I am a necromancer, and I absolutely love America.

Chapter 119 [Pain and Plague] Branch Opens (13K Long Chapter)

Dali was startled: "Fuck! Someone's there? Who would be there in the middle of the night? What's wrong?"

"The situation is unclear, you should leave immediately, I will investigate further."

The man in the suit was more worried about the guns hidden on the small dock.

If someone sees this, it will be a huge problem!

Often, the severity of the trouble depends not on what you did, but on who the cargo owner is.

"Walk!"

At Dali's command, a commotion broke out on the speedboat.

The men exchanged bewildered glances, a flicker of panic in their eyes: "What's wrong, boss?"

Dali reiterated, "Let's go back!"

His underlings, who were all his core members, finally realized what was happening and carried out Dali's orders without any hesitation.

The three ships traced an arc, turned around, and sped back in the direction they had come from.

The roar of the engine echoed across the sea, startling several seabirds that were roosting at night.

The man in the suit hung up the phone, his expression turning somewhat grim.

He took out a handkerchief and wiped his forehead; the handkerchief was already soaked with sweat.

This matter must be thoroughly investigated.

Their deal with Dali has been going on for a long time without any problems.

Was it a genuine accident, or was someone testing us?

He picked up the phone, took a deep breath, and then dialed the number.

"Mr. Vaughn, something's happened."

A steady voice came from the other side, mixed with the faint clinking of porcelain.

That was the sound of a teacup lightly touching a saucer, which sounded more chilling to him than gunshots.

Every time the man in the suit heard this voice, it was like listening to a countdown to his death.

"And the result?"

"The operation was terminated without any direct conflict."

"Go check. I need the results by breakfast tomorrow morning."

"yes!"

The man in the suit was covered in cold sweat.

He felt immense psychological pressure when communicating with the man opposite him, even if it was just exchanging a few ordinary words.

The gardens of Vaughn Manor were adorned with vibrant flowers, but the soil was littered with countless corpses; he didn't want to become the next fertilizer.

He slammed his phone down on the table, making a dull thud.

"Fuck! I need to see who's causing trouble!"

The great eagle owl saw all this from the air, immediately stopped circling, and flew in pursuit of the three enemy ships.

Richard knew the other person had already left.

Why did they suddenly leave? They must have received a message.

They had just called the water police for help when the enemy withdrew?

That can only mean that the other party has informants within the maritime police force, or that the maritime police are also involved in this matter.

In New York, it's no secret that people in uniform often have two pay slips.

There was no direct confrontation this time, and the situation should still be under control, but the other side may launch an investigation.

Richard couldn't figure out what those people were doing. Were they buying and selling corpses?

There are three locked rooms on the island, which may contain freezers and hide some corpses and organs.

To conserve his magic, Richard didn't use his Magic Hand to check the locked room, so he didn't know what was inside.

However, without electricity, a body cannot be preserved for long. What else could it be but a body?

That's completely hard to say. Smugglers smuggle all sorts of things, from drugs and weapons to even graphics cards—anything is possible.

Hart Island was very close to the pier, and they arrived at the pier in just over ten minutes.

Lyon slowly brought the yacht to a stop on the dock.

The ship gently bumped against the cushioning mats by the dock.

An ambulance was already waiting at the dock and immediately took Connor away.

Winnie curled her lip, clearly disdainful, and showed no intention of accompanying Connor to the hospital.

She had some wounds on her arms, but she only bandaged them up simply because she couldn't be bothered to go to the hospital.

Winnie walked up to Richard and ordered, "Give me your phone."

Richard didn't want to stay in touch with the bus: "I won't get your contact information."

"Clumsy attempt at playing hard to get!" Winnie was extremely confident. She simply put her phone away. "Boy, if you want to make movies in Hollywood, contact me. You'll definitely find my number!"

As she spoke, she reached out and touched Richard's pectoral muscles.

Richard frowned slightly and stepped back, dodging her fingers.

Debbie stared at Winnie, not understanding why this woman had suddenly started touching Richard inappropriately.

But all those who had designs on Richard were her rivals in love.

Debbie instinctively tightened her grip on Richard's arm.

"Hmph! Boring Dong Daren!" Winnie left like a gust of wind.

Richard and Debbie also disembarked and drove away.

About half an hour later, a coast guard patrol boat with flashing lights slowly approached the yacht: "Is this you calling for help?"

Leon was tidying up the debris on the deck, preparing to go home with Lisa, when he saw the marine police and casually waved: "Yes. I don't know what happened, the servo jammed just now. We stopped at Hart Island for a while, and then it inexplicably recovered. It's fine now, thanks!"

A water policeman stepped onto the boat with a cold expression, scrutinizing the surroundings.

His gaze was extremely sharp, sweeping across every corner of the deck as if searching for something.

Leon sensed something was wrong and tried to explain, "What happened? It was just an accident. I know we weren't allowed on the island, but our rudder got stuck, so we couldn't go anywhere."

""

Leon didn't want to cause trouble, as that would only get him scolded by his father.

The police officer said coldly, "No problem, but we need to check your boat to make sure it's really malfunctioning. You know there's a ban on ordinary people going ashore. You've violated the ban, so you have to come with me."

"Damn it, it was a ship malfunction!" Leon was furious, but he didn't want to cause trouble, so he pulled out an SBA card: "OK, I'm a relative of an NYPD officer."

The maritime police officer scoffed without any attempt to hide his disdain: "Land playboy, your SBA card won't work at sea. Come with me."

His lips curled into a smirk, revealing a hint of mockery.

On the water, there are only two signs that allow unimpeded passage: one is a police badge, and the other is a water passage permit.

SBA cards are not included.

"Fuck!" Leon cursed under his breath, realizing the other party was unresponsive.

Lisa then spoke up: "My grandfather is Congressman Brian Anderson. I think there might be some misunderstanding here."

The policeman's expression changed slightly.

He pursed his lips, seemingly weighing the pros and cons.

The law is often like a bitch's belt, tightening when she encounters the powerless and loosening when she encounters the powerful.

"Brian Anderson's granddaughter. Okay, the boat has to be taken to the designated shipyard for investigation tonight. It's a violation of the ban anyway. But you can go back and rest."

Leon had no choice: "OK! I'll call my captain."

He was worried that his precious car would be subjected to a rough investigation by these police officers, who might damage its engine.

This is a German-made engine that he just replaced last year.

He picked up his phone and called the captain he had been working with for a long time.

When he goes on ocean voyages, the captain usually helps him navigate the ship; the two have maintained a cooperative relationship for many years.

He picked up his phone: "John, there's a little problem. I need you to keep an eye on the boat for me..."

""

The water policeman returned to his patrol boat and picked up his phone to call Samuel Stone.

"Boss, his reaction is normal. This young master doesn't seem to know anything. Also, his female companion is Lisa Anderson, Brian Anderson's granddaughter."

Samuel-Stone paused slightly. "Okay, I understand. Check the ship first and send me the passenger list. In any case, landing on Hart Island is strictly prohibited."

If it were any other member of the House of Representatives, he might have tried to communicate with them.

But Brian, haha.

The significance of a politician lies not in who he was in the past, but in who he will become in the future.

Brian's shelf life is almost up.

Moreover, this matter is of great importance, and the cause must be found out, otherwise it will be difficult to explain to the person behind it.

Samuel Stone sneered.

Richard drove Debbie home and then drove off again.

Catherine asked curiously, "Aren't you going to rest?"

Richard shook his head: "I just remembered I still have some things to take from the YC apartment. You guys go to sleep first."

Catherine knew what he was up to, so she said, "Be careful."

Richard drove off in the direction of the great eagle owl.

The highway was deserted in the night, with only his car in it.

He wanted to figure out what was going on.

New York gangsters are ruthless and capable of anything.

Since you might be the one getting shot in the back, why not try to shoot someone else in the back first?

However, this matter cannot be handled impulsively, as it also involves the maritime police, and it is unknown how many people are involved.

So far, on the surface, nothing seems to concern Richard.

The ship belonged to Lyon. The sudden return was due to Connor's injury, and the island landing was because Miss Winnie wanted to go on an adventure.

About half an hour later, Richard arrived at a coastline.

The great eagle owl perched on the tree, waiting.

The owl's pupils glowed faintly in the darkness.

Richard quietly got out of the car and approached stealthily.

The great eagle owl returned to Richard's shoulder.

Richard immediately gained access to all of its memories.

A group of masked thugs disembarked here, went ashore, and entered an abandoned drainage ditch.

The Great Eagle Owl has excellent night vision. Richard had it check the area to make sure no one was around before approaching the sewer.

After Richard walked over, he discovered that there was a hidden dock that was almost invisible from the outside. The branches on both sides of the dock hung down to the sea, and no one would have guessed that there was a small harbor behind the woods.

From the sky, the surrounding area was all barren mountains and dense forests. I wonder how this group of people found this place in the first place.

There is a dilapidated sewer in the harbor, which looks like it has been abandoned for who knows how long.

Richard frowned as he looked at the sewer.

The entrance to the cave was half-covered by weeds, and a damp, musty smell wafted from inside.

The great eagle owl couldn't follow them in; they would be easily spotted.

It only knows that the other party left through this place, but it doesn't know where it went.

"Go, catch a mouse."

The great eagle owl flapped its wings and flew away, returning to Richard's side in less than 10 minutes with a mouse in its beak.

Richard resurrected the rat.

The mouse squeaked and scurried into the sewer.

About ten minutes later, the rat returned, and Richard saw the scene inside the sewer.

It was very dark, but there was a path that had clearly been walked on and had been cleared.

The sewers were very complex and interconnected, and the rats quickly lost track of each other and had to retreat.

Richard frowned.

This is such a hassle.

"You two, go to Hart Island. Rats, keep watch near that temporary dock, and you keep watch in the woods."

"If the summoning time is about to end, hide in that collapsed pit."

The great eagle owl cried out, then flew away with the mouse in its beak.

Richard watched as the two flesh-and-blood puppets disappeared into the night.

If their bodies haven't been eaten by other animals when you visit again, you can use the death sensor to check their memories and see if there are any other discoveries.

Essentially, a flesh-and-blood puppet is a monitor that can only operate for five or six hours, which is too short a time and it cannot return messages in a timely manner.

It would be great if we could extend the time a bit.

The trail of the masked man ended there.

However, Richard had another lead: Christina applied to New York City to establish a scientific research station on the island, but was rejected.

Perhaps the person who rejected me is related to this matter.

Richard messaged Christina to find out the city councilor who was preventing us from going to Hart Island and sent me his name.

A name was sent back very quickly.

Killian Ronan.

Richard was unfamiliar with the name, so he sent it to Brian: "I need his information, as soon as possible."

Soon, a detailed resume of Killian Ronan was sent to Richard's phone.

I have no idea where Brian got it from.

Cillian Ronan's resume shows that he is just a New York City councilman with no connection to KOM Corporation, but he has been pushing for a municipal bill for the past two years: the Hart Island Act.

The main content of the bill is to require all unoccupied corpses in the city to be moved to Hart Island for burial.

This bill is ostensibly for humanitarian purposes, to help families of the deceased find their loved ones' remains, but in reality, it will definitely benefit KM.

The company brings huge profits!

However, the bill has sparked huge protests from other cemetery companies in New York City.

The bill has been stalled for over a year now, with Killian-Ronan relentlessly pushing it forward despite the enormous resistance.

There are usually only two explanations for this situation: either Killian Ronan is a true humanitarian fighter, or he has a deep love for KOM.

Killian-Ronan's constituency is not on Hart Island!

Brian called, his voice low, clearly choosing his words carefully: "Cillian Ronan...'s Hart Island Act is in huge conflict with my district. There are seven or eight small to medium-sized cemetery companies in my district who have always been my supporters, and I can't..."

"9

However, for Richard, the more corpses on Hart Island, the better.

Since Killian Ronan is willing to push for the bill, I am naturally willing to lend a hand.

Once the bill is passed, then we'll get rid of KOM.

"No, you can cooperate with this plan. I hope there are as many corpses as possible on the island. Anyway, you don't need the donations from those small and medium-sized cemetery companies anymore, so let them out of the game!"

"Yeah!" Brian realized, a grin spreading across his face.

As a politician, shamelessness is the most basic quality.

No matter how many years these small and medium-sized cemetery companies have supported me, they are no longer important now.

Political donations and prostitution fees are essentially the same transaction: after you pay, the other party lies down as you request, but there's only one clock.

It's time!

Richard calmly replied, "I need the Hart Island Act to pass. There's no rush. You can use it to make some deals; I don't care. I just want the Hart Island Act to pass in the end."

Anyway, KOM Corporation hasn't gone out of business yet, and the Bone Nest hasn't been built up, so he still has time.

Brian breathed a sigh of relief and laughed: "Great! Killian Ronan should be happy to make a big deal with me."

Richard didn't care what kind of dirty deal the two sides reached.

Richard added, "Today I encountered a group of masked robbers on Hart Island..."

Richard described what happened that day.

"A mask?" Brian immediately pressed, "What kind of mask?"

Richard described the group's characteristics in detail: all wearing black and white ghost masks that only revealed their eyes, dressed in dark tactical vests, and carrying assault rifles.

The speedboat is painted black and has no number markings. The engine has been modified to be quiet, so it makes almost no noise when starting.

Brian immediately exclaimed, "That's Dali! Dali from the Shadow Gang! So they built a dock on Hart Island. Who are they trading with?"

The situation on Hart Island was becoming increasingly complicated, and Brian decided to proceed with caution to avoid getting into trouble: "I need to investigate the situation first."

"No problem, be careful."

For Brian, bribing a city councilor was a very important investment, and he had to make enough money from it.

Richard returned home to find Catherine and Debbie already asleep.

He was not tired.

This trip was quite fruitful.

First, the [Skeleton Nest] skill is about to be activated. All you need to do is order a large enough diamond from the University of Tokyo to build it.

The only thing to watch out for is whether there are any overly obvious external signs.

If we cause a big commotion, we'll be in big trouble.

We'll discuss these things after we receive the materials.

And as for the source of the plague, the [Pain and Plague] branch finally has a glimmer of hope for activation!

However, this also caused a lot of trouble, involving KOM, Killian Ronan, and Dali.

Richard believes the situation is temporarily under control, and the two sides have not directly clashed.

Oh, and there's that stamp collector, Winnie West. Luckily I didn't leave my phone number, otherwise she probably would have called and challenged me to an all-nighter.

Alger got up in the morning.

He lived in an old-fashioned manor house with ivy climbing the exterior walls. It looked unremarkable from the outside, but it was actually quite expensive.

The bedroom furniture is made of solid wood from the 40s, and the bed sheets are plain cotton with no gold thread embroidery.

He was wearing an old flannel bathrobe, and his slippers made a slight rustling sound on the wooden floor.

This New York King, who looks just like Santa Claus, seems no different from any other retired accountant.

Breakfast is made fresh in the kitchen.

Two boiled eggs, a slice of rye bread, a small dish of olives, and a glass of juice made from tomatoes that his wife picked herself in the yard.

The tomato juice was served in a regular glass, with unfiltered fruit fibers still clinging to the glass walls.

He ate slowly, and after finishing, he folded his napkin and placed it next to his plate, his movements methodical.

He gently wiped his mouth with a napkin, finished the last sip of tomato juice, and looked up: "So, is there anything you can say to me? A night has passed, and you know, an old person's time is very limited."

The man in the suit stood stiffly, his hands clasped in front of him.

His back was already slightly wet.

Behind Alger stood a man in a black suit with an expressionless face.

The gaze behind the sunglasses was fixed on the man in the suit, as if staring at a prisoner about to be judged.

The man in the suit trembled and swallowed hard. "That ship is called the Wave Chaser. The owner is Lyon Monroe, the second son of the Monroe family."

Alger stared blankly at the man in the suit.

The man in the suit wiped his sweat: "There were six people on board at the time. Winnie West, director West's goddaughter; Richard, Christina Shepard's student; the infamous Debbie Barnes; Lisa Anderson, Brian's granddaughter; and Connor Rivers, the son of a Columbia Pictures executive."

"Connor and Winnie, Leon and Lisa are all publicly known to be in a relationship. Debbie and Richard are close, but the specifics are unclear. All we know is that Debbie once publicly announced at a football game that Richard was her boyfriend, but Richard apparently did not accept it."

The man in the suit succinctly explained the relationships between everyone.

Alger was quite displeased: "The Saintess's boyfriend?"

He tapped his fingers heavily twice on the sofa armrest.

Although he was involved in murder, drug trafficking, arms dealing, and organ trafficking, he was a devout Catholic.

The saintess actually has a boyfriend!

Alger committed enough sins in his life to break every commandment in the Ten Commandments three times over, except for "Thou shalt not steal".

Stealing is too low-level; it's not part of his business scope.

In his worldview, the issue of the saint having a boyfriend is more serious than murder, because it touches on the face of the church.

He is still of Asian descent.

The man in the suit continued his report: "When they were fishing that day, Connor's palm was pierced by a fishhook, and he developed an infection and fever. He has been taken to the hospital for examination and it has been confirmed that he has a Vibrio vulnificus infection."

"Because Connor was injured, everyone had to return early. According to Leon, the steering gear jammed midway through the journey. At that time, the ship was heading directly towards Hart Island, so they could only slow down and come to a stop on Hart Island. Winnie wanted to explore, and since Connor was injured, Richard went ashore with Winnie. About half an hour later, Winnie and Richard returned to the ship. The steering gear returned to normal, and they successfully returned to the dock."

"Winnie's on Hart Island? I know that girl, she's too reckless." Alger chuckled, like an old neighbor.

The man in the suit, unsure of his meaning, wiped the cold sweat from his brow: "We investigated the ship and found no mechanical malfunctions. However, one of the steering gear cables was broken, appearing to have been torn by hand and then reconnected manually. In other words, someone deliberately caused this accident!"

"Man-made?" Alger's fingers, which had been resting on the armrest, suddenly tightened, and a glint flashed in his eyes, like that of a fierce lion or tiger.

The man in the suit broke out in a cold sweat, his heart trembling: "Yes..."

'

Alger said coldly, "Have you found out who did it?"

"It's not clear yet. There were only six people on board at the time. Debbie Dixon is a well-known candidate for sainthood, but she doesn't seem to have the ability... I checked all her records, and her grades at the French Louis School were terrible; she was just a cheerleader."

Typical, stupid white cheerleader. Alger snorted, said nothing, and gestured for him to continue.

"Then there's Winnie West. Everyone knows that West's goddaughter is a bitch. I'd believe it if you said she slept with all three men on the ship. But to say she dismantled the ship's precise electrical circuits and then quietly reinstalled them, I think that's impossible."

Alger picked up the bone china teacup on the table and took a small sip.

The man in the suit continued his analysis: "And then there's Richard. He's an international student at the University of Tokyo. His father is a small businessman, and his mother is a branch manager at a state-owned bank in the University of Tokyo. He has an exceptional talent for biology and studies medicine under Dr. Christina Shepard. He's definitely a genius, but he's studying medicine."

With an investigative force of Alger's caliber, Richard's family background was laid bare, leaving no room for concealment.

"Then there's Lisa Anderson, Brian Anderson's granddaughter. No introduction needed; she has no mechanical knowledge." The man in the suit didn't elaborate; he knew Alger's abilities.

Alger is known as a living handbook, and he likes to memorize personnel information whenever he has free time.

He knew the backgrounds of all the senators and representatives in the country, all the city councilors in New York, and the family members of hundreds of executives.

He has a clear understanding of everyone's strengths and weaknesses, which is his greatest strength.

The man in the suit continued:

...Then there's Leon. He loves deep-sea fishing and goes out to sea frequently, at least 20 times a year. There's nothing inherently suspicious about his outings. Finally, there's Connor, a complete playboy who's been chasing after Winnie for two years straight. Everyone in Hollywood knows Winnie is a bitch, but he's the only one who believes she's truly in love.

"So, what's your conclusion?" Alger put down his teacup and rested his fingers on his knees.

The man in the suit steadied his breathing.

"Leon. He's the most likely candidate. He probably discovered something unusual while deep-sea fishing. Dali and his gang of damn blacks are completely out of control; they could very well do something stupid but keep it a secret."

"Then Leon wanted to investigate, so he deliberately sabotaged the ship. Only he had the ability to do that; he was very familiar with ships, and he had the time. He then persuaded Richard and Winnie to explore the island and see if they could find anything. At the same time, to avoid interference from the water police, he deliberately did not call for rescue."

"Because Lyon couldn't possibly know when we were going to act, he guessed that the water police's radar could scan him at any time, so he didn't dare to go ashore on his own."

According to Connor, Richard and Winnie returned quickly because Winnie had injured herself, falling into a ditch and spraining her ankle. By the time Richard and Winnie returned, the ship was back to normal. Throughout the entire ordeal, only Leon was in the cockpit, where he had full control.

"That makes a lot of sense." Alger clapped his hands.

"Then what's the motive?"

The man in the suit froze, cold sweat pouring down his face, and honestly replied, "I don't know."

Alger pressed on, "So what should you do?"

The man in the suit immediately said, "If it's Lyon, he'll be very careful this time, since we've alerted him. I think we can test the waters."

“And then there’s Richard,” Alger added. “He’s from the University of the East, and his past is completely unclear. But there are two things you might not know. First, he has a close relationship with Brian Anderson; Brian asked Calderson for a letter of recommendation for him, something Calderson mentioned at a dinner party.”

"Furthermore, Richard is Christina Shepard's student. Christina Shepard recently submitted an application to establish a research station on Hart Island, but it was blocked by the city government."

"Richard is a suspect because he is connected to two key figures and happens to be on Hart Island."

In Alger's world, coincidence is the most unreliable word.

All coincidences are the inevitable result of someone's careful planning.

"Those three girls: two idiots, one nerd. Connor is a complete waste. Those four are out of the running. The prime suspect is Leon, but Richard can't be let down either." Alger said calmly, "Kill Connor. See how Leon and Richard react, and we'll know. If we don't find anything within a month, kill them all to ensure secrecy. If we do find something... it would be best if someone comes forward. I want to see who dares to mess with me in New York!"

Alger's originally kind face instantly twisted, revealing a chilling ferocity.

Although he had been operating in New York State for many years, countless enemies were still lurking in the shadows.

The higher he stands, the more prying eyes he attracts, and the more careful he must be.

Kill every enemy! The reason their family has been able to stand firmly at the top of New York State for decades is because of this caution and ruthlessness.

"Yes!" The man in the suit's voice trembled slightly, his head bowed low, not daring to look Alger in the eye.

Richard arrived at Baytop Manor, the very same luxurious villa complex owned by that unlucky Adam.

Richard met with the real estate agent who was buying the property.

He was a white man in his forties, driving a silver-gray Porsche Cayenne, wearing a sharp suit, a Patek Philippe watch, enamel cufflinks, and hand-stitched Oxford shoes.

Real estate agents who can serve the wealthy are often themselves millionaires who live in villas.

Real estate agents who haven't personally lived in villas can't understand the needs of the wealthy.

They are not just selling real estate, but a lifestyle that ordinary people cannot imagine, and he himself has long been well aware of its essence.

"Hello, Richard. Just call me Mann." He extended his hand and gave Richard a light handshake, the pressure just right, showing a touch of warmth without being overly obsequious.

"Hi, Mann."

Mann glanced at Richard discreetly.

This boy from the East was very young, probably not even 20 years old, and was likely from a powerful or wealthy family in the East.

But many people from the East prefer to keep a low profile, so no one can tell whether they have money or not.

He cleared his throat and said in a well-trained tone, "To be honest, it's unlikely you'll be able to buy Baytop Estate. First of all, you're Asian, which means you'll face a series of hidden costs. I'm sorry, but that's just how this country is. I don't mean to cover up racial discrimination, nor do I want to deceive you."

He spread his hands, seemingly speaking frankly, but it was all just rhetoric to gain the customer's trust.

...Asian buyers face a series of hidden costs when purchasing property: verification of funds may take up to 18 months, and the IRS...

They are three times more likely to be subject to tax investigations than white buyers, and any irregularities in their funds could lead to significant legal risks.

CFIUS national security reviews impose additional disclosure requirements on buyers from certain countries, and China is among them. It's a terrible system, but I can't change it.

Richard remained expressionless, quietly watching him.

The agent saw no emotion in his eyes, neither worry nor contempt.

This kind of calm and collected look is extremely rare among young buyers.

This is a psychological quality that only top leaders possess.

As Mann spoke, he adjusted his assessment of Richard:

'

Almost all high-end estates are historic preservation zones, and Baytop Estate is no exception, directly under the jurisdiction of the New York City Historic Preservation Commission. Anyone wishing to purchase one must submit an application to the Commission. It's very difficult to get approved. Unfortunately, many white people harbor racist tendencies and dislike living alongside Asians, putting pressure on the Historic Preservation Commission.

Mann hid his deep-seated prejudice very well, and his words always seemed to be for Richard's benefit, but unfortunately he couldn't escape Richard's desires.

But Richard didn't care.

Ever since he developed the ability to sense desire, the world he sees has always been filthy and shameless.

"I invited you here not because you said it was impossible," Richard said calmly.

Mann laughed. "Yes. You can have someone buy it for you, like Miss Debbie Dixon. She's a candidate for sainthood, and it's almost impossible for the committee to refuse a purchase made in her name."

As he said this, a professional slyness flashed in his eyes.

Richard believed this method was highly unreliable.

If a large sum of money were to appear in the Saint's account, it would certainly raise the suspicions of the IRS.

This group has probably been watching me and Debbie for a while now. It will be even harder to pass than racial screening, and it will cause even more trouble.

He thought of Christina, wondering if she had enough spare money.

"And what about Professor Christina Shepard?" Richard asked.

Mann's eyes lit up: "If your advisor, Christina Shepard, were to apply, she would face no obstacles and receive exceptional treatment from the Historic Preservation Committee. She is the pride of the entire New York academic community!"

Mann's opinion of Richard rose even higher in his mind.

This young man's influence far exceeded his imagination; he even dared to consider having his mentor help him make the purchase.

Large-scale cash flows not only pose legal risks, but also raise another concern: will the other party abscond with your money?

As the saying goes, you have to be sure you can get the money back before you dare to lend it out.

"OK. What if I buy the cursed Adam? Can I buy it myself?" Richard pointed to the house ahead.

They had arrived at the house.

Mann hesitated for a moment: "Are you sure? Although this house has an excellent location, on the far east side, its reputation isn't very good. I don't know if you've looked into its history. I'm a professional agent and I would never deceive my clients. You must understand all the risks before you begin."

Richard nodded: "I know it's called the Cursed Adam, and some unfortunate things happened, but you can tell me more details."

Mann began to recount: "Mr. Adam is a Hollywood actor who bought this house five years ago. He moved in with his wife and daughter. 1"

Everything was normal in the first year, then Mrs. Adam was diagnosed with breast cancer the following year, and Mr. Adam himself was diagnosed with lymphoma the third year. Then, their daughter, only 19 years old, was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. Three members of the family, three different types of cancer, diagnosed within five years.

"Medically, there is no unified explanation for the cause. The house has been evaluated by professional institutions, and no problems were found. However, no one else in the entire Baytop Manor has gotten cancer, indicating that it is not due to environmental pollution."

"Mr. Adam and his entire family have now moved out and are living in a cancer recovery center in California. They've been trying to sell the house, but no one's willing to take it. The wealthy are more interested in that kind of thing."

"The reason why it can't be found is even more terrifying. There are two possibilities: dietary habits, or someone deliberately poisoned it."

"That's strange." Richard already had a guess in his mind, but he didn't show it on his face: "The Taoist priests and sorcerers in my hometown are very powerful, I believe they won't affect me."

"Well," Mann said somewhat helplessly, unsure himself, "I can inquire for you. The cursed Adam is a bit special, but don't get your hopes up too high. Some people are very stubborn; they'd rather leave it there than sell it. But Mr. Adam might need the money; he's trying the most advanced cancer treatments, which are very expensive."

"Adam is just an actor, and his assets are one or two orders of magnitude less than those of the other wealthy people in this neighborhood. Some of them even mock him, saying that he shouldn't have dared to trespass into a circle that didn't belong to him, and that he had brought God's punishment upon himself."

Richard nodded.

"Can we go in and take a look?"

"No problem, I can have the property management deliver the keys, but are you sure? Mr. Adam and his family have encountered misfortune..."

"The property management arrived quickly, and it's a good thing that someone is willing to take over."

"It's alright." Richard followed the agent around Adam's house.

The lawn used to be neatly trimmed, but now it's overgrown and neglected. The trees in the yard are unattended, some have withered and turned yellow, and the yard is overgrown with weeds.

The withered leaves crunched softly underfoot.

The room smelled musty and had a corrosive odor from the sea breeze.

A neglected mansion will soon become a pile of scrap metal; the imported German cabinets and the state-of-the-art wine cellar temperature control system are now all covered in dust.

Richard's fingertips traced a clear trail of dust on the countertop.

It's been a long time since anyone has come here.

The scenery was indeed very beautiful, and there was nothing unusual about it.

Richard carefully inspected the entire house, but at least his desire and death senses did not tell him anything unusual.

He also carefully used his magical hand to examine the basement and attic, but found nothing.

Richard stood on the shore, looking at the empty private dock.

Each neighbor has a beautiful yacht moored at their house.

Adam's dock was empty and looked rather shabby.

In this community where wealth is measured by yachts, the empty docks can make one feel ashamed.

"Strange..." Richard was puzzled.

Mann shrugged: "I find it strange too. I've shown this unfortunate house to 10 potential buyers, some of whom even brought professional detection equipment, but no one has found the cause."

Just then, the sea breeze suddenly shifted.

Richard could clearly see a faint, almost invisible, grayish-purple haze drifting over from the neighboring Oak Ridge mansion, passing Adam's house, and then being dispersed by the sea breeze.

Mann curiously followed Richard's gaze, but saw nothing.

Richard looked towards the courtyard wall.

Adam's family planted a hedge that was 20 meters tall, which acted like a wall to ensure privacy between them and their neighbors, but also blocked out the gray-purple smog!

In other words, the gray-purple smog is a physical entity, but others can't see it?

If it was caused by this grayish-purple smog, then that explains why professional detection equipment couldn't detect it, because it dissipated quickly.

Richard looked towards the neighboring community, where the grayish-purple smog was even more intense.

Mann spoke up at the opportune moment: "Actually, I would recommend you look at the Oak Ridge Mansion next door. They don't restrict the identity of buyers there."

9

"OK, let's go take a look." Richard was also thinking of going to check it out and explore the so-called source of the plague.

There is a passageway between the two communities, but residents of the two communities rarely interact.

The roads are interconnected, but social classes and psychological levels are clearly distinct.

Richard followed the passageway all the way to Oak Ridge Mansion.

This is a high-end low-rise sea view community, consisting of ten four- to five-story buildings, all of which are large single-level apartments of over 300 square meters.

Every apartment faces the ocean, with floor-to-ceiling windows on the balconies offering a direct view of the Atlantic coastline.

The sunlight dyed the sea surface into a shimmering gold, which, when contrasted with the white lines of the waves, was truly beautiful.

"The community has a heated swimming pool and a private gym. The lobby has marble floor tiles, and the chandeliers are hand-blown glass products..." Mann went on and on, introducing the apartment layouts, decoration standards, and supporting facilities.

Richard, accompanied by him, toured the entire neighborhood.

The smog is heavier on the ground, and there is some in the sky as well, but the concentration is very low, like a very thin veil, which is dispersed by the sea breeze.

It is indeed a physical entity.

Is it poison?

There are many elderly people and children in the community, but they do not seem to be affected.

Several children chased and played with their pet dog on the lawn, their laughter ringing out.

If it's a toxin, over time it can easily cause widespread illness.

But now it seems that nothing has happened, and it has only affected Adam's family.

Why?

It could indeed be a matter of constitution; some people simply have a weaker resistance to cancer, while others smoke and drink every day but never get cancer.

"Is there anything unusual in this neighborhood?" Richard asked.

Mann shook his head.

"No, they're very popular, only seven units left. The best penthouse is the only one left, at $5.6 million. Would you like to take a look?"

"Okay, let's go take a look."

Richard followed Mann and looked around the entire neighborhood, from the garage to the top floor to every corner.

Grayish-purple smog continuously spread from the ground of the basement.

Richard used his magic hand to examine the area, but found nothing within its range.

This made Richard a little strange.

It can be blown away by the sea breeze, indicating that it is a physical entity, and it can also spread throughout the community by passing through the ground and buildings.

What exactly is it?

It can penetrate solid objects, be dispersed by the wind, and even cause cancer.

Richard suddenly thought of something.

radioactivity!

Nuclear radiation has contaminated the air!

Richard immediately asked, "Who built this residential complex?"

Mann immediately boasted, "Varne Properties. Our King of Governors, very powerful."

Alger's businesses. Richard narrowed his eyes.

How deep are the piles underground?

Mann paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "The geology here is very stable; there are no earthquakes. I don't know the exact depth of the piles."

Richard nodded.

"Okay, thank you very much for today."

Mann didn't expect to close a deal after just one house viewing.

Even the wealthy hesitate for a while before buying a house.

After saying goodbye, the two went their separate ways.

Richard immediately called Brian.

"Do you know if there are any nuclear tests or nuclear facilities near New York? Especially near Oak Ridge Mansion."

Brian paused, then said, "A nuclear test in New York? That's impossible. That's insane. I'll go back and check, but I don't think it's likely."

It's unlikely that Li noticed it.

Burying nuclear waste under a bunch of old-money people and luxury homes is insane.

If it were truly nuclear contamination, he wouldn't dare buy Adam's house.

He hung up the phone and drove Debbie to St. Carlisle Church for Mass.

On the way, Richard received a call from Lisa.

Lisa's voice was low on the phone: "Something terrible just happened. Connor died in the hospital from a severe allergic reaction to medication while receiving an IV drip."

Dead! Richard's hair stood on end.

Someone has made a move!

He didn't believe in any so-called drug allergy reaction!

Richard paused for a second, then calmly said, "It's truly a tragedy. We were fishing together yesterday, and today he's dead. Life is so unpredictable. How's Lyon?"

Lisa quickly replied, "He's alright. He went to the shipyard to check on his precious ship. Apparently, they didn't find any problems."

1

The biggest problem is that no problem was found! Richard narrowed his eyes.

They broke the cable themselves and then tied it back up; any investigation will surely uncover that.

What does it mean that no problem was found?

Either someone deliberately withheld information from Leon, or Leon concealed information from Lisa.

Li realized that the former was the most likely.

If it's the former, then this wasn't done by a gang like Dali's.

Their group is not respectable and doesn't have that much influence.

They can kill people in the street, but they can't silently extend their reach into every aspect of society, from hospitals to shipyards.

That's the other party, the one who made the deal with Dali.

He must be a big shot.

FBI?

NYPD Director Henry Carter?

Mayor Manteson?

Or perhaps it's the higher-ranking Governor Alger?

Or some other important figure he hadn't expected.

There are too many deeply entrenched powerful figures in New York.

Richard immediately made a decision: find Dali, kill him, and perhaps he could get enough information!

Richard hung up the phone and was about to call Brian back.

Brian called back first, utterly shocked: "At the place you mentioned, we found a news article from 1943. A ship transporting nuclear waste sank unexpectedly while docked in New York. The location was near Oak Ridge Mansion."

"This is news from over 80 years ago. There's absolutely no information about it online. Doug found it in the archives. He vaguely remembered it but hadn't paid much attention before. In 43, the New York government said in the newspapers that they were conducting a salvage operation, but they didn't mention the results. Where was it handled? Where was it taken? There's absolutely no information about it now."

Richard immediately understood.

The result was that it was retrieved and buried on site!

The ship may not have completely sunk. The engineers at the time urgently transported the nuclear waste out, but when they were preparing to transfer it, they found that the danger was out of control and they had no choice but to bury it on site.

Decades have passed, and no one knew that such a huge mine was hidden underground!

But the real estate development company, Warn Properties, certainly knows!

Baytop Manor is a bit far, so it might be hard to find, but the gray-purple smog under Oak Ridge Mansion means it's right above the nuclear waste!

It can be found by simply checking with a Geiger counter.

As expected of a long-established capitalist country, they don't discriminate between the poor and the rich when it comes to ripping people off.

Building a multi-million dollar mansion on top of nuclear waste is just too much radiation!

"Does Alger know about this?"

"He might not know, but it must have been his father who did it. Vaughn Realty was founded by Alger's grandfather and has been entrenched in New York for over a century. How could they not know about this! It's a huge weakness, but it can't be used to directly target Alger. Because it doesn't implicate Alger at all; he was barely born at that time."

At that moment, a series of system notifications sounded: "Ding! The quest to find the source of pain and plague is complete."

"Ding! The [Pain and Plague] branch is now open! Level: 1, [Skill Enhancement - Long-lasting]."

"【Skill Enhancement: Long-lasting】: Passive. Increases the duration of all continuous skills by 10%."

"Ding! [Pain and Plague] Knowledge: 0% → 10%"

46

"Ding! New skill unlocked [Immunity to All Poisons]: Passive. You are immune to all plagues below the Extraordinary level."

"Ding! New quest issued: [Seeds of Plague]: Collect all 9 types of Plague Seeds. Different rewards will be given depending on the type of Plague Seed."

"Ding! You have found a plague seed: the seed of radiation (common)."

Richard was overjoyed.

This is a huge improvement.

[Skill Enhancement: Long-lasting] This greatly improves the usability of many skills. The duration of Painful Touch is increased to 2 hours, and Magic Hand lasts for 20 seconds and consumes 1 point of magic.

Most importantly: the duration of the Flesh Golem has been increased to 13 hours!

In other words, I can basically keep a continuous watch on Hart Island.

All you need to do is revive one puppet creature every half day.

In addition, I was worried before that I wouldn't dare to live in Adam's house because of the nuclear contamination, but now I don't care!

He's already immune!

Nuclear radiation is being treated as a plague? Richard couldn't help but shake his head, a strange smile on his face.

If nuclear radiation is a common plague, then what is a supernatural plague?

Is it a memetic infection?

Richard and Debbie arrived at St. Carlisle Church.

Calvin personally came to the door to greet him.

He bowed deeply to Debbie, performing the highest level of Catholic rites.

That's not surprising.

But he was equally respectful to Richard.

When Richard passed by, Calvin slightly stepped aside to make way for him, seemingly showing Richard even more respect than he did for Debbie.

Richard was somewhat baffled.

The Church of St. Carlisle, which usually has very few worshippers, was packed this time.

The church pews were filled with residents from the nearby community, some of whom were new faces visiting for the first time, while others were long-time believers with their families.

Kyrie Irving is here too.

He sat quietly in the back row, greeted Richard, and then listened attentively to the Mass and the catechumens.

The organ played a low, somber prelude, and there was even a choir.

Calvin stood on the altar, with Debbie standing beside him in a pure white holy robe.

He led the Mass in a calm and solemn tone, and Debbie responded at appropriate moments.

When Debbie's voice rang out under the church dome, almost all the believers in the audience closed their eyes.

Richard sat in the last row.

With Debbie's arrival, the faith of the undecided began to rise again; this is the great role of the saintess!

Those who are willing to attend Mass in this small church are all relatively devout believers.

Richard decisively squeezed out 1 unit of [fresh flesh and blood] and controlled the surge of magic power into it.

He wanted to see just how far he could enhance the "fresh flesh and blood".

He controlled the magic, allowing it to flow steadily into the living flesh.

It was then discovered that the rate at which magic flowed in was related to the amount of fresh flesh and blood.

Last time, with 0.1 units, you could only input 5 to 6 points of magic power per hour.

This time, with just one unit, the speed increased tenfold!

At this rate, Richard's magic power output is 60 points per hour, which is only enough to last for 20 minutes.

But the Mass may not last long.

To make the most of this precious unlimited mana regeneration time, Richard simply used 3 units of [Fresh Flesh and Blood], consuming a whopping 180 mana points per hour, or 3 mana points per minute!

This is also the upper limit of Richard's magic output.

He discovered that the maximum amount of magic he could reliably supply was 3 points per minute; any more would either be sprayed out or he would lose control of it—this was the limit of his control.

The Mass continued.

Calvin read passages from the Gospels, his voice echoing under the dome.

Debbie clasped her hands together and closed her eyes in prayer.

Some of the believers in the front row wept softly, an atheistic faith lingering in the church.

A look of piety enveloped everyone's faces, as if God had truly descended at that moment.

Perhaps the desire for God is the only thing in America that doesn't require paying taxes.

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