As the interrogation continued, Kieran's mind raced trying to decipher the layers of deception woven into the criminal's words. The dim light in the room seemed to cast eerie shadows on Malachai's face, enhancing the air of mystery that surrounded him. The bounty hunter was not trained in the skill of questioning criminals, he was more fit for bringing them in to the authorities. Despite that, this time he wanted answers; this all felt personal to him.

The guard leader leaned forward, his voice tinged with frustration. "Enough of your games, Whitewood. Give us the answers we need."

Malachai's lips curled into a sly smile, revealing his fangs, a hint of triumph in his gaze. "You underestimate the power at play here," he taunted. "You think your little realm can contain the forces that seek to break free? You don’t even know what you’re dealing with."

Kieran's patience wore thin, but before he could interject, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed in the corridor outside. The door burst open, revealing a frantic guard. "Sir," the guard breathed heavily, his eyes avoiding Kieran's. "We've received an urgent report. Trouble at the city gates."

Stoneclaw’s brow furrowed. "What sort of trouble?"

"An ambush," the guard explained. "A group of rogue foxes, armed and dangerous. We need all hands on deck."

Stoneclaw sighed, retaining his outward confidence, but the minty blue bounty hunter could read him well. He seemed a bit overwhelmed by everything. "We have an urgent situation," he announced, his voice firm. "I'll have to leave to deal with it, but we can't afford to halt the interrogation."

Kieran's eyes narrowed slightly at the guard leader's words, a subtle unease settling in the pit of his stomach. He watched as the guard leader turned to a fox nearby. "Williams, I'm appointing you to take charge in my absence."

Williams, a stocky, long furred male fox of a slate gray color, nodded in acknowledgment. "Of course, sir. You can count on me."

With a final nod, Stoneclaw strode out of the room, leaving Kieran alone with Williams and the enigmatic Malachai. Kieran's instincts buzzed like a warning signal, his gaze shifting between the two figures before him. He couldn't shake the feeling that something was off, that there were undercurrents of hidden motives beneath the surface.

"Let's get back to it then," Williams said, his voice seemingly steady as he turned his attention to Malachai. "You were saying something about Tessa's unique abilities."

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?"

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.

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.