“Disappointment! Utter disappointment! I invested substantial effort and funds into grooming those imbeciles into skilled soldiers to bolster my influence. Yet, it seems my years of labor and financial investment have been squandered. They’ve proven utterly useless! They couldn’t even locate a single person within this village who witnessed my son’s killer,” Lord Harrison ranted, his expression contorted with regret and frustration. His anger was palpable as he stared daggers at Butler Geoffrey.
Lord Harrison had poured significant resources into strengthening his guards, transforming them into capable soldiers who could contend with a B-Rank monster or even seize a small city. Yet, when faced with a seemingly straightforward task that even a child could accomplish, they had faltered, leaving him deeply disappointed.
‘Sigh! Young Lord Henry’s demise has undeniably affected my Lord greatly. It’s unsurprising, considering how much he favored Young Lord Henry,’ Butler Geoffrey mused inwardly, feeling a twinge of sympathy for his master as he observed Lord Harrison’s despondent state.
Regaining his composure after a minute of internal struggle, Lord Harrison locked eyes with Butler Geoffrey and inquired, “Geoffrey, can it truly be that no one within the village witnessed the murderer of my son? It’s hard to believe that an event as significant as this went unnoticed by everyone. This is simply implausible!”
“Forgive me, My Lord. I can vouch that it’s indeed the case. No one observed the Young Lord’s killer or even knew of his passing. I was present during the soldiers’ investigation. The villagers were in shock upon learning of the Young Lord’s death. Their reactions were marked by disbelief. Consequently, it’s my belief that no one had the chance to see the murderer’s face,” Butler Geoffrey explained, his voice tinged with disappointment.
“You must be mistaken! How could such a momentous incident slip by without anyone’s knowledge? It’s inconceivable!”
However, Lord Harrison clung to disbelief, unable to accept the reality that his son’s murder could go unnoticed in the midst of a bustling village.
“I regret to say, My Lord, that the truth remains unchanged. No one within the village witnessed or heard about the young lord’s death yesterday,” Butler Geoffrey reaffirmed.
Upon hearing this confirmation, Lord Harrison fell into silence. He struggled to reconcile the fact that his son’s demise went unnoticed by every villager, despite the apparent impossibility.
Noticing his master’s subdued state, Butler Geoffrey proceeded cautiously, “However, My Lord, I cannot help but harbor suspicions that the Monroe family might be involved in this matter. They disapproved of Young Lord’s conduct toward Miss Rose. Nevertheless, this is a mere conjecture and not an established truth.”
The mention of the Monroe family stirred Lord Harrison to immediate action. Rising from his seat, he focused intently on Butler Geoffrey. He had already harbored suspicions regarding their involvement in his son’s murder, and hearing their name from his trusted advisor lent further credence to his fears.
“Absolutely! The Monroe family must be accountable for my dear son Henry’s demise. Since my son’s lifeless body was discovered after his visit to their estate, it’s evident that they slew him within their manor and discreetly disposed of his remains outside. Otherwise, how could not a single soul within the village be aware of my son’s death?” Lord Harrison asserted with a grave tone, a chilling smile playing on his lips as if he had unveiled the true orchestrators of his son’s demise.
‘My Lord, it’s not so much that they adored the young lord. Quite the opposite, in fact. They feared your authority, which is why they tolerated his insolence without complaint,’ Butler Geoffrey thought inwardly.
“My Lord, now that we’ve ascertained the Monroe family’s culpability in the Young Lord’s death, what measures would you like to implement?” Butler Geoffrey inquired, his curiosity piqued. He was keen to know Lord Harrison’s plan for addressing the Monroe family, given their substantial influence over the entire village. 𝗻𝗼𝘃𝐞𝐥.
“What else? Unless they can provide irrefutable proof that they were not involved in my son Henry’s demise, death shall be their sole destiny! No one can transgress me and emerge unscathed; crossing my path is akin to offending a deity!” Lord Harrison muttered in a frigid tone, locking eyes with Butler Geoffrey as he emanated his mana pressure, causing the elderly butler to quiver in trepidation.
“Indeed, my lord! Since they have audaciously taken the Young Lord’s life, we must make an example of them to demonstrate the consequences of offending the Turner family,” Butler Geoffrey concurred with a respectful nod.
“You echo my sentiments, old man. Now, assemble a few capable men to accompany me to the Monroe family’s residence. Choose the most formidable ones,” Lord Harrison instructed.
“Of course, My Lord.” Butler Geoffrey bowed slightly before exiting the study.
“Monroe family, as you dared to extinguish my son’s life, do not fault me for being merciless,” Lord Harrison mumbled after Butler Geoffrey’s departure, his eyes burning with fury.
Meanwhile, Pinebrook village was enveloped in shock and disbelief. Gossip spread like wildfire regarding the demise of the Turner family’s Young Master. The village residents were well aware of the Turner family’s power and their substantial sway over the entire kingdom.
However, despite this awareness, someone had succeeded in ending Young Master Henry’s life, a feat that had escaped notice until now. The villagers found this fact nearly impossible to fathom.
Although stunned by the sudden news of Henry’s death, the villagers were far from mournful. Henry had been haughty and ill-mannered, and his passing was met with a sense of relief. The villagers were pleased to learn of his demise, as he had caused numerous issues within the village, which had led to several fatalities.
“Finally, that insufferable swine is gone!”
“Somebody has indeed done the community a great favor by ridding us of that depraved lecher. He brought us nothing but trouble, and now he’s no more.”
“I heard he perished a gruesome death! The perpetrator supposedly decapitated him!”
“Divine retribution! A reckoning for his transgressions! Did he truly believe he could elude divine judgment? He paid the price!”
“Hush! Speak in hushed tones. Do you want Lord Turner’s eyes and ears upon us? Remember, his influence permeates every corner of the village.”
Conversations ceased abruptly as people realized the risk of speaking too freely. They were acutely aware of the omnipresent ears and eyes that the Turner family had throughout the village and didn’t wish to jeopardize their own safety.
Amidst all this, Yuan was presently unwinding in the Monore family’s backyard, accompanied by his wives and Rose, who had joined their ranks after their intimate night. However, recalling the previous night’s tender moments led her cheeks to tinge with a faint blush.
Observing Rose’s periodic blushes and dreamy gazes towards him, Anna and Grace exchanged knowing glances before sharing mischievous smiles. Grace leaned in, her voice hushed. “She’s feeling quite embarrassed about last night, don’t you think?”
Anna responded in kind, defending Rose, “We can’t fault her. It was her first time after all, and not exactly the most private moment, given our presence.”
Grace couldn’t resist a teasing jab, “But I don’t remember you being bashful when you and our darling had your moment before me.”
Anna sighed at her companion’s antics, “Trying to reason with you is a lost cause.”
Yuan’s gaze shifted to Rose as he contemplated something. Then he said to Nora, “Nora, I sensed something unusual about Rose’s body during our dual cultivation last night. I suspect she might possess a unique body constitution or a potent bloodline. What are your thoughts?”
[Indeed, your intuition is accurate, host. Rose bears the Solar Radiant Body, a Heavenly-grade special physique. It’s an exceedingly rare trait, even in the primordial era. This physique enhances cultivation speed in sunlight and significantly amplifies any fire-based techniques. If the cultivator employs a specific technique tailored to this physique, there’s a 30% chance of evolving it to a divine-grade physique. However, the odds are minimal and require a substantial amount of resources with a fire attribute.] Nora explained.
“I see… Though it’s disappointing that it mostly bolsters cultivation in sunlight and fire techniques. Not much use otherwise,” Yuan mused, a hint of dejection in his voice.
[Host, do not underestimate the Solar Radiant Body. In daylight, the possessor can be nearly invulnerable. A mere palm movement could turn the ground beneath them into a seething lava field. It’s an exceedingly potent physique, akin to a divine-grade one.] Nora elucidated, perceiving Yuan’s lack of appreciation.
“So, in essence, it’s incredibly overpowered… Fantastic! How could the woman I’ve fallen for be ordinary? She’s a prodigy!” Yuan enthused.
[Indeed, her physique is relatively overpowering compared to most special physiques below the Ancient Grade physiques. However, it’s currently in a semi-awakened state. Upon commencing cultivation, it hinges on her individual prowess to fully awaken it without incurring repercussions. Failing to do so could hinder her future cultivation.] Nora cautioned.
“To ascend to greater heights, some risks must be taken. I have faith that Rose will awaken her physique successfully without repercussions; she possesses unwavering determination,” Yuan affirmed with a smile. After all, how could the woman managing a sprawling village be feeble-willed?
“Nora, can you peruse the system store for a suitable technique tailored to her unique physique?” Yuan inquired impatiently. He couldn’t wait to offer Rose the cultivation technique she needed.
[Understood, host!] Nora responded promptly.