Chapter 223. The Truth
The next day, Tyler noticed an unusual bustle in town as groups of people streamed toward the chief’s office. He observed the crowd for a moment, sensing that something significant was happening, and decided to follow along.
As he joined the flow of townsfolk, the atmosphere grew heavier. The crowd led him to the entrance of the chief’s office, where two imposing warriors stood guard, preventing anyone from going inside. Near them was a wooden sign with a sheet of paper attached, covered in small, densely packed words. People clustered around it, leaning in to read, their faces grim and voices filled with murmurs.
Tyler frowned at the gathering. "Why so many people here?"
He knew that important announcements were usually posted outside the chief’s office. Given the crowd and the weighty expressions around him, he guessed the news must be serious, perhaps even connected to what he’d been investigating.
After some effort, Tyler managed to squeeze through the throng, finally reaching the sign. His eyes scanned the paper, and as he read, a knot of dread began to form in his stomach. Line by line, his expression darkened. He barely noticed the tense conversations and somber whispers from those around him.
"I heard it was a family of three... and now they’re gone, just like that," one man murmured, shaking his head.
"It happened so fast. I was in their shop a few days ago." Another person added, "At least they caught the culprit. Justice will be served."
Tyler’s brow furrowed. He felt the bitterness of doubt creeping in, sensing that the official story might not reveal the entire truth.
The notice detailed a disturbing incident: a gardener at Chief Liu’s mansion had reportedly seen Moeko, become infatuated, and eventually assaulted her. When Moeko went missing, her parents went searching, only to find her devastated and humiliated. Stricken by grief and shame, Moeko’s parents had allegedly taken their own lives, unable to bear the tragedy.
The notice stated that the gardener would be hanged in the town square the next day as punishment, marking a grim end to the affair. Tyler’s jaw tightened as he absorbed the words, feeling a deep unease settle within him. Amid the murmurs of sympathy and anger in the crowd, he spotted Veronica leaving, her face a mask of fury. But as she turned, he glimpsed someone behind her—Moeko, briefly visible, then gone. Tyler’s heart skipped a beat, surprise flickering in his eyes.
He recalled the words he’d overheard an officer saying to Veronica just days before: "In some matters... certain individuals cannot be touched. Sometimes, it’s best to let things lie."