Chapter 371: Chapter 347: Bizarre DNA Test Result

Elsewhere.

At the crime scene, a blood sample was collected from the girl in the surveillance footage—the one who bore a striking resemblance to Aurora Sinclair.

A DNA comparison confirmed that she was indeed related to Aurora Sinclair, but the results of the test took everyone by surprise.

"You... say that again. What... what is their relationship?" Beta Morgan was so stunned his jaw nearly hit the floor.

The forensics technician glanced at the high-ranking officials in the room and swallowed nervously. His voice dropped as he looked down at the report in his hand, as if to double-check that his eyes weren’t deceiving him.

"The test confirms a direct familial relationship between the murderer and Aurora Sinclair. The genetic sequence comparison suggests... a mother-daughter relationship."

Beta Morgan gasped, and the pen he was holding dropped right onto the table.

The soft CLATTER seemed to break the spell of silence in the room.

"Impossible. Aurora Sinclair’s mother died more than a decade ago."

"That’s right. I was the one who processed the scene. There were two bodies in the burned-out car. We ran the tests, and they were confirmed to be the remains of Thomas Sinclair and Noelle Young..."

"Mr. Morgan, you’re aware of this. So where did this girl come from?"

The director of the Martial Affairs Bureau turned to Cassius Morgan, who had remained silent, his expression grave.

Cassius Morgan glanced at his grandson and asked in a deep voice, "Alvin Morgan, what are your thoughts?"

Alvin Morgan was examining the surveillance footage on the table. When his name was called, he stated bluntly, "With today’s technology, the margin of error in DNA testing is minimal. We can have the forensics team compare the sample to the genetic sequence of Aurora’s mother on file. If it’s a match, there are only two possibilities..."

He paused, lifting his head to look at the senior officials from the Martial Affairs Bureau across from him.

He chuckled softly. "One, that Aurora’s mother didn’t actually die in that fiery car crash all those years ago..."

"Impossible. I personally oversaw that case," the director retorted, his expression turning grim.

"It’s possible the original identification was tampered with. You could investigate the forensics personnel from that time," Alvin Morgan replied calmly after a slight pause.

"And the second possibility?"

"The second is... a bit more far-fetched. This girl could be... a clone."

Alvin Morgan’s words plunged the room back into an eerie silence.

Everyone stared at Alvin Morgan in disbelief. Even Beta Morgan looked incredulous.

Alvin Morgan elaborated, "The girl registered at the front desk under the name Elara Grant. There are only a handful of biologists in Veridia with the surname Grant, and the most famous geneticist among them is Linden Grant. He was once Professor Young’s most prized student. It would have been easy for him to obtain Noelle Young’s genetic sequence."

The people in the room exchanged glances. After a moment of contemplation, the director of the Martial Affairs Bureau decided to investigate both possibilities simultaneously.

"Linden Grant has been missing for a long time. We must find him as quickly as possible..."

Alvin Morgan glanced at the director and said pointedly, "He won’t be hard to find. The fastest way is to investigate the Trent Family directly."

"This is a critical time for the competition. It’s not wise to investigate the Trent Family right now..." Arthur Whitlock interjected suddenly.

The corner of Alvin Morgan’s mouth curved into a sarcastic smirk. "Inspector Whitlock, what’s more important? A life, or a competition?"

Arthur Whitlock’s face hardened, and his voice grew heavy. "Barring any unforeseen circumstances, the Trent Family will be representing us in the international kickboxing tournament. The eyes of the entire world will be on them. Do you have any idea what the repercussions would be of investigating them at a time like this?"

Alvin Morgan let out a cold laugh. He glanced at his phone, then pressed a button on his motorized wheelchair.

"Beta, Aurora is here."

Beta Morgan immediately stood up to push Alvin Morgan’s wheelchair.

The sight of them preparing to leave made Arthur Whitlock’s expression darken further.

"Alvin Morgan, we’re still in a meeting."

"Apologies. I’m not a member of the Martial Affairs Bureau."

"You..."

Arthur Whitlock looked to Cassius Morgan, hoping he would intervene, but the old man’s eyes were closed as if he had dozed off, utterly unconcerned by his grandson’s departure.

In the end, it was the director who said a few words to smooth things over.

Meanwhile, Dawn Miles had already burst into the Martial Affairs Bureau building, carrying Leigh Miles in her arms.

Her voice, projected with her Power, boomed through the building like a great bell, startling everyone inside.

"Morgan—!"

Hearing her, Beta Morgan quickened his pace and called out, "Aurora, over here—!"

A moment later, the familiar figure appeared before them.

She was still carrying Leigh Miles.

"Save her—!"

Alvin Morgan’s expression tightened. "Bring her closer."

"Who did you run into?" he asked, his voice tight with tension.

"A strange man, about as tall as you..."

"Where is he?"

Alvin Morgan’s expression was the calm before a storm.

A shiver ran down Beta Morgan’s spine, and he instinctively took a small step back.

"He got Elara Grant away," Dawn Miles replied, annoyed. She handed him the detonator she was holding and urged, "Morgan, we’re almost out of time."

Alvin Morgan suppressed the storm brewing in his eyes, raised his arm, and tapped his watch a few times.

A synthesized female voice emanated from the watch: "Micro-bomb number 13821. Alarm protocol disengaged."

With a sharp CLICK, the metal ring on Leigh Miles’s wrist sprang open.

Dawn Miles immediately pulled the ring off. She was about to toss it aside when Beta Morgan quickly stopped her.

"For heaven’s sake, don’t throw that! The alarm’s disarmed, but it’s still a bomb!"

Then, Beta Morgan gingerly took the metal ring from Dawn Miles’s hand and hurried away with it.

Dawn Miles looked at Alvin Morgan. Seeing his serious expression as he watched Beta Morgan’s retreating back, she asked, "What’s wrong?"

"Aurora, take me upstairs."

"But my junior sister..."

"Leave her on the floor for now. Beta will be back in a moment."

"..."

***

When Dawn Miles and Alvin Morgan reappeared at the entrance of the conference room, the officials inside immediately grew tense.

Their gazes turned particularly wary when they fell on Dawn Miles.

Alvin Morgan looked at Cassius Morgan and said calmly, "Grandfather, it’s time to go."

Cassius Morgan’s eyes snapped open. He regarded his grandson for a moment before offering a few pleasantries to the men beside him and slowly rising to his feet.

Just then, Dawn Miles’s gaze shifted to Arthur Whitlock. Her eyes narrowed slightly, making his heart lurch. He reflexively touched his pants pocket, as if checking for something.

"What is it?" Alvin Morgan noticed her change in demeanor. He glanced up at her, then turned a probing gaze on Arthur Whitlock.

"He has something on him."

"What?"

The others in the room immediately turned to stare at Arthur Whitlock.

His face fell instantly. He slammed his hand on the table and roared, "Nonsense—!"

But Dawn Miles’s expression remained placid. She pointed to his left pants pocket. "In your pocket. The left one."

Arthur Whitlock’s heart leaped into his throat. He was suddenly reminded of the incident with Aurora Sinclair at The Martial Alliance, and his breath caught in his chest.

Forcing a calm facade, he reached into his pocket. "There’s nothing in my pocket..."

But a moment later, a round button fell from his pocket, landing on the floor and rolling away.

"What is this...?"

Arthur Whitlock’s face was a mask of shock. As if in disbelief, he bent down and picked up the button.

The inspector from the Warner Family beside him grew agitated, snatching the button away. "Inspector Whitlock, what is this?" he demanded harshly.

"I... I don’t know," Arthur Whitlock stammered, panicking as he flatly denied it.

But Dawn Miles suddenly added, "Elara Grant had a button just like that on her."