Chapter 33: Sincerity Is the Ultimate Weapon

“Buddy, I advise you to confess and show leniency, or else even I can’t predict the horrific things Ms. Rose might do next.”

Ethan obediently raised both hands above his head, standing shoulder to shoulder with the bar owner. Leaning in, he whispered, “The last person she interrogated didn’t have a single patch of intact skin on his body. He screamed all night before finally dying. I’m trying to help you here.”

He had roughly assessed the situation inside the bar. This place was the most well-informed spot in the civilian district. Roxanne often came here for a drink after work. The only issue was that the Gilded Rose bar was connected to the border gangs and naturally didn’t welcome Ivy, who was part of the “law.”

Clearly, the conversation between the two sides was tense, almost on the brink of violence.

When Ivy pointed her gun at the owner, he simultaneously reached for a dagger hidden in the bar’s secret compartment.

“I don’t have it!”

Ivy’s face flushed, and the golden tuft on top of her head twitched into an "X" shape in agitation.

“You might have it. Maybe he’ll confess if he’s scared,” Ethan said, frustrated at Ivy’s stubbornness. He had noticed the owner’s hand trembling just now. If Ivy could just flash a cruel smile, his mental defenses would crumble completely. Unfortunately, having worked only one day with Ivy, their tacit understanding still needed improvement.

As Ivy denied it again, the owner slowly moved his hand toward the dagger once more.

“Fine, she may not have tortured her interrogations, but people like you? She’s already killed 56.”

The owner’s motion stopped abruptly. He glanced at Ivy, but this time she remained silent, only frowning without denying it.

The owner panicked completely.

This woman had killed 56 people!?

Even the most ruthless gangsters hadn’t killed that many!

Ethan, who had tried to capitalize on the moment, felt a jolt in his heart. The number 56 was something he made up on the spot, to make Ivy seem more intimidating. But unexpectedly, Ivy tacitly accepted it.

This was bad.

Suddenly realizing such a terrifying truth, Ethan’s mood instantly grew uneasy.

Sincerity was the ultimate weapon.

When the owner noticed Ivy avoiding eye contact with Ethan, he immediately raised his hands overhead. To avoid becoming the 57th victim, he volunteered information. “I can tell you about Roxanne. This bar is legally operated. I’ve always been a law-abiding citizen of the Empire. We can sit down and talk properly... By the way, would you two like some drinks? It’s on me.”

Whether Ivy was silently plotting her next move or not, the three now sat in front of the bar, and the interrupted conversation resumed.

“Listen, I don’t know if this is related to your investigation, but as far as I know, Roxanne owes the Imperial Union a huge sum of money. He’s living a tough life. Every night, he comes here telling noble jokes to earn some extra cash. We’ve all advised him not to take more loans from the Imperial Union. The money he earns now can’t even cover the interest, but he won’t listen. He’s completely trapped.”

Hearing this, Ethan asked, “He’s still borrowing from the Imperial Union? Why?”

Roxanne had mentioned that he took a loan from the Imperial Union to buy an apartment in the civilian district and would have to work in Creekwood for over twenty years to repay the principal and interest.

Though somewhat intrusive, Ethan immediately suspected something bad.

Perhaps Roxanne had fallen into gambling or was addicted to illicit potions brewed by unscrupulous apothecaries. Otherwise, it was hard to imagine what could cause such a cheerful and positive man to change so drastically and repeatedly take out loans.

Roxanne must have known the consequences. Once his debt reached an unpayable level, his life would be bought out.

“It’s for his daughter.”

The owner lowered his head helplessly. At first, they thought Roxanne had picked up a bad habit, but whether gambling or potion addiction, they could help him quit by force. This, however, was beyond their reach. “His daughter has great magical talent and was noticed by a grand sorcerer from the Astrologers’ Guild, who is willing to be her teacher.”

The three fell into silence.

Being a magician was known as the most expensive path in the supernatural arts. Materials for making scrolls and setting up formations cost a fortune in real gold and silver.

Still, few could resist the temptation of the extraordinary realm, especially when the mentor was a grand sorcerer certified by the Astrologers’ Guild.

Ethan knew Roxanne had a dream: to repay the loan and have his family live peacefully and happily in Creekwood.

A simple and humble wish.

But that still didn’t explain why Roxanne would suddenly end his own life, leaving a curse in that apartment.

“Do you see Roxanne every day? Has he shown any unusual signs recently?”

“Unusual? How could such a carefree man show anything unusual?”

The owner scoffed. “Sometimes I envy him. Even buried under debt, he could still smile. Oh, he told me a few days ago his daughter was coming to visit. She had passed the first-level magician certification and promised to perform magic here at the bar.”

Ethan pictured the scene of Roxanne dragging his weary body to the bar each night to chat with the owner after performances.

The owner was right—a carefree man like that…

Ethan’s expression suddenly darkened, his tone growing serious. “You said Roxanne’s daughter was coming to see him?”

The owner was startled by Ethan’s expression. He shrank his neck and lowered his voice. “That’s what he said himself.”

“When was this?”

“Just… three days ago.”

“Where did she come from?”

“How would I know? I’ve never been to the Astrologers’ Guild. Does it matter? He’s already dead.”

Mentioning Roxanne’s death, the owner’s temper flared. “And you lot—you’re here investigating the case, right? Tell me how he died! Suicide is impossible. The Imperial Union drove him to it!”

“The nearest Astrologers’ Guild to Creekwood is in Morningstar City.”

Ivy, who had remained silent, suddenly spoke. Her voice was light and detached, her face betraying no emotion, as if she were simply stating a fact based on the owner’s clues.

“Morningstar City is southwest of Creekwood. If his daughter came from there, she would have passed through Riverside Town two days ago.”