Chapter 201: The Hostage Incident [2]

The first demands from Saint Aurelia Preparatory Academy arrived shortly after noon.

Six prisoners were to be released from Imperial custody. Several ongoing investigations into restricted magical research were to be suspended, and everyone involved in occupying the school would receive immunity from prosecution.

In exchange, the perpetrators promised to release the hostages unharmed.

The message spread through the Imperial Capital before the authorities could prevent it. Within an hour, newspapers were preparing special editions, angry parents had gathered outside the security perimeter, and government officials were demanding an explanation for how a group of criminals had managed to occupy one of the capital’s most prestigious schools.

At SkyRune, Professor Antoine Chastellain had little interest in the political consequences.

"Did they say anything about the children?"

The Imperial official delivering the message explained that the perpetrators had provided no information concerning their condition. However, the government had already requested proof that the hostages were alive and demanded permission to send medical personnel inside.

Antoine was dissatisfied.

"Then tell them they can have their negotiations after we know the children are safe. My daughter is eleven years old. She hasn’t spent a single night away from home without telling me about it beforehand."

"Professor Chastellain, I understand your concern. But we cannot simply impose conditions and expect them to cooperate. The negotiators are trying to establish communication."

"Then I hope they’re successful."

Antoine returned to his work without another word.

Ilya had rarely seen the professor in such a condition. Normally, Antoine was the sort of scholar who could spend an entire afternoon discussing an obscure invention without noticing that everyone around him had become hungry.

Now, even the most interesting research could barely hold his attention.

It was understandable.

Only yesterday, Antoine had been talking about Lucile’s academic presentation. He had even promised to help her build a small communication device over the weekend.

Now he was being asked to investigate the equipment keeping her imprisoned.

If someone had told Ilya that becoming a researcher would eventually involve situations like this, he might have requested a more comprehensive explanation of the employment benefits.

Unfortunately, academic curiosity had already gotten him involved.

The Imperial Guard had requested SkyRune’s assistance in determining how the criminals were preventing people from entering the school. Several experienced specialists were handling the investigation, while Ilya helped organize the information they had gathered.

Their immediate findings were simple enough.

The school was surrounded by a magical barrier, and the criminals possessed equipment capable of interfering with ordinary communication devices. Attempting to force an entrance without understanding the defenses could endanger the hostages.

That was all Ilya needed to know for the moment.

The Imperial Guard could handle the fighting. His responsibility was to help the specialists identify anything that might make their task easier.

Unfortunately, their work was interrupted by another message from the perpetrators.

This time, they had provided a list of prisoners.

An Imperial investigator arrived shortly afterward to consult with Antoine.

"Five of the names are associated with illegal magical equipment or unauthorized research," he explained. "The sixth is a former Imperial employee accused of stealing confidential documents. We’re investigating whether they have any connection."

"Then you already know more about them than we do," Antoine replied.

"Possibly. But I wanted to ask whether you recognize any of the research involved."

The investigator provided a brief description of the prisoners’ offenses. Antoine recognized several of the technologies mentioned, although none was particularly unusual among people dealing in restricted equipment.

Ilya listened while the two discussed the possibilities.

Something about the criminals’ demands bothered him.

Six prisoners, the suspension of investigations, and immunity from prosecution. Those were significant concessions to demand from the Imperial government.

Yet the perpetrators had chosen a school full of children instead of attacking a prison or a government facility.

That choice made sense if they wanted leverage.

However, it also meant that the government would mobilize enormous resources against them.

"May I ask something?" Ilya said.

The investigator invited him to continue.

"If their objective is releasing those prisoners, why demand that several investigations be suspended as well? Even if the government agrees, those investigations can resume after the hostages are released."

"That’s one of the possibilities we’re examining," the investigator answered. "The demands may be intended to delay particular cases."

"Then wouldn’t it be worth checking which investigations are closest to producing arrests? They might be more important than the prisoners themselves."

The investigator considered the suggestion.

In fact, the Imperial authorities had already begun reviewing the cases, but the connection was worth emphasizing. The perpetrators might be using the prisoners as an obvious bargaining point while attempting to protect individuals who remained free.

Antoine listened to the exchange before adding his own observation.

"Whoever prepared this operation had access to sophisticated equipment. If they’re protecting researchers, finding the people who supplied it might be more useful than examining the six prisoners."

The investigator agreed and promised to forward the suggestion to his colleagues.

It was a sensible direction for the investigation.

Unfortunately, it did nothing to solve the problem troubling Antoine most.

His daughter remained inside Saint Aurelia, and nobody could tell him whether she had eaten, slept, or received medical attention.

The professor eventually excused himself and went to contact the negotiators again.

Ilya stayed behind with the Imperial specialist, who was examining the school’s architectural plans.

Several buildings had undergone renovations in recent years, including the western wing where much of the magical interference appeared to originate.

The authorities had already requested the contractors’ records.

"Do you think they prepared this before the occupation?" Ilya asked.

"Almost certainly. Bringing equipment of this size into a functioning school without anyone noticing would be difficult. We’re investigating the maintenance staff and previous deliveries."

"Then I suppose the school won’t be winning any awards for security."

"Someone may have used legitimate authorization. That wouldn’t be the school’s fault."

Fair enough.

Ilya had no intention of blaming the people whose institution had just been occupied by armed criminals.

The investigator’s explanation also made sense. A sufficiently well-prepared organization could conceal its activities behind ordinary maintenance work, especially if it possessed forged documents or assistance from someone with access to the building.

The question was how many people had been involved.

By early afternoon, the Imperial Guard received another response from Saint Aurelia.

The perpetrators acknowledged the government’s request for proof that the children were alive.

However, rather than permitting direct communication, they transmitted a list of names.

Lucile Chastellain appeared near the middle.

Antoine immediately returned to the workshop when he learned about it.

"She’s there?"

"Her name is on the list, Professor," the Imperial official explained. "We haven’t independently confirmed her condition."

"Then ask to speak with her."

"We have. The negotiators are requesting direct contact with several hostages."

Antoine wanted to protest, but there was little point arguing with someone who had already made the same request.

The professor was intelligent enough to understand the difference between being given a name and receiving proof that his daughter was safe.

Unfortunately, understanding it didn’t make the uncertainty easier.

Ilya decided to offer something more practical.

"Professor, do you have anything that might help them verify Lucile’s identity? Something only she would know?"

Antoine considered the question before mentioning the communication device they had planned to build together.

He had already promised Lucile that she could choose its design, and she had spent several days preparing her own drawings.

Ilya suggested that the negotiators ask her about the project.

If the captors permitted a conversation, a personal detail like that would provide stronger confirmation than a prepared statement.

Antoine immediately passed the suggestion to the Imperial official.

The man accepted it and explained that the negotiators were already preparing similar questions for the other families.

That was reassuring.

At least the authorities were approaching the situation carefully.

As the afternoon continued, the researchers received further information about the barrier. The Imperial specialists had identified several possible weaknesses, but none offered a safe method of entering the school immediately.

Antoine instructed the workshop to concentrate on the options that might assist an actual rescue.

There was little value in spending several days developing an elegant solution if the children were already in danger.

Ilya agreed.

He had joined SkyRune because he enjoyed studying unfamiliar technology, but he had no desire to turn the hostage crisis into an academic competition.

The research would be meaningful only if it helped someone.

Shortly before evening, the Imperial negotiators finally established a reliable communication channel with the perpetrators.

The criminals agreed to receive the government’s response concerning the six prisoners. They also promised to consider allowing selected children to speak with their families.

No date was provided.

Antoine immediately requested that Lucile be included.

The negotiators assured him that her name had already been submitted.

For several minutes, the professor remained in the workshop without speaking.

Eventually, he returned to his desk and began gathering the documents that the Imperial authorities had requested.

Ilya helped organize the remaining materials.

"Professor, you should eat something before continuing."

"I’m not particularly hungry."

"Then consider it part of your research. You won’t accomplish much if you collapse halfway through the investigation."

Antoine gave a weary laugh.

"Since when did my first-year student become responsible for supervising me?"

"Since you decided to demonstrate why scholars shouldn’t be allowed to manage their own working hours."

That earned a more genuine response.

The professor eventually agreed to take a break, although he insisted on remaining at SkyRune in case another message arrived.

Ilya didn’t argue.

For now, the negotiations were continuing, and the Imperial Guard had begun examining the people who might have helped prepare the occupation.

Those were useful developments, even if none guaranteed the children’s safety.

However, before Antoine could leave the workshop, another communication arrived.

The perpetrators had transmitted a short recording from inside the school.

It contained several seconds of indistinct background noise followed by a child’s voice identifying herself.

Lucile Chastellain.

Antoine immediately requested that the recording be played again.

The voice was unmistakable.

His daughter sounded frightened, but she managed to deliver a brief message saying that she was safe and hoped he wasn’t worrying too much.

Then the recording ended.

The Imperial official explained that its authenticity and date still needed verification, but Antoine was already requesting another opportunity to hear it.

Ilya remained beside him while the recording played.

At least they had heard Lucile’s voice.

Unfortunately, the criminals had provided exactly what they wanted the authorities to hear, and nothing more.