Chapter 106 - 105: Clue

Chapter 106: Chapter 105: Clue

"I heard that not only did she inherit the Old Baron’s title, but she also married an elderly Count from the plains. Apparently, that Count has been gravely ill and bedridden recently, which is why she’s often away from Rose Town, handling the affairs of the Count’s Domain."

"She’s managing two territories by herself? Can she even handle it?" Belte smacked his lips, the conversation immediately shifting to a topic that interested him more. "But, I heard from my friend... Hain, that this lady was as beautiful as a flower since she was a child, and later became famous for her stunning beauty. Why would she marry an old man?"

He craned his neck, his face a mixture of regret and longing:

"What a shame, what a shame. The carriage windows are completely covered; you can’t even see a shadow. I really wonder what a woman who even a guy like Hain can’t stop thinking about actually looks like..."

Belte’s dazed, obsessive expression was brought to an end by a precise and powerful hand.

"OW—! Go easy! Laila, you’ve got it all wrong! I was just trying to get a look for Hain! Right! To help him verify if the rumors are true!"

Laila snorted, the force in her hand not lessening. "Belte, do you take me for a fool?"

...

The playful roughhousing to the side continued, but Hesia’s expression was grave.

"Are you sure, Bruce?"

Bruce twitched his wet black nose. "Mhm! It’s a familiar scent. It’s very distinctive. I smelled it in the cabin in Print!"

"It’s the scent that suddenly appeared in the cabin during the days you were unconscious. It was very distinctive. Right after it appeared, you suddenly passed out for a long time. That’s why I’ve always remembered it."

Hesia’s heart sank, his mind racing as he searched for related memory fragments.

’When I passed out... that was right when I transmigrated and took over this body!’

According to the residual memories of his predecessor, this was what happened: After the original owner of the body returned from an outing with Bruce, he found a bottle of so-called "Secret Medicine" had appeared out of thin air on the table. Next to it was a letter claiming that this medicine could significantly increase the probability of a bloodline awakening.

’That bottle of medicine, there was definitely something wrong with it!’

’Otherwise, my predecessor wouldn’t have kicked the bucket, allowing me to "log on."’

’In other words, the person who wanted to poison me back then was very likely in the procession that just passed.’

’They want me dead...’

’Just like that Stalker who suddenly appeared in Print Village and stabbed at my neck with a dagger.’

’They also wanted me dead.’

’The objective was the same, and they both knew I was in Print.’

’Then the mastermind behind both assassination attempts is very likely the same person!’

’That bottle of medicine was most likely left by that Stalker.’

’Seeing that I didn’t die, they came to finish the job?’

’And judging by the size of the escort and their unified insignia, this group all belong to the Night Thorn Clan.’

’This means that regardless of who the Stalker is, the order to have me killed very likely came from that Lady Rose.’

Hesia quickly searched through his predecessor’s memories, trying to find any clues related to Rose Town or the Night Thorn Clan, but came up empty.

His predecessor’s activities were basically limited to the areas around Houlder and Print, with no connection to Rose Town.

’Captain Hulk just mentioned she married an elderly Count from the plains—Count Holt?’

’Wait a minute...’

’Count Holt also lives in Houlder.’

’When my predecessor left Houlder, this Lady Rose probably hadn’t married him yet.’

’In theory, the two of them should never have had direct contact.’

’Then what reason could she have for wanting to kill me?’

Hesia figured that a noblewoman famous for her beauty wouldn’t lack for excellent suitors.

Why would she choose to marry an old Count on the verge of death? There must be a motive beyond emotion behind it.

He recalled from his memories that Norton Holt County was a name that came about later.

That land was once part of Atmer County.

And decades ago, the entirety of Atmer County belonged to his own Atmesia Clan.

Later, the clan fell into decline, and its territory was carved up.

But this was an old affair from decades ago.

If someone truly harbored fear or hostility towards the last scions of the Atmesia Clan, why wait until now to make a move?

’Is it for the territory of Norton Holt County?’

’Or is it for some other reason?’

His thoughts were a tangled mess, and Hesia couldn’t sort through all the cause and effect for the time being. But there was one thing he was very sure of:

He wasn’t interested in any of that bullshit about family honor or noble status, but if someone was trying to kill him time and again, he had to find out why.

What’s more, the letter that came with the Secret Medicine mentioned "bloodline awakening."

’This Lady Rose... perhaps she also knows something about the demon named Salamakis, who left a mark on him?’

Right now, the other party shouldn’t know about his new identity, "Galen," let alone that he was in Rose Town.

Hesia gazed at the dust gradually settling on the distant road, his chaotic thoughts slowly calming.

In any case, the two questions that had been plaguing him—the source of the assassinations and the clues to the demon’s identity—both pointed to the same person.

After this commission was over, investigating this Lady Rose would be put on the agenda.

Of course, a noble capable of inheriting a title was clearly also a Transcendent and must have mastered the skills of some path.

Before taking action, he had to first confirm her strength.

’But there’s no need to rush.’

’Because this time, I am in the shadows, while the prey has walked out into the light.’

...

「Meanwhile, inside the departing carriage.」

Expensive incense was struggling to suppress a strange odor.

Lady Selena Nightthorn leaned elegantly against a soft cushion, gazing absently at the scenery rushing past the window and the blurry silhouette of Rose Town in the distance.

A small potion vial was spinning back and forth between her fair fingertips.

Inside the vial, a liquid giving off a strange red glow swirled.

She tossed the bottle of Potion—concocted from Dream-Weaving Spider extract—forward. Her red lips parted slightly, her voice languid, "Do you think what those people from the Kareen Sect said can be trusted?"

A man in black kneeling on the carpet caught the Potion steadily and replied respectfully, "Master, not a single word from those people is true. But Jared went to confirm it himself; those few Adventurers really do seem to have lost the relevant memories."

Hearing the name "Jared," Lady Selena’s elegant brows furrowed slightly, as if she had recalled an unpleasant memory.

She picked up a cup of steaming black tea from the small table beside her, took a delicate sip, and only then did she speak:

"Hmph. Let’s hope that waste of space can be of some use this time and see if he can find that girl named Annis."

"Also, go contact the people from the Sect. I will confirm with them myself and see what their purpose truly is."

"Yes, Master."

The man in black accepted the order, his figure melting like a phantom into the shadows of the carriage and disappearing from sight.