Baron Cullen

There was no signature at the bottom of the note, only a distorted symbol drawn in the same dark red liquid.

Karen looked at the note, her brow furrowing slightly.

The first half of the note is easy to understand, but what does the "feast" mentioned in the second half mean?

Moreover, whoever wrote this parchment must have been a powerful superhuman.

In other words, there's someone else hiding behind Bastian!

Thinking about this, Karen felt a headache coming on.

He originally only wanted to eliminate the threats against himself and his family, but now he seems to have inadvertently stepped into an even bigger vortex.

However, he did not regret it.

Because of Bastian, he must die.

...

The search of the mansion lasted almost the entire second half of the night.

As dawn broke, the members of the warband sealed away the three ledgers Karen had found, the mysterious parchment, the alleys filled with gold bars, and all other items that appeared to be evidence.

Subsequently, at Karen's suggestion, Lamont arranged for these items to be delivered to Bishop Albert along with a top-secret letter.

The rescued girls were temporarily sent back to the warband's base for resettlement, where they were cared for and protected by designated personnel.

They need time to heal from the trauma they have suffered.

As for the nobles and wealthy merchants who were captured, they were escorted to the city lord's mansion along with the evidence, and their fate would depend on the results of the subsequent investigation.

But no matter what, imprisonment is unavoidable.

As the rest of the group was about to retreat back into the city, Karen found Lamont alone.

He first took two days off, and then handed over the illusionary crystal necklace around his neck to the other party:

"Vice Commander, I killed Jacob Lance. Although there were reasons for it, the fact remains that I killed a colleague. Bastian and Kevin will definitely seize on this and make a fuss about it."

I suspect he will bring the case to trial with the city lord, and the Knights, as the law enforcement agency of the City of No Breath, will certainly be responsible for detaining me.

This crystal records my entire journey from entering the mansion to killing Jacob, but once they discover it when they imprison me, they will absolutely not let it appear at the trial.

Therefore, I need you to keep it for me temporarily. You know what to do at the trial.

Lamont solemnly accepted the crystal necklace and said seriously, "Don't worry, even if they don't admit it later, the brothers in our band know the truth."

I'd protect you even if it meant my death!

"Thank you very much." Karen bowed slightly, then suddenly remembered something and continued, "Vice Commander, I need to ask you for a favor."

"Don't be shy, go ahead and speak."

"Keep an eye on the brothers in the group these next few days." Karen didn't say it explicitly, but her serious expression spoke volumes.

Lamont was taken aback, his face immediately darkening: "You mean... there's a traitor in the group?"

Karen sighed softly and did not answer.

...

A dimly lit, quiet room.

boom!

Dressed in a white monk's robe, Bastian slammed his fist on the table in a fit of rage and said fiercely, "What kind of work are you doing?!"

Why didn't you stop that kid?!

No one can get close to that mansion now, and that kid is acting very strangely. If he really finds those things inside, we're both dead!

Kevin, standing to the side, also looked grim.

He never imagined that Jacob, one of his men, would sneak off to that mansion last night.

Not only was he caught red-handed by Karen, but he was also killed on the spot.

Although this matter had nothing to do with him, the mansion had some connection to him when it was first built, and Jacob was, after all, one of his men.

If what Bastian said is true, and that kid Cullen really finds crucial evidence in that mansion, even the position of Grand Master of the Knights won't be able to save him.

Something has to be done!

Thinking of this, Kevin looked at Bastian and said in a deep voice, "Lord Jim, perhaps we can use Jacob's death as a pretext."

"What do you mean?"

Bastian turned around abruptly.

His eyes darted around, clearly considering the feasibility of this method.

"You mean you'll use the death of that knight under your command to nail that kid to the death penalty for murdering a colleague?" His expression grew increasingly agitated, and his tone quickened. "That's right, so what if those damned guys in the warband seize that mansion?"

I've hidden all the key evidence in extremely well-hidden places. Even if Vaughn himself went to the scene, he might not be able to find it, let alone that idiot Lamont.

Even if that kid does find something, he'll definitely hide it on his person and then find a chance to deliver it to the city lord's mansion!

As he spoke, he paused, as if he had found a way to break the deadlock, and a glint of light seemed to flash in his eyes:

"That's right! That's exactly it! As soon as it's light, you go to see the city lord in person and request that the kid be tried on charges of intentionally killing a colleague. Then you can use your knightly authority to arrest him!"

At that time, you must carefully examine every corner of him to make sure he has not hidden any evidence that could be detrimental to us.

Only in this way, when the day of trial arrives, can you and I join forces to create momentum and surely get that brat publicly executed!

By the end, Bastian's smile had become distorted, as if he could already see the day Karen was executed.

Kevin, standing to the side, also smiled and nodded, saying, "That's right, Lord Jim!"

Your idea is perfect. Not only will that kid be doomed, but we can even use his death to launch an attack on the battle group!

"Those damn bastards in the warband, I've had enough of them for ages!"

As they spoke, two sinister laughs gradually echoed in the quiet room.

...

The following day, a thick layer of dark clouds began to shroud the sky above the City of No Breath.

Having taken leave, Karen did not go to the warband's headquarters, but instead took her own carriage to the civilian district in the west of the city early in the morning.

After lingering briefly in the slums, he went to the best coffin shop in town and then returned directly to Waller's mansion.

The next morning, the sky remained overcast, and a light drizzle had begun to fall.

Karen went out again.

He first went to a coffin shop to pick up a coffin that had been rushed to be made, then went to the working-class area in the west of the city, and finally drove to the public cemetery.

He used some of his savings to buy a nice spot in the cemetery and commissioned someone to build a simple tombstone.

It only has a few words engraved on it: Beloved daughter Lena Stoll.

With the woman's consent, Karen personally placed the coffin containing Lina's body into the grave and then filled it with soil.

After doing all this, he stood quietly behind the woman, letting her sobs and the sound of the surrounding rain drown him out.

Only after the woman stood up did he take out a large bunch of white flowers from his pocket and solemnly place them in front of Lina's tombstone.

He whispered, "Lina, I don't know much about flowers, but I've heard that white symbolizes purity, so I brought these white flowers."

You are a kind girl who did everything you could to survive. You are a girl worthy of everyone's respect.

The murderer who killed you has paid the price, but I know it's far from enough.

There is another person, a devil disguised in hypocrisy, who is the real culprit.

Don't worry, I will never let him get away with it. He will eventually receive the harshest punishment.

Lina, may you return to the embrace of the gods. If there is an afterlife, may you be forever surrounded by warmth and fragrance, never again experiencing the darkness and cruelty of this world.

After saying that, he slowly stood up.

The pure white flowers stood out starkly and mournfully against the somber tombstone and the misty drizzle.

"Rest in peace, Lina," Karen whispered, as if making a promise to the little girl who could no longer respond. "Those who hurt you will not escape."

The two stood in front of the grave for a long time, until the drizzle soaked their hair and clothes, before slowly leaving.