Otherworld Advance Team
Chapter 1301 - 1294: Merchants Pursuing Profit

Chapter 1301: Chapter 1294: Merchants Pursuing Profit

"Looks like he knows what’s good for him, taking the respectful drink," Cheng Ziang nodded in satisfaction.

"Ask him what his name is!" Hu Daoke stepped forward, eager to ask first.

At Hu Daoke’s request, Boyan lowered his head and began to converse with the General using the Kyushu language, while Cheng Ziang squinted, watching his every move closely.

Actually, he had lied to Boyan. None of the people he had brought with him really knew the Kyushu language—it was just a ploy to keep Boyan honest.

Of course, not understanding doesn’t mean you can be easily fooled. Although they did not understand the Kyushu language, they were familiar with simple interrogation techniques such as facial lie detection; they could determine whether Boyan was lying by observing his expressions and actions.

The General seemed very irritable. Before Boyan could finish speaking, he was rudely interrupted and began cursing loudly again.

"He, he won’t say..." Boyan turned around, timidly spoke to Cheng Ziang.

"What is he cursing about?" asked Cheng Ziang.

"He, he is..." Boyan hesitated.

"Speak frankly, you’re the translator here. We won’t get mad at you even if we are upset," said Cheng Ziang coolly.

"He says you’ve ruined everything for him, says you are..." Boyan began, then suddenly clamped his mouth shut, looking uneasy.

"What is it, out with it," Cheng Ziang said, frowning slightly.

"He says you are the Star-shattering Masters!" Boyan took a deep breath, as if resigning himself to his fate, and said loudly.

"What the hell is a Star-shattering Master?" Cheng Ziang and the others were clearly unaware of what that was, looking at each other with blank expressions.

"Aren’t you lords of the Manor the ones?" Boyan, surprised by everyone’s blankness, asked with wide eyes.

"What nonsense, forget it," Cheng Ziang waved his hand irritably, then said, "Ask him what he does in the military?"

"Eh, okay." Boyan nodded, and couldn’t help but take another look at him, muttering under his breath.

Then he went on to question the General, lowering his head patiently. But this General seemed to be a tough nut to crack; he was still ranting and didn’t answer directly.

Seeing his attitude, Boyan turned to Cheng Ziang and shook his head helplessly.

"Some people don’t realise their plight until they’re in the coffin," Cheng Ziang chuckled, then drew a dagger from his waist and casually tossed it to Hu Daoke. After exchanging a brief glance, Hu Daoke immediately understood what he meant.

Then Hu Daoke advanced with the dagger, bending over to release the General’s hand from its bonds, placing it palm-up on the ground.

Suddenly, he lifted the dagger and plunged it deep into the General’s palm. The Kedal-made dagger easily pierced through the General’s hand and into the dirt and stones below, nailing the hand firmly to the ground.

The intense pain elicited a heart-wrenching scream from the General, but Hu Daoke remained indifferent. He stood up calmly and even stepped on the dagger to make it stick even firmer.

"Tell him to be quiet, and then tell him he has three more chances!" Cheng Ziang instructed Boyan.

Boyan stared blankly at Cheng Ziang, and although it might have been his imagination, Cheng Ziang felt that Boyan’s eyes were lacking the expected fear, and instead, displayed an unsettling excitement.

Next, he did as Cheng Ziang requested, covered the General’s mouth, and told him loudly.

But this General clearly wasn’t listening, still shouting and struggling. Seeing his state, Boyan shook his head helplessly, then turned to Cheng Ziang and said, "Manor Lord, he won’t say anything. Just kill him."

"Kill him..." Hearing Boyan’s words, Cheng Ziang appeared surprised, and stared at him blankly.

At this moment, Boyan’s expression was impassive, his eyes betraying a hint of coldness and anticipation. This confrontational attitude took Cheng Ziang off guard, prompting him to turn and ask in the Tasta language, "Feng, where did you get this fellow?"

"From the outskirts of the city," Feng replied.

"Just him?" Cheng Ziang pressed.

"Yes!" Feng nodded.

"I always feel that his attitude is very much like the commander named Xuan. Are they on the same side?" Baiyue frowned and asked in Chinese.

Hearing their words, Cheng Ziang fell into thought, then turned back and stared at Boyan to ask, "Do you... dislike the General?"

"Yes..." Hesitating for a moment, Boyan nodded slightly in response.

"Why?" Cheng Ziang asked, puzzled.

"We are merchants." Boyan replied.

"Are merchants and generals natural enemies?" Cheng Ziang was thrown into confusion.

However, Boyan did not answer his question and instead bowed his head, continuing to speak in the Kyushu language. Hearing his words, the General became even angrier, cursing at him with saliva flying.

Boyan watched him expressionlessly, then suddenly, he violently pulled out the dagger from the General’s palm and plunged it deeply into his head.

His sudden action made everyone present cry out in shock. Luckily, Cheng Ziang reacted swiftly, and before the dagger could stab the General, the back of Cheng Ziang’s knife was already at his wrist, directing the dagger into the dirt.

"Hey, this man is our captive. Just killing him like that is quite disrespectful to us, isn’t it?" Cheng Ziang said coldly.

"I-I’m sorry, really sorry, Manor Lord." After being disarmed, Boyan quickly knelt down and apologized with a trembling voice.

"Which one is your true character, after all?" Seeing his drastic change in behaviour, even Cheng Ziang couldn’t help but feel worried.

"Tell us why you dislike the General?" Baiyue stepped forward, coming to Cheng Ziang’s side, and asked from a position of authority.

"Some personal grudges..." Boyan replied.

"You don’t even know him, do you?" Baiyue immediately saw through his thoughts.

"Merchants and Military Generals... aren’t friends, but we dare not be their enemies..." After hesitating for a moment, Boyan spoke.

"I feel like the Generals of the Dongsheng Empire are treated like rats crossing the street, everyone wants to step on them..." Hu Daoke couldn’t help but speak.

"This situation could result either from the Dongsheng Empire’s Military Generals being too dominant or too weak. Considering the current situation, the former seems more likely." Baiyue analyzed.

"You mean, these Military Generals oppress merchants within the Dongsheng Empire, defy the commander’s orders, so when they fall on hard times, everyone wants to step on them?" Cheng Ziang pondered.

"Seems like a case of retribution for going too far." Hu Daoke clicked his tongue.

"What shall we do with this General?" Baiyue looked at Cheng Ziang to ask.

"Hmm, can’t be bothered to interrogate, if he doesn’t die, just take him back to Lingyuan City, Luo’er might find some use for him." Cheng Ziang said.

"As for you..." Looking at Boyan, he hesitated for a moment, then waved his hand and said, "You may go, as per our agreement, we won’t make things difficult for you, but we hope you can keep your mouth shut; otherwise, we’ll help you stitch it closed."

"Y-yes, I understand. There’s no need for the Manor Lord to remind me, I will keep silent." Boyan said excitedly.

After that, he raised his head to look at Cheng Ziang and out of the blue asked, "Manor Lords... are you from the Demon Clan?"

"No, we’re not. Haven’t we already said so before?" Cheng Ziang replied.

"Oh." Boyan nodded.

"You seem quite disappointed. What exactly do you want to say?" Noticing his tone, Cheng Ziang asked curiously.

"Oh, if the Manor Lords have connections with the Demon Clan, I earnestly request your help to facilitate contact. I would like to do some business with them. As long as there’s money, whatever they want, I can try to fulfill their needs." Boyan said.

"That sounds like aiding the enemy." Cheng Ziang and the others exchanged glances and he couldn’t help but say.

"Manor Lord, you speak too seriously. Merchants know no borders, profit is paramount. As long as there’s money to be made, it doesn’t matter who we do business with." Boyan’s tone was somewhat nonchalant.

"Aren’t you afraid the Dongsheng Empire’s army will trouble you?" Cheng Ziang asked, still puzzled.

"No, no, it’s allowed, but..." Boyan said, "It seems that the Demon Clan has deep prejudices against us, so it’s difficult to establish contact... If the Manor Lords could assist, I would be immensely grateful."