Chapter 231 - Puppets
"Oh I see. So that's what's going on," said Yuki as he made a realization. "I didn't think that something like this could exist but I guess that's my fault for under estimating the versatile and complex plans that GNE can put into action in just a couple hours. To think that they would be able to send a human doll to conduct the interview. I mean I guess it would be the safest option for them since they could ask whatever questions they want and would have no reason to fear any consequences since I wouldn't be able to send any real threats to them," Yuki said to himself.
Even if he could go after them once the interview had come to a close, it wouldn't matter since his reputation would already be in ruins. Not to mention that further attacks on GNE, that being the organization to "expose" him would only add salt to the injury as his reputation would further suffer more than it would have originally. As such, it wouldn't matter if Yuki gave little hints to the interviewer that he should stop asking such questions as it wouldn't help his case.
"Wait. What if I try…" Yuki said to himself as he thought of something that might just get him out of that situation."I understand your concern as to who I am but I can assure you that I am not the same man as that mass murderer who kills for no reason. We just happen to have the same name. There's nothing in common other than that between the two of us," said Yuki with a fake smile as he replied to the human doll which was responsible for interviewing Yuki..
"There's no way that it could respond to my reply and turn the response against me! That's just far too complex of a command for it to follow. Even if GNE does have incredible connections, there is absolutely no way that they could secure someone who would be able to gather intel on this level," Yuki told himself proudly as his worries began to disappear
.…
"That's quite a troubling statement Yuki Kaito. After all, the facial features of you and the so-called second human which has the same name as you have quite a lot of similar features. Might there be a reason for this coincidence, unless of course you claim that the criminal known as Yuki Kaito is your evil twin or clone," said the man that was interviewing Yuki in a rather sarcastic tone while still taking down notes at speeds which were unheard of.
"Huh, but how?! If he's just a simple ability constructed doll, there should be no reason for him to be able to think of a reply as complex as that! It is simply illogical for an ability to create a second figure with complex thoughts and movements. This is quite a troubling matter. Only time will tell how bad things will get if I don't put this to a stop as quickly as possible," Yuki said to himself as he tried to understand what had just happened.
"Let's see. If I just think of this situation as a process of elimination, I can probably come to a reasonable explanation. First of all, it's probably not a real human or at least fully human since it doesn't care what threats I throw at it. Secondly, it's not a doll which is alive on its own since it would be far too complex to manage and control. Not to mention the fact that it can come up with fairly complicated answers to my questions. The drawback to something as powerful as that would be too great. Even if someone's actual body was being controlled like a puppet, there would be some delay or inconsistencies in the movements of the human. Wait…" Yuki said as his last thought had given him a slight clue which might lead him to the answer he was looking for.
"Even a puppet master like ability was possible. It would be far too draining on the user. Not to mention the slight flaws it would have when the human body was being temporarily used. However there is a slight loophole to this issue. That being that a sacrifice is being used to create this creature. Or more specifically, these creatures. The only way to create basically real life moving people which did as they were told would be through creating zombies. Of course necromancy to the level of just summoning basic mindless zombies would be quite easy. It only gets difficult when trying to summon the dead and make them follow complex commands. As such, ruling the idea out would be the obvious answer but there's a hidden detail," Yuki continued to talk to himself while staying silent for a while.
In the outside world, the interviewer looked at Yuki with a confused and worried expression as if Yuki had gone insane.
"Every ability has a consequence which matches how overpowered an ability is. As such if someone really wanted to create an ability which carried the same properties as this one, the consequences would be extreme. Something like a human life might be an equivalent to using the ability of a single person to turn them into a puppet. By killing that person yourself, if you were to gain control of their body, that would make the ability more balanced as the user can't make anyone who's stronger than them, their puppet. However in exchange for that drawback, the user would be able to turn whoever they killed into puppets which did exactly as they were told. That would be the perfect intel gathering machine as it's disposable and almost no resources except a worthless life would be lost in the process of using it," Yuki thought to himself as he finally decided to speak back to the member of GNE that was trying to speak to him.
"Although you do bring that up, it has been quite a while since the last time I've seen that man. Just to clear things up since you clearly like to jump to conclusions, I do not know that man on a personal level. What I do and what he does are completely different. He does what he wants with his life and I do the same. Just because we have the same name and look alike doesn't mean we're the same person," Yuki tried to explain to which the person who was interviewing him simply nodded calmly before replying back to Yuki.
"Well you clearly seem to be a bit aggravated. Maybe it would be best for me to take my leave and allow you to take a little break. After all, it seems that I may have struck a nerve on you," said the interviewer before he got up from his seat as he stopped writing.
"Please hold on-" Yuki said as he tried to stop the interviewer who seemed to not care what Yuki was saying as he just wanted to leave as if he didn't care whatever happened. All that mattered was that he had finished his job and now he could return to his base of operations to distribute the information he had just gathered.
"Please calm yourself Yuki Kaito. Our conversation has already met its end. There is no need for us to converse any longer. I will see myself out now. Goodbye for now," said the interviewer as he left Yuki speechless before simply exiting out of the building just as he had said. After seeing the man leave, Yuki just stood there in silence as if he was completely defeated. No matter how many physical fights he got into and was close to losing, not one did Yuki back down. However, for the first time in the world which he had created himself, Yuki looked utterly and hopelessly defeated as if there was no coming back for him.
At that moment, all the tension began to let go and Yuki noticed some of the people who were around him that were watching the interview take place. Batol and Mark clearly looked angry that they had allowed themselves to be fooled by Arthur and allowed their clan leader to humiliate himself.
As for Arthur himself, he seemed to be trying to stop himself from dying of laughter as he couldn't believe how much Yuki had messed up.
"D-Did you see that?! He was barely able to even get out a single sentence, let alone a whole argument! I thought I was bad at interviews but he just set a new record!" Arthur said while laughing his heart out. Seeing this, Batol began to roll up his sleeves as he was tired of dealing with Arthur's childish behaviour and it was time for him to teach Arthur a lesson.
"Relax there Batol. I didn't mean it as an insult. Even if he did horribly on the interview, it was better than him skipping out on ur entirely," Arthur replied before Batol started a fight.