Malin Gaiate shook his head: "I took a break yesterday at 11:50 AM. I reported to the Staff Headquarters that I would return to Farole once, and the Transport Center can prove that I arrived at the Rongma in Farole around noon. My wives prepared a splendid lunch for me, and even let me bring some pastries back to the front line. I returned to the front line at 1:15 PM, and last night’s on-duty guards, as well as the generals here, have enjoyed the pastries. Around 2 PM, I chaired a wartime meeting, arranged the entire region’s defense plans. This morning at 8:15 AM, I will also preside over a military operation. There are too many people here, it’s not convenient for me to tell you the content of the operation, but with your rank as a Lieutenant Colonel, you should be able to confirm the content in the reported documents after you return to the headquarters. So, I have said all I need to say."
Malin Gaiate’s statement had absolutely no problem; his heartbeat, his speech, showed no flaws.
Zhang Sicheng turned his attention to the half-blood who, after a moment of silence, clearly showed no signs of alarm from his detection.
Just when Zhang Sicheng thought this half-blood might choose to leave, he heard his second question.
"Lord Malin Gaiate, did you go to Chaofeng Tower yesterday at 12:25 PM?"
Chaofeng Tower? Isn’t that the hotel run by the Thanan people, the residence of their delegation? What’s going on? Why did he mention this place and even referred to Malin Gaiate’s full name? Zhang Sicheng felt the fluctuations of Spiritual Energy; this half-blood had activated a forced detection!
As long as Malin Gaiate lied, he would obtain a power that matched his own, and between them, it would result in a fight to the death. But if Malin Gaiate did not lie, then the half-blood would be weakened for years.
This must be a Super Ability given to his followers by the Lord of Justice; this made Zhang Sicheng feel some appreciation for the half-blood for the first time.
Lord of Justice in Thainan is Master Wu, a fact known to all Thanan people who have contact with the Western Human World.
Being a follower of his signifies that this half-blood walks the path of righteousness, and a righteous person should not be judged by Zhang Sicheng with colored glasses.
Because Zhang Sicheng himself is also a follower of Master Wu.
When confronted with his name, Lord Malin Gaiate was first stunned, then he laughed: "Detecting lies? It seems something has happened in Copenhagen, the military suspects it might be related to me, and they sent you to question me because you are a follower of the Lord of Justice, a good idea."
"Lord, please answer me!" the half-blood was trembling, struggling to maintain the Spell Formation.
And Malin Gaiate did not disappoint: "I, Malin Gaiate, did not appear in front of Chaofeng Tower in Copenhagen at 12:25 PM yesterday."
Zhang Sicheng looked at the half-blood and saw no change in him... No, it seemed he suddenly became extremely haggard as he gasped for breath, but the half-blood actually smiled: "You are right, Lord, I am just the nasty hound pushed forward by the military headquarters. Now I have reason to tell them you are innocent. Please forgive my impoliteness, I take my leave, Lord."
"There’s no need, I never blame someone for the impoliteness that stems from the responsibilities they bear, because I understand that not everything is what they wish to confront," said Malin Gaiate standing there, bidding farewell to the Gendarmerie unit. He then turned to the dwarven officer: "Young man from the Iron Anvil family, you have defended my honor; I should thank you. But the other party is the Gendarmerie, if they really killed you, I would have no way to avenge you."
"There’s no need, Lord. These black-skinned nasty hounds know themselves how loathsome they are. If I could die for your honor, the entire family would be proud of me," the dwarven officer answered with his chest puffed out.
Malin Gaiate patted his shoulder: "What’s your name?"
"Electrum Iron Anvil. Although I am a follower of the Dwarves’ god, my mother had a difficult childbirth, and it was a bishop of the Goddess of Harvest who saved me and my mother; for that reason, my father asked him to give me my name."
"Electrum, a good name. From today onwards, you will be my dedicated duty officer, serving me with your guard. How about that?"
"Salute to you, Lord! It is my honor to serve you!" the dwarf said loudly, and his soldiers, both dwarves and humans, all raised their guns in pride.
"Very well, now you all go rest. After I complete the combat mission, I will come back and summon you to serve me."
"Yes, Lord," the dwarf turned to his guards: "Dismissed! Soldiers! After hearing the Lord’s command, go rest, and then serve the Lord in your most spirited appearance!"
After the soldiers left, Malin Gaiate turned to Zhang Sicheng. Zhang Sicheng immediately placed his hand on his chest and bowed, respecting this disciple of Master Wu.
"Mr. Zhang, sorry you had to see that farce," Malin Gaiate’s Thainan dialect carried a southern accent, very ancient, and very standard.
Zhang Sicheng stood up straight: "Not at all, I only saw the soldiers protecting you. It’s clear that you are the one who leads them from one victory to another."
"I just want everyone to be able to survive, nothing more. Who will be dispatched from your side for this operation?"
"Our delegation has seven War Witches, but the other six are all assigned to different protection zones, only Miss Meng Quyi is available, so she will arrive at 8 o’clock."
"Ah, it’s little Meng." Malin Gaiate indeed knows Meng Quyi, after all, she lives in that Miss Lulu’s house.
He smiled and said, "She’s a good girl, young and quite capable." Having said that, Mr. Malin took out his pocket watch to take a look: "Ah, the morning meeting is about to start, I’ll go and preside over it. After 8 o’clock, I will do the handover; Mr. Zhang, would you like to sit in?"
"That won’t be necessary, thank you for your kind offer, Mr. Malin."
After seeing off Malin Gaiate, Zhang Sicheng walked back, Zhao Xian’en looked at his master: "What exactly happened, why was Phoenix Tower mentioned?"
"I’ll leave this matter to you, go back to Copenhagen and ask about it," said Zhang Sicheng. "Ride a horse back."
"No way! I heard it takes 8 hours to ride back from here!"
"Isn’t that nice? In 8 hours, you can spend a night in Phoenix Tower. If it were me, I would be overjoyed." Zhang Sicheng indifferently continued without looking back.
"Ah... right, yeah, yay!" The slow-on-the-uptake Zhao Xian’en became happy, at the thought of having a bed and a blanket tonight, the young man happily ran past Zhang Sicheng, probably going to fetch the saddle.
Then Zhang Sicheng stopped in his tracks.
Phoenix Tower...I, has Malin Gaiate never been there?
Wait, why did Mr. Malin mention his full name?
If it was a normal response, wouldn’t just ’I’ have been enough?
Why did Mr. Malin say it like that, could it be... could it be that he has another identity?
Surname Ma, given name Lin?
If so, that could indeed explain why Mr. Malin looked so composed when talking about Malin Gaiate not having been there in the past.
With this thought, Zhang Sicheng suddenly slapped his forehead, the middle-aged man strived to chase the thought out of his head—because it was indeed a strange thought.
Malin Gaiate is of course Mr. Malin, how could he possibly be two different people?
A person has only one soul, Malin Gaiate can only be Malin Gaiate, how could he possibly be called Ma Lin?
Zhang Sicheng, oh Zhang Sicheng, if you keep indulging in such wild thoughts, I’m afraid you’ll soon become one of the Hawk-faced attendants under Master Xin.
Remember, suspicion is the way to survival, but it’s also the poison of distortion.