Chapter 107: I Am a Law-Abiding Good Citizen in Veridia

Chapter 107: Chapter 107: I Am a Law-Abiding Good Citizen in Veridia

"Miss Sinclair, we are here precisely for the land rights. The issue with The Shrine’s land rights is due to some internal matters."

Rian Sinclair didn’t speak. Instead, the men behind her dragged over another bloodied figure and dumped him onto the floor. Kensei Aoyama trembled even more violently at the sight of the familiar uniform, eventually collapsing into a seated position on the ground.

Rian stood and approached. Quentin Sinclair handed her a pair of white gloves, which she took and slipped on. She then crouched down, examining the filth-covered man lying before her.

"These people... just because they evade the questions. Their mouths are so tight you can’t pry them open. They would rather die in the line of duty than expose their boss’s intentions. Such loyalty is quite admirable, but alas, what a pity."

With her fingertips, Rian parted some of the man’s torn clothing, revealing the countless wounds on his body. Sitting nearby, Kensei Aoyama saw every exposed injury in gruesome detail. He shrank back, the sight assaulting his nerves. Rian spoke up, "Do you know of the ’Three Investigations of Butterfly Dream’?"

Kensei Aoyama shook his head nervously. He didn’t know, nor did he want to.

Observing their shaking heads, Rian continued, "There is a line in it that perfectly matches this scene: ’With mouths all over your body, how can you evade? Like a gourd with no opening, beaten until the skin splits and the flesh is ruined.’"

Due to the language barrier, the exact nuance of the ancient proverb didn’t translate perfectly, but Kensei understood the gist of it. She was simply describing the extent of this man’s injuries. Wherever Rian’s fingers passed, Kensei saw deep glimpses of white bone and filthy, mangled flesh. He could almost smell the stench of rotting meat radiating from the body. It made him want to vomit. Seeing the light fade from Kensei’s now hollow eyes, the corners of Rian’s lips turned up slightly. Excellent. The fish had taken the bait.

Rian stood up. Before she could take off the white gloves herself, Quentin stepped forward. He removed the gloves and casually tossed them onto the corpse lying on the floor. Then, retrieving a warm handkerchief, he meticulously wiped every one of Miss Sinclair’s fingers.

"Miss Sinclair, you truly do not need to handle such things yourself."

Rian didn’t reply. She sat back down in her chair. "Does the notebook from the auction have anything to do with you?"

Kensei Aoyama’s body stiffened, and he shook his head out of pure reflex. An instant later, a sharp pain shot through his shoulder blade. Slumping to the floor and clutching his shoulder, he stammered, "The notebook... the Emperor sent people to the auction for it. We had two objectives at the auction, and one of them was the notebook."

Rian leaned back slightly, her eyes narrowing as her red lips parted. "Continue."

Kensei paused for a moment before going on. "We previously discovered that the notebook originated from a pawnshop owned by Evan Kyle, who is of The Jewish people. Our earlier attempts to negotiate with him failed, and he subsequently sent it to the auction in The Undercity."

Rian’s expression turned cold. She threw the used handkerchief directly at Kensei’s face. "Quite the negotiation. Your country’s idea of ’negotiation’ is as unique as ever. By negotiation, do you mean pointing knives and guns at his head?"

Kyle had never mentioned this ordeal, but Quentin Sinclair had managed to uncover it anyway. It was fortunate that Kyle had been in Meridia at the time. He possessed a certain degree of influence and a solid background. Otherwise, he would have been secretly eliminated long ago. Only the Sakurans were capable of resorting to such blatant coercion and bribery. They were exactly the same as before. Despicable.

Kensei Aoyama shivered. Despite the handkerchief being thrown at his face, he didn’t dare make a sound. He only used silence as his reply.

Rian looked displeased. A flash of ruthlessness crossed her eyes, though she hid it perfectly. She reached up and lightly tapped Quentin’s pocket. Quentin pursed his lips, hesitating for a moment before taking out a pack of women’s cigarettes and handing it to her.

Rian placed a cigarette between her lips, expecting Quentin to light it for her. Instead, she saw his cold expression and slightly furrowed brows. Her fingertips paused. Then, she reached out to find the lighter herself. She lowered her head slightly to light the cigarette, then leaned back against the chair, slowly exhaling the smoke. Under the numbing effect of the nicotine, she gradually suppressed the irritation in her heart.

Tilting her head back, she blew out a puff of smoke. "Continue."

"Upon learning that Kyle had sent it to the auction, the Emperor wanted to hire someone to take him out. However, since Kyle is backed by the Brown family, the Emperor didn’t dare make a move.

"The Emperor is well aware of the notebook’s contents, which is why he intended to snatch it from Kyle. He just didn’t expect Kyle to have the backing of the head of The Five Great Families. Worried that the notebook’s contents would be exposed, the Emperor sent us to win it at the auction."

After listening to Kensei Aoyama’s confession, Rian tossed her half-smoked cigarette onto the floor and crushed the butt beneath her stiletto heel. Filled with utter contempt for their actions, she sneered, "You truly live up to your reputation, having served as Meridia’s lapdogs for over two hundred years."

Kensei’s face paled, but he didn’t dare say a word. After all, the other side had them completely outnumbered. Even if they hadn’t drawn their weapons, it didn’t mean they were unarmed. He valued his life. You only live once, and he certainly didn’t believe in any nonsense about an afterlife. He still had so much money left to his name, and he needed to stay alive to spend it.

As for Sakuran, Kensei felt that the nation was incapable of doing anything besides brainwashing its people. Even their rewards were notoriously stingy. Stealing another glance at the body lying on the floor, Kensei shrank his neck in fear. He possessed absolutely no admirable loyalty. To survive, he would naturally betray everything. After all, he had no desire to die such a miserable death.

Rian had nothing more to ask. Quentin had already investigated most of Kensei Aoyama’s background anyway. She shot Quentin a knowing look.

Quentin nodded. Gesturing to the men behind him, he pointed at the two figures kneeling on the floor. "Take them down and ’serve’ them well."

Seeing several burly men approaching, Kensei immediately tensed up. He looked at Rian as if pleading for help. Sensing his gaze, she looked over and offered him a remarkably benevolent smile.

"Don’t worry. Back in Veridia, I am a law-abiding good citizen."

Hearing this, the two men instantly breathed a sigh of relief. But what he didn’t know was... "In Veridia." Right now, they were in Sakuran. What did Veridia’s laws have to do with her?

Numa Aoshi seemed to realize something. He was just about to speak when the man dragging him clamped a piece of cloth tightly over his mouth. He could only thrash his body around, signaling his protests. Beside him, Kensei Aoyama even shot him a somewhat confused look.

Watching the two being dragged away, Rian leaned lightly against Quentin. "Tell me, why do such stupid people hold much higher positions than others?"

Feeling the warmth against his arm, Quentin’s body stiffened. Hearing Miss Sinclair’s voice, he replied, "Perhaps the Sakuran leaders have a penchant for idiots."

Rian nodded at his words. Quentin wasn’t wrong. "I can definitely feel it." Her gaze then shifted to the two bodies lying on the floor. "Where did you find these actors? These fake injuries are a bit too obvious."

Quentin coughed lightly. Immediately, the two men lying on the ground sprang to their feet. "Good evening, Ms. Sinclair."

Covered in tattered rags, the two men stood with utmost respect, grinning from ear to ear like a pair of fools.