"Identify yourself!" Michael turned around with military authority.
The other officer kept Ren still with his gaze.
"I am the manager of this hotel, sirs. I heard loud noises and I thought I should come check. Is everything okay? Did anyone get hurt?" came the old's man answer, reeking with concern.
Sly old man!!!
Ren rolled his eyes internally.
"Everything's okay sir. The kingdom shall compensate whatever damages done to this property…."
Pulling out official documents, he held them where they could be seen clearly, "This is an official arrest warrant for Prince Ren. He has been summoned by the king for a court hearing. We're sorry for any inconveniences but please sir, you can return to your official duties. Ignore us."
Everything was stated with a monotone that could only come from a hardened soldier—a voice that left no room for disobedience.
"O-oh okay. Alright, I understand. Carry on sirs..." the old man bowed a bit before walking away, walking stick light clicking against the tiles.
Well, I guess that leaves with only one option. Go with these mean looking guys. I know for sure that sly old man will be lying in wait. Even if I really did escape, he would be ready to strike me down.
Wait, these fools were given an arrest warrant!!!!!!!
Ren's eyes flared, anger seething through him, "Is that how you arrest people—dead? No information, no announcement, no stating of rights… you just straight up launch a full assault!!!!! On a prince moreover! What kind of crime did I even commit to be treated like this?!!!!"
"I apologize Prince. That's a mistake on my part. We were given intelligence that you were rebellious and you wouldn't surrender until this whole building was leveled. We were allowed to use force to knock you out without question. But you're a prince, sir and your power could rival our own… we had to be quick and sudden."
Ren's eyes travelled down Michael's arm and he swallowed hard.
The punch my face ate came from THAT arm????!!!!!!!!
But it's only lean. No arm that size is that devastating.
Ren's gaze drifted to the door embedded in the wall behind him.
Heck, even an arm ten times that shouldn't be that devastating.
Is this the power he was talking about? And every prince has this kind of power?!
Ren's gaze returned and settled on the military man's stern face. He smiled politely.
Both men raised up an eyebrow in sync. Why was the prince smiling?
Meanwhile in Ren's mind;
SSSHHHH*****T!!! WHAT KIND OF WORLD DID I REINCARNATE INTO?!!!
He said every prince had that power but I've swallowed his punch hard and I know for sure that I don't have it!!!
And these are the guys I'm set to go against in the political world?
SH*T! I'm screwed!
Ren suddenly felt small. Yes, he had ESP but the men before him could punch the ESP out of his ass.
He extended his wrists out. "Kind sirs… do what you got to do. Take me. Just don't punch me again. I promise I'm all yours."
The military men blinked in surprise. Something was off with this prince. A lot of contradictions to known intelligence. Not to mention the insane healing capabilities he just showcased. That was the fishiest thing about him. An intense interrogation was critical.
***
Ren now sat at a table, in the center of an all-white interrogation room.
The two officers Michael and Rodger stood outside, watching Ren through the one view glass.
"You know what I think the prince is...a mortal reaper."
"Oh come on Michael, You're a grown man. Don't tell me you believe those myths. What next, you're going to tell me the king is a god? HA"
"No, think about it. If two men, one blind and the other normal sit across from each other, do you know what each of them sees? The blind man will see darkness. The normal man will see the blind man and everything around him. If asked what they each see, they will say exactly that. Two different answers but neither wrong…."
"Stop speaking in parables Michael,"
"I guess what I'm trying to say is. Reality is relative. One man's myth could be another's reality. What if the mortal reapers are a reality to someone out there? Someone like the prince… You saw it for yourself didn't you? The way he seemed to come back from death."
"Where's my brother?" a new arrival interrupted—a woman that looked to be in her late twenties, face breathtaking, attire formal like a lawyer and confidence unmatched.
Natasha Vaelthorn, Ren's older sister.
With sharp strides, her heels clicked against the marble floor, heading towards the interrogation room.
Michael without a word, reached out and opened the door for her.
When Ren saw his visitor, he was mesmerized by her aesthetic. But something was off with the air around her...
Is she angry?
As if to answer his question, a slap landed flat on his cheeks. His head turned sharply from the force. He swore his neck was on the verge on snapping again.
Eyes widening in horror, he turned back to look at her, the left side of his face stinging and swollen.
You too?!!!!
Ren felt like crying.
Why does everyone here carry the weight of a bus in their hands?!
Without remorse, Natasha sat down at the opposite side of the table, throwing her hand bag carelessly on the table and crossing her hands over her chest.
"What's wrong with you, Ren? How much do you want father and mother to suffer for your actions?"
"Mother? Father?... Are you my sister?" Ren mumbled, eyes glistening. He didn't mean to sound confused but it was hard with the stinging pain over his face.
Michael and Rodger raised an eyebrow in sync again.
Natasha blinked. She had expected Ren to lash out at her, fight back perhaps. But this? What kind of act was he trying to display here?
Ren regained some clarity realizing how he could turn this situation into his favor.
I've seen a lot of court cases where the suspects escape probing question by simply saying, "I don't recall", In my case, I really don't recall. I can build the story from here and carry it into the court room. I don't know what the previous Ren Vaelthorn did and that could work for me. Ren really was troublesome individual.
"I'm sorry whoever you are. You seem to be upset about something I did and I'm deeply sorry… It seems I lost my memories. I cannot recall anything other than what happened today and that is, I woke up and dressed up. Before I knew it, a punch landed squarely on my face and I went unconscious. When I woke up, two officers brought me here. They said I had a court hearing in three days. Can I please know what I did to warrant my arrest?"
Perfect.
Natasha was too stunned to speak. The person sitting across from her seemed like a completely different person. He looked like Ren, but his demeanor the total opposite. Had he really lost his memories?
"I don't know if you're playing a trick on me or not but I'm ready to play along. You Ren Vaelthorn, stole something, an artifact— a pair of chains. And here in the 4th kingdom, theft is a very very serious offence punishable by public execution. The king himself, your grandfather will issue your punishment. He is the most ruthless judge in existence. There's no mercy even for his family…"
Natasha paused. Why was Ren suddenly smiling?
Meanwhile:
SH*TT!!! Public execution= public signal= army of mortal reapers hunting me= actual death!
Why does this world want me gone even before I have seen 1 percent of what's in it?
King? if a prince is as strong as those military fools. How much stronger is the king?
Three days. I have three days to lose my life permanently.
I must find a way out of this... I mean I've only just started. Can't a man get a break.
Ren swallowed hard.