Zhāng 46

Warning ⚠️ : The following chapters contain scenes of graphic violence, including sexual violence and wartime brutality, which may be distressing or triggering for some readers. Reader discretion is strongly advised. Please prioritize your well-being, and if needed, skip or approach these chapters with caution.

"Did you see those things? If you really don't know, then we'll just have to help you remember," the interpreter said, smiling as he pointed to the torture tools beside him.

"I really don't know. When the explosions started, everyone hid.

We all know that when powerful forces fight, it's the ordinary people who suffer.

It wasn't quiet outside, so we didn't dare come out.

When we finally did, we heard the PN Soldiers had already retreated.

I really don't know anything," the young man said, trembling.

The interpreter translated his words for the PN Official behind him.

The PN Official shouted, "St*pid!" and then began yelling in PN language.

The interpreter turned back to the young man. "Looks like we need to help you remember."

As he spoke, the PN Soldier holding the young man tied him to the rack.

"Please, I have a family, old and young, who depend on me.

If I don't return, they'll starve.

I really don't know anything, you—"

"Ah! Ah! Ah!" Before he could finish, the whip lashed down on him again and again.

In just a few strikes, his skin was torn open and bleeding.

"Whimper... whimper..." Several women huddled closer together, crying silently.

They covered their mouths tightly, afraid that loud sobbing would attract the PN Soldiers.

After dozens of lashes, the young man was silent.

One of the PN Soldiers checked his body and reported to the PN Official.

The PN Official waved his hand, and the man was taken down from the rack and dragged outside.

No one knew where he was taken.

The PN Official said something to the interpreter.

The interpreter nodded, then turned to the others. "Now, does anyone remember what happened that night?"

The group of over ten people all shrank back into the corners.

Before the interpreter could speak again, two PN Soldiers stepped forward and grabbed a young married woman, dragging her out.

"Ah!! Ah!! Let me go! Let me go! Ah!!" The woman screamed in fear, clinging tightly to the other women.

"PN Official, I know! I know! I'll talk!" a man in the crowd shouted, stepping forward and grabbing the PN Soldier's arm.

Everyone knew what would happen if a woman was dragged out like that.

The man was her neighbor. He thought it would be okay to talk, just about that night. After all, it was just war – nothing to do with common people.

"St*pid." The PN Soldier ignored him, let go of the woman, and stabbed his bayonet into the man's stomach.

"Ahhh! Ahhhh!"

Blood sprayed as the blade was pulled out, and the women screamed in horror.

Even so, the woman was still dragged away.

Two PN Soldiers began tearing at her clothes in front of everyone.

"PN Official, that man said he knew about that night," the interpreter said, unsure.

"No problem. Our soldiers work hard in battle. They deserve to relax.

If one person knows, the others must know too. Keep questioning them," the PN Official replied.

The interpreter turned back to the group, ignoring the woman's desperate screams.

"You've all seen what happened. If you cooperate, you'll suffer less."

A trembling man asked, "If we tell you, will you really let us go home?"

"Of course. The PN Army always keeps its word. As long as you provide useful information, you'll all be released," the interpreter said.

"Alright, I'll talk," the man said, holding his wife tightly before finally making up his mind to speak.

He was visiting his wife's family that day.

He heard that this area had been taken over by the PN Soldiers, so he came to check on his mother-in-law and father-in-law to see how they were doing.

If their life wasn't good, he was planning to take them back with him since the city they lived in was still relatively peaceful.

"That night, all the people in the city were ordered by the officers to stay hidden and not come out.

We really don't know exactly what happened.

We only heard explosions and gunfire all through the night.

The gunshots and bombings went on from night until the next morning.

When the sounds finally stopped, we thought it was safe to go outside.

But it wasn't.

We had to stay hidden for three whole days before they let us out.

After they let us out, the military officers told us life was back to normal and the PN Soldiers had left.

Even though we didn't see anything with our own eyes, there was blood all over the ground and the walls.

The roads were also full of craters from the explosions.

That's all I know, officer. Can you let me go back now?"

The man looked pleadingly at the translator.

The translator didn't respond to him but instead translated the man's words truthfully to the PN Official.

After listening, the PN Official said something else.

The translator turned back to the man and asked, "Then what about the planes that showed up later?"

"We don't know about that either.

At the time, we saw planes flying overhead and thought the city was going to be bombed again.

Everyone was busy looking for cover.

Then, the planes just exploded.

But many people said the army now had weapons to shoot down planes, so we didn't need to fear enemy aircraft anymore.

Sure enough, planes came again the next day, and they exploded again.

So, everyone believed the army really had some new weapons, and we all felt safer staying in the city.

Officer, my baby is waiting for us at home.

Can you please be kind and let us go back?

That's really all we know."

The man kept begging.

The PN Official thought silently after hearing the translation.

Then the translator asked again, "Do you have anything else to add?"

"No, no, we were all together in the same place at the time.

What he said is what we saw too." The others quickly agreed.

After hearing everyone's report, the PN Official silently walked out.

The translator quickly followed.

The people in the room cried out and begged, but what came next were the same PN Soldiers from the beginning.

Two of the PN Soldiers, having satisfied their disgusting desires, threw the barely-breathing woman to the side and calmly put their clothes back on.

Then they picked up their guns and aimed them at the crowd.

With more than ten guns pointed at them, no one dared move or make a sound.

More PN Soldiers entered the room and rushed toward the women in the crowd.

The women screamed and tried to run, while the men nearby wanted to help but didn't dare act because of the guns.

The woman in the arms of the man who had spoken earlier was also grabbed by a PN Soldier.

The man held her tightly and pushed the approaching PN Soldier away.