Chapter 441: He Had No Intention of Telling the Truth

The Ironclad Department set up a temporary interrogation room aboard the Water Transport Guild's massive ship.

The one in charge of the interrogation was Li Zhong, Director of the First Division of the Command Division.

But the jurors filled two entire rows.

They were six Directors from the Public Security Division led by Ji Kongliu.

And six Directors from the Bandit Apprehension Division led by Xu Wenjun.

In addition, Prince Pingrong Zhao Zheng, Fifth Prince Zhao Yuan, and Sixth Prince Zhao Qi were all present.

Xu Wuji and two other Fifth-Rank eunuchs from the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs stood behind the three of them.

The rest were a portion of the Ironclad Department's Sixth-Rank Ironclads, like Yang Ling and Lu Yunchen.

Ironclads guarded the door, and no one was allowed within a hundred meters.

So whether it was Water Transport Guild disciples or experts from the major sects, they could only curiously crane their necks to look this way.

Wang Hang was currently kneeling in the center, his body trembling uncontrollably.

The silver on his person had already been confiscated by Yang Ling in advance, so he could not even use private chat.

Zhao Yuan's face was ashen. He had never imagined that his personal little eunuch would be identified by the Ironclad Department as a heretic cultist of the Immortal God Sect.

If this matter spread through the imperial court, his future as the Fifth Prince would surely suffer!

Most critically, his little eunuch had likely been involved in the Four Directions Lodge case!

That case had been nipped in the bud by the Ironclad Department before it even began.

It had not caused any substantial loss to Zhao State, but the owner of the Four Directions Lodge was his aunt!

That Eldest Princess of Zhao State!

Zhao Yuan knew his aunt's temperament deeply.

Her capacity for holding grudges far exceeded ordinary imagination!

At this thought, even Zhao Yuan's fingertips were trembling.

"Fourth Brother, Little Hangzi only came to my side in recent months. If he really is an Immortal God Sect heretic cultist, this matter has nothing to do with me..."

Zhao Yuan lowered his voice, looking toward Zhao Zheng with pleading eyes.

A month ago, he might not have held his Fourth Brother in such awe.

But now he already knew his Fourth Brother had been granted a princely title, and his cultivation level had long since broken through to Sixth-Rank!

Among all the many princes, this was the second to be granted a princely title!

His future prospects and the power he could wield would far surpass all the other princes!

"Fifth Brother, rest assured, this matter is certainly unrelated to you."

Zhao Zheng comforted him in a gentle tone.

Only then did Zhao Yuan's mood settle somewhat.

At this moment, Wu Xiaoshuai, as a witness, had already begun to speak.

"That day, this man came to find me and chatted about matters concerning the Immortal God Sect."

"I clearly remember his voice was quite delicate, so I suspected he was someone from the palace."

"I just never expected..."

Wu Xiaoshuai's eyes flickered, and he did not dare look at the Fifth Prince at all.

He had not expected this matter to drag in the Fifth Prince.

Things were really getting more and more out of hand!

"Your real name is Wang Hang, correct? You entered the capital as a vagrant, then spent money to buy a household registration here at the Ironclad Department."

Li Zhong's gaze fell upon Wang Hang.

"Even back then, you were already a heretic cultist of the Immortal God Sect?"

"My lord, this servant is not an Immortal God Sect heretic cultist! This villain is framing me!"

Wang Hang suddenly pointed at Wu Xiaoshuai, speaking with tears streaming down his face.

At the same time, he turned his head to look at Yang Ling, his eyes full of venomous hatred.

"This servant suspects this villain conspired with Yang Ling specifically to frame this servant!"

Xu Wenjun glanced at Wang Hang, then looked at Yang Ling, and continued watching his nose and his heart, showing no reaction.

The twelve Directors present were all seasoned veterans, and they had at least this much judgment.

"Oh, so Yang Ling, a Sixth-Rank Ironclad of our Ironclad Department, went to great lengths to frame a mere Ninth-Rank little eunuch like you?"

"And he would even drag in the son of a Fifth-Rank langzhong for this?"

Li Zhong pondered thoughtfully. "It seems your identity as a Ninth-Rank eunuch is quite extraordinary?"

A flicker of panic flashed through Wang Hang's eyes.

He had instinctively wanted to drag Yang Ling into this, but Li Zhong's words had already made his claim completely untenable.

"You still have a chance to live now. It lies in honestly confessing."

"This official is the Director of the First Division of the Ironclad Department's Command Division, and I can give you my word."

"As long as you atone for your crimes through meritorious service, you will not die."

Li Zhong said in a deep voice.

Wang Hang was silent for a few breaths, then suddenly looked toward the Fifth Prince.

"Master, save this servant, this servant is truly innocent..."

The Fifth Prince's face was ashen.

Did he look like a fool?

Even if this man were innocent at this point, he could not step forward to speak on his behalf!

Besides, he had seen at a glance that the waters here ran extremely deep.

It was impossible for the Ironclad Department to unjustly accuse the Ninth-Rank eunuch by his side for no reason!

At this moment, the old Fifth-Rank eunuch standing behind the Fifth Prince slowly spoke up.

"Little Hangzi, whatever you have to say, just say it honestly. Lord Li Zhong has served in the Ironclad Department for many years.

If there were not certain proof today, he would not have come for you. This one gives you a reminder: if you did it, you did it. Do not speak nonsense about things you did not do."

Wang Hang instantly fell into despair.

Even his godfather was saying this. Who else could save him today?

"Since I cannot live, then no one should live!"

A vicious look flashed through Wang Hang's eyes as he suddenly pointed at Yang Ling.

"My lords, he is actually a player! He is not from Zhao State!"

Lin Dayuan, as a witness, was also present this time, standing right beside Yang Ling.

Hearing Wang Hang's words, he immediately gasped sharply.

Only Yang Ling remained expressionless, looking at Wang Hang with a half-smile.

It seemed these players still did not dare conduct similar experiments in front of the natives.

Sure enough, everyone present furrowed their brows, paying no attention whatsoever to the word "player."

As long as these related terms were mentioned, they would all show no reaction at all.

"It seems you are stubbornly refusing to see reason. We can only resort to torture."

Li Zhong lightly clapped his hands.

"Director Wei, you are an expert in this field, so I will leave it to you personally."

Wei Xing said nothing, stepping before Wang Hang with several thin sticks already in her hand.

"I will use these sticks to pierce from under your fingernails all the way to your wrist.

During this process, I will not sever your hand tendons. At first you will feel intense pain, but it will gradually pass.

Then you will feel an unbearable itch inside, as though countless ants are biting and tearing at you, until you wish you could bite through your own flesh and pull the sticks out with your teeth..."

Wang Hang's pupils constricted violently, and then he inhaled deeply.

"No need for torture. I will talk."

At this point, it was the Directors present who became somewhat surprised.

This was only the mildest of the Ironclad Department's more than a dozen forms of punishment.

Usually after this one was applied, even ordinary Rong Tribe spies would still spit and say "is that all?"

So why had this Immortal God Sect heretic cultist who had already climbed to the Fifth Prince's side agreed immediately?

Hearing Wei Xing's description and glancing at those bamboo sticks with burrs, Lin Dayuan only felt a faint ache below.

He suddenly realized that players in this world not only faced the risk of death.

There were also things more terrifying than death.

Yang Ling was not much better off. He believed Wang Hang was certainly going to tell the truth now.

Which player could endure this kind of torture?

"He has no intention of telling the truth."

Li Zhong's eyes narrowed slightly.

"Do not try such petty tricks in front of us. Wei Xing, apply the torture."

Wang Hang gasped sharply, his face full of disbelief, terror, and panic.

"Wait, I intend to tell the truth!"

Li Zhong was unmoved, and Wei Xing immediately grabbed the back of Wang Hang's neck.

Wang Hang instantly lost his ability to move, yet his senses inexplicably became increasingly acute.

With a soft pierce—

A bamboo stick slowly and deliberately stabbed in.

Yang Ling turned his head away, thinking to himself that Li Zhong had truly wronged Wang Hang this time.

Judging from Wang Hang's heartbeat and various physical data, this man genuinely intended to honestly confess.

Unfortunately, he had confessed too early, and that had broken the understanding of these Zhao State higher-ups.