Chapter 172: Interrogation

The soldier tries to turn his head, to see who's holding him at sword-point, but I press the blade a bit harder against his skin, just enough to nick him, causing a thin line of blood to form on his neck.

"Ah-ah, no turning around for you," I chide, my tone playful but laced with obvious threat. "Let's keep this exchange free of blood, shall we? I've got some questions, and you're going to give me answers. I'm not a murderer, so if I like what I hear, I will only knock you out and let you live." I lie through my teeth as naturally as I breathe.

The soldier gulps, clearly terrified, but nods slightly.

"Good. Now, tell me, how did you end up in this delightful situation? What happened?"

He answers with a shaky voice after swallowing a large lump. "I… I woke up, had breakfast, and started my shift. Everything was normal until my squad-mates and I started getting sick. We… we all ate the same bad food."