Oh dear, you're making me break the rules!

Oh dear, this was bad. He was probably finished this time.

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

Hearing John's words, Dick's back broke out in cold sweat, though he still trembled as he explained on the surface:

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

Nonsense. Of course I know there's been a misunderstanding.

Because this was completely my fucking false accusation against you.

Of course, considering that they had voluntarily brought so much gold to the wise and mighty Warrant Officer John, merciful Warrant Officer John wasn't incapable of sparing their lives.

After all, I'm not some demon!

John was filled with smug satisfaction, but on the surface, he remained expressionless as he berated the terrified Dick:

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

"Th-this, I..."

Dick's face instantly turned deathly pale, and regret began to surge uncontrollably in his heart.

If he had known the Imperial Army would intercept them halfway, then even if someone beat him to death, he never would have converted his entire fortune into gold.

This time, House Hartman was probably going to be wiped from the face of the earth!

They were dead either way.

Should he fight these Imperial Army bastards to the bitter end?

Dick's eyes flickered continuously, but when he saw the pitch-black gun barrels around him and those terrifying Mage Soldiers flying in the sky, his resolve to fight to the death vanished without a trace.

In its place came despair unlike anything he had ever known.

How could they fight?

With this bunch of old, weak, sick, and crippled people, if they truly resisted, they would probably all be shot dead in less than a second.

What was more, the Imperial Army was notorious for its cruelty. If they resisted and their identity as spies was confirmed, what awaited them would likely be endless interrogations.

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

Compared to that, he might as well be shot dead outright.

It was over!

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

Dick's heart was filled with bitterness. Then he closed his eyes in despair, waiting for these demonic Imperial Army soldiers 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?

Watching Dick inexplicably close his eyes as though he were standing there waiting to die, John was left somewhat speechless.

But considering that robbing them of their entire fortune was already immoral enough, if he did not even leave these suffering victims a way out, that would be far too beastly.

So, after thinking for a moment, John tentatively spoke to the victim before him:

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

"Huh?"

Dick slowly opened his eyes upon hearing that, staring at the Imperial dog in front of him with a stunned expression.

As though unable to believe his own ears, he froze where he stood.

Only after a long while, beneath John's impatient gaze, did he recover and speak, almost weeping with joy:

"Yes, yes, sir! We came to support the Empire. That's right—we voluntarily brought all this gold to reward the great Imperial Army and give it to you, sir! Please see the truth clearly, officer!"

After saying that, as though afraid the Imperial dog in front of him would slander him again, Dick immediately dropped to his knees before John, his face taking on an unprecedentedly fawning expression.

Though he had no idea what this Imperial dog was playing at.

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

As for the gold, it was merely something outside the body. How could it be more important than his life?

As long as he could live, forget this damned Imperial dog wanting gold.

Even if he made him kneel down and lick his boot soles, he would do it!

Dick silently weighed things in his heart while looking anxiously at John, 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 tune? You're even stupider than Wendy.

How did someone with your brains become a merchant? You probably lost money in every business you touched.

Looking at the foolish merchant before him, John curled his lip in disdain. Still, he had figured it out: these otherworld natives were probably timid to the extreme, every last one of them.

He had merely casually thrown out the claim that they were spies, and this idiot had nearly wet himself on the spot.

If he used the interrogation tactics from those crime dramas he had watched in his previous life, coupled 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.

Therefore, after seeing the other man begin to follow his lead, he stopped intimidating him and instead gave him a look that said he was teachable, then nodded in satisfaction:

"I see. I have already felt your loyalty to the Empire. However, while your intentions are good, unfortunately, we of the Imperial Army have always remained utterly scrupulous in our dealings with the people. In theory, we cannot accept this, so your act of privately offering gold to the Imperial Army puts me in a difficult position!"

John sighed as though troubled, then gave the victim in front of him a meaningful look.

He felt that he had made himself very clear.

So long as this idiot had even a little intelligence, he should be able to understand what he meant.

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

Dick asked tentatively, uncertain and suspicious.

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

These otherworld natives really had no understanding of human affairs!

Sure enough, I was guilty of overestimating this idiot's intelligence.

It seemed he had to put things extremely plainly before these people could understand what he meant!

John's expression darkened. He had wanted to slap another big charge onto the man, but seeing his trembling legs, he understood that if he frightened him any further, the fellow might truly wet himself in the literal sense.

Thus, he forcibly suppressed his anger and spoke with a fake smile:

"Of course, theory is theory, and reality is reality. The two cannot be lumped together. A decision must be made according to the specific circumstances."

"You must understand that, in order to protect the people's safety, our brave Imperial soldiers have constantly shed blood and sweat on the front lines. They are also in urgent need of assistance!"

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

Damn it, so in the end, he still wanted money.

Why dress it up with so many tricks? An Imperial dog was still an Imperial dog!

Your hypocrisy makes me sick!

Now Dick finally understood what this Imperial dog wanted. A trace of contempt inevitably appeared in his eyes as he looked at him.

But he did not dare show any negligence on the surface. He hurriedly offered the cigarette to the man, speaking in a fawning tone:

"Of course. The Empire's soldiers work very hard, and they deserve to be rewarded. Today, I, Reddick Derman, am willing in my personal capacity to offer this entire batch of 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 violates the regulations. Oh dear, you—you—you're making me break the rules, Mr. Reddick!"

"No, this is my heartfelt sentiment toward the Empire. It represents my loyalty. Please accept it, or I'll die right in front of you!"

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

"How could that be allowed? 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 now, stating my personal position. As a citizen loyal to the Empire, I absolutely cannot stand by and watch such a righteous officer as you be slandered by treacherous people!"

Dick became more immersed in the act the more he performed it, as though he had transformed from a suffering victim into a loyal Imperial dog. He immediately spoke with righteous indignation, then even took out a sheet of paper himself and quickly wrote a certificate of voluntary donation.

When the certificate reached his hands, John realized he could now take this batch of gold openly and legitimately. A sincere smile appeared on his face, and 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 greater motivation to fight."

Loyal my ass. You dog, that's enough already. If you hadn't brought so many Mage Soldiers, would this lord have obediently handed over his family fortune?

It would already be merciful of me not to reward you with two bullets!

Dick cursed furiously in his heart, but on the surface, he puffed out his chest, raised his head, and replied with a loyal expression:

"Mere wealth is not worth mentioning. My loyalty to the Empire is witnessed by the sun and moon, with heaven and earth as proof."

After a brief pause, Dick watched John happily clutch the certificate as though he could not bear to part with it. Feeling the time was right, he probed again:

"However, officer, do you think that 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 stopped making things difficult for this victim and nodded with a cheerful smile.

Just as he was about to signal Wendy to let them go directly.

Wendy's puzzled voice reached his ears again:

"But Captain, I still think these people seem a little suspicious. I think it might be better for us to follow the regulations and send them to the interrogation department?"

(End of chapter)