"Please open it, Herr Commander."
The box was opened.
The two knights inserted their swords into the rusty gaps and, with great effort, finally forced the lid off with force, making a loud noise in the hall.
"Bang!"
What's inside?
Those who stood closer tiptoed to look inside, but they didn't see much treasure in the box.
There is indeed treasure.
There were purses, some tightly tied, some open, with scattered gold and silver coins.
It was a strange sight, for they were of such different designs, that if they had not known that the box contained the Earl's inheritance, they might have thought it was all stolen goods.
Wait… stolen goods?
An idea suddenly occurred to Hitzfeld, and he suddenly turned to ask Bishop Lanno, "Have there been many cases of wealthy businessmen disappearing around Fellington that have not been solved yet?"
"Indeed, there was." The bishop nodded.
“How many years ago did it start?”
"Very early on. The first similar disappearance I remember was in the spring of 1886."
"and……"
Perhaps he realized something, because when he said this, Bishop Lanno spoke in a low voice: "Most of them are sugar merchants."
Hitzfeld immediately walked quickly to Gale's side and asked him in a low voice: "Can your people be trusted?"
"Of course!" Captain Gale was a little confused, "They are all the most loyal soldiers! I guarantee it with my life!"
"That's okay..."
Exhaling, the girl curled her lips and glanced at Karen and his subordinates. Under everyone's gaze, she walked into the box, bent down and rummaged inside for a while, and finally took out a cowhide notebook.
It was so special - it was the only paper product in the box that had been treated with anti-corrosion, so she chose it at first sight.
She opened the book.
[Since the spring when I was 12 years old, my soul has been no longer pure.]
A line of scribbled characters caught my eye.
[Many people see me as a hero, thinking that it was me... I used my intelligence and courage to defeat those money-hungry villains. They sang praises to me and erected statues for me, but I couldn't speak to them and tell them that I didn't deserve it.]
[A heartless murderer certainly doesn’t deserve this honor——]
[To atone for my sins, I hid all the evidence of my crimes in the red tomato garden, along with some hints... so that those who thought it was treasure could find it.]
[I sincerely hope they will expose me.]
[Let me get what I deserve.]
There were more characters behind it, but Hitzfeld could no longer make them out.
The evil aura tainted by this book was much more serious than she had imagined. Her left eye was stinging again, and the scene before her eyes was changing and receding like a kaleidoscope.
Until...she saw a field of sunflowers.
I saw a little boy digging a wooden box from the ground and taking out a complete grouper mask from it.
Chapter 44 The Best Gift
The next day, Darent, looking confused, took a taxi to the military airport west of Fellington and saw his two companions talking on the bench in the waiting room.
Oh, and there is also a snow-white and majestic Sheldon.
"You're just in time, Maps." Hearing the footsteps, Hitzfeld turned back and said, "I remember you didn't bring any luggage either. That's great. There's an airship back to Wayne at 2pm. We can leave in less than half an hour."
"Wait..." Darent raised his hand to stop her, frowning deeply: "Can you tell me clearly what these are?"
He didn't understand. He had just started investigating all the candy stores in Fellington according to the other party's instructions. The investigation was not even halfway through. Why were they leaving?
Although... when I returned to Enling Road in the morning, I met Sheriff Daisy who was still injured. She did say things like "the case has been closed" and "thank you for your help", but why?
Why did it end suddenly?
Who is the murderer?
How did you catch him?
He was full of doubts. After hearing that his two companions had been sent to the military airport by a special car sent by Daisy in the morning, he rushed over immediately.
"It's a bit complicated." Ethan tried to explain to him, "Anyway, it was all done by Bill... Yes, our employer. He wanted to seize the Earl's inheritance, and the house at No. 15 was once the Earl's secret base near the Red Tomato Garden... He left a secret room and a secret passage here that led directly to the Red Tomato Garden. Bill got a hint in the secret room and thought that there was another inheritance buried in the Red Tomato Garden, and then he overheard-"
"Stop!" Darent raised his hand again.
"Hmm?" Ethan shut up and tilted his head to look at him, "What else do you want to ask?"
"The murderer is Bill Ponson?"
Ethan: “Yes.”
"Did he create Ghost Street?"
Hitzfeld: “Yes.”
"Did he kill Madam Sinlai?"
"Oh, this is not... Strictly speaking, this is another case. It has to do with a car accident three years ago..."
"..." After listening to the two people's roundabout explanations for a long time, Darent finally understood what was going on in this case.
"So that guy, Bill Ponson, he filed a false report?"
Ethan: “Yes.”
"Is what he said about being pulled into Ghost Street so many times bullshit?"
Hitzfeld: “Yes.”
"How could he be so cruel and mad that he would even kill the woman who had always followed him for an uncertain opportunity?"
They both said in unison: "Yes—"
"Oh! Goddess!" Darent held his head and wailed, "How could you not take me with you to such an interesting event?"
"You're just a comedian, Mapes."
Hitzfeld originally thought that he was going to lament the ugliness of human nature, but upon hearing that, both shoulders slumped.
"You've made the wrong choice, really. You should have stayed in Fellington. People here would love you."
"Comedian? Does that mean you're a celebrity?" Darent was not ashamed but proud of it. He straightened his collar very seriously and said, "Well, I guess I'm a famous person after all."
"Why?" Ethan's face darkened. "Are you jealous of Hitzfeld..."
"I didn't." Darent's face changed. "We are secret police. Which secret police would want to be famous? God... Who wants to become like her..."
"No kidding." He sat down next to them and sandwiched Hitzfeld in the middle with Ethan. "What about the four children? Aren't they too pitiful?"
"They've tested it... Bieber and Lena are not Bill and Katna's biological children. They must have been bought from the slums when they were still young."
When it comes to this topic, Hitzfeld could only shake his head.
This situation is very common in the local area - those dreamy girls, some of whom are stupid and some of whom are naive, are too easily deceived and become pregnant at a young age.
But their professions do not allow them to work and raise children at the same time. After all, if the news gets out, no one will support them, and no audience will accept that the heroine is such a person.
So the only thing I can do is... find a way to get rid of the child.
This is still a good situation, because at least the child can survive.
Worse...
This, the girl still doesn't want to recall.
She couldn't help but think of the last vision she had seen in the church.
That was the count's life... The first time he put on the mask was under the bed. He hid there and dared not make a sound, listening to the constant creaking and shaking of the bed. He knew what his mother was doing with someone else upstairs, and he knew even more - the other party did this just because he said yesterday that he "wanted some candy."
He was broken from that moment on. A pure soul was tainted by hatred.
He began to use the power of the mask - this thing can allow him to sneak into the dream world in another image as long as he wears it. He can travel through it at will and control other people's dreams without being discovered. The number of disappearances recalled by Bishop Lanno is far from enough to summarize the crimes he committed - there are many people who committed suicide due to mental trauma, and this process even violates the laws of nature, just like Brody pulled out his spine to follow his dreams, and Mrs. Ponson fell down because of the dream.
Who invented ketchup?
A noble pioneer?
He has shown noble qualities since childhood, and is willing to throw the candy he has worked so hard to get into holy water in order to let others taste the sweetness?
Ah……
It's all made up!
His motive was very simple, he just wanted revenge.
The secret of ketchup was not discovered by him, but stolen when he murdered the first sugar merchant.
When he completely rose to prominence, many people did not understand - he had already forced the sugar traders into a desperate situation, so why did he continue to lower the price of raw sugar?
It's also very simple... because that's not enough, he would rather lose money himself, he doesn't care how much he loses, as long as he can force some people to jump off the building.
"What about Cokeley and Innie..."
Darent hesitated to speak.
In fact, it’s more than just these two children.
Although Bieber and Lena were bought, they have been living with their parents since they could remember and have already developed a deep relationship with them.
How do you tell these children that their father committed a serious crime and even killed their two mothers?
"Sin is sin," the girl replied.
"They'll arrange it."
"What about the truth behind the Count's rise to prominence?" Darent asked.
"Regarding the crimes he committed...will you report this matter?"
“It will be reported.”
"That's not your style."
"Whether I want to or not is one thing... so many people know about it, but whether I do it or not is another."
"And I believe in the decision above." Hitzfeld looked up and looked at him.
"You may have forgotten who the current Majesty is and who Ethan's immediate superior is."
"Ow!"
Lily called out to her twice and lowered her head to lick her boots.
"Lily!"
Just as Hitzfeld was about to explode, an officer in a second lieutenant's uniform came in and reminded them.
"You can get ready and come over."
"We're taking off in ten minutes."
"Okay, okay—"
Darent held the back of his head and limped ahead to catch up.
"I thought I could have a long vacation... I only stayed for two days... I don't want to work with you on any cases anymore..."
Ethan also stood up and tried to follow, but he suddenly stopped.
Looking back, Hitzfeld reached out and grabbed the corner of his clothes.
"Hitzfeld?" He tilted his head.
"I once said that if you can figure things out for yourself, I'll give you a gift when you leave here."
"Ok?"
"Of course there are gifts."
The girl raised her hand and handed him an exquisite palm-sized card.
