British hegemon

Chapter 115 Killing the chicken to scare the monkey

Roger was discussing the production and operation details of the textile factory with Jenny when Bald Neil and his gang dragged two thugs, who had been beaten black and blue, to the gate of the textile factory. Their families were following behind, crying and shouting.

The area around the textile mill gate was crowded with townspeople who had come to see what was going on. When Roger walked out of the textile mill, the two castle guards who had originally come to deal with the "police situation" quickly left the crowd, pretending not to know anything about it.

Roger led a group of workers from the textile factory to the front door, where Bald Neil, Ponytail Earl, and Black Dog Sigurd were still punching and kicking two thugs who were begging for mercy on the ground.

However, Bald Neil and his gang were, after all, thugs. Their punches and kicks, though seemingly fierce, were always measured. The two men on the ground cried out in pain but were not seriously injured.

Roger gently stopped Bald Neil and his group, then realized that the two guys were the same two cowards he had pulled out of prison last summer to participate in the anti-bandit operation. Apparently, after the anti-bandit operation, the two of them were punished by being sent to the Got Mountain to do hard labor.

Roger ignored the surrounding crowd and walked up to the two men on the ground, asking, "Now that we're here, you know why, right?"

The two thugs who were lifted up kept their heads down and remained silent.

"Tell me, who gave you permission to provoke me?"

The two thugs buried their heads even deeper, not daring to answer.

Roger nodded and said, "Good, you kept your mouth shut."

"Some time ago, you came to my factory, damaged the equipment, stole the cloth, and injured my employees. I've done the math for you."

The spinning machines and rinsing tanks you damaged cost me a dry shilling of yarn and bleached fabric every day. Ten days have passed since you started the damage, which means you have caused me a loss of one hundred shillings.

In addition, the medical expenses for each of my five injured employees should be at least ten shillings.

Roger crouched down, leaning over to look at the two thugs. "How do you plan to repay this?"

They offered the two thugs a compensation of seven and a half pounds, a huge sum that an ordinary person couldn't accumulate in ten years.

"Okay, tell me in front of everyone who instructed you to do this, and I might consider reducing the compensation." Roger knew who was behind this mess, and he just wanted these two guys to tell him so he could settle accounts with the mastermind.

The two remained silent, their lips tightly clenched.

Roger wasn't annoyed. He slowly got up and walked over to one of them. "Buddy, you know my temper. If I don't say something today, do you think you can leave here?"

The guy's nose was bleeding down to the corner of his mouth, his body was trembling slightly, and he hesitated to speak.

"Don't tell us, or you'll never survive on this island," another thug quickly interjected.

Roger turned his head and glanced at the man who had spoken, a slight smile appearing on his lips.

Earl, with his ponytail, suddenly rushed over, grabbed the man's hair, and lifted his head. "Hey, I didn't know you bastard had any backbone. Why were you such a coward during the last bandit raid?"

"You don't have to tell me, but seven and a half pounds, pay it today."

The man tried to get up and argue, but the black dog Sigurd kicked him hard in the shin, causing him to immediately kneel down.

Roger didn't want to waste any time, so he went over, grabbed the man's left hand, pried open his palm, and pinched his middle finger.

"One finger for half a pound in compensation." With that, he suddenly snapped the thug's middle finger with a crack.

A scream, a loud scream.

The surrounding crowd stepped back, and Bald Neil and his companions held the man down with all their might.

Roger started pinching his little finger again. "Tell me who ordered you to do this?"

The man gritted his teeth and endured it, clearly indicating that they couldn't afford to offend the person behind it.

With another sharp crack, the man's little finger was also broken.

At this point, another thug nearby couldn't hold back any longer and cried out, "It's Young Master John! Young Master John told us to cause you trouble, and afterwards he'll exempt us from hard labor."

"Nonsense! How could Young Master John associate with scum like you?" Roger pinched the man's index finger again. "I don't trust him. Tell me, was it Young Master John who ordered you to do this?"

"Think it over before you speak. You only have three fingers left on your left hand."

The man was in so much pain he was about to faint, and he couldn't bear the torment any longer. He nodded and said, "Yes, it was Young Master John who ordered it."

Roger nodded in satisfaction and released the man's fingers. "You're all talking nonsense. The handsome and mighty Master John would never do such bastard things."

"However, I still intend to be merciful to you and reduce your compensation to one pound per person."

"From now on, if anything goes missing from the textile factory, I will hold you accountable."

"Go back and recover from your injuries. Come back to the Milk House Manor in five days and do hard labor for me. You're not allowed to leave until you've paid the full compensation."

"Don't even think about running away. If you dare to run, I'll arrest your wives, children, and parents and bring them in your place."

Having been redeemed, the two thugs, supported by their families, left in a panic, and the surrounding people also dispersed.

Roger's move was a classic case of making an example of someone to show everyone the high cost of opposing him.

After dealing with the thugs, Roger planned to go to Baron John's castle to discuss the issue of the textile factory's fabric sales channels, and also teach the white-faced guy a lesson.

Upon entering the castle, they were informed by the Baron's steward that the pale-faced man had recently visited relatives in Argyll with the Baroness, and that Baron John had also accompanied a wealthy merchant from Glasgow on a hunting trip in the Goth Mountains.

"Sir Roger, I know why you sought out Young Master John, but the Baron has already severely punished him. Please don't dwell on this matter." The Baron's steward spoke very politely, clearly hoping Roger would let the matter drop.

"Furthermore, Baron John has put a lot of effort into your textile mill, and one of the reasons he invited the Glasgow merchants to the island this time was for your textile mill..."

'

The Baron's steward's words eased Roger's anger. Although his cousin was truly despicable, his uncle John was still aware of the situation.

Having calmed down, Roger stopped pursuing the matter. He went to the church, ostensibly to confess to Fat Matthew, but actually to see up close what kind of person the rumored illegitimate son of Baron John really was.

The new deacon was named Killian, in his early twenties. He was an orphan raised in Glasgow Abbey, tall and strong with a kind face. He did bear some resemblance to Baron John, but it was difficult to tell from his appearance that he was Baron John's illegitimate son.

Roger scrutinized the man for a long time, finding him strikingly similar to the deceased "Lord" Colin II. He even wondered if the man might actually be his father Colin's illegitimate son—but such things were hard to say...

>