Why it never ends

Chapter 1207 Negotiation
Clara glanced in Boheng's direction: "You don't look like the kind of completely uneducated wastelander—of course, you may have been educated on the wasteland, but you have the scent of habitable land on you, I can smell it."

Boheng raised his head as if surrendering: "Officer, you're not really going to interrogate me as a criminal, are you... I told you I'm a friend of the inspector, and you saw that it's true, I'm not lying—do you really think a friend of an inspector would be so desperate as to secretly kill someone in her territory?"

“It’s hard to say,” Clara said calmly. “If she killed people who bothered her or whom she thought deserved to die, then it would make perfect sense.”

Boheng was speechless, and for a moment he couldn't even think of how to defend himself.

Just then, a voice came from above their heads.

“If it is a friend who is willing to share my burdens, I will never let him get involved.”

Both of them looked towards the source of the sound and saw someone standing behind the second-floor railing. Through the layers of shadows, Krall listened for a moment and quickly realized that it must be Hershtar's voice.

A series of footsteps approached from afar, and Klar saw Hershtar and Sire appear together at the top of the spiral staircase not far away. The two walked one after the other towards the core of the greenhouse.

The thought that Hershta might have overheard her words made Clara feel a brief moment of unease, but she quickly relaxed—what was there that she couldn't hear? She might as well test her reaction.

“Oh,” Clara’s gaze no longer lingered on Boheng, “you mean you’d rather do it yourself?”

“Yes,” Hershta said with a smile, looking at Klar, “If I’m determined to kill certain people, why don’t I do it myself?”

Si Lei glanced at Hersta speechlessly: "...She was just using an analogy."

“So that’s why Officer Clara has been keeping an eye on my farm and my mansion. It’s because I’m on your list of suspects,” Hester’s smile gradually turned cold. “When did this start, and what evidence do you have to make such accusations against me, officer?”

For a moment, Klar did feel a certain pressure. While she pondered her words, Boheng also felt something subtle—although rationally he knew that Hershta's words were to clear his name and show Klar that she and he weren't that close, wasn't it also a subtle accusation?

Is she still resentful about not getting fifty Kasyapas when she made an outrageous demand?
But if she turns around and starts cooperating with Vera, who controls the army under Brumma, then what grounds does she have to hold a grudge here?

Boheng looked at Hersta, trying to read more clues from her eyes.

“Your palace?” Clara chuckled, pretending not to notice Hershtar’s displeasure, and walked toward her, her gaze fixed on the exquisite yet empty greenhouse roof. “This is clearly His Majesty’s palace, only temporarily borrowed for three months—after which you are to return to the farm, but since the last fire, you seem to have done absolutely nothing about rebuilding the farm… Do you intend to stay here indefinitely?”

“Even so, so what?” Hersta looked directly into her eyes. “Leave here now, officer. If you have any questions, bring the paperwork tomorrow morning.”

Clara's expression froze on her face, her throat bobbing slightly as if she hesitated whether to accept it immediately.

“…I will come again.” Klar’s ​​voice also became equally firm as she looked at Hershta. “If you have anything you want to say, you know where to find me.”

With that, she strode towards the exit. Si Lei immediately jogged after her, whispering, "I'll see you off," and Clara didn't refuse.

The greenhouse fell silent again. Hester turned around: "Simoya said she ran into you in the city yesterday?"

“…Hmm.” Boheng frowned, adjusting his posture to appear more relaxed—he was here tonight to confront Hersta, and he couldn't afford to falter. “I have some things to take care of—”

"For example, who are you tracking?"

"...You knew all this?" Boheng looked at Hershta without a smile, trying to convey a mixture of disappointment and restraint in his gaze. "Did they tell you?"

"Which other party?" Hersta walked to the bamboo chair next to Boheng and sat down. She fiddled with the buttons on her cuffs and rolled up her sleeves. "Since you're here tonight to demand accountability as well, you might as well make things clear."

"Do you want me to explain it more clearly, or do you just tell me your answer directly?"

“What answer did I give?” Hersta turned his head. “Were you dealing with something that concerns me?”

“Isn’t that so?” Boheng said. “Some people entered the city this Saturday and were active in the same area as your people… Are you going to say that this has nothing to do with you?”

“Who are these people? Do you mean Simoya and Zoe—they came into the city because I have a mission for them,” Hester frowned. “If you keep playing dumb with me, you’re out too.”

Boheng stared at Hersta's face, then remained silent for a moment before saying, "I mean, Vera."

Hershta looked him straight in the eye: "Who is Vera?"

"...You don't recognize him?"

Anger flashed across Hersta's face, but before she could speak, Boheng quickly finished speaking: "...Bruma controls a minor leader in the Military Security Bureau's investigation department. If you don't know him, you don't know him."

Hershtar looked away, placed her hands on her lap, and leaned casually against the back of her chair. Boheng glanced at her reaction, pondering how to steer the conversation toward his intended goal, when he heard Hershtar speak to herself, as if talking to herself: "Oh, I see."

"What……"

“You’re worried I’ll cooperate with the people controlling the army under Bruma and kick you out,” Hester turned his head. “My God, can’t you be reasonable?”

“What?” Boheng repeated, his brow furrowing—he could clearly detect a hint of anger in Hershta’s voice.

"You've really come here tonight to interrogate me... On what grounds?" Hesta's voice rose slightly. "Didn't I give you a chance? Didn't I tell you what kind of bargaining chips I needed? Was I not honest enough with you, or is all the sincerity I've shown you so far worthless in your eyes?"

"Don't be angry..." Boheng's throat tightened slightly. "Let's all calm down and talk things out."