ch9

On my way out, I went through the back alley, making sure no one could see me.

I hurriedly went to the forest.

I took almost twenty-five minutes there, faster than I thought.

When I came to the forest, I went to the river near the place where I used to train and washed myself and the clothes I was wearing.

I had already prepared a change of clothes here, as I had planned.

I still have a few minutes to get my shit together.

After bathing myself in the river and cleared my thoughts, I went out and clothe myself.

I have to go back to the library in twenty minutes.

Thinking I had two more hours of work, I went to the library until I ended my day.

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In the morning, a knock woke me up.

I opened the door and saw Captain Palmer.

He came to see if I was okay. I was wondering why, so I asked.

What is wrong, Captain Palmer?

"I was just checking if you're involved, even though, no matter how we look at you, you can't be the one who did that." "We're just going through the procedure, so please cooperate," he said.

May I ask where I should be involved, Captain? "I just woke up, so I don't know what to say," I said as i yawned.

He told me about the annihilation of the rotten skulls. He has mixed feelings about it. He doesn't know if he should be happy or scared because what he has witnessed is really horrible.

People were cut mercilessly as if they were meat that was about to be cooked. Even the boss of the rotten skulls, Zed Felon, was reduced to bits.

I pretended to be shocked and showed pity.

"That's so horrible... I wanted to punish them as well, but... but not like this... They were still humans." As I said, I felt disgust while I was speaking those words. "How can they be humans?" in my thoughts.

"You're right." We also got various evidence not only about the crimes they commit but even their transactions with the nobles were very well recorded; it looks like they don't trust the nobles either." he added

He then asked me simple questions as to where I was and what I had done all day. Of course, I only said I worked and ate between brakes, then went home after my shift. He left afterwards.

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I started my day, trained, and then headed for work.

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.

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A few months have passed, and I have done my daily routine. The news about the rotten skulls faded as the days went by.

Captain Palmer checked on me once in a while; he probably took pity on me.

the other soldier that is always with him, Oliver Sten told me the captain saw his daughter in me. If his child didn't die due to illness, she probably grew the same as me, he said.

"No wonder he's kind to me," I thought.

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It was time for lunch, so I walked out of the library.

As I walked, I saw a new restaurant and decided to eat there.

I entered and saw that there were too many people.

Of course, it is their opening day. So, I decided to buy take outs instead of dining in.

I think I bought too many... It's hard to choose. They're also rushing me. hmph!

I should share this with Captain Palmer and the others; they probably haven't eaten yet.

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I reached the headquarters of the patrol guards.

The mood doesn't seem right. They all look depressed.

I saw Oliver and asked where the captain was.

"Follow me," he said.

There's really something wrong here.

wait oliver! This is not the way to the captain's room.

"I know. The captain was relieved from his position and is imprisoned down here," Oliver said.

what??!! why? for what reason?

Oliver stopped on his tracks and told me in a low voice, "You can't tell anyone about this, alright?"

and I agreed.

He said the captain was pressured by the nobles and was set up by them. They managed to get ahold of the evidence that could be used to arrest them and burned it all. The captain planned to send it to the imperial palace, but they caught wind of it. They paid some of the soldiers here and ordered them to take the evidence and destroy it. Thus, he is arrested right now for slandering the nobles.

I gritted my teeth and clenched my fist in anger.

"The captain didn't want to involve you in this; he doesn't want to let the spies of the nobles see that he's related to you in any way," Oliver said.

...

After we went down the stairs, we reached Captain Palmer's prison cell.

Captain! i said

Adi, what are you doing here in this dirty place?

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The prison is damp and dirty, and you can see various wounds and bruises on Captain Palmer.

how hateful! I said it in my mind.

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You shouldn't have brought her here, Oliver.

"I...I'm sorry, captain," Oliver said.

"It is alright. Now that you've seen me, you should leave. Oliver, get her out of here." the captain said.

"but..." I couldn't utter any more words as I know completely what is happening.

Oliver decided to walk me out with his head down as if he were holding something in.

I put down the food I bought and gave it to the captain; "at least eat something," is what I said, then I left.

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