Chapter 498: Unexpected Discovery

"List of abnormal deaths and disappearances?"

After reading the title on the register, the female police officer said in surprise:

"Aren't all these names from the Lyon family? If you're looking for evidence of their crimes, checking this won't be much use, right?"

Indeed, if you're seeking criminal evidence, this list holds little value—but for tracking anomalies, it becomes highly effective.

Especially for an anomaly like Lamb's Heart, which originates from a demon, if its holder cannot control it, it almost inevitably causes numerous abnormal deaths.

And if many people who died or disappeared are connected to one person, that person's likelihood of possessing—or even using—Lamb's Heart rises exponentially… but there's no need to explain this to her.

…

"Don't worry, it's useful."

To ensure this hard-to-come-by tool did her job properly and didn't just go through the motions, Lyon flipped through the family genealogy in his hands without looking up, offering a vague reply:

"The genealogy here isn't the original—it's a copied version the Lyon family allows outsiders to consult, so the content has certainly been sanitized. The most sensitive details were likely deleted—but…"

"But events can be erased; who lived and who died? Those are usually recorded truthfully! So in these semi-public genealogies, these most basic records are the most reliable!"

Instantly grasping Lyon's meaning, the female officer's eyes brightened, and a faint admiration crept into her gaze toward him.

This bastard… this guy thinks fast!

Not only can he instantly judge information reliability, he's got an uncannily precise interrogation technique, and even shoots with incredible accuracy—no wonder he made it into the Police Force's "hidden department." He's truly a rare talent!

After being startled by Lyon's display, the female officer now saw him as if haloed by the aura of a "master"—even his furrowed brow while flipping through the "fake" genealogy seemed to radiate wisdom.

"…"

This guy's impulsive, but turns out he's surprisingly easy to please… hmm… though his gaze is a bit unsettling…

Uncomfortable under her stare, Lyon instinctively shifted his seat away from her, still flipping through the genealogy as he nodded firmly:

"Yes, that's exactly what I mean!

Plus, the Lyon family is a large clan with weak internal bonds—they even turn on each other. Those who habitually use underhanded tactics rarely limit themselves to outsiders; they likely strike within the family too, so…"

"So prioritize finding those connected to many dead or missing people!"

Once again understanding Lyon's point, the female officer slapped her thigh hard, whispering in awe:

"Connected to one death? Coincidence. Connected to many? Almost certainly the mastermind.

And if they're this ruthless within the family, they'll be even more ruthless outside. Compared to those who rarely use tactics, investigating these people makes finding evidence far easier!

Damn it! Why didn't I think of that! You're really… uh…"

"…."

Wait… how did you go from "Black Lyon" to "Lyon Worshipper" all of a sudden?

Unsettled by her burning gaze, Lyon felt his back prickle with discomfort—he'd never realized being looked at with admiration could be so unbearable.

Please, can you just act normal?

I'm not being polite—I genuinely feel uneasy… honestly, your earlier disgusted expression when you looked at me was far more comfortable than this weird stare.

"I'll start checking right away!"

Unaware she'd been disliked, the female officer, having found the "meaning" of her task, immediately rose, summoned a servant for paper and ink, then, energized, plunged into the endless "Lyon Hell" with the death register and the genealogy's key records.

Seeing her finally quiet down—no more of that gaze, no more questions—Lyon exhaled in relief and turned to his own task: searching for suspicious files. After the two servants left, the genealogy room on the first floor of the small house was filled only with the rustling of turning pages.

With one seeking Lyon family evidence and the other hunting for lost Lamb's Heart, both searched with meticulous care—and spent the entire afternoon.

By the time the sun began to sink, Lyon's paper held nearly thirty names; the female officer's list, though smaller, already contained eight or nine.

…

Hmm… you know what? Using her was actually the right call…

Closing the genealogy, Lyon stretched his stiff neck and glanced at the female officer's paper. To his pleasant surprise, nearly five or six names on her "mastermind list" matched those on his own "newly rich" list.

People who were once ordinary but suddenly rose to wealth—and linked to multiple Lyon family deaths… unless the Lamb's Heart holder is some laid-back youth, he's almost certainly among these five or six.

To be safe, and to account for the possibility that the "Lamb's Heart holder" holds high status or lacks strong greed for wealth, the range could be slightly expanded—but it should still stay within eight or seven people. He was now close to finding the Lamb's Heart.

Hmm… the Chief really is the Chief. Though the excuse of "coming to claim kinship" sounded absurd, it was astonishingly effective for investigating anomalies—just a few hours in, and he already had leads.

If I'd followed the Black Goat's advice and sneaked into the Lyon mansion at night, room by room, waking anyone who smelled of Lamb's Heart and interrogating them… safety aside, efficiency wouldn't compare to this at all!

He mentally warned himself to learn from the Chief and Senior Emma: always think, always analyze—never become a reckless fool like the Black Goat.

Seeing the female officer suddenly frown, as if stuck on something, Lyon didn't disturb her hardworking tool. Instead, he rose, summoned a servant, and brought back two meals, placing one beside her.

"Stop reading. Take a break."

"Huh? Oh! Okay!"

Taking the guest meal, she picked up her spoon, gulped down a mouthful of soup without tasting it, clenched her fists tightly, then looked up at Lyon across the table, her face filled with unspoken words.

"Hmm?"

Noticing her gaze, Lyon frowned, set down his spoonful of mashed potatoes, and asked, puzzled:

"What's wrong? Why are you looking at me like that?"

I'm not really… it's just you…

Unconsciously licking her dry lips, the female officer began biting her lower lip with her white teeth.

"Lyon, I have to ask you…"

Looking at the man across from her, utterly bewildered, the female officer clenched her fists, her toes curling inside her shoes, and ventured cautiously:

"What if… I mean, just hypothetically… if you really were a Lyon family member, what would you do?"

"…."

"Huh?!!??"

(End of Chapter)