Filed to story: Queen of the Battlefield Her Return to Glory Novel Online Free
But the subordinates’ corruption was undeniable. Given Cameron’s expertise in riverworks, he would know the exact costs of materials and labor. Every expenditure passed through his hands.
Could he truly be unaware of his subordinates’ embezzlement?
The most likely explanation was that he condoned their behavior. By allowing them to indulge in corruption, he could secure their loyalty and ensure their silence. Even if one of them noticed something amiss, they wouldn’t dare report it.
Of course, there was another possibility: that Cameron himself was embezzling funds on a grand scale. Those who were heavily corrupt were often good at hiding it, making their own lives appear extremely simple as a cover.
Whether it was the former or the latter, the king needed evidence. This was why he had instructed lan to keep a close watch.
For now, with the project’s completion imminent, Salvador was reluctant to disrupt the progress. If corruption was indeed at play, he would wait until the riverworks project was finished, then launch a full- scale investigation.
If the matter went beyond corruption-if this was part of a larger conspiracy to incite rebellion-then surveillance would reveal their next move soon enough.
As for Nicholas, Salvador’s suspicions remained. However, with the prince stationed in Nerovia, any plan to march on the capital and coordinate with the riverworks project workers seemed destined for failure. To reach the capital, Nicholas would have to move his forces through Valken, where Thomas was stationed. Thomas was a seasoned military commander with a scout’s sharp instincts. He would never allow Nicholas to leave Nerovia so easily.
If the prince couldn’t make it to the capital, then the riverworks project workers posed little threat. A rebellion required a leader at the helm. Even if an uprising succeeded, Nicholas’ subordinates could easily seize power for themselves.
–
Meanwhile, Sophie sat by the riverbank, chewing on dry, flavorless bread as she watched lan lead his men through another round of inspections.
He had already spent several days investigating, and was now simply going through the motions. His attitude had grown noticeably lax, his inspections perfunctory at best. After a cursory glance at the ongoing riverworks, he and his men would retire to a nearby coffeehouse to relax.
Sophie knew lan didn’t believe there was any issue with Cameron or the riverworks project workers. He was merely fulfilling his duty in the most superficial way possible.
She couldn’t rely on lan, so she took it upon herself to keep watch. She also observed the officials from the Waterworks Department, hoping to find one who appeared overly fearful-someone she could interrogate later to at least get some information.
After two days of careful observation, Sophie decided on her target: Miles Grant, the deputy head of the Waterworks Department.
He was 35 years old and had served five years in the Ministry of Infrastructure. Born to a family of farmers and scholars, he lost his parents at a young age. To secure his education at the most prestigious academies, he drained his older brother of every last resource.
After passing the last level of the national examinations, Miles entered government service. His obsession with wealth and his miserly nature were well known. He had long since severed ties with the brother who had once supported him, casting him aside like an old shoe.
If that weren’t enough, Miles had also discarded his first wife, citing jealousy as the excuse. Then, he remarried the only daughter of his former mentor, who was the headmaster of Whitecloud Academy. His mentor had since passed away, and while Miles’ second wife came from a noble background, she was treated no better than the first.
He was scum. An ungrateful scoundrel.
Still, men like him were useful-too consumed by greed and too selfish to hide their weaknesses. Once one had control over them, they would spill everything.
That very night, Sophie ordered Travis to act. Miles was seized and taken to a secluded estate on the western edge of the city. There, he was locked in a woodshed and left to stew in the dark for the night. Fear and hunger would soften him up before the real questioning began.
Ambushed on his way home, Miles had been thrown into a burlap sack before he could cry for help. When he awoke, he found himself in a pitch-black room that offered no clues about his location. He assumed he had been kidnapped for ransom.
He wanted to shout out, but then realized not only were his hands and feet bound, he had also been gagged. All he could make were muffled sounds.
Hours passed. Alone in the dark, his thoughts spiraled into panic.
By the time the door opened the next morning and light poured in, he instinctively turned his head to avoid the blinding glare. He hardly waited before turning his head back, staring intently at the figure in dark clothing.
The person was dressed as a man, but Miles immediately recognized who it was-someone he had seen before.
It was the Hell Monarch’s princess consort, Sophie Devin.
He was shocked. He had thought he had been kidnapped by bandits, but to his surprise, it was Sophie. Hoarse and strained, Miles’ voice quivered as he spoke, “Your Grace, I don’t understand how I’ve offended you.”
Sophie didn’t answer. Instead, she sat down on a chair that Travis had brought over, her gaze steady and unreadable as her men worked behind her. One by one, they carried in an assortment of tools: an iron brazier, tongs, whips, wooden stakes, and a rack, its surface mottled with rust.
The sight of those items drained all color from Miles’ face.
His breath hitched. “W-what is this? What are you planning to do?”
Finally, Sophie said, “There’s no need to panic. I only have a few questions for you. Answer honestly, and you’ll walk out of here unharmed.”
Miles noticed her calm and even tone. She didn’t sound like someone ruthless. For a moment, he tried to regain some composure, forcing a harsh tone as he spoke.
“Your Grace, I am a court official! Kidnapping a servant of the kingdom and holding a private interrogation -do you not fear the king’s wrath? If His Majesty learns of this, he will not forgive your transgressions!” Sophie chuckled. “Are you reminding me that I can’t let you leave here alive?”
She tilted her head and mimicked a slicing motion across her neck, her dark eyes glinting with dangerous intent.
Miles’ legs buckled beneath him as he stammered, “What… What do you want from me?”
“I told you, I have a few questions. Answer them properly, or you’ll suffer for it,” Sophie replied, her tone tinged with impatience.
As her words settled in the air, Travis tossed a pair of iron tongs into the brazier. The flames licked hungrily at the metal as he flipped the tongs to ensure they heated evenly, the sound of crackling embers filling the room.
Miles had spent his career in the Waterworks Department, far removed from the harsh realities of a criminal court. The sight of the glowing brazier and the tools laid out before him sent his heart into a frenzy. His eyes bulged as he began nodding frantically, desperate to show his compliance.
Sophie leaned back, crossing one leg over the other. “First question: How much have you embezzled?” Miles’ eyes widened, and he instinctively shook his head. But when the red-hot tongs were aimed at his eyes, a scream ripped from his throat.
“I’ll tell you…!”
Travis tossed the iron tongs back into the brazier, the sudden hiss of the coals sending sparks into the air. Miles’ voice trembled as he stuttered, “One… one or two thousand silver coins. I can’t remember exactly…’
Sophie’s eyes narrowed. Without hesitation, she picked up the iron tongs herself and pressed them lightly against his chest. The searing sound of flesh burning filled the room, followed by Miles’ agonized wails.
“Three thousand! No, 30,000 silver coins!” he cried, his entire body convulsing with pain and fear. Sweat poured down his face as he gasped for air. “I swear it’s the truth! No more lies!”
Sophie tossed the iron tongs back into the brazier. “Second question: Does Mr. Judd know you’ve been embezzling?”
“Yes.”
He could no longer lie, his face draining of color from the pain.
“And what about him? Has he taken anything for himself?” Sophie asked, her tone sharp.
“I… I don’t know. I really don’t know!”
Panic crept into Miles’ voice as he feared that the answer wouldn’t satisfy Sophie.
Sophie sat back in her chair and said, “The king has known about your corruption for some time now. He’s allowed me to handle this privately to give you a chance. If you confess, your life will be spared. If you can provide valuable information, the worst you’ll face is a demotion. You’ll still be able to work your way back into the ranks.”
Miles had been around long enough to understand what she was implying. Offering valuable information could only mean one thing-betraying both his superiors and subordinates.