The timer continued running.

  01:32.

  The scratching of Yudoson’s pen filled the room again.

  Sugus watched him quietly now.

  Not teasing.

  Observing.

  Something had changed.

  He wasn’t reacting anymore.

  He was organizing.

  Analyzing.

  Studying.

  Yudoson turned a page.

  Without looking up, he spoke.

  “You’re responsible for idealizing strip clubs too? Or were there other agents involved besides you?”

  Sugus smiled instantly.

  Lazy. Playful.

  “Oh? You think I manage human entertainment now?” she said, leaning back. “That sounds like a compliment.”

  Her tone turned teasing.

  “Maybe humans just like sin without needing help.”

  The pen stopped.

  Yudoson slowly lifted his eyes.

  He didn’t move his head.

  Didn’t change expression.

  He just looked at her.

  Crooked.

  Silent.

  The air tightened.

  Sugus held the smile for a second longer.

  Then two.

  The amusement in her eyes flickered.

  “…You’re annoying,” she muttered.

  A small sigh escaped her lips.

  “Fine.”

  She straightened slightly.

  “Yes. Not only me. There are other agents assigned to environments where desire concentrates.”

  A pause.

  “Places designed to weaken restraint.”

  The pen resumed moving.

  Scratch.

  Scratch.

  He wrote everything down without comment.

  Sugus watched carefully now.

  And for the first time—

  she realized something unsettling.

  He wasn’t trying to understand her emotionally.

  He was mapping her.

  The timer reached 02:41.

  Next question.

  “How old are you… and your name?”

  Sugus blinked once.

  Then smiled again, softer this time.

  “You already know my name.”

  “Answer properly,” he said, still writing.

  She exhaled through her nose.

  “…Two hundred and fifteen years.”

  A small pause followed.

  “Sugus. Second youngest among my sisters.”

  The pen stopped mid-sentence.

  Yudoson finally looked up fully.

  Perplexed.

  Not afraid.

  Just genuinely caught off guard.

  “…Two hundred and fifteen,” he repeated quietly.

  For a moment, he seemed to calculate something internally.

  Then he simply nodded and continued writing.

  As if forcing reality to fit inside logic.

  Scratch.

  Scratch.

  Sugus’ eyes narrowed slightly.

  Yes.

  He was definitely studying her.

  The realization settled slowly.

  And strangely…

  she didn’t dislike it.

  The timer reached 03:58.

  Yudoson turned another page.

  This time, he looked directly at her before asking.

  “Why do you keep smiling at me?”

  A brief pause.

  The pen hovered above the paper.

  “…Are you trying to ship us or something?”

  Sugus blinked.

  Once.

  Then a quiet laugh escaped her.

  Not mocking.

  Genuine.

  She leaned forward slightly, eyes shining with amusement.

  “You finally noticed?”

  Her smile softened — warmer, but still dangerous.

  “I smile because you changed.”

  A small pause.

  “And because you stopped chasing me…”

  Her gaze lowered briefly to the notebook.

  “…and started hunting answers instead.”

  She looked back into his eyes.

  “And that,” she whispered,

  “is far more interesting.”

  The timer kept running.

  04:27.

  And for the first time since entering the room—

  Sugus felt like the one being interviewed.

  Part 7 — The Moment the Game Changes (continued)

  Silence returned to the room.

  Only the tick… tick… tick… of the stopwatch on the table filled the air.

  Yudoson didn't raise her head. The pen scratched across the notepad with an almost irritating calm, as if each word had surgical weight.

  Sugus watched.

  Before, she would lead the conversation. Manipulate. Provoke.

  Now…

  She was being tested.

  He turned his face slightly to the side, avoiding direct contact. The tip of the pen paused on the paper for a second.

  A small sigh escaped him—short, restrained.

  And then came the next question.

  — …What is the current number… — he hesitated, frowning — …of those who still wallow in pornography?

  He didn't look at her as he asked.

  His face remained partially turned, clearly embarrassed. The question seemed heavier for him than any other so far.

  Sugus blinked slowly.

  A crooked smile appeared.

  Not a seductive smile this time.

  A curious smile.

  She tilted her head, resting her chin on her hand.

  "Ah… so that's the kind of thing that bothers you?"

  Silence.

  The pen didn't move.

  He expected an answer.

  Nothing more than that.

  She let out a small nasal laugh, trying to regain control of the situation.

  "Hm… the numbers change all the time. Humans are predictable. Easy desire, easy escape… I'd say half—"

  Yudoson's eyes widened.

  "Don't move your head."

  "Just your eyes."

  "The same crooked look."

  "Cold."

  "Direct."

  "No hurry."

  Sugus stopped mid-sentence.

  Her smile faltered for a second.

  Something in that look wasn't judgment… or shame.

  It was calculated.

  She saw it.

  He wasn't reacting emotionally.

  He was comparing responses.

  Testing for inconsistencies.

  Studying patterns.

  — …Okay. — she sighed, rolling her eyes, surrendering. — It's not half.

  He immediately returned his gaze to the notepad.

  Scratched it.

  Noted it.

  She continued, now with less theatricality:

  — The real percentage is higher. Much higher. Because it's not just consumption… it's emotional dependence. Loneliness, escapism, lack of purpose… you yourselves created the perfect terrain.

  The pen stopped again.

  He absorbed it for a moment.

  No judgment.

  No comment.

  Just a record.

  Sugus watched him write, and for the first time since entering that room… she seemed genuinely intrigued.

  “Don’t you feel anything?” she said suddenly. “Not even anger?”

  He replied without looking up:

  “Feelings interfering with information gathering.”

  That made her smile return.

  But different.

  Less provocative.

  More… interested.

  She crossed her legs slowly, leaning slightly over the table.

  “So that’s it…” she murmured. “You’re not trying to beat me.”

  The pen continued.

  “You’re trying to understand me.”

  He turned the page of the notebook.

  “Session not yet finished.”

  The timer ticked another minute.

  And, for the first time since the beginning of the interrogation…

  Sugus saw something uncomfortable.

  She wasn’t manipulating the human.

  She was being dismantled layer by layer.

  And the worst part? Part of it... I was enjoying it.

  Part 7 — continuation (English version)

  The timer kept running.

  Tick… tick… tick…

  Sugus stayed silent for a few seconds, watching Yudoson write. The sound of the pen felt annoyingly steady — too controlled… too composed.

  That started to bother her.

  Before, humans avoided eye contact. They stuttered. Tried to look tough.

  He didn’t.

  He just… kept going.

  So she decided to test him.

  Sugus slowly uncrossed her legs, the movement deliberately slow. Her heel touched the floor with a sharp click as she leaned forward across the table, bringing her face closer to his.

  — You know… — she said lightly, almost playful — interrogations are usually more… interactive.

  No reaction.

  The pen kept moving.

  Scratch.

  Her eyes narrowed.

  — Not even a little curious? — she teased. — A guy alone in a room with someone like me… and you’re just writing?

  Silence.

  He flipped a page in the notebook.

  Sugus smirked.

  Alright.

  Time to raise the level.

  She rested her elbows on the table, leaning even closer now, clearly invading his personal space.

  — Or maybe you’re scared to look too much?

  The pen stopped.

  For half a second.

  She noticed.

  A micro-reaction.

  Victory.

  Her smile widened.

  But then he looked up.

  Without moving his head.

  That same sideways glance.

  Calm.

  Analytical.

  There was no embarrassment there.

  No desire.

  Only observation.

  Her smile froze for a moment.

  — Emotional destabilization attempt — he said flatly. — Method three. Body posture shift, space invasion, and verbal provocation.

  And he went back to writing.

  Scratch.

  Sugus blinked.

  — …Are you seriously cataloging me?

  — Yes.

  Simple.

  Direct.

  Emotionless.

  She slowly leaned back into her chair, crossing her arms now, studying him more carefully.

  — Interesting… — she murmured. — Usually by now they’re either trying to impress me… or trying to escape.

  He didn’t respond.

  He just waited.

  That annoyed her — but also sparked curiosity.

  So she changed tactics.

  Her smile softened, almost genuine.

  — What if I said I’m trying to make you comfortable?

  He wrote one more line before answering:

  — Statement inconsistent with observed behavior.

  Sugus let out a low chuckle.

  — Damn… you’re impossible.

  — Stay focused on the session — he replied, turning another page.

  She tilted her head, now clearly amused.

  This wasn’t pure seduction anymore.

  It was a challenge.

  — Alright… let’s see how far that cold attitude of yours goes.

  She rested her chin on her hand, staring directly at him without blinking.

  Waiting.

  Provoking silently.

  Testing invisible limits.

  The timer kept running.

  And for the first time…

  it didn’t feel like she wanted to break the interrogation.

  She wanted to break him.

  Just to find out if that was even possible.