Chapter 276

Percival, his mood grim, picked up his phone and made a call. "Choose a few of the more skilled ones to follow Odalys. If Eabe makes a move, ensure Odalys isn't harmed."

"Understood," the bodyguard replied in a deep voice.

Percival clenched his fist, heading downstairs. He ran into Callum entering from outside.

"Hi, Mr. Stewart," Callum said, hurrying toward him.

Callum stopped in front of Percival, reporting hurriedly, "Edse Jont left the hospital. She tried transferring money and using her card, but everything's been frozen. Her accounts have also been disconnected from the Stewart family."

"After seeing the official announcement from the Stewart Group about severing ties, she tried contacting many people. When they realized who she was, they avoided her. She's practically ruined."

Callum looked worried. He wondered, She is your biological mother, and we don’t want to push her to the edge.

"It's fine. Let her lose everything. No one from the Stewart family is allowed to assist her. Anyone who dares to defy this order… eliminate them," Percival said coldly.

"Understood." Callum breathed a sigh of relief. He had feared Edse's actions might ruin everything.

"Mr. Stewart, are you going out?" As Percival walked outside, Callum retrieved the Rolls-Royce car keys and caught up.

"To the countryside villa," Percival said in a low voice. He opened the car door and sat in the driver's seat.

Callum quickly jumped into the passenger seat as Percival drove off. Midway, Orson called. After exchanging locations, Orson also headed there by car.

The countryside villa was sealed off, with police outside. Ordinary people instinctively avoided the area, even detouring if passing by. Numerous bodies had been excavated there. After nightfall, the atmosphere became even more eerie and terrifying.

"Mr. Stewart, why did you come here?" Callum asked, puzzled.

This villa was where Odalys had helped Francis escape danger. The fight there had been intense. People had tried to harvest Francis's organs, while everyone else had abandoned him. Unexpectedly, the situation reversed. Francis was saved, the police arrived, and they unearthed numerous bodies on the property. The villa was subsequently sealed off.

"It's nothing. I just wanted to take a look," Percival replied in a low voice.

Percival stepped inside, and Callum quickly followed.

Not far away, a car sped toward them. Orson stepped out and approached, glancing around. "Why is he here at this hour?" Percival stood there, feeling a faint heat radiating from his wrist.

He glanced down and saw the thunderstruck wood block Odalys had given him. It seemed to be reacting, sensing something.

"This place has seen death," Percival said in a hushed tone. "The police are still investigating, but there's no progress yet. Why would they choose this place?" He had a vague feeling something was wrong.

Odalys had mentioned burning Sophia's hair and following its aura to this location, where an elder had performed rituals for Sophia. There had to be a reason they chose this place for the rituals and burials.

"Yeah, I asked around earlier, but there's no breakthrough yet," Orson replied, nodding. He was clearly invested in the matter.

As they spoke, they entered the villa. Though it was sealed off, Percival had obtained a special permit. The officers outside recognized him.

Chapter 226

Inside, Percival moved with ease, his steps confident. But suddenly, he doubled over, coughing up blood.

Callum and Orson, still scanning the area, turned at the sound of his groan. They saw Percival's pale face as he clutched his chest.

They moved to support him, but Percival raised a hand, signaling them to stay calm.

Straightening up, he pulled out a handkerchief to wipe the blood from his lips. His chest felt as though it was in turmoil, but his voice remained steady. "This place might have what we're looking for."

"What are we looking for?" Orson asked, startled.

"Poisoned blood residue," Percival replied hoarsely.

Percival recalled how his body had reacted near the mountain village because of the suppressed poison inside him. Odalys had explained that when he approached the source of the poison, his body would sense it.

Tonight, as he came here, the dormant poison within him stirred momentarily, then calmed down again.

It seemed whatever was here could no longer harm him. Whether it was the thunderstruck wood on his wrist or the lightning essence Odalys had infused into him, he couldn't be sure.

"How do you feel now? Are you alright?" Orson asked with concern.

Clutching the handkerchief tightly, Percival surveyed the dim surroundings and said firmly, "I'm fine now."

"Let's search the area. Don't disturb anything unnecessarily. Just keep an eye out for anything suspicious," he instructed in a gravelly voice.

Callum and Orson nodded and headed upstairs, leaving Percival on the ground floor. He thought about what Odalys had told him and walked toward the window.

From the corner of his eye, he caught a fleeting shadow outside.

"Who's there?" Percival demanded, his voice sharp.

He stepped out into the yard, where the figure came into view: a woman in a white dress standing under the moonlight. Her loose hair swayed gently in the night breeze.

Percival's gaze darkened, and he approached her cautiously.

The woman slowly turned around. Her dress, with its plunging neckline and thin straps, looked delicate. Her exposed collarbone and faintly visible chest seemed to shimmer as she sauntered closer.

"Sophia?" Percival recognized her immediately, especially her greedy eyes.

He stood still, his expression growing colder.

Sophia twisted her waist as she walked toward him, her gaze nearly crazed as she locked eyes with him. Her voice was syrupy. "Yes, I'm Sophia."

"You must be the man backing Odalys, giving her all those resources, aren't you?" she asked seductively.

Sophia lifted a finger, playing with the strap of her dress, her fingertips brushing her shoulder.

Barefoot, she stepped onto the grass, her movements languid and deliberate.

"I saw you when you dined together before. How about we have a little talk?" Sophia's voice dripped with allure, punctuated by shallow, deliberately provocative breaths. Her sultry tone, paired with the night, made her words linger like a melody. Her dress clung to her figure, and Sophia clearly believed he couldn't resist her charms.