Realization crashed into them all at once. Faces went pale, lips trembled, and shock froze them in place.
"It was Ryan..." soone finally whispered, their voice shaking.
The na spread like wildfire.
"Right! Right! It was Ryan!"
"Where’s Ryan?"
They spun around, scanning the villa in panic. But no matter where they looked, Ryan was nowhere to be found. At so point, unnoticed and silent, he had slipped away.
A heavy silence followed.
Lana smiled faintly, utterly unbothered.
"Don’t look so shocked," she said lightly. "Did you really think he acted alone?"
Her eyes narrowed, sharp as blades.
"There was soone else in this group who helped him carry everything out."
Her gaze lingered deliberately.
"So if you can’t find Ryan," she added, her tone calm but rciless, "find the one closest to him."
As if guided by an invisible hand, every head turned in the sa direction.
Mark.
The mont Mark felt their eyes on him, his fists clenched so tightly that his nails bit into his palms. Fear crawled up his spine, cold and suffocating.
He lifted his head slowly, locking eyes with Lana. Hatred burned in his gaze, raw and venomous.
’Damn it... not now,’ he thought desperately. ’Not at a ti like this.’
He had never imagined that everything would unravel at this critical mont.
Lana smiled faintly as her gaze settled on Mark, her eyes calm yet piercing.
"So," she drawled, tilting her head slightly, "do you have anything to say in your defense?"
Mark’s heart slamd violently against his ribs.
"I’m innocent!" he blurted out imdiately, his voice sharp with panic. "I don’t even understand what you’re talking about!"
Lana burst into soft laughter, the sound light yet chilling in the oppressive atmosphere.
"I gave you a chance," she said leisurely, her smile never fading. "A chance to admit your mistake and receive a lighter punishnt."
Her eyes darkened. "But since you’re so determined to make things difficult, I won’t waste my rcy."
She snapped her fingers.
In the next instant, a strand of yellow mystic energy shot toward Mark like a living thing. Instinctively, Mark tried to dodge, his body jerking sideways.
But the energy twisted midair, as if it had eyes of its own, and plunged straight into his body.
A strangled scream tore from Mark’s throat. His body folded in half as unbearable pain ripped through him, every nerve screaming in agony. He collapsed to the ground, clutching himself as his cries echoed throughout the villa.
The sound alone made everyone’s scalps tingle.
Fear spread like wildfire, and people unconsciously stepped back, putting as much distance between themselves and Mark as possible, terrified that the pain might sohow reach them too.
Lana glanced at their reactions and smiled faintly.
"Since the traitor has been identified," she said calmly, "all that’s left is to deal with Ryan. Tie Mark up and hand him over to the police."
She stood up, pushed the chair aside, and opened the door as if nothing significant had just happened.
Jimmy hesitated before speaking, unease clear in his voice.
"Are... are you leaving? You won’t escort us out?"
Lana looked over her shoulder, her expression indifferent.
"I’ll escort you to the city," she replied. "But rember this... if any of you question my actions from here on, I won’t hesitate to abandon you halfway."
With that warning, she walked toward the parked cars outside. Several vehicles were lined up neatly. Lana scanned them briefly before choosing one that looked the most comfortable and sitting inside without a second thought.
The mont she did, chaos erupted. Everyone rushed toward the car she had chosen, desperation etched on their faces.
’She dealt with a twenty-two-year-old ghost like it was nothing,’ they thought. ’How could we let such a master out of our sight?’
But Lana raised a hand, stopping them in their tracks.
"I’ll decide who rides with ."
The words alone were enough to make everyone stiffen. No one dared speak.
Lana’s gaze swept across them before she smiled lightly.
"I want only those with pure auras. Blake. Jimmy. And the two beside Jimmy."
The mont she finished, sour expressions appeared on many faces. Still, no one dared protest. Her earlier warning rang loudly in their minds.
Blake, Jimmy, and Jimmy’s two friends quickly settled into the car. Lana then gestured for the rest to get into the other vehicles. Reluctantly, they obeyed.
Just as Lana was about to tell Jimmy to start the engine, she paused. "Wait."
She stepped out of the car, retrieved several talismans, and walked from vehicle to vehicle. One by one, she handed them out, ensuring each person received more than five.
"Don’t waste them," she warned coolly. "Otherwise, you’ll pay compensation."
Her gaze sharpened.
"These talismans will be taken back later. Use them only if you’re truly in danger."
She paused before adding, almost casually, "They aren’t easy to co by."
The resentnt so had felt earlier vanished instantly. Five talismans each was no small thing. This alone proved how powerful Lana was.
’As long as we survive, who cares where we sit?’
With grateful smiles, everyone accepted the exorcism talismans.
Lana returned to the car and nodded at Jimmy.
Jimmy, obedient as ever, started the engine imdiately. Soon, the convoy moved, heading straight toward the city.
The opposing faction that had wanted Blake ruined clearly hadn’t anticipated his survival. No ambushes lay along the road, and they reached the city without incident.
Once they arrived, those in the car were nearly in tears, overwheld with relief. anwhile, Lana was calmly conversing with Mr. Crow.
"That boy has potential," Mr. Crow remarked. "He could beco a spirit summoner."
Lana was montarily stunned. She had never expected Blake, the neglected heir of the Rivers family, to possess such talent.
’If he had survived in my previous life,’ she mused, ’he might have truly beco one.’
But for now, Blake was ordinary. He hadn’t awakened any talent, nor was he a soul cultivator. That was precisely why the possession had been so easy.
When they arrived outside the Rivers family mansion, Blake didn’t step out imdiately.
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