Wizard Earl

Chapter 9 Vidal

In Connor's memory, the Ferguson family also possessed a magical item, but only the heads of the Ferguson family throughout the generations could use and preserve it. Connor only saw his father, the elder Ferguson, use it once when he was a child. He vaguely remembered that their family's magical item seemed to be a cane.

Although he desperately wanted to close the box containing the Sun Badge immediately and put it in his pocket, Connor restrained himself in front of Professor Reyes, saying hesitantly, "Professor, this is too valuable; I can't accept it!"

"Connor, you are my most valued student, and I have high hopes for your future. Consider this a congratulatory gift for becoming a full knight!" Reyes said with a smile, patting Connor on the shoulder.

A look of gratitude flashed across Connor's face as he stood up straight and bowed deeply to Reyes.

"Thank you, teacher!"

Half an hour later, watching Connor, clutching the Sun Badge, excitedly walk out of his villa and disappear into the distance, Professor Reyes pondered for a moment, then inexplicably spoke again towards the empty walls of the house:

"Do you think Connor Ferguson has noticed my plans?" Reyes's voice was devoid of any emotion, as if he were not the same person who had just been the kind and approachable Professor Reyes.

As Reyes's voice rang out, a strange ripple appeared on the wall Reyes was looking at, and then an old man with a somewhat hunched figure dressed in butler-like clothes emerged from the ripples.

"Sir, your plan is progressing smoothly. Connor Ferguson will become your prey without you even realizing it. If you deem it necessary, I will begin monitoring Connor Ferguson now!" the somewhat hunched old butler said respectfully.

Reyes fell into deep thought again, and after a long while he shook his head and said, "Not yet. I just smelled a wizard's scent on Connor. With the Gwendolyn badge I gave him, I believe that little Connor Ferguson will be fine now."

"Sir, you are truly generous. That Gwendolyn badge still retains a considerable amount of energy; if we were to exchange it, we could get at least a thousand gold pounds," the old butler exclaimed.

"Emperor Raul once said that you have to cast a long line to catch a big fish. Besides, this little guy Connor is actually my relative, so naturally I have to be generous to him!" Reyes laughed heartily, but when he said the word "relative," a complex look appeared in his brown eyes.

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As time passed, a week had gone by, and it was time for Connor to meet with the famous detective Valverde.

At Valverde's private detective agency, Connor was still dressed the same as before: black sunglasses, a tall trench coat, and a bowler hat, completely obscuring his face.

After taking a deep drag from his pipe and exhaling a large, round smoke ring, Valverde, feeling satisfied, took out the document bag he had prepared and placed it on the table. Then, he quietly looked at Connor in front of him.

Connor, who was about to take the folder, paused for a moment, then suddenly realized what was going on. He shook his head, took out a five-pound note from his wallet, and handed it over.

After accepting the dark green pound note, which exuded the distinctive scent of banknote ink, Valverde's aged face showed a satisfied smile. He then gently pushed the document bag towards Connor.

"Sir, I believe that after reviewing the contents of the document bag I gave you, you will absolutely feel that the ten gold pounds you paid were well worth it!" Valverde said meaningfully.

Raising an eyebrow, Connor didn't respond but instead opened the file folder that Valverde had taken out.

Looking at everything in the file folder, Connor had to admit that although the famous detective Valverde seemed a bit greedy, his abilities were undeniable. The dozen or so pages of the investigation report listed everything Rebecca had done, met, and spent the night in during the past week in great detail. It was almost as if he had written down the color and fabric of Rebecca's clothes every day.

It took Connor a full hour to finish reading the investigation report. His expression grew increasingly grave. He took out the character sketch on the last page of the report, pointed to the gaunt, triangular-eyed young man in the sketch, and asked Valverde, "Is he Vidal, the disciple of the cult 'Walking Spirits' you mentioned in your report?"

Valverde nodded solemnly and said seriously, "That's right, that's Vidal. Although he's only twenty-five years old this year, he's an extremely dangerous person, a third-class wanted criminal of the Empire! According to the description of the crime on the wanted poster, Vidal is the illegitimate son of a wealthy merchant. Five years ago, when he was twenty, he joined the cult organization, the Church of the Spirits. Six months later, he killed all fifteen members of his family, including his father and brothers. The cruelty of his methods was appalling! Since then, he has become a wanted criminal of the Empire, and few people have known about him."

Connor closed his eyes and rubbed the Qingming acupoint on the bridge of his nose. He was in a really bad mood.

Although he was somewhat prepared, he still did not expect that Rebecca would be connected with the cult of Pailin. The investigation report given to him by Valverde showed that this extremely dangerous Mr. Vidal seemed to be in a romantic relationship with Rebecca. They had several secret rendezvous late at night within a week. This was clearly recorded in the detective report. Before meeting with Vidal, Rebecca had bought contraceptive pills at a pharmacy and spent the night alone with Vidal.

Although Connor didn't know who Vidal was before, he was very clear about what kind of terrorist organization the Bilgei Church was.

The Church of the Spirits is one of the cults that the Kaman Empire is cracking down on with all its might. They kill every member they find. The Church of the Spirits believes that death is not the end of life, but merely the demise of the body. Only the soul is eternal and everlasting! Moreover, and most importantly, in Connor's memory, the Church of the Spirits, which believes in the soul, is extremely skilled in curses and other evil arts!

Cheese-baked snails, Rebecca's reaction upon seeing herself, the cult of curses... all these clues combined make it clear that anyone with basic intelligence would not believe this to be a mere coincidence.

(End of this chapter)