Chapter 62 - 58: Why Are There So Many Outlaws?

Chapter 62: Chapter 58: Why Are There So Many Outlaws?

The nine hundred-plus prisoners looked at each other, but eventually, some buckled under Lian’s pressure and began confessing their past crimes.

"Lord Lian, I’m a good person. It’s just that I was overcome by a moment of greed and went to Lord Romayada’s home to steal. When I saw the sleeping Lady Yada, I couldn’t help myself. I impersonated Lord Romayada and had an affair with Lady Yada for a whole month..."

"Lord Lian, I’m a good person, too. It’s just that I was drunk and ran over a vagrant with my carriage. I got scared and fled..."

"Lord Lian, I used to be a good person. My wife was cheating on me, so I beat her to death and buried her body in the back hills..."

"Lord Lian, compared to them, I’m a really good person. My love for adventure led me to steal the life savings of ten of my neighbors, but I definitely never killed anyone..."

"I killed my crippled father because I wanted to meet a man I’d fallen for at first sight again at the funeral..."

"I was jealous of my parents doting on my little sister, so I tricked her into going to the Bone Forest outside the city, and she never came back..."

"My neighbor’s wife and I were in love. We were afraid her husband would find out, so we murdered him together..."

As more and more people who didn’t want their sentences increased began to confess, John felt like he was losing more hair.

’What the fuck? Why are there so many of these maniacs?’

Lian picked at his ear. ’These people’s moral compasses need a complete overhaul,’ he thought. ’What kind of "good person" club is this?’

As he listened to their confessions, Lian was also observing their tags.

In reality, of the 980 people, over six hundred were just criminals who had committed various minor or major crimes, not spies.

There were only a little over three hundred real spies, and most of them were unwilling to speak, because espionage was a felony under the laws of the Green Shade Territory.

Among the spies, Lian discovered 30 Heartless, a ratio of almost 10%.

That was an incredibly high proportion.

And these 30 Heartless were all women.

According to Anna’s and Annie’s own accounts, while the Heartless possessed formidable healing abilities and combat prowess that made them seem unkillable, they actually had to endure endless suffering. On the night of a full moon, they would transform into irrational monsters, similar to a werewolf’s transformation. This subjected the Heartless to both physical and mental torment.

Furthermore, Lian believed it was entirely possible to recruit these 30 Heartless.

A fine sheen of sweat broke out on Lady Vanessa’s forehead as she listened to the growing number of confessions.

As more people confessed, the spies began to get anxious, especially when Lian suddenly called a halt to the proceedings.

He yawned, rubbing his eyes as he asked, "Anna, what time is it?"

"Lord Lian, it’s already 11:43 PM."

"Is it that late already?"

Lian took out his pocket watch and confirmed that Anna’s time was accurate. He then said, "I’m getting tired. Anyone who hasn’t confessed before midnight, regardless of their crime, will be sent to the gallows."

As soon as he said this, the last of the criminals’ resolve crumbled, and they all scrambled to confess their crimes.

Even the spies who had been hesitating and watching from the sidelines began to offer their own confessions.

But there were too many of them, and their words, all spoken at once, jumbled together into an unintelligible din.

Lian waved his hand. "Quiet, quiet. I can’t hear a thing you’re saying. I swear, you people are impossible. How about this: I’ll pick a few of you, and the rest can go confess to Prison Director John and Lord Karel."

Immediately, Lian picked out the 30 Heartless. Half of them were dressed in noble finery, while the other half were maids or independent merchants.

But they were all beautiful women.

The Heartless women looked at each other. Like Anna, they were unaware of each other’s true identities, but they could still sense a certain similarity.

’Why did Lord Lian only choose the young and beautiful ones?’

’Could it be because he’s a lecher?’

’If that’s the case, then this is perfect.’

Seduction was a spy’s specialty. As long as they could ensnare him with their bodies and dull his senses, the spies didn’t mind plying their trade.

Besides, most of them were the mistresses of noblemen and were long accustomed to this sort of thing.

John’s eyebrows twitched. ’Didn’t Lian’s selections seem a little too... specific?’

’Take all the pretty ones and leave the ugly ones behind?’

"I just remembered, it’s 11:50. I have to get back to the Lord’s Mansion to handle some documents. I’ll leave the rest to you. These thirty will come back to the Lord’s Mansion with me for now."

This sentence further confirmed John’s suspicions. John felt as if he were looking at a depraved version of Old Moria.

’He’d really throw all caution to the wind for something like that!’

But what could he say? He was just a bald subordinate, while the other man was a leader with a thick head of hair.

Lian left the Green Shade Territory’s main prison with Sophie, Anna, and the 30 young women, escorted by a contingent of guards.

John watched Lian’s departing figure and asked Kroli, who was standing beside him,

"Do you think Lord Lian... can handle it?"

...

「Back at the Lord’s Mansion.」

Lian brought all thirty women to his study.

Sophie and Anna closed the study doors.

The young women looked at each other, their expressions puzzled.

They didn’t know what Lian was planning to do.

’If he was just after our bodies, he shouldn’t have brought us all to his study.’

’Does he have some special kink? Does he want to have an orgy in his study?’

"Lord Lian, as long as you’re willing to let me go, I’ll do anything for you."

Lady Vanessa said with a flirtatious look, tracing her lip with a finger in a deeply suggestive gesture.

"Anything?"

Lian asked.

Lady Vanessa nodded. "Anything."

Lian then looked at the other spies. "And you?"

"We..."

"We’re also willing to do anything for you."

The spies said hesitantly. ’Of course, saving our lives is more important than our bodies.’

Unless it was an absolute last resort, none of them were willing to sacrifice their lives to unleash disaster upon the Green Shade Territory.

’Worst case, we’ll just have an orgy with Lord Lian!’

A satisfied smile spread across Lian’s face as he said,

"If that’s the case, then the terms of our deal are simple. Trade your freedom for your lives. From this day forward, you will become my loyal servants."

"We are willing to become your servants."

the spies replied obediently.

"Hah. Don’t be so hasty. I know your words right now are not from the heart. What I need is for you to offer up your Loyalty, not just empty words."

Lian looked at Anna.

Anna understood, stepping forward and looking gently at all the spies.

"Sisters, hello. I am Anna. I was once a Heartless who served Lady Mary, a spy who had lost her freedom and lived in fear and self-loathing."

As soon as she said this, all the Heartless were stunned.

Anna ignored their astonished gazes and continued,

"I know the suffering of a Heartless better than anyone. Every full moon, we turn into monsters and harm the ones closest to us. This pain is not just a physical torment, but one that tortures the soul. More than anyone, I longed for freedom, hoping for a chance at Rebirth..."