23 Chapter 23 - Day 1 (1/2)
The next couple hours are spent negotiating the terms of this investigation. At around 12, Integra and Walter leave the Iscariots to themselves.
”Now that we have an understanding I will have somebody show you to your rooms. If you need me, I will be in my office.”
A soldier comes out from the hallway and salutes.
”Now if you may come with me, Sir Integra has ordered me to show you to your rooms.” The man says.
If seras was here she would notice that the man is Arthur. The soldier who apologized to her at her first and last training session.
The Iscariots follow along in silence as they reach their destination.
”There are a total of 5 rooms, the three on the right are for the men and the two on the left will be for the ladies. Each one has a bathroom. Are there any questions?” He points at the rooms before asking.
”Yes. Just one. What do you think of the vampires living here?” Maxwell asks.
”You really waste no time. If I had to say it in a word, it would be 'Interesting'.” He chuckles before answering the question seriously.
”That's it? Not scary? Awful? Monster?”
”Well, that's what I'd think if I never met seras. But ever since she came here, my views on vampires have changed.”
”That little girl changed them?”
”Yes.”
”How?”
”You met her, right?”
”Yes, she's a monster.” Anderson says succinctly.
”Oh? And what makes her a monster?” Arthur asks a knowing question.
This question stuns them for a while before Yumie answers.
”She drinks from humans and kills them.”
”Oh really? Then what about all of those humans who kill other humans? As for the drinking, she's a vampire. Do I admonish you for eating a cheeseburger because it came from a cow?” He says sarcastically.
”You all have killed more humans than she has and you call her a monster? How funny.” He continues.
This silenced them for a while before he asks.
”Anything else?”
”No. That will be all for today.”
”Then I bid you good day.”
Arthur leaves and then the Iscariots go to their respective rooms to unpack.
They all convene in a separate room later to speak about their situation.
”So. Will you care to tell me your thoughts about our investigation so far?”
A few seconds go by before Heinkel speaks.
”Well, the girl seemed to be a lot scarier than her master.”
”That's where you're wrong Heinkel. Alucard is very strong and even more sadistic.” Anderson denies her.
”Yes but she has these powers that no vampire should have.” Yumie says.
”Yes, that does pose a problem. Information is what we lack and thankfully that is what we are here to get. Hopefully there will be no slip ups to our main objective.” Maxwell says grimly.
”Speaking of, what is our objective? I mean why did we have to come to this Protestant filled country ourselves?” Heinkel asks.
”Because of the thing we are trying to investigate. We are here to find out how Abraham's seals work. If we find that out, we could seal Alucard forever.”
”That's...”
”Impossible? No. A man 150 years ago sealed away the strongest vampire in history. Why can we not as well?”
As soon as Maxwell says this Renaldo who hasn't spoken since they got there speaks.
”Maxwell, are you sure we should be saying these things in the middle of our enemies base? They could have tapped our rooms.”
”Don't worry Father Renaldo. I have already gotten Anderson to sweep the room and he says that nothing was found.”
”I see. I just feel like someone is watching us though.”
Unbeknownst to them, Seras was in the room beneath listening to everything. She smiled a little and finally goes to bed for real.
'That's interesting. A whole new storyline has opened up due to my change. Ooh, I can't wait for them to interrogate me. It will be so much fun.' She thinks to herself as she disappears.
That night seras is woken up by Walter again to meet up with them for the first round of Iscariots investigation. She gets up drowsily and decides to not change out of her pajamas.
She gets up and picks up Basky before portaling to the meeting room. This meeting room is the one that will be used during the Valentine incident.
When she arrived all eyes are on her and they all look shocked.
”What? Haven't seen a girl carrying a dog in her pajamas before?”
”No, no we haven't.” Heinkel answers.
”Oh that's right. Nobody here has a family. Isn't that pretty funny?”
This shocks everybody before Alucard starts to laugh.
”Hahahaahah. That's hilarious, the Police Girl is right.”
Everybody's faces get angry.
”Now Police Girl. Why haven't you changed?” Integra asks.
”Why?”
”What do you mean why? It's proper manners.”
”So I have to be interrogated in a military uniform? No thank you. I would like to grab comfort where I can.” She denies outright and then sits on one of the chairs. She is still holding Basky with her arms while doing this.
The only chair left is the one next to Anderson so she sits next to him, much to his chagrin.
”Lass?” A Scottish accent sounds out.
”Yes?”
”What is that?” He points to her chest.
”My breasts?” She asks genuinely confused.
”Wha! No I meant that animal!” He blushes before yelling.
”Oh! I'm sorry, this is Basky.” She pushes the animal forward showing him off.
Anderson sees the cute dog and goes to pet it when all six of its eyes open and it starts to growl venemously.
”What the!? You foul beast!” Anderson gets surprised before he brandished his bayonets.
”Calm down Father. It is only a dog. Even if it is a demon.” Heinkel says.
”Whatever. It's only been a couple hours and I'm already tired of this charade.” he storms out of the meeting room.
”Can we get to the matter at hand?” Maxwell asks to everyone.
”We're listening.” Integra answers.
”Good. I'm conducting this meeting to inform you of our schedule for this week. We're going to be interrogating your soldiers for the next two days and then after that we will be conducting a search of the rooms in the whole manor. The last two days will be our interrogation for Sir Integra, Mr. Dolnez, and Miss Victoria.”
”That's fine with me.” Integra says mildly which surprises everybody.
'What the hell? THE Sir Integra is not yelling about this?' Maxwell thinks to himself as he starts to feel something wrong.
”Do you need us for anything else?” She continues.
”No, that is all right.” Maxwell waves his hand and all of the Hellsing members leave.
After the last one leaves, Maxwell is still thinking about the weird feeling he had.
”Bishop? Are we going to be conducting the interviews?” Yumie asks.
”Yes. Yes, I'm sorry Sister Yumie. Please bring the first of our interviews.” Maxwell sighs before affirming the question.
A few minutes later, Yumie comes back in with a male soldier in his mid-30's. The man looks confused as he is lead to a seat surrounded by the Iscariot members.
The room is completely dark except one source of light projecting from the ceiling onto the table.
He keeps looking around as he sits down. Before he can ask any questions, Maxwell leans forward making light bounce off his glasses.
The man is unnerved at the silence and flinches when Maxwell begins to speak.
”So.....Mr. Brian Stephens. You're 34 and have been with Hellsing for 6 years?”
”Uh....Yes?”