All eyes were on Alexander Summers, filled with a mix of wariness, confusion, fear, and hatred.
Alexander Summers scanned the room indifferently, his expression apathetic and tinged with haughty disdain. Facing the questioning, he offered no response.
At this moment, Zack Wallace led a group of men to guard all the doors and windows of the banquet hall! Clutching guns in their hands, they stood against the backlight like vengeful deities, their weapons gleaming metallically in the light.
The guests grew even more apprehensive.
âRoy Howard! What are you trying to do?!â
The guests had also brought their bodyguards, but Alexanderâs men were more numerous and had already secured the upper hand!
Alexander said, âThe murderer of the elder master is definitely here in this banquet hall. I apologize for the inconvenience, but please stay put for now. Once the killer is identified, everyone can go back to their own homes.â
The crowd erupted in uproar.
Someone, unconvinced, shouted loudly, âRoy Howard! Stop feigning innocence! You plotted against the elder master, and now youâre using this as an excuse to detain us! Donât think you can hoodwink everyone!â
Alexander raised an eyebrow and laughed, a cold sharpness glittering in his eyes, âYarrow Howard, youâre so eager to sling mud. Could it be that youâre the murderer, feeling guilty and afraid of being investigated by me?â
âI didnât!â The man called Yarrow Howard yelled, âI was so far from the elder master, how could it possibly be me?!â
An uncle spoke calmly, âThe Howard men are all skilled; from the lights going out to the explosion, a few seconds was actually enough time for someone quick to make a round trip.â
Yarrow Howard cried out in anger, âHow much benefit have you received from Roy Howard to speak for him like this!â
Others turned their suspicion towards the steward, asking, âMr. King, youâve always been close at hand serving the old master. How could you not know the circumstances of the old masterâs death?â
Mr. King, in his sixties and also an old man himself, was deeply shaken by Elder Master Howardâs sudden tragic death. Now being questioned, he shook his head in sorrowful denial.
The lights out impaired vision.
The explosion impaired hearing.
Under such dual effects, who actually killed the elder master in that instant was unknown to anyone.
Everyone was filled with trepidation. They did not mourn the elder masterâs death; at over ninety years of age, the elder master hadnât suffered much in death and had been rather fortunate!
But for those left living, they faced the suspicion of murder, their lives at risk at any moment!
âMaster Xander, how do you plan to investigate this?â someone from the guests capitulated, asking respectfully, âThere are so many of us, if the truth isnât revealed in one day, will we have to stay on your estate for the duration?â
This was the question on everyoneâs mind.
No one wanted their freedom restricted, even if it meant staying for free, no one wanted to remain there!
More people entered from outside; they were Alexanderâs subordinates, who had captured the person who tampered with the fuse box.
But this person was already dead.
The guests automatically cleared a path, and the body was dragged into the banquet hall, laid before Alexander, with no visible external injuries.
âThis man first sabotaged the fuse box, then detonated the explosives placed on a car using a remote control. When we found him, he immediately committed suicide by poisoning himself. He must have been bribed by someone.â
The adversary knew of Roy Howardâs ruthless methods and preferred not to suffer in torture chambers, opting to end his own life.
Now with no testimony from the dead, how could the murderer be identified?
The guests looked at one another, each aware that the killer of Elder Master Howard was amongst them, but who could it be?!
âMaster Xander, how do you plan to investigate?â
âHow long will this⦠investigation take?â
Zack Wallace shouted sternly, âElder Master Howard was murdered! This person also attempts to cast the blame on our Master Xander. No one leaves until we get to the bottom of this today!â
The crowd murmured their dissatisfaction with Zack Wallaceâs words, yet none dared to openly contradict him.
If anyone now insisted on leaving, it would likely raise suspicion of guilt, so everyone feigned composure.
But such calm was only temporary and could not last long.
Alexander pondered deeply, and at that moment, he noticed Purple Summers winking at him from within the crowd.