Firearms in a Fantasy World

Chapter 18: Interrogation

Translator: Cinder Translations

...

The news of the pirates being repelled spread throughout the town of Alden, and residents took to the streets, gathering in the central square to celebrate.

The next day, Lord Earl ordered a victory parade. Units marched in formation by companies along the main street into the square. A temporary reviewing stand was erected to the north of the square, where Paul, along with senior officers Schroeder and Bryce, reviewed the troops.

As each unit passed the reviewing stand from west to east, they swiftly switched from marching to a formal step at the command of their respective officers. The young men marched with heads held high, chests out, faces filled with pride yet seriousness.

Onlookers gasped in amazement, followed by waves of applause and cheers. The elderly knights on the reviewing stand nodded approvingly. This unique marching style conveyed an unstoppable momentum, showcasing the discipline and quality of the troops. Even Paul's previous military service couldn't achieve this level without prolonged training.

Following the troops were the pirates captured in the battle. Unlike the earlier flowers and applause, they were greeted with rotten eggs and vegetable leaves. Because of them, the residents of Alden Town had endured a difficult period, with farmers and even fishermen afraid to venture far from shore.

Given the significance of this victory, on the afternoon of defeating the pirates, Paul and the senior officers hastily devised a temporary system of rewards and compensations, announced during the parade:

All those temporarily promoted would be confirmed in their ranks. Based on their performance in this battle, those who sacrificed their lives in combat would be awarded the First Class Medal, those severely injured the Second Class Medal, and nearly a hundred others for outstanding performance would receive the Third Class Medal. Different levels of material and monetary rewards were given according to the rank of merit.

For those who died or were seriously injured and disabled in combat, their families could claim a sum of 5 gold coins or equivalent currency from the Lord's Manor. For civilian families in the Northwest Bay area, this was a considerable amount of money.

...

"You noble bastards..." The bearded man, his hands bound behind his back, struggled and cursed as he was led into the hall, where two soldiers forcibly pushed him to the ground.

"So, you're the 'great' Quik the First?" Paul looked with interest at the defiant pirate leader. In the previous battle, the bearded man had been knocked unconscious by his fleeing subordinates. Just thinking about it gave Paul a sense of satisfaction in avenging a great wrong.

"That's me..."

"Let him speak properly."

The sound of slaps echoed in the hall as a soldier struck him on both cheeks, causing Quik's cheeks to swell.

"You... you..." The pirate leader's curses gradually faded.

"Tell us everything you know. How many men do you have? How much did you loot? Where are the other pirates?"

"Even if you kill me... I won't... divulge... a thing," Quik muttered through his swollen nose and bruised face, struggling to speak clearly.

"His bones are quite tough. Any ideas on how to make him talk?"

The participants in the interrogation brainstormed various methods of intimidation, and soon the spectacle began in the hall.

First came the whip and the clamp stick, followed by the wooden horse, chili water, and water torture, thoroughly tormenting Quik. What's that? Still won't talk? Since tough methods didn't work, they tried softer ones: tickling, scratching the soles of his feet, and a series of other tricks.