Chapter 127: Chapter 96: Add Points for Me

"Wizards from the Ghost Soul School always delight in desecrating and toying with the dead."

Wei’en raised an eyebrow. ’Let’s keep it civil, no need for insults.’

’Desecration is one thing, but is a word like "toying with" really appropriate here?’

"Do it. As it happens, I also... also want to question Lugte." Sayam used nearly all his strength to utter the sentence calmly.

"Alright..."

KNOCK. KNOCK, KNOCK.

Just then, a knock came from the door.

"Sir, shall I have Young Master Ramiro come over?"

’Collins?’

Wei’en watched Sayam impassively as the older man refused without a change of expression, "There’s no need."

"Very well, Sir."

[You have been targeted by the killing intent of Collins Vazquez. Evaluation: Mice love to peek at the world from the safety of their holes. It’s not a good habit. Reward: Survival Points +2.]

’Oh? It seems the old butler’s mood isn’t as calm as his tone suggested.’

However, this gave Wei’en a bit more confidence.

’Emotions are a good thing. The more emotional he is, the more likely it is that waking Young Master Lugte will yield some useful information.’

"Let’s begin."

"Alright."

Wei’en walked to the bedside, opened the Spirit Summoning Potion, and poured it into Lugte’s mouth. ’This should be how it’s used, right?’

Meanwhile, Sayam moved to the side, his fingers pinching a ring, which he rubbed from time to time.

The two didn’t have to wait long before a black light shone from Lugte’s mouth. The dark glow then scattered, forming countless tiny, faint specks of light that shuttled through his body.

Immediately after, a somewhat blurry, illusory figure slowly detached from his body and floated in mid-air—it was, unmistakably, Lugte’s soul.

"F-Father?"

Lugte looked around in a daze, then down at his own body. "I... what’s happened to me?"

"You’re already dead."

"I... I’m dead?"

"That’s right, you fool!" Sayam’s voice was laced with anger. "I’ve told you before, strength doesn’t represent a person’s ability. Wisdom does."

’Is this really the time for a lecture?’ Wei’en thought.

"I... that’s right. I was killed..." Lugte murmured. "So, it was a trap after all."

Sayam snorted. "Tell me, what exactly happened? Did you take that Divine Statue?"

Wei’en couldn’t help but glance at him. ’Hey now, old man, you stole my line. Just so you know, my fee is 100 gold pounds. Not one penny less. Don’t even think about docking my pay.’

"Sir, our time is limited. Please keep that in mind."

"Speak!"

A look of sorrow crossed Lugte’s face as his spirit sat on his own body. "I’m sorry, Father. I did take the Divine Statue. But... it was my second brother. He’s the one who told me to take it."

"Gengrich?"

’Just as I thought,’ Wei’en mused. ’I knew there was something wrong with the person I met at Krimms Cathedral that day. It really was that guy causing trouble.’

"Yes. My second brother told me someone was offering a high price for the Divine Statue. He told me to sneak it out, and after we sold it, we’d replace it with a fake. He said no one would find out..."

"Foolish!" Sayam looked at him in exasperation. "Did you ever stop to think why he didn’t do it himself, but came to you instead?"

Lugte gave a bitter laugh. "He said the family business was in crisis and needed the money, and that as a member of the family, I should contribute."

"Besides, you’ve told us before that there was nothing special about the Divine Statue, which is why I took it..."

"Didn’t I tell you long ago that your duty was to watch over things here? Your older brother and I handle matters at sea!" Sayam grew even more furious.

’Wei’en understood now. So, this Young Master Lugte wanted to sell the Divine Statue for gold pounds to support the family business... His heart was in the right place, but his intelligence was seriously questionable.’

"And then?"

"Then I brought the Divine Statue out. But who would have known that as soon as I left that room, I..."

"You what?"

"I don’t know how to describe it. It was like... I was aware of everything I was doing, but I wasn’t the one in control..."

"Manipulation?"

Wei’en and Sayam glanced at each other. This was clearly the work of some mystical ability.

"Yes, it was as if I was being controlled. It was like that for the next few days. Right up until that day, when I was sitting in that chair over there."

As he spoke, a look of terror appeared on Lugte’s ethereal face. "Suddenly, a lot of people jumped out from behind me. They tortured me for a long time, and finally, the man named Tiki..."

"I remember his exact words were, ’This is just to collect some interest from you Ceres Clan. We Vazquez—’ He didn’t get to finish before the person next to him stabbed me in the chest with a sword..."

’Good. We’re finally getting to the important part.’

Wei’en’s focus sharpened. "The Vasquez People?"

"What Vasquez People?" Sayam’s eyes flickered slightly. "I see. So they were hired by Vazquez to kill you. I knew it wasn’t Isabella’s style."

"Vazquez?" Lugte was clearly taken aback for a moment. He glanced at Wei’en, then nodded. "It must have been."

The corner of Wei’en’s mouth twitched. ’You two are clearly taking me for a fool.’

"What about the Divine Statue?" Sayam ignored him and pressed on. "Who did you give the Divine Statue to?"

"My second brother... I remember it clearly. I gave it to him."

"Gengrich!"

Sayam slammed his fist on the bed. "That bastard! How could he? How could he do something like this?"

"Father, I’m sorry."

By now, Lugte’s form had become even more ethereal, like a wisp of smoke that might dissipate at any moment.

Wei’en seized the last few moments and asked, "Young Master Lugte, during the time you were being controlled, besides Gengrich, did you come into contact with anyone else?"

"Or rather, who visited you often? Tell me, quickly."