After the servant left, Darnell answered Gisselle’s question. “Maggots are specifically for decomposing corpses, and there’s another type of insect that directly feeds on corpses.”
“Luca’s discomfort is not due to the food poisoning,” Darnell stated.
Darnell tossed the tweezers onto the table before continuing, “It’s because someone silently fed him a specially trained, resilient life-sucking Graveknocker.”
“Graveknockers are originally used for decomposing bodies. Most people avoid them, but there are some who take them to get rid of fat for weight loss.”
Gisselle shuddered. “Can it really help with weight loss?”
Darnell replied nonchalantly, “Initially, people used rice worms, but they found them too weak and uninterested in fat. That’s why they switched to Graveknockers.”
“Think about it, with these things wriggling in your stomach, your appetite naturally decreases. And the worms also need to consume something.”
“It becomes easier to achieve weight loss goals.”
“But the people who consume them usually control the size of the worms so they don’t become too large or destructive, as to not damage their organs.”
“However, the Graveknocker in Luca’s body is three times the usual size and is close to maturing.”
“Its presence not only makes a person constantly nauseous and lose his appetite, but it can also damage his internal organs or nerves.”
“On the lighter side, it can cause extreme weight loss and weakness. On the severe side, it can cause excruciating pain leading to death.”
Gisselle looked astonished, “Maturing? Can it evolve? What will it eventually become?”
Darnell brought over a bottle and pointed at the menacing black creature inside, saying, “Within half a month, it will transform into a sharp-toothed Graveknocker.”
“Similar to a mantis. By then, it will be uncomfortable due to the heat and scratch through Luca’s organs until it bursts out of his abdomen.”
Not only did Gisselle and Callum’s expressions change, but Luca also started sweating on his forehead.
“As for why doctors couldn’t detect it, Graveknockers are usually more active at night and sleep during the day.”
Darnell had Gisselle pour another bowl of herbal medicine for Luca and instructed him to drink it slowly. “In addition, no one could have expected that Luca would have such a deadly worm inside him.”
“That’s why it’s difficult for doctors to discover its existence. I’ve seen similar symptoms in Mangeria before, which is why I took the risk to implement corresponding measures to treat Luca.”
Callum was furious. “Damn! This is too despicable!”
“I owe you my life, Me. Halford,” Luca said.
Luca grasped Darnell’s hand after finishing the bowl of medicine. “Not only have you helped the Apex several times and saved Nick and Owen, Callum and Gisselle as well. Today, you saved my life so that I wouldn’t be schemed against by evil people.”
“From this day forward, you are my benefactor.”
Luca patted his chest proudly. “If you ever have a request, just say the word. I will risk my life for you without hesitation.”
He lowered his position.
“Luca, there’s no need to be so polite. We’re friends. Helping each other is normal,” Darnell responded while tapping the glass bottle.
“In addition to that, the Apexx’s priority is to uncover the person behind all this.”
“The person who can get close to you and silently feed you a Graveknocker must be someone close by.”
As Luca and the others nodded in agreement, Darnell added, “Considering what happened with Callum being ambushed last night, we can determine that there is a traitor among the Apex.”
“As for why they didn’t directly poison you, it’s likely because they wanted to slowly boil you like a frog in water and take over the Apex with minimal resistance.”
“After all, when you are at your weakest point or near death, you would undoubtedly compromise with the Axe who has the antidote.”
Callum and Gisselle exclaimed in disbelief, “Such sinister methods!”
A glimmer of light flashed in Luca’s eyes as he said, “Mr. Halford is right. There must be someone around me who has been bought off.”
He turned slightly towards Callum and Gisselle. “Immediately investigate this matter. I want all of the Axe’s spies exposed.”
Both of them responded in unison, “Yes.”
“Dad! Dad!”
Just as they were about to leave the room, there was a commotion at the door. Nick rushed in urgently.
“Dad! You can’t die yet! You haven’t told me the code to your safe or transferred the house ownership to me!”
Nick rushed in anxiously and then noticed Darnell’s presence and froze for a moment before becoming overjoyed. “Mr. Halford? You’re here too!”
Before Darnell could respond, Luca’s face turned dark as he disregarded his weakened state and kicked his son in the stomach.
“Ah-”
Nick groaned in pain as he fell heavily to the ground. His face contorted with agony as he asked his father, “Dad, why did you hit me?”
“You damn fool!”
Luca approached Nick again and kicked him twice more while he crawled away in pain. “You actually think about family wealth when I’m not dead yet! You ungrateful child, how could you treat your father this way?”
Although Luca knew his son was spoiled and dissolute, he didn’t expect him to be this despicable. He was furious. “Is this how much you want me dead?”
“Dad, that wasn’t what I meant.”
Nick cowered behind Darnell with an anguished expression on his face as he responded desperately, “I was just reminding you to be prepared so that if anything happens unexpectedly, you can handle it calmly.”
“I like money and women. But without you here overseeing things, I won’t be able to hold onto those things either. How could I want you dead? You’ve misunderstood me.”
Callum and Gisselle gently comforted, trying to calm Luca down, “Boss, don’t be angry. Young Master didn’t mean any harm. He just wants you to be prepared so that you can handle any unforeseen circumstances calmly.”
“Young Master has been quite brave recently. He has been at the forefront during several fights and has at least ten scars on his body now.”
“If this waste doesn’t charge forward first, then who will?”
Luca glanced at his son before snorting dismissively.
“Today, I’ll spare you from a beating because of Mr. Halford so as not to embarrass myself.”
Nick, with a tearful face, pressed closely to Darnell. “Dad, you’ve really misunderstood me! I never wanted you to die.”
Darnell chuckled softly. “Luca, don’t get too worked up. Nick probably meant no harm.”
“Mr. Halford, why don’t you take a moment to rest? I’m a mess and need to take a bath.”
Luca looked at the medicinal residue on his hands, a look of apology on his face. “Let’s have lunch together later. One, to thank you for saving my life, and two, I have some questions to ask.”
With a wave of his hand, he called over a member of the Apex. “Take Mr. Halford to the side room to rest.”
The Apex member responded respectfully, “Yes, Boss.”
Darnell understood that the Apex was busy at the moment, so he didn’t hesitate and followed the Apex member towards the door.
Nick looked at Darnell gratefully before rushing towards Luca’s room again. “Dad! Dad! Let me draw you a bath…”
Luca, showing no restraint, barked back, “Get lost!”
Darnell chuckled lightly and then sat down in the side hall according to Luca’s instructions.
Suddenly…
A shadow flickered in Darnell’s peripheral vision. He turned his head and saw a middle-aged woman who appeared to be a maid approaching.
It was indeed the middle-aged woman who had been cleaning inside earlier.
She kept her head down as if she were afraid while she placed a tray on the table containing a teapot, a cup of tea, and three types of pastries.
The tea was fragrant. The pastries were delicate-enough to make one’s mouth water at first glance.
The middle-aged woman softly said, “Please enjoy your meal.”
“Thank you,” Darnell politely responded.
The middle-aged woman put down the food without saying anything else before slowly retreating.
Darnell had not slept well last night nor had he eaten breakfast this morning. Upon seeing food now placed before him, he reached out his hand to pick up the teacup but quickly froze.
Darnell gently rubbed against the scalding cup with his fingers. Suddenly, an expression of hesitation appeared in his eyes as he felt that something was off.
But he couldn’t figure out what was wrong at that moment.
He lowered his head again, looking at the tea in the cup. Looking at his own fingers, he suddenly realized what was wrong.
There was something wrong with that maid’s hand-the calluses on her hand were normal since maids like her would naturally have calluses from doing rough work.
However… the calluses on her hand were located on her thumb and index finger!
That was characteristic of someone skilled with knives!
How could a maid possibly be skilled with knives? Could it be that the Apex’s maids were all combat personnel like Callum or Gisselle?
Or did the Apex require them to have multiple roles? Doubts arose in Darnell’s mind. His nerves tightened once more.
When that maid brought over the tea just now… he only noticed her presence when he saw her reflection!
With his sharp ears, unless one was an exceptional master like himself or above… it would be impossible for anyone to approach him without being noticed!
An expert like this working as a maid? It was simply laughable!
Most importantly, he began feeling familiar with this figure-not only did he see her while cleaning inside earlier, but he also remembered seeing her at Sunflower Hotel.
Darnell stood up abruptly and flicked his finger. “Kimberly!”
“Whoosh!”
The teacup shot out like an arrow directly towards the maid as she turned around.