I Sell Bottled Water for Gold in Another World!-Chapter 230: Questions and Answers

Alex raised his hand slowly, a small smile playing at the corners of his mouth as he finally settled into the chair Magistrate Sai had more or less thrust him into.

"Oh, Mr. Hartwell, there is no need to burden yourself with such heavy guilt. I would never just stand by and watch her in danger."

He paused for a moment. "Coming back to my disappearance at the warehouse, I apologize for the trouble that it may have caused.

However, the situation at that time required an immediate response. I didn’t have the luxury of time to explain what was happening or wait for a search party to find her."

Miss Evelyn, who had remained silent throughout the exchange, couldn’t help herself from asking.

"But where did you go, Brother Alex? And how did you manage to find Lucy when even our combined search parties could not locate the bandits’ new hideout, and how were you so sure that you would find her by yourself?"

All eyes turned to Alex, waiting for his answer.

Alex leaned back slightly in his chair, his expression calm. There was no way he was going to say that he hired a commando for the rescue.

"I have my ways, and you already know it was not my first time tracking the hideout of the bandits," he started. "So, when I found out about Lucy’s kidnapping, I immediately began to search for her."

"Alex, it’s not like I don’t trust you, but how exactly were you able to succeed this time?" Magistrate Sai asked, obviously curious.

"We had dozens of people searching those mountains for three days, and not a single thing was found, not a hint of anything out of the way, and you’re able to locate the girl and save her in one day.... that is simply incredible.

"Simple. A bit of luck and the right equipment," Alex said simply, and then stopped, not continuing further.

Magistrate Sai’s eyebrows narrowed slightly, but he remained silent. His expression implied he had plenty of additional questions; he just decided not to pose them at the moment.

"The key issue," Alex went on, pushing the discussion onward, "is the fact that Lucy is now with us. The bandits’ plan to make her a hostage has failed, and they now understand the taste of our strength."

Mr. Hartwell knew very well it was his time to step up and steer the conversation, as he knew Alex didn’t want to reveal the specific details.

"Speaking of bandits, I have already taken measures to prevent them from regrouping to launch another attack."

"What steps?" asked Magistrate Sai, his focus turning away from Alex.

"Before I came here, I had already instructed Jacob and some of our guards to go and find out the location of the cave and confirm the situation there, based on what Alex has described their hideout location.

Although, it is highly unlikely to find the bandits..... they might have already fled, which I strongly suspect they have. But it is still necessary to properly destroy that location so that it can’t be used again."

"That is good thinking," Magistrate Sai said approvingly. "The last thing we need is for them to strike again when we have lowered our guard."

"But even if they have fled, I think we need to properly search for them. We don’t know when they will regroup and attack. We can’t take chances," Miss Evelyn said.

"They will not be in any condition to attack any time soon after I have given them a slap on their faces. They will think twice before attempting anything else," Alex replied.

Magistrate Sai asked, "What makes you so certain they will not simply attack again immediately? After the last attack on them... they are clearly desperate; and desperate men tend to be unpredictable."

Alex explained. "Think about it from their perspective. They set what they thought was a perfect trap.

First, they took a hostage, made their demands, and waited in what they believed was a secure location.

Then, without warning, someone infiltrated their cave in the middle of the night and rescued the hostage without leaving a trace. Right now, they are probably terrified, wondering what kind of force they have provoked."

"So you believe fear will keep them away?" Mr. Hartwell asked.

"For a time, yes," Alex confirmed. "But we will need to think of measures so that it will not happen again."

"Well," Mr. Hartwell said, breaking the heavy silence that had settled over the room, "I am certainly relieved to hear that the immediate threat has passed. That gives us time to increase security around the estate and take proper precautions."

"Indeed," Magistrate Sai agreed, though his expression suggested his mind was still working through everything that had been discussed. "I will ensure that additional patrols are assigned to this district."

He then turned to Alex. "Well, we have covered the essential matters for now. Alex, you must be exhausted from your ordeal. Please, take some time to rest and recover."

Magistrate Sai also rose from his chair, smoothing his official robes as he prepared to take his leave.

"I should return to my office and file reports about this situation. If any new information comes to light about the bandits’ whereabouts, please inform me immediately."

"Of course, Magistrate Sai," Mr. Hartwell said respectfully.

After Magistrate Sai departed, the study felt somehow larger and quieter despite still having four people present.

Miss Evelyn remained in her chair by the window, her maids standing silently behind her, but her eyes were still fixed on Alex with that intense, unreadable expression.

Mr. Hartwell looked between them, his experienced merchant’s instincts clearly sensing the undercurrents between them.

"Well then," Mr. Hartwell said after a moment of awkward silence clearly wanted to fled from this place of right and wrong, "I should go check on Lucy and see how she is feeling. Miss Evelyn, please make yourself at home. You know you are always welcome here."

"Thank you, Mr. Hartwell," Evelyn replied.