The boy ignored Shade's accusation and simply stepped back into the shadows:
"The ball from the past wasn't hidden away. Someone will bring it to you. Go take it from them. That's much more interesting than Hide and Seek. I'll be waiting for you to get that ball."
With that, it vanished into the woods, while the owl the Witches had transformed into swiftly flew onto Shade's shoulder:
"Turn me into a toy, and I'll help you."
"No need. I'll handle this myself. I have helpers in 1821."
Shade held the owl and set it on the ground. Witches had returned to her original form and was a little displeased but did not insist:
"It's good that you have help. But don't leave yet. When we searched Collins Manor, we found this. The Collins family had hung it on the wall as an antique."
Miss Bell stepped forward and showed Shade the arrow she held in her hands. He recognized it at a glance as the World Tree-made Elven Antique Arrow that the Forest Elf lady needed. He was not surprised that such an arrow had abruptly appeared again:
"Hold on to this arrow for now. Miss Bell, when you investigated York Bronte, the records said that his uncle, Benn Bronte, died in 1829. Do you know the cause of his death? And Benn Bronte's father, Theodore Bronte, the father of the current Baron Bronte—how did that old baron die?"
He suddenly asked, and the Black-haired Girl was indeed professional. Though she did not know why Shade was asking about these people, she still answered:
"In the summer of 1829, Benn Bronte suddenly caught a cold and then died. As for Theodore Bronte, much earlier, he also died of illness in 1800."
Shade was fairly satisfied with that answer:
"Wait