28 Chapter 25 - Doctors

The man started laughing even more when he saw Kasumi's glare. Kasumi blushed and looked at Ryota for help, but he didn't even look at her. He was instead looking intently at the man.

Ryota crouched onto the ground and looked at the man, "Now, I'm going to ask you some questions. Why did you want to steal something from the treasury?"

The man stopped laughing and looked at Ryota, "Why else, I needed money?"

"For what?"

"For medicine, you can clearly see the bumps on my arms. The bill was too much for me so I decided that the royalty had enough money and could spare some for poor, old me!" The man enthusiastically said.

Ryota frowned, "Why was the bill so high? How much was it?"

The man grinned, showing off his crooked, yellow teeth, "Them doctors said that you royals increased the price! Also, the medicine was bout 50 coins, I felt like it was a scam!"

Ryota furrowed his eyebrows, "We didn't order for a price increase."

The man also furrowed his eyebrows, and suddenly grew mad, "Do them doctors just decided to use y'all name to get more coins. They're a bunch if pricks! I tell you, you should punish them! So many people died in the poor parts of the empire because them doctors didn't allow any medicine to be given unless you had payment. Some woman sold their bodies to get them coins!"

Ryota's face darkened when he heard this, and swiftly got up, "Keep him in there, I'll come back for him when I'm done."

Ryota walked up to another guard, " Arrange for two carriages, one to town and one for Kasumi to get home. Is that clear?"

The guard shook his head frantically and waved his arms at some guards to get this order done. When Kasumi heard that she was being sent away, she locked arms with Ryota, "Don't send me away! I can help!"

Ryota glared at her, "This isn't tea time! This might go bloody and a helpless lady like you won't help one bit! Get off me and let me do what I need to do!"

Kasumi shuddered and unwillingly let go. She wanted to help, she really did! But she understood that she couldn't, she hasn't had any experience in interrogations.

Ryota walked away from her, not even giving her a glance back. She was left in the dungeon, all alone except the guards and the rotting prisoners.

*****

Ryota walked down the halls and then outside where a carriage was waiting already for him. He was still wearing the same thing he was wearing with Miyu, so he took the top part off like he did during the duel and got into the carriage. He was preparing himself for what is to come when he heard his falcon come down to the carriage window. Natso walked inside and perched on his shoulder, giving him some confidence and strength.

The carriage stopped abruptly, which made Ryota know that they've arrived. He petted Natso, brushing his fingers through the sky blue feathers, "Let us go, Natso."