It smelled foul—the sharp stench of disinfectant.
It hurt. Every breath brought a stab of pain.
*Who am I?*
*I am Zhou Xun...*
*No.*
*I am Karen.*
Karen slowly opened his eyes, but the sunlight was too glaring, forcing him to shut them again.
After a long while, once he had gradually adjusted to the brightness, Karen tried opening them once more.
He saw white sheets, a white quilt, and the blue-and-white striped hospital gown he was wearing. Beside the bed sat his cousin Mina, doing her homework.
Sensing something, Mina turned her head toward him. The moment she saw Karen's open eyes, she clapped a hand over her mouth as tears welled in her eyes.
Immediately after, she kicked her younger brother, Lunt, who was doing his homework beside her. Lunt tumbled sideways onto the floor.
"Brother's awake! Brother's awake! Lunt, quick, go get the doctor! Call the doctor!"
"Okay, okay!"
Lunt scrambled up from the floor and bolted out of the ward without even bothering to pick up his homework.
"Brother, how are you feeling?" Mina asked with deep concern.
"Water... water..."
Karen felt his lips were parched—so dry that touching them seemed likely to peel the skin right off.
"Right away, Brother."
Mina quickly brought over a cup with a straw and held it to Karen's lips.
Karen took the straw between his lips and began to drink.
Once he finished, Karen parted his lips slightly.
Mina picked up a damp towel and gently wiped his face.
Just then, Lunt returned with a doctor in tow.
The doctor first checked Karen's vital signs, then unwrapped the bandages on his chest. After inspecting the wound, he gave an encouraging nod and smiled.
"You're fine, young man. Although the wound was deep, it didn't damage your spleen. You're very lucky, truly."
Karen gave a slight nod.
The doctor gave some instructions to the nurse, likely regarding changing the dressings, and then turned back to Karen. "Make sure to get plenty of rest. Now that you're awake, we'll keep you under observation for two more days, and then you can be discharged."
"Thank you, Doctor," Mina said on Karen's behalf.
"You're welcome."
The doctor and nurse left the room.
Karen tried pushing himself up with both hands.
Seeing this, Mina and Lunt each stepped in to support him from either side, helping him sit up. Then they stacked two pillows behind his back so Karen could finally lean back comfortably.
"Mina, how long was I asleep?"
"Two days. The doctor said you lost too much blood, Brother."
"I see."
Karen gently rotated his neck a few times. As long as he didn't disturb the wound on his chest, moving the rest of his body wasn't an issue.
"Officer, this is a patient ward. You can't smoke here."
"I'm not smoking a cigarette, I'm smoking a pipe."
"You can't smoke a pipe either..."
"It's not lit! Out of my way."
Inspector Duke strode inside and let out a hearty laugh the moment he entered.
"I just walked into the hospital and heard the doctor say you were awake."
"Inspector..."
Inspector Duke pulled over a chair and sat down beside Karen's bed.
"You were right. Absolutely spot-on. That murderer was stupid beyond belief. If we hadn't spent so long investigating the first victim's identity, she would've been caught ages ago."
Karen looked at Inspector Duke and asked, "Mrs. Hughes..."
"I'm sorry. When I led the officers into the office at Hughes Crematorium, we found you tied to a chair with a... plunged into your chest." Inspector Duke gestured with both hands. "The only blessing was that you were still breathing, and we rushed you to the hospital in time for emergency surgery."
At that point, Inspector Duke sighed.
"Unfortunately, our arrival must have startled Mrs. Hughes. She slipped away, and we weren't able to catch her."
"*Sigh...*" Karen let out a sigh as well.
"I've already heard your aunt describe what happened that evening. That woman is a complete lunatic—she truly targets only the people around her!"
Karen nodded.
"Say, do you have any idea where she might have run off to?"
Hearing that, Karen shook his head and explained, "When I escorted her back, she held me at gunpoint."
"Madwoman. Absolute madwoman," Inspector Duke muttered again. "There's no reason to her killings."
Perhaps because he had witnessed and come to understand Mrs. Hughes's utter foolishness as a murderer, Inspector Duke had no intention of dwelling further on the case with Karen.
Once you knew the answer, conducting an overly meticulous analysis and investigation on a killer like that felt like casting flirtatious glances at a blind man over and over again.
"I spoke with your doctor about your condition. Nothing serious. You should be good as new after some rest and recovery."
Saying this, Inspector Duke reached out and patted Karen on the cheek.
"Most importantly, that face of yours is intact. Thank heavens for that."
Karen turned his head aside, showing his speechlessness at the inspector.
"Hahaha!" Inspector Duke stood up. "A wanted bulletin has already been issued. Thanks to the fact that the press hasn't caught wind of this case, our precinct isn't under too much pressure. Still, I look forward to you getting back on your feet. That profiling method of yours left quite an impression on me. We should bounce ideas off each other more often in the future."
"Understood, Inspector."
"I'll take my leave, then."
Inspector Duke was an impatient man, not even bothering to peel an apple before leaving.
However, right as Inspector Duke stepped outside, his voice drifted back:
"Oh? What brings you two here?"
"We're here to ask a few questions," a man's voice replied.
"What's there to ask?"
"We didn't particularly want to come either, but it's our duty." This was a woman's voice.
Moments later, a man with an aquiline nose wearing a grey wool overcoat walked in, followed by a woman in a long grey dress.
Karen had a deep impression of these two.
The day he had taken a cab outside Crown Ballroom, he had run into them as they were getting out of a car, and that woman in the grey dress had mentioned something about an "aberrant demon."
The hooked-nosed man flashed an ID badge in front of Karen.
Before Karen could even read the contents, the man tucked it away and sat down.
Inspector Duke lingered by the door, watching what was happening inside.
"Mr. Karen, is it? First of all, congratulations on waking up, and I wish you a speedy recovery."
"Thank you."
Karen noticed that from the moment this hooked-nosed man laid eyes on him, he had been scrutinizing him—observing his fingers, his throat, his eyes, focusing on every tiny bodily motion.
Unfortunately for the man, he had no idea Karen was an expert in this field himself.
Besides, compared to the intense scrutiny he had endured that night when facing Alfred, this hooked-nosed fellow couldn't even hold a candle to it.
"Mr. Karen, I would like to ask first: during your interactions with Mrs. Hughes, did you notice anything unusual about her?"
An incredulous expression appeared on Karen's face, and he retorted, "She put me in this state. Isn't that unusual enough?"
"No, that isn't what I meant. What I mean is, outside the scope of her being a murderer, did you sense anything abnormal about her?"
"Yes."
Hearing that answer, the hooked-nosed man's gaze sharpened, while the woman behind him took out a notepad, preparing to take notes.
Karen replied with utter earnestness, "As a murderer, she was abnormally stupid."
*Pfft!* Standing by the doorway, Inspector Duke snorted like a pig.
The hooked-nosed man parted his lips slightly, as if searching for words. After a brief pause, he asked again, "What I mean is, did she exhibit any bizarre behavior? For instance, when she attacked you, did her appearance or tone make you feel as if she were a different person?"
The transformation Mrs. Hughes underwent when trying to kill him, along with that black patch of skin, instantly surfaced in Karen's mind.
Even so, Karen shook his head. "Mister..."
"You may call me Rodi."
"All right, Mr. Rodi. I truly have no idea what you're trying to ask. Your questions leave me completely bewildered. All I can tell you is that that night, after I escorted my aunt home, Mrs. Hughes said on the way back that she was willing to help me part with my virginity. I couldn't resist the temptation, so I agreed. Then we went to the crematorium."
"Why not her house?" Rodi asked.
Karen answered, "She said it would be more thrilling there, and that we'd have plenty of onlookers around us."
The reason Karen set the final scene at the crematorium was precisely to accentuate Mrs. Hughes's established persona.
Listening nearby, Lunt's face flushed bright red, while Mina ducked her head in embarrassment.
The hooked-nosed man glanced at his female assistant.
The assistant nodded, indicating she had jotted it down.
"Then she said she'd teach me and told me to sit on a chair first, so I did. She said if we wanted it to be more thrilling and immersive, she should tie me up with a rope first. So I let her tie me up."
"You just let her tie you up?" Rodi asked dubiously.
"She told me that once she finished tying me up, she'd use her mouth on me."
Rodi was momentarily rendered speechless.
Karen continued, "Mr. Rodi, I know this sounds ridiculous. I'm usually a prudent person, but at that moment, I found my brain simply couldn't function properly. I was acting purely on instinct. Whatever she told me to do, I did, only hoping the next step would come sooner."
Inspector Duke, standing by the doorway, nodded in agreement. "Men. Totally understandable."
The woman in the grey dress leaned down and whispered into Rodi's ear, "Is that really what happened, Captain?"
Rodi didn't answer. Instead, he asked once more, "And then she attacked you?"
"No. She said she wanted to create a grand artistic masterpiece. The model she originally chose was my aunt, but since I was the one who escorted her back in the end, I became the substitute. Then she talked to me at length about composition and repeatedly asked for my opinion."
"And in the end?"
"She plunged a dagger into my chest. I watched myself bleed... while she kept on rambling about her composition. Then I passed out. When I woke up, I was already here in this ward."
Rodi nodded and stood up.
Evidently, the questioning was over.
Karen had no desire to connect Mrs. Hughes's case to an "aberrant demon," as that would only bring trouble to himself and the Inmeles family. It was best for this to conclude as nothing more than a series of perverse serial murders.
Oh, wait, not conclude—the police would likely keep hunting for "Mrs. Hughes." But finding her would require opening Ms. Molly's stomach.
Then again, Ms. Molly didn't seem to possess an organ like a stomach.
Rodi turned to leave, but suddenly halted in his tracks. He looked back at Karen lying in the hospital bed and smiled.
"Mr. Karen, you're quite young. I'm very curious—how did you come to learn the psychological profiling you helped the police with?"
"I studied it."
"Studied from whom?"
"A friend of mine. I've always been interested in psychology. Since I suffered from mild autism from a young age, I tried to step out of its shadow by reading books on psychology. Combined with guidance from my friend..."
"I asked you, which friend?"
"Me."
Piaget appeared at the doorway. He was dressed in casual attire, yet somehow wore it with the refined elegance of nobility.
"And you are?" Rodi looked at Piaget.
"I am Karen's friend. He is an exceptionally talented young man in the field of psychology. Here is my card."
Rodi took the business card, his eyes narrowing slightly when he saw the surname.
"Your father is..."
"Compa Adams."
The Minister of Energy and Development of the Kingdom of Ruilan.
"Are you finished with your questioning? My friend has only just awakened, and I believe he needs more rest, not interruptions."
"We're done."
Rodi walked out of the ward, his female assistant following close behind.
Inspector Duke waved at Karen and left as well.
Piaget walked over to Karen's bed and said with a smile, "My friend, I learned yesterday that something had happened to you, but you hadn't woken up yet. I prayed to God for your swift recovery, and it seems God heard my prayers."
"Thank you, Piaget."
"Right, and this as well."
Piaget handed a thermos he was carrying to Mina. "Could you please find a bowl and a spoon and feed your brother later?"
"Of course, sir."
Piaget turned back to Karen and lowered his voice. "It's tonic chicken soup."
Using medicinal herbs was a practice found across many ancient civilizations, handing down quite a few traditions.
When Mina opened the thermos, Karen smelled the rich aroma of chicken soup blended with herbs.
He couldn't appreciate the thick, gloopy stews Aunt Mary and Aunt Winnie made at home, but what Piaget had brought was remarkably close to the comforting warmth of chicken stewed with mushrooms.
"Did you make it?" Karen asked curiously.
Piaget smiled and shook his head. "I had Linda 'awaken' and take control of my body to prepare it. How could I possibly know how to cook?"
"Heh." Karen chuckled.
Perhaps such a chilling topic could only ever be chatted about like everyday small talk between the two of them.
"By the way, I heard from your family that you dropped out during high school?"
"Yes, due to psychological issues. Autism."
Autism was truly an all-purpose excuse.
"What a pity. Once you've recovered, would you like to return to school? I mean university. So long as you can pass the entrance exam, my letter of recommendation will carry weight."
The weight of that recommendation was undoubtedly immense. Karen had already noticed the shift in the hooked-nosed man's expression when inquiring about Piaget's father; Piaget's background was far more than that of a mere university psychology professor.
"I need to discuss it with my family. You know, I still need to earn money for the household."
Piaget asked in confusion, "Money needs to be earned?"
"..." Karen.
For a moment, Karen didn't know how to respond to that question. Although the Inmeles family wasn't truly strapped for cash, compared to the family background of the man standing before him, they were impoverished indeed.
"My apologies." Piaget realized his slip of the tongue. "You can talk it over thoroughly with your family. If there are any issues regarding money, you can come to me anytime."
"Thank you."
No matter the era or year, anyone who proactively offered to lend you money was a true friend.
"Get some good rest. I'll be heading back."
"All right. Safe travels."
Piaget departed.
Mina began feeding Karen the chicken soup. Karen drank quite a lot; the flavor truly was delicious.
As for the remaining broth and meat, Karen had Mina and Lunt share it between themselves.
Afterward, Karen fell asleep.
When he woke, he felt someone touching his body.
Opening his eyes, he saw his aunt standing beside his hospital bed. His quilt had already been pulled back, and even his trousers had been removed.
Perhaps because of his injury, his previous sleep had been exceptionally deep.
Aunt Mary's eyes were rimmed with red. Seeing Karen wake up, she explained, "Don't move. Let me wipe you down. It's not convenient to take a bath right now, and you'll feel much better after being cleaned. You've always been so particular about cleanliness."
"Thank you, Aunt Mary."
"No need for thanks, Karen. You suffered in my place. If I hadn't insisted on dragging you to eat barbecue that afternoon, you wouldn't have..."
At that point, Aunt Mary began to weep again.
"Everything is fine now. You're safe and sound, Aunt Mary, and that's what matters most. Really, nothing happened to me."
"Say no more, Karen. Just lie still. Your aunt has failed you."
"It's really nothing, Aunt Mary."
"Be a good boy and lie still."
And so, Karen obediently lay there and let Aunt Mary wipe his body down.
Because this was the caring affection of an elder, Karen's heart remained as calm as still water, free of any awkwardness.
Besides, Aunt Mary was remarkably deft with her wiping;
one didn't even need to wonder where she had honed such skill.
Throughout the afternoon, Aunt Mary stayed by his bedside, feeding Karen some fruit.
In the end, at Karen's strong urging, he insisted that she take Mina and Lunt back home. Mina and Lunt had school tomorrow, and the family business couldn't run without his aunt.
Furthermore, this was a VIP ward with a call bell by the bedhead. Aside from medical issues, one could summon a nurse to attend to meals, drinks, and all bodily needs without even hiring a private caretaker—though, of course, the fees were far steeper than hiring one.
In the evening, Karen asked a nurse for a copy of today's newspaper to pass the time.
The attentive nurse even threw in a novel she had been reading herself.
The newspaper was quickly set aside, and Karen began reading the novel.
Well, it turned out to be a Mary Sue romance.
What was even more miraculous was that Karen actually found himself engrossed in it.
Late in the night, the door to the ward was pushed open.
A black cat darted inside and leaped onto the bed.
Immediately after, Diss's figure appeared.
Karen moistened his dry lips and did his best to sit a bit straighter.
Diss walked over to Karen's bedside and asked, "Does it still hurt?"
"I'm fine. The doctor said no vital organs were damaged," Karen answered with a smile.
Perhaps he should have feared Diss, for that night, without the slightest warning, Diss had driven a dagger straight into his chest.
Yet he had no reason to fear Diss either, because he was still alive.
"Would you like something to eat?"
"I hear cat meat stew is wonderful for healing wounds."
"..." Purr.
Diss gave a faint smile and walked over to the ward's window.
Purr glared at Karen, and Karen glared right back.
"Karen."
"Yes, Grandfather." Karen immediately turned his head toward Diss by the window.
"Do you have many questions?"
"Yes."
"Do you wish to ask them?"
"I've never been certain whether I should."
Previously, he had always feared that once that thin layer of paper was punctured, his life would be forfeit, forcing Diss's hand to kill him.
Yet that night, when he stood by the window alongside Alfred and Ms. Molly, locking eyes with Diss down in the street, that paper had already been shattered into pieces.
Now, he felt a great deal more relieved—after all, Diss had already stabbed him once.
"The next time you sense danger nearby, if I am not at home, you would do best to take Purr with you when you leave."
"Understood, Grandfather. I will."
"This time, had you not happened upon those two from No. 128, you would have already lost your life."
"Yes, Grandfather."
Facing the window, Diss let out a sigh.
"The mistakes that began with me should end with me."
Saying this, Diss turned around and looked at Karen in the hospital bed.
"Others have no right to interfere."
Chapter 24