Chapter 398 - 346: Dual POV: One Room, Two People, Three Voices (Part 2)

Chapter 398: Chapter 346: Dual POV: One Room, Two People, Three Voices (Part 2)

’What’s wrong with me?’

Ashley asked out of the blue, "Do you know Chaisi Monroe?"

The question was so sudden and without preamble that it felt like a physical blow. Stunned, Mai Mingle said, "Yes, I know him. That phone call just now, was it...?"

"Yes, that was him." Ashley shook her head. "He’s very well-connected and resourceful in Blackmoor City. He’s helped the police a few times in the past, so we have a working relationship. He’s a friend. He just called specifically to vouch for you. He said he knows the whole story behind your acquaintance with Ivan Weston and told me not to give you a hard time. What’s your relationship with him?"

’Chaisi knew she was at the Central Police Station? Could it be that after receiving her message, he’s been secretly keeping an eye on her movements?’

’Is he some kind of stalker? Does he even sleep?’

But regardless, Chaisi’s call was incredibly timely. So timely that it didn’t even give Chief Ashley’s suspicions a chance to take root. No, she hadn’t even finished speaking before Chaisi’s call cut off her line of questioning.

The anxiety and impatience that had just started to form in Mai Mingle were suddenly smashed to pieces, like a piñata at a party. Everything was happening so fast, and with so many questions, her thoughts couldn’t help but fall into disarray.

Unable to sort out her thoughts, and with Ashley’s eyes locked on her, waiting for an answer, she replied, "I guess you could say we’re friends. We’ve helped each other out a bit."

Ashley’s facial expression didn’t change.

But Mai Mingle immediately snapped her gaze back to her face.

’What’s wrong with me? Why do I keep having these illusions?’

Ashley clearly hadn’t moved an inch, yet for a split second, Mai Mingle had the illusion that Ashley’s features were gradually tightening, twisting together into a knot at the center of her face.

And that knot was staring at Mai Mingle.

...But her face was perfectly normal.

"With Chaisi’s guarantee, I naturally have no reason to distrust you," Ashley said warmly, standing up. "I’ll have someone see you out. Don’t worry, you can leave finding Ivan to us."

***

「Twenty-five minutes earlier.」

After Mai Mingle entered the office, Ashley closed the door, lowered the blinds, and walked behind her desk.

’Ivan Weston has been missing for a long time. Why is someone only now saying he’s been gone for two days...? And his disappearance was inextricably linked to Chaisi Monroe from the start.’

’Secretary Green—he’s been missing for several days too, without a single word—had explicitly demanded, when he first came to her, that I get Ivan Weston’s whereabouts out of Chaisi.’

’He said Chaisi was the last person to see Ivan.’

’Weeks after Ivan’s disappearance, this person named Mai Mingle suddenly pops up to report him missing...’

’Does this mean she has some connection to Chaisi Monroe?’

The mere thought of the hell Chaisi had put the entire Central Police Station through made Ashley remind herself not to clench her jaw too tightly, lest the bulging muscles give her away and spook her prey.

’This woman has such a peaceful, kind face. I wonder if it’s a facade.’

Just as Ashley was about to open her mouth and ask Mai Mingle to sit, she heard the voice.

"Let me see, oh, let me see," a thin voice she had heard a few times before chirped from behind the door deep inside her mind. "Let me see what that woman looks like... I’m going to open the door a little wider now, okay? I’m really opening it, you know? You can handle it, right? You’re very strong, you can definitely do it. Oh boy, the door is open."

’...Wait, doesn’t it need my permission?’

Ashley felt as if she’d been plunged into an ice cellar.

She had been living in constant fear of the door in her mind being pushed open.

But when that moment finally arrived, nothing actually crawled out of her brain, nor did she see anything she wasn’t supposed to—at least, not this time.

"Don’t be scared," the thin voice said. "The door’s only halfway open. Like I said, I’m just looking."

She stared fixedly at Mai Mingle, feeling as if someone was prying her eyeballs apart like a pair of doors and peering out. As if still not getting a clear enough view, that someone began to push her eyeballs, her facial bones, her very skull... pushing them forward, ever closer to Mai Mingle.

"Wonderful," the voice celebrated quietly. "It’s her. It really is her. It’s that old woman."

’What old woman?’

"She’s a contestant in the Nest Dominance Game! We’ve been looking for her for so long. This is great. That host thought we couldn’t do anything to her just because she was hiding in the human world, it just warms the cockles of my heart I’m laughing laughing laughing this is perfect do you want this chance, Ashley Page?"

’What chance?’

But the voice from behind the door suddenly vanished.

"...Chief?" Mai Mingle called out.

That jolted Ashley back to her senses.

She made up a random excuse and asked Mai Mingle to sit down, but her mind was anywhere but in the present moment.

’What is going on?’

She didn’t even know what she was rambling about. But as she listened to the nonsensical words coming out of her own mouth, an idea suddenly sparked in her mind.

’This idea is good, very good. I can do this. So this is the role Mai Mingle can play.’

With one hand under the desk, Ashley took out her cell phone and dialed her own desk phone. She immediately said, "Hold on," and picked up the call right in front of Mai Mingle.

It wasn’t hard to pretend Chaisi was on the other end of the line; just as she’d expected, Mai Mingle swallowed the bait.

"What’s your relationship with him?"

"...I guess you could say we’re friends. We’ve helped each other out a bit," Mai Mingle answered cautiously.

"No wonder," Ashley said with a smile.

’Friends? Isn’t that just perfect? If they’re friends, Chaisi surely won’t refuse a meeting, right?’

’And if he’s meeting a friend, he surely won’t be too on guard, right?’

’And if Chaisi lets his guard down—’

’Perfect. Just perfect. Just...’

"Don’t worry," Ashley assured her gently as she stood to see Mai Mingle out. "Leave finding Ivan to us. If the police need your assistance, I hope you’ll cooperate fully."

Although she didn’t know Mai Mingle’s real reason for wanting to find Ivan, it was clear she was desperate to find him—she agreed without a moment’s hesitation.

Mai Mingle left quickly, as if being around Ashley made her uncomfortable too.

Ashley didn’t care what she thought of her.

Lately, Ashley found herself caring about fewer and fewer things in this world. Other than revenge, recovery, and power, life was becoming easier and more expansive.

Ashley walked back into the room. Just as she was about to open the blinds, her brain spoke.

"I’m back," the voice said with a thin laugh. "I have good news, you know? Haven’t you always wanted to get rid of me? Just do one thing, and I swear, we’ll stop leaving from here."

She didn’t even have time to ask what "leaving from here" meant.

"What is it?" The question slipped out.

"Go find two people: Fu Tailan and Carter Morgan. Inform each of them that whoever kills Mai Mingle will be rewarded with her vacant contestant spot. Once you’ve done that, you’ll never hear from me again—"

The next question came so fast, it was as if it had been weighing on her heart, just waiting for a chance to burst out.

"Can I do it too?"