"How is it, did you have any problems with your mission?" KHANH asked LE VY. In his hand he was holding a notebook discussing economic issues in society."Yeah, I did manage to gather some information," LE VY replied in a solemn tone, completely different from her usual self.
Her face was tense and weary, every line of emotion showing clearly. She recalled the day she received the mission paper from her master, BUI TO NHU."Intermediate Mission – Investigate the cause of corrupted deities."
At first glance, LE VY thought this mission seemed less stressful than the previous one of protecting the merchant caravan. But she soon realized she was wrong. Having to investigate everything on her own while moving continuously through many temples in the village at high intensity nearly exhausted her. She was worn out… "There… a group of women gathering. Maybe they'll have some useful information," she thought.
She walked closer to their conversation.The women were sitting around an old mat spread in front of the communal hall. They sewed while whispering to each other, their eyes flickering with worry. As LE VY approached, she overheard:"Surely that husband killed his wife on purpose. How could she possibly have burned herself to death?""Some kids said that when the wife died, she was even laughing as she burned.""Maybe that woman was possessed by some nearby spirit?""Stop speculating too much. The temples have been strange lately."
Listening for a while, LE VY started to grasp the situation. It seemed that in this village, a deity might have been corrupted into a demon, and that woman had been regarded as a sacrifice for the transformation. "According to the files I received, that could be true," she thought.
Just like her experience from An Trach village, she began investigating. First she checked the temples and shrines, suspecting the demon might have possessed a statue to draw strength from the villagers' faith. She also checked the streets, the busy marketplaces."Nothing at all… or did I miss something?"
Suddenly, a man rushed towards her. He held a large butcher's knife and repeatedly stabbed an elderly woman."Die! You're not my mother! Die… Die… DIE!"
Each shout came with a stabbing blow, the knife sinking into her flesh, blood splattering everywhere. LE VY herself could hardly react to what was happening right before her eyes. The woman died in agony on the ground.
Another man pulled the attacker back."What are you doing?! Didn't I tell you to try to endure it?""I can't! Every time I see her face I remember mother. Isn't it because of her that our mother died so unjustly?"
The other man stood silent, grief written all over him.
Then, the woman who had just died suddenly came back to life."So this is the host body the demon has possessed?" LE VY muttered.
She swung her three-section staff. Whoosh! With just one strike, the spirit was forced out of the woman's body.
The villagers gathered around, whispering about LE VY's brutality. But soon the story shifted towards the man who had killed the woman.
Not long after, the soldiers of DAI LONG arrived. They gradually explained the situation to the villagers. As for LE VY, she was questioned, but she introduced herself as a member of THE HAVEN'S FRACTURE and was cleared this time. Since she belonged to the investigative group for such cases, she was allowed to join the interrogation.
In a dark room."Speak, why did you kill her? Your brother said you were incited by him. Is that true?""You don't need to bait me with such questions. I willingly killed her. She was the reason my mother died." the man said."So you deliberately killed her with a motive, a purpose? What exactly did this woman do for you to murder her so brutally?" the interrogator pressed."… My father was at fault from the beginning. He openly brought that woman home, indulging in debauchery before my mother's eyes. Even though my mother tried to ignore it, time and again, along with the beatings and curses from him, she fell into despair and took her own life… The fault is partly ours too, the two of us brothers. We weren't financially capable of helping her. Maybe if we had spent more time with her, taking her out, comforting her, things would have been different." the man spoke slower and slower, tears streaming down."So you think that woman used your father, ruined your family, killed your mother, and that's why you killed her for personal reasons?" the interrogator asked again.Outside the room, LE VY shouted angrily: "Enough! You're being too cruel. Stop digging into his pain!""Yes… maybe you can say that. I acted recklessly without thinking." the man answered.
Also in that room, the elder brother was interrogated."So the two of you conspired to kill her?""No. It was only me. That bitch deserved to die. I forced my younger brother to act. He had nothing to do with this."
A while later, the interrogator stepped out."I fear this case will be classified as confidential," he said."So what will you do? They didn't kill for no reason, did they?""Unfortunately, I must follow the law. The fact that they killed publicly in front of everyone and we came to investigate means the law must be enforced. Especially since this relates to VOID LUST."
Hearing that, LE VY realized the truth. It was VOID LUST who was pulling the strings behind all this."If he's doing this, what's his goal? Could it be that he's plotting to strengthen the Demon of Lust?" she thought.
"Hey, what's the information? Are you even listening to me?" KHANH asked."Of course I am. The information is confidential now, haha. By the way, why are you reading that book today?" LE VY replied."Ah… Master LA DIEP told me I should read it."