Ensign John Was a Demonic Inquisitor!

It was over!

This time, it was really over!

He was probably really going to be mistaken for an Allied Forces spy by this damned Imperial dog!

Looking at John's "sneering" face, Dick felt a ringing in his ears under the intense shock, while chills began creeping uncontrollably up his spine.

The moment he recalled the foolish, self-satisfied way he had acted just now, he could not help but regret it bitterly.

How could he have forgotten that this man before him, John Maslow, was far more cunning than ordinary people?

Even the Star of Dawn of the Victoria Kingdom, renowned for her "exceptional wisdom," had not hesitated to cast aside her dignity and use underhanded schemes in an attempt to eliminate him early.

When talking to a monster like this, he would surely do everything possible to lay verbal traps and lure others in. Dick should have been more careful!

How could he have been so careless? How had he dared to be so careless?!

Yet as he felt the "sneer" on the other man's face grow increasingly pronounced, Dick understood that this terrifying monster had already become suspicious of him.

If he could not offer a reasonable explanation, then there was no doubt that only death awaited him!

He had to find a way to convince him!

But the evidence was irrefutable. How could he possibly argue his way out of this?

God, please save House Hartman!

Just as Dick, drenched in cold sweat, racked his brains for an excuse and was so desperate that he even called upon God, the ever-smiling John spoke.

"Ah, I understand. Mr. Reddick, there's no need to explain. You must have your own channels for recruiting merchants who have drifted abroad, which is why you did this. Since such matters involve trade secrets, I won't press the issue."

"After all, I am an upright soldier of the Imperial Army. I would never stoop to such a despicable act as stealing someone else's prize. Isn't that right?"

This damned Imperial dog was actually letting him off?

This had to be God answering his prayers. Thank God!

Seeing John actually come up with a reasonable explanation for him, Dick nearly wept with joy.

Still, he forcibly suppressed his excitement and squeezed out a smile as he nodded repeatedly.

"Yes, yes, I do have some channels of my own. They let me bypass the Victoria royal family's oversight and recruit some merchants. It's rather private, so it wouldn't be appropriate for me to answer."

"After all, you know how strict the Victoria Kingdom's new policy is. Precisely because I know that decree exists, I have to be sufficiently discreet when it comes to poaching people as a business practice. I've never dared tell anyone about this, of course, except for you. We're good friends, after all. Ha, haha!"

Looking at Dick, whose face was covered in sweat as he kept offering him a dry, smiling explanation, John's smile immediately deepened.

"So Mr. Reddick already considers me a friend. That is truly a delightful answer. However, unfortunately, I suddenly remembered that I seem to have gotten something wrong regarding the Victoria Kingdom's decree."

"Although the Victoria Kingdom did indeed issue a new commercial decree in early May six years ago, Article Thirteen appeared to concern a slight increase in iron ore prices due to the depletion of the Rocky Mountains mining area and the resulting decline in iron ore output. It did not mention any reform to silk trading rights, did it~?"

"!"

The color Dick had only just regained instantly drained from his face. He seemed to turn into a statue, his entire body frozen in the seat.

The jeep moved slowly along the muddy mountain road. The breeze stirred up by its motion carried the fresh fragrance of grass and trees unique to the mountains. Under the fiery red glow of the setting sun, it washed over them with a drowsy warmth.

But Dick could not feel even the slightest bit of comfort from it.

All he felt was an unprecedented coldness and numbness in his heart.

Under the chain of traps designed by the cunning and ruthless monster beside him.

His dignity, his courage, his intelligence.

Even his soul.

Everything, everything, seemed to have been peeled away from him inch by inch by the other man's demonic psychological manipulation, as though cut away with the sharpest blade, then discarded like trash into that mud pit overflowing with malice.

With the despair now growing within him serving as the melody, beneath the other man's silent mocking expression and the gaze of those abyss-like eyes.

John Maslow.

This terrifying monster was quietly admiring him, a lowly mortal.

As he walked step by step into the deadly trap that had been set for him in advance!

Such sinister cruelty had already surpassed the bounds of humanity. This man was undoubtedly a true demonic inquisitor!

He was merely a useless noble who could not even earn his father's praise.

How could he possibly escape this monster's claws?

Dick was desperate.

At this moment, he finally understood just what kind of monster stood before him—the being whom the kingdom's strategist known as the Star of Dawn had been willing to discard her dignity to secretly eliminate.

An ordinary human like him had no chance of withstanding the interrogation of such a monster.

And if he wanted to survive in the hands of such a monster, aside from surrendering.

Dick could think of no second possibility.

Although it meant personally sending his father to his death, if it was for the family.

If it was for the continuation of House Hartman?

Then his father would surely forgive him, wouldn't he?

Just as Dick was ready to give up and reveal the whole truth, intending to betray his father and the Allied Forces, declare his loyalty to the Empire, and beg the monster before him to spare House Hartman in light of his surrender.

However, just as he gathered his courage to confess everything, John, who had been "grinning viciously" as he pressured him, spoke again.

"That's right. The bill regarding silk reform was only introduced three years ago. I can't believe I made such a simple mistake. Sigh, I must be getting old. My brain just isn't working as well as it used to."

"Of course, Mr. Reddick, as a professional merchant, you surely know that this sort of minor error is one commonly made by newcomers to commerce. So please don't laugh at me, Mr. Reddick. Hahaha!"

Damn it, you Imperial pig, could you stop pausing so dramatically when you talk?

You nearly scared me to death, you know?

Hearing that answer, Dick could not stop himself from cursing furiously in his heart. He nearly spat blood.

But recalling that hellish experience of being interrogated just moments ago, Dick realized that if he continued discussing business with this monster.

Then within minutes, the cunning monster would probably trick him into revealing even the color of his underwear.

So he had to change the subject. He absolutely could not keep discussing business with him!

With that thought, Dick immediately mustered his courage and forced out a stiff smile.

"Ha, ha, yes. But those are all insignificant matters. Compared to a merchant like me, Ensign John, your character as a soldier of the Imperial Army is truly astonishing. You are simply the most loyal Imperial soldier I have ever seen. Everyone else should learn from you. I mean that sincerely!"

Learn from me?

Learn how to be a traitor, right?

You really don't wish the Empire well at all, kid. But I like it. After all, we're allies.

Otherwise, any one of the flaws you revealed just now would have been enough for an Imperial officer to sentence you to death.

John sneered inwardly. At this moment, he had completely confirmed that Reddick was his ally.

But just as he was about to continue probing the other man and try to reach an understanding with him, the jeep that had been moving all this time slowly came to a stop.

Then Wendy's energetic voice came through the communications device into his ears.

"Captain, we've arrived at Stone Village. Time for you to get out!"