I was an apprentice in Ferren

Chapter 92 The End
This could be a demonstration, or it could be a warning to himself not to forget what he promised him. However, looking at the extremely angry paladin girl, the vice-captain sighed inwardly, thinking to himself that this was a terrible move.

Richard possesses the stubbornness and obstinacy typical of country folk, and his long experience as a guard has also given him his own way of thinking, which may cause many people to lose their jobs.

After all, when they usually arrest people and judge cases, there are no priests or paladins to help them with divine magic, so they have no idea how powerful that divine magic is.

Meanwhile, the guards who were on duty last night were also extremely saddened.

As low-ranking guards in a small town, they probably couldn't even write 500 characters. Asking them to copy a 3000-word self-criticism was simply a pipe dream. By noon, several of them were already dazed and clearly doubting their lives.

Deva picked up the report and glanced at it. She didn't see any useful information; it was all just empty words like regretting that she shouldn't have slept, that she hadn't been vigilant, and that she had been lazy. She tore all the reports into blank sheets of paper: "You don't have enough words. Rewrite it!"

"Your content is all nonsense. Are you just pretending to be a writer to pad your word count? Rewrite it!"

"Your writing is all about regret and reflection. I asked you to write about what you were doing last night. Rewrite it!"

Looking at the new sheet of paper that had been sent, the guards who had been on duty the previous night were devastated, and even the two men who had taken bribes were somewhat bewildered.

This is different from what the sheriff said.

In the afternoon, they were given 20 minutes for lunch. Deva didn't go anywhere else but watched these people write their self-criticisms. Three hours later, when she coldly tore up the first person's report and ordered a rewrite, the person broke down: "I'm not writing anymore! I'm quitting! I'm not doing this job anymore!"

"You think you can just resign after someone's been murdered? I'm warning you, I haven't even had a pastor assess your honesty yet." Deva sneered. "You should know that without this position, you're a criminal suspect. I'm giving you a chance to find out who dared to commit this murder in the security department so you can clear your names! Once you find that person, you won't have to sit here waiting to be killed. Otherwise, you won't be able to go anywhere. You'll be sleeping on the floor here every night writing for me. If you want to resign, go report to the detention center and share a room with the criminals you've arrested!"

The first person sat blankly on the bench, watching his thousands of words turn into scrap paper. When Deva picked up the second person's report to tear it up, he broke down: "I'm reporting that last night, Collison, who was on the first shift, was playing with coins in the duty room when I took over!"

"Oh?" Hearing this, Deva became somewhat excited. Seeing that the guard in the back seat was already sweating profusely, she immediately understood: "Tell me the details."

"Captain, you don't know, this kid usually goes to eat and drink or go to brothels after get off work and can't save any money at all. He still owes me 2 gold coins. But last night he suddenly had a lot of money. I heard his voice and it sounded like at least 20 or 30 gold coins. When I asked him where he got his money, he wouldn't say and he still won't pay me back. There's definitely something wrong with this!"

“Very good, your answer is very valuable,” Deva nodded with satisfaction, pointing to the door: “You can go home now and don’t need to write anymore. Remember to follow the rules in the future and don’t be a fool again.”

The man, feeling as if he had been granted a pardon, thanked everyone profusely and left. Others who witnessed this scene immediately began to report it.

"When I took over the shift last night, this kid's purse was bulging and there was a dull clinking sound of gold coins. The security bureau pays salaries in silver coins, so this kid is definitely up to something!"

"Yes, he used to work for Richard. He might have taken bribes and embezzled. I heard before that the sheriff was very dissatisfied with the new captain, saying things like how a man can be ridden on by a woman."

The scene became chaotic, and even the vice-captain's shouts couldn't control the situation. Deva wasn't in a hurry; she took out her notebook, noted down the useful information from the reports, and then kept the two people who had been reported the most but didn't dare to talk back.

"Putting aside the information reported by others, the fact that you were both on the first shift of the night shift is highly suspicious, and the time of death is not far from the time of death determined by the coroner." Deva said, taking out her holy emblem: "You two should confess honestly. If you disregard the law and become accomplices for a little bit of petty gain or so-called loyalty, then even being dismissed will not be enough; you will definitely be sentenced to prison."

The two men, already on the verge of collapse, immediately forgot about the grim-faced deputy captain beside them and confessed to accepting bribes the previous night. The truth was so shocking that even the guard taking notes was sweating profusely. After the two confessed and promised to hand over the embezzled money, Deva looked at the old man beside her: "Deputy Captain Ham, what do you think should be done in this situation?"

The deputy captain's face was somewhat dark, and he said weakly, "Knowing but not reporting, disregarding the law, accepting bribes and causing a wrongful case, constitutes serious dereliction of duty. The stolen goods should be confiscated, and he should be dismissed from public office. Depending on the circumstances, he may also be sentenced to up to three years in prison. As his direct superior, I bear joint responsibility and should be demoted or dismissed and fined."

"Did you hear the deputy captain's opinion?" Deva looked at the two dejected men: "Given that you repented in time and have made contributions in the past, your sentences will be waived. You know what to do after you hand over the stolen money. I don't need to teach you that."

The two nodded silently, removed their police badges, and left dejectedly.

"The law should not be taken lightly, but considering the deputy captain's hard work and merits, it would be too severe to dismiss him and impose a fine at his age for poor supervision. The deputy captain will be demoted to sheriff, but given that the deputy captain's position is vacant, the experienced Sheriff Ham will temporarily assume the deputy captain's authority. Do you agree with this decision?"

Ham looked at the girl, who was not even as old as his own daughter, his lips trembling slightly, but he finally lowered his head: "I admit it."

“Very well, now please have the acting deputy captain bring back yesterday’s prime suspect, Sheriff Richard, so that this lawless former sheriff can be brought to justice.”

Although it was already four o'clock in the afternoon, the Mead Town Guard no longer had the lazy attitude of waiting to go off duty. Even Deputy Captain Ham, who had not been on duty for a long time, took his weapons and went to the streets, his eyes filled with anger, determined to bring Richard, who had messed everything up, to justice.

As Richard's superior who had promoted him for nearly ten years, Ham naturally knew where his safe house was. He set off with a few skilled guards, determined to bring him to justice.

Deva finally breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing this.

Last night's all-night reading finally paid off. Now that the deputy captain has lost all his authority and the sheriff is a prisoner, I think I've won my first battle in Beer Town.

And he solved it all by himself; he didn't even go to the church!
Thinking about this, Deva really wanted to share her joy with others, especially DuPont, who had previously poured cold water on her enthusiasm.

Hmph, you mages think you're so smart, huh? But the experience we paladins have passed down isn't to be trifled with either!

However, she did not have DuPont's communication rune information. When she inquired at the tavern, she heard that the kid had left in the morning to accept the contract and go to carry out a bounty mission.

Damn it, they didn't even say they'd stay here and help me.
Overwhelmed with joy, Deva returned to the guard post listlessly, only to be met with news that surprised her once again.

"What? Richard committed suicide out of guilt?"

When Deva heard the news, her first feeling was absurdity. She rode her police horse and followed the guard who had returned to report to the scene of the crime. There she saw the burly man with a thick rope hanging around his neck, swaying gently under the rafters. At his feet was a spacious leather trunk that had been opened and was three feet long, but the huge space contained only a lone copper coin and a piece of letter paper.

Everything stemmed from my selfishness. I am unforgivable and can only hope to gain some dignity through death. I hope the guards will treat my family well, considering my years of hard work and dedication, even if I haven't achieved anything significant.

Richard

(End of this chapter)