Chapter 154: Interrogation
TL: Etude
Duke Dodge and his two companions walked silently along the corridor, their expressions grave.
Duke! exclaimed Lester.
I request to personally patrol outside the fortress, to verify the scouts report. According to his description, regular soldiers cant handle that situation.
After pondering for a while, Duke Dodge replied, Lets wait for reports from other scouts first.
Throughout the next day, the Duke gathered reports from several batches of scouts who had gone out for reconnaissance. However, he didnt find anything unusual. Some had encountered the rebel scouts but didnt experience what happened last night.
Could it be that the injured scouts encounter was just an isolated incident? Or was he lying?
After much consideration, the Duke agreed to Viscount Lesters request, allowing him to lead his elite cavalry scouts on a patrol mission.
Before this, there was an unspoken truce between them and the rebels, where neither side entered the others warning zone. The incident last night, where the rebels clearly broke this truce, might indicate that they were planning to change the status quo.
Not far south of Thorn Fortress lay a small town, now unrecognizable from its original form.
A high and thick stone wall, topped with various defensive fortifications, encircled the outskirts of the town. A deep moat surrounded the wall, its bottom filled with densely packed wooden spikes, ensuring a fatal fall for anyone unlucky enough to tumble in.
Fully armed patrol guards could be seen walking on the wall, vigilantly watching the north, daring not to slack off.
This place had been transformed by the rebels into a small fortress.
Originally, their base was further north, closer to Thorn Fortress. This faction of rebels had no intention of attacking Thorn Fortress, as Duke Jars had only tasked them with keeping an eye on the kingdoms army there, preventing them from mobilizing.
However, one night, a small force suddenly emerged from the fortress. After stealthily eliminating the sentries at one corner of the camp, they infiltrated and began setting fires everywhere, causing massive chaos.
Fortunately, the intruders were few in number and were quickly repelled by the spontaneous counterattack of the soldiers. Still, the resulting fire and panic disrupted the camp for the entire night.
After such an embarrassing incident, which reached the ears of The Greedy Wolf Duke Jars, he was furiously enraged and immediately appointed a new leader for this troop.
Taking command of this rebel force, now self-titled the Southern Army, was General Samar, one of Duke Jars formidable subordinates.
When Samar received this appointment, many colleagues pitied him, thinking he lost opportunities for glory as the Southern Army was then busy dealing with lords who refused to submit to Duke Jars. Being assigned to a guarding role meant fewer chances for Samar to earn military honors.
Ill ask you one more time! Tell me what you havent yet confessed!
Sir I truly dont know anything else
The prisoner inwardly lamented: This was the fifth confirmation; surely, the interrogation would end soon?
He dared not reveal critical information like the depleted garrison strength of the fortress. If the rebels learned of it, they might immediately organize an attack. Not only were his comrades-in-arms at risk, but his own family also lived in Duke Dodges territory.
In this era, the passage of bandits was like a comb passing through hair, especially with the longstanding enmity between the Dodge and Jars families. The fate of the common people under Dodges rule was predictable, and Jars troops were notoriously bad. While all crows are black, some are blacker than others.
The interrogator cast a questioning glance toward another figure in the room, cloaked in a cloak, his face hidden under the hood.
Hmm hmm!
The cloaked man chuckled ominously.
Hes lying!
He must be hiding something!
The spine-chilling words came from the cloaked man, leaving the prisoner wondering how he was detected. He had thought the information he provided was flawless, and his limited knowledge as a low-ranking scout was reasonable.
Sensing the prisoners confusion, the cloaked man stood up and slowly approached him.
You must be wondering why Im so certain youre lying, time after time, he said.
The cloaked man slowly raised his head, revealing his face. His appearance was unremarkable, but his eyes
His pupils were glowing, actually emitting light!
Not reflecting the light of the nearby torches, but shining from within!
Because
As he spoke, the light in his eyes seemed to grow brighter.
I can see the color of your soul
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