Before nightfall, a rough outcome had been reached.

This time, about seventeen people died. More than half of the migrants perished, and many local villagers who were helping settle the migrants also lost their lives.

Op expressed his sorrow deeply, stating that the disaster was caused by a deeply hidden mutated nest beast.

He promised to actively assist those who lost family members in this disaster, ensuring they would not have to worry about their living conditions in the remaining days.

Afterward, Op gently comforted the grieving families and assured them that everything would eventually improve.

Isabella stood not far away, quietly praying that these souls could go to God’s kingdom, while calmly observing Op’s performance.

She was unwilling to convict someone based solely on appearances.

However, at this moment, she truly felt a profound disgust toward this seemingly responsible village chief.

“His disguise is too perfect,” Isabella thought.

She could not sense a trace of genuine emotion from Op. Either Op had no feelings about this matter and was merely putting on a show, or he possessed spiritual cultivation enabling him to control his emotions.

Either way, it revealed the truth—Op was the real instigator of this incident.

Jacques harbored intense hatred toward Naimes because of his own family reasons, but Isabella did not. She clearly understood that Op was the one with serious problems.

Perhaps sensing Isabella’s gaze, Op turned his head to look at her. His chubby face showed a forced smile, truly like someone who had encountered a terrible event and was unwilling to entertain important guests. Discover more novels at novel~fire~net

If it had been someone else, they might even have felt some sympathy for Op.

Isabella was still young;

she realized she could not offer him a fake smile.

“What should we do next?” Isabella’s thoughts drifted, yet she could not help but recall the tragic emotions she felt at the scene.

She was now certain that those feelings came from Benjamin, who, in his final moments, was still clutching a belief and trying to warn her about something.

Isabella found it hard to ignore that emotion.

She was a sensitive person who could cry for others’ tragedies and rejoice in others’ happiness.

If she let this matter slide lightly, she believed she would carry lifelong guilt.

That dying whisper would be a ringing in her ears forever.

“We can’t investigate openly. The informants have already been silenced.

From their actions, any evidence related to the mining must have been destroyed long ago.

Unless we deploy a saint to use divine power to recreate the past, it’s basically impossible to find proof.

Of course, it’s also possible to forcibly summon Op’s soul with strong power to seek evidence.

But with my strength alone, it’s almost impossible to convict Op,” Isabella thought pessimistically.

“Unless that thing is completed…” Isabella thought of her original purpose for coming here: the old priest who had now become her teacher.

He was just one step away from becoming a Gold Seed and was a famous bloodline research expert.

If she could truly awaken her own bloodline, perhaps with the power of a dragon, she might be able to do it...

Isabella stopped her daydreaming. There were too many uncertainties in such matters, so it couldn’t be her main basis.

“So now I can only settle my mind, watch Op’s other actions carefully, and work hard to improve myself,” Isabella reminded herself, not to be impatient.

The current world was far from a paradise where wishes came true. On the contrary, without patience, talent, and opportunity, most pursuits ended in failure.

At this moment, Isabella understood this very clearly.

“Wait. If Op really is the culprit, he won’t stop. One day he will make another mistake and expose himself.

Then, he definitely won’t escape.

I’m still young, and I have time.”

Isabella composed herself and then went to see Jacques.

Jacques looked dejected and lifeless, shame reminding him he had ruined everything.

He had no face to face his family’s honor, no face to face Isabella’s disappointed sigh.

He even had to repair the door for that traitor!

He couldn’t calm down at all.

He felt as if his whole life had become dark because of this. He even wished he had died in the battle with Naimes so he wouldn’t suffer so much.

“How long are you going to stay depressed?!” Isabella could no longer hold back her anger and scolded Jacques loudly.

Then she lifted the prepared wooden door and dragged the heavy door toward Naimes’s house.

This time, he was the one who wanted to investigate and cause trouble for Naimes. He was also the one who lost his composure and ruined things after the incident, and after messing up, he did nothing but drown in emotions!

Isabella was furious at his weakness.

However, Jacques still had pride. Though utterly ashamed, being belittled again made him sober up somewhat.

He stood up, caught up to Isabella, took the wooden door from her, apologized, and went to replace Naimes’s door.

Then he calmly listened to Isabella’s analysis and understood he could do nothing now but wait—wait to grow stronger, wait for the enemy to make a mistake!

“I understand.” Jacques nodded, promising to calm himself, wait for opportunities, and then fell silent again.

However, he was also clear that his trouble was serious this time.

Maybe soon, as the information was reported, his ‘internship’ would end in one or two months, and he would have to leave.

After that, it would be extremely difficult to get involved in these matters again.

But Jacques also knew that falling into emotions would not help at all.

He had to grow up.

With these swirling emotions, Jacques glanced at his intact door and made a firm decision.

One day, he would open this door again, catch the criminal Naimes, and wash away today’s shame!

Afterward, everything seemed to return to normal.

The next day, Isabella and Jacques officially began their studies with the old priest—one started learning, the other began intense training.

Jacques had already learned from the old priest why he lost. Naimes had trained as an Oathbound Holy Knight, had divine nails embedded in his body, and thus had no future left.

“But I am different. I am still young and have a bright future. Once I truly advance, Naimes definitely won’t be my match!”

Naimes glanced at Jacques training in the distance and took the sacred script weapon from the old priest’s hand.