The Demon’s Menu

Chapter 22: The Crucial Point

These were clearly written on the piece of paper:

10 strong laborers, Croaker Mine, 1000.

5 young girls, Moon Mask, 2000.

6 children, Bottomline Vault Street, 100.

Only those three lines were written.

Although it was just a trivial description, it was enough for Jason to be able to make a lot of deductions from it.

He took the piece of paper and headed straight to Bondy.

At this point, the sheriff also had a piece of paper in his hands. His expression appeared to be pale.

In fact, it was not just the sheriff.

The five other capable detectives were the same. A quick-tempered detective even scolded him.

They had no suspicions at all.

This was because their identities had afforded them some information that ordinary people would not know about.

For example, the girl in the Moon Mask.

"Sir, what Kalina said before is true!”

The grumpy detective said to Bondy.

Kalina?

The strange name made Jason glance at Finch, who was right next to him.

"Kalina was a girl who came to make a police report three months ago. She said that she had been pulled into the Moon Mask, but right after that, Mr. Flayton’s housekeeper came to report that the new maid, Kalina, had stolen some belongings.”

"After our investigations, Kalina had indeed been hired by His Excellency, Mr. Flayton, from the countryside.”

"We looked deeper into the case, and it turns out…”

The young constable’s words trailed off.

But the implied meaning was evident.

One was a country girl, and one was a rich man.

Anyone could guess what had happened between them.

"What happened after that?”

Jason continued asking.

"After that, the housekeeper brought Kalina back; this was in accordance with the employment laws.”

"About a week later, the housekeeper came back to make another report, this time to say that Kalina had disappeared.”

"We tried our best to search, but Rhode is really too big, and it was like trying to find a needle in a haystack. After a week, we decided to give up. As time passed, this girl was forgotten.”

Speaking of this, the young constable looked as if he were blaming himself.

"Some people are forgotten.”

"While some people aren’t.”

"And they will choose other ways for other people to remember them by.”

As if something came to mind, Jason groaned slightly, looked toward Finch, and asked:

“The constable who handled the case at that time should include Panke, Kurtz, Joffe, and Tahr?”

"Yes!”

"They were included!”

"Do you mean to say…”

The young constable replied, his eyes widening as he looked at Jason.

The young constable, who was not a fool, had guessed the meaning.

"Revenge!”

"Kalina, or someone related to Kalina, was vengeful.”

"The people he chose were specifically those who would not have helped Kalina, even if her life was in danger.”

Jason said, turning and walking toward the door to the bedroom.

After Bondy motioned to the detectives, Finch followed him.

Although, everyone was sure that, even though this was the bedroom, the scene would still have been carefully curated by the other party. Other than revealing what the other party wanted them to see, there was nothing else left. But this did not deter Jason from meticulously exploring every nook and cranny.

The bedroom was no longer empty, but a hidden door on the side of the wall was opened.

There was a light inside.

After carefully probing it, Jason went inside.

There was a staircase leading downwards.

It had more than a hundred steps. Judging from the distance, the stairs led deep into the underground.

At the end of the staircase was a door that had also been opened. The door was still brightly lit, allowing Jason to easily see the cages that had been made from iron fences.

In addition to the cage, there were wooden stakes that were used to restrain people, and torture devices hanging on the walls.

The charcoal brazier was still burning, and a soldering iron had been inserted into it. It burned bright red.

Although, there was nobody here.

But, looking at this scene, Jason could fully imagine what it was like being here.

Those who had been abducted, trembling in fear in the cage, while awaiting their fate before them…

Those who dared to resist were either hung up or trapped on wooden stakes and punished, making it the best raw material to kill undesirables…

Eventually, they would be sent to the various industries connected to Mr. Flayton.

Some people simply succumbed to their fate.

Some people had not given up and had been silently waiting for the right opportunity.

Jason believed that Kalina was not the first one.

But she was the first person to actually complete what she had set out to do.

Jason’s eyes stayed fixated on the cage in the innermost corner.

Unlike the other cages that had been covered in dust, the ground railings here were very new. It was obvious that there had been people here up until recently.

As for who exactly was being held?

Other than Mr. Flayton, Jason could not think of anyone else.

"That fire was also created by you, so as to better impersonate him, and then, at the most appropriate timing, you gave him public sentencing!”

Jason whispered to himself as he began to feel more intimidating.

There were no traces of monster life here.

Obviously, the monsters had not been here.

This was just one piece of evidence provided for the public sentencing.

It was full of contradictory evidence.

Jason had not forgotten about the warning from Mr. Flayton, and the ambush right after that.

The contradictions between the two had not been solved even as they had thoroughly searched the entirety of Mr. Flayton’s manor. If anything, things had appeared to become more and more contradictory.

It was as if two people with contrasting opinions were arguing.

"Wait!”

"Two people?”

Jason suddenly thought of something and stopped in his tracks in the midst of his patrolling.

Who said that the person seeking revenge could only be one person?

It could also be someone connected to Kalina.

The other person obviously belonged to the mysterious side and was someone related to the culprit.

Also, these two would have close relations with each other!

Otherwise, it was impossible for the other party to cooperate with someone from the serious side, and at the same time be so accommodating toward him.

It was clear that the paper in the study was enough to expose Kalina.

And when Kalina’s identity had been revealed, it was possible that she would also reveal the true identity of the other party.

"One is younger, with strong principles.”

"The person from the mysterious side is very old-fashioned, well thought out, and doesn’t leave implicating traces for the future.”

"Master and apprentice?”

Jason guessed the identity of the avengers.

As for the one who was related to Kalina?

It was not difficult to guess.

The highest possibility was either someone related by blood or a lover!

The latter seemed more likely.

Because, if the partner was related by blood, Kalina wouldn’t have been a country girl who needed to go out to work.

It is crucial to know that the powerful partner from the mysterious side did not need a lot. Only a little bit was enough to give anyone a prosperous and worry-free life.

Of course, these were all just Jason’s presumptions.

The situation needed to be further investigated by Bondy and the others.

Turning around, Jason looked at Bondy, who Jason had estimated would have looked gloomier and angrier after around four weeks, and was ready to inform him of his thoughts.

However, just as Jason was about to open his mouth, his expression suddenly changed.

He…

…had missed out on a crucial point!