Chapter 203
藏家79%
Vincent reflected on the recent events. “Check Nancy’s background, there might be new findings. The thorough erasure of her information also hints at something. What’s clear now is that the leader of the mysterious organization we’ve been speculating about is likely the one who built the lab
It couldn’t be confirmed nor denied, but the guess was plausible. Content from NôvelDr(a)ma.Org.
Stephanie glanced at the dismembered figures on the ground, “We intended to use Mia to lure out the mastermind, but it seems they were ready to nip it in the bud. Our lead is gone.”
Vincent dusted off the dirt from her clothes, “Don’t worry. Even the craftiest fox shows its tail eventually.”
He looked at the people from Steop Village, “I hope you can live in peace with the people from Terodt Village from now on, otherwise, we won’t mind digging a few new graves here.”
With Steop Village’s chieftain dead, the tribe members lacked a backbone. And after witnessing such a horrific scene, it was expected they’d be shaken up. Who would dare to act recklessly now?
Stephanie helped Vincent into his wheelchair, ready to push him out of the village’s compound. As they reached the gate, they were met by a group of fierce–looking people.
Stephanie squinted her eyes, leading the group were Zaiden and his wife Briley.
Zaiden scoffed. “So you bullied my daughter, beat her so badly her face is disfigured?”
Joseph chuckled, “She wanted to force a decent person into prostitution. Did you expect us to coddle her?”
Briley frowned, “Nonsense! What’s this about forcing into prostitution?”
Joseph gestured toward Vincent and then himself, “She wanted the two of us to serve her back at Poadew Village, don’t you think she deserved a beating”
Briley was outraged. “You are slandering my daughter!”
Hiding behind her, Kiera denied the claims, “I didn’t. When I encountered them, I just wanted to show them the way, and they attacked.”
Zaiden was furious, “Got anything else to say?”
Vincent’s tone was sarcastic, “My wife taught your family a stern lesson before, didn’t you learn? Why rush over to lead the way for us?”
Zaiden and Briley were at a loss for words while casting complicated glances at Kiera.
Kiera’s eyes flickered, her lips, swollen, “I just wanted to ease the tensions from before so that you would treat my brother. But you bullied me! Mom, Dad, you have to stand up for me!”
Briley, hands on her hips, “You must give us an explanation today!”
Seeing his daughter battered and his son demoralized, Zaiden couldn’t help but feel a deep resentment. “Yes! You owe us an apology today and heal my son, or no one leaves!”
Joseph rolled his eyes, “Trying to threaten us?”
At his signal, mercenaries holding heavy firearms stepped forward. Joseph aimed at a large tree and pulled the trigger. “Bang!” A loud noise came. A bole blasted through the trunk.
G
B
Zanden, witnessing each of them armed to the teeth, knew not to provoke them any further.
Stephanie glared at Kiera. “Coveting my man? Who do you think you are? To find out what happened to Mia, and let me warn you, if anyone from your village gets any silly ideas, they’ll end up just like her!”
Stephanie pushed Vincent away, and everyone else from their group also left.
Zaiden felt his authority had been challenged, especially by the way Stephanie had single–handedly caused chaos in the village. He couldn’t swallow his pride, he was deeply offended. Fuming, he planned to discuss with Gaven how to deal with these arrogantly self–assured people.
Stride by stride. Zaiden entered the village but was immediately hit by a pungent scent of blood. “Where’s Caven?” he demanded.
One of Gaven’s men pointed to the ground. Zaiden’s gaze dropped to find his shoes stained with spattered blood, prompting him to ask, bewildered, “What happened here?”
“Our chieftam and his mother are dead.” The subordinate informed grimly.
Where are the bodies? How did they die?” Zaiden’s voice was tense.
The man simply gestured toward some scattered limbs on the ground. That’s all that’s left.”
Zaiden, who’d lived through many battles, had never seen such a gruesome sight. Kiera and Briley, who had followed him, promptly became sick at the sigla.
Realizing the gravity of the situation, Zaiden’s face grew solemn What weapon could have caused this?”
The man shook his head. “We don’t know. Mia just… exploded Gaven was too close and got caught in the blast. Both of them ended up like this
Recognizing an opportunity, Kiera quickly tried to incite the emotions of the thousand people present. “They were so cruell Can you just stand by and do nothing? We need to avenge our chieftain!”
But the subordinate shook his head. “It’s not a curse that shortens the lives of the people of the Terodt Village, it was Mia who sabotaged us. She brought in parasites from elsewhere and infected the people of Terodt Village. For years, she instilled hatred and hostility towards us, convincing us we were cursed and shouldn’t exist. All the while, it was part of her sinister plot. Seek revenge? We were misled all along!”
Zaiden, overwhelmed by the carnage before him, couldn’t contain his nausea any longer.
After returning to the village, he sat brooding, the fear of potentially crossing Stephanie and her group sending chills down his spine.
Kiera and Briley walked in. Kiera was visibly upset. “So I’m just supposed to take a beating for nothing?” she snapped.
Zaiden glared at her. ‘And what do you propose? Have you not seen what happened to Caven and Mia?”
With a huff, Kiera retorted, “You’re just scared!”
Zaiden said, “Kiera, there’s a limit to recklessness! Don’t think I don’t know about the men you mess around with in the village. It was certainly you who provoked those two men today if you’re eager to die, I won’t stop you!”
Kiera stomped her foot in anger and stormed out.
Briley was about to say something when Zaiden erupted, “This all you’re doing! She’s going to land herself in serious trouble one of these days!”
Briley’s heart ached for his daughter, yet the terrifying demise of Mia and Gaven filled her with trepidation as well. She
G
B
turned and went after Kiera..
醵家79%,
Kiera, staring into a mirror, saw her face swollen like a bruised pumpkin and felt terrible. In a fit of rage, she hurled the mirror to the ground, shattering it into pieces.
ו
Briley walked in just in time to see the glass fragments scatter near her feet. She tried to reason with Kiera, advising her that a needlework of cunning can’t combat cannons and spears. However, Kiera was too stubborn to listen, dismissing Briley’s words completely.
Once Briley left the room, Kiera started plotting ways to take down these people who thought they were above everyone
else.
Over at the village, after Vincent and Stephanie returned, Stephanie went to seek advice from Ms. Lambert. She recounted. the whole incident, “Ms. Lambert, do you remember anything about the man Mia saved?”
Ms. Lambert looked off into the distance, seemingly lost in thought. After a long pause, a glimmer of recognition lit her eyes. I remember that man… He had a burn scar on his back.”
A burn scar… Years had passed since then, and even if there were scars on someone’s back, modern treatments could have removed them by now.
Stephanie said nothing more, bid the elder Goodnight, and went back to the wooden cabin, the one belonging to Lola.
Inside, Vincent was chatting with Zane and Joseph. They left shortly after Stephanie walked in. Stephanie closed the door behind her and approached Vincent. Take off your clothes, let me have a look.”
Vincent raised his eyebrows and said, “So impatient, are we?”