Three days later, when Hudgens reappeared before Todd, the somewhat overweight middle-aged man seemed to have come to terms with it.
Todd waved a stack of papers in his hand and said to Huggins, "Sit down, I have some questions for you."
Huggins sat on the sofa and let out a long sigh.
"According to this investigation report, you happened to be in the city a month before the Battle of Tero City broke out?"
“Yes, Your Majesty, I went to the city of Tarlo to attend a friend’s wedding.”
"Rousseau-Clairne?"
"That's right, that's my friend's name."
Todd looked at the report: "It says that you left the city before the Battle of Tero began."
"Yes."
"At that time, Taro was under lockdown, and no one was allowed to enter or leave. Moreover, war was raging on every road leading out of the city. How did you manage to get out of the city?"
Huggins adjusted his posture: "I spent all the money I had on me to bribe a gatekeeper. Under the cover of night, I changed into a clergyman's coat and escaped the city."
"After leaving the city, I did not choose to go west, but instead went east first, around the peninsula, and then returned to Silver Ring City from the coastal area."
Todd looked at Huggins: "The timing was excellent."
Huggins remained silent.
“Before the Western Expeditionary Force attacked Tero City, there were many rumors in the city that the expeditionary force was made up of monsters and that once the city was breached, they would massacre the city,” Todd said slowly. “Others might believe these rumors, but you probably won’t.”
“Yes, Your Majesty, I know Lord Cumberland’s character well, and I am also well aware of the Knights’ integrity. They would never do such a thing.”
Todd placed the report on the table: "That's strange. At that time, you knew that staying in the city was safer than risking escape, so why did you insist on leaving?"
Huggins sighed deeply: "Your Majesty, words may be too pale to express it, but I am willing to show you my soul."
Todd thought for a moment, then waved his hand to open the soul space.
Back in the research institute's conference room in the soul space, Huggins stroked the leather office chair cushion and took a deep breath: "It's been a long time."
Todd took a can of beer from the freezer and tossed it to Hudgens. He sat down in a chair and said, "Don't stand, sit down."
Lifting the lid of the can, listening to the crisp sound of the can, and watching the beer foam rise, Huggins said contentedly, "Sometimes, the outside world gives me a feeling of unreality."
"Tell me, what exactly happened that day?"
Huggins took a sip of beer and continued, "About a week before I decided to leave Tero City, I encountered some strange things in the city."
After saying this, Huggins projected his memories onto the holographic projection in the center of his desk.
Tello, Shedley Street, a week before the outbreak of the Black Plague.
"Did the price go up again today?"
Looking at the price sign outside the bakery, Huggins said helplessly, "It's increased tenfold in half a month."
The shop owner also looked distressed: "Every road into the city is blocked, and grain can't be transported in. If this continues, I'll even run out of wheat flour."
Huggins sighed, picked out a few smaller gray wheat breads, paid for them, and took them away.
Shedley Street was once a bustling and lively street in the noble district of Tello, but now it is deserted and littered with debris.
Looking around, only two or three shops along the street were open; most of the others were closed.
Huggins walked along the street, but the sound of footsteps coming from afar made him frown.
A group of church catechumens dressed in grey robes pushed a prison cart toward the main square.
Inside the prison van sat a woman who had long since lost hope and become numb, covered in blood, mumbling incoherently.
The priest in black at the head of the procession, holding a cross in one hand, proclaimed loudly: "The power of the Father washes away all the sins of the world. Cult followers, those with demonic powers, those with weak wills, and those who slander the Church will ultimately suffer the punishment of fire!"
Noticing the priest's gaze, Huggins slowly took off his hat, gritted his teeth, and lowered his head.
The priest glanced at him briefly, then lost interest and continued walking down the street.
Huggins glanced at the advancing procession and said softly, "The night will eventually pass."
Wandering through the streets and alleys, Huggins arrived at a low-rise house and gently knocked on the door.
An elderly woman opened the door. She saw Huggins, smiled, opened the door, and urged him to come in.
Huggins entered the house, handed the gray wheat bread to the old woman, and went straight into the inner room.
The innermost room is a bedroom, about 15 square meters, with only a bed and no other furniture.
Huggins walked to the bedside, looked at the young man lying on the bed, and said softly, "Rousseau."
The young man was weak, his lips were pale, one leg was firmly fixed in a splint, and bloodstains from rinsing could still be vaguely seen on his clothes.
The young man tried to sit up: "Lord Huggins..."
Huggins reached out to stop the other person's movement: "Don't waste your energy. I've already given your mother the food rations for the next few days."
The young man nodded gratefully, saying, "Sir, if I hadn't invited you to my wedding, you wouldn't have been in such danger."
"This is not your fault."
Rousseau looked ashamed: "In fact, if it weren't for us holding you back in the Muxi City incident, you would still be a confidant of the Holy King."
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