She had thought it would take him a long time to think about this question, but she did not expect to get an answer so quickly.
"Why..." Hyde was startled. "Because you're a witch."
Her magic power did not beat. "So that's why." Nightingale suddenly understood many things. Witches were the devil's minions and the incarnation of the fallen. Once a witch became a witch, she would gradually lose her feelings as a human. At that time, this theory was deeply rooted in people's hearts. Perhaps the moment Hyde learned of her awakening, she was no longer a human in his eyes, let alone a sister and a brother who were related by blood. The so-called betrayal was just a way to protect himself by striking first. Hyde probably still thought so, and it was precisely because he completely trusted his own judgment that he answered so naturally.
Later, Hyde said a lot more. For example, he was ignorant before and did not know that it was a false accusation made by the church. He also said that he was now deeply remorseful and hoped that she could forgive him... But Nightingale did not listen to these words. The thoughts in her mind were like a storm, making it difficult for her to recover.
So she should not blame him at all. Was it because most people would have made the same choice?
For him, the one he betrayed was not his own sister, but a demon who would lose her humanity sooner or later? Since it was a demon, it was understandable that there was no trust between them.
But... was it true?
She was clearly asking about Hyde, but her consciousness unconsciously drifted to another person.
That person was also a noble, but she had never seen him before, let alone by blood. If betraying a witch was a matter of course, then he should have sent Anna to the gallows long ago.
He had neither fear nor hatred for witches. Except for curiosity, his eyes were clear and easy to understand — even though she had threatened him with a knife.
Scenes flashed by quickly, as if they were going back in time, and finally stopped at the moment before the heavy snow fell.
It was the first winter after they met.
"... I don't think she can't survive the Months of Demons. "
"Why? "
"She said she wouldn't lose to the Demonic Bite, and I believe her. "
[How could you believe a witch? We're cursed by the devil. "
"Really? I believe you too. " "
The sea of memories rippled with these words.
Nightingale took a deep breath and pulled her consciousness back to reality. "Wait here. If someone comes looking for you, do what you have to do. Pretend that I was never here."
"Wait, wait … where are you going?"
She sheathed the dagger at her waist and disappeared into the fog. "To finish what I have to do."
…
As Hyde had said, she could have broken into Viscount Dott Somi's bedroom and forced him to tell the whole story with a dagger. Most of the nobles would be scared out of their wits when they saw the gleaming tip of a knife. They would answer every question, hating the fact that they didn't have two mouths. Some of the more stubborn ones would spill out their secrets without hesitation after their fingernails were cut off. She had already verified this many times.
If her parents' death was really related to the viscount, she would naturally let him know what it meant to pay with blood.
However, Nightingale didn't want to do that at the moment.
Especially after what had just happened.
She was no longer alone.
She now had someone she could trust without a doubt, and she was also deeply trusted by others.
Compared to the Shadow Assassin's approach, she wanted to try to solve this matter in another way. If it was Roland, he would definitely not want to see her stained with too much unnecessary blood, right?
After crossing the World of Mist, Nightingale entered Dott's study in a few flashes. Several dark black holes that looked like ink-colored balls stood in the black and white world. She didn't care about the sleeping guard leaning against the door. Instead, she set her eyes on a field of God's Stone next to the bookcase.
She slowly walked to the wall. The straight wall suddenly twisted. The contours bent and shrunk like a clump of hair that had lost its source of nourishment. The thing underneath was exposed.
Through the deformed contours, she saw details that ordinary people couldn't see. A thin metal rod was buried under the wall. One part was connected to the bookcase, and the other was connected to the "black ball".
This was a very common mechanism.
Nightingale easily destroyed the hanging bell under the mechanism. Then she pushed a seemingly ordinary book. The secret compartment opened almost without making any sound.
There was a God's Stone of Retaliation embedded in the hidden box, but this was not a problem for her. Before she was an adult, Old Gilen had found a rat instructor to teach her all the skills that a qualified thief should have. After several years of practice, she had already mastered the skill of opening all kinds of locks with copper needles.
After opening three or four iron boxes, Nightingale found what she was looking for.
It was a recent account book, which recorded the batches, buyers, and quantities of Dreamland Water. Just as she expected, the nobles always liked to hide their important items in places that they thought were secret.
With this record and the goods in the mansion that had not been sold, the evidence was conclusive.
Nightingale returned to the basement and reported the whole thing to Roland.
When the sky turned bright, the First Army, who had received the order to rush over, had already surrounded the mansion.
...
Three days later, Nightingale appeared in front of Hyde again. Hyde had just been released from prison. He looked so haggard and dazed that he almost looked like a walking corpse. It was not until he saw Nightingale that a trace of color appeared in his eyes.
Anger and hatred.
"Viscount Somi has been sentenced to death by hanging. The rest of the family members have to serve 20 years of labor. Two fiefs belong to the kingdom. Is this what you made me wait for?" Walking into a deserted alley, Hyde could no longer suppress his emotions. He growled at her. "Take everything away from me and leave me with nothing?"
"You should feel lucky that you're not regarded as a member of the Somi family," Nightingale said calmly. "Compared to the viscount, at least you're still alive."
"That's just because you want me to continue to suffer so that you can laugh at me! Eight years ago, it was like this again... You killed Old Gilen and left. Do you know what kind of life I've been living since then? I thought you would help me when I finally got the chance to take over the Somi family's territory, but you ruined it! " Hyde clenched his fists. "I don't have a title or a fief now. Are you satisfied now? You haven't forgiven me at all, Veronica! You liar... All you want is revenge! I should have known! "
As he spoke, there was a hint of sobbing in his roar. Then, he curled up his body and sobbed softly, "Nothing … I have nothing …"
After a long silence, Nightingale said, "Yes, I haven't forgiven you, and I never will. The more similar a person is, the more unforgivable a betrayal is." She paused. "But you don't have nothing. At least I gave you freedom."
Hyde, whose face was covered with snot and filth, looked up.
"No matter Old Gilen, the Somi family, or anyone else, no one can control you. From now on, how you live and what you can do is up to you. You won't be controlled by others like a puppet like in the past. Whether you think this is punishment, torture, hate me or not, it doesn't matter. That's your choice. From now on, we have nothing to do with each other. "
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