The Farming Saint in the Starry Wasteland (Elizabeth Schofield) novel Chapter 428

Chapter 428 His Guess

Deon froze.

Planet A001?

That waste planet?

His mind raced, but before he could piece anything together, Gregory’s next words hit him like a physical blow.

“The owner of that farm is named Elizabeth Hewitt,” Gregory said, easy and unhurried. “She’s Cristian’s new wife.

Deon’s pupils contracted sharply.

New wife.

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Cristian’s wife.

The farm he’d just been trying to have crushed belonged to Cristian’s family?

Something detonated in his head, and every scattered piece snapped into place at once. Jacob Quimby of the First Military calling personally. The Second and Third Military’s logistics departments calling one after another. The Hewitts and Military Command backing it from behind. Of course. Of course.

“Sir,” his voice came out slightly parched, “I didn’t know. None of this was…”

“I know you didn’t,” Gregory cut him off, his tone unchanged. “If you had, you wouldn’t have agreed to handle it so easily. Would you?”

Deon lowered his head and said nothing.

Gregory rose from behind the desk, circled it, and walked to the window.

The night beyond the glass was thick and lightless, with only a faint scatter of distant points glowing in the dark.

He stood with his back to Deon and looked out at that darkness for a moment without speaking.

“The approval’s done. It’s done.” He spoke suddenly, as though something had resolved itself. “There’s stipthe weapons inspection, isn’t there?”

Deon lifted his head and looked at the figure standing with its back to him.

“The weapons inspection requires sending someone to the site in person.” Gregory turned around, his gaze settling on Deon’s face with a faint, layered smile behind it. “I’m going to have you be the inspector.”

Deon’s mind went blank for a full second.

Him? As the inspector?

At that farm?

On Cristian’s wife’s property?

Chapter 428 His Guess

*Sir, that.” He opened his mouth and found nothing waiting behind it

settled into

Gregory made his way back to the desk and settled into his chair with the unhurried ease of someone discussing dinner plant.

“What, afraid to go?”

Deon set his jaw. “It’s not that I’m afraid. It’s just…”

“Just what?” Gregory looked at him, perfectly calm. “Just that you think it wouldn’t be a fair fight? Or you’re worried about Cristian coming after you?”

Deon didn’t answer.

“Deon,” Gregory’s tone eased slightly, “last year’s championship. When he beat you, did you accept it?”

Deon’s hand closed into a fist without him deciding to.

Did he accept it?

That fight, he’d lost completely and honestly.

Cristian’s tactics, his reaction speed, his split–second judgment in the field, every single category had been a step above him.

There was nothing to argue with in that loss.

But accepting a loss wasn’t the same thing as being at peace with it.

“You’re not at peace with it,” Gregory said, filling in the silence for him. “How many people who’ve lost to the Hewitts ever are?”

Deon looked at him.

“This is an opportunity,” Gregory said. “A weapons inspection. Fully legitimate. You go to that farm, you evaluate it properly, you examine everything carefully. If you find violations, that’s your duty. Nobody can say a word against you. And if you don’t find anything…”

He paused, and smiled.

“Then that just means you weren’t thorough enough. Either way, you’ll get to see with your own eyes exactly what kind of woman Cristian chose to marry.”

Deon’s breathing quickened.

He understood what Gregory was saying.

This wasn’t a simple inspection. This was…

“Sir,” he dropped his voice, “you’re suggesting…”

“I’m suggesting?” Gregory leaned back in his chair, and his fingers resumed their slow, measured tapping against the desk, one tap after another. “I’m saying that since certain people have chosen not to show the Fifth Military any respect, we have no particular obligation to extend them any in return. The weapons inspection is a legitimate procedure under the Kingdom Interstellar Route Authority. Within that procedure, you conduct it however you see fit.”

Deon’s pulse was running fast.

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11:15 am MA

Chapter 428 His Guess

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But he hesitated for a moment, “if the farm actually meets the weapons compliance standard.

“Then there’s no problem” Gregory said, cutting him off, his tone flat and simple. “You do your job, you fulfill your duty, and nobody can find fault with any of 44. As for the history between you and Cristian…”

He gave Deon a brief look.

“That’s your business. I’m only giving you a possible opening. What you do with it is up to you.”

Deon was silent.

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