Chapter 283: A Few Days Inside, and I'm Bankrupt?
Interrogation Room.
This was a small, oppressive room. The surrounding walls seemed unusually thick. In the center was a small iron table with chairs on either side.
Under the illumination of the gas lamp on the wall, Lorne clearly saw the interrogator opposite him—a young man wearing a standard police uniform.
Are they taking me straight to the church? Lorne quickly glanced at the man.
This person doesn't look like a Punisher, just a regular police officer. Could it be that they only see me as a common suspect?
Sigh—I clearly did a good deed, yet why does it feel like I've become the criminal? Lorne took a deep breath, pulling his scattered thoughts back to reality.
"Mr. Scott, relax. This is just a routine inquiry, and it won't take up too much of your time," the young police officer said.
"I understand, I understand." Lorne nodded, showing a cooperative smile. "Officer, since you've gone to all this trouble, I will naturally cooperate fully."
"Very well, then—I ask, you answer."
Lorne nodded again, signaling his agreement.
"Why were you present on Iris Street in Cherwood Borough? Especially at that specific time."
"I was just passing by coincidentally," Lorne answered without changing his expression.
"Then why were you passing by there?" the young police officer pressed.
"A walk."
"A walk?" The young police officer raised his head, his eyes filled with suspicion. "At that hour, how could it be a simple walk? Especially in such a relatively remote alley."
He stared at Lorne, his tone stern: "Mr. Scott, I have been very polite to you. I hope you will cooperate and tell the truth!"
"Alas—" Watching the young police officer's indignant expression, Lorne sighed, revealing a look of difficulty.
"Are you sure that what I say here won't get out?"
"Of course." Seeing Lorne look ready to confess, the officer immediately composed his expression and nodded with a smile. He picked up his paper and pen, ready to take notes.
"Alright then—actually—" Lorne's eyes darted away, and his body trembled slightly, displaying the look of someone with a guilty conscience.
"Golden Rose." He lowered his voice, uttering a single word.
"What?" The young police officer was slightly stunned, not reacting immediately.
"It's the Golden Rose!" Lorne suddenly looked up, then quickly lowered his head again, looking utterly ashamed. "You must know what the 'Golden Rose' is, right—"
"It's the largest one in Cherwood Borough—"
"I—I just wanted to go and relax."
As he said this, Lorne's tone became somewhat urgent, even carrying a hint of fear. He looked up again, gazing at the young police officer with a face full of dread.
"I only heard about that place by chance from others—"
"I—I just wanted to check it out. I took the back alley because I was afraid of being seen by acquaintances."
"Officer, you absolutely cannot let this matter get out! Otherwise, my reputation will be completely ruined!"
The young police officer left, leaving Lorne alone where he was.
Outside, a faint sound of fierce argument could be heard. It sounded like there were others besides the police.
Hopefully, this deception will work, but "Scott's" reputation... things were already complicated with Hazel, and now he had the persona of a frustrated man added on.
Alas—forget it. Scott's reputation was already bad enough; a little worse wouldn't matter.
Lorne sighed softly. He had a premonition that this matter would not end so easily.
"I'll just stall for now—"
A few minutes later, the young police officer returned.
"Some church personnel have come to see you."
"Which church?" Lorne immediately grew vigilant.
—
"The Church of the lord of storms."
"I refuse." Lorne replied sharply. "I am a believer of the Evernight Goddess."
"They just want to ask you about the situation."
"Weren't the specifics already asked about just now?" Lorne frowned slightly.
"They would like to invite you to the Holy Wind Cathedral. There are some other suspects there whom they need you to identify."
"Please forgive me, but I refuse. I am just a common young man and do not wish to be involved in any troublesome case.
Lorne shook his head decisively.
Go to the Church of the lord of storms? That must be a joke!
Setting everything else aside, James Scott and Lorne Deesink might not be famous, but Monqi Brando has some reputation on the sea! After all, he has a bounty of 10,000 pounds. If he were accidentally recognized—
Taking a step back, even if he managed to conceal his identity, if they discovered he was a Beyonder, he would spend the rest of his life behind bars, never seeing the light of day.
"Enough! Don't stop me!" Just then, a tall, middle-aged man wearing an Inspector's uniform forcibly pushed his way in.
"You go out first, let me question him!" He rudely yelled at the young police officer.
This impatient and explosive style—it was a Punisher. Lorne's eyes narrowed instantly. During his time at sea, he had dealt with these people often; he could recognize their mannerisms instantly.
"But—" The young police officer wanted to say something more, but a fierce glare from the Punisher immediately silenced him.
"Let me handle this."
A third person entered the interrogation room. It was a man wearing an unusual black shirt. He wasn't wearing a vest, only an informal black jacket. His eyebrows were sparse, his blue eyes indifferent, and the lines of his face were like blades, so rigid they lacked any softness.
Also a Beyonder—Lorne's internal alarm bells went off; he felt as if facing a great enemy.
"Absolutely not! All cases in Cherwood Borough are handled by us, the Chur—ahem, handled by us!" The Punisher refused without thinking.
"This is a criminal case!"
"You know what I'm talking about!"
"You are not qualified—"
"And are you? This is a police station!"
"You damn—"
The two men began arguing fiercely over jurisdiction right there in the interrogation room, in front of Lorne—they completely ignored Lorne, who was sitting behind the interrogation table.
"Hey! The food at your police station is terrible!"
"I can forgive the lack of meat, but at least give me some oat bread!"
"You cannot force a gentleman whose monthly income exceeds 50 pounds to eat this stuff—
"I am going to file a complaint against you!"
Lorne gnawed on the dry black bread, staring speechlessly at the police officer who had delivered the meal.
He used an exaggerated tone that even he disliked to disguise himself, striving to create the image of an ordinary citizen who was full of complaints about being inexplicably detained, cared about appearances, yet felt somewhat powerless.
"I will complain about you! I absolutely will!" he continued to shout.
It had been three days. He had been locked in the police station's temporary detention room for three days. Aside from the initial interrogation, no one had come to formally question him. They just kept him locked up without asking, as if trying to wear down his patience or waiting for something.
The police officer didn't rise to the bait, merely shoving the meal tray in expressionlessly and saying coldly, "Once the investigation is clear, you will naturally be released."
"Please, what is there to investigate—"
The police officer didn't respond, collecting the tray and preparing to leave. Before exiting, he suddenly stopped and turned back, saying, "Oh, right, your employees are here to visit you. Get ready."
Employees—sigh—Lorne clenched his fist.
Although he was detained, they allowed visitors. Were they trying to use the visit as an opportunity to catch him out? Hmph.
Before long, Lorne saw Foreman Ted and Old Kohler, with whom he had a good relationship, behind the iron bars of the visitation area.
Both men were clearly in low spirits.
"Boss/Mr. Scott, are you alright?"
Seeing the haggard look on Lorne's face, both men were agitated.
Lorne waved his hand, signaling them to be quiet.
"Sir, what exactly happened? The police officer who delivered the message said you became a crime suspect," Ted asked urgently in a low voice.
"This is slander!" Lorne's tone was full of indignation. "I didn't do anything, yet they locked me up!"
"Do you think I look like someone who would commit a crime?" He looked at the two men, his eyes "sincere" and "wronged."
"Of course not!" Old Kohler spoke first. "We all know that Mr. Scott is a true gentleman; he would never commit a crime!"
"Mhm." Ted also nodded emphatically. He still trusted the character of his young boss.
"Hoo—" Lorne sighed, then deliberately raised his voice so that the guard outside could hear.
"Lawyer! I need to hire the best Lawyer!"
"Ted! Go immediately and hire the best Lawyer in Backlund to bail me out! I must sue this police station!"
"Understood, Boss. I'll arrange it right away!" He had been in business for several years and indeed knew a few Lawyers with some fame in the legal world.
After waiting a few minutes and seeing Lorne's emotions calm down slightly, Ted carefully chose his words before speaking again: "Boss, actually—"
He and Old Kohler exchanged worried glances.
"These past few days you've been away, something has happened at the factory—"
"Something?" Seeing their clearly distressed expressions, Lorne's heart suddenly sank.
"Actually, it's not just our factory, the whole of Backlund has been—" Ted's tone was evasive.
"Right, right! I heard that several noble lords jumped off buildings! And several others went and lay down on the railway tracks!" Old Kohler chimed in, seemingly trying to set the stage.
Seeing the two men desperately trying to cushion the blow, afraid he couldn't handle the shock, Lorne waved his hand speechlessly. "Stop, stop, stop. Just tell me what happened. I can handle it."
"Uh—it's just that—" Ted took a deep breath.
"Our factory—is going bankrupt."
"Huh?"