Chapter 398 The Game Between Fox and Cat (Part 2)

Lieutenant Colonel Thomas looked at the prisoner on the chair:

He is about forty years old, with ordinary appearance and ordinary temperament. Except that his strong arms and shoulders suggested that he came from an environment where there was neither meat, milk, bread, nor manual labor, there was nothing special about him.

In fact, it was precisely because of his body shape that he was obviously different from the malnourished urban poor that made him the most eye-catching prey, and ultimately led to his capture.

"I think we can save each other a little time, Mr. Kapfen." Lieutenant Colonel Thomas began to speak, his tone was not harsh, but with dignity: "You know what is waiting for you - being hanged as a traitor. , or live as a foreign spy. Two roads are before you, choose for yourself."

Alfonso's Adam's apple rolled up and down. He coughed a few times with great effort, and begged in a hoarse voice: "Can you give me some water? I haven't drank water for two days."

Lieutenant Colonel Thomas subconsciously turned his attention to the fake baron beside him.

Alfonso keenly caught the other party's fleeting movements, "The young one is the one in charge?" he secretly speculated.

From the moment he was brought into the interrogation room, the fake baron didn't even look at him, but carelessly played with a small pile of cards on the table.

It wasn't until Lieutenant Colonel Thomas asked him silently that the fake baron raised his eyelids and looked at Alfonso. His eyes were cold and uninterested, as if scanning a specimen.

Alfonso tried his best to meet the other person's gaze calmly, but for some reason, he failed. The other side was difficult to deal with - he knew this instinctively.

At the other end of the interrogation room, Winters also made a judgment - the prisoner showed no special concern for the cards in his hand.

This means one thing: either the prisoner is so good at concealing his emotions that he can't tell any clues; or the cards are so secret that the prisoner doesn't know anything about them.

Winters nodded slightly.

After receiving permission, Pierre, who was guarding the room, picked up the kettle, walked to the chair, and put the spout to the prisoner's mouth.

The cold water flowed down his dry throat, and Alfonso swallowed greedily, almost choking himself.

"Gudong Gudong", the bottle of water was quickly drank.

Alfonso paid careful attention to the person feeding him water. He felt that the figure looked familiar, as if he was the cavalryman who was biting him and not letting go.

"Do you want any more?" asked Pierre.

Alfonso gasped: "No."

"Drink the water." Lieutenant Colonel Thomas said with a hint of sarcasm in his tone, "Is it my turn to go to the toilet next?"

After drinking a pot of cold water, Alfonso's already shrunken stomach began to churn again.

"No need." He endured the cramping pain and answered truthfully: "I couldn't hold it back before, I already peed."

"boom!"

Lieutenant Colonel Thomas slammed his fist on the table and shouted sternly: "You think I am visiting the prison? Don't try to delay the time, because it is meaningless. You are the spy of the false emperor, and no one knows torture better than you. You want water ?Okay, give you water! Do you want bread? Give you bread! Want a woman? I can also find you a prostitute."

The lieutenant colonel paused for a few seconds and threatened: "But as long as you don't cooperate, we have plenty of time to torture you slowly. No matter how long you delay, it will be useless. I have never seen anyone who can survive the torture, but I have. Many people who were tortured to the point of begging for death should not ask for trouble."

Alfonso savored the sweetness of the water and exhaled a long breath: "You are going to kill me after all."

"Nonsense!" Lieutenant Colonel Thomas retorted categorically, his voice becoming gentler: "Killing you, what good will it do to us? I can tell you frankly, since you come here, nothing will happen. You can live, you can live comfortably, you may even be free - but only if you cooperate."

"cooperate?"

"Where are your other accomplices?"

A mocking smile appeared on Alfonso's face: "How do I know you won't regret it?"

Just as Lieutenant Colonel Thomas was about to speak, Winters suddenly gathered the cards into a pile.

Upon seeing this, the lieutenant colonel straightened his back, cleared his throat, and stared at the prisoner but did not answer.

"Actually, you are not afraid that we will kill you." Winters said slowly, "You are afraid that your accomplices will come to silence you."

Alfonso's smile froze.

…

[Old Town North Shore]

[Municipal Palace]

A double carriage drove into the Municipal Square from the west intersection and stopped at the foot of the steps of the Municipal Palace. The driver immediately jumped out of the carriage and left in a hurry.

The sergeant guarding the Municipal Palace was suspicious and repeatedly ordered the coachman to stop.

But the coachman paid no attention to him, and instead took a step forward and fled into the side street without looking back.

The sergeant waved his hand, and the two guards on duty immediately chased after him. Then he drew his side sword and hit two more guards. The three of them walked down the steps in a defensive manner and surrounded the carriage.

A guard carefully lifted up the cloth covering the cargo box with the tip of a spear.

"It's all stones and scrap metal," the guard reported.

The sergeant's attention was attracted by the chariot shaft - the leather straps connecting the yoke and harness had been cut, and the draft horse remained in place not because of restraint, but because of good training.

The sergeant suddenly realized that he had made a big mistake. He grabbed his subordinates and ran up the steps desperately: "Run."

too late.

There was a loud "boom" and the ground trembled.

Looking from a distance outside the city, a plume of dark brown smoke rose from the Municipal Square. Immediately afterwards, dull roars were heard one after another from the direction of the debtors' prison and the parish guild hall, and smoke and dust filled the air.

Although the other guards at the main entrance of the Municipal Palace were further away, they were also swept down by the air waves and flying gravel and iron slag.

Before the guards could recover from their shock and dizziness, the enemies wielding swords and daggers had already rushed up the steps and rushed towards them.

…

A sudden loud noise stopped the interrogation, and a layer of dust fell on the ceiling of the room.

There was a chaotic sound of running and questioning outside, and then the door was pushed open. A lieutenant walked into the interrogation room and whispered a few words to Lieutenant Colonel Thomas.

Taking advantage of the opening of the door, Alfonso briefly observed the scene outside the door.

The result disappointed him. There was still a closed corridor outside the interrogation room, and he could neither tell the time nor guess the location.

Lieutenant Colonel Thomas nodded, the lieutenant saluted, turned and left the interrogation room.

The hail-like sound of horse hooves soon came from outside the house. The sound of the hooves was louder at first and then softer, getting farther and farther away.

Alfonso listened breathlessly until the environment returned from noisy to silent. When he came to his senses, he found that the fake baron was watching him with interest.

Alfonso immediately lowered his head, but the other party took the initiative and said, "Are you waiting for someone?"

Alfonso didn't answer.

"Do you know who I am?"

"Baron Granaci." Alfonso licked his lips: "Self-proclaimed."

"Very good." Winters was noncommittal and tilted his head to indicate to the Lieutenant Colonel beside him: "It is enough for you to know that Lieutenant Colonel Thomas and I are not affiliated with the same interest."

When Lieutenant Colonel Thomas heard this, he touched his Adam's apple and glanced at Little Bern covertly.

"Although Lieutenant Colonel Thomas has made all kinds of threats, you should be able to sense that he does not want to execute you." Winters carefully analyzed the pros and cons for the other party: "A dying prisoner cannot prove the ability of the Lieutenant Colonel. He wants to He needs an impeccable confession and a willing witness. Only in this way can he turn the 'Imperial Spy Arson Case' into an impeccable case."

Alfonso listened in silence.

"But I'm different." Winters stared into the captive's eyes: "I only want the truth."

There was a deathly silence in the room, and Alfonso's heart twitched.

Winters, however, stood up and walked to the closet as if nothing was wrong.

Alfonso unconsciously watched the other party open the cupboard, but the fake baron just came back with a bottle of wine.

Winters uncorked the bottle and poured himself some wine: "Frankly, I'm no better at interrogating than Lieutenant Colonel Thomas, or you, or anyone else in this room."

Not only Alfonso, but everyone in the interrogation room had their eyes on Winters.

"I don't like torture either, because inflicting pain on other people doesn't give me pleasure." Winters took a sip of wine, and his pale face was quickly smeared with a sickly red color.

In his deep pool-like eyes, melancholy and determination are intertwined:

“But I will use whatever measures are necessary for the sake of the truth, and no one can stop me.

You can't handle what I'm about to do, no one can. There are always limits to the mind and body, you are like this, I am like this, everyone is like this. No matter how brave you are, it's only a matter of time before you destroy them. A man with a hammer can break the hardest stone. You should know this better than I do. "

"I..." Alfonso lowered his head and asked with difficulty, "How do you want me to cooperate with you?"

"It's very simple." Winters yawned and said nonchalantly: "Confess a few insignificant downlines, explain a hiding place that has expired, and reveal some half-true and half-false information. It takes time to verify the information. It can always be delayed for another day or two.”

Alfonso raised his head in surprise.

Winters stood up, walked between the table and the prisoner, and sat half-leaning on the edge of the table: "I completely understand your behavior, and I can assure you that you will not be punished unnecessarily because you deliberately delayed the time. Torture.”

At this time, Lieutenant Colonel Thomas could not hide his confusion and shock, and looked sideways at Winters.

"You are lucky because you think time is on your side." Winters looked down at the prisoner and asked pityingly: "Are you waiting for someone to save you?"

…

[suburbs]

[Outside of the garrison camp]

The figure of the cavalry disappeared at the end of the road, and the smoke raised by the horses' hooves gradually subsided.

Eagle Lieutenant holds the saddle head in his left hand and holds a drum-shaped silver box in his right hand. He stood beside the horse, staring motionlessly into the silver box.

Except for the Eagle Guards who pretended to attack the Municipal Palace, the prison and the guild headquarters, the other Eagle Guards who could still fight were behind him at the moment.

No, not just the Eagle Guards and Advisors to be precise.

The spies of the Royal Security Council, the royalists who thought that His Majesty would start a war with the rebels tomorrow, the desperadoes who were tempted by the huge reward but did not know what to do yet... All the armed forces that the empire could command in Solingen were mobilized. Mobilize.

Those who can evacuate have already evacuated, and those who cannot evacuate have squeezed out the last value.

The deputy director of the Emperor's Hand did not hesitate to use a Pyrrhic victory to bring an end to the empire's years-long layout in Solingen State - because from the moment his top leader was captured, the empire's plans in Solingen State were The intelligence network is destined to come to an end.

The hands in the drum-shaped silver box jumped again.

"That's it now." Lieutenant Eagle suddenly closed the lid of the box and mounted his horse: "The rebel cavalry has been led away. A quarter of an hour is enough for us to take action."

A one-horse carriage was pushed out of the woods and onto the road.

Several Eagle Guards ably hitched the horses to the cart, while others, under the command of the deputy director, pulled out the trees that had been felled in advance and blocked the road.

The hitched carriage rumbled along the road out of the valley, around the last ups and downs of the mountains, and after turning a corner, the high wall of the legion's station and the west camp gate came into view.

…

[trial room]

"Do you recognize this?"

Winters placed a drum-shaped silver box in front of the prisoner.

Opening the lid of the box, the dial and gold hands inlaid with luminous stones emitted a dim green light - it was the Newlon clock that Pierre had found from the other party.

Alfonso nodded and glanced at the time without trace, but he was not sure whether the fake baron adjusted the Newlon clock.

"Don't think too much, I haven't moved the pointer." Winters easily pointed out the prisoner's thoughts, turned around and took out a drum-shaped silver box from the tortoiseshell wooden box that had just been delivered - the masked man from Este Manor The Newlon clock turned out from the body - placed in front of the prisoner: "Do you recognize this?"

In the first few seconds, Alfonso didn't understand what was happening, and it was as if he had been hit in the head unexpectedly.

So he immediately showed a kind of numbness and dullness similar to drunkenness. Soon, he regained consciousness. Although his face did not change, his lips turned white.

Winters looked at Alfonso, leaned forward and sniffed a few times, as if tasting the prisoner's fear.

Then he turned around again, facing the prisoner's frightened eyes that could no longer hide, and took out the third Newlon Bell.

This time, he said nothing. Just open the buckle cover decorated with acanthus patterns and laurel branches, and gently place it in front of the prisoner.

"Click."

"Click."

"Click."

The three Newlon clocks make a consistent ratcheting sound inside, and three gold hands set with luminous stones point to the same position neatly.

Three hours? Three hours! How come he has a clock? How could it be in his hands? The other two teams were all wiped out? Is the messenger's bell inside? Messenger, where is the messenger? The messenger was also captured?

Countless terrifying thoughts rushed into Alfonso's mind, and a pair of invisible hands strangled his throat, making it impossible for him to breathe.

For the first time, he showed real—not the fake—fear he had shown before. His heart was beating violently and uncontrollably, and the blood vessels on both sides of his forehead bulged. Sweat dripped from his back, but his chest was so cold that he could breathe out cold air.

Winters leaned forward, close to the prisoner's head, so that his voice could be clearly transmitted into the latter's ear canal.

With a hint of joy, he spoke softly: "I caught you from the shadows."

As soon as he finished speaking, Alfonso's body trembled uncontrollably.

He whimpered and howled, trying desperately to free himself from the ropes. This time there is no longer any calmness and confidence, only the escape instinct of humans as animals when faced with a beast that they cannot resist.

…

[Legion Station]

Because of the commotion and fire in the Steel Fort, the officers who stayed behind added another checkpoint outside the gate of the garrison.

The so-called checkpoint is actually an unpeeled piece of wood blocking the road.

Four militiamen stood guard at the sentry post. When they saw the carriage approaching from a distance, they waved their spears to signal the driver to stop.

"What are you doing?" asked the militia leader.

The driver replied calmly: "Give them pork and horse meat."

"I didn't hear anyone wanted to send meat." The leading militiaman frowned: "Come down, we want to check."

"I don't have money to bribe you now." The coachman remained motionless: "It's not easy to go out of the city. Once I deliver the goods to the quartermaster, I will have money when I come back."

The leading militiaman took a step back vigilantly, leveled his halberd and said, "Get out of the car!"

The other two militiamen with muskets sensed something was wrong and quickly took off the match ropes wrapped around their wrists.

"Okay, okay." The coachman raised his hands as if surrendering: "Get off the bus."

The driver raised his buttocks and, using the cover of his body, pulled out a short gun from under the seat, pointed it at the leading halberd-wielding militiamen, and pulled the trigger without hesitation.

As soon as the spring wheel turned, the fire flashed, and a bloody hole appeared in the chest of the halberd-wielding militiaman.

Another swordsman jumped out from under the cloth, and the swift sword in his hand bypassed the path of the halberd from below, and plunged into the chest of another halberd-wielding militiaman in an extremely twisted posture.

Until then, the two militiamen armed with matchlocks had not yet hung up their matchlocks. Seeing the murderous swordsman in black, the two militiamen threw away their muskets and fled.

The swordsman did not chase, but moved the blocking tree alone.

The guards of the camp had been alerted by the gunshots, and the alarm bells were ringing frantically.

The Eagle Guard who was driving the cart lit the fuse, flicked the reins, and pulled the horse into a gallop. When he was still more than ten meters away from the gate, the Eagle Guard stabbed the horse in the butt, turned over and jumped out of the carriage.

Although the draft horse was in pain, when faced with a wall, it still instinctively wanted to avoid it.

At this moment, the fuse burned to the end.

The back half of the draft horse was blown to pieces, the air wave overturned the surrounding guards, and the gate of the camp was shaken.

The guards on the camp wall were still calling for help, but a cavalry team had already passed through the smoke, killed the guards outside the camp, and reached the west gate.

Soon, there was another violent explosion.

This time, the west gate of the legion's station was knocked down like a piece of paper.

"Grenade and explosives open the way, don't think about accidental damage!" Lieutenant Ying's face was covered with smoke and dust, and he stared at his bloodshot eyes: "I would rather die than live!"

…

There was a new round of commotion outside the interrogation room, with shouts and the sound of horse hooves constantly heard.

Alfonso, who had just lost all hope, seemed to have grasped the last straw at this moment.

He no longer struggled to resist, but stretched his neck and listened unabashedly to the sounds outside the interrogation room. He stared straight at the sealed window, as if trying to see through the board to see the scene on the other side.

Winters did not stop the prisoner. He asked coldly: "Still still not giving up?"

…

After breaking through the west gate, ahead is the central guard area of ​​the station.

The attackers who launched the raid no longer considered concealment and low-key, and used explosives and grenades to sweep the building without scruples, searching for the emissary room by room.

Meanwhile, the guards still occupying the west gate tower kept firing projectiles and crossbow bolts. There were more figures shaking in the distance, and it was obvious that more guards were coming.

The "troop" cobbled together by the emperor's hands was soon on the verge of disintegration. The small group of ruffians lured by the high bounty could not bear such a scene and wanted to escape.

The Yingwei who held the line beheaded one person on the spot and ordered others to set fire to disperse the defenders.

"Sir." The exhausted Eagle Lieutenant bowed his head deeply to the masked man beside him: "If the rebel's pseudo-magician is exposed, please be sure to take action with all your strength."

The masked man looked around, and saw that the Eagle Guards had fallen into street fighting, and the ragtag group that made up the numbers had fled into the camp and disappeared.

He sighed and punched Eagle Lieutenant unconscious.

…

The sound of horse hooves came again outside the interrogation room, this time from far to near.

Alfonso listened attentively: the person entered the yard, got off his horse, opened the door, and then another door, and the footsteps became clearer and clearer.

Immediately afterwards, the door of the interrogation room was completely pushed open.

A cavalryman wearing a saber with an eagle's beak came in, took out a package from his carrier, and respectfully presented it to the fake baron.

The fake baron just glanced at it and ordered lightly: "Show it to him."

The trooper opened the bloody cloth outside the package and placed the contents in front of Alfonso.

Amazingly, it is the fourth Newlon Bell - and the last Newlon Bell.

Alfonso's straight back suddenly went limp, and all his hope and strength were drained away in the blink of an eye.

"Kill me! Please, kill me!" Alfonso trembled and begged desperately: "I can't betray Your Majesty! My family in the north will all die! Please! Please! Kill me I!"

"This problem is easy to solve." Winters' voice contained convincing power: "Help us kill all your accomplices, so no one will know that you are still alive."

Winters stared into the prisoner's eyes and knew he had won.

Eyes always tell the truth. The firm and ruthless eyes look at people intently. They either stare directly at you or focus on a certain point behind you. The kind of eyes that fixate on one place and draw strength from it.

But Mr. "Kapfen" at this moment did not have those eyes. He looked at everyone in the room with horror and pleading, trying to find strength, but found nothing.

"Want a drink?" Winters placed the glass in front of the prisoner and filled it with wine.

Alfonso looked at the cup. The white foam swirling on the dark red liquid was his flag of surrender.

…

After a while, Winters walked out of the interrogation room and into the front yard.

This single-family courtyard that once belonged to the royalists has been temporarily requisitioned by him - along with the secret storage room below.

The day breaks through the smoke and dust, and the sunshine is just right in the yard.

[Big chapter! There is no middle school, 3, 4 or 5! Throw flowers! ]

[Almost still top, middle, bottom, but! It’s still a big chapter, more complete and emotionally coherent]

[I felt that it would be better to tell this story in parallel, so I tried using it]

[The two timelines were actually not parallel at first. Winters’ interrogation was very short, while the Empire’s plan to rescue the envoy spanned a longer period. Until the last part, it becomes "happened at the same time"]

[Because it is easy to mix up the time, I hope to "write it completely before releasing it", but in the end it was divided into upper and lower parts...]

[The interrogation techniques in this chapter come from "The Cardinal of the Kremlin". Because I don't understand criminal investigation and interrogation at all, I think it's better not to write blindly, but to borrow the strategies from Tom Clancy's book... After all, Tom Clancy is The old man is a writer so professional that he can scare even professionals]

[Thank you book friends for your collection, reading, subscription, recommendation votes, monthly votes, rewards and comments, thank you all]