Dr. Hode is dead?!
Goethe frowned.
It was too much of a coincidence that Hode died just after Goethe had Swart investigate him.
If Goethe only suspected that Hode was suspicious before, now he was certain—Hode definitely had issues!
"It was a suicide! He left a note saying...he poisoned your grandfather and then, consumed with guilt, he chose to take his own life," Swart added.
Goethe, however, curled his lips into a cold smile.
Guilt? Who would believe that nonsense?
Most likely, the "Killer in the Mist" realized Swart was investigating and decided to eliminate Hode to silence him.
Or perhaps...
Hode was innocent! But because the "Killer in the Mist" discovered Swart's investigation, he killed Dr. Hode to set a trap for him?
Another theory crossed Goethe's mind.
Still, Goethe leaned towards the former— the "Killer in the Mist" killed to silence Hode and then set a trap.
"Where's the body?" Goethe asked.
"It's still at Hode's house. I haven't let anyone touch it. I was waiting for you to examine the scene with me," the sheriff said with a fawning smile.
Even though Goethe was younger than him, Swart had witnessed Goethe's abilities. He knew very well that if he wanted to climb higher, he had to get along with someone like Goethe.
Moreover, his deceased businessman father had given him a final piece of advice: *Leave professional matters to the professionals; all you need to do is support them.*
Swart took that advice to heart, which was why, despite his mediocre abilities and many flaws, he still managed to become a sheriff.
One glance, and Goethe could guess what Swart was thinking. But Goethe didn't mind.
This was simply a partnership. Both parties would get what they needed—nothing more.
"Let's go!" Goethe said as he headed out. But as he reached the door, he paused and emphasized—
"Remember to contact Morey! And... prepare something strong!"
...
Uptown on Linden Street, near Pinewood Avenue, was considered the core area of Rust. Many people from the middle class and above preferred to live here. It was more prosperous and safer than the lower side of Linden Street and more affordable than Pine Street—truly an ideal location.
Dr. Hode lived here. Of course, being Goethe's family doctor alone wouldn't afford him this lifestyle. Dr. Hode served as a private doctor for five families, one of whom was rumored to be nobility.
Whenever this was mentioned, Dr. Hode would always look proud.
The Kingdom of Tessin had been established for over 120 years. The new nobility had long become established nobility, and the original old nobility had either declined or continued to flourish—kings may change, but the nobility would always remain.
This was something King George I once said. Many people treated it as truth, while others scoffed at it.
Dr. Hode was undoubtedly one of the former. However, the once proud and self-assured Dr. Hode now hung like a sausage from the beam on the first floor.
"Where's Morey?" Goethe asked as he jumped out of the carriage.
"Do you really think I can command someone like him? I've already sent word to him, but when he shows up isn't up to me," the sheriff said, shrugging.
Goethe understood and then headed towards the house.
"Sir!" The police officer at the door saluted Swart as he approached.
Swart nodded, his eyes on Goethe, who was surveying the surroundings at the entrance of the house. The house was two stories with a garden. The morning sun shone on the neatly trimmed lawn and the white fence. On one side of the lawn sat a white lounge chair and a round table, with a folded sun umbrella standing beside it. It wasn't hard to imagine the comfort of opening the umbrella, holding a chilled drink, and lying on the lounge chair in the hot afternoon while gazing around.
Just this alone made it far superior to Guta Street. On Guta Street, the street began right at your doorstep—noisy and unsafe.
**Guta Street opened directly onto the street—noisy and unsafe.**
The furnishings inside the room further emphasized the doctor's wealth. A set of silver tea sets was placed by the side of the kitchen.
Goethe recalled that his grandfather also had a set like this, but it was only brought out during festivals. Most of the time, it was carefully stored away, and no one but his grandfather knew where it was kept.
*Such a difference!*
Goethe sighed as he walked to the other side of the lawn and continued to observe the living room through the window.
As for going inside?
Knowing there was likely a trap, Goethe wouldn't step in unless Morey arrived, went in first, and confirmed there was no danger. Otherwise, he'd keep a safe distance.
Through the window, Goethe saw Dr. Hode's "suicide note" on a table.
"Bring that note over," Goethe said to Swart.
"Bring that note over," Swart echoed to a nearby officer.
The officer looked around and realized he was alone. Then, turning back to Swart, he pointed at himself.
This officer wasn't stupid. Goethe and Swart's refusal to enter the scene hinted at danger inside.
"Quickly, go!" Swart urged. "Don't dawdle!"
The officer, under the pressure of authority, walked in with a grim face, grabbed the note, and rushed back out.
"Well done!" Swart praised, grabbing the note to hand it to Goethe.
But Goethe didn't take it. He just let Swart hold it while he read. Goethe was worried the note might be poisoned or something else.
This made Swart's face turn pale, and his hand holding the note began to tremble.
"Don't shake," Goethe ordered sternly. After Swart steadied his hand, Goethe could barely make out the messy handwriting—
*"I killed Old Wayne, injecting him with poison through a syringe. Then, I hid the truth. But my conscience isn't dead. My soul is tormented. Fortunately, I chose release."*
*Hode*
*Qi.D1888.6.11*
The note was chaotic, as if Hode had truly been tormented before his death. But Goethe didn't believe a word of it.
He turned and continued searching the room through the window for the syringe mentioned in the note. If his guess was correct, the syringe should be connected to "Bloodstained Honor."
Soon, after shifting his angle, Goethe spotted Hode's medical bag near the hallway leading to the living room.
It was clear Dr. Hode valued his medical bag, as it was placed carefully on a tripod table. However, the bag was half-opened, which contradicted his usual care.
Someone who valued their medical bag would never leave it casually opened. Even if it were opened, it would be carefully closed afterward.
Unless... the person was dead.
In Goethe's mind, a scene began to form—
That morning, Dr. Hode was likely checking his medical bag before heading out. Just as he opened it halfway, a rope suddenly tightened around his neck from behind. The assailant was strong, overpowering Dr. Hode almost instantly, leading to his death by strangulation.
"Go fetch the syringe," Goethe instructed Swart.
The sheriff immediately looked at his subordinate.
"Me again?!" The officer, now looking even more miserable, went back inside.
This time, the officer was even quicker, grabbing the syringe and rushing out.
The syringe was different from the ones Goethe was used to back home. It was made of glass and metal, with a smaller capacity for injecting fluids, though it was physically larger.
Goethe thought for a moment and then tore off a piece of the carriage seat cover, using it to handle the syringe.
The next moment, text began to appear before his eyes—
*"Slightly Damaged Syringe (Bloodstained Honor): This syringe has been in use for over three years and can effectively inject around 10ml of fluid. Although the owner has done their best to maintain it, an accidental drop has left it in need of replacement—even if it doesn't show on the outside! This was a premeditated murder; the owner used it to betray the syringe's original purpose of healing!"*
*"You have acquired Bloodstained Honor!"*
Goethe's lips curled into a smile.
Not only had he gained another "Bloodstained Honor," giving him two in total, but he also realized that even with some barriers, he could still acquire "Bloodstained Honor."
"Did you find something?" Swart, who had been watching Goethe, couldn't help but ask when he saw Goethe smile.
"Yes," Goethe nodded, then glanced at Dr. Hode's hanging body through the window and said, "I'm not sure about anything else, but one thing's clear... Hode didn't commit suicide."
"Was he silenced?" Swart whispered, his eyes darting towards the fence gate behind him, and his feet inching closer to it.
The sheriff was ready to leave. Although he had agreed to help Goethe, it was under the condition that he would stay safe. If danger arose, he would withdraw immediately.
And Goethe?
He ran even faster than Swart. Almost as soon as Swart began to move, Goethe had already dashed off the lawn of Dr. Hode's house.
But as Swart turned to sprint away, Goethe returned, carrying a large box. The lid of the box was open, revealing neatly stacked rows of dynamite.
One stick was already lit.
Goethe ran to the front door of Dr. Hode's house and tossed the dynamite box inside.
*Bang!*
With a heavy thud, the dynamite inside the box bounced.
At the same time, Dr. Hode's hanging body began to twitch.
The corpse... had come back to life! With a terrifying and grotesque appearance.
*Snap!*
The sturdy rope was torn apart by the reanimated Dr. Hode.
The resurrected Dr. Hode fell from mid-air, landing directly on the dynamite, just as the fuse reached its end—
*Boom!*