Chapter 464: Hill Dickinson

A faint smell of herbal medicine filled the clinic hall.

Andy held up a teacup halfway full in his hands, eyes gently narrowed.

After Doctor Oscar’s death, he had been frightened for a while, but the many religious scholars who came to visit had calmed his heart.

Because so many religious scholars supported him in this matter, it proved he was right and his old-time friend was completely wrong in every way.

"Everyone’s words are reasonable. We have no objection to Prince Simon’s reforms, but these reforms must not break our rules—whether it’s the rules of the clinic or the rules of the Eldorian Empire. What do you all say?" Andy asked, as he spoke passionately.

"That’s right, that’s right. No other principality acts as recklessly as Prince Simon. We’ve tolerated it for a long time, but this time Prince Simon really went too far," the three scholars immediately showed fierce unity.

The four grew more and more agitated as they spoke, when suddenly there was a loud bang. The clinic’s main door was blasted open by a group of fierce looking soldiers. Leading them, a general strode into the main hall his imposing aure emanate the hall, he asked, "Who is Andy Lacrosse?"

With so many soldiers bursting in, the clinic hall immediately fell silent. The three scholars’ faces turned pale. They quickly stood up and pretended to be patients.

Andy on the other hand was trembling all over. He looked at the three once resolute scholars, now acting like they didn’t even know him. Cursing in his heart, "cowards."

"I, I am..." Seeing the scholars wouldn’t help, Andy had no choice but to admit it.

"In that case, come with us," the general sneered, signalling the soldiers behind him. They immediately stepped forward to escort Andy out.

As Andy was taken away, the three scholars breathed a sigh of relief.

They exchanged glances. One said, "This is bad. Prince Simon is truly furious now. What are we going to do?"

The others panicked too. Another said, "We should go back and tell Olivier. Let him figure out what to do."

The three nodded and left together.

Meanwhile, Andy lacrosse was directly taken to the government office, where he saw the minister and Prince Simon.

"Your Highness, Andy Lacrosse has been brought in"

Prince Simon and the minister turned to look at him over. Simon sat in the head seat and said, "So you are the all time infamous Andy lacrosse. You forced Doctor Oscar to death, didn’t you?"

"Your Highness, Doctor Oscar was a good friend. How could I harm my own friend? I am innocent! Innocent!" Andy said as he knelt down, crying bitterly.

"Innocent?" Simon questioned with a raised eye. "If so, what did you say to Doctor Oscar before he died?" Simon asked sharply. His image in Brambleford was always kind, but he wanted everyone to know he could also kill. This matter started with Doctor Oscar, and now someone was using it to spread rumours about him among the people.

He had to clarify everything and severely punish those stirring trouble in his domain unnecessarily.

Andy’s face changed immediately. He hadn’t expected the prince to know about his visit to Doctor Oscar before his death. Cold sweat broke out on his forehead. He defended himself, "I only spoke about some old matters with my old friend. As to why he committed suicide, I’m just as confused as you are."

"You really don’t feel remorse until it’s too late. I know exactly what you did to Doctor Oscar’s family. Or perhaps you have forgotten who rules over Brambleford? The four great families were wiped out by me overnight. Do you think I will care about you, doctors?" Prince Simon’s tone suddenly turned harsh.

This matter annoyed him. He wanted to promote medicine, but these people were sabotaging it for their own selfish reasons.

Andy’s body stiffened. He recalled the bloody Day two years ago when the Brambleford aristocrats’ families were almost wiped out overnight. Even now, some dried black bloodstains could occasionally be seen near the lotus pond outside Brambleford city.

"Your Highness, I deserve death! I was blinded by greed! I shouldn’t have pressured Dr Oscar. Please spare me, Your Highness, spare me!" At this moment, Andy suddenly understood that the kind-looking Prince Simon was once a ruthless killer.

When the Prince mentioned this, he was basically telling Andy he could kill him anytime.

The Minister just shook his head helplessly. He finally understood why Prince Simon arrested Andy Lacrosse. No harsh torture was needed—simple threats were enough to keep him obedient.

Now that the Brambleford people lived in peace and safety, no one wanted to lose their life for no reason.

Andy was fearful. His dislike of Prince Simon setting up the medical academy was because his clinic’s business had increased three or four times in these two years.

The growing merchants and population in Brambleford made him wealthier daily. Because he wanted to monopolise this profit, he pressured Doctor Oscar to refuse the reforms.

Faced with Doctor Oscar’s past life-saving help to him, Andy was caught in a dilemma, which eventually led Doctor Oscar to take his own life.

"Spare you, you must be joking! Did you by any means spare Doctor Oscar?" Prince Simon roared. "I have investigated everything thoroughly. If you hadn’t threatened him with that past life-saving debt, why would the ever calm-looking Oscar commit suicide? What you did is no different from murder. Take him to prison; he deserves a fate worse than death. Tomorrow at noon, he will be executed in the East Market for everyone to see."

"Your Highness! Your Highness!" Andy felt his mind go numb. Coming back to his senses, he crawled to Simon’s feet and cried, "Your Highness, spare me, spare me. This was not my doing or intention; I was only following orders. It was all Olivier’s idea. If not for him, I wouldn’t have pressured my own friend into doing so. Please spare me!"

"Olivier?" Prince Simon narrowed his eyes, as he looked at Baldwin. "Who is this so-called Olivier?" He asked.

Baldwin explained, "Your Highness, Olivier is the leader of the Brambleford religious scholars group. He claims to have studied under the famous Hill Dickinson."

"Hill Dickinson?" Simon narrowed his eyes again. "This whole matter has just got really interesting."

"Your Highness, Hill Dickinson is a famous religious scholar of the Eldorian Empire. Many students studied under him. Every year when Brambleford scholars went to the capital for the exams, they would visit Hill Dickinson. In the past two years, Dickinson has become more fond of Brambleford scholars and often helped them," Baldwin said.

Prince Simon nodded and threw a questionable look at Andy. "Is everything he just said true?"

"Absolutely true your highness. I dare not lie," Andy said, pale-faced.

"Then do you dare face him directly?" Prince Simon continued. He didn’t want a big public commotion but needed to make an example of the troublemakers so these scholars wouldn’t misbehave and stop all the empty noise.