"Great!" Ushida’s expression brightened as he raised his hands. "That will be all."
Though it seemed like the interview was over, Dante was left gritting his teeth.
’There is no way he didn’t notice...’
[That seems to be the case.] Said Volcan. [There was a slight change in his facial expression. Barely noticeable.]
Just like how the Rose and Mr. Pike curate their answers in order to avoid falling victim to the sorcery, Shirogane Ushida clearly did the same with his questions to bait people into revealing things.
His last question was about whether they had malice or ill intent toward Klaus Stahlwölfe. Since the sorcery compelled them to give a truthful answer, but not one that was complete, the answer allowed him to learn a lot more about their intentions.
There are four types of answers to that question. The first one would be that they had malice and ill intent, which would make them an enemy that intended to bring harm to Klaus Stahlwölfe for personal reasons. The second would be that they have no malice and no ill intent, which would mean they are safe.
The third and fourth were no different from the first, but the small differences are what reveal one’s true intentions. Having malice but no intent meant you’re an enemy, but don’t plan on causing harm. On the other hand, having no malice but ill intent meant that you plan on causing harm, but not for a personal reason.
Mr. Pike’s answer was practically an admission that he planned to harm the Stahlwölfe scion, even if it wasn’t out of hatred. With that in mind, Dante didn’t know how things would proceed from there.
Ushida stood up, and so did Rose and Mr. Pike. Dante watched as they moved close and reached out for a handshake, expecting things to go south at any moment, but nothing seemed to happen, which only extended the uncertainty they had to live through.
"Mr. Klaus is awaiting your arrival." Said the head of security. "Please, follow me."
The situation went from bad to worse, and Dante was left with no idea of what to do next. The other must have realized it as well. Their options were exhausted, leaving them trapped. Following the powerful sorcerer would turn them into lambs heading straight to the slaughterhouse, but if they were to retreat now, it would reveal that they know much more than what they let on.
Dante wanted to tell them to get out of there, to abandon the plan and just escape. At least if they manage to escape, it would remove the risk of more info being extracted from them, which would threaten everyone else participating in the heist. But would they even be able to get out of there?
[I would like to suggest overheating their NIMs to-]
’And here I thought you forgot all about it.’
Dante felt his exasperation quickly build up. Opening his eyes, he looked at the cup in front of him. The coffee had long since lost its warmth. Across from him, Finn was enjoying a plate of pancakes. He averted his gaze when their eyes met, appearing a little guilty for some reason.
Thinking for a few moments, Dante closed his eyes once again and returned to seeing the world through Rose’s eyes.
’Wait for my signal.’ He thought aloud.
Shirogane Ushida led the way to an elevator different from the one they took to the thirty-sixth floor. Going by the distance they had to walk, it seemed to be on the other side of the building.
"This does not seem like a route meant for guests." Said Mr. Pike just as the doors closed.
"Indeed. This elevator is for staff members." Said Ushida. "Guests scheduled to meet Mr. Klaus are usually admitted into one of the higher floors, which have a direct elevator to his mansion on the thirty-seventh floor. But since you came from below, this would be the swifter method to reach it."
Dante had already learned of that fact after analyzing the 3D model they obtained of the hotel. Blue Ember was divided into several columns, with some elevators being incapable of going beyond the ones they are designated for.
It was just another security measure on top of the access keys guests use to reach their floor. This way, even if someone were to take control of the elevator from the inside, they would find themselves unable to travel beyond a certain point.
Of course, the thirty-seventh floor was an exception. There were no elevators that reached it from the first floor. It had one that linked it to the roof, and a few more linked to the thirty-sixth and thirty-eighth floors. That was what made reaching it by accident almost impossible, and since those elevators were the only routes to reach the thirty-seventh floor, they were undoubtedly heavily guarded, even if it didn’t appear that way.
The elevator ride didn’t last long, and when the door opened, Dante was met with an odd sight.
The light that seeped into the elevator felt different from that of the fluorescent lamps found practically everywhere. Instead of marble flooring, the path ahead was covered in dirt and grass. Not the persistent weeds that grow through the cracks in abandoned roads, but actual green grass. Far ahead, trees lined a narrow path, their trunks a dark brown color.
"I hope you don’t mind the untamed ground." Said Ushida as he stepped out. "Mr. Klaus enjoys being close to nature, but due to his busy schedule, he’s confined to the city a lot of the time."
"I have heard rumors, but..." Said Rose. "Are all of these real trees?"
"That is correct." He answered. "A lot of care had gone into cultivating the greenery of this floor. The trees surrounding us, the dirt under our shoes, the birds and animals, all of it has been prepared to recreate a real, living forest. It is an enclosed ecosystem that depicts something that is quickly disappearing from our world."
"That is... quite remarkable..."
The rest of the trip was shrouded in silence, and though they were surrounded by a rather pleasant sight, the atmosphere couldn’t be any heavier. Soon enough, the woods opened up and revealed a wide, circular field. At its center, a majestic white construct stood tall, like a monument from an entirely different time.