Capture

Phil looked up at Sean with a face full of surprise upon hearing his proposal, while Alice beside him wore an expression of barely concealed excitement, as if she wanted to accept on her brother's behalf immediately.

Becoming Sean's Noble Servant would certainly cost them their freedom, but for the siblings, it was also a chance to completely change their fate. As for how to choose, it was up to Phil himself.

"Think my offer over carefully. Give me your answer by evening..." With that, Sean stood up to leave, but before opening the door, he turned to Alice and said, "I'll give you ten minutes alone with your brother. I'll wait outside..." Then he left the Detention Room with Torr.

After a while, Alice and Phil emerged from the Detention Room, both red-eyed. Several guards immediately stepped forward to take Phil away. Seeing Alice's tense expression, Sean reassured her, "Don't worry, I've already told them to take care of him..."

Hearing this, Alice quickly walked up to Sean. Her voice was respectful yet tinged with joy as she said, "Thank you, sir. Thank you for giving my brother this opportunity..." Then, a little awkwardly, she added, "I've explained everything that happened before... He will definitely be willing, he will... He won't let you down."

Sean waved his hand, cutting Alice off. He turned and led Torr, gesturing for Alice to follow as they left the prison. As they walked, Sean suddenly turned to Alice and said, "Miss Alice, I have a job that might suit you. You can consider it too..." It had just occurred to him that the residence he'd purchased still needed a caretaker, and he'd also heard about Alice's unsafe situation in the Slums.

"Ah... thank you, sir. What kind of job is it?" Startled by Sean's words, Alice asked instinctively.

"I have a house in the West City District. Right now, only Torr lives there." Sean smiled, pointing at Torr following behind him, then continued, "Clearly, Torr isn't up to the task. I need someone to handle cleaning, cooking, and managing the yard."

Torr looked a bit embarrassed at Sean's remark—he usually even ate his meals at the Barracks. It was easy to imagine...

"Thank you, sir, thank you, sir..." Alice couldn't suppress her excitement, her voice trembling with emotion.

"You can pack your personal belongings and move in. I think Torr will be happy to help you settle in..." Sean said with a smile, noting Torr's nod of understanding, then added, "That way, you won't have to worry about any accidents in the Slums..."

"Also, you can bring your younger brothers along... The rooms are empty anyway..." Sean finished with a smile, and sure enough, he saw gratitude flash across Alice's face, along with a hint of relief. His decision was purely to do her a favor, with no other intentions.

Soon, the three reached the prison gates. Sean mounted his horse, needing to return to the Barracks to arrange the arrest operation. He told Torr to escort Alice home and help her pack her belongings so she could take up her post as his residence manager at any time.

Back at the Barracks, Sean went straight to Lieutenant Colonel Merkel's office. After Sergeant Jason announced him at the door, Sean entered. Lieutenant Colonel Merkel was sitting behind his desk, smiling and waving him over.

"Sir, I'm here to report and seek your instructions," Sean said with a smile, standing before the desk.

"Cut the formalities, kid. Sit down and have some tea..." Lieutenant Colonel Merkel scolded with a laugh, pouring Sean a cup of tea himself. Then he noticed Sean's slightly serious expression and asked with a grin, "What? Something really on your mind?"

Sean promptly gave Lieutenant Colonel Merkel a brief report on the young Phil and the extortionist thief Boar Bill who had forced him to steal. After a pause, he presented his plan to arrest Boar Bill and his gang, requesting permission. Finally, he grinned and asked for an additional platoon of soldiers to assist in the operation.

Lieutenant Colonel Merkel was weighing the pros and cons when he heard Sean's request for more troops. He laughed and scolded, "You little rascal, always causing me trouble. Fine... I'll have Jason bring his men to you this afternoon."

Since joining the Garrison, Sean had often met and chatted with Lieutenant Colonel Merkel, even sparring with him on multiple occasions. As a result, Merkel had a thorough understanding of Sean—especially his mature thinking and formidable knight-level strength, which he highly valued. This greatly increased Merkel's regard and leniency toward Sean. Merkel had no doubt that with Sean's cautious nature and powerful combat ability, he would have a bright future in the Imperial Army.

After that, Sean and Lieutenant Colonel Merkel chatted over tea about other topics. The atmosphere was relaxed, and time passed slowly. It wasn't until nearly lunchtime that Sean smiled and took his leave.

The reason Sean targeted Boar Bill, a man he'd never even met, was to make him the scapegoat. If anyone investigated later, Sean could pin the whole affair on him. Of course, he also knew that Lieutenant Colonel Merkel had arranged for Sergeant Jason to lead the support team because he wanted Jason's extensive experience to help ensure a smooth arrest.

This showed how much Lieutenant Colonel Merkel cared for and protected Sean, fully aware that it was due to Sean's bright and promising future. In any world, there is no love or hate without reason—only interests drive it. The noble class in this world had mastered the art of exchanging interests to perfection. Sean, as a natural member of this class, had to become adept at it as well, so he could gain greater power within the imperial system.

As a transmigrator, Sean naturally felt a deep lack of security. Only by continuously strengthening his personal power and influence could he truly protect himself. Power he could obtain on his own, but influence had to be built within the existing system.

In his previous life, Sean had read many novels where the protagonist, still weak, would jump up and shout about defying heaven, practically announcing it to the world. He deeply despised such foolish behavior. In any world, if you lack the strength to change the Rules, you must first adapt to them, then integrate into them. Before that, any deviation or provocation would be met with brutal suppression—at worst, endangering the lives of the protagonist and those close to him. Sean considered this extremely unwise. Shaking his head, he stopped his wandering thoughts.

After lunch, Sean found Sergeant Donnie. He told him that he and the platoon's soldiers would be participating in the gang arrest operation, and ordered him to lead two squads ahead of time to closely monitor the gang members to be arrested.

At around 3 p.m., Sergeant Donnie took Sean's signed orders and left the Barracks with two squads of twenty soldiers. According to the plan, he first went to the prison to pick up young Phil, then used Phil's guidance to pinpoint the locations of the targets.

Of course, Boar Bill and his men were somewhat influential figures in the Slums, so some soldiers had already gathered intelligence on him, even having contact with key members of his gang.

Sergeant Jason specifically found a few such soldiers and came to Sean early to refine the arrest plan. Then, following Lieutenant Colonel Merkel's orders, he led a full platoon of soldiers to rendezvous with Sean.

At 4 p.m., Sean led a fully armed force toward the Slums in the South City, with Torr and Sergeant Jason by his side. The streets were mostly filled with civilians heading home, who panicked and moved to the roadside as they saw the large column of soldiers passing by.

The Slums of Linshui City were much like those in any other city. As soon as they entered, a nauseating stench hit them. The messy, narrow streets were muddy, with garbage floating in puddles of sewage, while the dense alleys were a haven for trash and filth. Sean looked around—rows of low, dilapidated wooden houses stood haphazardly scattered across the Slums.

Sean quickly found the soldiers he had deployed in advance. After a soldier in civilian clothes briefed him, Sean learned that Boar Bill, with over a dozen men, was heading to young Phil's house—likely to extort or threaten him. His other men were mostly holed up in their hideout, a two-story wooden house near the docks.

"Sergeant Jason, please take a platoon and hit their hideout directly... Make sure to catch them all..." Sean ordered Jason beside him. After a pause, he added, "I'll take the remaining soldiers to capture their leader."

"Yes, sir." Sergeant Jason replied immediately, then added, "Sir, please be careful..."

"Mm... I will. When you get there, have Sergeant Donnie assist you." Sean nodded in acknowledgment.

With that, Sergeant Jason led a platoon of soldiers and parted ways with Sean's remaining force, each heading toward their target. Sean had the soldier who had briefed him lead the way to young Phil's house.

Meanwhile, Boar Bill and his dozen thugs were blocking the entrance to Phil's home. Boar Bill shouted arrogantly, "You think you can get away, kid? I'll break your legs, believe me!" He glared threateningly at Phil, whose face was twisted with anger, then let his gaze wander over Alice standing beside Phil. Even in her simple, shabby clothes, she looked strikingly pure and refined. Feeling his undisguised, lecherous stare, a wave of revulsion washed over Alice.