Chapter 1231: Interrogation and Confusion

Margaret coming to see Old Hack with Xia De today was not because she wanted to chat with Old Hack; she just wanted to express her goodwill first. And Xia De believed that Margaret was definitely not just starting from Old Hack alone. For the witch's apprentice qualification, the preparations she made were far more than Xia De thought.

And after Margaret finished talking about her affairs, Xia De didn't rush forward, but watched the police officers walk back and take Old Hack away. Such dangerous criminals had special carriages for escort. After confirming that the prisoner had not been swapped, the haggard old man was pushed directly into the carriage with steel plates laid on the inside.

Just after Old Hack got into the carriage, he was a little surprised to find that the person looking at him in the carriage was no longer the police chief who came, but the royal attendant who served him tea just now.

The carriage closed, and the fully enclosed carriage went completely dark. But immediately after, Xia De lit a candle with a match, and the jumping firelight illuminated the faces of the two:

"Why are you so surprised? Princess Margaret is very cautious. If you disappeared on the way after she met you, then the Princess wouldn't be able to explain anything. I will personally watch you return to prison."

Xia De said, and the old man looked at him suspiciously:

"I always feel that it's not that simple. Although I don't understand the police's handling process, how could it be... Sir, you wouldn't suddenly pull out a gun and tell me that you are actually not a royal guard, but military intelligence from Deraerion?"

Xia De blinked

"Of course not."

Old Hack immediately became nervous. The old man's experience allowed him to easily see that the other party was lying, and he deliberately let him see that he was lying, so his heart was raised.

Xia De smiled and shook his head

"Don't be so nervous, and don't think wildly. You can just treat me as a princess's attendant. I'm not any kind of killer, I just want to ask you some questions."

"Representing whom to ask?"

Old Hack said vigilantly, his eyes looking at Xia De's waist, guessing where he hid the pistol.

"Do you really want to know the answer to this question?"

Xia De asked back, and the old man hurriedly shook his head:

"As long as you are not here to kill me, you can ask whatever you want. Before reaching the destination, we can talk about any questions. I know that your questions must contain strange questions to confuse your identity. Don't worry, I won't mention our conversation in the carriage to anyone."

He suspected that he was involved in a more bizarre and complex political struggle.

"That's good."

Xia De nodded and sat very relaxed on the uncomfortable chair in the carriage:

"The first question, why was the assassination target Prince William Anjou, and not Princess Margaret Anjou? And your attitude towards that princess today, why was it so good?"

Old Hack nervously put his hands on his legs:

"What kind of question is this? Isn't it obvious? Even if I want to take revenge on the Anjou royal family, I won't hurt a fragile woman. I'm not that despicable!"

"Very good, this answer is a good start. You can relax a bit, just treat it as a chat. The second question, have you contacted any suspicious foreigners recently?"

The old man thought for a while and shook his head slowly:

"No. If you want to know if my assassination of the Prince was instructed by the Deraerion people, the answer is 'no'."

Xia De certainly knew it wasn't. Director Anluosi had said personally that this assassination had nothing to do with Military Intelligence Section 6, and he had even read the top-secret files of Military Intelligence Section 6 about the Stonemason Society.

"However, my neighbor, that Northerner, is very suspicious. He likes to bring prostitutes home. I suspect that there are spies among them."

Xia De waved his hand

"I have no interest in whether you are spying on your neighbor's privacy. I see that you are still a bit nervous. Let's change to a more relaxed topic. Tell me about the stories circulating in the Stonemason Society."

As he said, he took out his pocket watch and looked at it pretendingly

"There is still one hour and twenty minutes before returning to prison. Tell me a little story, and then we will ask questions."

Old Hack nodded immediately:

"What story do you want to hear?"

"Anything is fine... an ancient story that few people know."

The old man had no suspicion about this

"I have many stories. You definitely don't know about the things when the Stonemason Society was first established. The establishment of the society is not as simple as everyone getting together to press their fingerprints. This requires huge financial resources. The original stonemasons were just craftsmen, so they asked the devil for help, obtained ancient treasures, and used that money to establish the initial society."

"Then, what was the price?"

Xia De asked with a smile, and the old man nodded:

"Of course there is a price. Every hundred years, the society must select the best stone carving craftsman to carve the most perfect statue for the devil. If the devil is satisfied, he will take the statue; if he is not satisfied, then he will take the craftsman's soul."

Xia De didn't comment on this story. Whether it was true or not, it had nothing to do with the clues he wanted to find today:

"This story tells us that people have to pay a price for doing anything. Then it's my turn to ask: Just now you quoted 60,000 crowns to Princess Margaret to let the Anjou family pay the price for these years. Then, how did you calculate this number? I have investigated you, I mean the Princess has investigated you, your education level is not high, but you were able to say this number just now. I don't think that as an ordinary stonemason of the society, you would calculate this kind of thing usually... Who did you hear this quote from?"

The old man widened his eyes and couldn't speak tremblingly.

Xia De still said in that very relaxed tone:

"Your social relationship is very simple, it wouldn't be very difficult for me to investigate it myself."

"It's... Mr. Jones, the society accountant. He complained to me... If there is this money, even if there is no apology, it can be accepted."

Although hatred breeds, not everyone in the Stonemason Society insists on that apology. The "Mr. Jones" mentioned by Old Hack was clearly the kind of person who could even do without an apology if the compensation was enough. Xia De would not comment on this pragmatic approach, but Margaret could probably start from this person to do something.

"Look, isn't our Q&A like this very good?"

He took out a glass bottle with an oak stopper from his pocket, which contained white sugar cubes. He took out two, signaled Old Hack to choose one, and then ate the other one himself:

"Then continue to tell a story."

Xia De said again. The old man felt the sweetness in his mouth. He already knew that he couldn't guess who the other party was representing to ask questions.

"Story, let me think... Yes, the most famous story of the Stonemason Society must be the living stone statue. I saw it once when I was young, but people didn't believe it. There are many, many stories about this circulating in the city, but I bet no one knows more than I do. Among the founders of the society, there was a low-key Mr. Fleming, who was the one with the best craft among the initial founders, but because of his accidental disappearance, he didn't participate in the later major events of the society, which led to few people knowing him now. But his name has not been buried in history. Do you know? The society has a contract signed by the founders initially, and Mr. Fleming's name is on it."

He had many stories about "Mr. Fleming," and he talked for ten minutes before stopping. This information was much more than the information provided by the middle-aged stonemason a few hours ago. Clearly, the middle-aged stonemason's story was also heard from him.

During the rest of the journey, Xia De exchanged a lot of content with Old Hack. When the carriage finally stopped, he made a gesture of silence

"This journey is considered pleasant, and I understand the general matters. Mr. Hack, I think this will not be our last meeting."

"You still want to come to me?"

The old man asked with some horror. For this man who was good at interrogation, he was really a bit afraid.

"That's hard to say, but I think the next meeting will definitely be very interesting."

As he said, he jumped off the carriage with the door opened. After completing the handover procedure for the criminal, he boarded another carriage parked on the side of the road.

Margaret sat in the carriage holding a teacup waiting for him:

"How is it, any harvest?"

"There is a harvest, you can start from these people. The Stonemason Society is not a complete iron plate, and there are people inside who may help you."

As he said, he took out the book and handed it to the Princess, which contained the content of the conversation just now:

"No, no, I mean, is there any harvest in your affairs?"

The blonde young lady flipped through the book and asked. Xia De thought for a while:

"There is probably a very ancient evil in the local area; Old Hack also knows the Stone Osenfort family and told me that Stone Osenfort once learned stone carving skills in the Stonemason Society; Mr. Fleming, one of the initial founders of the society, may have problems. Tomorrow I still need your help, I want to see the contract signed by the initial founders of the Stonemason Society."

Margaret thought for a while

"I'm afraid I can't see it tomorrow. Although I am a princess, I don't have the right to order everyone. Give me some time, the Stonemason Society is not friendly to me."

"Oh, actually it doesn't matter if you can't see it."

Xia De also realized the difficulty of this request:

"As long as the location is confirmed, it's the same if I break in and see it myself."

Margaret smiled and shook her head

"Although I know you are not a criminal, every time you say this kind of thing, it feels very dangerous... and very exciting. Knight, do you have anything to do tonight? How about having dinner with me? Candlelight dinner, and then go to the Wilde Opera House to watch an opera together."

Xia De shook his head with regret

"Sorry, I still have to meet with a friend in a while."

This refers to the playwright who investigated at the Stonemason Society.

"At night, Luvia and I still have some things to do."

He planned to go to the Stonemason Society tonight. Even if he couldn't see the moving stone statue, at least he would have a chance to find the initial stonemason contract. He had done many things like breaking into an empty house. Since Luvia was also here this time, calling the Diviner lady, the action should go much smoother.

--Continue to view ===== CHAPTER 1232 =====

He planned to go to the Stonemason Society tonight; even if he didn't see moving stone statues, at least he would have a chance to find the original stonemason contract. He had done plenty of breaking and entering, and since Luvia was here this time, calling upon the Miss Diviner should make the operation go much smoother.

--Proceed to view