belamy20

Chapter 74: The Secret!

Added 2024-08-12 09:38:21 +0000 UTC

Looking at the smile on the face of the bastard in front of him, Lancaster wished he could shoot him in the head.

Yes, he was a bastard!

When the attackers appeared, Lancaster had already suspected he had been set up.

And when he saw the smile on Goder's face, Lancaster confirmed that he had indeed been fooled!

This bastard must have realized something was off at noon, which was why he deliberately lured him and Gegan to 6 Castle Street!

Though angry inside, the sheriff still wore a smile.

Gegan, however, was less composed.

He spat on the ground, expressing his contempt.

To this, Goder didn’t care at all.

Spitting on the ground wasn’t the same as spitting on him.

Of course, a friendly reminder was still necessary.

“Deputy Sheriff Gegan, this is private property. You need to watch your words and actions; otherwise, you might get a complaint from the owner,” Goder said with a smile.

“Hmph.”

Gegan snorted coldly and spat again.

As if he would fear a complaint!

Thinking this, the deputy sheriff continued to spit in defiance.

Then he turned to Goder, a look on his face that said, “What are you going to do about it?”

“It’s fine; after all, it’s not my house.”

Goder continued to smile.

Instantly, the deputy sheriff clenched his fists, wanting to punch Goder in the face, but Lancaster stopped him.

“Where’s Andy?”

the sheriff asked.

“Inside.”

“This attack was too sudden; Andy was terrified, and I’m still shaken—I’ll provide a detailed account of tonight’s events in the newspaper,” Goder said, looking a bit frightened as he turned to walk into the house.

Lancaster twitched the corner of his mouth; he understood Goder’s implication: don’t think of framing him; he would report it in the paper.

At that moment, the sheriff regretted stopping his partner earlier.

He felt like hitting someone!

But soon, he saw the broken bodies of the four scammers in the hall.

Immediately, the sheriff frowned.

“They were guests at this gathering; I only managed to save Andy,” Goder explained.

But the sheriff didn’t believe him.

He had conducted a thorough investigation on Andy before coming here.

Ever since Andy’s mother died, he had called the police multiple times, claiming that she had been murdered and that the murderer wanted to kill him as well. Recently, he had even mixed with a group of con artists.

These bodies...

They should be those con artists, right?

“You did this on purpose!” Lancaster suddenly spoke up.

“Hmm? What do you mean on purpose?” Goder feigned confusion.

“You took advantage of this attack to eliminate those four con artists—they must have known something about you that you didn’t want anyone to find out, or maybe... you learned something from them and obtained something valuable.”

“So, you killed them to silence them!”

Lancaster’s narrowed eyes widened, staring sharply at Goder.

And Goder?

He smiled.

“Sheriff Lancaster, you would be more suited to writing novels than being a policeman.”

“Do you need me to recommend an editor?”

Goder completely denied the accusation.

Even if what the other man said were true, so what?

There was no evidence!

Then, Goder walked toward Andy, whose face was still a bit pale.

Watching Goder’s retreating figure, Lancaster gritted his teeth in frustration.

For him, nothing was worse than having a criminal right in front of him but being unable to apprehend them!

“I will find evidence to expose you!”

the sheriff silently vowed before walking straight up to Andy.

“Can you tell me about your mother?”

the sheriff asked.

The young man didn’t answer immediately; instead, he looked at Goder.

A sufficiently clever young man, having experienced what just happened, knew exactly what he should do now!

Even though he didn’t want to answer any questions from the police, he would seek Goder’s opinion before refusing.

Seeing Goder nod slightly, the young man began to speak:

“Half a year ago, my mother drowned in a pond at our estate on the outskirts of Hessettins.”

"During the harsh winter winds, a person who never drank alcohol suddenly got drunk and broke through a frozen lake surface that could support a carriage."

"But your people insisted it was drowning."

"Because my mother's body had no injuries and matched the characteristics of drowning."

Listening to the young man's words, Lanster raised an eyebrow.

He had reviewed the case file on Andinan's mother's drowning.

However, aside from the note stating it was a drowning, the file contained little else.

"What about the body?" Lanster asked instinctively.

As soon as the words left his mouth, he saw Andinan shoot him a contemptuous look.

It had been half a year; naturally, the body was buried in the cemetery by now.

"I was thinking…"

"Don't even think about it!"

Before Lanster could finish his sentence, Andinan interrupted him.

The young man glared at the sheriff with an unprecedentedly fierce look, speaking each word deliberately, "If you want to disturb my mother's grave, you’ll have to ask for her permission—I'm not afraid to send you down there to ask her yourself whether she agrees."

"Believe me, I can make it happen!"

"I have assets worth over 60,000 gold crowns. If you dare touch my mother's grave, I’ll use all my wealth to put a bounty on you and everyone around you!"

The fury that came from deep within twisted the young man's face.

At this moment, Andinan didn’t need to act—he genuinely looked like a madman.

Lanster could see the seriousness in Andinan's eyes; he wasn’t joking.

So—

"My apologies, that was my mistake."

"However, I’m taking over your mother’s case!"

"I will help you find the truth!"

Lanster bowed and apologized, giving his word.

But Andinan remained disdainful.

The young man didn’t trust the sheriff at all.

Lanster didn’t say any more and turned to walk toward the reinforcements arriving outside. Geggen naturally followed, but before leaving, the deputy sheriff whispered to Goethe, "You better behave. I’ll be watching you."

Goethe responded with a smile.

"Mr. Mapel, aren’t you angry?" Andinan asked after the two had left.

"Why should I be angry?"

"I haven’t done anything against my conscience."

"If they want to watch me, let them."

"And I don’t mind them watching me—if I had faced today’s attack alone, I might have taken down the attackers, but it definitely wouldn’t have been so easy."

"Enemies?"

"They’re just opponents until they show their true fangs."

Goethe said this calmly.

The young man pondered over his words.

Goethe continued, "Is there a private, quiet room?"

"Of course!"

"Please follow me!"

Despite the bombing, most rooms at No. 6 Castle Street were still usable except for the destroyed hall. After choosing a room with intact windows, Andinan stepped out, and Goethe lit an oil lamp.

Goethe then thoroughly checked the room, ensuring there were no issues before taking out the book he had obtained from the group of swindlers.

No!

To be precise, it was a notebook!

A notebook entirely written in ‘Tufian’—

The Robert family is about to hold a grand celebration!

As one of the most outstanding heirs of the Robert family, I will participate in this celebration!

Although my older and younger brothers are jealous of me, they lack my talent and can only be envious!

And I will go to greet the birth of a new generation of gifted individuals!

To become their guide!

Just as my guide did for me!

…

Why?!

Why did this happen?

Clearly, they were powerful gifted individuals; why did they die just after being born?!

…

It’s been ten years, and every newborn with talent in the Robert family has died!

And it’s not just the Robert family; other families are experiencing the same thing!

What on earth is happening?

And why is my power beginning to wane?

I’m only forty years old!

…

Mystery is dying!

…

It’s been thirty years, and almost every newborn with talent has died at birth, except for a few exceptions!

And those of us who once possessed power have almost declined to the level of ordinary people!

Although we can still wield power, the cost is immense!

…

Gunpowder?!

I’ve seen something new.

It unsettles me.

…

It’s over; the Robert family is finished!

Those greedy, ignorant, yet ruthless mortals have launched a rebellion!

Even if I am about to pay with my life to wield power, I cannot stop the advance of their cannons.

But I must do something for the family!

…

I didn’t die?!

I was saved by a young man named Modius, who turned out to be an exceptionally gifted individual!

…

Modius’s talent is extraordinary; even in an era when mystery is fading, he can still use power with minimal cost!

He is destined to be the pinnacle of this era!

I am convinced!

…

After studying with me for half a year, Modius is leaving. He said he has some issues to resolve.

…

Modius has returned, gravely injured.

Despite his strength, it took him six weeks to recover enough to get out of bed.

…

Modius has left again.

This time, he was gone for an entire year.

…

When Modius returned this time, he was very excited, as if the problem had been resolved.

But he didn’t tell me what it was. Everyone has their secrets; it’s nothing unusual. As his teacher, I understand, but I also hope he leaves behind offspring. After all, ‘Dawn’ needs an heir.

…

Modius agreed to my request.

He united with a carefully selected female talent from our group.

…

The children were born. Half of them died, but the other half survived. We are confident these children will bring true dawn!

…

Modius has left again, and this time, he looked very serious, telling me he was going to do something extremely important, something that could… cost him his life.

I wished him well.

And as he instructed, I did not inform anyone else of this.

…

Ten years have passed, and Modius hasn’t returned. The children are growing up well.

But some people have become unreliable since Modius’s departure.

…

Traitors! Traitors!

I will not yield!

‘Dawn’ will certainly bring forth the dawn!

…

We have failed!

Completely and utterly failed!