One-Eyed Monster

"Uh, your speculation is quite bold!" Coban Kangen was stunned by Igor’s theory. Honestly, their clan had analyzed Willem’s case for so long, always treating it as a significant case study, but after all these years, it still remained as puzzling as a riddle.

"I’m basing my judgment on these events, is it really bold?" Igor scratched his head, a bit puzzled by Coban Kangen’s assessment.

At this moment, the drowsy Kadi wobbled awake.

Kadi looked at Igor and Coban’s bewildered expressions, totally confused: "What did I miss?"

Igor looked at Kadi: "You missed some of my deductions."

"Deductions?" Kadi became curious about the whole matter.

"Igor said he believes Willem is already dead."

"How is that possible? That guy is alive and well! How could he be dead? How did he die?" Kadi clearly understood something else; he thought Igor was talking about current events.

"Listen slowly, don’t rush. What I mean is, I think the current Willem has been overtaken by a Soul Devourer possessing his body!" Igor explained to Kadi.

"Oh, so that’s the case!" Kadi calmly accepted the deduction without a hint of surprise.

Coban Kangen was utterly shocked by Kadi’s easy acceptance of Igor’s theory, finding it too easy to persuade him: "You don’t have any doubts at all?"

"None, whatever Igor says is how it is!"

This trust left Coban Kangen feeling amazed.

"You might have had little contact with Soul Devourers, so find it unbelievable, but I have my basis. Perhaps my deduction is, um, how should I say, rather bold, but this conclusion still holds significant possibility."

Igor continued to calmly present his deductions, feeling that everything was interconnected in his perspective.

He analyzed many scenarios, the starting point, the process, the outcome; all could be aligned.

Only one thing puzzled him; why was he always at this critical junction?

Using coincidence to explain such things was unacceptable to him. Why were so many coincidences happening to him?

Not wanting to overthink, he decided to take it step by step. The answers would eventually be revealed; overthinking now would only add to the troubles.

Igor reorganized his thoughts, gradually realizing that the matter wasn’t so simple, yet not so complicated either.

He patiently explained most of the Soul Devourer information to Coban Kangen, and with Kadi’s assistance, he felt more relaxed while speaking.

Although Kadi could be chaotic, he often precisely described things, straightforwardly, much better than Igor’s explanations.

Whenever Kadi spoke about Soul Devourers, he was passionately indignant.

Those guys easily abandon themselves, simply jerks!

Taking over others’ bodies is truly despicable!

Someday I will beat down all those Soul Devourers!

Kadi’s passionate indignation added a bit of vitality to the tense atmosphere. Coban Kangen quickly grasped the understanding of Soul Devourers, especially combining prior experiences in front of the Brass Hotel in Bistal. That process gave him a more intuitive understanding.

"I really didn’t expect that such things exist in the world!" Coban Kangen marveled.

"To be precise, it’s not yet certain whether they’re from our world!"

"True, as they’ve been hiding their tracks and only recently became a bit active."

"Maybe before, they were active too, but no one knew they existed. Reasoning through many events suggests these Soul Devourers have been lurking among us for a while. This also verifies the Soul Devourer Master’s words about some officers frequently being teleported from the Border Realm to our place."

"According to what you just said, the teleportation location is at Guru Mountain, but aside from two years ago, nothing significant has happened there!"

"I used to think the same," Igor said softly, "but now, I believe it’s not like that. There were many Treasure Hunters at Guru Mountain before. These Treasure Hunters were unknown, coming and going, and it’s hard to say if some were devoured by Soul Devourers!"

After Igor’s words, Coban Kangen fell silent; the number of Treasure Hunters annually attracted to Guru Mountain was incalculable. It’s truly uncertain if one or two were devoured.

"Ultimately, we were clueless about Soul Devourers. Without insights into the Border Realm, we might still be kept in the dark!" Igor couldn’t help but reflect.

Thinking deeply, such matters truly seemed terrifying. The enemy had unknowingly been active for so long, yet we were utterly unaware.

Were it not for recently sensing some shadows of the enemy, they really wouldn’t have been able to identify some hidden forces concealed behind appearances.

"Looking at it now, the enemies really are formidable!" Coban Kangen couldn’t help but say.

"Because we know nothing about them, it appears they’re formidable. But now, we’re slowly getting closer to their true nature, and I don’t think they’re as terrifying as imagined."

"Your analysis seems quite sensible," Coban Kangen continued to tell Igor.

"Anyway, most of what Igor says is corroborated!" Kadi added on the side; he acted like Igor’s sidekick, always praising him!

"But concerning Willem’s deduction!" Coban Kangen still had slight disagreement, after all, their Kangen Family pondered this matter for a long time, and no effective conclusion was ever drawn. Igor’s simple words essentially negated their assessments.

"I feel there’s no issue with this deduction. This matter is like a puzzle; the appearance of Soul Devourers completed the puzzle." Igor stated.

"I still don’t believe Willem is dead!" Coban Kangen continued to be stubborn.

"Haha, don’t debate, the matter will soon be open to answers. Aren’t we now heading toward the Kangen Family? By then, analyze and verify with those old folks in your family, and it’ll all be clear!" Kadi watched Igor and Coban’s dispute and genuinely felt it unnecessary.

"Um..." Igor didn’t dismiss Kadi’s proposal; he also just thought the same.

"Seems that’s the only way." Coban Kangen replied.

"I really look forward to that moment, hahaha." Kadi laughed foolishly on the side, ever curious about new things.

"Willem’s death is only part of my deduction. I haven’t revealed another part!" Igor continued, as he had different assumptions about the whole matter; Willem’s death was merely part of it, and an unimportant part at that...