Chapter 536

"Do they want to torture people to death, or do they have other intentions?" Percival's voice was low, his rage at its peak.

"I can't tell. It feels like they're being refined—used as human fertilizer," Odalys said, looking around. "Look around. There's nothing here, yet it's in the mountains, surrounded by mountains. It's an ideal energy field. The fact that they tricked Callum and the others into coming here must have something to do with the energy," she added, gesturing to the surroundings.

Things were becoming increasingly complicated.

"Is the Simpson family trying to relocate, to escape our attention? But given their current situation, they can't withdraw," Percival frowned. "Besides, the Simpson family's target is Crownridge. They would never leave Crownridge."

It didn't seem the Simpson family was retreating.

"The Simpson family isn't necessarily retreating. Someone is searching for a powerful energy field. Callum and the others might have been relentlessly pursued; the other party played along, luring them here to use them for practice," Odalys explained. "Wasn't there an ancient saying about using living people for sacrifice? Callum and the others looked like they were being sacrificed alive—a water sacrifice. It's like some buildings that can't be completed, so they use living people as sacrifices. Afterward, construction goes smoothly. If this is all for the energy field, then their water sacrifice makes sense. There are mountains here, but no water. A good energy field needs both. The water in that vat was the spring of the energy field, and their bodies were the sacrifice. After they died, they were trapped here, guarding the place. This is a 'death sacrifice.'"

Orson's lips moved, but he couldn't speak. He hadn't expected Callum to be used as a sacrifice.

"I broke the vat; the sacrifice failed, ruining the energy field," Odalys stated.

Percival listened, a place coming to mind. "The villa on the outskirts of Crownridge, where more than a dozen bodies were buried alive. It was a place where wicked energy gathered. After the bodies were dug up, the police sealed the place."

Odalys looked at him appreciatively. Surprisingly, Percival had connected the dots without her explicitly stating the link.

"That's right," Odalys said. "The person behind this is the same person behind that suburban villa. They want another perfect energy field to continue what they didn't finish, but the police cremated the bodies. They need fresh bodies, and Callum and the others were substitutes. Remember those ashes Orson took from Sophia's room at the Bennet family's house?" Odalys asked, producing them. "They had Atlas's astrological signs, but after being burned, Atlas wasn't affected. I told you the Love Spell was fake. The Love Spell also needs energy. Sophia needs someone performing rituals to maintain her fortune. Now that I've destroyed her fortune, the Love Spell is useless. She needs to gather energy again. Sophia may have something special we don't know about. Even though she's caused so much trouble, these people haven't given up on her. Sophia is the key."

Orson fell silent, racking his brain, unable to understand what made Sophia so special. Aside from seducing men, she seemed to possess no other remarkable qualities.

Percival said, "Her fortune needs external energy, indicating her inherent energy is negative—misfortune! Someone intends to use the Love Spell to steal others' fortune to protect her. Could it be an attempt to conceal her misfortune? Perhaps she's a jinx, bringing bad luck on an unimaginable scale. So, others want to mask her misfortune, perhaps exploiting it for their purposes?"

His words startled Orson. Having grown up together, Orson had always known Percival to be exceptionally intelligent, but he hadn't expected this level of insight. Percival effortlessly connected the unclear dots.

"That's a possibility. But we can be certain that someone urgently needs a powerful energy field to sustain Sophia's energy, to maximize the Love Spell's effects. Furthermore," Odalys stated, "this person could be the mastermind behind Sophia being sent to the Bennet family, the one who instigated them to abandon and try to kill me."

"Moreover," Percival added, "this person is likely from the Simpson family, or someone behind them."

Odalys nodded. Everything seemed to make sense now.

"Damn it, what is the Bennet family up to?" Orson cursed, unable to comprehend their actions and disregard for life. "I finally understand why they were in such a hurry to get Francis's body. With his low fortune, it would be easy to take over his body. But these people need an assistant when searching for a powerful energy field. These deceased individuals, unwilling to leave this world, are filled with resentment and need to accomplish something quickly. So, they need vengeful spirits or other assistance. This kind of energy doesn't come overnight, so they wanted to plant a spy by my side—someone close to me to divert my attention. If you hadn't mentioned Callum, we would have gone home after dealing with Francis. By the time we realized it, Callum and the others would be dead, and the energy field ritual would be complete. This feint to the east, attack to the west tactic—none of us expected someone would target Callum, especially as a Stewart family member, so close to you. So, if Callum still thinks about you after his death, they'll likely guide him toward you."

Orson was stunned. "So, tonight, while you were saving Francis, someone had already set a death trap for Callum?" He was speechless.