Volume 2 Chapter 37: Punishing the Heart

“Doctor Stan, please forgive my bluntness! You were not originally a resident of Audiya Town, nor were you a Demon Hunter. Why did you notice these two pieces of internal information related to the Albert Family in the Witch’s Notebook?”

Lady Nova waved her hand to interrupt Meyer, frowning at Qin Lun who was resting with his eyes closed. Although she appeared rough and tougher than most men, her mind possessed a woman’s unique delicacy. That she became one of the leaders of the Demon Hunters in the Odia region was no accident.

While others were shocked by the information recorded in the Witch’s Notebook, Lady Nova remained cautious and rational. She quickly identified the only illogical aspect these two pieces of information revealed.

One of these shocking pieces of information, of course, was about the witch Mary Claire’s surname, which was the same as Stephen Albert’s wife’s name. However, this information itself was not too significant. Many people in this world shared the same names, let alone just overlapping surnames and given names.

Yet, when connected with the second piece of information, Demon Hunters who understood the inside story of the epidemic’s spread couldn’t help but become suspicious of the Albert Family. In the second piece of information, the Maiar witch named Meisha recorded a minor incident that happened a year ago at the edge of the Maiar Forest.

At that time, a young couple with a little boy were being chased at the edge of the Maiar Forest. One of the pursuers was suspected to be Baron Albert. Finally, the woman from the young couple was killed, while the young man and the little boy were taken away.

The reason Witch Meisha noticed this incident at the forest’s edge was because the killed woman surprisingly resembled the witch Mary who had disappeared over ten years ago. Moreover, the other two new creatures among the pursuers also caught her strong interest.

From the notebook’s description, the Demon Hunters learned that one of these creatures was clearly a Werewolf raised by the Albert Family. The other creature resembled a Gargoyle, also having bat wings and sharp claws, a magical creature the witches had never seen before.

Maiar witches could use magic to restore their youthful appearance, something all Demon Hunters understood. Therefore, if a certain Maiar witch fell in love with Stephen Albert, the eldest son of the Albert Family, it wasn’t a big deal—at most a scandal. The Albert Family would simply expel the witch.

But the recording time of this information was just over a year ago. After this incident, two outsiders in Audiya Town became infected with the epidemic disease. Ordinary townspeople didn’t know the identities of these two outsiders, but the Demon Hunters in the Odia region knew they were two court physicians from the Maize Duchy who came here to treat Miller Albert.

In other words, the Demon Hunters actually understood that the epidemic in the Odia region first broke out in Albert Castle.

However, most Demon Hunters’ doubts about Albert Castle only flashed through their minds and were buried deep in their hearts. After all, the Albert Family was the core of the Demon Hunters in the Odia region, having long been on the front lines of battle and earning everyone’s respect.

And now… Stephen Albert’s wife was a witch? Albert Castle actually had two types of Magical Creatures? Besides the known Werewolf, were they secretly developing other Magical Creatures?

What did the Albert Family want to do? Was Little Miller’s epidemic related to the Albert Family’s research on Magical Creatures? Was that witch Mary the contact between the Albert Family and the Maiar witches? Was Baron Albert organizing the Odia region’s Demon Hunters to enter the Maiar Forest just a superficial cover-up?

Numerous questions filled all the Demon Hunters’ minds. They weren’t fools; these two pieces of information immediately stirred up the initial doubts buried deep in their hearts. The conflict between past knowledge and the current information made it hard for many to adapt immediately.

Hearing Lady Nova’s question, Qin Lun opened his eyes and looked at this “big lady” with her fierce face. A flash of appreciation crossed his eyes.

The truthfulness of the information’s content wasn’t important; what mattered was whether the person providing the information was reliable. The conclusion of the information wasn’t important; what mattered was whether the process of reaching that conclusion was reasonable.

Nova’s question was actually asking Qin Lun: It’s not strange that we Demon Hunters can spot the issues in these two pieces of information at a glance, but how did you, an outsider, learn about these inside matters? After all, the name of Stephen’s wife and the incident that happened to the Albert Family over a year ago were part of the Albert Family’s privacy.

Unless you had ulterior motives, why would a doctor care about these things!

This was looking past the surface and directly pointing to the root of the problem!

However, since Qin Lun dared to highlight these two pieces of information and add fuel to the fire, he naturally wouldn’t be stumped by Lady Nova’s question.

“Lady Nova, I am a doctor. I have no interest in the Albert Family’s secrets. However…” Qin Lun calmly scanned the Demon Hunters who looked puzzled, “During Little Miller’s treatment, I discovered he was different from the epidemic patients in Audiya Town. What threatened Little Miller’s life wasn’t the epidemic virus, but… physical weakness caused by long-term malnutrition!”

“Doctor Stan, you mean…” The Saint Healer beside Qin Lun showed a thoughtful expression.

“Exactly. Before receiving my treatment, Little Miller had been sick for over a year. The epidemic virus in his body had reached a balanced state with some substance. He is the source of the epidemic in the Odia region!” Qin Lun nodded affirmatively.

“As for why I know about some matters concerning Stephen and Nina, that’s because I specifically consulted members of the Albert Family. I wanted to obtain some blood samples from them to develop an immune vaccine for the epidemic. But now it seems the Albert Family already had similar medicine long ago. Otherwise, after accompanying Little Miller for so long, they should have all been infected by the epidemic long ago!”

“Hmph, no wonder the Albert Family preferred to invite ordinary doctors rather than let me, the Saint Healer of the Odia region, treat Little Miller!” The Saint Healer sneered, “Now do you believe me? I told you long ago that this epidemic isn’t an ordinary disease, but an Undead Plague!”

“Undead Plague?” Qin Lun’s eyes flickered as he turned to ask.

“Undead Plague is a live virus mixed with undead power. It’s a plague weapon developed by witches, mainly aimed at reducing the large human population.” Meyer glanced at Qin Lun and the Saint Healer, explaining softly, “Actually, when the epidemic first appeared, some of us suspected it was an Undead Plague developed by witches. We just never thought its origin would actually be from… Albert Castle!”

Undead Plague?! This new clue flashed through Qin Lun’s mind like lightning. He suddenly remembered the dark green substances that squirmed like living things in Frank’s vomit on the first night he entered this world.

No, I’m still missing the final piece! Qin Lun narrowed his eyes slightly. He had finally connected all the scattered clues. Now he only lacked a core, a key point that would reveal the entire truth.

“Lady Nova, we must act before headquarters issues orders, or it will be too late!” Meyer said with a gloomy expression.

“…Alright, I agree to return to the castle to verify the truth of these two pieces of information.” Nova looked deeply at Qin Lun, “However, the Albert Family is after all the core of the Odia Demon Hunters. I hope everyone can keep a cool head. Let Meyer and I speak with the Baron alone.”

“No need for you! Let me ask Father. I will prove the Albert Family’s innocence!” A deep voice suddenly came from the tent entrance.

“Bonnie…” The Demon Hunters in the tent stared in shock at the suddenly appearing blonde young man.

“Bonnie, you need proper rest! No matter what, you’ve already proven your innocence through brave combat. I believe Baron Albert will give us a reasonable explanation after we return to the castle!” Lady Nova stood up and said solemnly.

The blonde young man with half his face covered in white bandages scanned the Demon Hunters in the tent. The anger and unwillingness in his blood-red single eye shot onto everyone’s faces like blazing flames. His gaze paused for a moment on Qin Lun before he resolutely turned and left.

His young, strong body hunched over, as if he had aged many years in an instant. His figure under the campfire appeared so lonely and isolated.

“Sir Bonnie, do you remember what you said in front of Odo and Bla’s bodies?” Qin Lun suddenly opened his eyes and asked calmly.

Bonnie’s footsteps halted, his shoulders trembling slightly. He didn’t turn back, his cold, severe words seeming to squeeze out from between his teeth one by one: “Of course I remember. Bonnie Albert is first a Demon Hunter, and only then a member of the Albert Family!”

“Everyone, go back and prepare. We’ll set off for Albert Castle immediately!” Meyer said sternly, waving his hand to all the Demon Hunters in the tent, “The witches’ reinforcements will arrive in this area soon. Before that, we must retreat from the Maiar Forest!”

The Demon Hunters filed out, their expressions heavy. For over three hundred years, Albert Castle had always been the leader of the Odia Demon Hunters. Countless Demon Hunters from the Albert Family had Sacrificed in battles against Maiar witches and Evil Creatures. Thinking that they had to question the Albert Family’s loyalty to the Demon Hunter duties, their hearts were no lighter than Bonnie’s.

Soon, all the Demon Hunters in the tent were gone, leaving only the severely injured Qin Lun and the Saint Healer taking care of him.

“Alright, Doctor Stan, you’re much tougher than I imagined. The wounds are all bandaged. Rest for a while; we’ll depart soon!” The Saint Healer patted Qin Lun’s uninjured left shoulder, comforting him with a smile before turning to leave.

“Please wait a moment!” Qin Lun suddenly grabbed the Saint Healer’s sleeve and said sincerely, “Perhaps I can’t understand other Demon Hunters’ respect for the Albert Family, but I do know that once the Undead Plague breaks out, tens of thousands of human civilians throughout the Odia region will turn into corpses…”

“What do you want to say? Hasn’t everyone already made a decision?” The Saint Healer’s eyes flickered as he turned his head away, avoiding Qin Lun’s gaze.

“They are all warriors who value honor more than their own lives. They are brave in Sacrifice, but increasingly indifferent to the respect for life. After the Undead Plague breaks out, the Odia region will be littered with corpses, and it might even spread throughout the entire Maize Duchy and the whole continent!” Qin Lun said with a dark expression.

“In this camp, only you, the Saint Healer, and I truly understand the power of the Undead Plague! Questioning the Albert Family isn’t the main point. We must immediately find the key factor that kept Little Miller from dying of the Undead Plague—that immune substance that can balance the undead power! Even if… it means Sacrificing the Albert Family…”

“What do you want me to do…” The Saint Healer’s hands trembled as he looked at Qin Lun in horror, as if seeing this skilled new Demon Hunter doctor for the first time.

“I’d like to ask you…” Qin Lun slightly narrowed his eyes, leaned close to the Saint Healer’s ear, and began whispering instructions.