A Core Ship From The Start-Chapter 880 - 619: Investigation and Visit

Unlike the decrepit, foul-smelling nests of beggars, the Black Lake District, as the aristocratic sector of Neverwinter City, seemed quite normal except for the unusually large number of soldiers patrolling the streets. Even the pedestrians walking along seemed utterly calm, as if the plague ravaging Neverwinter City had nothing to do with them.

When Duanmu Huai and his group arrived at the sheriff’s office, just stepping through the door, they heard furious roars.

"You have no idea what I’ve been through! Those damned bandits! Rogues! They broke into my house, beat my guards black and blue, and then stole everything from me. All the treasures from my cabinets, boxes, even my bookshelves—every single item was plundered by those cursed bandits! If I hadn’t begged for mercy, I would likely have been harmed as well. Is this what you call security? How are you going to take responsibility for this?!"

Duanmu Huai looked toward the source of the noise and saw a richly dressed man standing furiously in front of a table, glaring at a helpless-looking sheriff behind him. freewebnσvel.cѳm

"I’m truly sorry. We will increase the number of patrols..."

"But my stolen items will never return!"

"We will try our best to recover them..."

"I already told you..."

Watching the man angrily arguing with the sheriff, Amelia lowered her voice and said,

"That’s Mr. Hogger. He seems really furious."

"Ah, hello, Miss Emilia."

The sheriff, seemingly fed up with Hogger’s endless complaints and anger, brightened up when he saw Amelia and others approach and quickly stood up.

"Welcome to the Black Lake District. Is there something I can help you with?"

"We have some questions for Mr. Hogger."

"Questions?"

Hearing Amelia speak, Hogger glared at her irritably.

"Questions my foot! My home was turned upside down by those damned thieves, and yet you knights and sheriffs do nothing but eat! Listen, whatever you want to do, unless you compensate my losses, otherwise...."

However, before Hogger could finish speaking, suddenly a large hand reached out from beside Amelia and grabbed Hogger by the neck, hoisting him up.

"Uh... err..."

"It seems you don’t fully appreciate your situation, Mr. Hogger,"

Duanmu Huai strode forward, staring at Hogger whose neck he had grabbed.

"We suspect that you might be involved in the plague currently devastating Neverwinter City, so we came... oh, to put it nicely, to inquire, but more directly, to interrogate. If you cannot provide us with a satisfactory answer, I assure you will experience the techniques of the Tribunal’s interrogation. At that point, you will have no choice but to speak."

"Uh... err... help..."

At that moment, Hogger’s face turned pale, his hands desperately trying to pry off Duanmu Huai’s grip like iron tongs, but to no avail. The sheriff, witnessing this, shuddered and seemed to think of something.

"Ah, I’ve got a craving for a smoke, sorry, it’s inappropriate to smoke in front of a lady, so I’ll step out for a bit. Miss Emilia, please make yourselves at home."

After saying this, without waiting for Amelia to respond, the sheriff hurriedly ran out of the room, thoughtfully closing the door behind him.

Duanmu Huai just glanced at the door, then finally released his grip.

"Bang."

The next moment, Hogger, turning ashen, collapsed on the floor, reaching to hold his neck, gasping for breath with his mouth wide open.

"You, how dare you..."

"Whoosh——!"

The Thunder Warhammer swept past Hogger’s scalp, and the fierce air current caused Hogger to subconsciously shrink his head and weaken his legs, silencing him immediately.

"...Alright, what do you want to know?"

"Your Hogger family owns a warehouse in the beggars’ nest, correct?"

"That’s right, but that was a long time ago."

Hogger gritted his teeth.

"It was the first warehouse purchased by my ancestors when they first arrived in Neverwinter City, hence it has remained as a monument to this day. Besides, that place in the beggars’ nest has nothing to do with us now."

"So, the warehouse has been vacant all this time?"

"Of course, it used to be one thing, but who dares to store goods in the beggars’ nest now? That would be just inviting theft."

Saying this, Hogger looked at Duanmu Huai in front of him, swallowing nervously. He wasn’t a fool; he had heard what Duanmu Huai had said just now.

"What, what are you trying to say? I tell you, I have nothing to do with that warehouse. I’ve never been to the beggars’ nest since I was born! Moreover, the warehouse has already been transferred to someone else. Whatever happened, it has nothing to do with me now!"

"Transferred to who?"

"Master Dussel, he said he needed the warehouse to treat patients. Since that warehouse was lying idle, I agreed."

"Did Master Dussel talk to you directly?"

"This..."

Facing Duanmu Huai’s questioning, Hogger looked uneasy, as if he found it difficult to speak.

"Boom!!"

A loud crash sounded.

It was only moments later that Hogger realized the war hammer was now smashed right beside his hand, less than a centimeter away from his fingers. Even now, the sudden shockwave made his fingers numb, as if they didn’t exist.