Chapter 667: Chapter 665 Old Path (25)_1 Chapter 667: Chapter 665 Old Path (25)_1 The Fran before him had lost the conflicted expression she had when she left and had reverted back to the appearance of a young college student.
If one must pinpoint a difference, it might be that after experiencing various ups and downs, her composure had somewhat matured.
Of course, this growth would soon become meaningless.
“How is Lei doing now?”
Making room for Fu Qian to step in, Fran immediately asked.
“Mrs. Mary and Chief Jones had a somewhat strange atmosphere, so I didn’t feel it was appropriate to ask.”
“He’s being treated well and seems to have better color than you.”
Fu Qian responded casually, his thoughts, however, were on the pattern of changes in the state of Fran and her group.
Entering this superhuman state currently appeared quite distinct, presumably as a result of extreme psychological threats and pressure exceeding one’s capacity to bear.
As for how it ended, at first glance, it seemed like it naturally dissipated after a certain period.
But observing all along his journey, Fu Qian now considered another possibility–alternation.
Could it be that only one superhuman state could exist at a time?
After another was activated, would the previous state automatically fade away?
Harold, in a superhuman state, rapidly designed and executed his wife’s accidental death…
And during the execution, Lei, because of the intense shock, also entered the superhuman state abruptly.
Faced with this elite accident handler, Harold did not react further; he simply fled.
Harold’s subsequent fall from the bridge and Kateman’s disappearance also followed this sequential pattern.
And now Fran and Lei were the same; with Lei’s second entry into the state, Fran returned to her former self.
To sum up, the current known sequence of Laxik possession could be arranged as–
Harold, Lei, Jessica, Harold for the second time, Kateman, Fran, Lei for the second time, in that order.
During certain periods, perhaps there were others unknown to him who were interspersed amongst them.
This would explain why Lei’s behavior wasn’t especially unusual amongst the three who drove back before lunch on the first day.
And if that was indeed the case, it wouldn’t be such a bad thing.
That meant if no one was under excessive stress tonight, Lei’s superhuman state could potentially last a considerable amount of time.
The subtle guidance he had provided earlier would thus have the opportunity to exert its maximum effect.
“That’s good to hear.”
After hearing Fu Qian’s description, Fran touched her face and couldn’t help but sigh.
“I never imagined that a vacation could involve such incidents, I wonder when all this could possibly end.”
Sooner than you think.
While responding to her emotion, Fu Qian thought to himself.
Of course, at this moment he wouldn’t say anything to intentionally upset Fran, in case she also had a second episode.
“You should trust Chief Jones’s professional abilities.”
Smiling, Fu Qian gestured towards the stairs, signaling her to simply rest assured.
…
Although the countdown creeped closer by the minute, Fu Qian displayed considerable leisure. After taking his leave from Fran, he went straight back to the bedroom to rest.
Chief Jones might appear calm, but being intent on catching the thief without enough clues, his focus on Fu Qian could even surpass that on Lei.
Fu Qian believed that if he did not return that night, or if he snuck out in the middle of the night, the Chief would likely react.
At that critical moment, his own actions could thus become restricted.
Better to rest and conserve, and observe how things unfold.
…
Early the next morning, shortly after Fu Qian got up, a series of urgent knocks sounded at the door.
Given the frequency, it was obvious it wasn’t an invitation to breakfast.
Thinking as he went to open the door, Fu Qian quickly discovered a frosty-faced Chief Jones standing outside.
“Did you sleep well last night?”
“Quite well, thank you for the hospitality.”
Fu Qian replied with a smile and thanks.
“Good, come downstairs.”
“`
After staring at Fu Qian for a few seconds, Jones pulled out his gun from his waist and pointed it directly at him.
“All right then.”
After scrutinizing the man with the weapon, Fu Qian readily acquiesced.
Descending the stairs one after the other, Mrs. Mary and Fran were sitting at the dining table, eating fried eggs. When they saw what was happening, their hands froze, forgetting to continue eating.
“What’s going on here?”
Mrs. Mary’s voice was hoarse as she looked at her husband with her mouth agape.
“Do you know?”
With the muzzle of his gun nudging Fu Qian, Jones asked coldly.
“I don’t know, but if you want me to guess–”
Fu Qian seemed contemplative, showing no awareness of the life-threatening danger he was in.
“Is it Lei? What happened to him?”
Ah!
Before Chief Jones could react, Mrs. Mary was the first to cry out in shock.
“Really? Did something happen to Lei?”
“I just received a report.”
Facing his worried wife, Chief Jones suddenly became more patient.
“This morning Lei didn’t get up. When they went to check on him, they found a dummy in the bed, and he wasn’t in the room.”
“At the moment, it’s uncertain when he left or where he went.”
“Since you guessed so accurately just now, why don’t you tell me where Lei has gone?”
While addressing his wife’s concerns, Jones continued to focus on Fu Qian.
“That’s really hard to say, considering I’m not nearly as familiar with this place as he is.”
Reluctantly glancing at the dining table, Fu Qian knew he wouldn’t be having breakfast.
Not to mention already being regarded as a dangerous individual, by order of events, he was likely the last person to have been in contact with Lei yesterday, making him highly suspicious.
“Is that so? Then tell me something you are familiar with, who exactly is Laxik?”
Jones sneered.
The officers must be quite diligent, huh? They even relayed his entire conversation with Lei to Jones?
“You don’t understand, Laxik could be anyone.”
Fu Qian spoke with the tone of a mystic, a mysterious smile on his lips.
“Enough! You need to come with me to the police station.”
Jones took this as non-cooperation, having not understood Fu Qian’s meaning.
“Sure thing!”
The readiness with which Fu Qian agreed caused Jones’s eyelid to twitch slightly.
“You as well.”
After a moment’s hesitation, he turned to Mrs. Mary and said, then pointed at Fran.
“Bring her along.”
“Of course.”
At the crucial moment, it was evident that Mrs. Mary had extreme trust in her husband.
After the initial shock, she didn’t even ask why she should follow.
However, Fu Qian understood this.
Chief Jones probably feared this was some kind of a decoy strategy, where after they left, someone might come here and harm Mrs. Mary.
So he really suspects the worst of us, doesn’t he?
…
It wasn’t long before officers arrived and took Jones and Fu Qian into a car.
Mrs. Mary and Fran, on the other hand, got into another car. In a visibly tense atmosphere, the group headed straight for the police station.
“Wait, what’s that!”
However, even before they had reached the station, the driving officer suddenly cried out.
Looking in the direction he pointed, they saw dense smoke rising from a hill not far away, like a torch had been lit.
“`