Staring at the maid scrambling away from the crime scene, Lynn's face was expressionless.
"Damn it, I just knew it."
Sure enough, showing off never ends well, especially in front of Tiya and the world's will.
And there it was, karma hit almost instantly.
Ignoring what might happen next, Lynn held his nose and squatted down to search for clues left on the body.
From the mark unique to the King of Cruelty on the ground, it was likely the work of a Fallen Transcendent who worshipped "Evil," not a real Demon.
Whoever did this managed to create such a crime scene without him noticing, so their Rank must be pretty high.
Starting from Third Rank, with no upper limit.
Moreover, it seemed like they mistook this unlucky guy wearing a crow mask for Lynn.
If that was the case, things just got interesting.
He had just returned to the Imperial Capital, and his movements were already being monitored; someone even knew about the mask he wore after getting off the carriage.
Other than those opposing forces harboring resentment against him, Lynn couldn't think of anyone else who might assassinate him.
So that narrowed it down to the Mosgla family, Heavenly Principle Church, and Saint Laurent VI.
Of these, Saint Laurent VI could be ruled out first.
Because Lynn knew very well that his original body was in dire need of the Sealed Object inside him, as well as the help of the Creation Demon, Yovilia.
Before successfully getting what he desired, Saint Laurent VI would want Lynn alive more than anyone else.
That could even become his protective charm in certain situations.
Like that night in the Council Hall when Lynn publicly killed Eunice, he managed to anger the emerging noble factions led by the Mosgla family – he should have been dead for sure.
But in the end, Saint Laurent VI covered for him.
His eminence... cough, His Majesty really deserved a thumbs-up for that.
Aside from Saint Laurent VI, the remaining possibilities naturally fell on Heavenly Principle Church and the Mosgla family.
Based on the level of hatred, the Mosgla family would be first in line.
Also, the incident was handled rather sloppily.
Although Lynn thought the Mosgla family were morons, except for Irina, the intelligence of Marquis Mosgla suggested he wouldn't make such a foolish, impulsive retaliation.
It was like putting his own family on the grill.
This kind of passionate act of revenge seemed more like what an emotionally driven woman might do.
However, Lynn didn't understand the true story behind it, so he didn't want to speculate too much.
He also discovered something else from examining the body.
Although the limbs had been cut off and placed on the ground, Lynn looked carefully and found an arm was missing, with no clue where it might be.
And that was about all the information he could read from the body.
Moments later, he slowly stood up and silently mourned for the unlucky guy.
After all, this guy took the fall because he changed masks.
But even so, aside from a moment of silence, Lynn didn't feel any guilt.
The person to blame should be the one pulling the strings.
He had no idea what was going on beforehand and should be considered a victim; there was no point in internal strife.
Moments later, accompanied by a rush of urgent footsteps, a group of heavily armed guards charged up, looking gravely at Lynn.
"Sir, please step down to the main hall."
The leading elderly knight spoke with a heavy tone.
Everyone was ready for action, as if bracing for Lynn to lash out at any moment.
After all, he was covered in blood with a fresh wound on his chest – it all looked very ominous.
But since he was a guest invited by Hillena, no one dared mistreat him.
Seeing this, Lynn waved his hand, "Relax, if I were the murderer, I would have... never mind, it's pointless to explain, just lead the way."
Moments later, surrounded by many guards, he arrived in the hall.
At this moment, the entire mansion was under martial law, with ladies who should have gone home after the banquet now seated in the living room, eyes wide with silence, looking somewhat tense – or perhaps as involved parties, they were a bit thrilled by the sudden crime.
As Lynn was escorted by the guards, many of the ladies cast surprised glances.
To them, tonight's events were simply the best gossip fodder.
However, before the ladies who saw Lynn could speak, a series of footsteps suddenly sounded from the staircase, urgent and chaotic, as if in a rush to see someone, yet anxiously fretting over the safety of that person, afraid of facing an unacceptable outcome.
Since Lynn was in the first-floor living room, he could see who was coming down the stairs.
It was an incredibly beautiful figure in a black dress, her slender legs shaking slightly in high heels yet taking three steps at a time, as if she were both dreadfully worried yet eager for the person before her.
The moment the woman's face appeared, her crimson eyes intersected with Lynn's gaze in mid-air.
In that instant, Lynn saw a distinct look of relief in Ivyst's eyes, as if she was about to cry.
Yet, she didn't cry, nor could she really let herself cry.
Moreover, once she regained her composure, Ivyst suddenly remembered her role was that of a cold, heartbroken ice queen, not a warm, fawning woman.