The Return of the God Level Assassin

1202  YUNYUE VS FENGHUANG (XXXVII)

WHITE Marsh: [So, the real question is—who is it?] Wasn't that the big question? Luo Yan thought. AmazingYoungMasterJin: [Since Yuqi referred to them as "Mr.," it's clear that we're looking for a male.]

White Marsh: [There are only a handful of male NPCs we all know. Narrowing it down shouldn't be too hard.] AmazingYoungMasterJin: [Honestly, I can only think of one—the doctor.] White Marsh: [Exactly. He's the only male NPC that comes to mind, and let's not forget—he probably has access to medicines or substances that could knock someone out.] Luo Yan read the messages, and under normal circumstances, he would've agreed. But something about it felt too... straightforward. He couldn't quite put it into words, but the idea seemed almost too convenient, like an easy way out. YUN: [Let's not jump to conclusions. We need to consider all possibilities before making a move.] It seemed Shen Ji Yun shared his doubts. So, Luo Yan sent his thoughts into the team channel. Noctis: [The doctor seems like the obvious choice, but what if it's a red herring? What if the Ripper wants us to focus on him while they're actually someone else entirely? We can't rule out other possibilities just yet.] White Marsh: [It could be. But Su Yuqi said 'Mr.,' and you pointed out it has to be someone we all know. So, honestly, our options are pretty limited.] Luo Yan had already considered that, and the conclusion he'd reached only complicated things further. But he knew he had to share it with the team. Noctis: [Or, she might not have been referring to a man at all. Remember, her message was 'The Ripper is Mr—'. It's possible she was about to write 'Mrs.,' but she was eliminated before she could finish.] The team channel fell silent for a moment, as if everyone was digesting the possibility he'd just laid out. YUN: [Let's also consider that possibility. We can't afford to overlook anything at this point.] And with that, their brainstorming continued.

The next morning, the news of Miss Hargrove's death spread like wildfire, and with it came the revelation of the murder from the previous day and the attack on Mrs. Winslow the night before that. Passengers, already uneasy after being told the train couldn't be stopped, now faced the grim reality of multiple killings. The dining car, once a place of quiet conversation, erupted into chaos. Voices rose in panic, some demanding answers from the staff, others huddling together in fear, their eyes darting nervously down the corridors. The weight of the situation pressed down on everyone, the kind of fear that made people forget reason and cling to the faintest hope of safety. The chaos was the perfect cover for observing the other passengers. Fear and panic had a way of revealing who was acting suspiciously, who didn't quite fit in. But the same went for team Yunyue—they couldn't afford to let their guard down. This was the final day, and if team Fenghuang discovered their identities and started eliminating them one by one, the match would be over. Without them to intervene, Jack the Ripper would have no trouble claiming his final victim. That's why Luo Yan was still in the Thompsons' cabin, playing his role. Earlier, Shen Ji Yun had visited him, acting the part of a concerned 'future father.' He'd reassured the Thompsons that he'd return later after asking around about what had happened. But in reality, his plan was to seek out Sherlock Holmes. "This is madness," Mrs. Thompson said, her voice trembling as she clutched her daughter's hand. "First Mrs. Winslow, then that poor woman yesterday, and now Miss Hargrove… What is happening on this train?" "I don't know, Mother," Miss Thompson replied, her voice barely above a whisper. "But it's terrifying. And the train won't stop. We're trapped here with… with whoever's doing this." Mrs. Thompson's gaze shifted to Luo Yan, her expression softening as she reached out to pat his hand. "We'll be careful, darling," she said in a gentle tone. "We'll stay in the cabin, keep the door locked, and wait for this nightmare to end. And we'll look after Mary, too. She's just a child—she shouldn't have to face this alone." Miss Thompson's eyes flicked to the door, her unease clear. "But what if it doesn't end?" she asked in a trembling voice. "What if whoever's doing this comes for us next?" Mrs. Thompson's expression hardened. "No one's going to harm us," she said firmly as she hugged her daughter's shoulders. "Not while I'm here. I won't let anything happen to you. I can't lose anyone again." The last part was almost said like a murmur, but Luo Yan still caught it. 'I can't lose anyone again.' He lowered his gaze, pondering. Then, a message from the team channel popped up in front of him. YUN: [Yan Yan, can you ask Mrs. Thompson if Miss Thompson is her only child? Holmes says it's important to know. And if she has another child, where are they now?] Reading the message, Luo Yan had a strong sense of why Holmes wanted that information. It aligned perfectly with the conclusion he was starting to piece together. Noctis: [Okay. Just wait.] @@novelbin@@

He looked up, his voice soft and hesitant. "Mrs. Thompson… c-can I go check on my mother? I-I'm worried. I haven't seen her yet." When Mrs. Thompson didn't answer right away, he quickly added, "I- I can go alone. Please?"

"How can I let you go alone?" Mrs. Thompson said as if she's offended that Luo Yan would even assume she would let him go outside alone. "I'll accompany you." Then she glanced at her daughter. "Sarah, stay here. We'll be back quickly."

Miss Thompson looked like she wanted to argue, but in the end, she simply nodded. "Alright."

Mrs. Thompson stood up and held out her hand for Luo Yan to take. "Let's go, little Mary." Luo Yan took Mrs. Thompson's hand. "T-thank you, Mrs. Thompson." And the both of them walked out of the cabin.