Chapter 589: Section 405: Mechanical Mind (Part 5)
Ferreiro walked through the Church’s main gate and noticed Colin moving the sad Apprentice’s corpse onto a stretcher. "The second one this week, completely devoid of any accidents or injuries." Margaret said as Ferreiro approached, "I’ve heard other churches are experiencing the same thing."
"I have just come back from the Mage Tower. There was a case there too. Based on what we know now, there have been nearly eleven Apprentices who have met untimely deaths in the past ten days. The causes of their deaths are a mystery, no injuries, nor records of long-term training, their daily routines were very normal, and they were aged between ten and fifteen." Ferreiro spoke all at once, then took the report Margaret handed him, "Let’s do a thorough post-mortem this afternoon. The last kid didn’t make it through the surgery, but this time we must do a comprehensive check. By the way, where are their parents?"
"They have no parents, this child was a war orphan. He arrived in Carterburg with the refugee wave coming from the North," Margaret said.
Ferreiro frowned slightly, "The last child was also an orphan, seems like a Northern refugee as well... Colin, here’s a list, go ask the other churches and the Mage Tower to see if those kids are also orphans of this kind."
"... You think there’s something wrong with the identities of these kids?"
"Yes, under such circumstances, it’s hard not to be suspicious."
So Colin took the list and ran out of the Church, while Margaret looked at Old Ferreiro, "Mr. Ferreiro, do you suspect that..."
"Northern refugees, war orphans, these are excuses that are very easy for people to believe. I’m even considering some extremely loathsome possibilities, but all of this needs a theoretical basis, and right now, I’m missing a youngster who can help me connect the dots..." Ferreiro said, his thoughts drifting to Malin.
How was it that the child wasn’t here?
The old elf adjusted his collar, signaling his new Apprentice to keep up.
This child was somewhat dull, though he had skillful hands, Ferreiro didn’t know how far he could go in this field.