Chapter 64 Interrogation
“I’m very sorry,” the benevolent lord Brancy said. “I apologize for any distress caused to you both, but with such an incident occurring, it’s only natural for everyone to be on edge. Everyone has suffered, and if I don’t treat you all equally, I fear there will be grievances among the crowd, making my position untenable.”
Jima glanced at Brancy’s armor, the necklace around his neck, and the weapons at his waist. Standing behind him were Chamberlain and the big man Fliris. The three of them were likely the strongest individuals on the ship from Shalin City.
Jima said, “Is this your concept of treating everyone equally?”
As she spoke, Jima surveyed the room again and leaned her head out to look elsewhere, adding, “I was under the impression that the other rooms were also filled with guests.”
Fliris shouted, “You two are the most suspicious, a knight from an unknown origin, and a sharp-tongued girl.”
Benevolent lord Brancy raised his hand to stop Fliris, then sincerely addressed George:
“I apologize for him. But you see, everyone believes you two are the most suspicious. I truly hope you can cooperate so that I can help clear your names. I would not want to believe that a glorious knight from Bartow could be the murderer.”
The old trick of playing the good cop and bad cop. Jima was not moved at all.
George nodded, “Okay, let Jima speak on my behalf.”
Jima intended to express her anger through words. First, it would align with the proud image of a Bartow knight; if she didn’t confront them, they would likely think she and George were feeling guilty.
Second, she simply disliked Brancy, thinking, what the hell, wasn’t he just a pimp?
“You don’t need to worry, the lord of Shalin City,” Jima said. “Our master is a truly good person who would rather risk being thrown into a dungeon than not stand firm to prove his honor. I even suggested he just take the shortcut and jump off a wall with me, regardless of any bodies.”
Benevolent lord Brancy’s polite facade wavered, and he said sternly:
“It is hard to imagine that your character is so base, that you could even serve as a squire to a glorious knight.”
“It is precisely because my master values honor so highly and is easily manipulated by hypocrites that he arranged for me to travel with him,” Jima replied. “Moreover, you, who rely on serving the demon King Kima to revitalize your family, how can you not feel ashamed when you accuse me?”
“What do you understand? If not for Lord Brancy’s diligent and dedicated efforts, Shalin City would not have today’s prosperity.”
Chamberlain stepped forward, his burned face displaying a singular coldness as he glared menacingly at Jima, as if he was ready to sever her head at any moment.
But Jima showed no fear, saying: “You could grab anyone from the street, and they’d want to exert themselves and dedicate themselves as a benevolent lord.” If you don’t want to do it, then get lost; there are plenty of people who do.
As soon as she finished speaking, Brancy’s expression darkened. Rulers often go out of their way to promote their “irreplaceability,” emphasizing their hard work, intimidating everyone, claiming that without their whip, everyone would perish.
And Jima’s remarks undoubtedly questioned the foundation of Lord Brancy’s rule.
George quickly tapped Jima’s head and pulled her behind him, saying: “Sorry.”
Brancy’s expression improved a little. Behind him, Fliris was so enraged that his round belly trembled, saying:
“Knight, control your pretty little girl’s tongue, or do you want to have a conversation with twenty swords? The lord has already shown you the utmost respect for your chivalry.”
“Please ignore his nonsense,” benevolent lord Brancy said. “As the host of this banquet, I am obliged to ensure that our guests from afar feel happy, but that depends on your attitude—are you willing to cooperate?”
George nodded.
“Search them for weapons,” Chamberlain immediately turned around and gave the order.
Jima raised her hand, interjecting: “I have a request; if we are to be tortured, could we participate in the ‘Prisoner Carnival’? Yes, it’s the festival held at the dock with many spectators; I want to be the main character, the one who screams on stage.”
George understood that Jima was indirectly complaining about him. He patted her shoulder and said, “Don’t worry.”
Fliris’s face jiggled with anger as he laughed, “Are you two willing to confess?”
Benevolent lord Brancy narrowed his eyes dangerously, saying: “Rest assured, even if you are the murderers of my daughter, I won’t execute a Bartow knight publicly to avoid inciting a mob of hot-headed knights, but I will guarantee that in a dark dungeon, you will regret countless times the heinous crime committed against my daughter.”
At that moment, the years of issuing orders had endowed Brancy with an intimidating authority that turned into sharp daggers directed at Jima. The atmosphere dropped to freezing point.
Chamberlain and the big man Fliris subconsciously held their breath, not wanting to provoke Brancy.
The maids behind Jima dared not even breathe.
But Jima felt no fear, even wanting to laugh. She remembered how Brancy had bowed and scraped before her, wearing a pleasing smile. To curry favor with her, he had even opened his daughter’s favorite garden for her and the women to enjoy.
“We did not kill your daughter,” Jima stated.
George added, “She’s right.”
The four words from George’s mouth fell into everyone’s ears, leading them to involuntarily believe him.
Chamberlain unconsciously lowered his hand from the hilt of his sword.
Benevolent lord Brancy’s brows knitted, realizing that his hand had also come off the hilt without him noticing. He sensed something was amiss and shifted his gaze to George, asking: “What did you say?”
George met his gaze calmly, neither humble nor arrogant, saying, “We are innocent.”
He was a trustworthy young man, a straightforward knight.
Benevolent lord Brancy reined in the sharpness in his eyes. He sensed that the other’s aura made it hard not to believe his words.
“I would like to believe that too,” he said. “Let them out; it is very rude to keep guests locked in a small room, especially towards proud knights.”
George and Jima walked through the gaze of the crowd, out the door, led by the soldier, finally arriving at the spacious captain’s cabin.
It was luxuriously decorated, the light golden wood polished to a shine, and the walls adorned with specimens of Koto fishmen’s heads.
Although soldiers formed a wall blocking the way to the open sea, it was still better than being cooped up in the hold.
There was only one chair, and George naturally sat down, while Jima stood behind him, her hands resting on the back of the chair.
The elderly maid with white hair led in a line of young and beautiful maids, who lined up behind Brancy.
The maids had slender waists and long legs wrapped in white or black silk, but Jima was not in the mood to admire their beauty.
“My lord,” the old maid said, “the maids in the hold have finished searching; nothing was found.”
Brancy nodded, his gaze shifting to George, saying: “Thank you for your cooperation. Next, the maids will inspect your bodies for any bloodstains or weapons.”
The maids, led by the old maid, surrounded them.
The old maid said to Jima: “Miss, please take off your hat; we will take you to a small room.”
I knew I couldn’t escape this.
Jima displayed her disgust, covering her exposed skin, and took a step back.
“I hate exposing my body in front of strangers.”
As soon as she finished speaking, Fliris’s annoying voice rang out: “Stop being coy; if you keep avoiding this, I see no need to search anymore, the murderer must be you two.”
“On what grounds do you defame my innocence?”
“Is the next step a duel for knightly honor? I see her always covering her hat; perhaps she has a small blade hidden under it.”
As Fliris finished speaking, a young maid beside Jima reached out to remove her hat.
“Let go!”
Jima slapped the maid’s hand away.
George quickly stood up, shielding Jima behind him.
In an instant, all seated individuals stood up. Chamberlain’s sword was drawn halfway from its sheath.
The single eye on his half-burned face was filled with coldness: “The ship has already set sail; there are two naval vessels nearby; even fishmen couldn’t escape.”
“Do you really think the murderer would be foolish enough to hide the weapon on them?” Seeing everyone disbelieve, Jima quickly asserted, “I couldn’t possibly hide a weapon on me.”
“Right,” George replied.
The hostility began to wane, but the paladin’s convincing abilities hadn’t yet reached the level of brainwashing, allowing logic to be overlooked.
“The best way to clear your suspicions is to comply with the body search,” benevolent lord Brancy stated. “I have already given you the best treatment, and you are the ones with the most suspicion. My daughter rated as bronze; she possessed several life-saving magical artifacts I had collected over the years. Yet when she died, she couldn’t even call for help. Even a silver tier warrior couldn’t achieve that.”
“Only someone she trusted could launch a sudden attack. You were the only two with her in the room before she died. Your testimonies are the least reliable; separated by only a door with poor soundproofing, how could you not have heard anything when my daughter was attacked?”
“My patience is limited; proud Bartow knights, this is your last warning. Either let the maids take your squire for a search, or I will immediately take revenge for my daughter.”
George spoke: “Give me paper and a pen.”
Fliris impatiently replied: “What trick are you trying to pull this time?”
“My lord has nearly exhausted all the words he can say today thanks to this dreadful and bloody murder case,” Jima stated.
Benevolent lord Brancy leaned forward, saying: “I only want to conduct a search.”
George continued, “I can help you find the murderer.”
Benevolent lord Brancy wavered; he straightened up, looking at George with a questioning gaze.
Yet George remained silent.
Jima said: “We’re out of words.”
“Quick, bring the paper and pen!” benevolent lord Brancy shouted, turning his head.
He turned back and said: “I must be crazy; today is the most I’ve trusted a stranger.”
At that moment, the fat around Fliris’s eyes creased into a line, and gleams of light shone through.
The paper and pen were brought up quickly, and George wrote down a neatly formatted line.
The servant handed it to Brancy; he glanced at it, his expression changing, saying: “This is impossible.”
