The X Guide

The interrogation only lasted for about half an hour. It was more because the espers were mostly uncooperative. Although they were terrified by Khal and Devion’s presence, they did not say much.

Fortunately for them, Khal was around Ayen and Dveion and so did not resort to more extreme methods this time. If anything, they only prolong their suffering in this ice prison.

The three then went to their next stop, the ice palace beside this one. It was where the two guides were detained. After all, they were guides, and even if they were captives, the treatment was a lot better than the espers.

"I don’t believe they did not know where the headquarters was," Devion pursed his lips. They were discussing the content of the initial interrogation as they walked towards the next palace.

Ayen’s hands were inside the pocket of his coat, not agreeing or disagreeing. His neutral expression remained until the very end.

Khal’s opinion on this matter was different.

"I don’t think they are lying."

Devion’s brows arched up. "Why do you think so?"

"instincts."

Devion glared at him, and even Ayen narrowed his eyes. Khal smiled at that; his mood was truly good. Even if they failed to get substantial information during the interrogation, his patience did not run out.

"Can you answer properly?"

"I’m not joking. I don’t think they are lying. But it can’t be ruled out that they withheld information about their headquarters."

Khal was more perceptive with this than Devion, not just because his senses were more honed than him but because he had interrogated countless people already.

None of the espers revealed any location to them. They said they did not know where the headquarters was, which could be true. However, they did not say where their branch location was.

This was crucial as, even if they had yet to determine where the headquarters was, he could not believe branch locations would not have any clue where it was.

Devion only pursed his lips, not convinced, but he had no clue either, so he ultimately did not say anything. As for Ayen, he was not entering the conversation at all.

For now, Khal had time on his hands. He could wait until the cold cruelly froze their minds and surrender to the interrogation on their own. Especially as they would not be able to use their powers, being restricted from activating them.

Once they entered the second palace they visited, Ayen’s eyes immediately realized what was different inside. Unlike the other palace, where one could immediately see how low the temperature was, even if he could not feel it himself, this place had a considerable temperature.

He took his hand out of the coat’s pocket and also removed the gloves from his right hand to feel the temperature. Ayen nodded; he was right.

Though it was not a normal temperature, it was not tormentingly cold either.

"They’re guides." Khal looked at him. "If possible, we won’t hurt guides unless it’s necessary."

This was a principle they already upheld. Khal might be ruthless against fellow espers, but he would not be able to do the same to guides.

Of course, if it were truly needed to, Khal would have no choice but to do so.

Their footsteps sounded as they went deeper into the palace. The same ice door was opened with the wave of Khal’s hand, and the inside was quickly revealed in Ayen’s eyes.

He blinked. Ayen knew that the treatment of the guides should not be that bad, but he did not expect it to be better than he imagined.

"Shock?" Devion draped his hand against Ayen’s shoulders, pulling him closer. "It’s the bare minimum, though."

Khal shook his head at what Devion said, but he agreed deeply inside.

Bare minimum, huh?

Ayen roamed his eyes inside; he could not say it was a room, as it was such a huge space. There was a formal dining room at the side; across from it was an artificial garden. There was even gym equipment on the other side. And circled couches at the very center with a television.

While further inside, one could see partitions. He guessed they were the bedroom and the washroom. The left side, where one could see the interior, was a kitchen.

In other words, it felt like a fully functional, luxurious home rather than a prison. It was not just different for the state of the espers next door, but it was worlds apart.

"Let’s sit first." Devion dragged Ayen by the couch, not caring about the current occupant’s thoughts. His eyes then glanced at the kitchen.

Ayen held his arm, and so they were seated together; Devion’s attention returned to him. He just knew if he let Dveion look more at the kitchen, he might have thought of cooking already.

"We just ate breakfast. I’m not hungry," Ayen said, gripping Dveion’s arm so he could not escape. If one told him Devion had a cooking addiction, he might have laughed it off... But it was true.

Once there was a kitchen, Devion could not pry his eyes off it at all. So, one needed to distract him.

Khal’s laughter rang beside them. He could tell what Ayen was thinking. Actually, it was not that Devion had a cooking addiction; it was more like he could not help but scrutinize every kitchen he laid his eyes on.

Well... That seemed not to be helping Devion’s case, was it?

Devion brushed his hair and leaned his back against the couch.

"Okay... I don’t think they have supply stocks there." He shrugged, letting go of his idea. Ayen sighed in relief.

Khal narrowed his eyes amusingly.

The kitchen had ample supplies here. Just as he was about to say that, he locked gaze with Ayen, who shook his head slightly. Khal’s lips stretched into a grin as he decided not to tell him.

Devion could cook later at their place, then.

The three had no intention of calling out for the guides as they leisurely occupied the couch. Ayen faced Khal, who was talking about his assumptions, while Devion was behind him and began braiding Ayen’s hair.