Chapter 288
Chapter 288
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 288
Chapter Title: Root Out and Burn Those Assassins to the Ground (1)
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Three days later, I entered the Inspection Department, tucked away in a remote corner of the palace that even most high-ranking officials rarely dared to visit, all to carry out His Majesty's orders.
Inside, men who looked like they were burning through their very bodies in exchange for immense power shuffled around like zombies.
The agonized screams of corrupt nobles and criminals being tortured for "inspection" leaked out from the rooms.
"Agh, I swear I didn't do it! It's Halter! That son of a bitch Halter did it!"
"Fuck, I'm innocent! So get that goddamn branding iron away from me!"
"I'll confess everything. Please, just spare my life."
These were chilling sounds, carrying a different weight from the mass deaths of thousands or tens of thousands on the battlefield.
Hearing screams like these, it was easy to see why nobles turned pale at the mere mention of the Inspection Department.
Even if those dragged in and tortured had committed serious crimes like embezzling over 1,000 gold from public funds, stealing military supplies, or inciting rebellion—no innocents were ever hauled in, they said.
Yet in a place where no one emerged unscathed once confirmed guilty... how terrifying must it be.
Guided by an Inspection Department agent, I met the department head.
"Are you Colonel General Peter Jaeger? I am Tobias von Siever, head of the Imperial Inspection Department, directly under the Emperor. As of today, I have received an imperial decree to fully cooperate on the 'Attempted Assassination of Colonel General Peter Jaeger' case. If you desire, in relation to the investigation, you may deploy our special agents, access activity funds, tools, and documents."
Though limited to this case, I'd been shocked enough when I heard His Majesty had granted me full authority over the investigation and prosecution.
I thought there'd be no more surprises, but hearing from the department head himself the extent of autonomy I had for this matter left me stunned once again.
With this level of leeway, if I harbored ill intent, I could drag in even those with minor faults, tie them to the case, and make them inspection targets... applying enormous political pressure.
Going even darker, if I framed them for treason too, who would care about one or two?
I could arbitrarily set the scope however I pleased and bury them, with zero repercussions.
Of course, His Majesty wasn't foolish; misusing the trust he'd placed in me could put my own neck on the line later, so I had no intention of such antics—not even a speck.
"Pleased to work with you, Department Head Siever."
Siever waved his hand dismissively at my words.
"You're not part of the imperial administration, Colonel General, but with four stars on your shoulder, your status and protocol match that of any minister. I'm just a mere vice-ministerial official, so please speak comfortably. Besides, for this case, our Inspection Department works under your command, doesn't it?"
Normally, there'd be a back-and-forth like "Even so, I can't speak casually to you," but I had no time for such pleasantries now.
I had the noble mission of crushing the militarist bastards who'd hired an assassin guild to kill me—right in front of me, no less.
"I'll gratefully accept your courtesy, Siever. What's the current situation?"
He let out heavy sighs as he replied.
"We've determined it was a group of assassins hired by some retired generals and a mob of nobles—second-rate at best, a cut below first-class. But even after three days of torture, they're upholding guild loyalty, refusing to reveal their employers or which guild they belong to."
"For vermin assassins like tumors on society, their loyalty and sense of honor are impressively steadfast."
"If they don't crack, the case goes cold. We're ramping up the torture intensity, but what do you think?"
In dramas or movies, when torture fails, they escalate it—but that's half right, half wrong.
Because those assassins were dead men walking the moment they were caught here.
With death certain, keeping silent protected their families and brothers via guild code, but spilling meant death for themselves and their kin alike.
So they endured, determined to at least save their families before dying.
"Guild members sometimes hold out under torture. Better try another approach."
"What method do you suggest?"
"Humans clutch at straws when drowning. So lie to one of them—say the first to spill everything gets to live. For the next two days, give these scum proper clothes, food, and no torture. Then tell them full confession means freedom."
I'd heard once that the toughest moment for someone steeled against torture is when brutal guards or superiors suddenly turn kind.
Under constant agony, they could grit through with mental fortitude.
But sudden comfort made returning to that hellish torment unbearable.
They'd rather spill everything for relief...
At any rate, I hoped the prisoners would open up.
Two days later, in the Inspection Department torture chamber.
A waterwheel for dunking prisoners head to toe while spinning them dizzy; an iron tube studded with needles calibrated for maximum pain without instant death; bloodstained pliers for ripping out nails.
Seeing this room full of torture devices, even I—who'd killed countless foes—nearly retched.
"Filthy smell. Better live right if you don't want to die in a shithole like this."
The department head chimed in agreeably, and soon the door opened as prisoners were thrown inside.
Veterans of torture though they were, they glared at me with bluster, masking no fear.
"Our brothers may have fallen to you, but we'll die before betraying our code, you bastard!"
"Torture? Fucked around with that shit so much, it doesn't scare me!"
"Filthy Peter Jaeger scum, if I die here, my ghost'll take your head!"
The department head and torturers looked jaded at the outburst, mechanically prepping anyway.
Amid their taunts at the torturers and head, my eyes caught their terror plain as day.
Weaker beasts bark loudest; the truly terrified beg or bluff "I'm not scared" to cope.
They yap to drown out their own shaking fear, or they'd crumble.
When prisoners bluster like that, torturers feel futile—why bother if it yields nothing?
Veterans of the department surely knew this simple truth.
But those who shout to the end often have ironclad lips despite their fear.
On the flip side, fear meant hope of survival could make them do anything.
I told the head and torturers prepping to halt.
"Frankly, I hold no grudge against you who pulled this off. All I care about is who your backers are and which guild you're from."
Hearing this from the victim himself, the assassins looked rattled.
"I'm a four-star colonel general now, but I've spent far more time following orders like you. I get your position. As the investigator with authority here, you're victims too in a way—so I'll stop the torture and treat you decently."
The assassins pieced it together: their recent clean clothes and proper meals came from me. They looked intrigued.
Truth was, I had zero sympathy for trash who'd targeted my family and me.
I just wanted more info to swiftly round up and slaughter the scum who'd ordered it.
"But if you stay uncooperative, torture resumes. Cooperate, and I'll let one of you walk out alive. I swear on the honor of Peter Jaeger, Marquis."
For the record, I break oaths to enemies without hesitation, and the department's silence was absolute.
No leaks or accountability if I smashed my vow and killed them anyway.
But after torture, a taste of comfort had rekindled their attachment to life?
One finally met my eyes and asked.
"Is that for real?"