Welcome to the Starfall Kingdom (Part Two)

Duro stared hard at Tomding. "Do you know this will add to your charges?"

"Collusion with the enemy, espionage, and bribery!"

What?

Tomding's face went pale, and he was completely at a loss.

Confused, Tales looked at Duro's face and suddenly remembered something from long ago, when he had been begging in the Lower City District.

The Alert Officers and Security Team were usually too lazy to patrol the filthy, chaotic Lower City District, but Tales had quite a bit of experience begging at the West Gate.

In that place, where Green Skins were everywhere, an entirely different set of rules applied from those of Underground Street.

When dealing with people from Black Street, you could simply hand over the coins, but when dealing with the slippery, nimble Green Skins beneath the Royal Capital...

Tales looked at the terrified Tomding and the others, who had no idea what was happening, and could not help sighing.

The boy stepped forward.

"We understand, sir." Tales forced a smile and drew everyone's attention. "But please believe me, we are all legitimate merchants. We left Bladefang Camp before the lockdown order was issued, and everything we carried consisted of everyday commercial goods permitted by law."

The Psion captain's eyes narrowed slightly.

"Unfortunately, our caravan encountered Orcs halfway here. All our goods were looted, and we lost many men. Only fifteen camels remained, and we barely escaped with our lives." Tales shook his head and said dejectedly.

He placed special emphasis on "all our goods were looted."

The prisoners' expressions shifted at his words, while Captain Duro's face darkened.

"I'm sorry to hear that," he sighed sadly. "Ensuring your lives and interests in the desert should have been our duty and responsibility. But while we were busy hunting down the Orcs, we allowed you to