrick’s hand yesterday.
On the way here, Verrick had confirmed to me that he’d never had a badge reissued. He and Vlad were the only two A rank adventurers registered in the Royal Capital and furthermore, Verrick had been with Vlad just before he lost track of himself. The owner of the gold pin in my hand could be none other than Vlad.
“Wh-Why do you have that?!”