Chapter 23 (1/2)
”This is really... As expected.”
The time agreed with priest Draco was in the evening, but in the late afternoon, Loren had arrived ahead of time - the murder of the priest's nephew must be well known in a small place like Gumu town. He didn't need to inquire about it at all.
The simple lakeside cottage looks like someone who once lived but deserted for some time. As for why the priest's nephew was killed here, according to his understanding, I'm afraid someone deliberately led him here.
However, such a move seems very puzzling. The other party has been attracting more people's attention as much as possible before, and dressed these murders as ”the curse of the Holy Cross” and spread rumors around the villages and towns for fear that the world will not be chaotic.
Only this time, the other party did not choose to be in public, but in such an unattractive place outside the village and town, although it was finally found.
But... Lauren's eyes looked around at the empty house. The whole house seemed to have been specially cleaned. There was nothing left but the crumbling house.
There was no blood on the floor, no furniture, and there was nothing left except the four walls and the ceiling above the head - it was obvious that the murderer had come once and erased all the traces.
Loren shook his head slightly, with some disdain in his eyes - if the other party had done something hidden before, this time it was too blatant, almost telling himself there was a problem.
What's more, the more thorough it is, the more obvious it is that the other party is not a fool, so it's not what he wants, but must do. So what's the reason?
”The blood stains have been wiped clean, but it is also obvious that some different soil can be seen in the corner, which seems to be a table or cabinet; the nails on the wall prove that something was hung there; the earth pit in the center of the house is like a fire pit, but it is much smaller, at most a crucible can be put; then it is the means used by the other party to clean up the traces...”
Loren said to himself, his boots rubbed gently on the ground, and it was difficult to wash the blood on this mud ground, not to mention the melted iron sword: ”although it can not be completely determined, even if the other party is not a wizard, I'm afraid he has considerable attainments in alchemy. I'm afraid this room is his laboratory.”
The creaking sound of the door shaft came from behind. Lauren, who was standing there, still didn't turn his head back and turned his back to the open door - he noticed the sound of each other's footsteps when he was close to the wooden house, and half of what he said just now was for him.
”Wonderful conclusion, you are really not an ordinary wizard apprentice.”
When he opened the door, priest Draco walked in with admiration and applause: ”I thought vimpar college would send another nerd apprentice. You really surprised me.”
”Why, don't you plan to go around in circles?” Lauren and Draco looked at each other with a hint of irony at the corners of their mouths. ”In fact, I still enjoy the process. If I can, I don't mind playing.”
”It seems you noticed it early?” Draco's expression changed. ”Did I expose it?”
”No, but you're too proactive and positive - it makes me feel like I'm being led by the nose. I'm still very sensitive to this kind of thing. Moreover, there are rumors of the Holy Cross curse all over ancient wood Town, which is really too deliberate.”
”So it is...” priest Draco nodded thoughtfully: ”I thought you would die in that abandoned tomb, but you came back alive. So I couldn't help thinking that maybe I could use your hand to send father Anthony to where he should go.”
”I'm really flattered, Reverend Draco.” Loren said with undisguised sarcasm, ”or should you be a Draco wizard?”
”Whatever you want, but I guess you might want to hear why I do these things.” Draco waved carelessly and then became serious: ”you are a wizard apprentice. Without me saying more, you know how difficult the life of wizards in this land is.”