Oh, You're Making Me Break the Rules!

Oh, You're Making Me Break the Rules! Damn it, I was probably finished this time.

The guy in front of me was a beast who had no regard for the laws of war at all!

Hearing John's words, Dick's back broke out in a cold sweat, though he still stammered out an explanation on the surface:

"Sir, sir, please don't joke with me. We really are an ordinary merchant caravan, not Allied Forces spies! This must be a misunderstanding, a huge misunderstanding, sir!"

Nonsense. Of course I knew there was a misunderstanding.

Because I was completely framing and slandering you bastards.

Of course, considering that they had taken the initiative to deliver so much gold to the wise and mighty Warrant Officer John, merciful Warrant Officer John was not entirely unwilling to spare their lives.

After all, I'm not some kind of demon!

John was full of smug satisfaction, but he kept a blank expression as he barked at the terrified Dick:

"A misunderstanding? Do you take me for an idiot? What ordinary merchant caravan carries this much gold while traveling? You are clearly Allied Forces spies secretly planted in Walden!"

"Th-this, I..."

Dick's face instantly turned pale, and regret began to flood his heart.

If he had known the Imperial Army would intercept them midway, then even if it killed him, he would never have converted all of his family's assets into gold.

This time, House Hartman was probably going to be wiped out completely!

They were dead either way.

Should he fight these Imperial Army bastards?

Dick's eyes flickered constantly, but when he saw the dark gun barrels surrounding them and those terrifying Mage Soldiers flying overhead, his resolve to fight to the death instantly vanished without a trace.

In its place came unprecedented despair.

How could they fight?

With their group of old, weak, sick, and disabled people, if they actually resisted, they would probably all be shot dead in less than a second.

Besides, the Imperial Army was notorious for its cruelty. If their resistance confirmed their identity as spies, what awaited them would likely be endless interrogation.

That was a hell ten thousand times more painful than death.

Compared to that, he would rather be shot dead outright.

It was over!

Father, in the end, I still failed to fulfill your last request!

Dick's heart was filled with bitterness. Then he closed his eyes in despair, waiting for the demonic Imperial Army soldiers before him to put him out of his misery.

Why was this idiot merchant closing his eyes like that?

Don't tell me I scared him stupid?

Were people in this other world really this mentally fragile?

Seeing Dick inexplicably close his eyes as though he were standing there waiting to die, John felt rather speechless.

But considering that he had already shamelessly seized the man's family fortune, denying these victims even a way to live would be a little too beastly.

So, after thinking for a moment, John cautiously spoke to the victim in front of him:

"Of course, that is merely my guess. It is also possible that you learned how difficult the Empire's war effort is, and therefore voluntarily sold off your assets and came to contribute funds to the Empire in support of it. Isn't that right, Mr. Merchant?"

"Huh?"

Dick slowly opened his eyes at those words and stared at the Imperial dog before him in astonishment.

As though he could not believe his ears, he stood there completely frozen.

Only after a long while, under John's impatient gaze, did he come back to himself and speak, almost bursting into tears of joy:

"Yes, yes, sir! We came to support the Empire! That's right! We voluntarily brought so much gold to reward the great Imperial Army and present it to you, sir! Please see clearly, sir!"

After speaking, as though afraid that the Imperial dog before him would pin another crime on him, Dick immediately knelt before John, his face showing unprecedented obsequiousness.

Although he had no idea what this Imperial dog was trying to pull.

If he understood correctly, though, it seemed they could keep their lives now.

As for the gold, it was merely worldly possessions. How could it compare to one's life?

As long as he could live, never mind that this damned Imperial dog wanted gold.

Even if he had to kneel down and lick the man's boots, he would do it!

Dick silently weighed it over in his heart while looking at John anxiously, afraid the other man would change his mind and have him shot.

You needed this warrant officer to remind you before you knew to change your story? You're even dumber than Wendy.

With your intelligence, how did you become a merchant? You probably lost money at everything you did.

John curled his lip in disdain at the foolish merchant before him. Still, he had figured something out: these otherworld natives were probably all timid as mice.

He had merely tossed out the accusation of spying, and it had scared this idiot so badly that he had nearly wet himself on the spot.

If John used the interrogation techniques from crime dramas he had watched in his previous life, combined with his smooth-talking nonsense, and gave the man a few rounds of threats and inducements, this idiot might be scared to death right there.

Thus, after seeing the other party begin to follow his lead, John stopped frightening him. Instead, he gave him a look that said he could be taught, then nodded in satisfaction.

"I see. I have felt your loyalty to the Empire. However, while your intentions are good, unfortunately, we of the Imperial Army have always refrained from taking even the smallest thing from the people. In theory, we cannot accept it, so your private offering of gold to the Imperial Army puts me in a difficult position!"

John sighed as though troubled, then gave the victim before him a meaningful glance.

He felt that he had made himself quite clear.

As long as this idiot had even a little intelligence, he should understand what John meant.

"Th-then should we take this gold back?"

Dick cautiously asked, uncertain.

Take it back my ass. I was just being polite, and you took it seriously?

These otherworld natives really had no sense of social etiquette!

Sure enough, I was also at fault for overestimating this idiot's intelligence.

It seemed he had to make things extremely blunt before these people could understand him!

John's expression darkened. He had originally intended to pin another serious charge on the man, but seeing his trembling legs, he realized that if he frightened him any further, the guy might literally wet his pants.

So he forcefully suppressed his anger and instead spoke with a false smile:

"Of course, theory is theory, and reality is reality. The two cannot be confused. A decision must be made based on the specific circumstances."

"You should know that, in order to protect the people's safety, our brave Imperial soldiers have been shedding blood and sweat on the front lines. They urgently need assistance as well!"

"And if someone insists on 'forcibly' and 'voluntarily' compensating the Empire's brave soldiers, then even if it may violate certain regulations, this warrant officer is willing to take some risks in order to secure certain benefits for the soldiers."

Damn it, wasn't he still just asking for money?

Why did he have to dress it up in so many fancy words? An Imperial dog was still an Imperial dog!

Your hypocrisy makes me sick!

Now Dick finally understood exactly what this Imperial dog meant. He could not help but look at him with a trace of contempt.

But outwardly, he did not dare neglect him. He hurriedly handed over a cigarette and said in a fawning tone:

"Of course. The Empire's soldiers work very hard, and it is only right that they be rewarded. Today, I, Reddick Derman, am willing in my personal capacity to offer all of this gold to the unit under your command, Warrant Officer, without asking for anything in return!"

"What are you doing? What are you doing? I already said this isn't in accordance with regulations. Oh dear, you, you, you... you're making me break the rules, Mr. Reddick!"

"No, this is my sincerity toward the Empire. It represents my loyalty. Please accept it, or I'll kill myself right now!"

"Sigh, very well. Since Mr. Reddick is so loyal to the Empire, continuing to refuse would be too disheartening. Therefore, I will accept this gold on behalf of the Empire's soldiers. Even if the Inspection Forces punish me afterward, I will bear it alone!"

"How could that be acceptable? This is your merciful act of consideration for your subordinates. How could you be punished for it? How about this? I'll write you a letter of voluntary donation right away to state my personal position. As a citizen loyal to the Empire, I absolutely cannot stand by and watch such a righteous officer as yourself be slandered by villains!"

Dick became more and more immersed in the act, as though he had transformed from a victim into a loyal Imperial lackey. He immediately declared this righteously, then even took out a sheet of paper himself and quickly wrote a certificate of voluntary donation.

Once the certificate was in hand and John realized that he could now take this gold legitimately, a sincere smile appeared on his face. He patted Dick's shoulder approvingly.

"Sir, you are simply the most loyal Imperial citizen I have ever met. If every Imperial citizen were as loyal as you, we would have even more motivation to fight."

Loyal my ass. You dog, don't push it too far. If you hadn't brought so many Mage Soldiers, would I have obediently handed over my family fortune?

It would be good enough if I didn't put two bullets in you!

Dick cursed wildly in his heart, but outwardly he held his chest high and answered with an expression of loyalty:

"Mere money is not worth mentioning. My loyalty to the Empire is witnessed by the sun and moon, and proven by heaven and earth."

After a brief pause, Dick saw John happily clutching the certificate as though he could not bear to put it down. Feeling that the time was right, he cautiously probed again:

"However, sir, do you think we can now..."

"Ah, no problem. Your sincere loyalty has moved me and proven the innocence of your merchant caravan. Therefore, you are now innocent!"

With the certificate in hand, John no longer made things difficult for the victim. He simply nodded with a smile.

Just as he was about to signal Wendy and have her release them.

Wendy's puzzled voice reached his ears once again:

"But Captain, I still think these people are somewhat suspicious. I think it would be better to follow the regulations and send them to the interrogation department, wouldn't it?"

(End of Chapter)