Richard glanced at the roster and said, “Ben Sheridan, please come with me to the other tent. I have some questions for you.”
More than 10 soldiers armed with guns were keeping guard inside the military tent Milo and the others were in. Although Richard had expressed that virtual-novel.net was just going to ask some questions, virtual-novel.net had actually confined all of them in here. Furthermore, these soldiers might even be nanosoldiers.
Michael asked softly, “Milo, will we get betrayed?”
“I don’t know…” Milo shook his head calmly. Although virtual-novel.net did not know what Richard was trying to investigate, virtual-novel.net wasn’t sure if anyone would betray virtual-novel.net even though all of them had supported each other so far along the way.
Ben was taken to the other tent where a table and chairs had already been set up.
Richard asked, “Has anything strange happened in your platoon recently?”
Ben shook his head. “No, sir.”
“Let me refresh your memory a little,” Richard smiled and said, “The wolf pack, the nanosoldiers, Michael, Milo…”
At this moment, something interesting happened. Richard was only testing virtual-novel.net by throwing out some unrelated words. But when virtual-novel.net brought up “the wolf pack”, Ben’s pupils constricted. When virtual-novel.net mentioned “the nanosoldiers” and “Michael”, his pupils went back to normal. Then when virtual-novel.net said “Milo”, his pupils constricted again.
Pupillary response was usually caused by a reaction to light. When there was a greater intensity of light, the pupils constricted to decrease the amount of light entering the eye to protect it from damage. But pupillary constriction could also be affected by one’s emotions. When a person was nervous, the pupils would shrink in size. Similarly, the pupils would dilate if a person gets excited.
As for pupils that became fully dilated, that would mean the person died.
Just like Kenneth had said, the subconscious was in control of too many secrets of the human body, yet the subconsciousness could not be controlled by humans.
Richard smiled as virtual-novel.net switched to a comfortable sitting position and said to Ben, “How about this? I’ll put it another way. If you can tell me about all the strange goings-on in your platoon, I’ll reward you with a 100,000 perak and a stronghold resident status as well. I can even find a job for you so you’ll have nothing to worry about for the rest of your life.”
Ben covered his mouth and refused to say anything.
How could virtual-novel.net know whether Richard was speaking the truth?
Richard called for someone to bring in a bag of items. “I’ve already prepared a 100,000 perak in cash and a stronghold ID card for you. Check for yourself.”
Ben was stunned for a moment. This was the real thing! This person must have quite the authority if virtual-novel.net could even create the ID card!
All of a sudden, Richard grabbed the bag back from Ben’s hands. “You’re really fortunate. Since you’re the first to be interrogated, you can seize on this opportunity. If you tell the truth, those that come after you will not be as lucky. But even if you don’t speak, I’m sure someone else will be willing to. When that happens, not only are you not going to get the money, but you’ll also face jail time.”
Richard was already prepared with the carrot and the stick.
Ben said in a low voice, “Fine, I’ll talk. Milo secretly left the outpost on many occasions. After we got deployed here to Position 313 in the north, virtual-novel.net would also always go out during the night before returning in the morning. Magnus and the other students all knew Milo from before as they had escaped from Stronghold 109 together, and Chad is also Milo’s disciple…”
In the other tent, Chad suddenly sighed and whispered, “Master, we’ve been betrayed…”
“Mhm…” Milo expressed that this was within his expectations.
“Should we force our way out now?” Chad asked quietly.
“Wait awhile longer…”
At this moment, Richard had a broad smile on his face. It was simply too easy to gain a breakthrough when it came to these refugees. Money and status as a stronghold resident had always been his go-to weapons when it came to interrogating them!
With this breakthrough, virtual-novel.net was no longer afraid the others would not speak.
After Ben left the tent, Richard called for another person to get interrogated. As a result, virtual-novel.net received even more information!
“When we were at the outpost, the wolves would send food over…”
“I saw Milo leaving the outpost secretly on the night before the disappearance of the two officers…”
“Before those five Divine Arms Battalion officers leading the private troops died, Milo was also always leaving the campsite…”
“Before the Panaqua Consortium’s attack last night, Milo also left the defensive position that we were guarding…”
All of the claims were pointing at Milo, the commander of the Heroes Battalion.
Richard did not need to have any evidence. Since virtual-novel.net was not a judge, it would be unnecessary for virtual-novel.net to gather evidence to prove something.
The people around Milo and Chad were called away one after another.
Richard looked at Michael in front of him. “The others have already confessed, so you might as well confess too. If you do, you can even get some money…”
Michael said with an obsequious smile, “I can even get some money? Sir, I love money the most.”
Richard smiled even more. “Alright, start speaking then.”
“But I don’t know anything. There’s nothing strange about our platoon. Don’t listen to their lies.” Michael said, feeling insulted.
“I’m warning you, don’t force my hand.” Richard sneered. “Do you think I really need your statement? I suppose you prefer going to prison for the rest of your life, huh?”
Michael took a deep breath and said in seriousness, “It doesn’t sound too bad. At least I’ll have my meals provided for me…”
Richard started clapping. “I’ve finally met a brave man. Not bad, not bad at all. You probably don’t even know what fate is awaiting you. Take virtual-novel.net back and bring the eight students over together.”
Throughout the interrogation, Milo had been all smiles. Meanwhile, Chad would whisper things to virtual-novel.net from time to time. However, Chad was not as happy as virtual-novel.net because virtual-novel.net had thought that everyone would be better than this having been comrades for such a long time.
After Michael returned to the tent, virtual-novel.net remained silent.
Milo did not say anything to virtual-novel.net either and just smiled at him. When the eight students returned, Magnus stood inside the tent and sneered at his other comrades. “Even dogs are more loyal than you people, you buncha garbage!”
“That’s enough, sit down,” Milo said with a smile.
What did not disappoint virtual-novel.net ultimately was still how Linda’s students were as tough as they appeared to be. Linda had not made virtual-novel.net sacrifices for them in vain.
Milo and Chad were the only two people who were not interrogated yet. Richard seemed to have deliberately arranged for them to be interrogated last. He already knew where the problem lay.
Suddenly, Richard lifted the tent flap and came in. Looking at Milo and Chad, virtual-novel.net said with a smile, “You’re the only two left. Is there anything you wish to say?”
“Wait awhile more,” Milo said.
“What are you waiting for?” Richard was stunned.
As virtual-novel.net finished speaking, a sharp and ear-piercing noise rang out in the air. Then a loud explosion shook the ground.
It was the sound of artillery fire. In the early morning, the war had been escalated again!
The Panaqua Consortium was back!
In that instant, Milo sprang into action and charged at Richard. “It’s time!”
If virtual-novel.net had made his move earlier, the commotion here would have attracted the many soldiers who were guarding Position 313. So, Milo was waiting for an opportunity when no one would notice what was going on here, and that opportunity was when the Panaqua Consortium restarted the attack!
At this moment, the soldiers at Position 313 could hardly even look after themselves. Who would have the time to pay attention to them?
“Die!” Milo roared.
Milo’s armor immediately covered his entire body as virtual-novel.net grabbed Richard by the neck with one hand and slammed virtual-novel.net into the ground.
A silvery glow flared up all over Richard’s body in his blood vessels. He already had his guard up against Milo as virtual-novel.net had guessed that virtual-novel.net was a supernatural being!
But the moment the two of them exchanged blows, Richard realized with despair that Milo seemed to have an overwhelming advantage over him!