TF Amethyst

TFA1 5.7 - A Ray of Hope

Observation Room, Amethyst Merchant HQ

01:25, 7 Jul 2025

After information was obtained from Northern Coalition's leaders, the next process was to confirm the truth. The method was by mixing the interrogation formula into Northern Coalition leaders' drink.

The interrogation formula would not make Northern Coalition’s leaders automatically speak the truth. However, for a few hours it would hinder their ability to think. In short, they would only be able to access their memories whenever they answered a question.

Before targets receive the interrogation formula, they must also be conditioned as relaxed as possible. If targets felt a pressured even only a slight, they would subconsciously form a self-defense which would reduce the effectiveness of the interrogation formula.

Slowly but surely, the Northern Coalition’s leaders sank under the influence of interrogation formula. Every time they received a question, they would answer it at length with pleasure, and even though their sentences were irregular and chaotic, personnel from Intelligence and Diplomacy Group were still able to confirm the truth for each of intel they had previously provided.

The problem was that after all the confirmation had been made, they still had no clue about involvement of Northern Coalition’s leader with incident in Berril Plain.

Vex took a deep breath before turning his head towards Major Maxwell. "Are you sure there was nothing wrong with the interrogation formula?"

"I and two other officers confirmed it before the interrogation formula was given." Major Maxwell massaged his forehead before continuing. “Northern Coalition’s leaders are not involved in Berril Plain incident, unless they have had a training to counter modern interrogation."

Vex once again let out a long sigh. "I'll change TF Pollux’s menu to standard hostage rescue until we identify our target. Meanwhile, invite and dig up as much intel as possible from Northern Coalition's nobles."

Major Maxwell firmly answered, "Understood."

---

Super Supreme Room, Maple Palace Hotel.

07:05, 7 Jul 2025

Lady Naomi walked over to Count Weizz with a cup of warm black tea. "The quality of sugar and black tea at this place are amazingly good, and they provide it massively."

Count Weizz accepted the black tea with a smile. "Do they treat you well?"

Lady Naomi nodded slightly. "Don't worry, the facilities, culinary, and other service in this place far exceed the standards of Royal Mansion in Makai Royal City. Lady Mier and the hotel's manager are also very kind to us."

"Good."

Count Weizz made a satisfied smiled before taking a sip of his tea. A moment later, he put his focus back to the list of nobles from Tarai Region whom he would summon to Magwurt City.  

When Count Weizz a few days ago asked her what if she had to stay in Magwurt City for indefinitely, Lady Naomi immediately realized that her husband was considering the option of relinquishing his position as ruler of Tarai Region, and asked for protection from Tuscan Region in return.

Lady Naomi's suspicion got even stronger after her husband asked her and her children to go to Magwurt City with him.

If not careful, a noble family that lost their power could end up tragically at the hands of those who hold a grudge against them. That's why, since the first day she became Count Weizz's wife, Lady Naomi has begun to make preparations if the worst scenario happened to her family.

So, it was natural that even with a very limited time Lady Naomi still had a time to pack a large number of banknotes, gold coins, and other liquid assets belonging to Weizz Family.

She also had time to send a message to her family, that they should start sending their assets out of Tarai Region along with the most important family members of the younger generation.

--- 

Balcony of Main Study Room, Villa Hagel.

08:00, 7 Jul 2025

Lassac looked over at the side yard where his prisoners were mixing soil samples taken from the fields with charcoal, sand, and some other material. He was clueless about agricultural techniques, but he could tell that Peggie's methods were much better than the previous Maester.

The previous Maester directly applied their technique to the fields that required the remedial measure. Meanwhile, Peggie and her colleagues took a sample of the soil and then did the experiment using small plots and documented the progress of each testing plot. The experiments were also not limited to one or two solutions, but 14 solutions simultaneously applied into 14 separate plots.

'I've got to get the other stuff that Peggie ask as soon as possible,' Lassac muttered as he looked at the long list in his hands.

Peggie asked for dozens of items that at first glance had nothing to do with agricultural engineering. However, because Peggie insisted that these items were very important for her experiments, Lassac promised to get them as soon as possible.

Lassac also greatly admired the lilies that Peggie and her colleagues planted. The lilies were a legacy from his father and were planted in pots. But now, it was moved to the front yard and formed a very large and striking '505' pattern.

Lassac did not understand the meaning of the symbol, but since Peggie said the '505' pattern represented luck and blessings in farming, he did not ask any further.

Moreover, every morning and in their spare time, Peggie and her friends would nurse the Lilies wholeheartedly as if they were precious treasure.

"Hopefully, our efforts are not in vain."

For more than a month, Lassac prepared his men so that they were able to pass through Landei Gorge while pulling Cloud Hawk on a wagon. It was not easy feat and required steel determination, not to mention he also had to lose several of his loyal subordinates.

However, the toil and casualties he had to pay to kidnap Amethyst Merchant's personnel was nothing compared to the rewards he would obtain.

Lassac smiled faintly before returning to his desk. He couldn't wait to write a report to Baron Eslei that the farmland in Liqua Region could be saved.

--- 

XO Office, FOC South 860.

16:15, 14 Jul 2025

Over the past week, huge amount of information had been gathered from Northern Coalition’s nobles. However, there were no specific leads related to the incident on Berril Plain. Even so, it did not mean that hypotheses could not be formulated.

Of the dozen hypotheses that were compiled by IDG’s personnel, one of them caught Major Maxwell's attention, and he immediately shared it with Vex. 

The condition of farmland and food stability in Liqua Region was in a very bad shape. Last year, the farmland in Liqua Region turned out was no longer suitable for Nouel and could only provide about 60% of food needs. Meanwhile, this year the figure fell to 45%.

After the peace agreement was signed, Liqua Guard even had to carry out house-to-house inspections to confiscate foodstuffs. Currently, Liqua Region's residents could only rely on the distribution of porridge twice a day which was managed directly by Liqua's authority. The Liqua Region's higher-ups had concealed the truth from their people, but IDG’s field personnel had already confirmed it.

Major Maxwell cleared his throat before adding, "And to this day, the only influential figure from Northern Coalition who hasn't come here is Baron Eslei, on the excuse that he is seriously ill."

Vex immediately asked, "What do you suggest?"

"Focus our search on Liqua Region and launch intensive observations at Baron Eslei's residence."

Vex immediately checked the log-book for mission and operational rotation of ACG's assets in his tablet. After studying it for a while he said, "We will maintain aerial tracking in other two Regions, as well as add four Reaper and two Poseidon to Liqua Region."

Major Maxwell instantly smiled. "I will immediately prepare a team to observe Baron Eslei's residence."

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