Try Begging

Chapter 89

Sinclair’s arrest on charges of rebellion stemmed from the recent raid on the Lambert camp, which took place approximately a month ago.

The remaining explosives used in the camp bombing were traced back to Sinclair Gunpowder, bearing the distinct mark of the company. While obtaining ordinary explosives wouldn’t pose a challenge for anyone, the issue at hand was that the explosives in question were a newly developed type not yet available on the market.

Leon’s gaze fixated on a man in his mid-thirties, dressed impeccably in a high-end suit that seemed out of place in the austere interrogation room.

This man was none other than Geoffrey Sinclair, the president of Sinclair Gunpowder.

As he perused through the papers in front of him, Leon came across a familiar name. When he monitored Geoffrey Sinclair’s movements, that person was a labor activist whom Sinclair met and shared meals with on several occasions.

‘D*mn it…’

Upon learning that the individual had already been apprehended for rebel activities at the Eastern Command a few days prior, he couldn’t help but curse under his breath. The evidence he currently possessed seemed damning enough to warrant immediate imprisonment in a concentration camp.

However, his intuition, honed from his extensive pursuit of the rebels, vehemently protested. Something about this family seemed disconnected from any involvement with the rebels, despite the seemingly incriminating evidence.

His gut feeling contradicted the straightforward evidence.

Was it a false accusation fabricated by the King, or perhaps his own investigation, tainted by preconceived notions, had been inadequate?

Leon found himself engulfed in a state of turmoil and confusion.

º º º

It was unexpected.

Grace repeated the same words like she was counting sheep, blinking in the dark. The man who used to visit her at least twice a day only came this morning. Then, he didn’t show up until after two o’clock in the morning. He had never been out at night….

‘Is he still working? Work seems busy these days…’

She suddenly frowned.

‘…Why should I care about that?’

A sigh echoed hollowly in the empty room.

Although she wanted him to leave her alone, when he did, she felt bored and lonely. She couldn’t believe that she was waiting for that man.

“You’re really crazy.”

As she couldn’t sleep for a long time and tossed and turned, she heard familiar footsteps outside the door.

“Ha… Of course.”

The door opened with a click, and the switch went up. The moment the wall lights came on, Grace closed her eyes tightly and quickly pulled the blanket off her naked body. She spread her legs, meaning for him to quickly put it in and then leave.

The sound of approaching footsteps stopped abruptly.

“You’re really crazy.”

She slowly opened my eyes at the unexpected nagging. In the blindingly white vision, not accustomed to the light, a tall figure was heading towards the metal table, not the bed.

“Sit down.”

Winston sat down at the table and tossed the folder across the table.

‘…Was he going to do an interrogation after a long time?’

Even though she was reluctant, Grace got up. He would take the blanket off if she put it on her body, so she sat in the chair naked with only stockings on. Though was Winston wrinkling his forehead?

“Put it on.”

Saying so, he took off his officer’s jacket and gave it to her.

‘Why is he like this today?’

He was really unexpected today.

Grace gazed at the man as he rolled up the sleeves of his white shirt, slipping her arm into the oversized jacket he had offered her.

Leon let out a weary sigh, finding it difficult to concentrate on his work as he observed her sitting there with only her arms clad in the jacket. He had intended for her to wear it properly, but it seemed she had misunderstood his intentions.

Rising from his seat, he approached her and began buttoning up the jacket himself. As he did so, the woman’s eyes widened, her gaze fixed on him.

‘D*mn it. He’s already having a different idea.’

Even after buttoning up the jacket, it did little to hide the fact that the clothing was far too big for her. Through the collar, he could see the prominence of her chest bone. It only served to intensify his longing for her touch, the scent of her skin after a long day of exhaustion.

It seemed that his patience faced the biggest challenge of the day today.

‘What is it…?’

Grace narrowed her eyes. Winston sighed uncharacteristically and sat down. He looked much more tired than she had seen him this morning.

‘I don’t know who it is, but thank you for bothering this human.’

As she laughed inside, he clasped his hands together and stared at her with earnest eyes.

“Grace Riddle.”

Grace was taken aback when her name was suddenly called. It’s been quite a while since her real name came out of the man’s mouth. The faint smile disappeared from her face in an instant.

“I know everything.”

“…What?”

“That you know the location of your base and that you also know information that can destroy the rebels in one fell swoop.”

The woman glared at him, revealing her wariness.

“So, don’t pretend you don’t know anything.”

“Tell me what you want.”

“A transaction.”

Leon straightened the file folder that had been randomly thrown in front of the woman.

“From now on, if you tell only the truth about the questions I will ask you, I will grant you one thing you want.”

The woman stared blankly at the name of the case written on the cover of the folder, then raised her head. Release her… he knew she would say such nonsense, but it was unexpected.

“You are still loyal. What a pity.”

The woman shrugged her shoulders and covered her mouth with a palm, making a yawn.

“I’m sleepy. If you don’t like it, I’ll go to bed.”

Leon laughed. It was because the woman never missed a chance to stand on top of his head.

“Fine, I promise I won’t ask where your base is.”

“In any way.”

Persistent…

Leon let out a short sigh and repeated the woman’s words.

“Yes, in any way. If you only tell the truth.”

He opened the folder and pointed to a page with the words ‘Greenfield Orphanage.’ It was the name on his report regarding the Sinclair family’s donation history.

In his report, it was a simple donation, but in the investigation report, it was listed as a money laundering base for the rebels. It was true that the rebels had their hands in some orphanages. Still, when he investigated, there was no evidence that the Greenfield Orphanage had anything to do with the rebels.

When asked about her connection to the rebels, the woman shook her head.

“Never heard of a place like this.”

“Is it true that the rebels collect military funds disguised as donations to orphanages?”

The woman just stared at him with her mouth shut.

“You’d better answer.”

“Have you forgotten the terms of the deal already? You told me to tell the truth, not to answer.”

“Oh, I forgot how smart you are.”

Anyway, that was a tacit affirmation. Leon smiled and moved on to the next question.

“This is a money laundering place, but there is a possibility that you don’t know.”

“…It’s not.”

Leon stared at the woman and moved on to the next question.

“Is this person a member of the rebels?”

The photo he pointed to was a labor activist arrested for rebel activity in the Eastern Command.

“Never seen him.”

“Does that mean he’s not a rebel or what? Be sure.”

“Use your common sense. How am I supposed to know all the faces of the comrades scattered across the Kingdom?”

Leon stared intently at the woman’s face. She didn’t seem to be lying.

“Good. Then, you know all the big sponsors, right?”

“Yes. Though I won’t answer the question asking for a sponsor.”

He didn’t want or need to go there. Leon asked the question he had been saving for the last time.

“Is Sinclair related to the rebels?”

…Sinclair?

Could it be that Sinclair? The woman muttered to herself and twisted her eyes.

“What tricks are you playing? You can’t dig up the truth, so now you want to dig up lies?”

She started to get angry. Judging by the look in her eyes and face, she was honest.

“I can smell the stench. Do you think I don’t know that you are trying to use the Revolutionary Army for dirty work?”

“I didn’t have anything to do with that stench.”

“…What?”

“It’s the dirty, shady duke. You were wrong that I was behind the plotting.”

From bidding competitions for mining rights to background investigations. He explained to the woman what had happened.

“We’ve never been sponsored by such a big company. In common sense, why would a company that should look good to the government support the revolutionary army?”

Leon agreed with the woman.

“The explosives must have been planted, too.”

He had already speculated that someone had planted a new product under the development of Sinclair Gunpowder as evidence of the Lambert camp incident.

“It is true, however, that the family’s philosophies and actions do not align with the royalist. In other words, there’s a possibility that they sympathize with the rebels’ ideology… but my intuition tells me otherwise. I wanted to confirm that with you.”

This was the false accusation the King made. He had only a few words with the woman and confirmed his doubts.

A bittersweet laugh came out of him.

Royalists believe in the rebels, not the King.

“However….”

A woman who knew the procedures and circumstances inside the military, like a spy who was quite smart, asked a sharp question.