Shark Falls into the Net 2

Schroeder escorted the Shark Gang back to the docks, while Paul Greiman was confirming the Lichman Adventurer Group's identities.

Several Franklin Harbor locals were brought in, including Susan, the granddaughter of the town's mayor.

"So, this frail old man is indeed the town's mayor."

"Yes, Lord Greiman," the townspeople answered cautiously, barely daring to meet the lord's eyes.

They glanced at Susan, who was sobbing softly while staying by the town chief's side, sobbing softly while staying by the town chief's side. Poor girl, losing her parents at a young age, relying on her grandfather for everything. If the old man doesn't make it through this, what will become of her?

Paul looked at Susan. "Young lady, were these people who call themselves adventurers the ones you hired to save your grandfather?"

Susan looked up at the lord, then lowered her head again to look at her grandfather, coldly saying, "Yes, my lord."

Strange, does this girl have a grudge against me? Paul thought, puzzled. He had caught Susan's gaze earlier, a look of disgust and aversion. Coupled with her tone, anyone would feel uncomfortable being treated like that for no reason.

"Your name is Susan, right? I sympathize with what happened to your grandfather. Is there anything I can do to help?"

This time, Susan didn't even raise her head, coldly saying again, "There's nothing you need to help with, my lord. As long as you can fulfill your duty as a lord and not hide in the castle when the Pirates come to bully us again."

Victor, recently promoted to Company commander of the Internal Guard Unit, stood beside Paul. Hearing Susan confront their lord like that, he immediately drew his sword and shouted, "Insolent!"

The other townspeople were terrified and quickly knelt down to beg for mercy. "Lord, Susan is too young and doesn't understand. Plus, her grandfather has been beaten like this, she's too sad. Please calm your anger and show mercy!"

Unexpectedly, the girl was provoked by Victor's "Insolent!" and suddenly turned around, raising her voice and shouting at Paul with a hint of crying,

"Why did you only come now when my grandfather has been tortured like this? Do you know how many people have had their life savings stolen during this time, how many women have been violated, how many who dared to resist have been killed? Do you nobles know?"

"You only know how to hide in your high castles, drinking and making merry. Have you ever cared about the lives of your people? Would you have come if the Pirates hadn't wanted to occupy this place for a long time?"

After venting, the girl burst into tears.

The other townspeople didn't dare to plead for mercy anymore, collapsing on the ground, trembling all over, fearing that the lord's anger would implicate them.

Victor looked at the Earl, waiting for his command. As long as the Earl was willing, this girl was dead. Insulting a noble was a serious crime, even though he himself felt very sympathetic towards her.

Paul waved his hand, ordering Victor to put away his weapon. He walked to Susan, reaching out to put his hand on the girl's shoulder, but he slowly lowered his arm halfway.

He said, "I understand how you feel right now. A few months ago, my father also died at the hands of Pirates, the Shark Gang that was entrenched in Franklin Harbor." The pain in his words was obvious.

The girl's body stiffened slightly, and she stopped crying.

The other townspeople understood. They had been wondering why their lord had become a teenager. It turned out that the old lord had been killed by Pirates. Shark wasn't stupid enough to publicize the killing of a noble, so the residents of Franklin Harbor hardly knew about it.

The lord continued, "As for why we came so late to deal with the Pirates, it can't be explained in a few words. The power I had before was too weak, I had to gather strength and wait for the opportunity. Anyway, I'm sorry..."

Silence.

Everyone in the hall, soldiers and civilians alike, was stunned by this "I'm sorry." A noble apologizing to a commoner was unheard of! The little girl Susan turned her head to look at Paul, her round eyes wide. After going all out, she thought she was doomed, but she didn't expect heaven to give her such an accident, and... it turned out that his family had also been harmed by Pirates.

The boy, who wasn't much older than her, changed to a firm tone and said, "However, I swear I will fulfill your request to 'not hide in the castle again'."

"No one, not even Pirates, will ever bully my people again."

Paul added silently in his heart.

The Lichman Adventurer Group members, who had been temporarily detained in the basement, were released.

The blue-haired handsome Dean and the yellow-haired punk Kai were both relieved and thanked Paul.

Meilu rubbed her wrists, which were sore and painful from being tied with ropes, and complained inwardly, It's one thing for those two men, but we two ladies were treated so rudely. These northerners are so barbaric.

According to the inquiry, this Lichman Adventurer Group was not from the Rollman Kingdom, but from the independent territory of Messiah in the south. No wonder these people didn't look at him with the same awe as others.

In some of the more commercially developed city-states and independent territories in the south, the gap between nobles and commoners was not as large as in the northern countries, but this was only relative.

He didn't plan to make things difficult for these people. Arbitrarily punishing citizens of other countries might cause diplomatic problems, and it wasn't good to make enemies for no reason.

At this time, a soldier came in to report, "Earl, Shark has been caught by Major Schroeder and has been escorted to the Church entrance."

"Oh? Quickly invite the old knight in, and bring the prisoners up as well."

Soon, Schroeder and others escorted Shark and his gang into the Church.

"Earl, the bandit leader Shark and his accomplices have been caught. These Pirates indeed abandoned their companions and tried to escape quietly by sea."

The old knight looked disdainful and briefly introduced the battle.

Shark and his lackeys were trussed up, the injured Shark groaning as he lay on the ground.

"It's him, sir, he's the pirate leader Shark. Milord, you must kill him and avenge us!"

The townspeople in the hall pointed him out one after another.

Shark suddenly perked up and shouted, "Lord Greiman, I know the location of Edward's secret treasure. As long as you don't kill me, I'll tell you the location! I was wrong about your father's death. As long as you spare my life, I'll be your dog. I'll bite whoever you tell me to bite!"

Hmph! Trying to grasp at the last straw when death is at hand. Even if Shark wasn't the one who killed his father, how could he spare him for the sake of money? How would he be able to establish himself in this world if word got out?

And this treasure was most likely a temporary fabrication. Could Edward's treasure be known by a small, dependent gang like Shark's? Even if Shark knew, why wouldn't he go and get it himself? Would he need to fight to the death with the Greiman family's army here?

Paul ordered, "Lock these bastards in the basement first. Tomorrow, I will hold a public trial."

He didn't believe a word of what this pirate leader said.