25: Kvass's self-doubt

At these words, Barto's eyes widened in disbelief.

"Barto, you can't possibly think I don't know these things, can you?"

Gevas's lips curved into a smile, and the hand gripping Barto's throat slowly tightened.

"Don't forget, when you were exploiting and coercing those free citizens into slavery..."

"...I, as the Hibo Town Executive, covered it up for you officially."

"So, do you really think I wouldn't investigate the reasons behind it?"

Barto trembled all over, his eyes bloodshot from lack of oxygen.

He no longer held his previous arrogance; his gaze was filled with terror, pleading for mercy.

However, Gevas ignored him, increasing his grip.

At the same time, he continued to speak nonchalantly.

"Barto, as your business has grown over these past few years..."

"You've not only lost your initial caution but have also become increasingly arrogant."

"You've even lost the respect you should have for Grace and me."

Barto's face turned purple; he was already rolling his eyes from suffocation, his struggles growing weaker.

"Therefore, a disobedient dog like you should be beaten to death by its master."

"As for the noble lords of Kula City, I don't think they'll stand up for a dead man."

"After all, you're not the only one in Hibo Town willing to serve them, are you?"

At this moment, as Gevas spoke his last words...

Barto finally lost all signs of life, his struggling hands falling limply.

His head tilted, and he sat in his wheelchair, eyes wide open in death.

At this point, Grace stepped forward and glanced at Barto.

There was no hint of pity in her expression; instead, a flicker of satisfaction appeared.

Years ago, for the sake of her family, she, only in her twenties, was forced to marry Barto, who was around forty.

Grace had initially thought that even if it was a politically motivated marriage, it might still turn out well.

However, Barto was a cold-blooded man, extremely wary of Grace.

Later, after Grace discovered Barto was infertile and conceived Lola with Poke, any remaining marital affection for Barto vanished without a trace.

"Brother, what should we do with Barto's body?"

Grace asked, and Gevas, without a moment's hesitation, replied,

"Don't rush; didn't you say Nem went to Kula City? Let's wait until he returns."

"What?"

Grace raised an eyebrow, a little confused.

"Shouldn't we quickly transfer the family assets while Nem is still away?"

Facing his sister's questioning gaze, Gevas chuckled lightly, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

"No, since Barto is already dead, we might as well get rid of Nem too."

"Although you deliberately indulged him these past few years, turning him into a good-for-nothing..."

"...he is still Barto's eldest son and has a more preferential right of inheritance."

"So, he can't be allowed to live any longer. When he returns, you lure him over, and then..."

Grace suddenly understood, and a pleased yet malicious smile appeared on her enchanting face.

Just then, someone walked in from outside.

It was Grace's personal maid, brought from her maiden home, who had served her for many years.

Moreover, because the maid's parents' and relatives' deeds of servitude were all in Gevas's hands...

She was one hundred percent loyal to Grace and would never betray the two of them.

So, when the maid saw the three bodies...

Though she was pale with fright, she suppressed her fear and respectfully reported,

"Madam, Young Master Nem has returned."

Grace turned and exchanged a look with her brother.

"Good, take me to him."

After Grace left, Gevas dragged the three bodies into a corner of the inner room.

Then, he sat imposingly on the sofa, carefully pondering the events that had transpired.

After meeting Grace that morning, he had asked her to recount everything that had happened in recent days, down to the smallest detail, to understand the specifics.

As a result, he immediately noticed something amiss.

It began with Barto inexplicably stepping into a beast trap, leading to an infected wound.

Then, for treatment, Nem was sent to Kula City to find a high-ranking physician to cure him.

However, Nem was attacked, and although his money was stolen, he wasn't killed.

After that, Poke received a ransom note, so he approached Grace to discuss a solution.

Consequently, Grace sent someone to find him, and at the same time, Poke received a second ransom note.

In his fear, Poke considered taking extreme measures, and Grace, left with no choice, had to kill him.

However, Poke had left a suicide note, revealing his affair with Grace to Barto.

The rest of the story need not be told; Gevas himself had just killed Barto.

"These events seem unrelated, but in reality, they can be perfectly strung together."

"If someone truly orchestrated all of this from behind the scenes, then what exactly is his motive?"

Gevas pondered for a moment, and as his peripheral vision caught sight of the nearby bodies...

A sharp glint suddenly flashed in his eyes, and a thought popped into his mind.

"Is it Barto? Is that person's goal to kill Barto?"

Gevas's lips curled into a brilliant smile.

He had grasped the truth, knowing that everything stemmed from Barto.

However, two seconds later, Gevas's smile vanished, and his expression once again became solemn.

"But who exactly is this person? What grudge does he have with Barto?"

"Moreover, this person is so well-informed; he even knew in advance how Barto would inspect his farmlands!"

"Possessing such terrifying abilities, could it be... he's not alone, but backed by an organization?"

"Or perhaps, he is a powerful high-level mage with Mental Energy?"

"But no matter which it is, Barto, a mere slave owner in Hibo Town, shouldn't have provoked such an opponent."

"And even if Barto did provoke them, couldn't they have easily killed Barto with their power or influence?"

"Why go through such trouble, playing schemes and tricks, to use my hand, Gevas's hand, to kill Barto?"

"Strange... It's truly too strange!"

This sense of contradiction and conflict caused Gevas's perception to falter, plunging him into self-doubt.

At this moment, he suddenly remembered something and quickly pulled out the three letters from earlier.

After a long look, Gevas frowned slightly and muttered to himself,

"Could it be that I'm overthinking, and all of this is truly just a coincidence?"

Gevas said this because, after careful comparison, he discovered that the first two ransom notes and the letter left by Poke not only had different handwriting but also used different paper and ink.