Lieutenant John's Peerless Acting!

Lieutenant John's Peerless Acting! Send it my ass. If they were really handed over, given the interrogation department's usual ways, these unlucky bastards would become spies whether they were or not.

This batch of gold would be confiscated outright too. You'd be lucky to get a verbal commendation.

But what if you gave it to Boss Prison here? As your boss, once I had money, would I mistreat you lot under me?

Wendy, you idiot, how could you not tell what was going on?!

Seeing Wendy speak up and disrupt things, John's face instantly darkened like the bottom of a pot. But before he could tell Wendy to shut up, her next words jolted him awake:

"Also, Captain, this batch of gold is worth far too much. No ordinary merchant caravan could possibly afford it. They're deceiving you—Captain, you mustn't let them fool you!"

Upon hearing that, John, whose mind had been clouded by money, immediately regained his clarity and fell into thought.

Indeed, the goods added up to at least 500,000 D—enough to equal nearly eighty-four years of his goddamn salary.

How could a merchant caravan possibly be this rich?

Even if they were nobles, they shouldn't have such an abundant family fortune.

Added to that was the description in the story of the Allied Forces constantly transporting supplies to the front lines.

As well as their earlier claim that they were headed for the Victoria Kingdom.

Putting it all together, there was probably only one most reasonable explanation.

These people really were members of the Allied Forces!

And this gold was not some merchant's property at all. There was a high chance it was military funding for an Allied Forces unit!

Once he reached that conclusion, the excitement John had felt over acquiring ill-gotten wealth vanished without a trace.

It was replaced by tension and hesitation.

If it had been ordinary property, then even if there was some risk, it wasn't as if he couldn't rob them.

After all, not a single Kingdom merchant was a good person. Any commoner would want to hang those crooked profiteers from streetlamps.

But if this money involved the Allied Forces, then to John, it was not extra income at all, but a hot potato.

If he really intercepted the Allied Forces' military funds by accident, then he knew without even using his ass to think that the Allied Forces would investigate until they got to the bottom of it.

And once the trail led back to him, what awaited him would probably be a place on the blacklist for good.

He himself would likely lose any chance of changing jobs entirely.

If he didn't let them go, he would offend the Allied Forces.

But if he let them go, he couldn't explain himself to the inspection forces either.

Damn it, hadn't this turned into a fucking dead end?!

Hm? Wait. If he neither let them go nor reported them, but captured them instead, wouldn't that solve everything?

If this guy calling himself Reddick really was with the Allied Forces, then once they discovered the military funds had not arrived on schedule, the Allied Forces would definitely send someone to make contact, right?

At that point, he could use this idiot's connections to return the military funds while also requesting contact with the Allied Forces' higher-ups.

Thus formally completing his job-hopping plan.

If it turned out afterward that they really were not Allied Forces members, but genuine crooked Kingdom merchants, then he could naturally seize this money that the bloodsuckers had obtained by exploiting commoners, thereby carrying out a righteous deed that benefited society!

This was clearly the most perfect plan possible!

Genius. To come up with such a flawless plan so quickly, I'm simply a genius!

At that thought, the tension in John's heart immediately dissipated, replaced by unprecedented ease and delight. Looking at Wendy, whose brows were tightly furrowed, he found for the first time that having a pig-headed subordinate like Wendy was occasionally not so bad.

When the time came to run away, he should notify her in advance and take her with him.

That way, this idiot would not be held accountable by the Empire and end up with the miserable fate of eating prison food.

Sure enough, meeting Boss Prison here was the blessing Wendy had cultivated over eight lifetimes.

Other than this lieutenant, what outsider in this world could possibly treat her so well?

This fool had better remember it well, then swear to serve this lieutenant unto death!

At that thought, a gentle smile involuntarily appeared on John's face. Then, with an approving look, he spoke to Wendy:

"Not bad. I had also noticed that this merchant caravan had some problems, which was why I deliberately said those things just now—to test Sergeant Wendy's reaction."

"I thought you would remain silent, but your performance this time has truly pleased me."

"It is very necessary to maintain appropriate doubt, and when a superior makes an unreasonable move, to promptly remind them and ask about the circumstances."

"Compared to when you rashly questioned me before, Sergeant Wendy, you really have grown a great deal now. I'm very pleased!"

So Captain John had been deliberately testing me!

No wonder he acted so strangely just now.

I knew it. How could Captain John, who was clever beyond measure, be deceived by such a simple lie?

But the Captain's acting was a little too convincing. He had looked as though he had truly fallen into the eye of money.

As expected of Captain John. He was simply incredible!

Hearing this, Wendy suddenly understood. She then felt unprecedented pride and joy, puffed out her chest, and declared:

"It was nothing. Compared to you, Captain, I'm still far behind. It's all because you have taught me so well. I'll continue working hard and learning from you!"

"Good, good. Keep it up, Sergeant Wendy. I look forward to your future performance."

After feeding the foolish girl another bowl of chicken soup as usual, John turned to Dick, who stood before him drenched in cold sweat, and gave this "ally" a friendly smile:

"Mr. Reddick, correct? For now, I will assume your real name is Reddick. Thank you for cooperating with me just now to complete my test of my subordinate."

"Secondly, I have made certain guesses about your identity. But they are only guesses. Before they are truly confirmed, I will not do anything excessive to you."

"Also, for your safety, I think it would be best for you and your merchant caravan to head to Bahamut Town under our protection. At that time, your identity and safety can both be verified and guaranteed. That is a very good suggestion, isn't it?"

"Of course, once your identity has truly been verified, I will give you your freedom at an appropriate time. On this point, I can swear in the name of the Maslow Lineage."

"So please rest assured. From here on, I, John Maslow, will do my utmost to protect the personal safety of you and the other members of the 'merchant caravan.' What do you say?"

(End of Chapter)