Chapter 124: The Interview
[Kira POV] Year 5, Day 207
Drek's voice sounded through broadcast, amplified over the arena and beyond.
"And let's give the word now to my brother Hob. He's in one of the VIP areas to take some interesting interviews."
Then Hob started talking — his professional broadcaster voice in full swing, making the moment into entertainment for everyone watching.
"Thanks, Drek. I'm here in the Syndicate lounge. Here, like anywhere else in Central, it's party mode. Dragon race is celebration for both rich and poor alike."
Kira noticed ten-plus people around them with magical devices. Cameras probably. Recording equipment. The ones sending sound and picture to those large hologram displays across Central.
[Live broadcast going out to everyone watching. Perfect setup for what's about to happen.]
Hob guided her closer to brother's table.
Continued talking. "Here we have a table with members from the Cornelius family—it's nice to see they're still around and thriving."
Then Hob shifted focus to the real target.
"And with them we have Aldric Razorclaw. A man who has been selected seven times into the Under 100 to Keep Eye On list."
Kira noticed her brother looked a bit nervous in the pause that followed. He clearly didn't know what game was being played, but he could see his own face on the big hologram displays outside and the cameras around him. Whatever this was, it was public.
Hob continued, casual and almost friendly. "So, Aldric. How's it been getting old? Not qualifying anymore for this Under 100 category?"
Brother answered with his professional mask firmly in place — calm and friendly. "Thanks for asking, Hob. I'm on the Under 200 tracking now, so I guess I got nerfed by time like anyone else."
[Good recovery — humble and self-deprecating, exactly the kind of professional answer his public face needed.]
Hob smiled. "Aldric, do me a favor? Folks have been talking about that bet between your sisters all day. Crazy stuff. Mind explaining what's actually going on there?"
Kira noticed Aldric watching her several times — clearly expecting her to object, protest, or break character somehow.
Nothing happened. She just stood there silently in her ponygirl gear, waiting.
Finally Aldric answered, carefully. "My sisters are free to act as they wish."
"But you're family patriarch," Hob pressed. "You approved it?"
"I try to respect my family members' wishes."
[Beautiful lies. The perfect public answer that hides everything — standard patriarch performance at its finest.]
"Let's get back to the studio," Hob said. "Drek has some visitors there."
Then the big hologram display on top of the arena switched. Showed Drek and several more people behind a table.
Kira recognized two of them immediately.
The bearkin who'd tried to use the net against her in the race. The elf who'd shot arrows.
Kira felt more surprised than probably anything else had hit her today. [The paid attackers. They got them. They actually got them.]
She noticed how her brother almost jumped when he saw what was on the display. His eyes literally darted toward the exits for a second — pure escape instinct, panic barely held in check.
Drek started talking. "I have with me here Knokk—" showing a gnome next to him "—known by many fans as the biggest dragon race nerd in Central."
The gnome — Knokk — spoke with the enthusiastic energy of a true race-nerd. "It was a bit of a rush job, but I prepared a list of highlights from both sisters' races."
Then this gnome used the next five minutes to overview Raja's race.
She'd literally flown the most boring race ever — plus three other riders accompanied her the whole way, working as a professional escort to guarantee nothing happened to her.
Drek continued. "Here are those three riders."
Pictures and names became visible on the display — professional profiles, every escort rider clearly identified.
Then half the hologram displays switched back to Hob in the VIP area.
Hob started talking. "Aldric, what's your comment on the fact that those three riders were all under your family payroll?"
The hologram now showed pictures of those three riders with Aldric. From earlier years' races. Clear connections. Undeniable evidence.
Aldric answered. Still trying to maintain composure. "My family supports many riders. Raja had the right to hire some help."
"So you had no connection to it?" Hob pressed.
"Raja organized her own ride."
Picture switched back to studio.
And now one more person there behind the table. One of those three escort riders.
Drek asked immediately. "So how do you comment this?"
The rider answered with direct, damning honesty. "Aldric personally told me yesterday we need to make sure Raja doesn't do anything crazy and finishes the race safely."
Picture switched back to VIP area.
"So, Aldric. Comments?" Hob's voice carried weight now. Evidence mounting.
Aldric's composure cracked slightly. "I have the right to help family members. But I'm not commenting more—it's clearly a trap."
"No comments?" Hob sounded almost disappointed. "But let's see what the studio has more to say."
Picture switched back to studio.
Drek spoke. "Knokk, can you help make a summary of Kira's race now?"
Then Knokk — the gnome nerd — showed quite detailed footage of how Kira was attacked from the start, wave after wave of relentless assault.
Spectators made several large sounds of surprise and shock when Kira's high-intensity moments were shown — the spear kills, the brutal efficiency, the desperate defense against impossible odds.
They'd managed to count total of nineteen riders who'd approached Kira. Would probably have attacked if she'd managed to stay in the fight longer.
[Nineteen. Brother hired nineteen assassins, spent fortunes, coordinated the whole thing. And now they're exposing every detail — every payment, every connection, every link traced back to him.]
Drek's voice carried weight. "Well. Two very different races. One sister was supported and protected. The other attacked relentlessly. Looks fair?"
A long pause built the tension before he continued.
"But we also have two of the attackers here. Let's get their comments. Why did you take part in this?"
The bearkin—the one who'd attacked with the net—spoke first. "I was hired by Green Mountain Mercenaries. 1,500 gold if I took part in the attack. 50,000 gold if I made the final blow."
The elf—the archer—followed. "Same for me. Green Mountain Mercenaries. 500 gold for each arrow that wounds the wyvern. 1,000 if I wound the rider. 50,000 gold if I make the final blow."
[The complete payment structure exposed live — professional assassination pricing laid out for the public to see, every word of it damning.]
Drek continued. Educational tone. Explaining for the audience. "Let's talk about this Green Mountain Mercenaries company. It's a mercenary company made from minotaurs. Named after the Green Mountains where they're from."
A pause for the weight to build before the punch line landed.
"This mercenary company has been on permanent hire for the last twenty-one years by a shipping company located in Old Capital. This shipping company's main face and leader is Aldric Razorclaw."
[Direct, undeniable connection — twenty-one years of records leaving a paper trail no lawyer in the world could explain away.]
Kira was really surprised.
[How did these goblins dig up so much so fast? This is professional journalism at frightening speed — research and investigation that would take normal reporters weeks.]
But Aldric also didn't seem to have hidden his tracks that well. Watching him now — visible sweat on his forehead, composure cracking as the panic started setting in.
The large hologram display was now showing footage of Kira walking with two minotaurs holding her chain. They'd even managed to find the scene when she tried to run from the crowd's attention. The chain yanking back. Her actually crashing as a result.
Kira had no idea this area of the arena had recording — she'd deliberately taken the less-traveled routes. And they still got everything, every single detail.
Picture switched back to VIP area.
Hob's voice carried sympathy now. Manufactured but effective. "Yes. This is what waited for Kira after the race finished. Those mercenaries hired by her brother put a chain around her neck and paraded her around the arena."
[Bit more dramatic than reality. They followed me, not paraded. But impossible to prove the difference. And the end result looks the same on camera.]
Strong BOOO sounds from the arena — disapproval and disgust rolling through the crowd as they turned against Aldric, his methods, and everything he'd done.
Hob kept building, escalating the narrative with each sentence.
"In the end, Kira managed to get close to our booth and asked for help."
He let the weight build before continuing.
"For that help, she offered to become a ponygirl. Even offered her virginity. Yes—your sister was a one-hundred-plus-year-old virgin, and she lost it because you forced her into a corner like this."
Another pause, perfectly timed.
"And people say goblins are nasty. I would never do anything like that to my sister."
[Half-truths and exaggerations wrapped around real implications — impossible to prove what actually happened versus what's being presented. But the end result is real enough: the virginity lost, the ponygirl status. Just with the reasons twisted and the narrative controlled. Goblins being goblins.]
"IT'S A LIE!" Aldric's voice cracked loud and desperate.
"What?" Hob sounded confused. Innocent even.
Aldric stood up, losing himself to anger as he tried to prove Hob had just lied. "Kira is constantly lying and manipulating! I don't know what she promised you, but I promise she's lying! You'll never see payment, and you'll curse her for years to come! She's just playing this pony role here to make a show—she's good at theatrics!"
Hob's voice carried perfect innocence. "She's such a cute girl. She would never lie to me."
"We'll see it in ninety days!" Aldric was almost shouting now. "Maybe even faster! She'll disappear! She'll break the agreement! She always does!"
"So you don't believe it?" Hob asked, voice careful and leading. "Perhaps a test then? Would you agree to it? To prove it once and for all?"
Aldric was more careful now, clearly seeing the trap forming but uncertain how to avoid it. "What test?"
"If Kira is a ponygirl or not. Simple verification."
Long silence. Even spectators waiting to see Aldric's answer.
Aldric clearly being careful now. [It's quite easy to test bonding status. He knows that. Sees the trap forming. But refusing looks guilty. Accepting risks exposure. No good options.]
"Kira would never do it."
Hob smiled. Put a finger against Kira's neck and pushed some mana there.
A green symbol became visible on the side of her neck. Kira couldn't see it herself without a mirror. But it was clearly visible in the large hologram displays. Broadcast to everyone.
Hob explained with clear, final certainty. "See it? It's dark green. Means the ponygirl was virgin when the bonding was made — fresh and untouched. Real proof, no fakery possible. Or if you don't believe me, this VIP area has several famous mages who can verify it without any doubt."
Aldric opened his mouth. Closed it. Tried again. Nothing came out.
[Undeniable proof, broadcast to millions. His sister's virginity, bonding, and degradation laid bare for the world — all of it traced back to him as the cause. Every scheme he ran backfiring at the exact same moment.]
Then Kira got a panicked seed call from Void, his voice tight with horror. «How? The seed should block things like that!»
Kira answered calmly. «I asked Mistress and she allowed it.»
Thought a bit. Then added. «She even said it might be good for me.»
«How?» Void sounded lost. Struggling to understand.
«She probably meant something else. But it allowed me to unlock my dragon powers properly.»
She paused, then tried to offer something useful. «I'm quite sure I can transform now into a dragon that's safe to ride. So, Master, if you'd like to continue flying—you seemed to enjoy it in Dragon Sanctuary—I can help with that. Mistress would definitely approve it.»
Void just closed the connection. Abrupt. Final.
Kira saw him sitting down on a chair next to his table. Black Wings and maids around him. Hiding him. Shielding him from view.
[He's not taking this well. But he'll understand later — he has to. This was necessary, revenge and justice rolled into one.]
Hob pressed the attack. Voice carrying false sympathy. "So, Aldric. Nothing to say in your defense? No comment on how you've changed your sister's life?"
Aldric watched, half-frozen like Void — shocked, trying to process and failing.
Hob then got a bit cheeky. "But you know, in some twisted way, you may have even made a gift to your sister."
Aldric finally managed to say something, voice cracking with fury. "Gift?! What the hell are you talking about?!"
Hob's smile turned evil and perfect. "Let me demonstrate, as you asked."
Hob gave a hand signal to a servant girl nearby.
She approached Kira. Dress up. Underwear down.
And Hob entered.
[Show time. Full broadcast going out to millions, with brother forced to watch from the front row. Perfect revenge, perfect destruction.]
She felt how the dragon in her purred at the sight, and the tiger purred along with it — those two predators were one and the same in the end anyway.
Kira saw Void pass out. But he was already sitting in the chair. Several maids and Black Wings members around him. They hid it perfectly. Shielded him. Made it look natural.
[He'll be fine. Just overwhelmed. Just... processing. He'll understand later. Has to.]
Aldric watched, horror absolute and complete on his face.
[He's socially destroyed. Known for the rest of his life as the brother who did horrible things to his sister — who forced her into this and caused all of it. Forever linked to him as his fault, his shame, his legacy.]
Then she heard Spy's voice via seed network, carrying the same horror Void had a moment ago. «Kira, what are you doing?»
«Enjoying myself,» Kira sent back honestly.
«You... like goblins?» The disbelief was clear in his voice.
She answered fast and direct, before Spy could continue and make wrong assumptions. «NO. I'm enjoying seeing Aldric getting destroyed. That's what I like.»
«What about this busy goblin?»
«Happy pet.» Kira's mental voice was matter-of-fact. «I feel nothing physically, so who cares what he does?»
«You know there are like...» Spy paused, clearly trying to calculate the number, then probably gave up on the precision. «I don't know. Million or more watching this right now? You and everyone connected to you — reputations destroyed forever.»
«Nah. It's fine.»
«How can something like that be fine?» Clear confusion. Genuine concern.
Kira switched to educational mode. «You think too much based on human standards. In the latest Republic census, humans were only 16% of the population. Actually, dwarves were more numerous with 18%. Borderwatch and Central are bad examples for average population ratios — humans tend to cluster in adventurous places like border areas and big cities.»
She continued through the network. Building the point.
«Most of the Republic population is various humanoid monsters. And the Republic has important and heavily enforced Racial Specialty Law. Gives thousands of special permissions for various races based on their special needs or customs. Things like harpies and their eggs. Both Republic and Syndicate have tried to build working relations with goblins since forever, so this law contains various provisions for goblins.»
She paused before delivering the key point.
«One of the most well-known provisions is their habit of making it anywhere and anytime. Public sex. It's protected. Legal. Accepted. So if anyone has anything to say about a goblin having fun with his ponygirl—very suable and one hundred percent winnable case.»
Spy was quiet for a moment. «I think you missed the point.»
He thought a bit, then sent: «Ah. It's like Null. Common sense not always there.»
Kira felt slight offense. «It's not about common sense. I know very well what can cause issues and what can't. I would never do anything that causes problems for our household.»
«You sure?» Spy's doubt was clear. Then resignation. «Why do I even try? Technically you may be right. Just don't forget yourself too much in those awakened dragon senses.»
Kira was thinking what to answer. But decided to change the topic instead.
«There are also other bonuses with this. I can almost feel Hob's mind.»
«What?» Surprise with clear interest. «Like Null does?»
«I think it's a combination of various things.» Kira organized her thoughts. «This pony binding. Seed effects. There's definitely something in dragon bloodline related to mind magic. And most important—physical contact. If I can master it like here, perhaps I can push it to other fields. Even a small subsection of Mistress's abilities would be super useful. I meet many people every day. Getting insights into their minds? Priceless.»
«Yes.» Spy's voice carried understanding now. Approval even. «Exactly like Null. You two will make a better pair than you think.»
While Hob was busy showing probably a million people what goblins do to ponygirls, Drek's voice sounded from the broadcast.
"Let's talk a bit about ponygirls. By law, they have no rights once they put the pony kit on. But it also means they're not responsible for their actions during that time."
He paused, then delivered the legal warning.
"So don't even try to say anything negative to our little busy pony here once she's back to her everyday life. This kind of slander and lies can end up as criminal charges. Or paying back all the legal fees. We protect our ponies. Always."
Kira found it clever that they'd made it official like that. [Legal shield wrapped around professional protection. Very smart — I can't be blamed for anything happening right now, with all responsibility and liability resting on Hob. Perfect setup.]
Brother Aldric finally broke. Collapsed to his knees. Begging.
"Kira, please! Please stop this madness!"
Kira just watched him — silent and still, every inch the ponygirl.
[Absolutely priceless. An ant begging — it looks beautiful. I hope Hob can get me some recordings of it later — would fit nicely in my collection. Or perhaps on my office wall... would remind everyone of the price of challenging me.]
He begged more and more, voice breaking as his dignity shattered live — a complete public breakdown broadcast to everyone watching.
Perfect.
[And my pet goblin is also happy. Gets to show off. Others of his kind will probably bow to him for a long time after this display. Mutual benefit. Everyone wins except Aldric.]
Drek continued talking. Building narrative. Controlling story.
"Kira, you see in her everyday life, is a successful manager of a major operation in the borderlands. She's a living example that you can be successful even when in servant class. Showing the Republic's best values—to always show the best of yourself."
He paused for emphasis.
"And she did it. Even when her brother tried to destroy her successful new life."
More building. More narrative.
"Kira will soon return to her slow and busy borderlands life to make life better there. Me and Hob will help create the best opening event ever seen in the borderlands once they open their maid paradise."
Final pitch. Advertisement. Exposure.
"So visit Borderwatch! One of the fastest-growing cities in the Republic. And surprisingly—almost unbelievably—one of the safest. Come see where this brave good girl is living."
Kira saw how the large hologram displays were showing pictures of Borderwatch. Their establishment. Even coca-cola was visible in one shot. Some of the pictures looked a bit old—probably didn't have much recent footage to select from. It also showed Republic map with Borderwatch's location marked clearly.
[OMG. If even a fraction of the people who see this come to visit... all Borderwatch airships will be sold out for years to come, unless more get added. Tourism, exposure, business opportunity beyond calculation.]
Her brother Aldric finally collapsed completely, falling backward to the ground. Some begging sounds still came from his mouth, but the rest of him had already checked out.
[Total victory. Better than anything I could have planned or schemed — perfect in every way.]
Hob finally pulled his equipment out. Then guided Kira on top of Aldric's prone form.
"Squat."
Kira did as commanded, settling into position and waiting.
"Empty your bladder."
Kira was actually thinking for a second that maybe it was too cruel.
But then—NO. Brother earned this. Absolutely earned this. Deserved this. Needed this.
When she did it, Hob guided her position so not just Aldric's face got covered — but his whole body, thorough and systematic in its humiliation.
After it was done, a servant girl helped Kira fix up — clean and proper, like nothing had ever happened.
Her brother on the ground, soaked and broken — every shred of dignity gone.
He did not look good.
Kira savored the moment, burning it into memory — perfect revenge, complete victory.
The dragon in her purred with satisfaction at the destroyed enemy.
Kira enjoyed the view for maybe fifteen more minutes, watching and savoring and memorizing every detail.
Then sadly, someone from brother's table picked him up and moved him away — out of sight, gone.
She felt disappointed.
[Would have liked to enjoy more time watching destroyed brother. But at least I got the moment. Got the memory. Got the satisfaction.]
After that, Hob guided her outside the VIP area. Into some empty room. Private. Quiet.
There, Hob moved to the next ponygirl and Kira's kit was removed — efficient and professional, her freedom returned.
Hob spoke, satisfied and happy. "Okay. I guess we're done here. It was fun. Let's do it again."
His evil smile carried genuine pleasure.
Kira answered honestly. "Yes. Thanks for the help. You're a nice and useful pet to have. I won't forget to reward you next time."
"Pet." Hob smiled at the designation. "I guess that's what I am for you." He paused, then added with genuine warmth. "But I'm a happy pet."
Then more serious note. Business mode. "My brother asked a favor. If you can do it. If you have any friend like you—he wouldn't mind pet status of his own."
Kira's mind almost crashed.
[What? What did they just ask? Drek wants... what? Another dragon? Another bonding? What?]
Then she heard Spy's voice via seed network. Simple. Clear. «Null. Food basket.»
Then Spy added a warning after a beat. «They'll probably figure out who Null is eventually. Especially once they visit Borderwatch to help with the opening. Your loyalty collar gives it away—someone more powerful owns you.»
Then he added with practical concern. «And goblins are shameless enough to try courting an eldritch horror. Better to set useful ground rules now about approaching Null. Or we'll end up with dead goblins later.»
Kira needed a bit of time to collect herself. To understand what Spy said. Why he said it.
Then understanding clicked.
[Of course — Null and her food obsession. Exotic things and pleasure through taste are one of the few mortal experiences she can actually feel. Perfect offering, perfect approach. Genius move from Spy.]
"When you two come to Borderwatch next time," Kira said, "have him bring a food basket. Most exotic things you can think of. Rarest ingredients. Strangest combinations. Everything unusual."
Hob looked confused. "Food?"
"Yes." Kira pointed at the loyalty collar on her own neck. "The one who owns this—food is one of the few mortal things she can feel. Really feel. And your brother should also be ready that his soul might get ripped from his body if he does something stupid or she finds him annoying."
Hob's understanding dawned. "Ah. I was thinking who actually owns it. Elf and dragon didn't look like a logical pair."
He went quiet for a moment, thinking it over. "Don't worry. My brother is a bigger gentleman than me. More patient. More careful."
Kira laughed. Actually laughed. "And this gentleman will probably bring food baskets as gifts for all eternity if it works."
Hob was leaving the room now. Final words over his shoulder. "Then he'll do that. He knows how to be patient. Used nearly four centuries to win over his longest hunt. He can wait. He can work for it."
Kira watched him leave.
She was alone now. Free. Brother destroyed.
And the name removal ceremony that should start soon will probably be called off. Already announced that judges were weighing the case given all the new evidence, the public exposure, and the public opinion now turning hard against Aldric.
[Hob and Drek made me a real victim here. Sympathetic. Wronged. If they still try the ceremony, it would probably cause a rebellion. Public outrage. Too much risk. Too much backlash.]
[I won. Not through the race. Through revenge. Through exposure. Through turning brother's weapons against him.]
[Total victory — and I made every second of it count.]