181: Chapter 0181 Because of Love

Li Size spread the secret letter on the table, the Mental Energy pattern on his brow faintly glowing:

"Intercept Isabella within a week, and also get the personnel roster for the secret manor.

Gelia needs to contact Father-in-law as soon as possible. Flora and Lilith are responsible for collecting information on Isabella."

Violet brought over a glass of iced lemonade, her silver hair draped over her chest, her pointed ears trembling slightly:

"Brother-in-law, I can help Sister Gelia organize the list!"

Li Size rubbed her hair, a trace of warmth flashing in his eyes:

"Good, little sister Violet is really great."

Gelia's office was on the third floor of the Gray Mist Mountain Town Police Station, with a bustling street visible outside the window.

She sat behind the oak desk, her fingertips tapping on the flying message, its surface flowing with witchcraft runes.

"Father, I need your help with something."

Her voice carried a hint of urgency, her ice-blue eyes fixed on the image gradually clarifying within the crystal.

Payne's face appeared in the crystal:

He was wearing the scarlet uniform of the Provincial Department, the golden star insignia on his epaulets shining brightly. The white hair at his temples seemed to have increased since the last time they met.

"Girl, what's so urgent?" Payne's voice held authority, yet he couldn't hide his concern.

Gelia transmitted the personnel portraits Flora observed at the secret manor to Payne:

"Among these people are city government officials and wealthy merchants. They are involved in a secret organization that Li Size and I are investigating. I need their detailed identity information."

Payne frowned, his fingertips swiping across the crystal:

"Twelve people? Let me check... Deputy Director Malcolm, Chairman of the Cullen Group, Councilman Hawkins, Monte Customs Director Lopez, Monte Bank President Turner..."

He paused, his tone serious: "This information is confidential to the Provincial Department; you must use it carefully."

Gelia nodded, a flicker of gratitude in her ice-blue eyes: "Thank you, Father. I will keep it confidential."

The light from the flying message crystal gradually dimmed. She printed out the list, her fingertip tracing over Malcolm's name.

This superior she had worked alongside for many years was actually a traitor.

Lilith sat in the editorial office of the Gele City "Truth Herald" and found an old friend she had worked with previously.

Her blonde hair was pulled into a low bun, and her gold-rimmed glasses reflected the light. Her decisive demeanor kept the surrounding reporters from daring to disturb her.

"Help me look into Viscount Weisman's illegitimate daughter, Isabella."

She said to the old colleague across the desk, her tone brooking no argument.

The old colleague's voice held hesitation:

"Lilith, I haven't heard that name... The Viscount's private life is very secretive; very few people even know about it in noble circles."

Lilith frowned, then contacted several former informants—a café owner, a noble steward, and even a former servant of the Viscount's manor—but all yielded nothing.

Having found nothing, she returned to her apartment and leaned back on the sofa, her gold-rimmed glasses sliding down to the tip of her nose:

"Can't I get any news at all? Weisman has hidden her too deeply!"

Flora, meanwhile, arrived at the Dark Web contact point on the outskirts of Gele City.

It was a basement hidden behind a slaughterhouse, the air thick with the smell of blood and rust.

She wore black leather, her silver-purple hair tied in a ponytail, her amber eyes cautiously scanning the surroundings.

The Dark Web information liaison was a tall, thin man with a scar across his face, holding a cigar between his fingers:

"One hundred gold coins for Isabella's information."

Flora pulled out a pouch of one hundred gold coins from her waist and placed them on the table.

The clinking sound of the coins was exceptionally harsh in the basement.

The liaison pushed a piece of parchment over:

"Isabella, fifteen years old, lives in the west wing of the Viscount's manor, cared for by the old steward Graham. Her mother was the deceased noble girl Alicia Von Hohenzollern."

Flora's fingertip traced the parchment, a hint of surprise flashing in her amber eyes:

"The Hohenzollern Family? That is one of the oldest noble families in the Duchy."

The liaison sneered: "That's right. Alicia was the youngest daughter of the Hohenzollern Family. She committed suicide eighteen years ago."

Eighteen years ago, the current Weisman was seemingly not yet the Viscount of the Weisman Family; he was managing the mines on the outskirts of the city.

He met Alicia at a noble banquet...

She was wearing a white gown, her golden curls falling over her shoulders, her blue eyes as pure as the sky.

Weisman was instantly smitten and began pursuing her madly.

Alicia was also moved by Weisman's talent and passion, and the two fell secretly in love.

But the Hohenzollern Family refused their marriage!

The reason was simple: Weisman's social standing was too low, and he was merely a minor noble without a title at the time, unable to bring sufficient political benefit to the Hohenzollerns.

More importantly, the Hohenzollern Family were staunch supporters of the Duchy, whereas Weisman was connected to some anti-Duchy forces at the time.

Alicia's father even threatened her: if she continued to associate with Weisman, he would cut off her financial resources and send her to a convent.

Alicia could not withstand such pressure...

On a rainy night, wearing the blue dress Weisman had given her, she jumped from the tower of the Family castle.

When Weisman learned the news, he was devastated. He swore to make the Hohenzollern Family pay the price.

Later, he acquired the Viscount title through a series of means and took the Viscount's illegitimate daughter, Isabella, to live with him.

But Isabella always hated Weisman, believing his inaction led to her mother's death.

Li Size looked at the information Flora brought back, the Mental Energy pattern on his brow glowing faintly.

He placed the parchment on the table. Felina leaned over, a hint of sympathy flashing in her light purple eyes:

"Isabella is truly pitiful..."

Li Size nodded, his fingertips tapping on the desktop:

"We must use her hatred for Weisman to make her our Breakthrough point."

Violet brought over a cup of hot chocolate, her silver hair draped over her chest:

"Brother-in-law, what do we do next?"

Li Size smiled, a hint of cunning flashing in his eyes:

"First, let the Internal Affairs Department monitor the people on the list, and then we prepare the plan to intercept Isabella..."

The day before the plan to intercept Isabella was about to be executed...

The low and continuous roar of a witchcraft motorcycle engine echoed from the entrance of Gray Mist Mountain Town, like a beast's warning before it strikes, tearing apart the daily tranquility of this remote small town.

Payne was dressed in a crisp scarlet uniform, every brass button fastened meticulously. The golden star insignia on his epaulets shimmered brilliantly under the thin sunlight.

He dismounted the heavy, pitch-black "Defender" witchcraft motorcycle. A bit of damp mud and night dew still clung to the metal shell, clearly indicating he had sped here all the way.

He removed his leather gloves, casually smoothing his wind-tousled hair. The silver strands mixed in seemed even more numerous than the last time Li Size saw him, like quiet, spreading frost marks.