Chapter 86: Bait

"Core Sphere, activate detection mode. Report to me if you find any suspicious objects," Lin Wei commanded silently.

The intelligent Core Sphere had a detection range of five meters, allowing Lin Wei to thoroughly search for subtle clues that might otherwise go unnoticed. Although Ban Saini doubted they would find anything, he nodded reluctantly under Lin Wei's assertive leadership.

Lin Wei walked slowly, utilizing the Core Sphere's detection as he pondered the logic behind the entire affair.

"Suspicious object detected!"

The room was not large, and Lin Wei had already covered most of it. Just as he was about to move forward, the Core Sphere’s voice sounded in his ear.

In the next moment, a blue film appeared on his retina. The surroundings transformed into a three-dimensional image, with the suspicious object marked by a conspicuous red dot.

"Excellent!"

Lin Wei had only hoped to try his luck, never expecting to actually find something. Following the Core Sphere’s guidance, he quickly crouched down, searching beneath the cabinet in the corner of the room.

"Lin Wei, what did you find?" Ban Saini hurried over, asking.

Lin Wei didn’t reply at first. He reached under the cabinet, probing carefully, then withdrew his arm gingerly. Between his thumb and forefinger, he held a small hemispherical object, no larger than a common grain of sand.

"What is this?" Lin Wei examined it, shaking his head. He had never seen such a thing before.

Ban Saini’s eyes suddenly lit up, a flicker of confusion passing through his gaze. "This appears to be an ornament from the collar of King Hadson's robe."

"An ornament from King Hadson's robe collar?!" Lin Wei’s eyes widened, his gaze sharp with inquiry.

"Indeed!" Ban Saini gently took the hemispherical object from Lin Wei’s hand and placed it in his palm. "It definitely is."

"Could it be..." Ban Saini looked at Lin Wei meaningfully. "Was it all orchestrated by him? Did he lose the ornament during the abduction of Perlenlan?"

Lin Wei ignored Ban Saini’s speculation, narrowing his eyes as he began a meticulous analysis.

After a long silence, Lin Wei shook his head. "Hadson is innocent."

"Mm?" Ban Saini seemed puzzled. "You mean someone framed him?"

"Exactly." Lin Wei nodded. "I know Hadson possesses the strength of a knight, but even so, he couldn’t have abducted Perlenlan without leaving a trace."

"And... I want to verify a theory..."

Lin Wei paid no attention to Ban Saini’s bewildered expression and resumed his search of the room.

"Residual wizard force detected!"

The Core Sphere’s mechanical voice sounded in Lin Wei’s ear.

"Analyze and compare. Check if it’s the wizard who secretly observed me last night!" Lin Wei instantly commanded.

"Analyzing... Comparing... The result is 'identical.'"

"Good!"

A slight smile curled Lin Wei’s lips. "As I thought, the one who abducted Perlenlan was the Level Three wizard apprentice who investigated my room yesterday! Hadson's suspicion can be cleared... But who is the mastermind behind all this?!"

"Senior!" After pondering for a moment, Lin Wei suddenly called out to Ban Saini, "Can you restrain Hadson?"

"Restrain him?" Ban Saini asked. "You mean restrict his freedom?"

"Yes," Lin Wei replied. "Announce to the nobles that some of his actions may have violated the principles of the Shadow Forest, and that we need to investigate him."

Unlike the countries of the Western Coast, the kingdoms of the Central Domain were governed by wizard academies. While commoners were unaware of wizards, higher-ranking nobles were privy to these secrets. If the name of Shadow Forest was invoked, every noble in the Kingdom of Layton would comply.

Ban Saini frowned, weighing his options.

"Alright!" Ban Saini finally agreed. "But Lin Wei, didn’t you say Hadson is innocent?"

Lin Wei laughed coldly. "Yes, he’s innocent. The reason I’m doing this is to lure out the real mastermind. If you want to catch a fish, you need a worm for bait."

"Someone wants to put Hadson in a difficult position, so we’ll turn the tables," Lin Wei said, rubbing his sleeve. "Go ahead, Senior. Leave Hadson to you."

...

The door to the room suddenly opened.

Lin Wei and Ban Saini walked out side by side.

"Sir!" Hadson hurried forward, with the prince, princess, and the royal guards behind him.

Lin Wei’s expression was calm and unruffled, betraying no joy or sorrow. Ban Saini, however, looked stern and cold.

"Hadson!"

Ban Saini suddenly shouted.

Hadson froze, as did the prince, princess, and guards behind him.

"As King of Layton, you orchestrated this royal disappearance farce yourself—what was your motive?!"

Ban Saini’s words thundered through the air, leaving everyone stunned.

The mastermind behind the royal disappearance was the king himself?!

This was beyond belief!

"Lord Ban Saini!" Hadson quickly regained his composure. He knew he must explain himself; if this accusation was confirmed, the Shadow Forest represented by Ban Saini and Lin Wei might erase him entirely, and, in a worse scenario, he could lose the entire royal authority of Layton!

"My lords, you must be mistaken about me..." Hadson spoke rapidly.

"Enough!" Ban Saini cut him off mercilessly. "If you have anything to say, you will explain it to Lin Wei and me in private!"

Muttering a few words, Ban Saini suddenly summoned a jade-green vine from the ground, which wrapped itself around Hadson.

"Father!"

"Your Majesty!"

Several princes and princesses were thrown into confusion, fear overwhelming them.

The captain of the royal guards stepped forward, sword drawn, attempting to cut the vine binding Hadson.

"Defying a wizard’s authority?" Ban Saini sneered.

Another vine shot up from the ground, wrapping around the captain’s neck and forcing its way into his mouth!

The captain’s face turned a ghastly green as the vine veins burrowed through his body like twisted tendrils.

With a sickening sound, more vines squeezed his body into a pool of blood.

Instantly, silence fell over everyone.