Besides the old Viscount, the Silver Lady Madam held the highest rank. It was even rumored that the old Viscount would conduct affairs following her words. Of course, the populace didn’t believe it.
Though the Silver Lady Madam was truly powerful, she acted with great discretion, and not much was known about her among the county’s people. According to the normal course of life, the Silver Lady Madam would grow old, die, and completely fade into obscurity with time.
In reality, the Silver Lady Madam did age, and indeed she did die.
But... she was resurrected.
Fifteen years ago, a servant from Manwhale Castle reported that the Silver Lady Madam contracted an unknown illness, often suffering from heart spasms and even coughing up blood. One night, the Silver Lady Madam’s illness struck again, the doctors couldn’t save her, and she died from the illness.
The death of the Silver Lady Madam didn’t stir much commotion, mainly because she kept a low profile. However, three days after news spread of her death, she came back to life. This event caused an uproar, with talk of her resurrection sweeping through most of the county in an instant.
This time, the Manwhale family didn’t let the rumors go unchecked.
They quickly dispatched a large number of guards and knights, ostensibly patrolling the county, but in truth enforcing a gag order. Anyone caught discussing the Silver Lady Madam was imprisoned on charges of defaming nobility.
With forceful control, the public discourse was finally contained.
The Manwhale family then released new information, claiming that the Silver Lady Madam was not resurrected but had fallen into a coma due to the illness, and it was a misdiagnosis by the doctor. Later, they found a new heart specialist, who finally saved her.
Jon: "These are the two strange incidents related to the Manwhale family. We don’t know the exact truth. However, I feel there’s something wrong with this Silver Lady Madam."
Nis: "You don’t need to feel it; there definitely is a problem... Go on."
Before Angel arrived, Nis and the Ironclad Granny had heard just these parts from Jon. What Jon was about to say next, they hadn’t heard yet.
Jon: "After observing the Manwhale Manor for several days and finding nothing unusual, we infiltrated the family. After our investigation, we didn’t find any extraordinary life forms."
"It’s normal for the Manwhale Manor not to have extraordinary life forms." Nis: "After all, wizards rarely stay in mortal lands."
Angel: "What about the Silver Lady Madam?"
Jon: "She’s already dead. According to those inside the Manwhale family, the Silver Lady Madam died of old age three years ago. But strangely, we didn’t find any remains in her grave."
No remains. This Silver Lady Madam is truly mysterious... Angel pondered and said: "Wizard Nis is right; for various external reasons, wizards rarely stay in mortal lands. Personally, I think this Silver Lady Madam, who lived in the Manwhale family for decades, suffered illnesses and coughed blood, doesn’t seem like a transcendent entity, probably just a mortal."
"But all signs show this Silver Lady Madam is problematic. I’m wondering if she might know a transcendent person? Also, that person must be very close to her."
"I remember you mentioned before that it’s said the Silver Lady Madam bore a pair of children for the Manwhale Viscount?" Angel looked at Jon.
Jon nodded: "Yes, sir, what you’re asking is exactly what I was about to say next."
"The Silver Lady Madam bore a pair of children; the girl died very young, but the boy disappeared suddenly at the age of twelve."
Nis: "Disappeared?"
Jon: "Yes, we looked through the Manwhale family tree and found that the girl’s name was clearly marked as deceased, but the boy, although missing, doesn’t have any death notes, even though it’s been over thirty years, and all the other names below in the family tree have death annotations, yet nothing was written about him."
"After discussing within our team, we feel that this Silver Lady Madam’s son is somewhat strange."
"So, we captured a descendant of the Manwhale family. Using some minor methods, we inquired about this man named Angelo Silver Manwhale."
"According to the information from this descendant, Angelo appeared at the Silver Lady Madam’s funeral three years ago."
"Clearly, Angelo didn’t die. Based on some information in strange rumors and various clues we’ve found, we deduced that this Angelo might be a transcendent being."
Ghostly light flashed in Nis’s eyes: "Indeed, a wizard is involved in this... could this Angelo be the person in Dororo’s prophecy picture?"
Nis raised his head to look at Jon: "One more question, what does Angelo look like?"
Jon thought for a moment, then said: "When Angelo came to attend the funeral, he wore a black cloak all along. The descendant we asked didn’t see his appearance clearly, just said he looked very young."
"Oh, right! There was also a ’19’ tattoo on Angelo’s face."
19!
A tattoo!
Angel, Nis, and the Ironclad Granny exchanged a glance; there’s no more guessing needed now. This Angelo must be one of the masterminds behind the Earth Cavern relic disaster!
After learning about his transcendent status, the previous strange rumors involving the Silver Lady Madam can now mostly be understood; Angelo must have been behind all of it.
Perhaps, when the Silver Lady Madam fell off the cliff, she truly was paralyzed, and it was Angelo who saved her.
The public’s speculation might be correct too, that the Silver Lady was harmed by the family matriarch, and so Angelo, for the sake of his mother, killed the Viscountess without hesitation.
The Manwhale Viscount likely also knew Angelo was a transcendent, or else he wouldn’t allow defamatory rumors about his wife.
Later, when the Silver Lady was resurrected, it surely was Angelo’s doing.
It’s just unknown whether the Silver Madam’s funeral three years ago was real, whether she truly died.
But these things are not important; the key figure now is this Angelo.