Chapter 158 - 157: Master’s Master

Chapter 158: Chapter 157: Master’s Master

Hesia hadn’t forgotten Buton’s commission. He steered the conversation back to the tragedy that had befallen the manor itself.

"So, Tammy discovered what Vio Bell was doing to you, and he silenced her for it?"

Jasmine’s Spirit Body emanated waves of sorrow and rage. "Tammy was indeed killed by Vio Bell, but... her soul told me she didn’t know about any of that."

"She was just in the wrong place at the wrong time..."

"She didn’t even know why Vio Bell wanted to kill her."

"Then why don’t we just let that vile soul out and ask him?" Loris pointed at the still-tormented Goblin Skeleton and declared indignantly, "In the name of the Holy Light, I’ll interrogate him myself!"

"I can’t," Jasmine’s voice was filled with helplessness. "Although I can influence the mirror, I’m not its true master. Tammy... she approached me of her own will, which is the only reason I could communicate with her."

"As for Vio Bell... I can’t communicate with him at all. What you’re seeing now is the result of me using almost all my power to barely force his soul into that Goblin Skeleton. Just doing that nearly caused me to dissipate."

"There’s another soul, the one called Slag," she added. "He was also controlled by this mirror, and I took the opportunity to kill him. Likewise, I can’t communicate with him either. I could only drive him into that larger skeleton."

"’Bloodaxe’ Slag?" Loris looked astonished. "The leader of the Mercenary Corps holed up in the Shadow Rift Mountain Range? He’s dead?"

"Yes. I lured him here and used the mirror’s power to kill him."

"Aha! So that’s how it is!" Loris suddenly clapped his hands, a look of sudden realization on his face.

"That explains it!" He seemed eager to elaborate. "I fought that Giant Axe Skeleton for ages. Just as I was about to purify it completely with the Power of Holy Light, it suddenly turned and fled deeper into the manor! Naturally, I gave chase immediately, but halfway there, I watched helplessly as the massive skeleton collapsed with a crash, falling into a useless pile of dry bones!"

"At the time, I only glimpsed a translucent shadow drifting out of the pile of bones. I thought it was some ghost that had been possessing it breaking free. Now I understand—that was Slag’s soul being recalled to the mirror! This means..."

He puffed out his chest, his voice booming and his face beaming with pride. "No wonder that skeleton’s Power was so immense and its fighting technique so exquisite! I wasn’t facing some ordinary skeleton, but the notorious ’Bloodaxe’ Slag himself! Now that was a truly glorious duel worthy of me, Loris! And I, in the end, was victorious!"

Hesia couldn’t be bothered with his self-praise and focused on the key information. "Then do you have any lingering attachments? The ones you wanted revenge on, Vio Bell and Slag, both seem to be dead."

"My father..." Jasmine’s Spirit Body fluctuated violently. "I wronged him for so long, and I caused his death... I want revenge for him!"

"Although Bloodaxe Slag, his killer, is already dead, I wasn’t the one who called for the Blood Axe Gang. The day before the massacre, someone left a note on the table in my room, telling me the Blood Axe Gang would attack the manor that night."

This was exactly what Hesia had speculated earlier.

He also believed that given Jasmine’s state and abilities at the time, it would have been impossible for her to contact the Blood Axe Gang.

Now that he had confirmed this, and combining it with the fact that the manor’s Guards had been unusually redeployed on the night of the massacre, the most likely suspect was becoming obvious.

He asked, "Have you ever considered... Lady Helena, the Baroness?"

"I... I have thought about it." Jasmine’s voice grew quiet. "Because... because her body was never found here... but I couldn’t be sure... My father... Father was so good to her! I didn’t think she would..."

Hesia sighed softly. Sometimes, relationships weren’t as simple as "you’re good to me, so I’ll be good to you."

Although Lady Helena was missing, the truth could be uncovered simply by asking the person involved.

"Bruce," Hesia looked at the dog, which was already dozing on the floor. "See if you can control that mirror and summon the bald guy named Slag."

Hearing this, Bruce’s canine face fell, and he seemed to hesitate.

Apparently, the running roast meat patty from before had left quite an impact on its young mind.

Hesia wasn’t too worried, though. This just proved the mirror had no power over Bruce.

"Don’t be like that," he said, walking over and patting Bruce’s head. "When we get back, you’ll have real roast meat patties to eat. As many as you want."

Upon hearing the words "roast meat patties," Bruce’s eyes instantly lit up. "WOOF!" he barked excitedly, then decisively pressed his furry paw onto the mirror.

Soon, the fierce Spirit Body that strongly resembled Jonathan emerged from the mirror once again.

This time, he showed no aggression. Instead, he respectfully knelt on one knee before Bruce and spoke slowly, his voice hollow and mechanical, "Master, your orders."

Seeing this, Loris immediately stepped forward, struck what he believed to be his most commanding pose, and bellowed at Slag’s Spirit Body, "Foul soul! I command you, tell me who contacted you that night and had you bring your men to attack this manor!"

Slag’s Spirit Body knelt there, motionless, as if it hadn’t heard him.

Loris felt his authority had been challenged. He intensified his tone, "Answer my question! Otherwise, I will make you experience a purification more painful than death!"

Slag’s Spirit Body remained unmoved.

Loris felt like he was talking to a brick wall and started to look embarrassed.

Hesia also tried asking, "Was it Lady Helena?"

Slag’s Spirit Body still gave no reaction.

Just as the atmosphere grew awkward, Bruce impatiently tapped the mirror’s handle with his paw and let out a "WOOF!" at Slag’s Spirit Body.

"Hey! Baldy! Look here!" He nudged Hesia with his nose. "This is my master, which means he’s your master’s master! My master is asking you a question, so you better answer honestly! If you don’t, I’ll make a roast meat patty run in front of you every day and never let you eat it!"

The next second, under Loris’s astonished gaze, the fierce mercenary leader who had completely ignored him slowly raised his head, looked at Hesia, and answered in a toneless voice:

"Master’s master, that is correct. It was Helena who contacted me."