Looking at the second body, it was the same. The third was also the same. Needless to say, all eleven bodies had identical death scenes.
There were no external signs of death on these bodies, as if a living person had been dried up alive.
Leo immediately used his Spiritual Power to investigate the corpses and quickly came up with a hypothesis.
Madame next to him had been paying attention to Leo’s expression and couldn’t help but ask, “Have you figured something out?”
“All eleven of these people died abnormally, but there is no cause of death for any of them.”
Leo’s words made Roxelio next to him deeply look at him.
“The time of death for these eleven people is not the same. Each one’s time of death differs by about three days. When the first body appeared, I think you initially judged it as murder and then began investigating, but I’m afraid you haven’t found anything useful.”
Leo looked at Roxelio before continuing, “I’m afraid even your forensic team doesn’t know how these bodies died so far. Without a cause of death, there is no way to talk about suspects or murderers. But this inexplicable series of deaths has put you in a difficult situation.”
After listening to Leo speak, Roxelio put away his disdain for Leo and asked, “Dr. Bloomer, can you tell how these people died?”
Instead of answering directly, Leo asked back, “Dr. Davila, do you believe in monsters in this world?”
“This…” Roxelio didn’t know how to answer.
“I know that you don’t believe it either,” said Leo with a smile, “but there is an old saying that goes ‘there are strange things in this world’. Just because we haven’t seen something doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist.”
As he spoke, Leo plucked some hair from one corpse’s head and wrapped it up with talismans before gesturing towards where they kept dead bodies outside.
When they got downstairs, Roxelio became somewhat uneasy, “Dr. Bloomer, you just asked me if I believed in monsters existing in this world… are those people killed by…”
As someone who believed only what he could see or touch, Roxelio couldn’t bring himself to say what he thought out loud.
“Yes, you’re right. These people were killed by monsters who sucked their souls dry. It’s like their life force was taken away from them at its source. You won’t be able to find any clues on surface level.”
Leo’s words not only shocked Roxelio, but also Madame.
Madame had asked Leo for help because she knew he possessed special abilities and wanted him to see if these abnormal deaths were caused by Martial Cultivators.
But she never expected the killer Leo mentioned would be some kind of monster.
After leaving the forensic hospital, in the car, Leo clearly told Madame that he could solve this matter fundamentally within three days.
Madame naturally trusted Leo.
After parting ways with Madame, Leo prepared to purchase some geomancy items because he needed to craft a specific type of Talisman, one used for tracking.
Tracking Talismans fell under the category of level one Talismans, and their crafting was not difficult. However, besides common geomancy tools, a special material was required, usually available in antique markets.
The Antique Street in the old alley, known as “Late Era Alley,” had been renovated to become Langstel’s largest antique trading market. It retained a historical charm and had become a significant tourist attraction.
Leo casually strolled through the market, where a variety of people could be seen browsing, including treasure hunters, bargain seekers, and tourists. Leo believed he might find what he needed in this vast antique market.
Despite the numerous old shops he visited, Leo was surprised to find that none of them had the material he was looking for. Nonetheless, Leo was not in a hurry. With such a large antique market, he was confident he would eventually find the required material.
While walking and exploring, Leo stopped in front of a particular store. The store’s name, “Destiny’s Doorway Emporium,” caught his attention. Above the doorframe were two poorly written couplets, “Without fate, do not step over the threshold; with fate, good tea is served.”
Leo chuckled and entered the store. Inside, he found a bald-headed owner with faint eyebrows. The owner sat in a rocking chair, playing with a string of sandalwood beads. Surprisingly, this store was quiet compared to the lively atmosphere in neighboring shops, and Leo was the only customer.
The owner glanced at Leo, gestured towards a table, and said, “Please, have a seat.”
Leo walked over, and on the table was a pot of fragrant tea. The store’s interior had an antique charm, indicating that the owner had a refined taste.
After Leo sat down and poured himself a cup of tea, the owner looked at him again and said, “After finishing the tea, please leave.”
Leo jokingly responded, “Oh? Did you figure out that I’m not a destined customer?”
The owner continued playing with the sandalwood beads, smiled, and said, “Destiny is just a prerequisite. The key is whether you have money.”
It turned out that the plump-faced owner assumed Leo was a penniless guy who only came to window-shop.
Ignoring the owner’s comment, Leo sipped his tea and examined the antique items in the display case. Unfortunately, the store did not have what he was looking for.
The owner, perceptive and shrewd, initially judged Leo to be without money. However, as he saw Leo’s slight disappointment while looking at the items, he thought his initial judgment might have been incorrect. Adjusting his posture, the owner tentatively asked, “Young man, what are you looking to buy?”
“Do you have Dog Treasure?” Leo asked directly.
Dog Treasure? The owner furrowed his non-existent eyebrows, deeply looked at Leo, as if trying to see through him.
Dog Treasure is a stone-like object that grows in a dog’s stomach, typically spherical or elliptical, ranging from 1 to 5 centimeters in diameter. It has a gray-white or gray-black surface with a slight gloss and multiple rounded protrusions.
The texture is solid and delicate, leaving visible scratches when scratched with a fingernail. The cross-section is white or ivory-white, showing concentric ring patterns. The central part is relatively loose, but it generally cannot be separated. It has a faint odor and a slightly bitter taste, providing a powdery sensation when chewed.
In traditional medicine, it is believed to have functions such as dispelling wind, resolving depression, and detoxification. Dog Treasure is considered a traditional medicinal material, part of the “Three Treasures,” along with Ox Gallstone and Horse Treasure.