Chapter 20: CRIMSON SHARDS
The entire village was buzzing with one shocking piece of news.
The village chief was dead.
Jones Smith—the man who had ruled this place for over ten years, keeping everything in order, controlling all the permissions, taxes, and even who could leave or enter the village—was gone. Just like that.
The news spread like wildfire. The streets that were usually filled with merchants and playful children had gone quiet. People gathered in small groups, whispering, scared, eyes wide with fear and confusion. No one knew how he died. He was found in his office chair, eyes open, body cold.
Some said it was a heart attack.
Others said it was murder.
But no one had seen anything. No one had heard anything. And strangely, the guards who were supposed to protect the mansion said they hadn't noticed anything wrong until the morning.
As if the man had died... right under their noses.
Inside Aunt Lindy's house, we were having a quiet meal when Darcy suddenly burst into the room, her face pale and voice shaking.
"Aric! Did you hear? The village chief... he's dead!"
I raised an eyebrow, pretending to be shocked. "What? What are you talking about?"