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Malachai leaned back in his chair, his posture relaxing. "Ah, yes," he drawled, his voice smooth as silk. "Tessa's abilities... a subject of fascination, indeed." He met Williams' gaze with an enigmatic look as if he held all the answers to a puzzle that had yet to be fully deciphered. "You see, my dear interrogator, Tessa is no ordinary celestial fox." Malachai's fingers tapped idly on the table, his demeanor radiating a sense of self-assuredness.

"Unlocking her power is like unraveling the threads of destiny itself," the malachite-furred fox continued, his tone almost reverent. "Imagine the influence one could wield with a force that transcends the boundaries of worlds. Such power could reshape reality itself."

Malachai's words hung in the air, a tantalizing promise of untold possibilities. His gaze never wavered, his eyes fixed on Williams as if he held the key to an intricately crafted lock. "But, of course, that's just the beginning," he concluded, nonchalantly smiling in his chair. "There are layers to Tessa's abilities that even she has yet to discover."

Williams' expression remained carefully neutral as he absorbed Malachai's words, his fingers drumming rhythmically on the coarse surface of the table. His eyes, however, betrayed a flicker of anticipation, a hunger for the secrets that Malachai dangled before him.

"Transcending boundaries and reshaping reality,” Williams mused, his voice tinged with a thoughtful tone. "Indeed, a tempting prospect. But such power comes at a cost, doesn't it? And I imagine you have a plan to ensure you're the one reaping the benefits."

The stocky fox’s gaze locked onto Malachai's, a silent exchange of understanding passing between them. Williams leaned in slightly, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "Tell me, Malachai, how do you envision this unfolding? How do you plan to harness Tessa's potential for your own gain?"

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Malachai sported a mischievous smirk, his nonchalance almost maddening in the face of the thick tension that gripped the room. "Ah, dear Williams," he chirped, his tone dripping with condescension. "You misunderstand. I am merely the orchestrator of a grand symphony, a humble composer of fate's melody. The true conductor, the one who will wield Tessa's potential, is someone far beyond your comprehension."

Malachai seemed to be relishing in the intrigue he had stirred with his ever-so-mysterious responses. "You see, I am but a pawn in a game played by forces much greater than you or I. The true players remain hidden in the shadows, and it is their desires that shall shape the course of destiny."

Malachai's arrogance bordered on the infuriating, a masterful display of manipulation that left a bitter taste in Kieran's mouth. As the enigmatic criminal spoke, the web of deception seemed to tighten, its intricate threads weaving a tapestry of uncertainty and foreboding.

Williams' facade of composure wavered for an instant, a flicker of doubt crossing his features. But just as quickly, he regained his steely resolve, his eyes narrowing as he met Malachai's gaze head-on. "And who might these elusive players be, Whitewood? Enlighten us, if you're so inclined."

“Maybe I will, once you prove yourself worthy of the knowledge, Williams,” Malachai crossed his arms.

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Kieran watched closely as the questioning session continued, his mind racing with suspicions he couldn't quite put into words. Were they even suspicions? He couldn’t quite tell anymore. All he knew was that with the deficit of Captain Stoneclaw, the air had changed and he didn’t like it. He couldn’t put his finger on why that was the case, he simply felt it.

Then, suddenly out of nowhere, Williams suggested a break.

Kieran's eyes narrowed. The stocky gray fox was acting far too casually for Kieran's liking. A break? Right in the middle of a crucial interrogation? His fingers tightened around the arms of his chair, a surge of anticipation coursing through him.

Williams motioned for Malachai to follow. The malachite-colored fox got up without refusal, and without a word followed the guard. He limped a tad, Kieran noticed. Perseus had certainly done a number on him.

“Come back later, Kieran, we will continue then,” instructed the gray fox.

The door closed behind them, the metallic click echoing in the room like a starting gunshot.