The Culprit

"Wish Force?" Dane's heart tightened. "What is that?"

"Uh... he said it was something like mental energy. To be honest, I don't really understand what he meant either, but as long as I could afford it, I would definitely use it to find you." Judy lowered her head. "No matter what, Mr. Chao at least kept his word."

"You fool!" Dane's face turned as bitter as a gourd. "The less you understand, the less you should agree so easily! Think about it—would a normal person ask you for mental energy? That man is probably not a Detective at all, but..."

"But what?"

"A Cultist," Dane said through clenched teeth.

Judy shook her head repeatedly and rejected the idea at once. "Impossible... I've dealt with him several times. He does seem a little mysterious, but he acts and speaks normally. He doesn't resemble those hysterical fanatics from the rumors. Besides, I've never heard of any Cultists who need to collect Wish Force..."

"What Cultist would put what he truly wants on display? I'm afraid he doesn't want your Wish Force at all, but your soul—"

Suddenly, a knock at the door interrupted Dane.

"Miss Judy, there's a bit of trouble." Zhou Zhi's voice came from outside. "That woman isn't going to make it."

"I'll be right there!" Judy patted Dane's shoulder, signaling for him to rest well, then rose and headed for the room where the other victim lay.

Only seconds after entering, before she could check on the woman, she heard the faint sound of a door locking behind her.

Turning around, Judy saw the Detective who had been missing for so long once more.

"You—" She jumped in fright. "When did you get here? Where have you been all this time?"

"I had some matters to arrange, so I was delayed." Chaoyang removed his felt hat and slowly walked to the bedside before sitting down. "But I knew those two would protect Mr. Dane and help him escape the theater. Even if I wasn't there, it wouldn't affect the final result."

As he spoke, he pulled out a paper tube from his coat and unfurled it. It was the "contract" they had signed earlier. "Now that the wish has been fulfilled, the contract ends here. It's time for you to deliver your share."

Judy swallowed involuntarily.

So the victim being at death's door was only a pretext? He had deliberately had his men separate her from Dane in order to create a chance to meet her alone?

He wants your soul...

That sentence suddenly surfaced in her mind.

Yes, perhaps the Wish Force was only a pretext...

But even if she had known that beforehand, would she have refused his help?

With that thought, Judy stood and gave Chaoyang a deep bow.

"What are you..." He froze for a moment.

"I should have thanked you for everything you've done sooner, but I hope it isn't too late now... Thank you for saving Dane's life!"

That was right. The answer had always been clear. When there was no way out, even if it was only a straw floating on the water, she would not let go easily.

"You don't need to thank me for something stipulated in the contract..."

"The contract only said you would find Dane's whereabouts. In truth... that was all I expected of you before." Summoning her courage, Judy said it all in one breath. "You had no need to rescue him, much less openly oppose the police station, yet you still reached out and pulled Dane from despair. I truly have no way to repay you for that. So... take whatever you want! Because even if I had to do it again, I would still make the same choice!"

"Is that so... I understand." Chaoyang handed her a pen and pointed to the end of the paper scroll. "Then please sign your name in this section. Yes, in that blank space. Remember to use your real name."

"My real name is Judy." She took a deep breath and signed her name.

The moment she finished the final stroke, a powerful exhaustion washed over Judy, making her sway. But the fatigue came and went quickly. In the blink of an eye, she returned to normal, though she felt as if something inside her had become a little emptier.

"With that, the contract is complete." Chaoyang rolled up the paper tube.

"That... was all?" She blinked.

"That's right." After a brief pause, he added, "Ah... there may be some discomfort at first. After all, you lost a bit of mental energy. But it will recover after you rest for some time."

"So... you don't want my soul?" Judy probed cautiously.

Chaoyang smiled. "I never take anything beyond what a contract stipulates. What it says is what it says. You can rest assured of that."

Judy suddenly choked up. "You... you're truly a good person!"

"Hey, don't say that."

"You don't know... how anxious I was during that time. I tried every method I could think of and begged everyone I could beg, but none of it helped at all!" Judy wiped her eyes. "I was nearly desperate then, until you came to my door..."

Only after a long while did she barely calm herself. "I'm sorry. I couldn't control myself just now."

"I understand." Chaoyang nodded.

Perhaps feeling somewhat embarrassed, Judy promptly shifted the topic to the motionless woman on the bed. "By the way, how is she? Is she like Dane, merely unconscious from exhaustion?"

"No. She's dying," Chaoyang said bluntly.

"What?"

"She endured brutal torture. The fact that she has held on until now is already remarkable." He sighed softly. "Lift the blanket and take a look. You'll understand."

Judy did as he said, then sucked in a sharp breath!

What kind of ruined body was that? Split whip wounds and festering burns covered her everywhere. New and old scars overlapped in layers, and many of her injuries had already rotted. The oozing fluid had glued her skin and cloth robe together! Such severe injuries could not have been inflicted in a day or two, nor were they the result of mere imprisonment. She had clearly suffered prolonged torture.

Judy also noticed that the woman's skin was a deep brown, while pale, wave-shaped markings were tattooed on both shoulders. This showed that she was not from one of the mainstream peoples of the Old Continent, but rather a descendant of the relatively rare Sea Guard Tribe. Judy did not know exactly which branch she belonged to, but in Glorious Fortress, such outsiders generally occupied the lowest rung of society.

"Detective... what exactly is going on? Why did North City Police Station arrest her and Dane, then go to such lengths to kill them?" Judy murmured.

"Dane was merely a fish that bit the hook. He thought himself an investigator, but he was actually prey that had fallen into a trap." Chaoyang spoke plainly. "And this woman is a... miner for Gaotian Mining Company. Of course, that isn't quite accurate, because she was not voluntarily employed. She was enslaved. There are many people like her in the mining company."

Judy looked surprised. "How did you know?"

Because she's talking to me, Chaoyang thought.

In his vision, the woman was not unconscious at all. She was looking at him eagerly, continuously sending out pleas. It was communication on the level of consciousness, and only he could hear her words.

"The true culprit isn't Ghost. He's only the one carrying out the orders! Many of my brothers and sisters died at his hands, but before that, they were all held in a house in the north of the city! It belongs to Kuiqi, the chief of North City Police Station. He is the one who gave the orders!"

"Why would he do that?" Chaoyang asked inwardly.

"Because Gaotian Mining Company is North City Police Station's main sponsor. If we died in the mines, it would affect production, so any workers they don't want are handed over to North City Police Station. And the police station has its own purpose for making things so complicated."

"What purpose?"

"I don't know the details. I only heard officers mention that people outside the police station were also watching this matter. They seemed to be from the Old Continent."

The Old Continent... this was another new term for Chaoyang.

"Then why did they torture you? Those injuries weren't left in the mine, were they?"

"Because they wanted information from me about certain people." The woman's voice lowered.

"Can you tell me?"

"I'm sorry, but I can't reveal it to you right now, because it is extremely important." Her words suddenly grew urgent. "You aren't an ordinary person, are you? We all knew Ghost had set a trap, yet you were able to pull me out of it. That is not something an ordinary person could do! I also heard just now that you fulfilled that lady's wish. Since that is so, can you fulfill one wish for me as well? No matter the price, I am willing to pay it—even if I have to offer my soul!"

Chaoyang shook his head. Then, remembering that she could not see him, he replied in his mind, "I'm afraid not. You don't have what I need, and I never help people for free."

The facts proved that his estimate had been entirely correct. After settling the contract with Judy, he had gained around twelve hundred units of Wish Force. It was indeed more than last time, but after expenses, only a little over a hundred remained. The profit was actually worse. Of course, avoiding a loss was already fortunate. Wish Force was not money—once it was gone, he could not simply earn more. If he exhausted it all, he would drop dead on the spot. The remaining Wish Force, along with the two hundred he had earned last time, was what kept him alive. Before he died of thirst, he had to find a new source of Wish Force.

And the woman before him was clearly not an option.

Her life was like a candle flickering in the wind, liable to go out at any moment. This was a major taboo when signing contracts—once the wish-maker died, the contract was declared over, and none of the resources invested would yield any return. Besides, the amount of Wish Force was tied to the person. How much could a dying person with barely any breath left provide, even if she gave everything she had?

"What do you need? Whatever you need, I'll give it to you! This is my final wish. Please, help me!"

"I already told you... I take Wish Force, not souls. That requires the wish-maker's living soul to be full and vigorous, and their wish to be sincere enough." Chaoyang sighed. He did not want her to meet such an end either, but a Demon was not a wish-granting machine. There were many things he could not do. Even so, he opened Telepathic Vision and looked at the woman, intending to leave without any lingering attachment.

But the sight left Chaoyang rooted to the spot.

He saw a pillar of dazzling, pure white light! Beneath the dim kerosene lamp, the column was so dense and radiant that it shone like a searchlight in the City That Never Sleeps!