Nicholas William had been following Dean Bruce all day long and had never once separated from him. Logically speaking, if Nicholas had fallen into a trap, then Dean Bruce shouldn't have been unaffected either.
After pondering for a moment, Dean Bruce finally identified the cause.
The food and wine served at the banquet!
Dean Bruce hadn't taken a single bite of food, and when people tried to toast him, he skillfully evaded by steering the conversation elsewhere!
The medium must have been the food and wine. That's the only way Nicholas could have been affected despite the considerable distance from the one in the shadows.
[In that case, the mastermind must be Miranda Joy or Prani Joy. They're the only ones with authority over the royal court.]
[Another suspect is the Gold family, which controls the entire Imperial Guard. They could have easily tampered with the banquet.]
[However, if the Gold family intended to betray the throne, the imperial capital wouldn't be this calm. Their approach would be far more aggressive since they aren't part of the royal family. They would need to use a show of overwhelming force to subdue the entire Empire of Lane Cloud before they could attempt to usurp power.]
[Most likely, the Gold family is still loyal to either Miranda Joy or Prani Joy.]
[In the royal family, anything could happen.]
Putting his thoughts aside, Dean Bruce looked up at Shelly William and said, "This woman's soul has already left her body. I have a plan—would you be willing to cooperate?"
Shelly William smiled and replied earnestly, "Nicholas is the most valued descendant of our family. Since you are his teacher, we are on the same side and allies. I will never abandon a comrade!"
"As long as your plan is feasible, I will certainly not refuse." Sensing Dean Bruce's caution towards him, Shelly William first clarified his own stance before asking for specifics. "May I ask, sir, what is your plan?"
Dean Bruce spoke softly, "I have a fairly good guess as to the identity of the one in the shadows. Why don't you inject your soul into this body? When dawn comes, we'll go find that person together and see how they react."
"Agreed!"
Upon hearing this, Shelly William didn't hesitate. He made his soul even more ethereal and then directed it into the woman's body.
In an instant, the woman's eyes opened, her breathing and vitality restored. She stood up straight without delay.
Shelly William brushed off the loose folds of the oversized magical robe and spoke softly, "This staff and robe are both standardized equipment. The one in the shadows must have some backing. Be careful when you confront them."
Pausing briefly, Shelly William continued, "This mark, as well as the method they use to seize souls, feels oddly familiar to me. This organization must be a long-standing power that has been around for many years."
Hearing this, Dean Bruce couldn't help but feel a chill run down his spine.
For someone like Shelly William—an ancient being—to recognize it as a familiar force, it meant that this group had existed for a very long time and likely possessed considerable strength.
After their conversation ended, Dean Bruce noticed that the moonlight was gradually dimming, and the other side of the sky began to glow with the first hints of dawn. He turned to look at Nicholas William, who was still sleeping soundly, and couldn't help but sigh, "This kid... While the two of us have been worried about him all night, he's sleeping like a log!"
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"She's likely been trained," Dean Bruce replied indifferently, not dwelling on the details. "Once we go out during the day, don't speak. Move quietly, and make sure your actions are subtle. If she holds a notable position, and you behave out of character, it won't shock the mastermind as we need it to."
"Understood." Shelly William nodded and added, "By the way, although I am in spirit form and can hide inside someone's body, controlling them continuously places quite a strain on me. I won't be able to maintain this for long, so don't drag out your plan."
As he spoke, the sound of a yawn broke through the silence.
Not far away, Apollon Joy stretched and opened his eyes. He sighed with relief, "Finally, a good night's sleep! But... why does my back ache so much?"
Groaning, Apollon propped himself up and took a look around. His pupils suddenly contracted as he spotted the woman Shelly William was inhabiting. Shock and disbelief filled his gaze as he blurted out, "Linda! You... you and your entire family vanished without a trace! How are you here?"
As soon as Apollon Joy's words fell, Dean Bruce was equally taken aback, his brows furrowing deeply.
The woman they had captured was actually the Linda Quirell they had been searching for?
That meant they were very close to reaching their goal!
The body had been found, and now all that remained was to bring her soul back. Once that was done, everything would fall perfectly into place.
Shelly William narrowed his eyes slightly, remaining silent. He continued to stare intensely at Apollon Joy, hoping to exert enough pressure to coax more information out of him.
"Could it be... you've already escaped danger? Quickly! Tell me, who's behind all this?"
"Damn it! Once I return to the border and rally the army, I swear I'll ensure those who dared disrupt my Empire of Lane Cloud will have no place to be buried!"
Hearing the anger and confusion in Apollon Joy's voice and seeing the genuine perplexity in his eyes, Dean Bruce couldn't help but shake his head.
At the very least, it seemed that the disappearance of the Quirell family wasn't connected to him.
Not wanting Shelly William to reveal himself just yet, Dean Bruce interjected, "There's no need for you to concern yourself with these matters. We'll handle the person behind all this. After sunrise, we'll eat something, and then you'll lead the way for us to visit the Gold family."
"Understood." Though Apollon Joy once held a prestigious status, he had been leading armies on his own for years and could clearly see the current situation. He no longer put on the airs of a prince, but instead nodded respectfully. "Then I'll be in your debt. As long as you can help me get out of here safely, I promise I'll gather the army and take back what's ours!"
Pausing for a moment, Apollon Joy suddenly said, "Um... given how powerful you are, would you consider taking me as your disciple? I want to learn that incredible healing magic from you!"
"I remember how severe my injuries were back then. Even in the Church of Light, only a high-ranking cardinal could have healed me, and it would have taken even longer!"
"If you're willing to take me under your wing, once I crush the rebels, I'll offer you all the treasures within the Empire of Lane Cloud!"
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Without a second thought, Apollon Joy dropped to his knees in front of Dean Bruce, knocking his forehead against the ground in a show of utmost sincerity and desperation.