Mythology Rebooted
Chapter 140 - 95 Trading with the Devil_2

Chapter 140: Chapter 95 Trading with the Devil_2

Is this the result?

Reality slapped Wayne in the face. He had thought too much. Being eliminated was the same for all, but a sports student and an art student who both failed were not on the same level.

...

The two came to the last family member’s door, the eldest daughter of the Bart family, Heidi.

Kel proficiently picked the lock and slid inside, with Wayne right behind him. As soon as he closed the door, he sensed something off - by the smell alone, Madam Marina was also there.

He clutched Kel’s shoulder, making several simple hand gestures. These gestures, born from muscle memory of his former body, indicated that there was more than one person in the bedroom inside.

Kel was slightly surprised, but he understood Wayne’s gestures, sent out a mushroom, and confirmed his professionalism to his companion.

Kel: "The detective business is full of talents, brother, you’re not an ordinary person either!"

Wayne: "Takes one to know one."

They crept into the inner room in the dark. The central bed in the bedroom was classically luxurious; the curtains were gorgeously elegant, adorned with lace and trim, with details that were meticulously elaborate, a testament to the standard Rococo decorative style.

By the moonlight outside the window, Wayne saw two ladies on the bed. He had met Madam Marina during the day; a former professional model, now curled up on her side in the arms of another woman.

The woman had fair skin, well-shaped rosy lips, soft, wavy hair that shone, and was dressed in a white nightgown. Her breathing was steady. She looked about Wayne’s age and similarly youthful, but with a mature and restrained elegance that far surpassed her peers.

Heidi Bart!

Kel gestured, and Wayne nodded. Together they extended mushrooms toward their target.

Snap!

Madam Marina swatted the mushroom away, her eyes snapping open. She propped herself up with one hand and landed a side kick on Kel’s torso, sending the sleazy mushroom man skidding to the window.

At the same moment, Heidi also woke up, sweeping her leg towards Wayne’s neck. Her nightgown fell away, revealing part of her calf and fashionably indifferent white socks.

Wayne caught the incoming ankle in his hand, his eyes narrowed slightly, and he triggered a combo, his fingers ready to execute "Divine Tears."

In the moment his fingers tightened, Heidi withdrew her leg like a slippery fish, leaving Wayne holding onto just her sock.

Heidi leapt up, her movements rapid and sharp, causing a dizzying effect in the dimly lit room. She grabbed Wayne’s hands and stepped on the edge of the bed for leverage, driving a knee strike upward.

Wayne dodged by tilting his head and reversed the grip on Heidi’s wrists, pulling her into his embrace and landing a fierce headbutt.

With a thud, Heidi fell backwards onto the bed, her legs stiff, gasping for air.

"All show and no substance."

Wayne’s Essence of Life refilled, with a torrent of Earth Element infusing his muscles and bones, significantly toughening them up. A punch from him could make Verily cry for a long while.

Apart from Veronica, he had never feared anyone. Heidi’s attack, in his view, was flashy but lacking in power.

On the other side, Kel had also ended the fight, groaning under Madam Marina’s foot.

As a detective, you skinny raiding a client and getting beaten – truly a failure!

Wayne looked over as Madam Marina turned her cold gaze upon him, rebuking: "Detective Wayne, you were to investigate the lord’s death, yet you’re in the young lady’s bedroom?"

"Madam jests. Mr. Bart is missing, and you, the widow, are rolling in bed with the young lady. Both of you are greatly suspicious; my investigation leading me here is quite normal," Wayne replied with disdain.

"Do you think the judge will believe your words?" Madam Marina’s expression grew colder.

"I think the judge would be more curious about the relationship between the madam and the young lady."

Wayne countered undauntedly, "I’ve found out that Mr. Bart is not dead. The one who ’shot himself’ was a body double. You commissioned White Glove Association to track his whereabouts, and even your marriage to Mr. Bart had ulterior motives. Your maiden name was Bart, too; you should be calling him ’uncle,’ actually."

Madam Marina’s face darkened, pressing harder with her foot, eliciting louder cries from Kel.

Because it was him, it wasn’t a reward!

While Wayne spoke, his peripheral vision stayed on Heidi on the bed, trying to analyze whether she was aware of the situation by her changing expressions. Unfortunately, Heidi, dazed from the headbutt, lifted her hand to cover her face, and it was difficult to discern any change in her expression.

"No wonder you’re an elite detective from the White Glove Association. In half a day, you’ve uncovered so much..."

Marina’s expression darkened, "But you’ve found the wrong target, my request was to investigate the suicide victim, not to investigate me."

Kel slightly lifted his hand, the above information was what he found and had nothing to do with Wayne.

"That’s enough, Marina, Detective Wayne is very professional, there’s no need for you to turn yourself into a suspect." Heidi said as she shook her groggy head and sat up, her robe’s strap sliding down to expose a shoulder.

Having recently been duped by a femme fatale, Wayne was very cautious of women he didn’t know but who were willing to offer "benefits," and he frowned and stepped back, "So Miss Heidi is well aware of the lady’s identity, the two of you are in cahoots then!"

"There was some planning, but nothing was implemented."

Rubbing her head as she stood, Heidi glanced at the dropped mushrooms on the bed, a spark of interest flashed in her eyes: "Detectives, are you interested in hearing about the Bart Family history?"

The scene shifts, moving to the living room couch outside the bedroom.

Heidi, wearing a coat over her nightwear, had a red swollen spot on her pale forehead, occasionally shaking her head.

Sitting beside her, Marina’s relationship with her was very complex; they were cousins, mother and daughter, or lovers, and the outwardly stern Marina was the submissive one, while the mature and restrained Heidi was the dominant partner.

Wayne and Kel sat opposite them, the latter grinning despite obvious signs of having been beaten up.

"Detective Wayne, the previous investigation was just a test, my father Bart is indeed still alive, and I wonder if you are still interested in continuing the investigation to find his hiding place," Heidi said.

"What about me? Didn’t I pass the test too?" Kel complained.

"I am not your client, I have no right to ask, but if you are willing, I would be happy for you to continue."

Heidi observed the two detectives and, seeing no sign of refusal, smiled and said, "When talking about my father’s disappearance, one cannot ignore the Bart Family’s faith. According to family history, we were once servants of the Devil, worshiping the Blood Tyrant of Hell."

A faith in blood!

An evil god from Hell!

Wayne’s expression remained unchanged; he remembered the councilor of Lundan Town, the monster bathing in blood.

"No matter how you sugarcoat it, faith in Hell is evil, and every head of the family has been fully aware of this. Hence, after obtaining our first pot of gold, the Bart Family abandoned the blood faith and turned to bask in the glory of the Heavenly Father," Heidi continued.

Heidi went on, "Faith is a brand, a curse passed down through the bloodline. Every head of the family would hear the whispers of the Evil God in the deep of the night. They would dream of the bloody Hell and of being toyed with by the Evil God, tormented without end; no head lived a long life."

"Unlike other heads of the family’s self-awareness, my father was an absolute bastard. He didn’t mind picking up the blood faith again, as long as it made money, he was willing to make a deal with the Devil."

"Two years ago, his body quickly aged, his condition deteriorated day by day. He feared death and thought of the Devil in his dreams, planning to strike a deal for a longer life."

Speaking, Heidi’s voice grew dark, "My two elder brothers have been long away from home, rarely settling on Dragonheart Island, so he once discussed this matter with me. I did not agree at the time; he might gain longevity, but the later generations of our family would surely pay the price for it."

"Later on, my father’s health began to improve. He didn’t heed the advice and had already struck a deal with the Devil. For the sake of the family, I decided to imprison him..."

"Before I could act, he disappeared!"

Heidi turned to the two detectives: "I’ve spent a long time searching with no success, and had to seek help from the Magic Realm. You two are Mages, right?"

"Spot on!"

Kel nodded, grinning despite the pain, but Wayne said nothing.

"I’m a mere mortal, unable to find my father’s hiding place. You two, being Mages and professional detectives, will surely find a lead. I hope you can save the Bart Family," Heidi solemnly made her request.

"It’s not a good idea, dealing with beliefs related to the Devil is very complicated, I suggest Heidi seek the help of the Heavenly Father’s Court, they are more professional in dealing with Devils," Kel suggested.

"Then the Bart Family would be finished..."

Heidi shook her head with a wry smile, seeing the detectives still hesitant, she straightforwardly said, "Don’t worry, I’m only asking you to find my father’s hiding place, not intending for you to face the Devil. I will handle everything on behalf of the Bart Family."

"If that’s the case..."

Before Kel could finish, Wayne interrupted directly, "Miss Heidi, could you tell us about the deal Mr. Bart made with the Devil?"

"My father didn’t say much, the Devil asked him to look for something."

"What thing?"

"A relic left by the Giant Dragon, the dragon’s great secret treasure."