Chapter 779: Section 567: Bad Review for Hun Tong
Twin Eyes Island.
The night gradually fades, and dawn is about to arrive.
Tu Ji didn’t rest, but instead went straight to the shops and found one of the witnesses.
He directly turned the shop’s hall into an interrogation room and questioned the person in charge of the guild’s local branch, “You took part in the Fishmen’s attack on the island and survived the chaotic battle.”
“Let’s talk about your performance during this fight, shall we?”
The first question was relatively simple and served to ease the witness’s nerves.
Many times, when nervous, people forget the details. And it is often these details that contain the most valuable clues.
The guild branch manager was of course nervous because the man before him was of the Golden Level, a member of the Blood Light Sanction Court.
Just the uniform on his body was enough to send shivers down the spine of nearly everyone in the Holy Bright Empire!
“I noticed that in this chaos, many merchant ships were the first to leave the port, fleeing the battle and in turn breaking down Twin Eyes Island’s defenses. Why commit such an act of collusion with the enemy?”
This was Tu Ji’s second question.
The guild branch manager hurriedly pleaded, “Sir, we are just merchants, not soldiers.”
“Our first choice before the battle comes is to protect the Guild’s wealth, to minimize the losses as much as possible.”
“Combat is for soldiers to do.”
“At the time, our guild’s ships were indeed involved, but to be honest, we were confused. The situation was too chaotic, the Island Master gravely neglected his duties, didn’t organize us, and I ended up getting swept along and left the port in a daze.”
“However, afterward, our side analyzed the situation and engaged in a tough, fearless resistance and combat.”
“In the end, with our efforts, we repelled the invading Fishmen.”
The guild branch manager deflected while taking credit for himself as a means of self-protection.
Tu Ji didn’t expose him but instead asked the third question, “What is your opinion on Island Master Hun Tong?”
The guild branch manager immediately widened his eyes and roared indignantly, “He is but scum, a deadbeat, lacking any sense of noble honor, an outright bastard!”
Tu Ji was surprised and suddenly intrigued, “Tell me more.”
The manager immediately said, “He slaughtered us!”
“During the battle, he used the Golden Shiny to kill many merchants.”
“Three of the guild leaders out of the six major guilds were killed in battle.”
“Even if he says it was because of the Devil’s Gold Coin, who knows? We strongly suspect it was deliberate!”
“After the battle, we analyzed and concluded that Hun Tong actually had the time and ability to organize us.”
“But he let us act freely, betting that we would flee in panic. By sabotaging the defenses this way, we were the guilty party. This would give him grounds to stir trouble and cancel the commercial contracts we had previously signed with him.”
“Why cancel the contracts?” Tu Ji asked.
“Because Twin Eyes Island was set to become one of the central transit lines,” the manager explained, “Hun Tong concealed this fact, which we only found out about recently, with significant implications.”
“Many times, information equates to money!”
“Hun Tong wanted to ensnare us, making us commit a mistake, so he could escape blame and then smoothly transition the island without any cost!”
“He plotted against us, so cunningly!”
“Unfortunately, man’s plans cannot match those of heaven, haha, he was the one who fell for it. The Devil’s Gold Coin thwarted his schemes.”
“He caused us enormous losses, and as the Lord, he bears an inescapable responsibility. Our pursuit of compensation is completely justified.”
“Yet he hasn’t paid a penny, not a single coin in compensation to us to this day.”
“Not only that, but he also uses it as a condition to force us to renegotiate the previous business agreements.”
“If he were broke, that would be one thing; at least we could understand.”
“But sir, do you know? Hun Tong became rich, he seized a vast amount of wealth!”
“Those riches were robbed from us by the Fishmen and pirates, from the entire island, and he took them as spoils of war directly into his treasury!”
“Do you see how detestable this Lord is? Despite having the money, he refuses to compensate. Moreover, he uses it as a condition to coerce us into further concessions.”
“Ah… we are just small managers assigned here by the Guild.”
“We don’t have the authority to do this at all. Even if we were to step back and renegotiate, the Guild would certainly hold us personally accountable.”
“Hun Tong is pushing us towards a dead end!”
Like opening a floodgate, the guild branch manager vented his grievances endlessly and uncontrollably.
Tu Ji, however, was pleased to see this happen.
Because he could tell, the guild branch manager was genuinely pouring out his feelings.
The testimony in such a state is highly credible.
Tu Ji listened patiently, occasionally asking questions.
After getting clear answers, he hurried on to the next Guild branch.
After questioning several people, daylight brightened.
Just as Tu Ji stepped out of the Firestone Guild shop, he saw a group of people at the entrance.
“We are members of the Bandage Mercenary Group, my lord. We are here to report the reprehensible behavior of the Island Master Hun Tong!” The group expressed their purpose.
Tu Ji nodded. “Even if you hadn’t come to me, I would have sought you out.”
“Very well.”
“Let’s go to the tavern over there and speak freely about what you want to say.”
The tavern at dawn naturally hadn’t opened for business yet.
But the mercenaries forcefully knocked on the door, and when the tavern owner saw Tu Ji’s attire, he shuddered instantly, quickly shedding his unwilling expression, opened the door, and let the mercenaries in.
Tu Ji said, “Bring all the mercenaries a pint of beer. It’s on me.”
Upon seeing the beer, some of the mercenaries’ Adam’s apples bobbed, while others’ eyes became moist.
They had been living through very hard times lately.
Two leaders stood next to Tu Ji and raised the accusation, “Island Master Hun Tong’s conduct is deplorable; he not only fails to reward according to merit but also frames the loyal and good.”
“Our Bandage Mercenary Group has shed sweat and blood for Twin Eyes Island, making significant sacrifices and contributions during the Fishman’s attack on the island.”
“Yet after the battle, Island Master Hun Tong not only withheld any reward but also began to sanction and suppress us.”
“He took advantage of the fact that our squad leader had fallen in battle and had the audacity to sell our flagship, the White Bandage, directly to the Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps!”
“Thereafter, he suppressed us at every turn and swallowed up the meager wealth that was all our group had left.”
“We received no pensions, and some of us even gradually lost our work, to the point where some had to beg for a living.”
The two leaders took turns, detailing the various crimes of Hun Tong.
But Tu Ji remained expressionless, interjecting occasionally with sharp questions.
The conversation continued for half an hour before Tu Ji rose to leave.
The mercenaries quickly got up to see him off.
“My lord, the reason we have stayed here without leaving is because we were hoping for you to come and investigate.”
“My lord, please ensure that Hun Tong, the old scoundrel, is severely punished. He has tarnished the reputation and is a parasite of the Empire!”
Among the persistent pleas of the mercenaries, Tu Ji left the tavern.
The sun rose, and the sea breeze blew.
Vines, corals, and branches were visible everywhere on Twin Eyes Island, forming a blue-green backdrop.
The sunlight was warm, teeming with life.
Despite not having slept the night, Tu Ji was still bright-eyed and bushy-tailed.
For him, this was nothing to speak of. He had once gone seven days and nights without sleep in order to capture a fleeing Undead Mage.
His past successes taught him: hunting down Undead Mages is a matter of urgency that requires relentless pursuit.
“The Guild and mercenaries’ testimonies are complete; next are the people from the Wealth Sect.”
Those from the sect who had fought side by side with Hun Tong expressed strong dissatisfaction with him when facing Tu Ji’s inspection.
“Our priest died in battle, and Hun Tong, as the lord, not only showed no gesture but also refused to return the property of our sect.”
“Though these assets were plundered by pirates and eventually fell into Hun Tong’s hands as spoils of war.”
“Hun Tong secretly cleaned up the battlefield, which was utterly despicable.”
“He has discarded the memories of friendship forged in battle beside our sect and the joint efforts to bring prosperity to Twin Eyes Island.”
“Recently, he has even been entertaining some people from the Justice Sect with ulterior motives!”
“Our sect believes that he is not a commendable lord.”
While Tu Ji was taking testimonies from the Wealth Sect, Tan Mo got out of bed.
After hastily washing up, he went to the interrogation room in the City Lord’s mansion and called Yan Yi for an individual interrogation.
As soon as Yan Yi entered, he enthusiastically complimented Tan Mo and expressed his curiosity with subtlety, “Why so early for an individual interrogation? You should have had a good rest after your long journey, Lord Tan Mo.”
“After the investigation, I hope you will give me the opportunity to properly host you.”
Tan Mo yawned, full of resentment, “Of course, I wanted to rest well, but our Tu Ji sir is so energetic, not sleeping all night, investigating and gathering evidence everywhere.”
Yan Yi’s expression changed slightly, he sighed, and said with meaning, “I have long heard of the prestige of the Blood Light Sanction Court, and this time I have truly experienced it.”
Tan Mo sat down, leaned forward with his elbows on the table, and stared at Yan Yi, “I’ve already reviewed the intelligence. If you haven’t hidden anything else, your chances of getting through this are good.”
“Now, it’s just the two of us.”
“Yan Yi, the person in charge of Shadow’s Twin Eyes Island, I’m here on behalf of the upper ranks of the Empire to examine you.”
“What have you uncovered about the disappearance of the Purple Vine elder?”
Yan Yi took on a solemn expression, straightening his posture with pride and promptly reported, “Lord, the information about the two Purple Vine elders that I have submitted is nearly everything.”
Tan Mo nodded, “According to the protocols of a spy, the content reported is only part of it; the key part needs to be conveyed in person before it can be submitted. Now, you may report that part of the content.”
Yan Yi fixed his gaze on Tan Mo, “Before reporting, please allow your subordinate to confirm your identity, Lord Tan Mo.”
“Of course.” Tan Mo nodded.