Chapter 719: Kindness Part 1

I know.

I know this day would come.

From the moment that judgment was set eleven years ago, I knew this day would eventually arrive.

I left home when young, abandoned my family estate, and devoted myself wholeheartedly to scholarship, seeking only to grow old in a study. I never imagined I would be fortunate enough to put what I learned into use, to govern the age and aid the people. The Sunset has treated me so generously that I have no regrets in this life and am grateful beyond measure.

Yet human affairs are complicated, tangled, and difficult to separate. They cannot be explained clearly by the learning of a study.

For more than forty years, I served as Chief Judge of Jade City, passing through war and peace. I never dared slacken in my duties, and in public matters, I never dared hide private motives. Yet unease and pain have tormented me at every moment. Whenever I set down the gavel and removed the official robe, I could not help thinking again and again:

In every case I reviewed, did I investigate the facts thoroughly, leaving no omissions?

In every trial, was I detached and neutral, impartial and unbiased?

In every statement I made, were my thoughts clear and my explanations proper?

In every fall of the gavel, was I worthy of my oath and original heart, both defending the interests of the weak and restraining the excesses of the strong, both upholding fairness and not betraying the law?

Over all these years, have I ever misjudged a case? Wronged a good person? Encouraged oppression and exploitation?

Have I ever allowed friendship and loyalty, hatred and anger, interests and losses, to blind my judgment while I myself knew nothing, or pretended not to know?

Or perhaps, all these years, I merely deceived myself with righteousness, concealed myself with office, intoxicated myself with power, and under the shelter of law, found excuses for my personal likes and dislikes and self-righteousness?

Lenster and I, and so many colleagues who shared this aspiration, built a city of dreams together. Was it still only wishful thinking?

If so, if struggle and destruction are unavoidable, then is a future woven from blood and fire, conflict and death, the eternal fate of all the people in the city, even all mortals in the world?

If only this can achieve so-called civilization and progress, then are so-called justice, morality, and law merely tools we use to unite ourselves and gather public hope? Does their meaning lie in deceiving the masses, maintaining power, serving rule? Is their value worse than nothing, their brightness inferior to obscurity?

Then what difference is there between what we learn, use, and revere, and the spear in a soldier's hand, or the saddle on a horse's back?

Public justice and public benefit. Where should the boundary between them lie? And where should the people with the right to interpret them stand?

Yet I am old.

My thoughts are no longer quick, my logic no longer clear, and my values have gradually become outdated. Moreover, the end of life has its appointed day, and I have no hope of seeking the answers to these questions.

I can only wait for later generations of ability, whose study grows deeper by the day, to eventually resolve my confusion and benefit the world.

The remaining evidence from the old case that year is all preserved here. The strange points and disputes are all within. Though there are countless threads, capable people should be able to sort them out. Though roots and branches are tangled, a virtuous lord should be able to clarify them.

Only, do not create more killing karma or implicate the innocent.

At the time of my resignation, there are twenty-nine legacy cases still under review, fifteen administrative matters, six official documents not yet answered, and ten letters awaiting reading. All have been numbered and classified, and written recommendations have been left for people to take over each. If there is anything improper, I hope my colleagues and coworkers will show understanding and offer some assistance.

The remaining wealth of my household consists of one large residence gifted by Duke Lenster in the past, some farmland, over thirteen thousand books, Royal Bank deposit notes totaling two hundred six gold coins, and thirty gold coins in cash.

The house and farmland are to be returned to Jade City. The books are to be donated to promising academies across the South Coast and Stars.

The ten volumes of On the Way and the Law were borrowed from the study of the dean of Dragon-Kiss Academy before I left office and brought to Stars. I have not returned them for many years. If Dean Angus Jerome remains in office, they need not be returned either.

The money is entrusted to my eldest son and eldest daughter to distribute. My son is principled and steady; my daughter decisive and vigorous. Since both have formed families and established careers, they should abandon past grievances, work together, and surely they will manage it properly.

As for the household steward and servants, if they are retained, let everything remain as before. If they are not retained, dismiss them generously.

The gardener in the front courtyard is seventy-four. In the past, he met a cruel master and was left disabled. The maidservant in the rear courtyard is fifty-five. She was abducted when young and does not know her homeland. These two have worked diligently and served my household for more than thirty years. Everyone in my family has received their grace. They should be treated as kin, supported in old age, and not neglected in the slightest.

After my departure, regardless of the circumstances, my children, servants, students, colleagues, close friends, and old acquaintances who received my kindness need not investigate or pursue the matter, much less seek revenge or repay grievances. It is only that my allotted years have arrived, and my fate says I should return.

For my funeral, first, do not mobilize people and waste money. Second, do not recklessly discuss the circumstances and confuse public hearing. Third, do not accept condolence money or gifts of comfort, public or private, from above or below. Fourth, do not violate the law or hinder city governance.

For my remains, do not add coffin or outer coffin, do not erect a tombstone, do not keep an urn box, do not hold a wake for visitors, do not place burial objects, and do not leave gold covering my eyes. I ask the various directors of the Night to follow the old custom of Stars, cremate me into ash, and together with my wife's remaining urn, scatter us on the shore of the South Coast.

That year, when I took a ship to assume office, the Sea Shepherd's test was harsh. Wind and waves did not stop on the journey, and we newlyweds fell seriously ill again and again. Now I ride the waves to return. The maiden should return this feeling to me: let the tides become song and the ocean currents become a sampan, sending me and my wife slowly home.

If my children miss us, their father and mother will always be between sea and sky.

As for my soul, I do not seek to meet heavenly messengers, nor do I expect to gather with my wife and old friends. I only hope the ferryman is fair and dutiful. Though I have no burial gold to bribe him, for the sake of my usually rather generous treatment of others, may he steer the boat steadily and reach the shore quickly.

The thirty-one volumes of my humble writings are entrusted to students and friends. If useful, keep them. If useless, discard them.

Emerald bestowed grace upon me, so I devoted myself to repay it. I aided Iris Flower; it should hold Emerald in its heart.

Signed:

A native of Dreampeace City, lifelong honorary scholar of Dragon-Kiss Academy, citizen of Jade City, beloved and husband of Lainis Brennan, Johnny Brennan, leaving these words.

To the one who succeeds my office, please listen to one word from me:

You are given immense power, and therefore you must act carefully, with fear and trembling, reflecting day and night.

You are given immense power, and therefore when greater power descends and covers you, you have a responsibility to withstand pressure in order to protect the weak and defend fairness.

You are given immense power, and therefore when you lose it, you must be resolute and decisive, leave and never return. You must not greedily cling to office, deceiving yourself and others, losing your mind, and betraying Emerald's trust.

After reading this special suicide note, Thales put down the letter paper and looked at everything before him:

The somewhat messy desk, documents scattered across the floor, the overturned chair, the shattered wineglass, the stained carpet, and the crime scene marked in chalk after the body had been removed.

"Everyone be careful! Light steps, slow movements, especially around the evidence separated and numbered. Do not disturb the scene!" Mallos' order sounded.

At dawn, in Judge Brennan's residence, in the office study where he had worked in life, people came and went. From time to time, crying and questioning sounded. The Star Lake Guard had drawn out a team and, with the help of local security officers and Emerald guards, was carefully investigating the scene of the case.

Komuto smiled as he dealt with the security officers, gently comforting the Brennan family members and children who had hurried over after hearing the news and cried themselves hoarse, trying hard to draw some information out of them.

Glover observed the layout of the entire study and discussed quietly with Morgan where the murderer might have broken in from.

Doyle and Italiano lay beside the desk, flipping through the documents on it.

Paul stood before the broken window, narrowing his eyes as he looked outside. Across from him, Ralf expressionlessly stretched out his hand, feeling the gusts of cold wind coming through the window.

Miranda knelt on the floor with a focused expression, not letting go of any tiny clue on the carpet. Occasionally, she rose and paced back and forth, measuring the distance between different points.

It was said the incident occurred late at night.

Judge Brennan, as usual, left a lamp lit in his study and worked overtime handling documents. Yet the gatekeeper, night watchman, gardener, and servants in the residence, including the neighboring family living next door, all sank into deep sleep at the same time. Even the steward who went to remind his employer to sleep fainted in the corridor, still clutching the tray carrying a late-night snack.

According to questioning, most people inside and outside the residence had dreams to different degrees, whether nightmares or pleasant dreams. The scenes in the dreams were vivid, making it difficult to distinguish truth from falsehood. Some woke frightened, others ashamed.

But when the steward slowly awoke, realized something was wrong, and called people to break open the locked door that received no answer, Judge Brennan had already fallen in the study and lost his breath forever.

It was said that when he died, his eyes were wide open and his expression pained. The large floor-to-ceiling window in the study had been violently smashed, the opening exposed, leaving only the cold wind rustling.

"A violent break-in, a murder case, people made to fall asleep, dreams difficult to distinguish from reality." Thales frowned tightly and turned toward the broken window. The bone-piercing cold wind invaded, striking straight at his face. "Sinister Whisper again. Was it 'him'?"

The duke spoke, and the whole room fell quiet.

Mallos waved his hand and, in a gentle voice, had the security officers and guards take the steward and the deceased's children, who were still crying without end, out of the room. "He found justice for countless people. Please, Your Highness, find it for him as well." Only the Star Lake Guard's own people were left behind.

"It looks very similar," Miranda stood from the floor and nodded. She clearly knew who His Highness meant. "Unfortunately, there were no witnesses."

"Could it have been someone else?" Glover turned back and asked.

By the window, Ralf clapped his hands, drawing everyone's attention. But he stared only at Thales, his hands moving:

[No. It was him.]

"How do you know?" Thales asked.

Ralf pressed his own chest.

[Intuition.]

Everyone looked back and forth, frowning in unison. Miranda compared the gestures repeatedly but was still completely confused by the riddle between the mute and His Highness. On the other side, Doyle imitated Ralf's gestures clumsily, shaking his head from time to time as if he had gained something.

"In any case, the body had no obvious external wounds and has already been sent to the Security Hall for examination. I believe there will be results soon," Komuto, who was responsible for coordinating with the security officers, added.

Thales lowered his head and looked again at the letter paper in his hand.

"Then what is the matter with this suicide note?"

The suicide note was written freely, filled with its owner's regret and sorrow, release and relief. It was layered with mysteries, yet thought-provoking.

Komuto coughed.

"A few days ago, Mr. Brennan gave a key to his most trusted student. He said that he had recently been unwell, and if he ever became unable to perform his duties, the student should immediately hand the item over to Your Highness the Prince."

"Me?"

Thales could not help being stunned.

"What item?"

Komuto pointed at Brennan's desk, where countless documents were placed.

"I was just preparing to report this to Your Highness. Brennan's student hurried over after hearing the news and, while crying, used the key to open the safe in his study. At the very top were the arrangements and work handover documents after the judge's death, along with private letters. In the middle was this suicide note. And beneath that..."

"By the Sunset, this is..." Doyle, who had leaned over to the desk, could not help flipping through the documents. The moment he spoke, he cried out in surprise. "The original case files from the South Coast Duke's assassination case that year!"

Everyone was shocked.

Mallos looked toward Thales. After pondering for a while, the latter nodded.

Thus several members of the Star Lake Guard stepped forward together and carefully spread out the documents discovered in the safe one by one to examine them separately.

"Be careful. These papers are somewhat old," Mallos reminded everyone as he picked up a scroll.

"But they are still very well preserved," Glover said, spreading open a document.

Everyone worked busily under Mallos' direction, dividing tasks and reading documents. For a time, only the sound of pages turning and scrolls unrolling could be heard.

Only Thales sat where he was, repeatedly reading the suicide note left by the chief judge. His expression did not change, but his mood was complicated.

The remaining evidence from the old case that year... though roots and branches are tangled, a virtuous lord should be able to clarify them...

Thales tightened his grip on the letter. From the figure revealed in the words, he recalled old Brennan's voice and smile, as well as the brief yet deeply memorable meeting when he first arrived in Jade City.

As the most respected old judge in Jade City, he had left these things, the most critical key in Jade City's current political storm, to me.

An outsider unrelated to Jade City, perhaps even someone harboring ill intentions toward it.

Why?

Thales' gaze drifted, and he gradually sank into thought.

A few minutes later, Miranda broke the silence.

"So Brennan was one of the presiding judges back then, responsible for Viscount Sonar's case of killing his brother."

Toledo flipped through document after document, his expression growing more astonished and doubtful.

"And these documents. This is the Security Hall's duty roster, incident records, investigation logs... and interrogation archives, evidence and testimony, closing report... then trial documents from the Judgment Hall, the judges' discussion records, correspondence with Emerald Palace, even Jade City's weather and harvest records from that year, land transactions and asset files. Everything is here..."

"Exactly everything we need now to investigate the old case," Mallos said thoughtfully, looking toward Thales.

Everyone looked at one another, their feelings complicated.

"Some are transcripts and archived copies. Some even, even may be originals," Herald Toledo carefully examined the paper, handwriting, and seals of each document. "This judge violated the rules, placed these things in his own safe, and privately preserved them for more than ten years?"

"Why?"

"Like that defense attorney Srimanny," Glover said with feeling. "After Jade City had its incident, Brennan sensed that it would be his turn and prepared in advance."

"Much earlier than Srimanny," Miranda added. "These documents are all from more than ten years ago. Back then, after Sonar committed suicide and the case review ended, Brennan knew that one day someone would come knocking and dig up the old case. So he prepared for a rainy day."

Doyle scratched his chin.

"So, when Viscount Sonar was judged guilty of killing his brother... there really was a problem?"

"He is the seventh. Lausanne the Second followed the list and found them one by one," Miranda said with certainty. "This matter is far from over."

"That damned whatever Scarlet Iris, whatever Federico or Fidreck he is called," Morgan said fiercely. "Lausanne the Second is his man. This must have been ordered by him. Even if he is locked up, go back and beat him once, and we will know!"

"What if someone else ordered it?" Paul, who had been silent, suddenly spoke. "One must know, Federico is also only a chess piece."

Everyone's hearts tightened.

"Enough."

Mallos put down a witness document.

"Guard Officer Komuto, remind the Security Hall that these are important pieces of evidence for His Highness' arbitration. We will pack all of them and take them away. Once we return to the palace, we will examine them carefully. We cannot let go of a single clue."

Thales listened to their deductions one after another, looked at the suicide note in his hand, and his brows furrowed ever deeper.

Knock, knock, knock. Ralf tapped the desk, drawing everyone's attention.

Glover came over, followed Ralf's finger, lowered his head, and took another bundle of documents from the safe, spreading them onto the desk.

"Not only case records, Your Highness. Look at the things he left in the upper layer of the safe."

"What are these?"

Doyle came over and picked up several letters from the top.

"Oh, these are love letters he wrote to his wife when he was young. A thick stack. Touching and sickly sweet. Ah, how nice."

Doyle's smile was complicated, then he looked at the next few letters.

"And old letters from his father severing ties. It seems someone did not get along with his family, abandoning a vast ancestral estate and running away from home with nothing... reprimanding letters from the academy dean. It seems these punished Brennan for helping students protest Dragon-Kiss Academy's institutional oppression. Ah, looks like he did not get along with superiors either... and thank-you letters from students. Mm, at least he was quite good to his juniors... Of course, the most numerous are still-oh, here!"

His words paused, and he showed a stack of letters to everyone.

"These are from the time when Brennan was still conducting scholarship at Dragon-Kiss Academy in the Duchy of Anlenzo. Letters Duke Lenster wrote to him?" Miranda opened one.

"Almost every letter contains intense discussions between the old duke and him, back and forth, letter after letter, involving history and current affairs, law and legal principles, city construction and governing systems, everything under the sky. At the end of every letter, the old duke asks after his well-being with sincere feeling and invites Brennan to come serve in Jade City."

Paul opened letter after letter, skimmed through them, and passed them to the next person.

"Looking at the dates, this should have continued for several years."

"Thus, under such earnest invitation, Brennan was moved and set off for Jade City," Glover said, holding one of the long letters, reconstructing the murdered judge's life trajectory together with everyone.

"Sigh. A high-paying job hop, less work, more money, and respect from others. I would be willing too." Doyle sighed, then reacted under everyone's strange gazes. His face turned pale, and he waved repeatedly in denial. "Uh, I am not talking about myself, Your Highness. I am very satisfied with my current work! You lead wisely, and Star Lake Fort is comfortable and pleasant... I was talking about this old judge just now..."

But Thales' attention was entirely on Brennan's suicide note, and he did not pay attention to Doyle's defense. Ralf slapped another bundle of letters into Doyle's arms, pressing down both the letters and his rambling explanation.

At this time, Miranda, who was reading letters, suddenly spoke:

"And even after he arrived in Jade City, his correspondence with the old duke did not stop. Their tone is like years-long close friends."

"Everyone, look. This is Brennan's appointment letter when he officially became a judge of Jade City. It has the old duke's personal signature and seal on it," Neshy said in surprise, picking up a picture frame. Inside was a neat and gorgeous page, stamped with a prominent Iris Flower seal. "Looks like he valued it greatly, even framed it, and carefully preserved it for many years."

"The fortunate things in life are no greater than meeting one who knows you and having your talent put to use," Paul sighed. "And he had both."

"Not entirely," Neshy held the frame very carefully, studying every pattern on it. "The old duke is not the only one who signed this appointment letter. There is someone underneath."

Following his finger, everyone leaned in:

"Viscount of Gonghai City, Sonar Covendier?"

Neshy nodded proudly.

"So Brennan taking office was also approved by Sonar. Their relationship was not bad?" Doyle scratched his chin, wondering how much of his earlier "high-paying job hop" comment His Highness had heard.

"Precisely the opposite."

Everyone turned around. Miranda held up two letters and handed them over.

"Look at these two. It seems Brennan once worked with Viscount Sonar to jointly hear a case of farmers gathering in rebellion..."

"Uprising, riot," Morgan muttered. "Before the Bloody Year, they were everywhere in the kingdom."

Miranda glanced at him and continued:

"It seems Sonar insisted on sending all the criminals to the gallows as a warning to others, while Brennan advocated not pursuing accessories and exiling the main offenders. The two sides argued without end, opposed each other, and almost affected Jade City's political operation."

Doyle took the letters and frowned as he read:

"And the old duke rarely rebuked Brennan sternly... saying Viscount Sonar was neither disregarding reasons and treating lives like grass, nor cold-blooded and lacking sympathy for the people. It was only that in extraordinary times, extraordinary methods had to be used... He also told Brennan not to keep saying nonsense like 'if Sonar takes power, the South Coast will surely face great disaster'... and he would also reprimand his younger brother, telling him to better understand the people's suffering and respect the chief judge's authority and expertise..."

"The distant cannot interfere with the close. As a foreigner who traveled a thousand miles to take office, daring to criticize his lord's own younger brother, this Brennan truly had courage," Paul said thoughtfully.

"Not only courage," Mallos said with rare feeling. "But loyalty."

Miranda picked up a third letter.

"In the end, it seems the old duke still issued a compromise order, sending the principal offenders to the Prison of Bones, fining and sentencing the accessories, and forcing the two to compromise and reconcile. At least on the surface."

One after another, everyone examined Brennan's letters.

"So to summarize, Brennan had a deep relationship with the old duke himself, even one of mutual recognition and close friendship. But his relationship with Sonar was poor, even terrible. Their opinions often differed, reaching the point where they attacked one another and needed the old duke to mediate."

Doyle smiled sarcastically.

"And do not forget, back then, Brennan happened to be responsible for trying Sonar's case of killing his brother."

"Take these letters away as well," Mallos said firmly. "There must be a reason they were left here. Your Highness?"

Everyone was quiet for a while and looked toward the prince together.

Thales frowned.

Originally, Jade City's deadlock had tormented him until he was overwhelmed. He had tried to reach a compromise with Zayen, to let him off in this case in exchange for stability. But now that this case had appeared...

"How is it outside?" Thales asked slowly, putting away Brennan's suicide note. "How is all of Jade City viewing this murder case?"

Mallos looked at him and wanted to speak but stopped.

Miranda, Paul, Glover, Doyle, Neshy... everyone looked at one another, not daring to speak. In the end, Mallos coughed.

"Judge Brennan was highly respected, Your Highness. People... care very much."

Fine. Understood.

Thales automatically filtered out the embellishments in Mallos' words and sighed helplessly.

"Very good. So right now, public sentiment in Jade City is inflamed, all eyes are watching, and everyone feels endangered..."

Everyone looked at one another.

"Add to that the situation worsening by the day. If I want to muddle through and not continue investigating the old case... that is impossible now."

Much less reach a compromise with Zayen.

For it to happen precisely at this time. What a coincidence.

Thales gripped the Cortaksa in his pocket, pondering what sort of difficult day he would have to survive now. Just then, Komuto returned to report.

"Your Highness, the Security Hall's autopsy report has arrived. The preliminary judgment is: Brennan was... eh, poisoned to death?"

Thales froze.

"What?"

Everyone was also shocked.

"Poisoned?"

"What poison? Poison from where?" Mallos' expression changed.

At this moment, Doyle's voice suddenly sounded from the opposite side of the desk, filled with surprise and delight:

"Gods, this is the 646 classic limited cellar wine from the Duchy of Anlenzo! It was specially brewed and cellared to celebrate the marriage of the Gest family's 'three world-shaking beauties'! Ah, look at the design. This bottle is the Silsa edition!"

Under everyone's startled and doubtful gazes, Doyle excitedly opened the bottle on the desk, brought his nose close, and intoxicatedly smelled the fragrance of the wine.

"To think he secretly drank it himself! Tsk, tsk. With this wine's circulation price on the market, if you say this old man did not embezzle, I will not believe it-"

Thales' expression changed greatly.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

In the nick of time, Miranda moved nimbly. Before everyone else, her figure flashed over the desk, and she snatched the famous wine bottle from Doyle's hand.

"Hey, don't, I was just smelling it-"

On the other side, Glover's figure pressed down like a small mountain, throwing Doyle harshly to the ground.

"Idiot!"

Miranda's face was ashen. Through her gloves, she plugged the bottle cap back into the wine bottle, pressing it tight and firm, then heavily set it back on the desk.

"Wh-what happened? Is something wrong?"

Doyle, pinned on the floor, realized something was wrong.

Mallos' gaze moved. Kusta, very experienced, pulled out a cloth and wrapped the wine bottle tightly.

Miranda snorted angrily. Carefully and quickly, she removed her gloves and threw them onto the floor, then cautiously wrapped them in cloth as well.

Looking at the female swordsman's movements, then at the wine bottle, Doyle widened his eyes.

"Poisoned! You mean the poison he took was in this wine!"

No one answered. They merely looked at him with strange expressions.

Doyle's expression changed greatly. He hurriedly pulled a handkerchief from Glover's pocket and blew his nose desperately, as if trying to expel the wine fragrance he had just inhaled. At the same time, he scrambled free of the pressure and rolled as far away from the wine bottle as possible.

"Go check him," Thales frowned. "And remember to punish him afterward. Let him learn a lesson."

Mallos' gaze was dark, and he nodded.

"All right, stop crying. You only smelled it. Such a tiny amount is fine. You were just frightened." Italiano came forward according to orders and examined Doyle's nose. "Do you know how lucky you are? If Komuto had come a little later... stop picking. It is bleeding!"

Ignoring Doyle, who was over there gratefully lamenting that his life was blessed and he had survived a great calamity, Thales returned to the present and looked at the cloth-wrapped wine bottle.

"So old Brennan was not murdered by Lausanne the Second, but poisoned himself in the study?"

Mallos also frowned, and everyone looked at one another.

"No. I think Lausanne the Second did come."

Miranda put on new gloves and thought:

"But for some reason, he failed to get a hold over that old judge, who had seen much and handled affairs with seasoned skill."

Everyone looked toward the female swordsman.

Miranda slowly paced to the opposite side of the desk and patted the overturned guest seat.

"Judging from the traces in the room, I think after Lausanne the Second activated his ability and entered without obstruction, he came to Brennan's study and sat here, across from the desk, and began interrogating old Brennan about the old case from that year."

Miranda paced to the bookshelf and calculated the distance.

"Perhaps because he was overconfident and felt that a very old man with no strength to truss a chicken could not threaten him, Lausanne the Second did not even bind Brennan."

"With his ability, binding or not binding makes no difference," Morgan said unhappily.

"Knightly bearing," Mallos suddenly said.

"What?" Miranda paused.

Mallos looked toward the door.

"Aside from Brennan himself, no one in the entire residence was injured. There were not even traces of blood or fighting. Even the watchdogs fell asleep," the Watchman narrowed his eyes. "From this, it can be seen that he did not make things difficult for or torture Brennan either."

Thales' eyes moved when he heard this.

"Impossible!"

On the other side, Doyle, who had almost died young and was therefore unwilling to accept this, blew his nearly dried nose again and again while saying indignantly:

"I still remember that innocent mistress, her expression before she died. He tortured her and let her blood drain dry on the bed just to interrogate her lover."

Doyle blew his nose once more before returning the handkerchief. Glover endured an expression of disgust and kindly indicated that he could keep it.

"In the end, the old man taught a beast who kills without blinking, first killing schoolmates, then innocents," Doyle muttered unhappily, stuffing the handkerchief back into his pocket. "To hell with knights."

Listening to these words, everyone had different thoughts. Thales coughed.

"Mira?"

Miranda nodded and continued pacing. She came to the desk and pointed at an empty wineglass on it.

"After old Judge Brennan woke and saw Lausanne, he understood what had happened. So while calmly and gracefully dealing with the killer to buy time, he walked to the bookshelf and opened this bottle of poisoned wine, prepared in advance, perhaps treasured for many years."

Everyone looked toward the wrapped famous wine, shocked and doubtful.

Paul clicked his tongue.

"Knowing there was no escape, he simply ended things himself?"

"That takes nerve," Morgan evaluated simply and powerfully.

"More than that. Look here." Miranda walked to the corner and pointed at an empty wineglass lying there. "The second glass."

Thales' gaze changed.

"Yes. Lord Brennan," Miranda sighed and looked at the two glasses, one on the desk and one on the floor, "did not merely drink it himself. He even tried to invite the killer to drink with him."

Everyone was shocked.

"By the Sunset, this old man did not just have nerve. He was tough." Hearing this, even Morgan could not help changing color.

Glover looked at the spot where Brennan had fallen and shook his head.

"A pity he did not succeed."

"No, he succeeded!"

Unexpectedly, it was Doyle, lying on the floor with disgust and caution, carefully examining the second glass.

"This is a glass cup. There are lip prints on both cups. The killer definitely drank the wine!"

Doyle's eyes shone.

"Lausanne the Second. He was poisoned! With a fatal poison!"