Chapter 195: Too Much Trouble, Let’s Just Switch Teammates

The Heitai Town Sheriff’s Office was right next to the Town Hall.

It was a single-story stone and brick building, its stuccoed exterior walls mottled and peeling. A cast-iron emblem, a classic design of two crossed swords before a shield, was nailed above the oak main door.

Pushing open the heavy wooden door, Lu Wei found the interior rather dim. The reception counter was worn to a shine, and a dozen or so wanted posters, some new, some old, were tacked to the walls. Each one featured a large bounty amount.

The highest was for 30 gold coins, the lowest for 5.

There were none lower than 5 gold coins.

Presumably, ordinary criminals weren’t even worthy of a bounty.

This also explained why “Bounty Hunters” didn’t exist in this world.

After all, hunting down dangerous felons was a lot more trouble than just killing a few monsters for quick cash.

“Let me show you the body first,”

Reck said, leading Lu Wei and Aryan through the front hall into the sheriff’s office’s backyard.

The sheriff, a man nearing fifty, had graying temples, but his frame was still ramrod straight, and the badge on his uniform was polished to a brilliant shine.

In a shady corner of the yard, a body lay haphazardly covered by a coarse straw mat. The dirt beneath it was stained a dark red, and a few flies buzzed and circled nearby.

“According to the one who reported it, the deceased is named Silas. He used to be teammates with the killer.”

“The person who reported it and the victim went to the killer to borrow money, and then a conflict broke out…”

As he spoke, Reck bent down and lifted the straw mat.

A body “riddled with holes” was revealed, its deathly pale skin a jarring contrast to the dark red wounds. Both Lu Wei and Aryan’s eyes widened slightly.

However, the two quickly regained their composure, showing no obvious signs of distress.

An Adventurer and a clinic apprentice—they were both long used to such sights.

In fact, the gruesome state of this body wouldn’t even rank in the top ten of what they had seen before.

They just hadn’t expected Bai Ya to be so vicious.

‘Damn, if you didn’t know better, you’d think this was an anatomy class…’

After a few glances at the body, Lu Wei pursed his lips. He had already pieced together the truth based on Reck’s description—

Silas and Watson went to borrow money from Bai Ya, and she refused.

Then the two of them decided to just rob her, but they underestimated her combat prowess and were unfortunately killed in the process.

The details might be slightly different, but it was definitely a case of “excessive self-defense.” No doubt about it.

After all, given Bai Ya’s personality, she was absolutely not the type to commit “premeditated murder.”

“Uncle Reck.”

Beside them, Aryan waited for Reck to cover the body with the mat again before speaking hurriedly.

“I think there must be some kind of misunderstanding! There’s no way Sister Bai Ya would do something like this!”

“It’s not a misunderstanding.”

Reck shook his head. “She’s already confessed.”

“Huh? She confessed?”

Aryan’s jaw dropped, and she froze on the spot.

Lu Wei, on the other hand, was instantly infuriated.

‘Fuck! Is she a complete idiot?’

‘There are no security cameras or DNA tests these days, so what the hell are you confessing for?’

‘Trying to show how honest you are, huh?’

‘Unbelievable.’

After grumbling internally for a moment, Lu Wei asked with a sense of helplessness:

“Uncle Reck, by the way, does confessing voluntarily reduce the punishment at all?”

“Yes, it does.”

Reck nodded. “Originally, she would have been sent to the guillotine. Now, it’ll just be hanging.”

?

‘Wait, hold on, I don’t think I understand.’

‘Is the “hanging” you’re talking about the same as the “hanging” I’m thinking of?’

Lu Wei asked blankly, “So, what’s the difference?”

“Of course there is.”

Reck explained with a straight face, “Hanging lets you keep the body intact.”

“…”

‘Well, I’ll be. So that’s the difference.’

The corner of Lu Wei’s mouth twitched, his expression utterly bizarre.

He didn’t seem worried at all, though.

Aryan, however, was not nearly as calm. The moment she heard Bai Ya was sentenced to be hanged, her face turned deathly pale. She clutched the corner of his sleeve and said in a panic:

“Brother Lu Wei, what do we do now?”

“Don’t panic, let me think…”

Lu Wei held his chin, frowning in thought for a moment.

Then he suddenly turned to Aryan.

“By the way, do you know how to cook?”

…

…

Letting Bai Ya hang was, of course, out of the question.

Considering he had already invested a Divine Skill like [Imitation] in Bai Ya, and that her cooking was genuinely delicious, Lu Wei felt it was necessary to at least make an effort.

Besides, Bai Ya was now at 16 points, just over the 15-point threshold for being a “good friend.”

And Lu Wei’s definition of a “good friend” was—

Even if the other person was a heinous criminal, he should provide them with necessary assistance, provided it didn’t compromise his own interests.

Therefore, he was obligated to do his best to help Bai Ya escape the law’s punishment.

Ahem… don’t ask when this threshold was established.

Lu Wei reserved the final right of interpretation and could add or remove rules at any time.

Of course, since it was “do his best,” it meant success was not guaranteed.

After all, he was completely ignorant of the Kingdom’s laws, and a Profession like “lawyer” didn’t exist in Heitai Town. For now, all he could do was get a grasp of the situation before making a plan.

“Uncle Reck, besides the person who reported it, were there any other witnesses?”

“None? So that means if Bai Ya retracts her confession, there might still be a chance?”

“No, no, I would never suggest she retract her confession. I’m just offering a line of thought.”

“Because as far as I know, this Watson fellow was in league with the deceased. It’s not impossible that he’s giving false testimony.”

“Oh, Uncle Reck, that sword of yours looks a bit old. As it happens, I have an Advanced Longsword with two enchantments…”

Ten minutes later, led by Reck, Lu Wei and Aryan left the backyard and followed a narrow tunnel down into the sheriff’s office dungeon.

Heitai Town was considered a “major commercial hub,” and with so many Adventurers coming and going, its jail was relatively large, with over a dozen cells of various sizes.

But right now, all of them were empty, save for a few piles of moldy straw scattered in the corners.

This genuinely surprised Lu Wei.

“Uncle Reck, how come there isn’t a single prisoner?”

“They were all sent to Kalin Port.”

Reck answered truthfully, “The Earl of Lancaster is arriving in about a week. The mayor said it was to show off Heitai Town’s excellent public order, so he had all the prisoners sent away a few days ago.”

“Reasonable.”

Lu Wei nodded in deep agreement, but then suggested, “However, I’d recommend you arrest two or three more.”

“Why?” Reck was taken aback.

“Because having none at all is too fake. Having two or three looks more realistic, and it also gives His Lordship the Count some room to maneuver.”

Lu Wei explained with great earnestness, “Otherwise, when His Lordship the Count arrives and sees not a single prisoner, how is he supposed to offer guidance? How is he to display his wisdom?”

“Hiss…”

His expression immediately turned to one of surprise. Reck thought for a moment, then nodded gravely.

“That makes sense. I’ll report this to the mayor tomorrow and tell him it was your suggestion.”

“No, no, Uncle Reck, I was just spitballing. You really don’t need to mention me.”

Lu Wei quickly waved his hands. “Besides, I’m sure you already had this idea, even if I hadn’t said anything.”

“Hm? When did I…”

Reck paused, then instantly understood. He didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

“You little rascal, you’re a smooth talker.”

“Hehe, I learned it all from my father. A merchant has to have a quick mind, after all.”

“But your father was an honest man.”

“That’s true… Oh, by the way, Uncle Reck, speaking of my father, he was actually talking about you constantly before he passed away.”

“He said you were the most admirable sheriff in town, that you would never let a single bad guy go, and more importantly, never wrong a good person…”

Walking through the stone-paved tunnel, Lu Wei and Reck chatted and laughed, showing not the slightest hint of tension, as if Bai Ya’s life wasn’t a matter of concern at all.

Aryan followed behind them, her gaze flickering back and forth between the two men.

After a moment, some of the anxiety and worry in her eyes finally dissipated. She let out a silent sigh of relief.

‘Looks like Sister Bai Ya is going to be okay.’

‘Brother Lu Wei has become so much more mature and worldly, too.’

‘I like him so much…’