Chapter 16: Midnight Warning

Several Awakened were led to the second floor by the butler.

“Please rest in your rooms for a while.”

After speaking, the butler politely closed the door for them.

Originally, the castle had prepared one room for each of them.

But under the current circumstances, it felt safer to stick together.

Thus, the four of them gathered into a single room and began discussing things in hushed voices.

“We were really lucky just now… I didn’t expect that steak to actually be spoiled.”

Song Zan leaned against the door and let out a long breath.

“Heaven truly leaves no one without a path.”

“In fact, God didn’t help us much. At least not just now.”

The Spanish Awakened, Garcia, lifted his chin slightly and revealed a somewhat tired smile.

“It was my ability.”

“What ability?” Song Zan asked curiously.

“‘Five Senses Imprint.’”

Garcia said.

“I can impose a special five-senses setting onto an object. It sounds complicated… but you can think of it as putting a label on something. Just now, I placed a ‘spoiled’ label on the steak the officer had eaten. After that, anyone who came into contact with that steak would receive sensory information associated with ‘spoiled’: for example, smelling rot or seeing discoloration… Humans rely on their five senses to survive. Sometimes, controlling the senses is equivalent to controlling a person’s thoughts.”

In short, his ability could distort perception.

He could make someone drink an entire cup of boiling water under the blazing sun without suspicion—because that person would believe they were drinking ice-cold water.

This ability was akin to hypnosis.

It was a rare mental-type talent.

And so far, it seemed effective not only on ordinary humans, but even on NPCs within this illusion.

“I still feel like the way that young master looked at us just now was unsettling.”

Song Zan rubbed his arms.

“Was he… deliberately messing with us?”

“You’re overthinking it. What do you mean by messing with us?”

Garcia replied.

“NPCs who permanently reside in an illusion usually have limited cognitive ability. As long as we don’t make a major mistake, the premise that ‘we are consulting detectives invited to investigate the case’ will be firmly rooted in their minds. That means they won’t deliberately question why we’re here. If that’s the case, why would he go out of his way to obstruct us?”

“There’s another possibility.”

Domingo pondered for a moment before speaking.

“He might be connected to the maid Sophie’s hanging… Or he might even be the real culprit. That’s why he tried to stop us from entering the castle.”

But Song Zan didn’t think so.

His intuition told him that the other party was simply toying with them.

The line he had said earlier—“Your performance was splendid”—clearly carried hidden meaning.

It was as though he had already seen through their little tricks.

But was that even possible?

“At present, the main storyline of this illusion seems closely tied to the hanging case. The tricky part is that the woman has apparently been dead for several days. She’s probably already buried.”

Domingo, looking exhausted, took out his cigarette case, drew one out, and lit it.

“In that situation, we can’t expect the scene of the hanging to be preserved intact. And if she truly died by murder, the culprit would have had plenty of time to erase all evidence.”

“…If that’s the case, why did they only invite officers and detectives now?”

Song Zan sounded displeased.

“Didn’t you hear what the butler said earlier? The case damaged the castle’s reputation.”

Domingo held the cigarette between his lips and tucked the case back into his pocket.

“They probably reached some sort of arrangement with the police. Invite officers and detectives to go through the motions and, ideally, conclude that it was merely an accident. That would help clear their name.”

“Hanging can be called a mere accident?”

Song Zan twitched his lips.

“Would anyone believe that?”

“No matter what others think, our priority is uncovering the truth. The officer has already collapsed, which gives us freedom to act.”

Domingo said.

Knock knock knock.

Just then, someone knocked on the door.

The Awakened immediately turned their gaze toward the wooden door.

“Good evening, gentlemen.”

A crisp and gentle female voice sounded.

“I’ve brought hot water for you.”

After a brief exchange of looks, Garcia stepped forward and opened the door.

It was a beautiful blonde maid.

They had seen her earlier in the reception hall, standing beside Young Master Morlanden.

After entering, she placed the two kettles of hot water inside the cabinet.

“Thank you,” Song Zan said.

The maid’s expression did not change.

She bowed politely, hands folded at her waist.

“In fact, I was sent by the young master to convey a warning—‘The wall clock will chime at midnight. Before that, please return to your respective rooms.’”

After delivering the message, she left without delay.

The Awakened fell silent.

The wall clock?

They glanced at the clock hanging on the wall of the guest room.

Its hands ticked steadily, pointing at nine-thirty in the evening.

“What does that mean?”

Song Zan frowned.

“And how does the young master know we aren’t in our assigned rooms?”

“I have a feeling… he’s reminding us.”

Garcia stroked his chin.

“Looks like we’ll have to sleep in separate rooms tonight.”

“As long as we return before midnight… doesn’t that imply we’re free to move before then?”

Domingo, the most experienced among them, had already begun strategizing.

“Our official investigation starts tomorrow, likely under supervision from the castle’s people. Our freedom will be limited. We should take advantage of the night to explore and gather information.”

Song Zan was speechless.

“I don’t think that’s what she meant…”

She had only said they must remain in their rooms at midnight.

She never said they could wander around before that.

“Be bold. We’re Awakened.”

Domingo patted Song Zan’s shoulder.

“As long as we’re not discovered by the servants.”

Song Zan: QAQ

He turned a pleading gaze toward Zhaolin.

Zhaolin had spent the evening looking thoughtful and had barely participated in the discussion, though he had clearly heard everything.

Receiving Song Zan’s silent plea, he spoke calmly.

“We can go. Song Zan stays. If he encounters anything else, it might accelerate his mutation.”

The two Spanish Awakened had no objections.

They quickly divided the tasks.

Domingo would investigate the maid’s hanging site in the forest.

Garcia would head to the castle cemetery to locate the maid’s body.

His “Five Senses Imprint” could conceal signs of a grave being disturbed.

Then it was Zhaolin’s turn.

With an indifferent expression, he said, “I’ll explore other parts of the castle. Familiarize myself with the layout and see if there are additional clues.”

After finalizing their plan, they set off into the night.

To avoid alerting anyone, they chose to climb out through the balconies.

As high-level Awakened, their physical abilities were exceptional.

Their agile movements amazed Song Zan, who stood by the window keeping watch.

It was like witnessing a real-life Assassin’s Creed.

His blood boiled at the sight, and he almost regretted being unable to join them.

He watched his teammates head toward their assigned destinations.

Time was limited.

But to his surprise, only Zhaolin was not climbing downward.

He was climbing upward.

Song Zan: “…”

If he remembered correctly, the third floor housed no servants.

It was the residence of the castle’s master.

Which meant—Young Master Morlanden’s territory.

Song Zan: “!!!”

Boss, are you this reckless?

We just said that young master doesn’t look like a good person.

He might even be the boss of this illusion.

And you’re going straight up there for a night raid?

Isn’t that a bit too eager?