- The Curse Tool was analyzed and determined to be the 'Cursed Clout.'
> Curse Tool: Cursed Clout
iv) Shadow Clout (Passive): When in contact with a shadow, the user can use it like a cloth to conceal themselves.
Additional Effect: Shadow Clout Folding
i) The user can instantaneously fold the shadow they are in contact with to travel from one end of it to the other or anywhere in it, excluding the shadows overlapping the chosen shadow.
i) The Toymancer tier is currently too low to fully analyze 'Cursed Clout.' The cursed toybox can only provide an analysis of the effects permitted by the Toymancer's current tier.
ii) Upon reaching the required tier while using 'Cursed Clout,' the Toymancer will gain the 'Clout Assassin' subclass and access to its associated abilities.
iii) Due to the Toymancer's low tier, the size of shadows foldable using the passive effect 'Shadow Clout Folding' is currently limited to 50 feet. This limit will increase as the Toymancer's tier advances.]
"How did you do it?" Matthews asked, her voice sharp, her expression grim. Inside the C.I.B. interview room, she sat across from Ace, arms crossed, eyes drilling into him. She still couldn't believe that the psycho who had blown up three high-profile mortals inside her C.I.B. headquarters was the innocent-looking boy sitting right in front of her.
Ace leaned back in his chair, completely at ease. "Oh, you mean this?" He slowly lifted both arms, clenched his fists, and almost extended his middle fingers—Almost. Halfway up, he hesitated. Yeah… flipping off Mrs. Martins right now? Probably not the best idea. Especially when she was pissed at him and there were no trustable witnesses around.
Matthews' eyes narrowed as she watched him, her suspicion deepening. How the hell was he so calm? He was the prime suspect in the gruesome murder of three influential mortals, yet he sat there acting was some casual chat over coffee.
What really got under her skin, though? The cursed array of the interview room.
This entire interview room was designed to suppress curse energy. Inside these four walls, the suspects couldn't manipulate curse energy i.e. they couldn't use their curse arts, or activate their curse tools—turning even the most dangerous curse users into helpless mortals.
Yet Ace sat there, unbothered. That didn't make sense. Even innocent suspects tended to get antsy in here, if only because the room itself made everyone feel powerless. But him? He looked like he was back in his bedroom.
Her frustration mounting, Matthews paused the interview and ordered her agents to recheck the cursed array not once but three times, and each time, the result was the same: 'Ma'am the array is working perfectly fine.'
Eventually, with no other choice, she let out an irritated sigh and turned back to Ace. Fine. If the usual tactics weren't working she'd just have to figure out a different way to break him.
"Ace, stop acting clueless. You know what I'm talking about," Matthews said, her voice sharp but measured. "We have multiple witnesses who saw you arguing with them just minutes before they died. Just come clean already—make this easy for both of us. That way, I can stop wasting time figuring things out and actually help you."
She leaned back slightly, softening her tone just enough to make it sound like she was on his side. She'd learned the hard way that coming down hard on Ace got her nowhere. Maybe if he thought she was helping him, he'd finally crack.
"I thought this was about that madman who blew up those people and later tried to kill me. Are you trying to cover for him by framing me? Is it because he's one of you? Fine, I'll play along," Ace sneered at the Matthews before beginning his act.
"Arguing?" He scoffed, shaking his head in mock disbelief. "That's just slander. I was there praising them—thanking them for their tireless efforts to keep drugs off our streets. I mean, seriously, I'm their biggest fan! I could never even imagine harming them." He gasped theatrically, eyes wide with fake innocence. "Clearly, someone is trying to frame me for their murder."
Matthews remained indifferent to Ace's accusations and didn't buy a single word he spoke but patiently observed his theatrics. Ace was far from done. He suddenly leaned forward, his voice turning desperate—his whole demeanor shifting into that of a man on the verge of tears.
"Mrs. Martins, you're my only hope." His voice wavered just enough to sound believable. "I can't go to jail. I'm the only son of my family! Without me, who's going to carry on the Lander lineage? You have to help me prove my innocence. I—I can only put my life in your hands. I trust your judgment. I will be eternally in your dept."
He sniffled dramatically trying to force out a few tears, but damn it he was just too damn happy to cry. So, he could only work with what he had, eyes slightly watery but way too dry for someone begging for his life.
Matthews didn't react but in her heart, her rage toward him kept growing knowing that he was mocking her. Still, something about his absolute calm gnawed at her. Even in this cursed array interview room—where all curse energy was supposed to be locked down, making curse users no different from mortals—he was sitting there, completely at ease.
What she didn't know was that Ace had known about the array formation before even stepping inside. Thanks to Dame Wasp, who was sharing his senses, he had seen it coming and planned to counter it. His toy summons were using the status screen to instruct Cursed Toybox to manipulate curse energy on his behalf.
This meant—unlike every other suspect that had ever sat in that chair—Ace was still in control of his prowess, though in a roundabout way but it was better than nothing. That was why he wasn't scared.
"First off," Matthews began seeing Ace was done with his performance, her tone steady but firm, "a special team has been assembled to investigate this incident. So, whether you cooperate or not, the truth will come out eventually." She let that sink in for a second before continuing.
"Secondly, Special Agent-in-Charge Sir Beyton has been temporarily suspended from the C.I.B. He's been detained, stripped of his authority and privileges, and is currently awaiting both the special team's findings and his formal hearing."
Ace remained impassive, leaning back slightly in his chair, but she wasn't finished.
"However," she pressed on, "he was very cooperative during his interview. He's willing to take full responsibility for his outburst, but—" she paused, watching Ace closely "—he claims you taunted him about the explosions before, during, and after the incident. That is what led him to believe you were responsible for the murders.
"He insists he only acted to restrain you—swiftly—before you could cause further harm," saying that Matthews studied Ace's face for any flicker of reaction, but he gave her nothing.
"That's his side of the story," she added unable to get any true reaction from him. "And many eyewitnesses support it. This interview is your opportunity to tell your side. I sincerely hope you don't waste it." She leaned forward, clasping her hands together on the table. She did plan to help Ace and hoped Ace would let her help him. Of course, her help came with a price, she wasn't running a charity here.
Ace tilted his head slightly, then let out a slow, deliberate exhale before breaking into a smirk.