Countermove, This News Came Just in Time

The perpetrator has been caught, but not a single useful word could be pried from his lips—no clue at all about the mastermind behind the crime.

"Did you use torture?" Serena Feng finished the last snack on her plate, took a sip of tea, and finally spoke.

There’s a whole list of suspects, plenty of possible targets, but without evidence, no one will believe their side of the story.

Three-Inch is a key figure; he must not be harmed.

Prince Nolan shook his head. "At this point, I won’t use torture on him." If torture becomes necessary, it should be done in front of House Zhan.

"Good, no torture. Otherwise, when House Zhan and William Wang arrive, they might think we forced a confession and just picked someone random to take the blame." Clearly, Serena Feng and Prince Nolan were thinking the same way.

"Torture is useless on him anyway. He’s just a contract killer—even if you beat him to death, he might not know who hired him." Three-Inch already knows he hurt Beanie, and his mind is half broken. No need for torture; he'll confess on his own.

Beanie is the darling of those old monsters in the Assassin Alliance. Now that Three-Inch has hurt Beanie, even if Prince Nolan lets him go, the Alliance won’t.

Confessing is his best option.

"Speaking of which, I think you should look into Princess Vivian. I’m not targeting her, but she’s been acting really off these past few days." Serena Feng shared her suspicions, including Princess Vivian’s strange behavior last night.

Prince Nolan nodded. "I've also suspected she was involved, but I still don't know what role she plays in all this."

Even if others were involved in Master Adrian Wren's death, Prince Damien of Southlyn couldn't escape responsibility. He's had Princess Vivian watched all along, but she's been so quiet and normal that even if he suspects her, he has no evidence.

Ethan once said it: Adrian Wren seemed to be seeking death. Three-Inch said Adrian deliberately exposed his vital point when stepping out of the carriage, otherwise Three-Inch couldn't have killed him instantly. Nolan recalled Three-Inch's words from last night, more convinced than ever someone held a secret over Adrian, forcing him to die.

"Did you find anything?" Serena Feng asked.

Prince Nolan shook his head. "The people sent to House Zhan and Jixia Academy haven't returned yet, but even if they do, it might not help much. This is a trap set by Southlyn and Eastlyn against me; escaping won't be easy."

With Adrian Wren already dead, even if I uncover the truth behind his death, no one will believe me. They'll just think I'm slandering him to escape blame. After all, anything that could drive Adrian to suicide can't be a trivial matter.

"That's true. Even if there's evidence, no one would believe it, since Adrian Wren's death doesn't benefit Eastlyn or Southlyn." The emperor and Prince Damien of Southlyn really went all out to bring down Prince Nolan, sacrificing Adrian Wren.

If they really had something on Adrian Wren, keeping him alive would be more useful to the emperor than killing him.

"It's true, there's no benefit. With Adrian Wren dead in Eastlyn, the world will say Eastlyn doesn't value scholars or men of talent." Whether through imperial exams or family recommendations, the emperor always sought talented people to serve him.

Otherwise, Adrian Wren and Jixia Academy wouldn't hold such a lofty position.

"If the Emperor pushes you out to appease the scholars' anger, will they still resent Eastlyn?" Serena was sure the Emperor would do it.

Prince Nolan also believed his imperial brother would show him no brotherly affection; if their positions were reversed, he wouldn't either.

"That's why I plan to strike first," Prince Nolan said cryptically. Serena glanced at him, saw his confidence, and didn't press further.

"As long as you have a plan."

Prince Nolan smiled faintly and asked, "When will Beanie wake up?"

"Him? He'll wake up this afternoon. Why, do you need something from him?" Serena didn't believe Nolan cared about Beanie's health.

"Yes, I need his help. With Beanie, the Assassin Alliance's mascot, things will be much easier."

Serena caught on instantly, surprised: "You want Beanie to get Three-Inch to give false testimony?"

"What do you mean, false testimony? I'm just having him name the mastermind. I have to give House Zhan a proper explanation; I can't just hand over an assassin." Nolan couldn't help knocking Serena on the head for her bluntness.

"Who are you planning to pin the blame on?" Serena knew Nolan was cunning and was really thinking about House Zhan's interests, though she understood his true intent.

But picking someone isn't easy. The world must believe the culprit had both motive and means to kill Adrian Wren.

"Buddha says it cannot be spoken." Prince Nolan did not satisfy Serena's curiosity and only replied mysteriously.

"Fine, don't say it. I don't want to know anyway. I'm going to check on Beanie—want to come?" If you want Beanie's help, you should at least show some concern, even if it's just for show.

"No need. If I don't visit him, he won't dare refuse me. Fake affection is wasted on Beanie. I need to arrange the reception for House Zhan."

Serena thought of how much Beanie feared Prince Nolan and nodded silently.

Beanie is completely submissive to Prince Nolan; whatever Nolan asks, Beanie will do.

Just as Serena predicted, Beanie woke up that afternoon, looking much better, and by evening he could walk around.

That freakish recovery.

So far, only Lance Quinn's recovery rivals Beanie's. Neither is likely a natural talent—their resilience must be drug-induced.

After all, people born with such strong recovery are rare. Having two at once is downright unscientific.

Prince Nolan was always discreet; even Serena, who visited Beanie daily, didn't know when Nolan took Beanie away or what Beanie and Three-Inch discussed. No one else did either.

With House Zhan and William Wang Jinling arriving soon, Prince Nolan had been so busy these past two days that he hadn't even rested at night, making Serena worry for him.

Even iron men can't endure forever.

At that moment, Prince Nolan was reading a report from his subordinates. When he saw House Zhan's investigation, his cold face broke into a chilling smile: "So that's it. No wonder Adrian Wren chose death. But... doesn't he know that if one person can uncover this, a second can too?"

Prince Nolan placed the report back in the box. Thinking about William Wang Jinling's imminent arrival, he smiled, satisfied with his scheme.

This time, William Wang Jinling will have to compromise!

The same secret that could threaten Adrian Wren could also be used against William Wang Jinling, who respected him.