Chapter 227
“If it causes hallucinations or self–harm, the result of any investigation would probably conclude that the individual was simply overwhelmed by life’s pressures, leading to a breakdown in mental health, and eventually, suicide. Odalys mused.
She nodded in agreement with Percival’s words.
Percival’s voice grew darker, “Exactly. So, nurturing this poison, whether to eliminate someone or bring ruin to their family and seize their wealth. would be alarmingly simple. It leaves no trace, and even the police would be powerless to trace it.”
The revelation sent a chill through the group.
The elderly man collapsed to the ground, his eyes locked on the dirt beneath him. After a long, tense pause, he choked out, “What a sin. How could this happen? My wife wasn’t feeling well, so she returned here to recover.”
“My daughter–in–law, and my grandson–they came back too. I was so busy with my own life. I hardly contacted them. All I knew was that after they returned, they seemed to be researching something out of boredom”
“Is it related to this?” he asked frantically, his hands trembling.
Odalys had warned him days ago to reflect on his family’s deaths before their return to the village. Now, with his mind clear, he realized it all made
sense.
“It’s not just your family. Those who stayed in the village, they
ey all met untimely deaths–either by illness or self–harm, am I right” Odalys continued. “After they died, their families returned, only to fall under Rafael’s control. Their tendons were severed, preventing them from contacting the outside world”
The elderly man nodded, the truth dawning on him. Without Odalys reminder, he would never have connected the dots
“Go find the villagers,” Odalys instructed, her voice steady “Ask them if they want revenge. If they do, let them recall who they’ve had business dealings with in the past twenty years. Which families were their primary partners?”
The old man’s eyes burned with fury:
“I’ll go now,” he said, turning to leave.
Percival stood motionless, watching the elderly man disappear into the distance.
After a long silence, he turned to Odalys, his voice low, “You suspect that the villagers cooperated with some wealthy merchants, and that these merchants became targets. Over time, they subtly poisoned the fabrics and clothes, causing misfortune, and eventually, the family’s fortune tell into the hands of the conspirators?”
Odalys nodded.
“It’s hard to build wealth from scratch, or through honest work. If you can gain it easily, why not? It’s like your family,” she added, her tone shifting slightly. “After your father’s accident, it was only a matter of time before they turned their attention to you.
Percival fell silent, his jaw tightening, but he didn’t respond.
He knelt slowly, his eyes locked on the crimson soil beneath them. His hand clenched into a fist, visibly fighting to suppress the rising fury. “Callum,” Percival finally spoke, his voice cold. “Keep watch. Once they’ve compiled the list, get it to the investigators right away. See if any families, like the Stewarts, have suffered strange tragedies”
Callum, still in shock, nodded solemnly. “Understood.”
*TII help too, Orson offered, already moving to assist
But Odalys stopped him, catching his arm. “Wait. Take some of the soil back with you. Get it tested for its composition.”
Orson blinked in confusion. “Do you need me to cover it back up afterward!”
Odalys pulled out a talisman, tossing it into the soil. “No need,” she said cunly.
“Alright, I’ll handle it,” Orson replied, taking a box to collect some of the soil, with the old m
man’s son helping him.
Once the task was done, Odalys turned to Percival, her voice low but charged with a question. “Did you figure it out?”
Percival stood next to her, eyes now scanning the depths of the woods. “I noticed something when we saw that giant snake in the show. You didn’t
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Chapter 227
say everything before.”
His eyes narrowed. The poison is unique because they killed the venomous snake, extracted its venom, and combined it with the other ingredients.”
Odalys stared at him, surprised by his sharp insight. “You figured that out
He didn’t need to stay here; just a few words from her, and he had pieced everything together, linking every detail with ease.
“A smaller snake, heavily injured, was treated by me. I found signs that its venom had been extracted, Percival continued. “I suspect Rafael is using the life and death of this snake to threaten the larger serpent. After all, the snake is old and mystical.”
The wicked energy in the clothes in your family’s water tank, it’s strong. And the source of that wicked energy. it’s here.” Odalys pointed toward the old house, her voice cold
Percival’s lips tightened, and after a long pause, he let out a soft laugh, tinged with bitterness. “So, your elaborate plan was to dig a pit for him to fall into, all while making him think you completely trusted him. But he slipped up.”
Odalys smirked but said nothing, her eyes locked with his
They exchanged a knowing glance and began walking back toward the village. The elderly man had gathered the remaining villagers, and they were now listing their business dealings, marking the families that had been involved.
Callum stood by, diligently recording the names, while the investigation was already underway.
It wasn’t long before the elderly man slowly stood up, his voice hesitant. “Ms. Stone, do you think this will still be useful now?”
Odalys glanced at him, her expression unreadable, her silence more telling than any words.
The man felt a chill creeping over him and instinctively took a step back. “Is something wrong?” he asked, his voice shaky,
Just then, he felt a sharp pain in his wrist. His eyes widened as his tendon, which had been carefully repaired, suddenly tightened and snapped with a loud crack
A scream escaped him as he clutched his wrist, the pen he had been holding dropping to the ground.
The middle–aged man rushed forward, trying to support the elderly man, but suddenly, a sharp pain struck his chest. He coughed up blood, staining his clothes as he collapsed, his energy drained, his body aged in an instant.
“What’s happening? I thought I was healed… the man whispered, his voice weak.
Odalys stood there, hands clasped behind her back, watching them both with a detached
gaze.
“You were healed,” she said coolly, “but you touched something you shouldn’t have.”
Her words hung in the air, and the elderly man and his son exchanged stunned glances, their eyes widened
“You really did tell me the truth before, which made me believe you were genuinely the victims. But it wasn’t until yesterday, when you gave me those nuts, that I started to rethink my doubts.”
AD
