Chapter 25: Arrogance Pride [1]

Click—!

The door to the interrogation room opened.

Lorenzo glanced up, expecting to see an ordinary officer carrying a stack of papers.

Instead, a woman in a black uniform walked in, followed by Captain Marcus Scout.

The woman had long, dark hair tied neatly behind her head, sharp eyes, and an expression that revealed nothing about what she was thinking. She didn’t look particularly intimidating at first glance, but there was something about her presence that made the room feel smaller.

Lorenzo immediately recognized the insignia on her uniform.

An S-rank Awakener.

A Saint.

Oh? They’ve sent someone important.

He straightened in his chair, his interest finally piqued.

The woman pulled out the chair opposite him and sat down. Marcus remained standing near the door.

She placed a thin folder on the table and opened it.

"Lorenzo Riina?"

"That’s me."

"I’m Elena Ward, an investigator with the Special Crime Branch Department. You already know Captain Marcus Scout."

Lorenzo glanced at Marcus, who gave him a brief nod.

"Nice to meet you, Miss Ward."

Elena didn’t return his smile.

"Do you understand why we’ve asked you to remain here?"

"Because I was present during a terrorist attack, killed several perpetrators, and turned their leader into something that probably gave your forensic team nightmares?"

"Ahem!"

Marcus coughed.

Elena glanced at him before returning her attention to Lorenzo.

"Your sense of humor is interesting."

"Is that so? I didn’t know I was that amusing."

"Whether you find this amusing or not, several people died today. Many were innocent civilians. We need to establish exactly what happened inside Appetite of Heavens."

Her gaze sharpened.

"And that includes your actions."

Lorenzo leaned back in his chair.

"Of course. Ask whatever you need."

Elena studied him briefly before beginning.

"Why were you at Appetite of Heavens?"

"To have dinner with my fiancée."

"Sofia Moretti?"

"Yes."

"Was your visit arranged in advance?"

Lorenzo paused briefly.

"It was supposed to be a surprise."

Elena made a note.

"And when the attack began?"

"I was separated from Sofia. I encountered several terrorists while looking for her and dealt with them."

"Dealt with them?"

"I killed them."

Lorenzo answered so casually that Elena’s pen stopped moving.

"You don’t seem particularly troubled by that."

"Should I be?"

"You killed human beings, Mr. Riina."

"They were armed terrorists killing innocent people."

"That doesn’t answer my question."

Lorenzo tilted his head.

"Would you prefer me to cry?"

Marcus looked away, concealing what might have been the beginning of a smile.

Elena remained unmoved.

"I would prefer an honest answer."

For the first time, Lorenzo’s smile faded slightly.

She’s not easily intimidated.

Most people changed their attitudes the moment they learned his surname. Some became excessively polite, others nervous, and a few tried desperately to curry favor with him.

Elena Ward did none of those things.

She treated him like a suspect.

Not the heir to the Riina family.

Not the son of an Overlord.

Just a seventeen-year-old boy who had killed several people.

"Fine," Lorenzo said. "I wasn’t troubled by killing them. They were trying to hurt people, and I stopped them. I see no reason to feel guilty about that."

"And the terrorist leader?"

Lorenzo’s fingers stopped tapping against the table.

There it was.

He had been wondering how long it would take her to bring that up.

"What about him?"

Elena turned a page in her folder.

"According to witness statements, after neutralizing the other terrorists, you subjected their leader to prolonged violence. Several hostages witnessed what happened. Some were so distressed that they required medical attention."

She paused.

"Why?"

Lorenzo stared at her.

For a moment, the room fell silent.

Then he shrugged.

"He pointed a gun at my fiancée."

"I saw the footage."

"Then you already know the answer."

"I know what you did. I’m asking why you continued after he was no longer capable of threatening anyone."

Lorenzo’s expression remained relaxed, but something in his eyes changed.

"He threatened Sofia. He insulted her. He put his hands on her face and treated her like an object he could do whatever he wanted with."

His voice remained calm.

"And you want to know why I was angry?"

"I’m asking why you tortured him instead of simply restraining him."

"Because I wanted him to suffer."

The answer came without hesitation.

Elena closed the folder halfway.

"Do you realize what you’ve cost us? He was the leader. We could have interrogated him for information about their motives, hideout, allies, and future plans. Instead, you killed him before we could learn anything."

What is she trying to say?

Lorenzo’s expression turned faintly amused.

"What exactly are you implying, Officer?"

"We have suspicions about your involvement in this incident. One possibility is that this was a conflict between your family and its enemies."

"Hmm. Funny."

His smile widened slightly.

"Instead of being thanked for saving lives, I’m being questioned as though I were involved in the attack. And now you’re suggesting this was a mafia war?"

"We’re not accusing you of orchestrating the attack, Mr. Riina. But there are inconsistencies I’d like you to address."

"Such as?"

"Your fighting techniques. How did you learn to kill with such efficiency?"

"Human anatomy class."

"This is not a joke!"

Elena’s voice cracked across the table.

"You’re not cooperating with the investigation, Mr. Riina! Do you think you’re entitled to special treatment just because your father is an Overlord? Then you are arrogant. Do you believe your family will save you every time you get into trouble?"

Silence settled over the room.

Then Lorenzo spoke, his voice carrying an arrogance he had barely bothered to conceal until now.

"Is that supposed to be an insult? You call me arrogant, and I say damn right. That’s the pride of Lorenzo Riina."

He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table.

"And don’t assume my family is something I hide behind."

His smile sharpened.

"Let me make one thing clear, Miss Ward. I don’t need my father to convince you of anything. I don’t need my family to protect me from your questions, and I certainly don’t need their influence to justify what I did today."

He gestured toward the door.

"That’s why I’m here instead of sitting comfortably at home while your department struggles to investigate what happened. I came here voluntarily. You should be grateful for that much."

Marcus’s expression stiffened.

Lorenzo continued before Elena could respond.

"But since you’ve brought up my family, let me ask you something."

He tilted his head.

"If someone pointed a gun at the person you loved most in this world, would you calmly restrain them, put them in handcuffs, and wait for the courts to decide their punishment?"

Elena’s expression remained cold.

"That isn’t the point."

"Isn’t it?"

Lorenzo chuckled.

"You’re asking why I tortured a man who threatened my fiancée. I’ve already given you my answer. I wanted him to suffer. What’s so difficult to understand?"

"Because your actions have consequences, Mr. Riina!"

For the first time, Elena raised her voice.

"That man could have provided us with critical information about the terrorist organization. Their motives, hideout, accomplices, and plans! Instead, you killed him before we could interrogate him!"

"And?"

The single word made Elena’s eyes narrow.

Lorenzo leaned back in his chair.

"Are you suggesting I should have risked Sofia’s safety for the sake of your investigation?"

"I’m suggesting you should have exercised some restraint!"

"Restraint?"

Lorenzo repeated the word as though he had never heard anything more amusing.

"Miss Ward, I exercise restraint every day by not killing everyone who looks at Sofia the wrong way."

Marcus’s expression changed.

Elena stared at Lorenzo, trying to determine whether he was joking.

He wasn’t.