Chapter 66: Assassination
George smoothed the paper as he said, “I believe the murderer must have read this story; I can even feel his malice.”
“Then the murderer is likely a poor kid who had a miserable childhood,” Jima said. “So, upon seeing her write about ‘the poor deserve it,’ he developed an extreme hatred for her and stabbed her to death.”
George smoothed the paper, and the two began to read the story.
The author had a great writing style, with detailed descriptions that made it easy to empathize.
The story goes that when the author was still a child, a plague broke out in Shalin, an area filled with poor people. Her father immediately sealed off the entire epidemic zone, prohibiting anyone from entering or leaving.
Hunger and plague wreaked havoc in the epidemic zone, with many people dying each day.
At that time, she felt deep sympathy for the poor inside. Thinking about the people starving inside, she couldn’t sleep and pleaded with her father to send food into the epidemic zone.
Her father was resolute, saying it was useless. But eventually, he couldn’t withstand his daughter’s pleas and agreed to her naive request, with one condition: she had to personally enter the epidemic zone.
The author happily agreed, fantasizing about how many people she could save, waking up smiling from her dreams.
Jima interjected, “The author spent so much ink setting this up; the main character is definitely going to be smacked in the face later, like the poor will certainly fight over the bread.”
Lost in the book, George raised his index finger in a gesture for silence.
In the story, her father made many preparations, assigning her two guards. They even designated a separate isolation area within the epidemic zone.
The author entered the zone on a cart loaded with bread, calling out joyfully to the hungry people by the roadside, “Come quick, free bread!”
As a result, people rushed over, jostling each other. The soldiers struggled to maintain order with their weapons.
There were many people in line. Many wanted more bread after receiving theirs; when a little girl stopped them, she was insulted. Some came with children, kneeling on the ground, pleading for her to give them an extra piece of bread.
The author, feeling soft-hearted, agreed. Consequently, everyone who received bread shouted for more, calling it their rightful share. After being refused, they cursed at the author, who ended up crying.
After the bread was distributed, although the author was very sad, she continued to plead with her father to continue the relief efforts, because they were pitiable, with many children starving to the bone. Her father shook his head, saying the author was too naively optimistic.
“I told you,” Jima said. “The poor will certainly act even worse later.”
George said, “The author has a kind heart; I never thought the daughter of a benefactor would be so compassionate.”
The story continued.
During the second round of food relief, everyone in the epidemic zone heard about the free food.
As a result, people came to collect food, bringing their families. Each person had three or four children, begging for extra bread.
The author recognized the family she had overly favored with bread last time; they had already changed three children, clearly revealing that she had been deceived. They were not a family. She was furious and exposed the scam on the spot.
The ones who had been kneeling just moments ago stood up and started cursing.
The bread ran out, and with no more bread, the poor were very displeased. Someone shouted out to grab the author, thinking her father would come to rescue her with plenty of food. The poor people surged towards the cart like mad.
Protected by the guards, the author managed to escape. After returning, several of the soldiers who protected her fell ill with the plague and died not long after. She had nightmares for several days.
However, she still insisted on providing a third round of relief.
In the third round, she entered the epidemic zone again. This time, she couldn’t bear it anymore. She stumbled upon a group of children huddled around a pot…
Though the content that followed was torn off, the two guessed it must have been something that crossed the boundaries of human civilization.
The author vomited while getting onto the cart, fleeing as if she were escaping. Afterwards, her father told her that because of her naive kindness, the ungrateful people had secretly spread the plague, and he had to burn down the epidemic zone. Watching the epidemic zone engulfed in flames, the author fell into deep contemplation, feeling very naive, and sincerely apologized to her father.
Her exact words were, “Some people are not worth saving.”
Afterward, although the daughter caused great havoc, thanks to her father’s decisiveness, Shalin passed through the crisis.
Jima said, “The cliché story is finally over.”
“Have you read many books?”
“I remember quite a few.”
“One can only say that human nature is the same,” George said. “I even feel somewhat shaken; we can save people, but how can we save souls?”
“Seeing the author’s adept narrative technique fills me with doubt about this story; words are the biggest lie,” Jima said. “Forget it, let’s not talk about it anymore. Can we now be certain that the murderer was once a penniless person?”
“Should be.”
“‘Flourish’ guy?” Jima said. “I’ve heard he is a gang leader in the underworld, born of humble origins.”
At this moment, there was a knock at the door.
“Sir George, are you ready? Everyone has arrived,” a servant called out.
“He’s ready,” Jima yelled.
“In a bit, if I frown, it means I have heard a lie,” George whispered, “cooperate with me.”
“Okay.”
George put down the book and paid his respects to the body hanging from the book, showing his respect. The two then opened the door.
The living room was much more crowded than before.
The gaze of the benevolent Blansey fell on George’s dirty hands, his expression becoming stern before he lowered his gaze. A busty maid came over with a basin of clean water.
George washed the blood off his hands.
Jima glanced around and noticed that aside from the soldiers, there were three or four noblewomen in the living room. They were in the same social circle as the deceased, generally of similar age; however, they looked much older than the departed.
Jima knew that the noble benefactor who mastered the “blood fabricator” profession likely had their daughters undergoing cosmetic procedures.
A noblewoman with pronounced laugh lines immediately caught Jima’s attention. She had seen her before; at that time, the laugh-lined noblewoman was going to visit “Lady Blansey” for orange juice.
“Are you the one who suspects us of being the murderer?” a red-haired noblewoman said sharply. “I have only met the lady once; wrap up this farce quickly and confess, you.”
Not just her, all those who were called seemed to harbor some hostility towards George.
Jima suspected that the noble benefactor Blansey was placing the blame on George.
George remained silent, writing on a note: “Did you spend time alone with the deceased today?”
He passed the note to the Flourish guy, and everyone’s eyes fell on him. His chubby face grew uncomfortable and suddenly flushed as he replied, “You suspect me?”
“Everyone has a motive,” Jima interjected. “What’s the truth?”
The benevolent Blansey spoke up: “Is your way of dealing with things just questioning? Are you a paladin of the Sanctuary?”
Jima could clearly feel that Blansey’s tone had turned sharp.
Everyone’s attention was on George and Jima.
The Flourish guy said, “I heard that the brave George brought back a succubus girl from the demon realm, a virgin. Tsk, she must enjoy even more than we do.”
More eyes focused on Jima’s beautiful face, zeroing in on the hat on her head, as if they wanted to burn it off to see whether she had a pair of horns underneath.
Jima’s heart skipped a beat. She cursed inwardly at all the gossips; the rumors spread faster than anything.
She instinctively wanted to deny it vehemently but quickly realized she had to dispel their doubts naturally; even the slightest hint of uncertainty would prompt them to demand she remove her hat.
Heh, looks like the top performer in Shalin is about to change.
Her acting soared, and she snorted, waving her hand:
“If my master is the brave George, then how wonderful; this ship can sink, and I won’t have to stay on this wretched vessel.”
With a single sword, she slayed a demon!
The crowd couldn’t help but recall George’s heroic feats.
According to the Sanctuary, brave George had slain the demon king Jima with just one sword. When people first heard this news, many were skeptical, questioning whether the Sanctuary was only announcing partial truths. Others laughed at demon king Jima, who indeed was the youngest and weakest.
But regardless, that was still a demon king. If he could take down a demon king with a single sword, then those present were as easy as pie.
Sigh, once again, I’ll have to use myself as bait.
Jima sighed inwardly and, while everyone was still distracted, said, “It was my master who discovered that the murderer likely had a tragic childhood. She got so angry she crumpled the deceased’s work—’The Poor Who Refuse Virtue.'”
Chamberlain’s one eye turned towards the Flourish guy, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword, asking: “You have never answered the question directly, and you even left the banquet midway.”
“How could it be me? Accusing my innocence out of thin air!” The Flourish guy’s forehead pulsed with veins, “I did not!”
Seeing that the topic had shifted, Jima felt relieved. At the same time, she noticed the conflict between the two. After considering it for a moment, she subtly glanced at Chamberlain. As her concentration sharpened, a blurry black dot appeared on Chamberlain’s forehead.
No one noticed as she planted a seed of dream within him.
Jima felt her magical energy dissipate, as if half of her body had been emptied. She overcame the weakness, appearing to be fine.
After planting the seed, she looked toward George’s lie detector and saw that he hadn’t frowned. The Flourish guy was not lying.
George continued to write: “When did you meet the deceased, and what did you specifically discuss?”
The maid took the note and read it to the noblewomen.
The benevolent Blansey’s eyes remained firmly fixed on the four noblewomen, not letting go.
“Before the banquet, she discussed with me matters about bugs biting the green leaves…”
“As soon as the banquet began, I…”
Each noblewoman began to speak.
When it was the turn of the laugh-lined noblewoman, she hesitated, opening her mouth to say:
“I… did not go to look for the lady; I merely took a nap on the soft couch. My maid can attest to it.”
Jima immediately turned her gaze to George and noticed he had not furrowed his brow. This too was the truth!
The room fell silent. Blansey stood up, resting his hand on the sword’s hilt, as the two still arguing halted their dispute and turned their cautious gazes towards the laugh-lined noblewoman.
The surrounding soldiers closed in.
“You all, I am truly not the murderer, believe me.”
The laugh-lined noblewoman said in a panic.
Jima’s eyes were fixed on the blood dripping from her skirt, and she spoke: “Your blood! So much blood…”
“What?”
The laugh-lined noblewoman seemed to sense something and turned around, revealing her back soaked in blood.
It looked like someone had stabbed her in the back.
She turned her head to see and then screamed:
“Ahhhhhhh!”
Fortunately, Jima had covered her ears in advance.
“Quick, restrain her!”
The benevolent Blansey immediately ordered. Just as everyone’s attention was focused on the laugh-lined noblewoman, Jima saw a soldier beside the benefactor suddenly draw a dagger, stabbing toward Blansey’s heart.
She closed her mouth and did not warn him.
Quickly kill that bastard!
