Chapter 1643 - 106: Fox and Mouse Game (16)_3

Chapter 1643: Chapter 106: Fox and Mouse Game (16)_3

Moritz, as usual, posed difficult questions, and Isra responded steadily throughout.

But these were just the appetizers; the real pressure came later, with the most embarrassing questions dug out from supposedly confidential personal files.

"You have relatives living in the Empire," Moritz stared at the interviewee, "Captain."

"Yes," Isra replied frankly.

"Who are they?"

"Descendants of my grandfather’s brother, a few cousins are still alive."

"They hold positions in the Pretender Emperor’s government, don’t they?"

"Yes."

"Do you still correspond with them?"

"Yes."

"What do you talk about?"

"Well... many things, everyday greetings between relatives, current news, family trivialities, it’s not easy to communicate, so we write a lot each time."

"Your grandfather’s brother was a sovereignty war exile, correct?"

"No, he was already serving in the Mad Emperor’s court before the sovereignty war, but yes, his properties in Paratu were confiscated after the war."

"I suppose he wasn’t very pleased."

"No one would be pleased about such things, but he has passed away." 𝘧𝓇ℯℴ𝓂

"But he has descendants."

"Yes."

"Have your cousins ever tried to recruit you?"

The atmosphere suddenly became tense.

Isra Nicholas sighed almost inaudibly.

"Yes," he said, "they hinted that they hoped I could provide some information, about the New Reclamation Legion, about Paratu, to help them, because they were struggling."

"Did you agree?"

"I refused, I sent them some money."

"Why not report it?"

Isra’s tone was somewhat helpless, "Report it to whom?"

"Your superiors, the New Reclamation Legion Headquarters, the Paratu Army Headquarters, anyone who wants to listen."

"And then?" Isra smiled bitterly, "Will they fly over to the other side of the Shade Mountain Range and arrest my cousins?"

"I asked why you didn’t report it, not if you thought they would handle your cousins. Answer my question, why didn’t you report it to your superiors?"

Isra remained silent for a long time, "Because I was frightened."

"Fear is not a reason."

"But I was really scared at the time, I was afraid I would be suspected because of this..."

"Affect your promotion?"

"No, not that," Isra answered decisively, "I didn’t join the Alliance Army for promotion or wealth, maybe at first, because I didn’t understand anything then, I was just a child, and the elders thought a military academy would lead to a great future, so I was sent to military school, but not later... I truly wanted to... do something. I’m not afraid of not being promoted, I’m afraid of being expelled from the army. After that, they stopped writing, and I left it at that."

"Nothing happens without leaving a trace, and nothing comes without consequences," Moritz put down the file, coldly delivering the verdict, "In view of your situation, Captain, I believe you should retire."

Isra’s expression froze at first, then confusion, anger, sorrow, disappointment, despair... all these emotions flickered across his eyes.

"I know I made a mistake, but I can’t lead soldiers anymore, I’m just teaching literacy in school now, doing what I can," Isra tried to keep his voice steady, "Is that not allowed either?"

"It’s not about your position."

"Then what is it about?"

"It’s about loyalty."

Isra’s defensive line of emotions wavered for the first time, he gripped the armrest of the chair, slightly agitated, and said: "I have a clear conscience! I believed Colonel Bod could save Paratu, I believed Colonel Bod could clean up this mess, that’s why I fought for you! I’ve already given my life, how else do you want me to prove my loyalty?"

Moritz scrutinized the captain for a moment, then stood up, slightly lowering his head, and looked coldly at the captain.

"Answer me," Moritz asked, "If one day your cousins return to Paratu, claiming their rights and property and wanting to overthrow the Republic of Paratu, to overthrow the Alliance, do you have the determination to kill them?"

"I don’t want to answer hypothetical questions," Isra had regained his composure.

"Do you have the determination to slay the last blood relative on this earth?" Moritz asked again.

"If that day truly comes," Isra said coldly, "I will fight for the Alliance... although it seems you don’t need me anymore."

With that, the captain struggled to stand up, leaning on his cane, saluted, and turned to leave.

The major’s voice sounded behind him: "After dismissal, stay behind."

The captain left, and once again the room was left with only Luosong and Moritz.

Luosong flipped through Isra Nicholas’s file, "He was brave in River Valley Village."

"Among Ned Smith’s followers, there is no shortage of brave ones," Moritz said indifferently.

"What I mean is," Luosong hesitated for a moment, "though he is brave, he still has connections up north, there’s no need to retire him, but to let him..."

"Do you think," Moritz looked at Luosong indifferently, "is he the only one among the Alliance soldiers who has connections to the Empire?"

Before Luosong could react, Moritz continued to question: "Roson Jura, what about you? Don’t you have a single relative living up north?"

Luosong initially wanted to give a direct negative answer, but after thinking it over, he wasn’t so sure.

"He will continue to be tested," Moritz took a sip of water, "Next one."