absurd deduction game.

The feather-light kiss made Anthony's pupils shrink to pinpoints; his wife's beautiful face seemed to overlap with that of a monster.

Overwhelmed by extreme fear, Anthony fled the scene in a panic and returned home, trying his best to play the role of a husband who knew nothing.

From that day on, he lived in a huge shadow, secretly investigating his wife's secrets—he needed to know Fernal's position in the cult, and he needed to assess her level of danger in order to find a way to protect himself, and perhaps... also to seek justice for Tate.

This investigation lasted for four years.

He was never able to escape the shadow of Fernail. Every time he returned home, it was like stepping into a den of wolves. So, under the pretext of "leading students on field research projects," he left Yolikev more and more frequently and for longer periods of time.

He dared not seek help from the church because Fernail was too perceptive; he couldn't even be sure how many of the servants in his household were Fernail's spies.

More importantly, he lacked conclusive evidence. If he were exposed prematurely and Fernail did not suffer a fatal blow, he would surely face terrible retaliation, torture, and then murder.

For the past four years, he has been tormented by loneliness and fear.

Sarah didn't appear before him until she turned eighteen and entered Yolikev University.

Looking at the face that bore a resemblance to Tate's, Anthony finally told her all the secrets he had kept hidden for so many years.

……

Sarah lay on the bed, tears streaming down her face, unable to speak. Her sorrowful voice could only reach Yu Xing's ears through the mental link: "She killed my brother...it was Fennell..."

"My brother didn't even get peace in death. He was dismembered by that horrible woman! Dismembered! And then, his body disappeared, and Professor Anthony never found it again..."

A spiritual connection greatly aids storytelling. Sarah doesn't need to go into great detail; those details, along with the story and the emotional fluctuations, will be transmitted to Yu Xing.

This story is not fake.

His branches and tentacles were part of him, serving as eyes, tongue, ears, and consciousness. Yu Xing almost saw a series of images that corroborated Sarah's sorrow.

“I never imagined that my colleagues had already discovered the anomalies in Yolikef five years ago, while the Ideal State only recently sent us… I’m so sorry, Sarah, I will inform headquarters of Tate’s sacrifice in my report.”

"Thank you, thank you..." This promise seemed to bring Sarah a lot of comfort. She gripped the blanket tightly and told Yu Xing what happened next.

……

After that frank conversation, the two, who shared a similar plight, became secret allies in investigating Fernal.

They carefully gathered clues, trying to find irrefutable evidence to convict Furnell.

However, this subtle interaction and connection between them ultimately did not escape Fernail's keen eyes.

On one occasion, Sarah and Anthony chose to meet in the history department office at the university.

This place is a relatively safe haven for them. Yolikev University is blessed by the divine light of the Mother of Harvest, which can isolate them from outside prying eyes to a certain extent. As a professor, Anthony has a private office, which, when closed, is a small space where he can temporarily catch his breath and organize his clues.

Although rumors about Sarah's frequent visits to Anthony's office had begun to circulate on campus, these reputational losses were trivial matters that the two men, obsessed with revenge and self-preservation, could not afford to concern themselves with.

That day, Sarah took out a clue notebook disguised as class notes, pointed to a few lines of text written in cipher, and said to Anthony in a low voice, "Professor, look, this is what I recently tracked down. These people's whereabouts are very suspicious. Their activity patterns overlap with the time that woman goes out. They are very likely her accomplices."

Her voice was a little dry with tension: "Fennell is too cautious, leaving almost no trace, but her accomplices may not be so careful. Could we... could we try to anonymously report these people first? Even if it just causes a little trouble for their operation."

Anthony leaned closer to examine the door, his brow furrowed. Just as he was about to speak, a sudden knock on the door interrupted their private conversation.

Both of them were startled, as if they had been doused with cold water—at this time, generally no one would look for Anthony!

who is it?

The office was simply furnished, with nowhere to hide. Sarah reacted quickly, immediately closing the clue book and stuffing it under a pile of open historical books. At the same time, she quickly opened a textbook, "Studies on Ancient Folk Customs," and adopted a humble attitude of seeking knowledge.

Anthony took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down, and called out, "Please come in."

The door was pushed open, and standing outside was none other than Madam Funer's personal maid, Martha!

However, Martha was not wearing her signature black and white maid dress at this time. Instead, she changed into a well-tailored, understated brown women's dress, and her hair was styled into a more fashionable updo.

She was holding a beautifully packaged dark wooden box.

"Martha?" Anthony suppressed his surprise and doubt, trying to keep his tone calm. "What is this...?"

Martha wore a perfectly appropriate, respectful smile befitting a respectable servant. She curtsied slightly and explained, "Professor, the Madam thought that entering the university as a maid might attract too much attention, so she specifically instructed me to change into these casual clothes."

Her gaze seemed to casually sweep over Sarah, who was sitting to the side, "focused" on her textbook.

Sarah felt the gaze and looked up at the opportune moment, her face showing just the right amount of confusion and polite curiosity that came from being interrupted. Then she stood up and said softly to Anthony, "Professor, do you have a guest? Then I won't disturb you any longer. I'll come back to ask you these questions another time."

Anthony nodded and said gently, "Okay, Sarah, you can go back now. Oh, and later, ask your classmate Kadon to come over and tell him I have some questions about his grades."

Sarah responded with an "Oh," and joked, "Okay, looks like someone's in for a rough time."

As Martha watched Sarah pack up her books and leave, she casually remarked, "This student is truly diligent and eager to learn."

Anthony's alarm bells went off, fearing that Martha would pay too much attention to Sarah, so he quickly steered the conversation back to the box in her hand: "Martha, did Madam send you here for something? What's in this box?"

Martha's attention was successfully diverted. She bent down slightly, gently placed the wooden box on Anthony's desk, and then carefully opened the lid.

On a black velvet cushion lies a classically elegant fountain pen, its body shimmering with a dark gold luster, clearly indicating its high value.

"Madam saw this pen at the auction yesterday and, remembering your recent hard work and prolific writings, specially purchased it for you and instructed me to deliver it to you today, hoping it will be of some help to your academic research." Martha's voice remained calm and respectful.

Anthony secretly breathed a sigh of relief; it was a gift after all. He reached out and picked up the pen; it was slightly cool to the touch and exquisitely crafted.

However, when his gaze fell upon a tiny engraved pattern beneath the pen clip, his blood seemed to freeze instantly—

It was a lifelike, dark green butterfly, poised to take flight.

Anthony's hand trembled violently, and the pen nearly slipped from his fingers. His expression changed drastically, and he even held his breath for a moment.

"Professor? What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?" Martha immediately showed concern and took a half step forward.

"N-nothing!" Anthony snapped back to reality, forcibly suppressing the turmoil in his heart. He gripped the pen tightly in his hand, his knuckles turning white from the force, and forced a smile. "It's just... I'm so happy. Madam hasn't given me a gift in a long time. It reminds me of those vibrant flowers from the past. Please thank Madam for me. I really like it. I'll bring her her favorite bread from Grandma Pearl's shop tonight."

Martha carefully observed his expression and listened to his words before smiling again and bowing: "Madam will surely be very happy to know. Forgive my bluntness, but you have been neglecting Madam lately. Even though Madam understands you, she still feels disappointed at times."

“You’re right… Thank you for reminding me, Martha. You’ve always been Fernel’s personal maid, and you know her emotional changes better than I do. I’ve really failed as her husband.” Anthony smiled and shook his head, then placed the pen in the inside pocket of his suit, close to his heart.

Martha quickly waved her hand, "No, no, it's my duty to look after you, Madam. You don't need to feel guilty. Well then, I won't bother you any longer." With that, she gracefully turned and left the office, gently closing the door behind her.

Anthony was the only one left in the office. He slumped into his chair as if he had collapsed, his forehead beaded with cold sweat. He immediately pulled the pen from his chest and stared at it intently, as if it were not a writing instrument but a venomous snake ready to devour him.

After a while, once Sarah was sure Martha had gone far away, she quietly pushed the door open and came back.

Seeing Anthony's distraught appearance and the pen he was clutching tightly, she felt a sense of foreboding.

"Professor, what's wrong? That pen..."

Anthony looked up, his eyes filled with barely concealed fear and unease, and whispered hoarsely, "Sarah...we might have been exposed. Fernell...she's become suspicious."

He pointed to the dark green butterfly on the pen: "This is a warning... She's telling me she knows everything... No, no, that's impossible. If she really knew, she wouldn't just be sending me a pen. I need to calm down."

He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down, and made a decision: "Listen, from now on, we won't see each other again for the time being, and we won't have any open contact. Let's investigate secretly and be careful. After a while, once we're sure her attention isn't focused on me anymore, we'll find a way to exchange clues."

After that, Sarah kept her promise and cut off all public contact with Anthony.

But the fire in her heart did not go out; her obsession with revenge and thirst for the truth drove her to walk alone in the shadows.

She became more cautious, using her student identity as cover to carefully gather clues, and actually succeeded in anonymously reporting several cult members who were not very discreet, causing some minor trouble for their activities.

She knew she was walking on a knife's edge, and could follow in her brother's footsteps at any moment.

On a rainy weekend night, she went alone to the public cemetery on the outskirts of town, carrying the savings she had painstakingly accumulated.

The rain pattered against the black umbrella, making a dull sound, just like her mood at that moment. She wanted to erect a monument for her brother Tate, even if there was nothing beneath it, at least there would be a place to express her grief.

She was greeted by the elderly gravedigger, Todd.

The old man wore a tattered raincoat, his face was deeply lined, and his eyes were unusually cloudy, as if they held too many secrets of life and death.

Sarah explained her purpose and handed over her savings.

Todd, however, did not accept the money.

He gazed at Sarah silently for a moment with his eyes that seemed to see right through people, then gently stroked her rain-soaked hair with his calloused hands, revealing a gentle and compassionate smile: "Child, put away your money. I'm willing to grant your wish for free."

Under Sarah's bewildered gaze, he slowly said, "Because I saw in your eyes... a poor soul waiting to be saved."

The old man led Sarah to a quiet corner of the cemetery, selected a blank small stone tablet, took out a chisel, and, accompanied by the sound of rain, carefully carved the name "Tate Jones" and his birth and death dates, stroke by stroke.

Beneath the stone tablet, all was empty. The lantern in Todd's hand emitted a warm light. His voice was hoarse, yet carried a power that could inspire the soul. He closed his eyes and recited, "Fear death."

Sarah, holding a black umbrella, stood in the fine rain and, by the light of her lantern, performed her first and only formal worship at the empty grave.

She was a child who cried easily, but she didn't cry that time.

After finishing her prayers, she took a deep look at the stone tablet, then turned and left, returning to the school to continue her dangerous and solitary investigation.

Meanwhile, Anthony was also cautiously testing Fernail at home, forcing himself to play the role of the warm and considerate husband, showing concern for Fernail and trying to dispel her suspicions.

For a whole month, Fernal didn't seem to show anything unusual, except for a slight complaint about his previous coldness. After he "tried" to make amends, she seemed to lower her guard.

This gave them a slight sense of relief.

A month later, Anthony seized the opportunity and applied for a research project to lead students on an outing. This time, he took Sarah and two other students who were genuinely interested in history as cover.

Only after being far from Yolikev and in a safe environment did they dare to exchange the information they had gathered again. This successful "safe" exchange restored their confidence.

From then on, they began to regularly use the opportunity of "study tours" to make secret contacts.

Until half a month ago—

For this "study tour," Anthony only brought Sarah along.

Because the information they each investigated pointed to the same disturbing conclusion: the esoteric sects were brewing a huge conspiracy, and a major operation was imminent.

They needed to exchange a huge amount of information, and they had to make a difficult choice—whether to expose Fernal to the church at all costs? Would this be the best opportunity?

With heavy and resolute hearts, they arrived at the hotel at their study tour destination. It was already dark. They booked two rooms and agreed to discuss the matter in Anthony's room the next morning.

However, what awaited them was a sudden nightmare. (End of Chapter)