The Mana Restraining Handcuffs that Leonardo Blaine wore during his detention at the Council were manufactured through a detailed process.
This was because problems with existing old-style Mana Restraining Handcuffs causing mana control instability were continuously raised.
The issue came to the surface in earnest about 10 years ago, beginning with an incident where an S-class mage released from a military prison destroyed an entire frontier village due to control instability.
This was considered one of the worst calamities among high-ranking officials at the time, and investigations were conducted not only within the military but at the national level, though the specific causal relationship was covered up.
The reason was simple. If it became known that the cause of a disaster that led to regional annihilation was a defect in restraining devices used by institutions, public authority's prestige would obviously hit rock bottom.
Moreover, at that time the three military institutions - the Council's army, Imperial Army, and Imperial Knights - were already receiving about half their weapons and equipment from the same contractor. In other words, similar accidents would have been frequent, though on different scales.
Anxiety about potentially bearing responsibility for the same problem grew, and ultimately, starting from that incident, the three military institutions each designated separate dedicated military supply companies for weapons and restraints.
Among these, the Council established a subordinate organization called the 'Workshop' to periodically change the material combinations used in restraints, developing optimal conditions that reduced impact on mana control. Thus, after five years, they announced new handcuffs and mostly resolved the control instability problems of prisoners who had worn restraints for long periods.
Additionally, by announcing the complete disposal of obsolete handcuffs, they indirectly showcased their achievements to other institutions and received great support by positioning themselves as pioneers of change. However,
"You must already know that the old-style handcuffs were not completely disposed of."
Starting from Leonardo's statement that "the handcuffs felt strange," the truth emerged that his control instability on the peninsula might have been a planned incident under someone's intention.
"I know."
Hugo stared intently at the suspect whose gaze was unsteady.
The person who finally spoke after a lengthy investigation was Castiel Bain, a low-ranking commander belonging to the 9th Company of the 11th Battalion of the Council's Central Branch.
And he was currently claiming that he had personally switched the S-class mage handcuffs that Leonardo Blaine would wear.
"Immediately after Leonardo Blaine was transported to headquarters, I began smuggling old-style handcuffs from the Workshop to the Equipment Management Office under the Company Commander's orders. After his mana nature examination was completed, it would have been exactly 9:53 PM by Imperial Capital time. During the process of temporarily confining him in the underground prison, I arranged for him to wear the old-style handcuffs. I approached the escort personnel. That was probably the first time."
Hugo recalled the period Bain mentioned. The image of Leonardo lying on the bed in the mana extraction room immediately came to mind.
The interior that had become completely chaotic from the energy he had emitted during extraction, his panting breaths, and his pale complexion were still vivid in his memory. Also the voice that had looked directly at him with fierce eyes and declared "I'll kill you."
He had instructed the members to transfer him to prison in preparation for Leonardo's rampage after hearing that.
Of course, he hadn't truly thought that the guy who lay weakly with only savage eyes could really kill him.
'I hoped he would get away from the commotion for a while. Though it ended up being the opposite.'
Hugo's eyelids grew heavy with guilt for providing the pretext.
"Did you deliberately target that moment?"
However, the emotion in his blue eyes couldn't be read by the person across from him. At the cold question, Bain swallowed and answered.
"...I had been watching for opportunities all along. I judged that moments when the Commander's gaze wasn't on us were the right time."
"Were there collaborators among the escort personnel?"
"I don't know about that. But I think Company Commander Serban might have given them advance notice."
"How did you know that old-style handcuffs that were announced as disposed of were in the Workshop?"
"That too was Company Commander Serban..."
According to the statement, Marcus Serban, the Company Commander of the 11th Battalion, appeared to be the main culprit and primary information provider in this case.
The old-style handcuffs contained expensive components used in developing other magic devices or restraints. This was already openly known among researchers working at the Workshop, and it was revealed that some secretly embezzled handcuffs scheduled for disposal to gain profit.
The suspect said Company Commander Serban had connections with these people and often mentioned related knowledge to his subordinates. Even specific timeframes and amounts earned through embezzlement were all included without omission.
Indeed, he was also a direct subordinate of the 11th Battalion Commander who had been responsible for the Equipment Management Office for the three months prior to when Hugo had summoned the Battalion Commanders to question the old-style handcuffs. In other words, he had legitimate access to the Workshop and the Council's Equipment Management Office, and if necessary, could manipulate inventory ledgers.
"According to your statement, all of this was done under Marcus Serban's orders. What was his reason for trying to make the victim wear old-style handcuffs? Was it an intention to put the subjugation force in trouble through another's hands?"
"...."
"Or was Leonardo Blaine's mana control instability itself the purpose?"
"That, I'm not sure about either. However, it's quite famous among our 9th Company that Company Commander Serban's relatives died in large numbers in the Turandos War 10 years ago. The Company Commander usually held negative views toward Leonardo Blaine and other key figures in that battle, and seemed extremely excited when he was apprehended. Not only I but all my colleagues would know this fact. Even during Leonardo Blaine's trial, though he couldn't participate directly, he said he would finally receive judgment..."
The man's answers became notably faster as if finding a hole to shift responsibility. Additionally, he added that he had faithfully followed his orders worried about disadvantages in promotion, and had kept silent after things escalated fearing he might bear heavy responsibility.
Hugo examined every detail of his facial muscles, gaze, and steady voice without missing anything.
Though not openly visible, the man's hands clenched under the table were notably tense. It would be strange if he wasn't nervous in this situation, but he was trembling more than necessary. Water vapor finely dispersed in the air secretly conveyed those vibrations.
Hugo pressed his tongue tip against the inside of his mouth.
His neck felt constricted by the tie while his head was colder than ever. Though his solar plexus was completely blocked, no sigh came out. He knew this was a reaction that came when he was extremely angry.
Because he had to hear directly about the true nature of subordinates he had trusted? Or because he had to acknowledge the fundamental reason why Leonardo's freedom could only be incomplete?
Or because his teeth were grinding at his own ignorance of the past and present that had failed to properly protect him.
Hugo tried to relax his interlaced hands as much as possible, but this only resulted in crushing the skin on the backs of his hands. As his large hands stiffened as if suppressing emotion, veins bulged.
This appeared quite threatening to the person sitting across from him.
The statement giver quickly lowered his eyes and fixed his gaze on the desk. Even so, he rolled his eyes in a narrow radius or blinked his eyelids.
Hugo, watching, finally spoke after enduring.
"Was everything you did truly the Company Commander's will?"
The man's pupils stopped at one point, then slowly raised his head.
"Pardon?"
"Can you be certain there wasn't a single bit of personal interest or agreement?"
When Hugo asked clearly again, Bain's nape swayed greatly and he nodded his head quickly a couple of times.
"Yes, of course."
Silence flowed in the bleak interrogation room for a while. Hugo only watched his opponent for quite a long time.
His voice and tone were calm, and his reactions were quite smooth. However, they were excessively smooth, and defensive mechanisms to avoid emotional responsibility were revealed in his manner of speech.
When the statement giver's breathing, which had been steady throughout, finally became disturbed, Hugo unclenched his hands and gripped the chair's armrest.
"If you had remained quietly silent, it would have passed as a simple accident even if it took time. Why are you making this statement now? Even if you only followed orders, anyone involved in this matter won't escape punishment."
Around then, an awkward smile that didn't match the situation crossed the man's lips. It seemed both bitter and relieved. However, when he raised his hand to touch his lips, his expression quickly hardened.
"Anyone would have guessed that the Commander wouldn't let this matter pass."
It was a meaningful statement. Especially ending with the speculative ending 'would have guessed' was extremely irritating.
Though it seemed like he was voicing his own thoughts, it also sounded like he was conveying words heard through someone else. Throughout the entire statement.
"Is that also your thought?"
"...Pardon? Yes, that's right."
"Then do you think Company Commander Serban alone is behind this matter? What about accomplices or those who backed him? For example, the supreme commander of the unit you belong to."
"I don't know if there are other accomplices, but our Battalion Commander wouldn't be involved. If you ask why I think so... logically, wouldn't the person most suspected when an incident occurs be the person responsible for the Equipment Management Office at the time? He wouldn't plot something in a situation where he could become a prime suspect. In my opinion."
This time Bain looked directly into Hugo's eyes as he spoke. When his voice finished, his gaze dropped down again.
Hugo's fingertips tapped the table regularly, then stopped at some point.
He straightened his upper body and gestured.
"Yes, thank you for your efforts in answering. Rest here for a moment. I'll come back in 20 minutes."