The mild, friendly aura perpetually shrouding Disi vanished, and was replaced by an unusual collectedness.

“You suspect I’m the poisoner?”

“He drank the wine you gave me. Since you know who I am, you must be aware that someone wants to kill me.”

“You ate a lot in front of me at the ball, and you ate the food I picked for you today. If I wanted to harm you, I had plenty of opportunities.”

“Even if you aren’t the poisoner, if I can’t confirm whether you’re friend or foe, I would rather kill you by mistake to eliminate a hidden danger.”

Croston’s garden and the main house presented two very different styles. Flowers were in full bloom, competing in beauty, and even at this time, there were a handful of hardworking bees and butterflies working overtime to collect nectar.

Disi thought deeply for a long stretch of time before slowly uttering a name: “Lu Hulun.”

“Lu Hulun sent you?”

“He’s my enemy as well.” Disi said word by word, “He murdered my wet nurse.”

Ling Yi waited patiently for him to continue.

“Not long after I was born, my biological parents placed me in the home of Viscount Qiao Wen, a bachelor. He knew nothing about taking care of children, so a maid who had just given birth became my wet nurse. She raised me from childhood to adulthood, and my feelings for her are even deeper than those for my biological mother.”

“My wet nurse’s biological son was the same age as me, but he was given away to be raised by someone else when he was born. That family treated him very poorly. He came looking for her several times, but was ruthlessly driven away each time. I didn’t understand how the wet nurse could be so gentle and kind to me, but so cold-hearted toward her own son. It wasn’t until she was executed in the street that I finally understood—”

Disi paused, recalling a scene he didn’t want to recall: “She was a member of the Bee Tribe.”

Ling Yi’s gun hand trembled slightly.

“This name rarely appears nowadays. You probably haven’t heard of it, right?”

Ling Yi feigned calmness: “I’ve heard a little bit.”

“The Bee Tribe was originally a minority group living in the mountainous regions of southwest China. They were named thus because their social structure resembled that of bees…..”

The Bee Tribe not only lived in groups and worked together like bees, but they also secreted saliva that could paralyze or even kill a person, known as bee venom.

They used to live peacefully in their own territory like other ethnic minorities, but seventeen years ago, for reasons unknown, they took the initiative to provoke conflict.

The most notable person who died in this conflict was Count Lu Bie’er, who was greatly respected and loved by the common people at that time.

Lu Hulun lost his beloved son, and in his rage, launched a genocidal war against the Bee Tribe. Not only were the Bee Tribe colonies in their territory completely slaughtered, but even those scattered around outside were not spared.

Since then, the empire had enacted a law that any remnants of the Bee Tribe that were found should be executed on the spot without trial.

In this way, over the past decade, the people of the Bee Tribe had long become extinct on this continent.

“My wet nurse survived several bloodbaths, concealed her identity, and worked as a servant in the home of a minor viscount. She didn’t even dare to recognize her own son. She was kind and gentle, had committed no crimes, and had never harmed anyone, yet she ended up dead in the street.”

“After my wet nurse died, her biological son finally learned about his background and came to me, wanting to avenge his mother. I devised a plan to send him to the Prime Minister’s office, and created an opportunity for him to save Lu Hulun’s life so as to gain his trust. He then spent several years gradually rising to a core position, and came into close contact with many of Lu Hulun’s plans. Naturally, we found out that he had sent his most capable assassin to the Royal Medical College to kill a helpless patient.”

Ling Yi got the gist of it: “You approached me with a purpose from the beginning.”

“But my intention has never been to harm you.”

“Then what is it?”

“Whether you think I’m a kindred spirit or that I want to recruit more allies, the enemy of my enemy is my friend.”

“You may have chosen the wrong ally. I’m a coward who loves life and can barely manage to survive. I won’t take any risks for the sake of revenge.”

“Have you forgotten about that drink? As long as Lu Hulun still lives, you are taking a risk every day you’re alive.” Disi said, “Of course, I’m not kidnapping you to join us. I can provide you with insider information. Even if you don’t intend to seek revenge, you can use this information to protect yourself.”

“You’ll provide me with information out of the goodness of your heart?”

“I may not have the power to overthrow Lu Hulun, but I can at least do my best to protect those he persecutes and prevent innocent people from suffering the same fate as my wet nurse.”

In order to express his sincerity, Disi even took the initiative to provide the first piece of information.

“The Royal Court’s Grand Justice went to see Lu Hulun. The two conspired for a long time, and a key piece of evidence vanished.”

Ling Yi became apprehensive: “What evidence?”

“A cell phone memory card that contained footage of a crime scene taken by an eyewitness. My informant was unable to access the memory card and the information inside it, but given that they chose to dispose of the evidence, there must be something there.”

“Where is that memory card now?” Ling Yi asked.

“As far as I know, it’s still at the courthouse, in the custody of the Grand Justice.”

Ling Yi fell silent. His instincts told him that this person was telling the truth, but he also knew that he must be hiding something from him.

Just as he was debating whether or not to lower the gun, a figure flashed between the two of them. A hand tightly grasped the barrel of the gun, forcing the muzzle to rest against the person’s own brow.

Ling Yi was shocked by his reckless behavior, and even more astonished by the identity of the person who appeared in front of him: “Captain Tang De?”

The Tang De before him was so serious that he was like a stranger. “You mustn’t shoot!”

He held the barrel tightly, not moving an inch, with a determination in his eyes that disregarded life and death.

“What are you doing?” Ling Yi had never seen Tang De like this before.

“You mustn’t shoot,” Tang De repeated firmly. “His Highness Oser has already used his power of pardon on you once. If you are sentenced for murder again, even His Highness won’t be able to save you.”

“I wasn’t going to kill him. I just wanted to question him about something.”

Tang De still refused to let go: “I believe you, but this conduct is too dangerous. Please let go first.”

“I didn’t release the safety.”

Ling Yi slowly loosened his grip to prove his words. Tang De swiftly turned the gun around and checked it, only to find that there was indeed no bullet loaded. He heaved a sigh of relief, as if he had survived a disaster.

“You really scared me to death. Can you please not use weapons so casually in the future? You scared half the life out of me last time, and I don’t have much left.”

He had returned to the usual Tang De, but Ling Yi’s impression of him had changed.

“Did you come here for me?”

Tang De put the gun away for safekeeping: “The poisoner has been caught, and His Highness Oser will preside over the trial. Let me take you back first.”

Hearing this, Ling Yi obediently turned and left, completely forgetting about the other protagonist left behind.

“Are we now companions in the same camp?” Disi asked loudly from behind.

“I didn’t promise you anything.”

Tang De turned halfway around and lowered his eyes with an imperceptible nod, then quickly caught up with Ling Yi.

It wasn’t until the two were completely gone that Disi spoke: “Come out.”

Du Bin emerged from the nearest bushes, gun in hand.

“Put that dangerous thing away. I can’t stand people like you who use weapons so casually.”

Du Bin did as he was told: “What if he threatens your life again next time?”

“There won’t be a next time.” Disi said confidently, “He believes me. It won’t happen again.”

. . . . . . 

When Ling Yi returned to the medical college, Lei Yue’s life was no longer in peril.

The lab department worked nonstop to produce a toxicology report, and Pat looked grim when he read it.

“What are the results?” Ling Yi asked. Lei Cheng was also there to question Pat.

“This poison mainly targets Omegas. Were an Omega to consume it, they would die on the spot, but since Lei Yue drank it by accident, it was…..”

He suddenly realized that it was inappropriate to say such a thing in front of Lei Cheng, and he swallowed back the words “a blessing in disguise” at the last moment.

But if the person who was poisoned tonight had been Ling Yi, he would probably be lying in the hospital morgue right now.

Ling Yi also felt some lingering fear, and at the same time felt deeply guilty toward Lei Yue.

“This person was likely targeting me. I’m sorry for bringing trouble to the Marshal’s family.”

Lei Cheng spoke in a robust, penetrating voice.

“Even if the target wasn’t a member of the Lei family, it was the Lei family’s guest. The Lei family motto is to avenge every grudge. I will absolutely uncover the mastermind behind this. I will not allow my son to have been poisoned in vain, and I will also find an explanation for His Highness Oser.”

Lei Yue had just woken up after having his stomach pumped, and came into the lounge when he heard the noise. He saw Ling Yi at first glance and said with pleasant surprise: “You came to see me.”

He then remembered that Lei Cheng was also present, and tensed as he called out: “Father.”

Lei Cheng looked at the two of them in turn: “Since a friend has come to visit you, greet him well. I will go and meet the brave warrior who dared to poison someone in Croston Manor.”

Lei Yue was visibly more relaxed once Lei Cheng left. It was evident that he held great respect for his father, the Marshal.

“Thanks for coming to see me. I’m alright now.”

Ling Yi was still struggling over whether to tell Lei Yue that he had been poisoned because of him.

Lei Yue noticed his dilemma: “I heard that I was poisoned with a highly toxic substance that targets Omegas. The person who poisoned me obviously didn’t mean to kill me.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Why should you apologize? You’re not the one who poisoned me.”

“I implicated you in this.”

“I’m actually glad it wasn’t you who drank that glass of wine.”

His face took on a look of concern: “Who on earth did you offend? They actually tried to poison you at my family’s banquet. Does His Highness Oser know about this?”

Ling Yi nodded hesitantly.

Lei Yue pursed his lips tightly and forced a smile: “Then I don’t need to meddle in this matter. His Highness Oser will definitely not allow such things to continue to happen.”

Ling Yi was silent, and Lei Yue didn’t know what to say next.

“If there is anything I can do to help, just ask. I’m okay now. You should go back soon.”

“I’m Ling Yi.”

Lei Yue froze.

“You’re not dead?”

“If not for luck, I would be dead several times over. But I managed to survive each time, just like now.”

“This time…..was it Lu Hulun too?”

“There shouldn’t be anyone else who wants to kill me.”

After getting over the shock of Ling Yi being alive, Lei Yue’s eyes gradually turned cold.

“I regret not being able to help you before when you were in trouble. Now that heaven has given me another chance, I won’t sit idly by this time.”

“I didn’t confess to ask for your help.”

“Then why did you?”

“To comfort you out of pity. Don’t be depressed over losing to two people – I’m the only one who defeated you from beginning to end.”

“……” 

“It’s too hasty to say ‘there’s no one else who wants to kill you.’” Lei Yue was full of resentment. “With your mouth, it’s impossible that you’ve never offended anyone else.”

“Then I’m lucky to be alive today.” Ling Yi waved at him from behind. “Since there’s nothing else, I’ll leave first.”

The person who was full of resentment a second ago was suddenly concerned about his destination.

“Wait, where are you going?” 

Ling Yi didn’t even turn around. “I also want to meet the brave warrior who poisoned someone at Croston Manor and find out which enemy I’ve offended.”

. . . . . .

The man hanging in the interrogation room was barely recognizable as a servant.

Barely, because he was covered in blood, and there was not a single intact part of his servant’s uniform.

Ling Yi felt physically uncomfortable with one glance through the glass. In comparison, the interrogation he received during his arrest could be considered mild.

“These soldiers have experienced many life-or-death situations, so their methods are naturally ruthless,” Oser explained to him. “If you feel unwell, just wait outside. The one who was poisoned is Lei Cheng’s son, and they won’t stop until they achieve a result.”

Ling Yi endured the discomfort and insisted on staying.

“What is that person’s identity?”

“A kitchen staff member. He’s worked at Croston for many years.”

“Lu Hulun’s spies have been lurking in the Marshal’s house for so long?”

“He wasn’t necessarily lurking. The old man uses all available tricks, including coercion, bribery, and even buying someone over at short notice.”

“Then has he confessed?”

“The torture was too severe, and he accused people randomly. The military is investigating them. In my opinion, his words might not be true.”

“What if he refuses to give them up even in death?”

“Lei Cheng personally made clear that we can use any means necessary.”

“What constitutes ‘any means necessary?’”

Ling Yi’s question was answered through practical application.

The door of the interrogation room was opened, and a blindfolded little girl was brought in.

The girl looked to be only five or six years old. She was small and thin, and her clothes were worn but very clean.

The pupils of the dying middle-aged man instantly dilated. He struggled hard, but didn’t make a sound.

“I’ll give you ten seconds to reconsider.” The interrogator moved to take off the blindfold. “Ten…..”

The man’s eyes were bloodshot as he tried to gouge the flesh out of the other person with just his gaze.

The interrogator ruthlessly slammed the electric baton in his hand into his ribs. The man convulsed in agony, veins popping out in his forehead and neck, but he remained silent. Blood flowed from the corners of his tightly clenched mouth.

“Nine, eight, seven……”

As the countdown sounded, the little girl grew more and more frightened. She hunched her neck and trembled, and the blindfold couldn’t stop her tears from flowing.

“Six, five, four……”

The man began to shake his head desperately, silently pleading, but he received no mercy from the other party.

Oser knew that Ling Yi wouldn’t be able to bear this: “You should leave first.”

Ling Yi rushed out the door as the interrogator counted down to the end: “Three, two, one…..”

The interrogation room opened with a gust of wind, and at nearly the same moment the blindfold came off, a hand covered the little girl’s eyes.

“Don’t look.”

There was wetness against his palm.

“Don’t cry. Don’t be afraid.”

Ling Yi turned around with the little girl: “The door is right in front of you. Gege is taking you out.”

He took the little girl out of the room and ran into Oser as he came through the next door.

“Sorry, Your Highness, for ruining the plan. I guess I couldn’t help giving in to my soft heart.”

“It doesn’t surprise me that you would do this.” Oser sent someone to pick up the little girl.

“I suppose we won’t be able to ask anything else this time.”

Ling Yi had no regrets, but he couldn’t help feeling frustrated.

“At worst, I can just go out and act as bait a few more times. If they make enough attempts, they’ll definitely slip up somewhere.”

Oser gave him a warning look: “This is the last time. Everyone knows what the result will be, but there is a lack of direct evidence. If the person inside refuses to confess, we’ll fabricate evidence. Dead men tell no tales. But I will never allow you to take another risk.”

The interrogator came out with perfect timing: “He confessed.”

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Chapter 34 << Table of Contents >> Chapter 36