Discovery

A black business van pulled up at the roadside.

Inside, Qin Ran sat across from a thin man.

Two armed men sat on either side of the thin man, their guns aimed at Qin Ran.

"I hope everything you said is true!"

"Otherwise, you'll find out what happens when you deceive Mr. Big!"

The thin man spoke.

"Mm."

Qin Ran merely nodded, offering nothing more.

He was certain the fifth victim was somewhere nearby.

The first three victims—Sydney, Conti, and Paul—had been killed in succession.

Only the fourth, Reddick, had been discovered yesterday.

That was not because the Sphendic Conglomerate had suddenly grown a conscience.

It was simply because Lena had taken an item needed to set up the magic array.

Now that they had recovered it, completing the array was what mattered.

Qin Ran was certain they would not wait.

After all, every requirement had been met.

The casting item was ready, the suffering had had time to fester, and all that remained was to complete the magic array.

Or, more precisely, to complete its foundation: the Inverted Pentagram!

The Inverted Pentagram was one of the foundations of a magic array. It was among the best-known basic formations and one of the most widely used.

That was because it was simple to learn and easy to master.

Draw it correctly and supply enough pain, fear, and despair as a source. Once converted, that energy could activate the runes and fulfill the caster's purpose.

That was why the Sphendic Conglomerate had staged the "Beast Eats People" incidents.

They needed enough pain, fear, and despair to power the array.

And what purpose would draw on pain, fear, and despair?

Whatever it was, it had nothing to do with goodness, happiness, or hope.

His advanced-level [Mysterious Knowledge] told Qin Ran that much.