Chapter 351

“Hmm.”

After giving a rather indifferent response, Leonard glanced over at his secretary with a hint of suspicion and said, “Where’ve you been? It was just a simple errand. Why did it take so long?”

“The guard on duty had fallen asleep and no matter how much I called out, he wouldn’t wake up. It took longer than expected, and on the way back, a stray cat startled me. Sorry…”

After muttering a vague excuse or two, “Mark” trudged heavily back to his desk and resumed reviewing the documents he hadn’t finished earlier.

As Leonard sat back down at his own desk and noticed the sky beginning to lighten, he suddenly felt a sharp pain in his lower back and couldn’t help but yawn. With a weary expression, he waved a hand dismissively and said,

“That’s enough for today. I’m going to rest. Tomorrow afternoon, we have an appointment with the president of the Capital City Chamber of Commerce to discuss imposing an additional monopoly tax on companies like Chal Department Store. You should go lie down in the side room too; don’t be late tomorrow!”

“Alright.”

Upon hearing Leonard’s words, the secretary stood up and followed closely behind him as they left the office and entered a dimly lit corridor.

As the two walked one after another into the corridor, under the cold gaze of the portraits on either side, their shadows stretched longer and longer from the light behind them. The footsteps of the secretary “Mark” grew closer and closer, until his shadow completely enveloped Leonard’s head.

“Oh yeah, how’s that woman at Baohua Manor doing?”

Seemingly uncomfortable with the silence from his usually talkative secretary, Leonard broke the awkwardness by asking, “Is she still living in the garden?”

“…”

Upon hearing Leonard’s inquiry, “Mark’s” shadow paused momentarily before responding lightly, “Yes, she is still living in the small house at the corner of the garden with your daughter.”

Your daughter…

“Shut up! Don’t mention that monster! She’s not my daughter!”

Leonard abruptly stopped walking, turned around, and glared angrily, saying,

“Damn it! I thought I drowned that monster long ago! But… Mark!!! How dare you mention this to me?! How dare you?!!”

“Sorry! Lord Viscount, sorry! I spoke out of turn!”

Startled awake by Leonard’s sudden rage, realizing his mistake, the secretary slapped himself hard across the face, shaking like a leaf as he stammered,

“I… I might have been too tired… Lord Viscount… I…”

“Enough! Shut your mouth!”

With a look of disgust, Leonard gave his secretary a harsh glare, thinking to himself that he’d find an excuse to get rid of him tomorrow, then said coldly,

“Since you’ve worked with me till late tonight and your mind isn’t clear, I’ll let this slide this time. But if I hear you mention it again, don’t blame me!”

“I… I’ve learned my lesson, Lord Viscount, I’ve learned!”

After huffing irritably, Leonard continued questioning,

“I ordered you to clean up the manor. Did she see it? If she did, did she say anything?”

“She… she probably saw it.”

After hesitating slightly, “Mark” replied,

“But she didn’t say anything, nor did she try to stop it. She only retrieved the Baohua family crest from the trash pile in front of the main building.”

Leonard scoffed disdainfully and said,

“After that incident years ago, I actually met her twice. At the time, she looked at me like I was already dead, which worried me for quite some time.

But now… heh heh, it seems the Clearing Bureau has control over her stronger than I imagined. She doesn’t even dare to step forward to object. The last of the Baohua family… is nothing more than this.”

“What’s this Clearing Bureau? What place is that?”

“That’s… a mysterious department under the Public Security Bureau.”

Glancing back at his overly curious secretary, Leonard regretted letting slip such dangerous information, but after pondering for a moment, he explained cautiously,

“They possess some extraordinary abilities, capable of doing things ordinary people can’t, responsible for handling cases with special circumstances and the like. However, the conditions for joining are extremely strict. Most people haven’t even heard of them, and even those who do will soon forget.

The reason I know about them is because that woman was selected by them, and consequently, they also placed something called a ‘word spirit’ on me, preventing her from getting close and allowing me to retain this memory.”

“Such a miraculous organization actually exists…”

While feigning amazement, the secretary asked worriedly,

“Lord Leonard, since that woman from Baohua Manor joined the Clearing Bureau, surely she must have some unusual abilities too?”

“Hmm.”

Unable to resist turning back again and looking at his peculiar secretary, knowing that whatever he learns tonight will likely be forgotten mysteriously tomorrow morning, and also wanting to vent after holding it in for so many years, Leonard responded,

“While I’m not entirely sure, I suspect her ability could very well be resurrection!”

“Resurrection?”

“Yes, resurrection! She may even desecrate the souls of the dead!”

Nodding, Leonard continued walking forward while recounting fearfully, “At first, I clearly… umm… the monster child you mentioned earlier, she was definitely dead, but that crazy woman kept buying children’s clothes.

When I realized something was off, I thought she had gone mad, but the people I sent to investigate actually spotted a little girl in the garden! I even saw her myself through binoculars – her features were exactly like… exactly like that monster child! Mark, can you imagine how terrified I was at the time?

Damn it! If it weren’t for this rare opportunity and the orders from the Minister of Finance and the Queen being impossible to disobey, I would never come near that cursed manor!”

“Hmm, I think I can imagine. And even if I can’t imagine now, I guess I’ll see soon enough.”

???

“What the hell are you babbling about?!”

Hearing his secretary’s strange response, Leonard couldn’t help but turn around sharply, full of anger, and shouted loudly, “Damn it! Mark! What’s wrong with you today… You… why are you here?!”

“I came to see you.”

A clear and cheerful child’s voice replied happily,

“I wanted to see what the person who drowned me looks like. Also…”

Little Elie, who replaced the dream version of Mark and appeared in front of Leonard, smiled, then innocently asked amidst Leonard’s horrified gaze, “Where’s my body? Where did you throw my body? Can you tell me?”

“Aaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh!!!!”

(End of Chapter)