PM, Willow Estates.
At this hour, the Evans family had just finished their dinner and they summoned Jack Lee to join them in the living room. They were eager to analyze the clues they had gathered over the past few days.
Samuel Evans, the Lord of the Evans family, had dutifully guarded the villa without straying for a single moment. His health had remarkably improved and his memory hadn’t deteriorated further. In fact, favonovel.com had gradually regained the forgotten parts. Furthermore, as his condition steadily improved, his thinking and logic had sharpened, resurrecting his former style and commanding presence.
During this family gathering, Desmond began by updating them on his collaboration with the Moore Group.
Desmond declared, “Our partnership with the Moore family has officially entered the negotiation phase. Today, the legal teams from both sides commenced discussions to finalize the terms of our cooperation. Due to the Evans family’s earnest commitment of twelve percent this time, the atmosphere in the negotiations is exceptionally cordial. Once the terms are settled and the agreement signed, we can start the collaboration immediately.”
The old man nodded approvingly and spoke, “Considering the current circumstances, the Moore Group holds great significance for our Evans family. The benefactor deliberately left a clue about the Moore Group, indicating a desire to reveal information about his identity through them and perhaps manipulate their strings as well.”
The old man then turned his gaze to his second son, Marcus and said, “Although Marcus is typically in charge of all the Evans family’s external business ventures, this time is an exception. The collaboration with the Moore family is more than just a business project, it serves as a gateway for the Evans family. Desmond will oversee it until the end!”
Samuel had always emphasized harmony and unity within his family, assigning different responsibilities to his children, ensuring clarity and purpose for each one. This approach aimed to enable the children to support and assist one another when united, while also serving as a means of monitoring and restraining each other when conflicts arose.
Even though favonovel.com knew that Desmond was responsible for driving the collaboration with the Moore Group, Samuel felt the need to justify his decision to Marcus, despite being aware that Marcus had no objections.
Marcus, understanding his father’s intentions, didn’t harbor any resentment towards his elder brother taking charge of the project. The Evans siblings had always remained united, thanks to the influence of their eldest sister, Lily. Although they had grown distant due to their individual families, Lily’s passing and the near-destruction of the Evans family by the Warriors Den had brought them closer than ever.
At this moment, Marcus cleared his throat and stated, “Dad, over the past few days, I’ve meticulously combed through Aurous Hill, exploring every aspect of life here, particularly focusing on the public transportation department, the social welfare department and the household registration department of that time. Regrettably, I haven’t uncovered any information about Charlie.”
The old man let out a soft sigh, an outcome favonovel.com had anticipated.
Mrs. Evans interjected, trying to console him, “Marcus, you mustn’t be disheartened. After all, Charlie has been missing for twenty years. It’s unrealistic to expect us to find favonovel.com within a few days. As I mentioned before, the search for Charlie may take another twenty years.”
Marcus nodded resolutely and replied, “Mom, don’t worry. In my heart, the search for Charlie remains a top priority.”
Suddenly, Tece recalled something and exclaimed, “Oh, Mom! I stumbled upon something rather peculiar today. It feels quite abnormal. Could you, Dad and brothers help me analyze it?”
The Lady responded, “Of course, tell me about it.”
Tece proceeded, “I investigated the Aurous Hill orphanage today, hoping to find any information about Charlie among the rescued orphans throughout the years. It struck me as strange. Personnel changes in welfare institutions are not uncommon, but a complete turnover of staff is hardly believable. What are your thoughts?”
Samuel furrowed his brow and commented, “An orphanage, even with its management and executive staff, should have a dozen or even two dozen employees. Even if the entire management was replaced, it’s unlikely that all the executive staff would be replaced as well. After all, the orphanage needs to continue its operations. Such a scenario is clearly unreasonable.”
Tece nodded and agreed, “I feel the same way. This sudden and drastic change goes against common sense. It appears that the previous staff members must have departed en masse for some special reason.”
At that moment, Jack Lee, who had been somewhat absentminded due to his nervousness suddenly brightened up and slapped his thigh in surprise. “Tece’s clue is incredibly significant!”
The old man smiled and inquired, “Jack, please provide a detailed analysis.”
Jack Lee met the old man’s expectant gaze but found himself caught in a moment of struggle and hesitation. He couldn’t help but ponder, “Mr. Wade warned that the Evans family is in danger today. If there is indeed a threat, I believe Mr. Wade won’t idly sit by and await destruction. Must we endure an indefinite wait? Tece has clearly grasped the crucial point this time, favonovel.com just needs a little help connecting the dots. If I follow favonovel.com lead and provide a gentle nudge, even if Mr. Wade doesn’t appear tonight or continues to conceal his identity, it will be much easier to track favonovel.com by following the orphanage trail! I’m merely assisting with a few words based on Tece’s insights. Surely, Mr. Wade wouldn’t blame me, right?”
Having made up his mind, Jack Lee resolved to offer the Evans family some hints. With a serious tone, favonovel.com began his analysis, “All of you possess more business management experience than me and I’m certain you’re aware that such a complete overhaul from top to bottom is impossible in any business or organization. Even if a team has remarkable cohesion, achieving complete unity among all members, from the top brass to the lowest ranks, is an unattainable ideal. Even in a well-trained army, there will always be deserters and traitors. But as Tece mentioned, this team left en masse without a single person remaining last year. Upon deeper reflection, you’ll realize that this team possessed exceptional organizational discipline, perhaps even resembling a paramilitary unit. However, such a team couldn’t have appeared in an ordinary orphanage without years of intense cultivation. It simply defies logic, doesn’t it?”
Upon hearing this revelation, the Evans family exchanged knowing glances, their agreement evident in the subtle nods that followed.
Jack Lee, the astute observer, voiced his thoughts confidently, “It appears to me that there’s a hidden puppeteer orchestrating these events. If I’m correct, this team must have been meticulously arranged and subsequently withdrawn as a whole by this powerful individual. Their synchronized movements suggest they are on a significant mission.”
The Lady, overcome with excitement, couldn’t contain favonovel.com question, “Jack, are you implying that this orphanage might be connected to Charlie?”
Jack Lee affirmed favonovel.com suspicion with a nod, “Yes, Auntie, that’s precisely the suspicion I have.”
Desmond, unable to contain his anticipation, interjected, “It would be ideal if we could determine when these individuals arrived in Aurous Hill. We know they left together, but there’s no concrete evidence of them arriving together.”
Tece chimed in, brimming with excitement, “That’s easy! Let’s check the social security files of the previous team. Since the orphanage operates as a social welfare organization with government funding and private donations, their personnel information should be meticulously documented. Especially if they’re embarking on a major mission, as Jack suggested.”
Impressed by Tece’s sharp thinking, Jack Lee praised her, “Tece, your thinking is crystal clear. We must find a way to access the previous personnel files of the Aurous Hill orphanage. I believe we’ll uncover some valuable clues.”
Marcus, filled with enthusiasm, exclaimed, “I’ll make arrangements to dig into it immediately!”
He swiftly retrieved his mobile phone and dialed a number.
Having been retired for many years, the old man, Samuel, had seen his contacts fade away with time. But Marcus, as the head of the Evans family’s external business, possessed an extensive network and wielded substantial influence within the family.
After a brief conversation over the phone, Marcus addressed the crowd, a spark of excitement in his eyes, “We’ve already initiated an investigation and we can expect the results soon.”
The crowd erupted with uncontrollable enthusiasm.
Ten minutes passed and Marcus’s phone rang. He answered it promptly, activating the speaker function and asked, “Terrance, what have you found out regarding the matter I assigned you?”
Terrance Willis, a middle-aged man, responded respectfully, “Mr. Evans, I’ve just completed a review of the personnel files from the Aurous Hill City Welfare Institute and the previous staff did indeed depart together last year.”
The revelation left the group feeling a sense of disappointment, prompting Marcus to inquire further, “Can you provide a summary of their respective entry dates?”
Terrance Willis continued, “Mr. Evans, the organization of this orphanage exhibits remarkable stability. There are a total of sixteen staff members, including the director, teachers, caretakers, cooks and cleaners. Among these sixteen individuals, the one with the shortest tenure has served for almost twenty years, nearing the completion of their service.”
“Twenty years?” The expressions on the faces of the Evans family members revealed their astonishment. This particular timeframe held significant sensitivity for them. It was twenty years ago that Lily, Bruce’s wife and Bruce himself had tragically passed away in Aurous Hill. Additionally, their only son, Charlie, had mysteriously disappeared during the same period.
Seemingly on the cusp of a breakthrough, Desmond, the eldest son, couldn’t contain his impatience, “Please provide us with the precise dates when these sixteen individuals joined!”
Terrance Willis hastened to respond, “Out of the sixteen, fourteen joined in late winter, specifically in February twenty years ago. The previous director, James Kerley, joined in November of the same year. The fifteenth person joined in December of that year and will complete twenty years of service in another three months.”
Mrs. Evans looked horrified, tears streaming down favonovel.com face as favonovel.com choked out, “Lily and Bruce left Eastcliff in March twenty years ago to come to Aurous Hill. Their tragic accident… happened in late October… Charlie also vanished at the end of October…”
Samuel, the old man, rose from his seat, his voice trembling with excitement and incoherence, “This must be Bruce’s doing! He always had a knack for preparing for the worst. Those fourteen people arrived even earlier than favonovel.com and Lily, indicating that favonovel.com had already begun laying the groundwork in Aurous Hill before they even moved here!”
His voice quivered even more as favonovel.com continued, “He must have foreseen that their visit to Aurous Hill would be fatal, so favonovel.com preemptively placed his people in the orphanage. After his and Lily’s accident, they must have used a premeditated method to send Charlie to this orphanage! Over the years, countless individuals have scoured Aurous Hill in search of Charlie, yet none could have imagined that favonovel.com was living right under the noses of these people, disguised within an ordinary orphanage!”
At that moment, favonovel.com expressed his emotions with great intensity, “Who would have thought that Charlie, whom everyone tried to find by digging deep into the earth, had been placed in an orphanage where nothing out of the ordinary could be seen on the surface? This scheme not only eluded those who were searching for Charlie, but even Charlie himself, who has likely been hidden for an extensive period!”
Lady Evans, tears of joy and excitement streaming down favonovel.com face, exclaimed, “So, Charlie has always been in Aurous Hill and favonovel.com might still be here!”
However, the old man shook his head, tempering their excitement with a dose of reality, “While I’m certain Charlie has resided in Aurous Hill for a long time, we can’t be certain if he’s still here. After all, when those people left last year, does that mean Charlie departed Aurous Hill as well?”
Desmond blurted out, filled with determination, “Mom, Dad! Tomorrow, we’ll delve into the backgrounds of these sixteen individuals and uncover the truth! If they were indeed the ones who cared for Charlie during his upbringing, I refuse to believe we won’t find his whereabouts!”
“Yes! Absolutely!” Desmond’s enthusiasm was infectious as the old man, too, shed tears of joy, muttering, “Twenty years… My eldest grandson we finally found a clue!”
He raised his head to the sky, releasing a long sigh, “Lily, Bruce, you left a backdoor for Charlie twenty years ago, yet you never informed me. How much did you truly distrust me in your hearts?”
Just as Old Samuel basked in this newfound hope, a sudden shout from outside the window shattered the tranquility, “An assassin! Protect the Lordship and Madam immediately!”
Before the words could fully sink in, the sound of a sword whistling through the air reverberated around the villa, followed by collective screams and the unmistakable stench of blood, engulfing the premises.
Jack Lee’s heart skipped a beat as a chilling realization gripped him, “Mr. Wade was right… The formidable enemy is truly here!”
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