I, who was eager to retire, became an Imperial General.

Chapter 38: Warrant Officer John is the Devil Interrogator!

Ruined!
This is really the end!
I'm afraid I'm really going to be mistaken for an Allied spy by those damned Imperial dogs this time!

Looking at John's 'sneer' face, Dick felt a ringing in his ears and a chill running down his spine in a fit of intense horror.

He couldn't help but feel extremely regretful when he thought about his smug and foolish behavior just now.

How could he forget that the man in front of him, John Maslow, was far more cunning than the average person?

The other party was someone even the 'Morning Star' of the Victorian Kingdom, known for its 'extraordinary wisdom, was willing to stoop so low as to use a treacherous scheme to try and eliminate in advance.

When talking to such a monster, it will definitely try to set traps in its words to lure you into its clutches, so you should be more careful!

How could I be so careless, and how dare I be so careless?!

But sensing the increasingly intense 'sneer' on the other's face, Dick understood that this terrifying monster had begun to doubt him.

If he cannot provide a reasonable explanation, then without a doubt, death awaits him!

He has to find a way to persuade the other party!
The problem is, the facts are irrefutable, so how can I possibly defend myself?

God, please save the Hardman family!

Just as Dick, sweating profusely, was racking his brains for a reason, and even despairing to the point of calling upon God, John, who had been smiling all along, spoke up:

"Ah, I understand, Mr. Reddick. You don't need to explain. You must have your own channels to recruit some merchants who are stranded abroad, which is why you did this. Considering that this involves trade secrets, I won't ask any further questions."

"After all, I am an upright soldier of the Empire, and I would never do such a despicable thing as stealing what others want, wouldn't you agree?"

That damn imperial dog actually gave in?

This must be a miracle from God! Thank God!
Seeing that John had actually come up with a reasonable excuse for him, Dick was almost moved to tears.

But he suppressed his excitement and forced a smile, nodding repeatedly:

"Yes, yes, I do have some channels that allow me to bypass the Victorian royal family's oversight and recruit businessmen. It's quite private, so I can't really answer that."

"After all, as you know, the new policy of the Kingdom of Victoria is very strict. And because I know this policy exists, I have to be very discreet when it comes to poaching people. I never dare to tell anyone about this, except for you, of course, since we are good friends, haha!"

Seeing Dick's face covered in sweat, and his constant dry laughter as he explained, John's smile deepened.
"So Mr. Reddick already considers me a friend. That's a delightful answer. However, unfortunately, I just suddenly remembered that I seem to have misremembered the decree of the Kingdom of Victoria."

"Six years ago, in early May, the Kingdom of Victoria did indeed issue a new version of the Commercial Decree, but it seems that Article Thirteen only mentioned a slight increase in iron ore prices due to the depletion of the Rocky Mountains mines and the resulting decrease in iron ore production. It didn't mention any reforms to the silk trade rights."

"!"

Dick's face, which had just regained some color, instantly turned pale, as if he had been turned into a statue, his whole body frozen in the chair.

The jeep slowly drove along the muddy mountain road, the wind it generated carrying with it the unique fresh fragrance of the mountain forest, accompanied by the fiery red sunset, and gave people a drowsy, warm feeling.

But at this moment, Dick couldn't feel any comfort at all.

He felt an unprecedented coldness and numbness in his heart.

Beside him, he was caught in a series of traps set by this cunning and cruel monster.

His dignity, his courage, his wisdom.

Even his soul.

Everything seemed to be mercilessly peeled away from him inch by inch by the other party using their devilish psychological manipulation, like the sharpest blade, and discarded like garbage into that quagmire filled with malice.

Using the despair that was growing within him as his melody, amidst the other party's silent mocking expression and under the gaze of those eyes that were like an abyss.

John Maslow.

This terrifying monster was silently observing this lowly mortal as he walked step by step into the deadly trap it had laid beforehand!
This kind of insidious and viciousness has already transcended the realm of what is human.

The other party is absolutely a true demonic interrogator!

He was just a useless nobleman who couldn't even get his father's praise.

How could we possibly escape their clutches?
Dick was desperate.

At this moment, he had come to a profound realization of what kind of monster this being, whom the kingdom's strategist known as the Morning Star was willing to disregard his dignity and secretly eliminate, truly was!

There was absolutely no way he, an ordinary human being, could withstand the interrogation of such a monster.

The only way to survive against such a monster is to surrender.

Dick couldn't think of a second possibility.

Even though it meant sending her father to his death herself, it was for the sake of the family.

If it's for the continuation of the Hardman family?
Surely my father will forgive me?

Just as Dick was about to give up and reveal the whole truth, attempting to betray his father and the Allies in order to express his loyalty to the Empire, he pleaded with the monster in front of him to spare the Hardman family's lives in exchange for his surrender.

However, just as he mustered the courage to self-destruct, John, who had been 'sneering' and pressuring him, spoke up:

"That's right. The bill on silk reform was only introduced three years ago. I can't believe I made a mistake on such a simple matter. Sigh, I guess I'm getting old and my brain isn't working as well anymore."

"Of course, Mr. Reddick, as a professional businessman, you must know that this kind of small mistake is one of the common mistakes made by newcomers to business, so please don't laugh at me, Mr. Reddick, haha!"

Damn it, you damn imperial pig, can you please stop breathing so heavily when you talk?

You scared the hell out of me, you know?

Upon hearing this answer, Dick couldn't help but curse inwardly, feeling as if he were about to vomit blood.

But recalling the hellish interrogation he had just endured, Dick realized that if he continued to talk to this monster in business, things would be different.

I'm afraid that within minutes this cunning monster will trick me into revealing even the color of my underwear.

Therefore, he had to change the subject and could not continue talking to the other party about business!

Thinking of this, Dick immediately mustered his courage and forced a smile as he spoke:

"Ha, ha, yes, but these are all trivial matters. Compared to a businessman like me, Warrant Officer John, as an Imperial soldier, your character is truly admirable. You are simply the most loyal Imperial soldier I have ever met. Everyone else should learn from you. This is my sincere opinion!"

Learn from me?

So you're learning how to be a traitor, huh?
You really don't want anything good for the Empire, but I like that, since we're allies.

Otherwise, any flaw you just revealed would have been enough for an Imperial officer to sentence you to death.

John sneered inwardly. At this moment, he was absolutely certain that Reddick was his ally.

However, just as he was about to continue probing the other party in an attempt to reach a consensus, the jeep that had been moving slowly came to a stop.

Immediately afterwards, Wendy's energetic voice came through the communication device to his ears:

"Captain, we've arrived at Shidong Village. You should get off the bus now!"

……

(End of this chapter)