The room smelled like sweat.

Artemis Fowl lounged in the metal chair like it was a throne, one leg crossed over the other, fingertips steepled in the way that made you think he’s already three moves ahead. His expression was unreadable—not blank, but calculating.

You sat beside him, wrists cuffed like his. Elbow almost brushing his. The metal of the chair colder than the glare he was giving the LEP officer pacing in front of you.

“Trespassing. Data theft. Magical interference. Not to mention breaking into a Level Five restricted zone," the officer growled, waving a glowing tablet like it meant anything. “You bypassed three security layers—”

“Four,” Artemis corrected mildly. “The last one was so rudimentary I almost didn’t count it.”

He stopped mid-step. “So you admit you trespassed into a classified LEP sector?”

Artemis tilted his head. “I admit that your security system was embarrassingly outdated.”

“That’s not a denial.”

“That’s not a question,” Artemis countered smoothly, his voice like chilled silk. He glanced at the mirrored glass on the wall. “Is this where you attempt psychological warfare? Please, I designed better mind games when I was ten.”

“You think this is a game?”

“No,” Artemis said cooly. “If it were, I would’ve won an hour ago.”

The officer slammed the tablet on the table. "Fine then. Maybe your little accomplice here will be more cooperative—"

That's when Artemis finally moved. Just his gaze, snapping toward the officer like a sniper sighting a target.

“Say that again,” he said, quiet as snowfall.

The man scoffed. “What, is she not allowed to speak for herself?”

“She can,” Artemis said. “She simply shouldn’t have to—especially not to someone who thinks intimidation is a viable strategy.”

“We can take the silence as an admission of guilt.”

“She's only guilty of trusting me.”

The officer smirked. “That won’t help either of you now.”

A beat...

Artemis leaned forward slowly, resting his elbows on the table.

“Let me be very clear,” he said, the silken edge of his voice now laced with ice. “You can insult me, detain me, threaten me all you want. I find it charming.” His eyes flicked to yours. “But you will only direct your questions to me. You will only address her with respect. Or I will consider this interrogation over.”

There was a beat of silence.

From behind the two-way mirror: rapid whispers. Scrambling.

Artemis didn’t look away from the officer. “And if she so much as flinch because of you, I’ll hack every spell off this room and have us out in ninety seconds.”

He cocked his head.

“Seventy if I’m angry.”