I Sell Bottled Water for Gold in Another World!

County Magistrate's Office

In the peaceful courtyard garden of the county magistrate office, County Magistrate Sai and Sheriff Bowen were engaged in a strategic game of chess and moved pieces across the board with full attention.

But the mind of Magistrate Sai seem not to be on the game he looked up at the cloudless sky over his head and observed with clear disappointment in his voice, "Brother Bowen, it appears that your Master Alex who so boldly promised to pray for rain may have completely failed to stand on his claims."

Sheriff Bowen mind shifted from the chess for a moment and he too could not help but shake his head slowly with genuine disappointment and regret in his voice. "It certainly seems that this Young Master Alex that we have high expectations may actually be an accomplice of the bandits after all.

It seems we will have no choice but to take him into custody and imprison him in the jail for intensive interrogation next."

They looked directly at each other across the chess board and saw the mutual helplessness reflected in each other's eyes.

We had such hopes, Magistrate Sai thought bitterly.

Ironhold had suffered from severe and devastating drought for many consecutive years so farmers had experienced no successful harvests for a long time.

Merchants conducted bleak and unprofitable business with minimal customers and Ironhold's total tax revenue had been reduced by more than half compared to previous prosperous years before the famine and which had already greatly displeased the Emperor and his court advisors.

The political opponents of his in the imperial court had also repeatedly attacked and criticized his administrative performance in the city.

He was surrounded in the court from all the sides.

If the amount of tax money delivered to the imperial court this year remained at the same pathetically low level and if Ironhold remained in this terrible drought condition with no improvement then both of them would lose their prestigious government positions that they are so proud of and they might even be demoted to common peasant status too.

Therefore the situation for them was very desperate.

Ironhold needed large amount of rain desperately.

The farmers needed life-giving rain too.

The merchants needed rain to revive commerce too.

The common people needed rain to survive too.

And for it all to happen a heavy downpour was required too.

A roaring thunderstorm would save everyone.

Sheriff Bowen spoke gravely, "My Lord Magistrate, I have heard reliable reports that the Hartwell family has maintained very close relations with that young master Alex.

I have already dispatched soldiers who have completely surrounded the Hartwell family estate.

If Young Master Alex has not successfully prayed for rain and produced actual results by noon today then the soldiers will immediately arrest him and take him to jail.

Then, further we will interrogate him extensively to determine whether he is truly an accomplice of the mountain bandits or not."

"Very well done," Magistrate Sai replied and sighed deeply with great disappointment settling over him like a heavy blanket.

Originally he had maintained some genuine hope that this so-called Young Master Alex might actually possess the ability to pray for rain successfully but now it appeared increasingly obvious that this Master Alex was most likely nothing more than an accomplice of the bandits and a fraud.

And if we count the murder of Simon too than a murderer and schemer too.

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The Hartwell Family Estate

Outside the Hartwell family compound a large group of armed soldiers had assembled in formation.

There were around several hundreds of soldiers who had completely surrounded the Hartwell family property and blocked all possible exits.

When common people passing by on the street saw this massive military presence they were all extremely surprised by the situation and began whispering among themselves.

"What is happening? Did the Hartwell family commit some serious crime? Otherwise Why have they been surrounded by so many soldiers?"

"Have you not heard the news yet?

The Hartwell family has maintained very close personal relations with Young Master Alex and it was no secret to anyone.

With their extensive relationship with him they have amassed a large amount of wealth from selling the resources during the famine.

If Young Master Alex has not successfully prayed for rain and produced tangible results by noon then the soldiers will arrest him immediately and interrogate him extensively."

"And the Hartwell family could not escape the blame too."

"What? Why would they do that?"

"Why would this happen? Consider the logic carefully. If Young Master Alex fails to pray for rain by chance then he possesses no special supernatural abilities whatsoever that he was boasting about on the banquet.

If he has no such abilities then he cannot be a genuine miracle priest or gifted individual too.

Therefore he is most likely an accomplice of the bandits instead. Otherwise how could he have possibly located the bandit's hidden lair when hundreds of government soldiers failed?"

"But what if he make it rain, then what?"

"Look at the current weather conditions it certainly does not appear that rain will fall today. It seems greatly likely that this Young Master Alex is actually a criminal and fraud after all."

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In the Courtyard, the people outside are not quiet at all instead they are discussing loud and clear as if they want the

Lucy Hartwell heard the anxious discussions of the people gathered outside the courtyard walls and became increasingly nervous so she could not help pacing back and forth across the stone courtyard with her silk dress swishing with each agitated step.

"Can Brother Alex really pray for rain successfully?" she whispered to herself with her voice trembling.

"What if he cannot accomplish it?"

"If he is taken to prison he will suffer terrible torture and abuse. They will strip layers of skin from his body during interrogation."

Lucy muttered these fears aloud and her mind involuntarily wandered to horrific visions of prison torture chambers so her eyes unconsciously turned red and began welling with tears.

What if something terrible happens to Brother Alex, she thought desperately.

I do not want to continue living anymore if he dies.

"Sister, there is no point in worrying yourself sick at this late stage," Nathan interjected and tried to sound reassuring though his own voice betrayed uncertainty.

"You have to trust Brother Alex and believe in his abilities."

"He was able to locate the bandit's hidden lair when hundreds of government soldiers failed so surely he should be capable of praying for rain successfully, correct?"

Nathan noticed how extremely anxious his sister had become so he could not help but attempt to comfort her.

Even as he spoke these reassuring words, however, he felt deeply uncertain himself.

After all, praying for rain was such a mysterious and supernatural feat that seemed beyond human capability.

Brother Alex had not been seen anywhere for the past two days, which only increased everyone's doubts about his capabilities

Nathan was also very unsure about what would happen next.

At the stone table nearby their father Mr. Hartwell said nothing at all and sat drinking tea by himself in apparent calm but his hands trembled noticeably as he lifted the cup to his lips and betrayed his inner turmoil.

As the agreed deadline time drew closer and closer it became increasingly obvious that he too felt tremendous anxiety about the situation.

Young Master Alex is our family's benefactor.

Mr. Hartwell thought gravely.

I do not want anything terrible to happen to him.

At this tense moment noisy discussions suddenly erupted from outside the courtyard walls.

"Look over there! What are those two men dragging behind them on those carts?"

"That is Young Master Alex himself!"

"What? It is already nearly noon and he still has not begun his rain prayer ceremony?"

Outside the courtyard the assembled crowd pressed their faces close together and whispered with great surprise and confusion.

They could see Alex and his massive bodyguard, Jacob pulling two large wooden carts loaded with mysterious cargo under a red blanket.

The carts were completely covered with heavy blankets, so it was impossible to discern what items lay concealed inside.

"Master Alex, it is nearly noon according to the sun's position. If you cannot successfully pray for rain then you must return to the magistrate's office with us immediately for arrest and interrogation." The soldier leader stepped forward authoritatively and delivered this stern warning.

Alex nodded acknowledgment without saying anything in response and his eyes narrowed slightly with determination.

It seems this rain prayer spectacle has created an enormous impact throughout Ironhold, he thought.

Not only were the common people of the entire city paying close attention to this event but the government officials also attached tremendous importance to this matter and its outcome.

If his prayer for rain failed to produce results then they would not only humiliate him publicly but also intended to imprison him for extensive interrogation.

Well we shall see about that, Alex mused confidently.