What witch? The Deadly Pharmacist!

Leon picked up the lantern, signaling Lena to make way, then turned back to the studio, which was still in a mess. The workbench was overturned, test tubes and flasks were broken all over the floor, most of the medicine was spilled, and some headhunting rabbit corpses were scattered around.

"Where are the monsters?" Leon asked.

“I just put them back in the enclosure; eight adult headhunting rabbits died,” Lena replied from behind.

While using the headhunting rabbits to attack Charon and buy him time, Charon killed and kicked several of them to death, but he did not kill all of them. When he saw them escaping, he seized the opportunity to chase after them.

The young headhunting rabbits and slimes did not climb out of the breeding pool, so the loss of monsters was not too great.

"Looks like we'll have to make some preparations before we can resume operations," Leon sighed.

"Resume work?" Lena looked at Leon in disbelief from behind. "What are you talking about? We've been discovered! Shouldn't we be running away as fast as we can?"

In fact, after finally escaping danger, her mind was filled with thoughts of how to run away.

When asked for his opinion, Leon naturally seemed inclined to continue.

“We don’t necessarily need to run.” Leon shook his head slightly. “This person is Caron Esso, the head of the Inquisition…”

Before Leon could finish speaking, Reina gasped: "The head of the Inquisition!?"

When she first heard Leon address the man as "Director," she hadn't quite grasped the meaning, but now that she knew who they had killed, she felt a chill run down her spine.

Even if she didn't know much about the church, she could still understand that they had just killed a very important person.

“Yes, a greedy scumbag,” Leon continued. “He came alone because he wanted to take control of our business after finding out about us. That’s a serious apostasy, and I don’t think he told anyone else, otherwise, knowing him as I do, he would at least have brought someone to support him.”

"You never know, what if he left some clues? Someone might see them after he dies?" Lena said anxiously.

“The possibility is not high.” Leon came to the conclusion after a moment’s thought. “If he had done this beforehand, he would have used it to pressure us when we asked for the antidote. The fact that he didn’t say it immediately means that he hadn’t even thought of it.”

“But shouldn’t the death of the head of the Inquisition be a big deal? What if, what if the Church starts investigating…” Lena still couldn’t calm down.

“He’s just missing. This guy has been embezzling and breaking the law for many years. It’s an open secret in the station. He might be considered to have fled to avoid punishment,” Leon said.

"Can you be so sure it went so smoothly? No matter what, someone will definitely investigate after he disappeared. Maybe we'll be arrested after we get out?" Lena didn't quite understand Leon's wishful thinking.

"Will running away solve the problem?" Leon retorted. "The Church has started investigating Caron's disappearance. If I disappear with him, even if there's nothing wrong, suspicion will fall on me. I can't leave! If he left any clues behind, then I should stay and deal with them!"

After killing Caron, he actually thought about the various situations that followed, and finally concluded that he had a greater chance of staying and escaping unscathed if he chose to stay.

"What about me?" Lena asked instinctively.

"If they don't suspect you, you don't need to run. If they do suspect you, you can't escape from the church without connections."

Leon noticed Lena's unease and patiently advised her, "Lena, listen to me. Leave things here to me. You can go home and lay low for a while. Hide your things well, but don't do anything unnecessary."

What's done is done, and we can't change it. All we can think about is what's next! If we survive unscathed, then our business... must continue!

Chapter 45 The Rat-Torture Maniac

Leon had thought it over carefully. The person was already killed, so panicking wouldn't help. Running away now wouldn't reduce their risk. The only option was to observe the situation and adapt accordingly.

They were already worthy of the Church's death sentence. Now, by killing the head of the Inquisition, they themselves would become heretics like Lena. In fact, in terms of their crimes, it wouldn't make much difference if they killed another bishop, let alone continued this business.

They've already walked a tightrope with no way back; they'll live their entire lives under the church's death threat.

But no matter what, he still needs money.

Since we've already come this far, we might as well go all the way and make enough money to last a lifetime!

In fact, when Leon killed Calon, he felt no fear of the consequences, but rather a strange sense of pleasure, or even a sense of accomplishment.

As the one who bestows the blessing of the God of War, Caron's strength is undoubtedly beyond the reach of ordinary people. He holds a high position in the Inquisition in Hamel Town and is arrogant and domineering. People of Leon's status rarely even have the opportunity to speak to him.

But in the end, such a person died at his hands; the victor is king, the loser is villain.

When Caron collapsed to the ground, barely alive, and could only look up at him, at least for that moment, he was superior to the other.

Even now, Leon still savors that irresistible feeling.

Lena looked back at Leon, puzzled. Leon's calm demeanor did not reassure her; she suddenly felt that she couldn't quite understand this man.

She thought for a moment, then suddenly realized another problem: "But how exactly were we found out this time? What did you mean when you said someone betrayed you?"

Leon remained silent for a moment, but then told Lena the truth:

“Our buyer was originally a smuggler for Director Caron, but he secretly reached an acquisition agreement with me. I think Caron must have found out about him first, and then that person implicated me, and Caron traced him all the way here. Since Caron wants to control our business, I guess he will most likely keep him around.”

Realizing that Caron had no intention of destroying the business chain, it was only natural for the shop owner to side with Caron. He's probably still waiting at the recycling shop for Caron to resolve the issue and deliver the goods there.

"He betrayed us, and you still want to do business with him?" Lena found it a bit unreasonable.

“I’ll find another way to get the channels, and as for this person, I’ll handle it myself,” Leon replied calmly.

He had already roughly figured out what to do next.

Seeing the cold look in Leon's eyes when he talked about that person, Lena immediately understood the meaning behind this "dealing with" incident.

But even Lena herself was quite surprised that she didn't feel much of a stir in her heart about it.

When she “dealt with” Hannah Wesland, she and Leon had already gotten their hands dirty.

This time, even the head of the Inquisition died in their labyrinth.

In comparison, dealing with an acquirer doesn't seem so impressive to Leon anymore.

Forget about having any objections; the buyer's betrayal had put them in such a dangerous situation, and it was still a risk. Now, she actually hoped that Leon could handle things cleanly.

Leon could now casually recount the murder plan, and there was no doubt that he had already undergone some kind of change. But unknowingly, Lena herself was gradually influenced by this man and was stained with the same colors as him.

She couldn't even see through Leon; she barely recognized herself anymore.

In the end, Lena could only remain silent, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

After a while, she took the lantern and went into the depths of the workshop to begin retrieving the headhunting rabbit's carcass.

Leon also began searching for tools; for now, they needed to clean up the scene first.

Just then, a squeaking sound coming from nearby caught his attention.

He looked in the direction of the sound and saw a small iron cage lying on the ground not far away, with several laboratory mice crammed inside.

When he fought with Caron, he overturned the workbench, and the cage rolled onto the ground, but the rats inside were unharmed.

Leon suddenly remembered that he had planned to test the blessing he had just received.

He looked around and found his dagger on the ground again.

He then picked up the cage containing the mouse, returned to the ventilation area at the entrance of the workshop, took off one glove, and cut his palm with a dagger, from which red blood oozed.

Then, he used his gloved hand to open the small opening at the top of the cage, reached in, and grabbed a struggling mouse.

After examining it for a while, he tried to squeeze blood from his palm and pour it on the mouse. The mouse writhed in his fist in terror, but nothing happened.

With a thought, Leon tried to feel the magic circulating again, imagining his blood turning that purplish-red color once more.

The red blood immediately began to change color, whether it was seeping from his wound or dripping onto the mouse.

At the same time, the blood that had dripped onto the mice began to sizzle, turning into purple smoke that enveloped the mice.

Lena, who was tidying up, looked over in surprise.

The mouse in Leon's hand suddenly started squealing wildly as if it had been electrocuted, desperately trying to break free from Leon's grasp.

Not only the mouse that was taken out for the experiment, but also the mice in the nearby cages began to scurry around restlessly the moment Leon turned the blood purplish-red.

Leon had to clench his fists to prevent the mouse from breaking free, but only a few seconds later, the mouse's struggles began to weaken, and Leon could feel through his gloves that the mouse's body was rapidly stiffening, as hard as a rock.

Leon squinted as he watched the mouse gradually petrify. The symptoms were very similar to those of being poisoned by a chicken snake, possessing toxic blood. Was this his blessing?

He died like that?

Leon tried to weigh the mouse in his hand, which was almost lifeless, and on a whim, he tried to use his mind to restore his blood to normal.

The mouse in his palm suddenly twitched.

Leon was somewhat surprised to release his grip and observe. The mouse in his hand gradually softened again from its stiffness, began to awaken and wriggle in his palm, though it was noticeably weaker than before.

The symptoms caused by this "poisonous blood" can be reversed according to his will!

Thinking of this, he tried changing the blood again, and the mouse petrified again, then returned to normal, only becoming weaker than before.

The experiment proved that Leon could control the petrification effect caused by his blood with his own will. However, even if the petrification was lifted, some damage would still accumulate, and the affected creature would become weak as a result.

This is different from the venom of the chicken snake; its blood is closer to the concept of magic or curse.

He can use blood as a medium to cast dangerous curses on living beings!

Leon channeled his magic for the third time, turning the blood a purplish-red color. This time, after the mouse was petrified, he didn't immediately undo the effect, but waited and observed, wanting to see what kind of effect the blood would ultimately have.

The mouse turned into a stiff stone in his hands, and soon its entire body turned a pale grayish-white.

Leon continued to observe in this state for a long time. About five minutes later, transparent crystals began to precipitate on the mouse's back.

At that moment, Leon and Lena both widened their eyes. Leon subconsciously turned his head and looked at Lena.

This symptom is very similar to halogenation disease!

So, it seems that salification disease, as commonly believed, is a curse cast by Moirai?

After crystals formed from the mouse's joints, it stopped changing. Leon tried to lift the curse again, but the mouse did not return to its original form and was killed in this state. Clearly, the reversal of the curse has its limits.

Leon silently tossed the mouse, which had turned into something like ore, into a small bucket at his feet. The mouse's body shattered as soon as it hit the bucket, just like a plaster sculpture.

Both received blessings from Moirai, but Rena, who possesses the "Blood Oath" blessing, can manipulate more monsters through blood, while he can use blood to curse and kill living beings.

Leon couldn't help but wonder, if the blessing suddenly bestowed upon him by the Primordial Witch Moira contained some kind of will, then was Moira expecting him... to keep killing people?

Chapter 46 Cleansing Up Traitors

At the Owl Recycling Shop, the old owner is carefully standing on a ladder, placing old books on the top shelf.

"Ouch." After arranging his things, he carefully made his way down the stairs.

Three fingers on his left hand were fixed in place by wooden strips and wrapped up tightly. He could only rely on two fingers on his left hand and his right hand, so it was a little difficult for him to work.

Several days have passed since Caron came to our door, and there has been no further contact since.

But the shop owner wasn't in a hurry. With Caron's abilities and methods, he estimated that there was only one outcome to this matter, and it was just a matter of time.

There's nothing that can be done about it. If Caron simply wants to cut off the supply, even if he's actually sent to jail, he won't easily confess.

Otherwise, if the supply of goods is suddenly interrupted, his supplier will definitely demand an explanation from him.

If there's a problem with the supply of goods but he's unharmed, his supplier will immediately suspect him of betraying someone else, even though he really has been acting as a receiver of stolen goods for the head of the Inquisition.

Those in the underworld show no mercy to traitors. If he cannot justify his actions, he will face a fate worse than death.

But Caron's goal is to replace the source of the goods, steal the business, and still allow him to continue selling stolen goods and get a share of the profits.

Then he has no reason not to choose Caron. This industry is a dog-eat-dog world. Being able to rely on the strong for a share of the spoils is definitely better than being eaten along with the weak.

Just then, the shop door was pushed open, and the bell rang crisply.

"Welcome," the old shopkeeper said casually, glancing towards the entrance.

Then his eyes widened suddenly, and he almost cried out, because the person who came in was none other than "Fenrir," whom he knew!

Leon remained calm, carrying a black cloth bag. He closed the door, exchanged a glance with the shopkeeper, and suddenly raised an eyebrow and laughed: "What's wrong? Why are you looking like you've seen a ghost?"

"Uh...oh." The old shopkeeper snapped out of his daze and quickly composed himself. "I just didn't expect you to come today."

His mind was in turmoil, like fifteen buckets of water being drawn up and down, and he couldn't understand what was going on at all.

What's wrong with Caron? Why didn't he get rid of this kid? Or did he already handle him, but still have leverage over him and bring him under his control?

But if that's the case, Caron would definitely have to inform him in advance. And what's the point of letting the kid he exposed continue to contact him? Isn't he afraid that the kid might beat him to death in a fit of rage?

Moreover, the kid's expression didn't seem unusual at all; it was no different from when he met with him for a deal before.

"Recent production is higher than expected. These rabbits are difficult to preserve after processing, so we need to ship out a batch first."

As Leon spoke, he threw the bag on the table and opened it. Inside were the carcasses of several headhunting rabbits and a test tube containing magic essence.

Then Leon looked at the shop owner, who hadn't moved yet, and suddenly asked, "What happened to your hand?"

"Oh, this is... I tripped and fell down the stairs while working, and my hand broke because I didn't brace myself properly."

The shop owner chuckled dryly in response, then went to the door, glanced outside, and locked the door.