Chapter 362: Are You Worried About Me?

“Your sudden phone call nearly scared me to death,” Madelyn said bluntly, genuinely startled.

Without beating around the bush, she asked, “What’s the reason for your call? Besides, aren’t you supposed to be on a mission right now? How do you still have time to contact me?”

She assumed he’d gone off on a mission and thought she could finally enjoy some peace. Who knew he’d call so unexpectedly?

A cold smirk played on Phantom’s lips. He admitted, “I’m currently on a mission in South Atharia. However, I’ve encountered a setback.”

“What does that have to do with me? Are you calling just to vent your frustrations?” she retorted.

He burst out laughing. “Woman, you think too much. I merely wanted to ask whether you’ve made any headway on the Edwards family matter since you’ve been home?”

In reality, the spy Phantom had arranged in South Atharia had successfully infiltrated the Edwards family’s company. However, as a reclusive ancient martial family, the Edwards weren’t completely unguarded. Since infiltrating the company, the spy had searched high and low for information on the antidote to save Nightingale, but to no avail.

Although the family appeared actively involved in the business world and was considered upper class, they seemed to hide a secret. They appeared unaware of their involvement with arcane arts, living ordinary lives, making it impossible to detect weaknesses. As a result, the situation was giving Phantom a headache. Desperate, he’d turned to Madelyn for any new information.

After hearing his explanation, her expression remained nonchalant. “If it were that easy, they wouldn’t be a reclusive ancient martial family.”

“Is there really no other way?”

“That’s…” she hesitated. “Let me think for a moment.”

With that, she fell into deep thought. Her memories of the Edwards family were scant, only vague bits and pieces. There aren't many ancient martial families in South Atharia, and the Edwards are the only ones actively and openly involved in the business world. Their audacity suggests they're highly skilled at concealment. Considering Nightingale’s peculiar injuries…

Her eyes lit up. “I’ve got it!”

Phantom perked up his ears and listened attentively.

She suggested, “I recommend investigating Edwards Group’s CEO’s assistant. Given the Edwards are an ancient martial family, they’d surely handle private missions, ones only a recluse could manage. These missions would undoubtedly pass through the assistant. Moreover, they’d be unlike ordinary missions, the information perhaps even encrypted. If you investigate, start with those encrypted missions, then look into who executes them. If I’m correct, that person is likely behind the poisoning, or at least knows who did it. Of course, they aren’t the culprit who poisoned Nightingale, but the metahumans of those families would certainly have had some contact. At that time, I believe you’ll know what to do.”

Madelyn felt somewhat parched after her long speech. “That’s all I can say for now.”

“That’s all I know, Phantom. The rest is up to you,” she sighed.

After hearing that, Phantom nodded. “All right. I know what to do next.”

She nodded, then warned, “Remember what I’ve told you and be wary of everyone. Don’t put yourself in danger before identifying the culprit.”

He grinned. “Could I interpret that as you being worried about me?”

“Dream on! I think you’re a decent person; that’s why I don’t want to see you throw your life away,” she retorted.

“Oh?” His smirk was suggestive. “It’s my first time hearing someone call me decent. Me, a universally loathed ruthless killer, being praised? Huh, that’s new.”

Just as he was about to continue, he heard a commotion on the other end, and Madelyn crying out in surprise. Sebastian had appeared unnoticed and silently snatched the phone from her hand.

She was taken aback and about to demand to know who it was when she saw Sebastian, wearing a grim expression, holding her phone, gazing down at her. He was clearly displeased.

“Sebastian…” she stammered. She reached for her phone, but he raised it out of reach.

Her spirits sank. “Sebastian…”

Smiling faintly, he asked in an eerily cold voice, “Who were you on the phone with? You were talking for quite a while.”

I sensed something was off when I saw her leaving earlier, looking uneasy. Now, it appears there’s something fishy going on.

He immediately checked the phone, only to discover the other party had already ended the call. The corners of his lips curled into a sneer. Well, that person hung up quickly.

The phone’s screen showed the call log, revealing a long string of unfamiliar digits—clearly an overseas number. Moreover, the number wasn’t saved.

Even so, Sebastian guessed the overseas number belonged to someone from the Oceanic Empire, given her suspected contact with them. A shadow passed over his face.

“Sebastian… I, I was just on a call with a friend,” she stammered.

“Hah! Is that so? If it was a friend, why isn’t there any caller ID?”