Alex raised his hand slowly, a small smile playing at the corners of his mouth as he finally settled into the chair Magistrate Sai had more or less thrust him into.
"Oh, Mr. Hartwell, there is no need to burden yourself with such heavy guilt. I would never just stand by and watch her in danger."
He paused for a moment. "Coming back to my disappearance at the warehouse, I apologize for the trouble that it may have caused.
However, the situation at that time required an immediate response. I didn't have the luxury of time to explain what was happening or wait for a search party to find her."
Miss Evelyn, who had remained silent throughout the exchange, couldn't help herself from asking.
"But where did you go, Brother Alex? And how did you manage to find Lucy when even our combined search parties could not locate the bandits' new hideout, and how were you so sure that you would find her by yourself?"
All eyes turned to Alex, waiting for his answer.
