In the spacious and bright hall of the Patrol Department, sunlight poured in.
The Guard, clad in Steel Armor, respectfully bowed his head.
"... Sir, that's what happened."
Regina closed the book in her hand, a hint of surprise in her eyes.
"You mean... Bigu is dead? Died at the residence of another one of his mistresses?"
"Yes, sir. It's not just Bigu, everyone there is dead," responded the Guard without hesitation, having recognized Bigu since he was the one who had previously been sent to summon Bigu for questioning.
"First Lisa, now Bigu... and both with the same traceless heart extraction..."
"It's too much of a coincidence!" Colin emphasized in a deep voice.
Regina turned to look at him, murmuring, "Yes, it's too coincidental."
Lisa, Bigu, if there was any common connection between these two, or say, a common enemy, it could only be...
She couldn't help but think of Colin's recent conjecture.
"You're right, Colin... Phil is suspicious, no matter how you look at it." Regina took a breath and stood up, "We can't delay, let's bring him in now!"
She was decisive, ready to lead the Guards out of the Patrol Department.
Originally, she would not have suspected Phil, after all, she had already sent a Guard to investigate him once, and he was just an ordinary fisherman.
But now Bigu was dead.
If it were only Lisa's death, Phil's suspicions might have been ten percent, but now, that suspicion had risen to at least fifty percent!
"Wait!" Colin abruptly extended his hand to stop her.
"Bigu, he was also an Intermediate Apprentice," he said without giving Regina a chance to argue, and continued:
"I know that compared to us School Wizards, Bigu, as a Wild Wizard, was much weaker.
But just to be sure, let's first report to Lord Flower."
School-trained Wizards and self-taught Wild Wizards were completely different concepts.
For example, when learning witchcraft, School Wizards can use their previous knowledge to understand the principles behind witchcraft, command it with ease, and even innovate.
But Wild Wizards often lack a complete knowledge system, making it hard for them to fully grasp the principles behind witchcraft, and thus hard to master it thoroughly.
Regina paused in her tracks, her brows furrowed as she looked at Colin.
But then she relaxed her gaze, nodding and saying:
"You're right, Colin."
The two came to Flower's office and reported the situation.
"... I see."
A moment later, Flower nodded behind his mahogany desk, pondered quietly for a moment, then said, "I'll come with you."
"Yes," Colin and Regina nodded.
Flower stood up and walked toward the door.
But as he reached the doorway, his steps paused slightly, doubt in his mind.
'If it really is the Blood Meat Thorns Sect, I might not be able to handle it alone... Should I report to Lord Red Flame and City Lord Price?'
His brows were furrowed tightly, and with the flesh piled upon his face, his eyes seemed even smaller.
"What's wrong, Captain Flower?" inquired Regina.
"Nothing." Flower eased his brows and replied indifferently, continuing to walk forward.
'Right now, nothing is certain, rashly reporting to Lord Red Flame and the others... would not be wise.'
He led Colin and the others to the staircase, ready to descend.
But then he shook his head, turned to Colin and the others and instructed:
"Wait here for a moment."
Colin and the others were puzzled but didn't dare to ask further, just silently watching Flower return to his office.
*
*
*
In a dark basement,
Bang!
Bo Wen pushed open the wooden door, flipped back his black hood, and looked angrily at Saroyan sitting behind a low table:
"A Intermediate Wizard Apprentice is dead! Do you want us all to be exposed?"
"Don't be hasty, my friend." Saroyan's lips curved into a slight smile, his tone soothing, "On this entire island, those who can see the crimson fog of my lord, aside from us devout followers,
perhaps only that decrepit old man Lap..."
"Moreover, I will soon harvest the Heart of Revenge and retract the crimson fog. Before long, all traces will disappear.
By that time, even if Lap himself came, all that would be visible is the ordinary corpse of Phil."
Bo Wen's expression eased slightly,
Souls that had not been enhanced and elevated indeed could not feel the miracle of the lord's crimson...
But his tone remained cold as he continued to ask:
"Before that, the revenge was complete, why didn't you retract the crimson fog in time?"
Saroyan shook his head, his voice rising confidently as he continued:
"Phil's revenge is truly complete now!"
Saroyan turned to look at Bo Wen:
"Phil never resented his wife Lisa."
"Even though... she abandoned him and strangled their young child to death."
He brushed his cheek with his right hand, gently caressing it while speaking in a sing-song manner:
"Phil hated Bigu, he hated Wizards, he hated the high and mighty Wizards of the island!"
Bo Wen stayed silent.
Saroyan chuckled softly and lowered his hand that had been caressing his cheek, consoling,
"Don't worry, I will soon take back the 'Crimson Mist'...
And besides, think of it this way, one heart imbued with the vengeance of an Intermediate Wizard Apprentice can match up to a hundred ordinary 'Hearts of Revenge'..."
*
*
West City, the slums.
It was nearing dusk.
In a decrepit shanty house.
Phil lay on a straw mat bed, staring at the palm leaf roof.
Perhaps because of the wooden racks filled with drying fish, the whole shack was permeated with the stench of sea fish.
But he was long accustomed to the smell, and although the rich golden light of the sunset shone through the holes in the roof onto him, it could not bring him the slightest warmth.
Phil wore a wooden expression.
But a closer look would reveal the reminiscing, or perhaps relishing in his lifeless eyes.
Lisa...
He slowly raised his right hand as if to grasp the golden beam of light in front of him.
...But how can light be grasped?
Swoosh.
The next second, his rough, dark hand that reached for the light transformed in an instant into a ghastly claw composed of invisible 'Crimson Mist'.
However, the sunlight continued to shine through, unobstructed.
Phil's vision blurred.
Lisa.
Lisa—!
At this moment, the sunset was descending, the sky clear.
But he felt as if he were in the deep, dark night of a storm two years ago!
The greatest happiness of his life...
was meeting Lisa four years ago... the beautiful Lisa.
So beautiful that he still can't believe he had her.
And as if gifted by fate, Lisa became pregnant just a few days after being with him, bringing little Bri into his life.
He loved Lisa dearly.
Perhaps that's why.
He never let her work, instead going out to fish before dawn and not returning until late at night.
Life was hard and difficult then, but it was the happiest time for him...
Until that nightmarish night arrived.
...That afternoon, he had caught a huge sea fish and hurried to the market while it was still fresh to sell it.
When night had fully fallen, he returned home with a big bag containing a dress with a rose pattern that Lisa liked.
He looked forward to the surprised look on Lisa's face...
He returned home full of anticipation...
Only to find the empty shack and the tiny, cold body...
...
"Phil, it's time." A familiar voice suddenly rang in his ear.
Phil paused, lowered his arm, and got out of bed.
He stood by the bed, tears blurring his vision as he looked at Saroyan walking into the shack.
He stepped forward and approached Saroyan.
The light from the left-hand window sliced their faces into light and shadow.
Phil's expression was calm, yet tears continued to flow.
He never hated Lisa...
He only hated this island, he only hated that lofty Wizard who took Lisa away!
...He only hated that he was a common man.
After a while, he barely moved his lips and murmured in an inaudible voice,
"My lord... will your god really redeem us?"
Saroyan's lips curled up in a faint smile, his gaze calm and solemn.
"Of course, all flesh is equal, our god will redeem this island!"
He paused and lamented,
"One day, the lord of 'Blood and Thorns' will return!
He is wrath, He is redemption!
The invisible 'Crimson Mist' will ignite the everlasting 'Flame of Revenge',
And the everlasting 'Flame of Revenge' will burn the world with fury!
And in those flames, we shall all find redemption..."
Amid such a lament,
Squish!
Phil swung the claw formed of the invisible 'Crimson Mist', plunged it into his chest, and slowly pulled out his beating heart, handing it to Saroyan.
Then he leaned against the wall, sliding down to sit by the window.
Before his head bowed and his gaze dimmed,
He mustered his last bit of strength to look up,
Glancing at the little skull on the bedside... and next to it, the silver bracelet belonging to Lisa.