“Before the actual test, I’ll show you the question list. If you have no objections, we’ll begin. We can stop and restart until you’re satisfied with the results…” Amber first recited a segment straight from the script.
It wasn’t her first time conducting a lie detection; she was quite familiar with the procedure.
A lie detector test wasn’t a surprise quiz but an open-book exam—you were told the questions in advance and just had to prepare your answers.
The question set mixed “control questions” that one was certain to answer truthfully, such as the current date, your name, your gender, and so on, with the “key questions” the police wanted to know.
Once inconsistencies appeared in skin conductance, heart rate, blood pressure, pulse, and other data between the control and key groups, it was judged as lying.
For ordinary people, lying on all the questions was impossible, but Ashley was different.
‘Ashley’ was the name she had given herself after transmigrating; it was more like a nickname than a proper name.
Moreover, the astronomical calendar system was different.
Ashley calculated that the current Earth time was August 17th, but here, they called it ‘Pupa Month, Mud Day.’
A week had four days: Wind, Rain, Rock, Mud. A month had six weeks, and ten months made a year—Pupa, Split, Shed, Wing…
Ashley picked up the question list and crossed out a few items from the control group with her pen.
“I refuse to answer these.”
“Why?”
“Secret.”
“It’s not impossible to modify the control questions…”
The choice of control questions wasn’t crucial; they were just to make the test subject tell the truth.
But Amber still watched her warily.
This girl was damn good-looking, no wonder she was so full of herself…
That head of sky-blue hair draped down like wisps of white clouds from a dream sky. Her long, thick eyelashes made her eyes unrealistically beautiful. Her skin was white as soft snow. With her small hand propping up her cheek, her soft hair cascaded down between fingers as tender as green onions…
A subtle sense of dissatisfaction stirred in Amber’s heart. If they weren’t in an interrogation room, she felt like she would puff up like a peacock and rush forward to compete, but she knew she was the interrogator. There was no need to stick out her butt and compare beauty with a suspect—that would be too stupid.
The preparatory work for the lie detector took a long time. Ashley responded perfunctorily, one sentence here and there, taking the opportunity to rest and recover her energy.
Two hours later, the preparations were finally complete. Amber took out a strange egg-shaped instrument and placed it on the table.
Half of the instrument was glass casing, half mechanical. Through the glass, one could see a gyroscope composed of a rotating body and circular tracks.
“This is the ‘Miles Gyroscope.’ It’s generally used to find ‘Singularities,’ but it can also monitor fluctuations in supernatural power. I don’t know if you’ve undergone ‘baptism,’ but as long as you use supernatural abilities, the needle will point toward you.”
“Many people in my family have received baptism, but I haven’t. I’m still too young,” Ashley said insincerely, pursing her lips.
“Even if you have, you’d better not use it. Supernatural crimes are serious offenses; the nature changes completely,” Amber warned.
The test began. Ashley pressed her five fingers together and slowly inserted them into the bone-flute-like protrusions on the side of the box. A sticky, tight, suffocating sensation came from her fingertips, bringing an unsettling feeling.
Seeing the data on the monitor connected to the box jump, Amber picked up the form and began asking questions.
“First question: Is your name Ashley Jenkins?”
“Yes.”
The test subject only needed to answer ‘yes’ or ‘no.’
“Second question: Is today Mud Day?”
“Yes.”
…
One question after another, back and forth.
“Seventh question: Was it you who harmed Onna Williams?”
Shifting from control to key questions, the atmosphere quietly changed. The interrogation room became eerily quiet, where even the drop of a needle could be heard.
“No.” Ashley’s lips moved slightly.
Just as she uttered those two words, a string of data turned red on the monitoring screen.
Amber’s expression sharpened—she was lying!
In an instant, all hesitation and doubt vanished. That pretty little face became repulsive in her eyes.
At the same time, an inexplicable disappointment surged in her heart.
A beauty like you, why turn to thievery?
“You failed the lie detector test.” Amber gripped her trembling hand, her tone icy.
“Isn’t there some mistake? Little class monitor.” Ashley shook her head carelessly and asked.
“What’s with your attitude?!” Amber suppressed the anger in her tone. “Although it can’t be used as evidence, the success rate of the lie detector exceeds ninety percent! I’m almost certain you killed someone!”
“Too bad it’s not one hundred percent.”
“If you’re innocent, I’ll apologize to you, but right now, in my eyes, you’re a cold-blooded murderer!”
In fact, at this point, Amber had thrown all her training out the window. The purpose of interrogation was to make the suspect confess, not to vent emotions.
She soon tasted the bitter fruit. After her emotional outburst, a sense of exhaustion surged uncontrollably, her mind went blank, and her lips trembled without words.
Ashley tilted her little head, her expression cold and unresponsive, making Amber’s combo punch land on cotton.
The scene became extremely awkward for a moment.
Just as it was about to go cold, the door creaked open. Letisia’s tall figure appeared at the doorway, blocking the corridor light. Her backlit silhouette gave a strong sense of oppression.
“That’s enough for today.”
–
–
Amber followed behind Letisia, her little head drooping, utterly dejected.
“I’m sorry… I messed up…”
“The interrogation room is your domain. You’re not Amber Abbey, a feather-light little girl. You’re the sword of the law, with the three Trial Judges of the Tribunal and the Undying Corps—that make all enemies flee in terror—standing behind you. Every move you make weighs like a mountain. You’re never fighting alone…”
Letisia’s words were soul-stirring. Her high heels struck the corridor floor, producing crisp echoes.
Amber felt both ashamed and moved. She quickened her small steps to catch up and said from behind:
“I thought I could use my loli identity to get closer to her… But she’s a jerk. She lied; she’s the one who killed the victim.”
“Something’s off…” Letisia suddenly said.
Her brain spun rapidly, scenes flashing through her mind.
“She wasn’t passively enduring the interrogation but actively seeking confrontation, even showing an uplifted fighting spirit. With her intelligence, she must know this wouldn’t clear her suspicion. Whether guilty or not, she shouldn’t enjoy the confrontation.
If she had antisocial personality, her inhibition would be low, lacking planning ability, but she clearly prepared thoroughly for this interrogation. Moreover, her age doesn’t match the diagnostic criteria for antisocial personality. If psychopathic with high inhibition, she’d be extremely self-serving, which is impossible here.”
“Could it be that she knows she’s doomed and wants to go out ‘coolly’ before the end?” Amber had a flash of inspiration.
“Is she a brat?” Letisia said speechlessly.
“She’s just a stinky little brat!” Amber pouted, huffing.
“She’s not that simple. Kid, don’t let anger cloud your head…”
