The Rich Cultivator
Chapter 226. Their cream buns were tasty

Chapter 226: 226. Their cream buns were tasty

Chief Liu Long’s face twisted with rage, his voice bellowing through the room, rattling the servants who stood frozen in fear. "Who did this? Who replaced my son with the prisoner? I want everyone responsible dead—the guards, the executioner, even the missing Gardener family!" His fists clenched as he seethed, his eyes narrowed with fury. "And I’ll report this to the higher-ups, I’ll tell them that these people were spies for the Sea Overlords."

Across the continent, power lay divided among powerful organizations—the Federation, the Bank of Atlantis, various royal and aristocratic families—all controlling vast stretches of land and people. Thanes Town, ruled under the iron fist of the Federation, was no exception.

The Sea Overlords is powerhouse in farther north. They are called Overlords because they have lots of territories under them and have a highest chance to acquire the ’Eternity’.

"Chief! Chief!" a voice called urgently from outside his office door, snapping him from his rage. He swung around, his eyes dark with impatience as he opened the door. Outside, one of his subordinates gestured toward the window.

Stepping closer, he peered out and felt his blood freeze for a moment.

"What do they want? My son is already dead? Do they want compensation or justice?" He shouted and jumped from the window and landed near the crowd.

There, in front of his mansion, stood a growing crowd. Men and women gathered together, their faces serious but not angry. Chief Liu expected shouts of anger, demands for justice, maybe even curses hurled at him for what had happened that morning. But instead, they wore expressions of gratitude.

"Thank you, Chief!" a voice called from the crowd.

"Thanks for bringing justice!" another voice echoed.

Chief Liu’s confusion mixed with surprise. His scowl softened, though a shadow of suspicion lingered in his eyes. He forced a smile and raised his hand, nodding at the crowd as he acknowledged their words with a wave. But as he turned and made his way back inside, his mind churned with questions.

Once inside, he glanced sharply at one of his trusted aides, a young officer who seemed uncomfortable, nervously glancing at his watch in his hands.

"What’s going on here?" Chief Liu demanded, folding his arms as he stared down the officer.

The aide hesitated, finally managing, "Sir, it seems that someone spread evidence of Liu Feng’s... activities, all throughout the town."

Chief Liu’s jaw clenched. "What evidence?"

"Images and letters detailing everything Liu Feng had done to his victims. Someone found women innerwear and other clothing items belonging to his victims and displayed them publicly. It is said that they were taken from Liu Feng’s bedroom. There were records, testimonies... many women came forward and confirmed Liu Feng’s actions." The officer’s voice faltered, seeing his chief’s face harden with every word. "And, uh... there’s also a rumor that you were the one who uncovered this... and ordered your son punished."

Chief Liu’s eyes widened in shock. "What nonsense is this? Who spread this slander?"

"Well it doesn’t matter. Bring those evidence and burn them. Then we will announce that those evidence are fake. Kidnap those victim women and sell them as sex slaves. Those whore should be grateful they were once Toy for my son." Chief Liu said with anger. He knows about his son’s doing but he never cared. Now all he wanted is to clear his son name.

"Chief," the aide replied, his voice trembling slightly, "it seems the evidence was... already sent to the higher-ups. We tried to retrieve it, but it was too late. It’s beyond our reach now."

Chief Liu’s fists trembled, his fingernails digging into his palms. His anger now had no outlet—no one to accuse, no one to silence. Every attempt to seize control slipped further from his grasp, like sand slipping through his fingers. He finally turned to the aide, his voice low and dangerous. "Who did this?"

"The guards responsible for the prisoner and the executioners. They acted quickly, fearing you might... take matters into your own hands," the aide replied carefully.

Chief Liu staggered slightly, as if struck. He understood they were afraid and quickly turned over the evidence to Higher ups. That will prove that his son is guilty and he won’t able to take action on them. He fell silent, the reality settling in with a weight that felt crushing.

With a weary sigh, he slumped into a nearby chair, his gaze falling on a framed photograph of his son that stood proudly on his desk. His heart clenched as he looked into his son’s youthful face, the boyish charm that had once brought him pride now filling him with a painful guilt.

"Leave me alone." He said.

"Yes chief." His subordinate left.

"It’s my fault," he murmured to himself, his voice barely above a whisper. "I pampered you too much... turned a blind eye when I should have disciplined you. I thought protecting you was my duty, but I failed you. I created this monster."

┉┈ ◈ ◉ ◈ ┈┉

The streets of Thanes Town were in chaos. Word of the recent events spread quickly, with townsfolk gathering in clusters, discussing the unexpected execution and the scandal surrounding the Liu family. Shock, fear, and curiosity mixed in their eyes as they whispered about Liu Feng’s dark deeds and his shocking end. Some cheered, feeling justice had been served, while others feared what would come next.

But Veronica paid no attention to the commotion. Her purpose here was done, and her heart was finally at ease. She walked briskly, pulling her cloak’s hood over her head to obscure her face and blending into the shadows of narrow side streets. In the shadowed alley, a quiet anticipation replaced the town’s loud turmoil.

At the far end of the alley, two men lay tied up, unconscious and unaware of the world around them. They were slumped against the wall, and it was clear they’d suffered a rough handling. A figure stepped out of the darkness, his face obscured by a mask, his voice low and resonant.

"I have some business with these two. Don’t worry," he said in a calm yet ominous tone. "I’ll take care of them afterward."

Veronica nodded without hesitation. "I trust you."

He made a move to leave, but Veronica halted him with a simple question, her curiosity getting the better of her. "Before you go... what should I call you?"

The masked figure paused, considering her question for a moment before responding. "You can call me Phantom Blackwood."

"Phantom Blackwood," she murmured, repeating the name as if committing it to memory. The name seemed to carry a weight, an aura of mystery that perfectly suited him.

"What is your real name?" She asked.

"I will tell you if we meet again." Tyler said with playful tone.

"Alright." Veronica sighed.

Tyler shifted his gaze to Veronica’s side, his eyes catching something faint yet unmistakable—a small, ghostly silhouette lingering near her.

"You can see her?" Veronica asked, surprised, following his gaze.

Tyler’s eyes narrowed slightly as he studied the figure. "It’s a Ghost Spirit... just beginning to take form. No wonder—Moeko’s family lingered here after death, bound by unfinished business."

Veronica’s face softened as she looked at the faint figure of Moeko’s spirit, her presence a reminder of the innocent lives destroyed by Liu Feng’s cruelty. With a solemn expression, she nodded and quietly explained how she’d come to know Moeko and her family.

"But she’s not fully formed," Tyler observed thoughtfully. "She’s too weak, her spirit tethered only by lingering pain and fear. If you want her to start a new life, you’ll need to form a contract with her, bind her to this world in a way that gives her purpose and stability."

Veronica’s resolve sharpened as she glanced at Moeko’s spirit. "That was my plan," she replied, determination clear in her voice. She would make sure Moeko’s spirit will have a good life.

"Can you show me your face?" Tyler suddenly asked.

Veronica hesitated and her hand reached her cloth covering her face. But she stopped.

"I will show you if we meet again." She said with a smirk.

Tyler stared at her in silence.

"W-what?" Veronica asked.

"Next time learn to disguise. Atleast use clothes to tie up those lump of meats." Tyler said as he scanned her body.

Veronica covered her body with her hand. She is trembling with rage and there is deep blush on her face.

Tyler nodded in satisfaction and then gave a slight wave as he prepared to leave. He had his own work to attend to, unfinished business waiting in the shadows of Thanes Town.

Just as he was about to disappear into the night, Veronica’s voice called him back. "Why did you want to avenge Moeko’s family?" she asked, a trace of curiosity and she even forgot his remarks.

Tyler turned back, his expression hidden by the mask, but a faint smile tugged at his lips.

"Their cream buns were tasty,"

Then, without another word, he slipped into the darkness, the two unconscious men vanishing with him.

As he left, Moeko’s spirit watched him, a faint, grateful smile appearing on her ghostly face.

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