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Chapter 27: Specter hunting VIII
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Despite her mischievous remark, she still did as told while Val just smiled not minding her words one bit.
However, there was someone who minded what was happening before her, Selena. As she stated before, Natalia was not only her maid but also her friend, her only friend.
She has never treated her like a maid so seeing someone else doing so was certainly not to her liking.
However, seeing Natalia acting on her own free will for once, she really didn't feel like stopping her. She still had to let her anger at someone though, so she walked right next to the smiling Val and said, "So much for being a gentleman."
Val raised his brows and looked at her with amusement, "What are you talking about? This is what being a perfect gentleman is like. But I guess you wouldn't know."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Selena asked, a bit confused. She didn't notice that again, she's going with the current of his words, falling into his trap.
"You know, because of your family and your conditions. I heard a few things about you after all." Val added calmly.
"You did? About me?? How?" Selena was utterly confused because while there was a possibility of him knowing of her general origin, she didn't think he would know much more than that... Unless.
"Unless the Helious family has spies in the Soanov family, and in a high position at that." As Selena muttered those words, she started backing away from him, cautiousness was apparent on her face.
Natalia who had already done what she was told, stood in front of Selena also eyeing the bizarre man coldly.
The strange man was stroking his chin thoughtfully, until he muttered the words that nearly drove Selena insane, "So you are from the Soanov family.
I actually wasn't sure whether you were from the Nornial or Soanov family, and I didn't think you would tell me, but I guess I was wrong, you did tell me after all.
You also seem to have some special circumstances in your home but I will replicate your kindness and not pry any further."
"Also, Natalia, thank you for being a dear, and please calm your friend's nerves lest she passes out."
His usual faint smile never left his face as crouched down near the spot where the desk was, leaving Selena seething with anger, well, that was an understatement.
"You'll be the death of me!!!!" Those were Selena's last words as Natalia pulled her out of the room... Thankfully for if she stayed, she would've heard his last words.
"Well, That was heartwarming. Anyway, back to business. Lucas!!" Val muttered to himself while carefully eyeing the spot, trying to look between the tiny holes between the wooden planks until he saw a glimpse of his goal. He still tapped on the planks for a bit and listened carefully to the sound that makes, just to make sure he wasn't mistaken.
Then he shouted for Lucas who came running from where he was searching, followed by Boarlian and Natalia though Selena was nowhere to be seen.
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'I wonder where she went, perhaps she needed a glass of cold water.' Val innocently wondered to himself before adding though this time out loud, "Anyway. Lucas, break this spot with your Axe, and be careful not to damage the body."
Lucas was confused, something everyone around Val will have to get used to, "Body?? What body???"
"You know, the wife's body."
"How would you know, I looked at it for a second after moving the desk, but I saw nothing that'd signify a body would be down there," Natalia questioned with her usual calmness, nowhere near as surprised as the duo next to her.
"You didn't look closely enough. Few of the wooden planks in that spot are fresh, and even the nails on them seem to be new in contrast to the ones in the rest of the house which have a bit of rust. Among other things that led me to this conclusion."
Natalia however wasn't satisfied as she questioned further, "Why did you focus on that specific spot in the first place, it was like you already knew a body was there before."
Val eyed her for a second before starting to stroke his chin, seemingly thoughtful, "Oh I got it, I can actually talk to ghosts. Yes, that's definitely it."
That left the group speechless until Val had to awaken them from their stupor, "Lucas, go on. Do as I said. We wouldn't want to leave the dead lady waiting now, would we?"
Lucas ignored Val's manner of speech and how lightly he's taking the situation and brought out one of his Axes.
He seemed to be used to chopping wood because his movement was nearly perfect.
The hits were perfect and it wasn't long before he created a cubic hole in that spot, and indeed, there was something underneath.
A large deep hole with something within, and if Natalia was wondering why there was no stench of the decaying body, she got her answer by noticing a tightly tied plastic bag in that same hole.
Lucas froze in his place for a few seconds while Boarlian just frowned. Natalia on the other hand had little change in her expression.
Those are things that Val made sure to pick, knowing how people respond to certain things and events is the key to their very soul.
"The body was there for a while, probably since her disappearance, so you can imagine how the stench would be like once you open it. Better just poke a small hole in it and leave it be for a while, I will be outside in the meantime."
Val left them with those words before doing what he said, and heading outside, finding Selena waiting just there.
"So I presume there was a body in there." She calmly asked, seemingly over their previous interaction. Val however knows better, his words have a way to get under people's skin.
"Indeed there was. It should make things easier for us. I will attract the specter using the body but we should do that out in the woods."
"What body? What are you talking about?" It was at that point that the confused village leader almeir interfered questioning the strangely unaffected man.
"Oh yeah, we found a body hidden beneath the house the ground of the house, you can go in and see it for yourself. It should be the wife's."
Val casually answer just as he noticed Lucas exiting the house, the latter's face was incredibly pale. What he saw there must've affected him quite a lot. Not so much for Boarlian though.
Almeir's face changed dramatically after hearing that, fearing the worst. He then ran into the house.
"How are you so calm during all of this? You seem experienced in the way of the hunt. Specter hunting is after all extremely dangerous and one could die at any point... You see where am going with this."
Selena asked genuinely curious because even she was feeling nervous going into the whole ordeal despite knowing that there are guardians protecting her in the dark.
Lucas's ears also perked up hearing the question because he wants to know the answer as well. He wants to become like how his father was, a calm and collected person who shines in his passion.
"Oh about that. Well, I am kind of an immortal so I don't fear death. I mean even if I die, I will just die and move on... Granted I will be dead, but the good thing about it is that I won't have to think about being dead afterward. Makes sense right?"
His casual answer left the listening ears speechless to the point they even forgot what they left inside the house. He was explaining it to them as if its common sense.
"Tch, if you don't want to answer then just don't, no need for the extra nonsense," Selena responded in her usual manner, not at all interested in hearing his nonsense... If it's nonsense.
Val eyed her with amusement, thinking of which phrase in his arsenal he should pull out, but in the end, he decided against going too hard on her, 'I am sure she still hasn't recovered from her previous loss.'
"I understand. A mortal such as yourself wouldn't be able to comprehend an immortal's thinking, so I will explain it to you slowly and with clear words.
Books are the mother of learning, the father of experience, surpassing even experiencing those things yourself. Do with this advice whatever you like." And so the Immortal spoke his words of wisdom.