Chapter 566: Giving Hun Tong His Poor Evaluation
Two Eyes Island.
Night gradually faded as dawn approached.
Tu Ji didn't rest. Instead, he went straight to a shop and found one of the witnesses.
He used the shop's main hall as an interrogation room, confronting the representative of the Clam Cloth Branch: “You participated in the fishmen's assault on the island and survived.”
“Tell me about your actions during that battle.”
The first question was relatively simple, designed to ease the witness' nerves.
Often, tension causes people to forget crucial details. And it was precisely these details that held the most valuable clues.
The representative of the Clam Cloth Branch was naturally nervous. The man before him was no ordinary gold level official, he was a member of the Blood Light Punishment Institution!
The uniform alone was enough to strike fear into nearly every citizen of the Sheng Ming Empire!
"I observed that during the chaos, numerous merchant ships were the first to flee the harbor. Their desertion undermined the defenses of Two Eyes Island. Why commit such treasonous acts?"
This was Tu Ji's second question.
The representative of the Clam Cloth Branch hurriedly protested, “Lord, we're merchants, not soldiers!”
“When battle looms, our first duty is to protect the merchant alliance's assets and minimize losses.”
“Fighting is the soldiers' job.”
"At the time, our Clam Cloth Branch ships did participate, but honestly, we were in a daze. The situation was chaotic. The island lord severely neglected his duties, failing to organize us. I was swept up in the turmoil and sailed away in confusion."
“However, afterward, we analyzed the situation and waged a relentless, sacrificial resistance and battle.”
“Ultimately, through our efforts, we repelled the invading fishmen.”
The Clam Cloth Branch's representative deflected blame while claiming credit for his own protection.
Tu Ji didn't call him out but posed a third question: “What's your take on Island Lord Hun Tong?”
The Clam Cloth Branch's representative's eyes widened in indignation as he growled, " He's scum, a deadbeat! Devoid of any noble honor, a complete bastard!"
Tu Ji's surprise sparked his interest: “Elaborate.”
The representative immediately declared: “He slaughtered us!”
“During the battle, he used the Golden Flash to kill countless merchants.”
“Three representatives of the Six Great Merchant Alliances died in combat.”
"Even if he claims it was the Devil Gold Coins, who knows? We strongly suspect he did it deliberately!"
“After the battle, we analyzed the situation. Hun Tong actually had the time and capability to organize our defense.”
"But he let us act freely, betting we'd panic and scatter in disarray. This would breach our defenses, making us the ones at fault. He could then use this as grounds to challenge us and nullify the commercial contracts we'd signed with him."
“Why nullify the contracts?” Tu Ji asked.
“Because Two Eyes Island is set to become one of the central hubs for the transport lines,” the representative explained, “Hun Tong concealed this matter. We only recently learned this crucial information ourselves.”
“Information is often money, you know!”
“Hun Tong deliberately set us up to make mistakes so he could escape blame and smoothly transition Two Eyes Island, without paying any price!”
“He outmaneuvered us. Too clever!”
"But man proposes, heaven disposes. Ha! He fell into his own trap. The Devil Gold Coins ruined his scheme."
"He caused us immense losses. As the island lord, he bears undeniable responsibility. Demanding compensation from him is entirely justified."
“Yet he hasn't paid a single penny. Not a single coin has been compensated to us.”
“Not only that, he used this as leverage to force us to renegotiate our previous commercial agreements.”
“If he had no money, we could at least understand.”
"But Lord, do you know? Hun Tong struck it rich, he seized a colossal fortune!"
“That wealth was plundered from us by fishmen and pirates! They raided the entire island, and he claimed it all as spoils, shoveling it into his own coffers!”
“Tell me, isn't such an island lord utterly despicable?! He has the money, yet refuses to compensate. Instead, he uses this as leverage to force us into further concessions."
“Sigh... We're merely representatives sent by the merchant alliance, small-time representatives here.”
“We simply lack the authority to act. Even if we backtrack and renegotiate, the Chamber will hold us personally accountable.”
“Hun Tong is driving us to our deaths!”
The representative of the Clam Cloth Branch seemed to have opened a floodgate, pouring out his grievances in an unstoppable torrent.
Tu Ji, however, welcomed this development.
He could tell the man was speaking from the heart.
Testimony delivered in such a state carried high credibility.
Tu Ji listened patiently, occasionally asking questions.
After clarifying the details, he pressed on to the next merchant alliance branch.
By the time he had questioned several individuals, dawn had broken.
As Tu Ji stepped out of the Flint shop, he spotted a group gathered at the entrance.
“We are members of the Bandage Mercenary Corps! Lord, we come to report the island lord, Hun Tong!” they declared their purpose.
Tu Ji nodded. “If you hadn't come to me, I would have sought you out.”
"Fantastic."
“Head to the tavern over there and say everything you wish to say.”
The tavern was naturally still closed at dawn.
But the mercenaries forced the door open. The tavern owner, recognizing Tu Ji's attire, instantly perked up. He quickly shed his reluctant expression, opened the door, and let the mercenaries inside.
Tu Ji ordered, "A mug of beer for every mercenary. On me."
At the sight of beer, some mercenaries' Adam's apples bobbed, while others' eyes glistened.
Their recent days have been exceptionally harsh.
Two mercenary leaders stood beside Tu Ji and declared, “Island Lord Hun Tong is of vile character. Not only did he fail to reward merit, but he framed loyal subjects.”
“Our Bandage Mercenary Corps has sweated and bled for Two Eyes Island, paying a heavy price and making immense contributions during the fishmen's invasion.”
“Yet after the war, Lord Hun Tong not only withheld any rewards but imposed sanctions and oppression upon us.”
“He exploited our commander's death in battle by selling our flagship, the White Bandage, directly to the Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps!”
“Since then, he has suppressed us at every turn, swallowing up our mercenary corps' meager remaining assets.”
“We received no compensation whatsoever. We gradually lost our livelihoods, and some of us were reduced to begging for survival.”
The two leaders spoke in turn, detailing the myriad crimes committed by Hun Tong.
Tu Ji remained expressionless throughout, occasionally interjecting with sharp questions.
The conversation lasted half an hour before Tu Ji rose to leave.
The mercenaries hurriedly stood to see him off.
“My Lord, we've stayed here all this time hoping you would come to investigate!”
"Your Lordship, you must severely punish that old bastard Hun Tong! He's damaged the reputation of the Empire, he's a parasite!"
Amidst the mercenaries' relentless pleas, Tu Ji left the tavern.
The sun rose, and the sea breeze blew.
Vines, coral, and branches covered Two Eyes Island, creating swathes of blue-green hues.
The sunlight was warm, brimming with vitality.
Tu Ji had not slept all night, yet he remained alert and energetic.
This was nothing to him. He had once gone seven days and nights without rest, solely to capture an escaped necromancer.
Past successes taught him: hunting necromancers demanded relentless urgency and unwavering persistence.
“I have gathered the evidence from the merchants and mercenaries. Next up are the Wealth Church members.”
The church members who'd once fought alongside Hun Tong now voiced fierce resentment toward him during Tu Ji's inspection.
“Our priests fell in battle, yet Hun Tong, as island lord, offered no condolences and refused to return our church's property.”
“Though these assets were plundered by pirates and ultimately became Hun Tong's spoils of war.”
“Hun Tong secretly cleaned up the battlefield, utterly dishonorable.”
“He's cast aside our order's friendship forged in battle and the shared memories of building Two Eyes Island's prosperity.”
“Lately, he's even been entertaining certain Justice Church members with ulterior motives!”
“Our order deems him an unworthy lord.”
While Tu Ji was gathering evidence from the Wealth Church, Tan Mo rose from bed.
After a cursory wash, he summoned Yan Yi alone to the interrogation chamber within the city government palace.
The moment Yan Yi entered, he warmly flattered Tan Mo and subtly expressed his curiosity, "Why pick such an early hour for a private interrogation? Lord Tan Mo, you've traveled far and should have rested well last night."
“After the investigation concludes, I humbly request you grant me another opportunity to properly host you.”
Tan Mo yawned, his voice thick with resentment. “Of course I'd like to rest. But who can blame me? Our esteemed Lord Tu Ji was so full of zeal, he didn't sleep a wink all night, rushing about gathering evidence.”
Yan Yi's expression shifted slightly. He sighed, his words carrying a hidden meaning. “I've long heard of the Blood Light Punishment Institution's formidable reputation. This time, I've experienced it firsthand.”
Tan Mo sat with his upper body leaning forward, elbows braced on the tabletop, staring intently at Yan Yi. “I've reviewed the intelligence. If you haven't concealed anything further, your chances of surviving this are quite high.”
“Now, it's just you and me here.”
“Yan Yi, representative of the Two Eyes Island under the codename Shadow. I am conducting this interrogation on behalf of the Empire's high command.”
“Regarding the departed Wisteria elder, how much have you actually uncovered?”
Yan Yi's expression turned solemn. He lifted his head, chest thrust out, his body straight as a spear. He reported with gravity and efficiency: “Reporting to you, Lord, the intelligence I submitted concerning the two Wisteria elders was nearly complete.”
Tan Mo nodded. "Per espionage protocol, what's reported constitutes only part of the information. The critical details must be conveyed through face-to-face communication before formal submission. Now, you may report that portion."
Yan Yi fixed his gaze on Tan Mo. “Lord Tan Mo, before proceeding, may this subordinate verify your identity?”
“Of course.” Tan Mo nodded.