Both of Xu Le's hands were bound tightly behind him with high-intensity plastic cord, causing his body to bend forward from the impact to his abdomen. It resembled a punishment posture from ancient times. His face was flushed from the pain, and the previously drying wound reopened, causing blood to flow. He opened his mouth as if to vomit, but nothing came out.
Even after enduring more than ten punches, Xu Le remained silent, not uttering a single word. Even as he was repeatedly struck, causing him to kneel heavily, he kept his narrowed eyes fixed on the colonel in front of him, his lips pressed stubbornly together, refusing to speak.
Colonel Lake's eyes also narrowed gradually, and his complexion remained as gloomy as before. The soldiers of the Eastwood Garrison Command began their actions, and he did not stop them. He needed to make the most of his time to find the whereabouts of that damned machine repairer. Once the person was located, his subordinates could eliminate him in one fell swoop and complete the honorable task assigned by higher authorities.
Suddenly, Colonel Lake pulled out a pistol from his waist and aimed it at Xu Le's forehead. He looked at the stubborn young man with an icy expression and said, "You have three seconds. One, two..."
Colonel Lake's words sounded natural, and his actions seemed equally natural, leading everyone to believe that he would really pull the trigger in the next moment. The faces of the local soldiers from Eastwood in the camp revealed shock.
Xu Le's body finally couldn't help but tremble, but even after Colonel Lake counted to three, he remained silent, his gaze fixed on the colonel, filled with stubbornness and determination. He did not appear to fear the barrel pointed at his head.
...
...
Colonel Lake's pupils contracted slightly as he earnestly looked at the young man before him. He had gathered enough information about Goal 2, but now that he was facing the situation directly, he realized that all the documents and reports were insufficient. Very few 17-18-year-old youngsters could endure the violent threats of the army, let alone a death threat, yet this young man remained resolute.
Lake glanced at Xu Le's trembling legs and said indifferently, "I know you're scared, but why are you so afraid? Aren't you willing to speak?"
At this moment, Xu Le spoke for the first time since being captured by the army. He spat out blood along with his words and said fiercely, "As a citizen of the Federation, I have a duty to cooperate with military actions, but that doesn't mean I have a duty to endure torture!"
Upon hearing these clear words, Colonel Lake's complexion changed slightly, and a complex emotion flickered in his eyes. It seemed that he had never expected this young man to be so stubborn, basing his actions on a simple principle.
"While facing injustice, many people are willing to persist and rebel," Xu Le said, bowing his head.
Colonel Lake clapped his hands gently, sneering as he said, "Where does the issue lie? If you think our methods are unlawful, let me tell you the truth. I hope that as a law-abiding citizen, you can draw your own conclusions and decide whether or not to cooperate with our actions and disclose the whereabouts of Feng Yu."
Xu Le lowered his head, remaining speechless. He could guess where Uncle Feng was hiding, the secret of the mine tunnel that only they knew. He had gone there rarely over the past two years, and even if the military had monitored it months in advance, it might still have been overlooked. What was more important was that shield device emitting a blue light that Uncle Feng possessed, which could potentially temporarily evade electronic surveillance.
Due to Xu Le's contemplation, the truth revealed by Colonel Lake at this moment did not shock him, but rather made him deep in thought.
"He is a rebel against the Federation, a thug responsible for the deaths of over 10,000 soldiers. In such a case, can you still be inflexible about our methods?" Colonel Lake taunted Xu Le, attacking the young man's resolve with his tone and expression.
"I don't believe it," Xu Le said after a long silence. Suddenly, he continued, "If he is a spy colluding with the Empire, why would he hide in Eastwood instead of going to the Empire? You also know that he seems to have that ability."
Colonel Lake fell silent, realizing that this young man was pointing out the only loophole in this matter, a loophole that he himself had discovered on the spaceship.
Xu Le suddenly raised his head and said earnestly, "The court has not yet made a judgment. He is innocent, so I don't believe it."
As a messenger, his uncle had been with him for four years, and he was undoubtedly more trustworthy than these soldiers who exuded a murderous aura. Even so, the brilliance of the Federation's principles still cast a shadow in Xu Le's eyes, causing him intense anxiety.
Colonel Lake noticed the change in Xu Le's expression and calmly asked, "Naturally, he needs to be tried in court. But the issue is, he is a fugitive criminal. If we don't apprehend him, how can we legally restrain him? Therefore, for the sake of justice, the law... I need your help."
He thought his words would shatter the young man's strong spiritual support. He didn't understand why this young man believed so strongly in those procedural matters. However, Xu Le's following words completely disappointed him.
"You're not going to capture him; I believe you don't have an arrest warrant," Xu Le said, looking at the colonel with narrowed eyes, exuding a resolute and firm aura. "You're going to kill him!"
"Even if you're soldiers, you can't kill without a trial. So please forgive me, but unless you can guarantee his safety, I won't reveal his whereabouts."
Colonel Lake followed Xu Le's gaze to the glowing spots on the light screen. After a moment of silence, he said, "How did you know that we intend to kill rather than capture?"
These words tacitly confirmed Xu Le's inference. Xu Le sat on the ground, bowing his head, and said, "Those blue glowing spots are the machine armors, the B4 advanced line-up. It only has one function—to eliminate any chance of escape... Since you only want to kill him, why should I help you?"
"I thought you were taking the officer's examination at the Ministry of Defense, but you studied machine repair. How could you possibly recognize the B4 advanced line-up?" Colonel Lake approached Xu Le and, with a cold tone, said, "It seems I can conclude that you are Yu Feng's student. You will be charged as a traitor and accomplice and sent to prison."
"Believe me, for the rest of your life, you will only see the starry sky and battleships above from prison," Colonel Lake said as he walked toward the exit and ordered the soldiers outside to continue the interrogation.
The sound of electric currents and the impact of fists and feet filled the room. Colonel Lake calmly smoked a cigarette and made contact with the Circle Charter Bureau on Capital Star, repeatedly confirming the approximate location of Goal 1 before issuing pursuit orders. He felt a slight sense of stability at this moment. As long as that master machine repairer remained within Federation territory, he was confident he could find and capture him, sealing his fate.
Inside the room, Xu Le had been subdued by two soldiers. His hair was disheveled, covered in bloodstains, but no one noticed his trembling bound arms gradually gaining strength, gradually forming a clenched fist.