Sun Chang looked at Zhao Li, who lay on the couch with a damp cloth on her forehead, observing her stiff posture. He then turned his attention to the others in the room.
Most of the household had gathered, with the exception of the servants.
"Why was Zhao Li the first one to be attacked?" Zhao Yin asked, breaking the silence. "We've been living in this house for years and haven't had any problems."
Sun Chang nodded thoughtfully. "It's a good question. We need to consider what might have triggered the attack. It could be something specific to Zhao Li or something she came into contact with."
"But what could she have done differently?" Zhao Ming interjected, "We've all been through the same rooms and touched the same things."
"Perhaps Zhao Li unknowingly activated the curse," Sun Chang speculated. "Or there could be something unique about her that drew the curse to her."
The room fell silent, with Zhao Ming and the butler exchanging uneasy glances.
Sun Chang touched his chin, deep in thought. "Well, it most likely has something to do with Zhao Mei's death."
Seeing everyone staring at him, Sun Chang cleared his throat and continued, "Like I said earlier, when I came here, I said that we have reason to believe that Zhao Mei didn't commit suicide but was influenced by something else, and whatever this thing is he most likely that it has been passed on to Zhao Li."
This time the butler said, "So, you believe it has something to do with the shadows she spoke of."
"Yes, I was tasked with investigating because her two previous teammates died in horrific ways, with their deaths closely tied to an item they brought back from their expedition. The shadows she saw could be one of the side effects of holding the artifact."
"Then you think Zhao Li might have come into contact with whatever affected Zhao Mei?" Zhao Ming asked, glancing nervously at his sister.
Sun Chang nodded. "I have two theories. The first is that the artifact Zhao Mei brought back is now targeting Zhao Li. The second theory, as Zhao Yin mentioned earlier, is that the mage left enchantments on the villa to improve magical output. There's also a chance that he left a curse behind. I'm more inclined to believe the latter."
Zhao Yin frowned. "What should we do next?"
Sun Chang took a deep breath. "It's best to start with the basics. What do you know about this house and its history?"
The butler cleared his throat. "The mansion was built over two decades ago by a wealthy merchant family. It changed hands several times before the Zhao family acquired it nine years ago. There have been no reports of strange occurrences."
Sun Chang nodded. "And the previous owners? Did they leave any records or notes about their time here?"
The butler shook his head. "Not that I know of. Most of the stuff was taken by the previous owners."
Zhao Ming chimed in, "The Enforcement Union investigated before we purchased the house. They took some of the stuff, and then it was deemed safe."
"What about Zhao Mei? Did she ever mention anything specific about the house when you first moved in?"
Zhao Ming thought for a moment. "She did mention feeling uneasy in certain rooms, like someone was watching her. She said she saw shadows, but we dismissed it as her imagination."
Sun Chang's eyes narrowed. "In which rooms did she feel uneasy?"
Zhao Ming shook his head. "I don't know exactly. She never specified."
"Okay, what about the merchant family who originally built the house? What happened to them?"
"The original owners were a couple with connections to the Hunter Association. They had a profitable business selling monster corpses and other magical materials. They were well-respected and known for their generosity."
He paused, taking a deep breath, before continuing. "However, one night, robbers broke into their home. Their young child was killed in the struggle. The family was devastated by the loss and eventually moved away."
Okay, so whatever is happening seems to have been missed by the Enforcement Union, he thought. But that's not the critical issue here.
He paused, reflecting on the nature of curse magic. The Curse Element was forbidden due to its capacity to inflict direct damage on a person's soul. The laws against it are stringent for a reason. But what doesn't add up is why Zhao Li was physically harmed. Curse magic is supposed to attack the soul directly, not the body.
Additionally, this curse has persisted for nine years. That's an unusually long duration. In the novel, it is mentioned that the user must provide magic stamina to keep curses active.
So why has it been able to affect Zhao Li physically and continue for such an extended period? Am I missing a crucial detail here?
Seeing Sun Chang lost in contemplation, the butler could not help but interrupt. "Mr. Sun, were you able to think of anything?"
"No, it's hard to piece anything together with the lack of information, for now, I'll need to inspect everyone's rooms. If the curse is indeed tied to Zhao Mei, we must be quick to avoid further harm.
The others exchanged uneasy glances but ultimately agreed. Their lives were more important than anything they might be hiding.
Sun Chang glanced at Zhao Li, who lay motionless on the couch. "We'll need to start by examining Zhao Li's room thoroughly. It's the only tangible lead we have right now," Sun Chang said, motioning for Butler and Zhao Ming to follow him.
.....
Sun Chang led the butler and Zhao Ming to search Zhao Li's room, but other than the broken mirror, there didn't seem to be much within the room. He frowned and turned to the butler.
"Why isn't there much in this room?"
"The Enforcement Union conducted an initial investigation after the incident. They said they would be conducting a follow-up investigation. Given the circumstances, we will be leaving the house and staying in one of the family hotels until the investigations are complete. It's for everyone's safety.
The butler cast a strange glance at Sun Chang. "Isn't that why you're here?"
"Yes, yes," he replied absently, turning his attention back to the room. "I just needed to confirm."
"Does anyone know where Zhao Mei would hide anything?"
The butler, standing near the door, responded promptly, "I would say that most of the servants are here simply to tend to their daily needs. However, Sofia knows the most about each servant."
Sun Chang nodded thoughtfully. "Then let's ask Sofia for information." He turned to Zhao Ming, and the butler. "Where would she be?"
The butler adjusted his tie and replied, "Sofia should be in the kitchen, overseeing the lunch preparations."
"Ok"
As they approached the kitchen, the sound of clattering pots and the murmur of the servants' conversations grew louder. The aromas of freshly baked bread and stew filled the air, making Sun Chang's stomach rumble slightly. He pushed open the swinging door to find the kitchen bustling with activity. Servants were busy chopping vegetables, stirring pots, and setting the table for dinner.
A young servant, wiping her hands on her apron, noticed them and nodded. "Good afternoon, sir. How can I assist you?"
"We're looking for Sofia," Sun Chang said. "Is she available?"
"Of course," the servant replied with a polite smile. She disappeared through a side door, the soft click of her shoes echoing briefly in the busy kitchen. Moments later, she returned with Sofia.
Sofia approached them, her expression a mix of curiosity and professionalism. "Good afternoon, Mr. Sun. How can I help you?"
"We would like to ask about some information about Zhao Mei."
Sofia nodded, and Sun Chang guided her to a room nearby. They entered a small, tidy office at the back, with walls lined with shelves holding cookbooks and kitchen supplies.
Sofia smiled at them. "How can I help you?"