Stephan was about to leave for the hospital when news arrived that Ingen's condition had stabilized. She had just woken and her first request was to see Caleb. So, Stephan personally carried the sleeping Caleb, preparing to take him to the hospital.

Just as Stephan was about to enter the car, Stanley approached.

“Mr. Russell,” Stanley called out.

He repeated the robed man's words verbatim. The moment Felicia's name was mentioned, the temperature around Stephan seemed to plummet. His gaze darkened, becoming severe. The tension was palpable. Even Caleb, sensing the unease, whimpered softly, shifting in Stephan's arms. His tiny mouth puckered, as if about to cry. Stephan's expression remained unchanged, but his hands moved more gently, lightly patting Caleb's back, soothing him back to sleep. Since the bronze bell's destruction, the venomous creature on Caleb's body had shown no further activity. Stephan had Caleb thoroughly examined, even consulting the medical master to check his pulse.

The conclusion was that Caleb was completely healthy and stable. The venomous creature, once a threat due to the robed man's actions, had vanished without a trace. The medical master confirmed this news, bringing them all immense relief.

But the robed man's mention of Felicia raised new concerns. What did it mean? Unless…the venomous creature in Caleb had been a distraction. From the start, the robed man and Pete's true target had been Felicia!

Stephan handed Caleb to a nearby housekeeper. Minutes later, he descended into the underground chamber to confront the robed man, who had been brutally tortured.

The robed man's eyes were vacant, his body barely alive. But upon seeing Stephan, a flicker of hope ignited in his gaze. Summoning his remaining strength, he said, “Mr. Russell, Pete implanted a venomous creature in Felicia—the Heart Eater!”

The Heart Eater, once activated, was incurable, erasing all free will and turning the host into a puppet controlled by the manipulator. Pete's original plan was to use Felicia to locate the unmarked island on the map; only she could find it.

Having endured immense suffering, the robed man, without prompting, divulged every detail. Stanley, standing nearby, was stunned by the revelation. He was unsure whether to ask about Felicia's connection to the venomous creature or why Pete had chosen her. What connection did Felicia have to the map everyone sought?

Stephan stared at the robed man, his deep, dark eyes cold and penetrating, exuding a chilling pressure. Under Stephan's gaze, the robed man felt his scalp prickle with fear, almost bursting into tears, pleading, “Mr. Russell, I swear, every word is true! Absolutely true!”

“Continue,” Stephan ordered, his tone icy and commanding. “What else do you know?”

“I also know that Pete originally planned to kidnap Felicia and take her to sea, but he failed. Now, he’s using the Heart Eater as leverage to force Felicia to join him on the voyage. They’ve set sail the day after tomorrow!”

“The Heart Eater—it controls a person's mind and actions when activated?” Stephan closed his eyes briefly, his mind already forming a conclusion.

The robed man, oblivious to Stephan's thoughts, nodded frantically. “Yes! Especially since the Heart Eater in Felicia is of the highest level—the king of venomous creatures! Once triggered, it immediately seizes control of the host's consciousness!”

“But…” The robed man hesitated, then cautiously added, “When we were on the mountain, Pete ordered me to activate the venomous creature, but I failed to control Felicia. It seems someone else absorbed the Heart Eater's effects and damage on her behalf…”