Book 2: Chapter 37: Put to Death
Doctor Stein, please excuse my presumptuousness! You arent a native of Odia and also have not been an exorcist for long. How did you notice these two pieces of information that rte to the Albert familys internal matters? Lady Nova waved her hand to interrupt Meyer and frowned at Qin Lun, who had his eyes closed and was resting. Even though she looked boorish externally, even more than a man, her mind did notck the feminine touch. It was absolutely not an ident that she was able to be one of the leaders of Odia regions exorcists.
While everyone else was shocked by the news recorded in the witchs notes, Lady Nova still maintained her cautious and rational mentality. She quickly found the one thing off about these two pieces of information.
From the two pieces of shocking information, one was obviously rted to the witch, Mary ires, family name. It was the name of Steven Alberts wife. Of course, the information by itself wasnt much. In this world, many people had the same first andst name. There was nothing special about someone having the same name.
However, ifbined with the second piece of information, those who knew the inner workings of the gue couldnt help but doubt the Albert family. In the second piece, the Maize Witch called Mesa recorded a trivial event that happened at the edge of the Maize Forest.
At that time, a young couple brought a little boy to the edge of the Maize Forest and were met by assassins. One of the assassins was suspected to be Baron Albert. In the end, the young woman was killed, while the young man and the boy were brought away.
The only reason Witch Mesa paid attention to the event that ured at the edge of the forest was because the young woman who died surprisingly looked a lot like the missing witch, Mary, from over ten years ago. Also, the two new type of creatures brought by the assassins attracted her interest.
The exorcists could tell from the description that one of the creatures was the werewolf raised by the Albert family. The other creature sounded a lot like a gargoyle, in that it had bat wings and sharp ws, but it was a magic creature that the witches had never seen before.
Maize Witches could use magic to conceal their appearance. This was something every exorcist knew. Thus, if one of the Maize Witches liked the eldest son of the Albert family, Steven Albert, it wouldnt be a big deal. It was just the Albert family banishing a witch. At most, it would be a scandal.
However, this piece of news just happened to ur a bit more than a year ago. After this piece of news, two strangers infected with the gue appeared in the Odia region. A normal viger might not know who those two people were, but the Odia regions exorcists knew that the two people were court doctors from the Meiser Dukedom. They hade for the purpose of treating Miller Alberts illness.
In other words, the exorcists all knew that the Odia regions gue first broke out from Albert Castle.
However, most of the exorcists doubts towards Albert Castle were gone in a sh, buried at the bottom of their hearts. Afterall, the Albert family was the core of Odia Regions exorcists. Since long ago, they had been at the forefront of every battle and earned everyones respect.
And now Steven Alberts wife was a witch? Albert Castle actually had two magic creatures? Besides the known werewolf, there was still a secretly developed magic creature?
What was the Albert family trying to do? Was Little Millers gue rted to their research on magic creatures? Could the witch named Mary be the Albert familys way of contacting the Maize Witches? Were Baron Alberts organized expeditions into the forest all just a coverup?
Many questions flooded the exorcists minds. They werent fools. These two pieces of information were enough to set in motion the doubt they had buried deep in their hearts. Their understanding of the past shed with the information in front of their eyes. For a short period of time, many people were unable to adapt.
Hearing Lady Novas question, Qin Lun opened his eyes. Looking at the bigdy in front of him, his eyes shed with praise.
The authenticity of the news before them was not important. What was important was whether or not the one providing the proof was reliable. The conclusion was also not important. What was important was whether the process was rational.
Novas question was actually asking Qin Lun: These two pieces of information, it isnt strange for us exorcists to see the problem in a nce, but how can an outsider like you understand this insider information? It must be known that the name of Steven Alberts wife, as well as the Albert familys ident, were all ssified as the Albert familys secrets.
Unless one had ulterior motives, why would a doctor like him concern himself with these things?
This was ignoring appearances and going straight to the root of the problem.
However, since Qin Lun dared to emphasize these two pieces of information, and even fanned the mes, he obviously wouldnt be stumped by Lady Novas question.
Lady Nova, Im a doctor. Ive no interest in the Albert familys secrets, but Qin Lun calmly moved his gaze over the doubtful exorcists, while treating Little Miller, I noticed that his illness was different from Odias gue. What threatened Little Millers life wasnt the gue virus, but long term malnutrition leading to the weakening of his body.
Doctor Stein, you mean to say The healers expression changed.
Exactly. Before receiving my treatment, Little Miller had already been sick for over a year. The gue in his body had already reached a bnced state thanks to some sort of substance within his body. He is the origin of the gue in Odia. Qin Lun nodded and said with certainty.
As for why I know about Steven and Nina, it was because I intentionally asked the Albert family members when I wanted to get blood samples from them, in order to concoct a vine for the gue. However, looking back, the Albert family had long since had a cure. Otherwise, after apanying Little Miller for such a long time, they would have long been infected.
Humph, no wonder the Albert family would rather ask amon doctor over letting our exorcist healers treat Little Miller. The healer sneered, Do you believe it now? Ive told you long ago that this wasnt an ordinary gue but an undying one
Undying gue? Qin Luns eyes shed, and he turned to ask.
Undying gue is a type of living virus that has mixed with the power of the undead. Its a weaponized disease developed by the witches. Its main purpose is to cut down the ordinary peoples enormous poption. Meyer nced at Qin Lun and the healer, then quietly exined, Actually, ever since the illness first broke out, there were some among us that harbored suspicions that this was an undying gue released by the witches, but who would have thought that it actually originated from Albert Castle!
Undying gue!? This new clue was like a lightning bolt streaking across Qin Luns mind. He suddenly recalled his first night in this world, when Frank had vomited that wiggling, dark green, life-like substance.
No, the final piece of the puzzle was still missing! Qin Lun squinted his eyes. He had finally put all the scattered clues together. Now, he was only missing a core piece; a crucial point that would reveal the whole truth.
Lady Nova, we need to act before the orders from headquarterse, otherwise, it will be toote. Meyer said gloomily.
Alright. I agree on returning to the castle and confirming the truth. Nova nced profoundly at Qin Lun, But the Albert family is still the core of the Odia regions exorcists. I hope that everyone can stay cool-headed. Let me and Meyer negotiate with the baron.
Youre not needed! Let me ask Father. I will prove the Albert familys innocence! A low voice suddenly came from the entrance.
Tony The exorcists in the tent all turned away, not wanting to face the angry blond young man.
Tony, you need to rest! Whatever the case, youve already used your heroic fight to prove yourself. I believe that when we get back to the castle, Baron Albert will give us a reasonable exnation. Lady Nova stood up and said seriously.
The blond young man, with half his face covered in white bandages, swept his gaze over the exorcists in the tent. Fury and unwillingness showed in his blood red eye, like a me burning on everyones faces. His line of sight stopped on Qin Lun for a moment, then he resolutely turned to leave.
His young and strong body suddenly slumped down, as if he had instantly aged many years. His figure seemed lonely under the light of the bonfire.
Sir Tony, do you still remember the words you said to Otto and Wills corpses? Qin Lun suddenly opened his eyes and calmly asked.
Tonys footsteps paused. His shoulders trembled. Without turning back, his strict words sounded like they were squeezed out word by word from between clenched teeth, I naturally remember. Tony Albert is an exorcist before being a member of the Albert family.
Everybody go back and prepare. We head for the Albert Castle at once! Meyer waved away the exorcists in the tent with a serious face. The witchs reinforcements will soon be upon us. Before that, we must withdraw from the Maize Forest!
The exorcists filed out, heavy expressions on their faces. For three hundred years, Albert Castle had been the base of the Odia regions exorcists. Countless members of the Albert family had sacrificed themselves in battles against witches and evil creatures.
Thinking that they were about to call into question the Albert familys loyalty to the Exorcist Oath, their moods werent much better than Tonys.
The exorcists in the tent quickly vanished, only leaving behind a seriously injured Qin Lun and the healer who was taking care of him.
Ok, Doctor Stein, youre many times stronger than I thought. Your wounds have all been wrapped up. Take a rest, well be heading out soon. The healer patted Qin Luns intact left shoulder and smiled infort. He then turned to leave.
Please wait a moment! Qin Lun suddenly pulled on the healers clothes and earnestly said, Perhaps I am unable to understand the respect that the other exorcists have for the Albert family, but I know that once the undying gue breaks out, tens of thousands of ordinary citizens in the Odia region will be corpses
What do you want to say? Hasnt everyone already made a decision? The healer evaded his gaze and turned around, not looking into Qin Luns two eyes.
Youre all soldiers. Compared to your own lives, honor is even more important. They are willing to sacrifice themselves, but their view towards life has also be more indifferent. After the undying gue breaks out, the Odia region will be covered in corpses. It might even extend to the entire Maize duchy or the entire continent! Qin Lun said gloomily.
In this camp, only a healer like you and I can truly understand the might of the undying gue. Questioning the Albert family isnt important. We must quickly find the crucial element that allows Little Miller to survive the gue, the substance that can bnce out the undead power. Im afraid that for this, sacrificing the Albert family
What do you want me to do The healers two hands trembled. He looked at Qin Lun in shock, as if seeing a whole new person in the new exorcist doctor.
Id like to ask you to Qin Lun faintly narrowed his eyes, leaned towards the healers ear, and whispered quietly.