The Achievement Junkie

Chapter 735  Bonus Quest: Gather Intel

"Well, I'm sorry you haven't realized it but you're not being treated fairly at the moment. Unless we can confirm your identity and purpose for being here, we have no choice but to keep you restrained," responded Burja, showing his sly smile yet again. "Capeesh?"

"Ohhh… So I'm somewhere that's not supposed to exist? Great…" sighed the captive man, rolling his eyes in disappointment.

"At least you're smart, though I'm not sure whether that will work to your benefit or your detriment."

"Meaning?"

Chuckling, Burja squinted his beady eyes, "If you're smart enough to understand how unlucky you are, then you should understand what I meant."

"Well… I suppose you're not looking for new recruits?"

"That would depend on how cooperative you are during questioning."

"Five square meals a day!" blurted the naked man, lifting his hand with all five fingers stretched out while his wrist didn't budge against the restraints. "And a better bed! Something like this tin cot shouldn't even exist."

Burja, along with the two guards, broke out in further laughter, "Is there anything else you'd like to demand?"

"Well, since you've asked," replied the man, continuing, "I'll need a map to know where I ended up and how I might be able to get back home after serving my time here."

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"And where is home, exactly?"

"Home is where I'm from, duh," the man sighed, shaking his head like he was talking to an idiot. The man then looked at the male guard and asked, "Is there anyone else I can talk to, preferably someone that doesn't need me to explain the basics?"

SLAP, SLAP!

"Then I'll rephrase my question…" Burja snickered, "Where is it that you come from, this place that you call home?"

"Not from here, that's for sure."

SLAP, SLAP, SLAP!!

"Perhaps I should ask you for a more cooperative captive," jested Burja, shaking his head at the naked man. "Or maybe I should have your precious bed taken away due to improper behavior?"

"I have a bed?"

SLAP!

"What, you mean this slab of metal?!" questioned the man, giving Burha a crazy stare. "You're kidding, right? I'd sooner get a good night's sleep hanging from the ceiling than by laying on this cold hunk of steel. Go ahead, take it."

The inquisitor stared at the prisoner, and the prisoner was unafraid to stare back. Seconds passed. Neither moved nor said a word as they examined the other's determination.

"You won't talk?"

"You won't give me food?"

"If you talk, then food can be arranged."

"If you give me food, the talking can be arranged."

"What's your goal with these roundabout answers? From tone alone, I feel you're merely delaying what you imagine might be inevitable," stated Burja. "Am I wrong?"

"That depends… What's inevitable?"

"You tell me."

Nodding slowly, the naked man turned his head from side to side with caution. He scanned over the guards before motioning with his head for Burja to get in close.

"You wish to whisper?"

Nodding emphatically, the man waved his hand up and down to draw Burja in closer.

"Fine…" sighing, Burja nodded to both guards, who remained attentive, and leaned in closer. "So, what do you believe will inevitably happen now that you've arrived somewhere that shouldn't exist?"

"..." Blinking and hesitating, the naked man stared emotionlessly at the floor for a moment. But finally, he took a calming breath before putting a hand around his mouth to emphasize the secrecy. "... Do you offer vacation time for new hires?"

SLAP, SIZZLE! SLAP, SIZZLE! SLAP, SIZZLE!!!

"WHAT?! That's a valid question!" argued the man, failing to rub his steaming cheeks while shackled.

"Stop wasting time!" shouted Burja, readying another slap with even more electricity. "Will you talk or simply spout nonsense?"

The sound of sizzling human flesh continued. It was more than loud enough for the room's security cameras to pick up, making it easy for those watching the footage to follow the conversation.

"Wow. Burja's having more trouble than expected."

"Sir, I'm sure Burja is more than capable for this. Just give it some time and Burja will have the man chirping like a pitiful, cornered hatchling."

Nodding, a man in a dark, dark purple jacket leaned forward toward the security monitors. He stroked the blonde, trimmed facial hair lining his jaw as he looked to the others in the room, letting his eyes land on the man who spoke in return. "Be sure that's what happens. I'll be prepping for my daily training, so I would hope you can handle this without wasting my time."

"Of course, sir," the man replied, saluting with one arm while he squarely put his other arm behind his back.

"Good, see to it, Commander Jirah…"

As the man in the dark purple jacket left the monitoring room, Commander Jirah turned and faced the men looking away from their monitors. He dropped the salute and proudly puffed out his chest, showing off the golden emblems on the shoulders of his black jacket. "Men, inform the mess hall to line the prisoner's food with mild poison. And be sure to give note to Burja of the matter upon delivery."

"Sir, yes, sir!" shouted the half dozen guards. A female guard saluted and hastily left the room to fulfill the command.

"Good. Master Nearon shouldn't need to worry about this matter, even if it is peculiar…" sighed Jirah, turning his attention back to the monitors displaying the electrifying interrogation.

At the same time, someone watched from the shadows of the room. He was silent, undiscovered and undisturbed. His eyes were on the monitors displaying the entire facility and its outlying buildings.

'Jack is handling things fine. There's no need to worry.'

'Good, then where are we going next?'

Glancing at the map on the wall, the hidden man telepathically replied, 'Skaryn, continue to the third floor. But Nearon will be there soon, so be quick.'

'Will do, Perchet.'

'And me?'

'Sterfen, check the second floor. That's where the laboratory and archives are held.'

'Thanks.'

Hiding among the shadows of the working men, Perchet continued to scan the monitors. His caution and poise were evident as he never missed a thing, whether it was visually through the monitors or audibly through his mastery of sound. Perchet alone was the perfect means of counter-surveillance, silent and undetected while taking the enemy's information for his own.