Gather Evidence

It was all about money.

Crystal tortured and forced her cowardly uncle to squeal and detail everything about the coming plot. This included the very proofs and plans and the papers at work.

The more Crystal heard the more her arm trembled in fear.

Their family was caught in a much larger plot. Two warring princes of the kingdom who sought to rule the throne.

Each was gathering allies and building up the resources.

Merchant's Rest was an important and strategic location that connected the lands above the Savage Lands to the capital and the major regions of the kingdoms.

It is situated at the center and would be the hub that connects it to all sides.

And because of that, it was an important region to do one of the outlawed practices of the kingdom.

Human trafficking.

However, Merchant's Rest, under the leadership of Christopher Diante, had stringent laws against it.

It was so strict that many nobles who wanted to expand their business found it complicated and difficult to act within.

However, Christopher was favored by Prince Davius, who stood to benefit from the trade.

The politics were so complicated that even Paul could not detail everything.

But killing Christopher was more complicated and had layers of political, moral, and social implications. After all, killing Christopher would only allow Prince Davius to put in a replacement.

The murder and death of Christopher had to be done in a way that his identity, his name, and his reputation were so damaged that the people would rally if Prince Davius would put a sympathizer or supporter of Christopher as mayor.

Crystal listened and felt her heart grow numb, fearing what the possibilities would have led to.

She would be sent to the school and might have bliss for a few years in the mage academy. She would be then married to the Delwyn family. And if Kin's story were true, her suffering would begin there.

And while she suffered, her family would meet the cruel fate of dying.

Crystal now understood something about Fate and Destiny. Fathom was deceived because the Cursed Dragon Emperor, Lucifer, had become Adam. But his appearance bound Crystal into a new life. The chain of events that would have followed was now broken!

"Is the Delwyn family involved in this?!" Crystal shouted.

"Yes! Yes! They were! You were part of the deal! They had sensed you and your sister's ice powers and wanted them for their family!"

"What does that mean?! Did they intend to kill us?!"

"I don't know…! Please! I told you everything! I told you the allies and the locations where the proofs are! Spare me!" Paul sobbed and cried out.

Crystal stood there and was lost in her own thoughts. The treacheries that Fate and Destiny had over her life were dangerous. And Crystal couldn't help but think at Adam's anger and hatred towards her.

Despite all the blessings that Crystal now had to overcome Fathom's plot, Adam still believed that their meeting was the last gift of Fate and Destiny. A remnant power of this curse that afflicted him.

"No matter what… Meeting Adam was still a curse to me… But how?" She thought out loud.

Paul was still shivering in fear. Throughout the interrogation, he had been burned to the point that the two stab wounds were no longer bleeding because the wounds were cauterized. He was in excruciating pain, and Crystal asked for every detail and the names and proof.

"Thank you… for telling me everything, uncle."

"...Go to your father now. Bind me if you want, but spare me!"

"Spare you?" Crystal laughed.

"Me? The sorrrowful woman that everyone pushed around? The little girl who people want to strip off for their own perverted desires? If I spared you, people would be more likely to believe in your lies! Everyone believes the lies that claim I have been sleeping with various nobles and men! You'd twist the words of your mouth! Besides, Uncle… The moment I showed you the flames in me was the moment that ensured your death. This secret cannot be revealed! Prepare yourself! You man of pleasure! For now, the flames of your sins will repay you!"

"Ahhhh!"

After ten more minutes, Crystal left the room.

The pitiful, charred remains of his uncle remained back.

Crystal went to the entrance of the room and opened the door.

Wintress and a very confused Kin were hiding close by.

"Come in. Follow me." Crystal spoke coldly as he moved down.

"Er… Crystal! What happened?! We managed to enter without drawing attention, but Wintress suddenly…"

"I told him to go here. I said that my connection with him was strong. After all, a Challenger gave me this power."

"What are we doing here?"

"Gathering evidence. This is my uncle's house. And that is my uncle."

Crystal revealed the messy remains of Paul.

"What… the?!"

"I burned him using some potion that I bought. I plan to blame the murder of my uncle on a mysterious fire assassin. That will draw away the suspicion of me killing him. Now, Kin. He gave me a lot of information. Take the evidence of this place and study it." Crystal ordered as she led Paul up the rooms. She carried the key that Paul had, and with it, she opened many secret doors that revealed the important and incriminating evidence.

Evidence of the plans was shown as Crystal told Kin everything. She told about the plot and plan and even found the key evidence Paul spoke to prove the story.

Kin was horrified at the findings and couldn't believe such Fate and Destiny awaited Crystal's family.

"What are you going to do now?" Kin asked.

"Go back home. This should give you an idea of where to start your search. The Sword Quest mercenary is being mentioned here. Find out where the girls are hidden, and we can reveal their atrocities."

"...I understand," Kin answered in seriousness. The disgusting secrets of Merchant's Rest were now revealed to him, and he wanted to truly help Crystal.

Crystal left the house and made her way towards her home.