Li Xin nodded and took the carriage back to the Night Patrol with Kathy. When the Lin family incident happened back then, Kathy was still at the Canon Law School, youthful and carefree. Who would have thought she would become a seasoned Night Patrol officer? That case made quite a stir, with public outrage, believing that the Lin Family thrived by worshiping a cult, but the specifics were unknown to Kathy.

If the events from six years ago were connected to the Montreal Clan or even the Zhao Family, then the implications might be even deeper. A massive tumor had appeared within Celestial City, and the worried Kathy clearly realized this as well.

After more than half an hour, the carriage arrived at the Night Patrol's base. Li Xin followed Kathy to the archives and found the file from the Lin family incident.

Li Xin and Kathy spent over an hour going through the events of the past because the matter wasn't complicated. The Night Patrol received a line report that Lickers had appeared, and then, Luo Jin, who was the captain of a team at the time, led the squad to the scene when the three Lickers were already at the tail end of their massacre. Luo Jin took down the three Lickers, but the survivors of the Lin Family were few and far between.

The survivors all passed the Church's examination and were not corrupted by evil forces, leaving only Lin Fei and Lin Xueyin among the direct relatives. The City Guard's investigation concluded that the Lin Family had used the power of a cult to amass wealth but ultimately lost control.

The outcome was that Lin Fei and Lin Xueyin were expelled. The Night Patrol's timely arrival prevented the Lickers from harming the innocent, seen as retribution for the Lin Family's sins.

Li Xin and Kathy fell silent after reading the file.

Who was the informant? The file didn't mention it. Such a coincidence?

Three Lickers simultaneously losing control, and at that very occasion?

The Lin family's assets were taken over by the City Hall and later acquired through an auction by Montreal, after which Viscount Montreal soared to new heights.

Neither of them spoke, but there was an air of greed and murder, simple and brutal. Since it involved three monsters slaughtering in broad daylight, it aroused public anger. In their rage, everyone applauded, and since no outside innocents were harmed, peace swiftly returned.

"Sister Kathy, I remember you said Montreal had already fallen back then?"

"Yes, to make up for deficits and maintain his facade, he married a merchant's daughter. It's said the acquisition money also came from her side," Kathy replied.

"That's questionable, whether the timing aligns," Li Xin said. "Also, such a big piece of cake, how did it fall to a fallen noble like him?"

Nobles are even less merciful when it comes to vying for benefits. To other nobles, Montreal was already so down and out that he married a merchant's daughter, a shameful act that lowers one's status even in traditional noble circles today. How could such a cake fall to him?

Unless there's someone behind the scenes.

This person eyes this piece but doesn't want to show their true face, or their position is inconvenient for direct action, so they chose a white glove, someone from the same camp.

"Is there a possibility that Zhao Xun and Montreal's relationship is closer than it seems?"

Outsiders say Zhao Xun is trying to ingratiate himself with the rising Montreal Clan, which could also be a cover-up.

"Ah Xin, what do you think should be our next step?"

"Right now, it's all speculation. Sister Kathy, do you have a way to look into Montreal's wife's family background?" Li Xin asked, as everything has a motive.

"I'll see what I can do."

Kathy packed her things and left, while Li Xin stayed at the Night Patrol, planning to spend the night there. Old Luo had gone to the Church, still in a game with Montreal.

So far, this information at most helps figure out who the final boss is, but it doesn't solve the immediate problem. We still need to find a way to make Montreal reveal his true form. Montreal was the biggest beneficiary of the Lin family affair and must know something.

Li Xin stared at the file for a while longer, lying on the bench before slowly drifting off to sleep, hoping Kathy would bring some news tomorrow.

In the Church's prison at this time, Luo Jin was facing Montreal, both eating fresh steak, like friends.

Being a noble requires one to have their steak medium rare. The cattle must be slaughtered the same day to keep the meat's freshness. The detention room was very comfortably furnished, with a few books on the side. Not far away were the guards, but all wearing expressions of nausea on their faces.

Tethered by their table was a half-dead creature, none other than the Inhaler Philmy. At this point, Philmy was already on his last legs, emanating a stench, gray-black liquid seeping from his grotesque body, and his ugly mass of flesh squirming occasionally, a constant reminder to the diners of his presence.

Luo Jin and Montreal acted as if they hadn't noticed, continuing to eat their steak, their chewing revealing blood streaks in the juices.

"Quite the appetite for steak, Viscount," Luo Jin said with a smile, taking a bite of his steak.

"You're pretty good yourself, Captain Luo," Montreal replied coolly, despite being detained for quite a while, he still maintained his noble demeanor.

"I heard that monsters actually enjoy this kind of smell, perhaps they even find it pleasurable, are they birds of a feather?" Luo Jin asked.

"Haha, Captain Luo, it sounds like you're talking about yourself. A proper noble can maintain elegance in any situation, something you'll never understand," Montreal's eyes reflected mockery and disdain. In the past, such a mongrel could never have strutted before him.

Luo Jin smiled slightly and shook his head, "For someone from a tough background like us, there's no room for pickiness. Even rats would be a delicacy, eating worse than monsters."

"See, I forgot, Captain Luo crawled out from the sewers of the Underground City. You people are like those who will cling to whoever feeds you. Why oppose me? You barely clawed your way here, changing your fate, yet you insist on opposing me," Montreal said, slicing a piece of meat and stuffing it into his mouth, chewing audibly, glancing at the Inhaler beside him, and wiping his mouth with a napkin.

"I have no intention of opposing anyone, just fulfilling my duties," Luo Jin said indifferently.

"Haha, your words sound nice, but what's more destructive than letting people like you hold power?" Montreal drank a sip of red wine, not brought by Luo Jin, so he wouldn't touch it otherwise, "You're running out of time."

Luo Jin also poured himself a glass, everything the Night Patrol checked was thoroughly inspected, granting no chance to Montreal, "Good wine."

"Have more, it's 3,000 Lira a bottle of Richebourg. Last year was a great vintage, grapes of top quality, crafted by a master," Montreal held his crystal glass, the room's light illuminating it, the wine's body beautiful and jewel-like.

Luo Jin downed it in one go, "You seem to think I wouldn't dare go tough?"

"Why not? It's common for small people who climbed from the bottom like you to corner like mad dogs, without limits, dignity, or morality, am I right?" Montreal looked at Luo Jin, more amused than anything, "Honestly, I'm a bit eager to see what the famed Celestial Capital Night Patrol's finest captain will look like when he shreds his disguise and shows his true face."

Luo Jin watched Montreal's smug face, said nothing more, finished his steak, stood up, and pointed to a monster drawn by the scent of blood, "Have a good chat with your son, his time is nearly up."

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