Chapter 374: Contradictions Arise
In the dense forest.
A Kingdom of the Vale soldier on duty ran to an uninhabited corner under the excuse of relieving himself.
"Go."
He released the Rufflet hovering on his arm.
There was also a letter box tied to Rufflet's leg.
However.
The next second.
A black-purple translucent fist shot from a distance, hitting the Rufflet that just took off.
Rufflet staggered, looking around.
Then stunned on the spot.
He was surrounded in the center by a dozen Unfezant.
"Catch them."
Rami's voice sounded from the ground.
"Rufflet, run quickly!"
The soldier reacted and shouted to the sky hurriedly.
But just raising his head, he saw Rufflet's two wings had been torn off by Unfezant; the little guy fell from the air towards the ground.
"Rufflet!"
That soldier didn't think of running away, but chased towards the location where Rufflet fell with all his might.
Undercover in the Kingdom of the Vale for so long.
He was indeed influenced a lot by this side.
For example, valuing his Pokémon partner very much.
If there was a choice.
Of course he also wanted to stay here with Rufflet.
But the problem is involuntary.
Rami hiding in the surrounding woods waved his hand.
Instantly dozens of people and Pokémon rushed out and surrounded that person.
Five minutes later.
Military camp.
Rami led people to bring that soldier and the dying Rufflet to Will.
He had treated this Rufflet simply before; at least not dying now.
"Teacher, how to deal with it?"
Rami looked at Will.
Didn't make up his mind himself.
"What do you think?"
Will glanced at this person, then turned to look at Rami.
The letter tied to Rufflet's leg had been checked; this person was one of the spies arranged by the Kingdom of the Blessed Isles.
In Will's perception.
After this person was caught, four people in the camp were very fearful and panicked in their hearts.
Among them one person.
When just arrived before, Will didn't sense negative Aura from the other party's heart.
Even quite respectful to him.
Didn't expect to have misjudged.
But right now these four people have all been remembered by Will.
Just wanted to see how Rami would deal with it.
"...Interrogate, see if we can find his accomplices, then let the Kingdom of the Blessed Isles redeem people, can also earn some money to supplement the treasury."
Rami frowned and thought, then said.
Although this person is an insider arranged by the Kingdom of the Blessed Isles.
But his attitude towards his own Pokémon is not fake.
For such a person who cherishes his Pokémon, as long as the other party is willing to confess accomplices, he doesn't mind letting him live.
"Impossible!"
As soon as Rami finished speaking, Kazan's voice came from outside the camp.
Everyone turned to look at Kazan.
The captured prisoner also showed a panicked and distracted expression on his face.
This second prince's character and reputation...
Everyone knows in their hearts.
"Just in time, Kazan, tell me your opinion."
Will looked at his disciple carrying that giant sword, lifting his chin.
"If he obediently tells his accomplices, then give them a decent way to die. If not, then torture until they say or torture until they die. I think the generals in the camp have plenty of ways to interrogate him."
Kazan grinned, looking at the prisoner kneeling on the ground, eyes full of cold light,
"If really not working, my Pawniard can be personally responsible for this matter."
"Pawn."
Pawniard raised his blade hand and waved casually.
Rami glanced at Kazan, didn't refute him directly, but turned to look at Will.
Will looked at them and shook his head.
He came to that prisoner alone, reaching out to snatch the severely injured Rufflet.
"Rufflet!"
The Blessed Isles soldier subconsciously reached out to grab.
The next second was pressed to the ground by soldiers on both sides.
"How about this."
"If you confess your accomplices now, I count it as making up for your mistakes, and save Rufflet's life."
"Just that, Rufflet will be raised in Eindoak Town in the future, and you have to work honestly for the Kingdom of the Vale, conveying wrong information to the Kingdom of the Blessed Isles for us, so you can see him again in the future."
"When necessary, maybe even need you to die."
"If you don't intend to confess your accomplices... we won't spare any enemy, including you and your Rufflet."
As Will's words rang out in the camp.
The Blessed Isles soldier lay on the ground pale, lips trembling, eyes full of struggle.
And those four spies hiding in the crowd were also full of panic and worry in their hearts at this moment.
Rami and Kazan stood in place frowning in thought.
Both couldn't help feeling Teacher's move was too ruthless.
Especially Kazan.
Felt learned something in his heart.
Just killing these spies is not enough; have to squeeze all their value clean.
But thinking of letting this guy live, he felt a bit unhappy in his heart.
If it were Kazan.
Then when this person loses value in the future, he will order to execute their whole family and that Rufflet to eliminate future trouble.
Just can give them a quicker way to die.
Rami on the other side was in a similar situation.
Although the way to live has been given to this prisoner, he felt it seemed a bit cruel.
But he could recognize this was his own problem.
He shouldn't have these womanly benevolence (idiom meaning overly soft-hearted).
Kindness to the enemy is cruelty to oneself; Teacher taught this sentence.
"I..."
The Blessed Isles soldier looked at the ground with confused eyes.
"Roar..." (Rufflet cry)
Rufflet let out a painful whine in Will's hand just right.
But Will didn't do anything.
Although these Pokémon are indeed quite pitiful.
They just complete their trainer's instructions, don't understand stance, nor understand good and evil.
But ignorance is not innocence.
Ignorance cannot change the fact that they are accomplices.
Once Rufflet sends that letter out.
Then unknown how many Vale soldiers and their Pokémon will lose their lives, maybe even the two princes will fall into crisis.
If Rufflet is pitiful.
Then aren't other Vale soldiers and Pokémon even more pitiful?
"I... I won't say."
The Blessed Isles soldier responded gritting his teeth.
He was gambling.
Gambling that the benevolent eldest prince wouldn't watch helplessly as the State Preceptor killed his beloved Rufflet.
This way Rufflet won't die, his family in the Kingdom of the Blessed Isles won't have trouble, and his accomplices can continue to execute missions.
As for whether he dies or not, that's nothing.
"Is that so..."
Will sighed, looking at this person disappointedly.
He could feel the fluke mind in this person's heart.
But if this person thinks so.
Then might have really thought wrong.
When to hold back, when not to hold back, he knows in his heart.
"Teacher..."
"Teacher, I have an idea."
Rami's voice just rang out and was interrupted by Kazan.
"Oh? Tell me."
Will looked at Kazan with interest.
"Take them to jail for interrogation. For every moment this guy doesn't say, torture this beast for a moment more, and make him stay awake at all times, watch carefully how he harmed his partner into this appearance."
Kazan smiled and said his new idea.
The last half sentence.
Was said squatting by the Blessed Isles soldier's ear.
Everyone hearing this.
Suddenly felt a chill on their backs.
The second prince whose means were simple and crude a minute ago, learned psychological warfare in this minute.
"Then leave it to you."
Will handed Rufflet to Kazan.
Then.
Watched Kazan take a few people dragging that Blessed Isles soldier and Rufflet towards the corner of the military camp.
"Teacher, this..."
Rami saw this, walked up hurriedly, bearing not in his heart.
"Feel too cruel?"
"In front of me, speak straight."
"Yes, Teacher, I think that's too cruel. If interrogating and torturing that spy, I have no objection, but why torture Rufflet? That child knows nothing..."
Rami nodded heavily, expressing his view.
"Mm, I guessed you would say so long ago. Someone, bring those over."
Will waved his hand casually.
A minute later.
Several soldiers carried up the corpses of several Vale soldiers and Pokémon.
"These are soldiers originally responsible for transporting charged stones. On the secret road to Eindoak,
Attacked by people running out from unknown where. Who do you think attacked?"
"...People of the Kingdom of the Blessed Isles."
"Then why do you think this secret road was discovered?"
"...Someone tipped off."
Rami lowered his head.
The person tipping off might not be the two taken away just now, but definitely related to them.
"Rami, although Kazan is not thoughtful in considering things, and somewhat extreme in character, as a leader, the current you are much worse than him."
This sentence was said by Will to Rami alone using Aura.
He knows his status in the country very well now.
To put it bluntly.
One sentence of his.
Can immediately add a huge stone to the scale of the King in these people's hearts, a huge stone pressing on the second prince's side.
Even the scale in Dresa's heart will tilt.
However.
He will not take sides publicly from beginning to end.
Because Will stands not for any disciple, nor even for the Kingdom of the Vale.
It's for Dresa who entrusted him with trust and help.
In these years, Will used the power of the Kingdom of the Vale a lot to find a way back.
Even being a projected body was tested out with the help of the power of the Kingdom of the Vale.
Dresa knew all these things, but he didn't even ask.
Will also asked him why he didn't ask.
Dresa said nothing else, just said "I trust you."
Just these.
Will will support all Dresa's decisions unconditionally.
Even if Dresa wants to abdicate to the unworthy Rami today, he will try his best to assist and teach Rami to become a qualified King, turning to guide Kazan to the path of a Grand General.
Even if he can't make Rami a hero expanding territory.
At least can make Rami a ruler defending the heritage.
Before Dresa clearly expresses his opinion and chooses his favorite heir.
Will will never express which prince he supports in public.
~~~
Get early access to 30+ advanced chapters on Patreon!
https://www.pat-reon.co-m/c/Hollowborn
~~~
Every 5 new reviews = 1 extra chapters
Every 150 Power Stones = 1 extra chapter