Chapter 264
Chapter 264
Eliza asked, “Did you catch those petty thieves?”
Malaki replied. “We caught the ones during the first raid, but just a few days later, another group showed up. They were more cautious and cunning. It was them who poisoned the medicinal fields.”
Eliza asked, “Did anyone get affected?”
Malaki shook his head. “The poison seems to target only the medicinal fields. It doesn’t have much effect on people.”
Eliza sneered. “If it had harmed people, things wouldn’t be this simple.”
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After understanding the situation, she gave instructions, “Thank you for coming all the way here, Malaki. Since it’s still early. I’ll go take a look at Solacecrest Manor.”
Just then, Mary was also present. Upon hearing this, she said, “I’ll go with you.”
“I’m coming too! I’m coming too!” Renee quickly raised her hand.
Outside Saint Grace Nunnery, a simple carriage was waiting. It had been arranged by Eliza at Malaki’s request.
The road from Solacecrest Manor to Saint Grace Nunnery wasn’t short, and she couldn’t have the elderly steward walking back and forth, so she had him prepare something convenient, nothing extravagant or flashy.
Just like the carriage before them. It was plain to the extreme.
Inside the carriage sat three people. The driver sat outside, and with Malaki included, there were four people total, just within the carriage’s capacity.
Half an hour later, they arrived at Solacecrest Manor.
Getting off the carriage, Eliza looked at the grand manor with its green tiles and red eaves, and waves of emotion stirred in her heart.
In the previous timeline, she hadn’t been here in a long, long time.
Back then, the manor had tens of thousands of acres of fertile fields, tall mountains, and long rivers. Though it lacked breathtaking scenery, it was abundant in harvest.
Unfortunately, after falling into Sophie’s hands, she had driven away all the nearby tenants out of spite toward Eliza. They left the land to waste for years, chopped down the trees, and stripped the green hills bare. Eventually, the entire Solacecrest Manor became a desolate ruin overrun with weeds.
Fortunately, Eliza returned early in this timeline and took back the manor from Sophie’s hands.
Thanks to Malaki’s careful restoration, the manor had now regained much of its former vitality.
Malaki reported, “Ms. Stonor, Reverend Mother, please come this way. There are seven poisoned fields, all in the eas section.”
Once they arrived, Eliza and Mary inspected the medicinal fields.
Some of the poison had been poured directly onto fields already planted with herbs, and most of those seedlings had already been pulled out.-
It was clear that after discovering the situation, Malaki had people try to salvage the crops. However, poisoned herbs could
not survive at all.
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Chapter 264
Eliza pulled one plant up for a closer look. As expected, the roots were already rotted by the poison.
She said, “Pull out all the herbs, good or bad. None of them can be saved.”
Only by resolving the issue with the fields could they begin planting again. Eliza gave the order with a calm face,
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Mary, however, had some insight into the poison. “It’s made from the sap of the Withered Root Tree. The solution is simple. Gather the tree’s leaves, burn them, mix the ashes with plant ash, and spread them across the fields” She added, “Turn the soil and apply it once every three days. Do this three times and the fields will be usable again.”
Malaki’s eyes lit up immediately. “Reverend Mother, you’re truly knowledgeable.”
He was skilled in growing herbs, but not in using them. Even if he knew the poison came from the Withered Root Tree, he wouldn’t have known how to deal with it.
Eliza remarked, “Malaki, please arrange the manpower starting tomorrow. You’ve worked hard these past few days.”
Malaki replied, “It’s nothing. Just… Since the culprits haven’t been caught, I fear they’ll strike again once we start fixing the fields.”
Eliza naturally understood.
She smiled slightly. “Don’t worry, Malaki. Just make your arrangements tomorrow. We’ll catch them tonight.”
*****
That night, while everyone was deep in sleep, several figures carrying wooden buckets quietly evaded the patrols and again sneaked into Solacecrest Manor.
“Boss, last night we hit the eastern fields. We also hit parts of the southern ones. Should we try a different area tonight? Maybe the west or north?”
“Sure. Let’s check the western side first. Lord Matthew said to hit them all anyway, one by one.”
The seven or eight masked thieves carefully made their way west. Soon, they reached the target area.
The leader ordered, “You two, go stand watch. Blow the whistle if anything happens. You three, fetch the water. And you, you come with me to destroy the herbs.”
“Got it, Boss!”
With the leader’s orders, the group moved swiftly and in coordination.
But just as the leader was about to jump into the field, he heard thief number two suddenly yell.
“Boss! It’s an ambush!”
“Run!”
The thieves panicked and scattered in all directions. Their movements were smooth and practiced. They were clearly trained.
Unfortunately, no matter how fast they were, they weren’t faster than Tina’s sword.
In the dark, cold steel flashed. With a few swift moves, the sword took down two men instantly.
Two more screams echoed into the night. The remaining four fled even faster.
Then something felt wrong. They felt dizzy. Then, they lost their strength, and their bodies went limp.
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Chapter 264
As they stumbled, their movements slowed.
“Not good, it’s poison! The thief leader finally realized.
Unfortunately, it was too late.
A long sword pierced through the thief leader’s shoulder, just as several broad blades surrounded the remaining three.
At the same time, several broadswords were held against the other three men.
“If you want to live, don’t move.”
Once they moved, they would die.
The thief leader broke out in a cold sweat, enduring the pain in his shoulder, and quickly begged, “We won’t move! We won’t! Please, spare us!”
Soon, all seven thieves were tied up and thrown onto the ridge between the fields.
At that moment, several torches lit up in unison.
Bright flames lit a path through the darkness, illuminating the two figures standing behind the scene.
Eliza walked past the firelight and stopped before the bound thieves.
She lowered her eyes slightly, her cold gaze sweeping over them one by one.
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Malaki said from the side, “Ms. Stonor, it was them. The liquid in those buckets is exactly what Reverend Mother identified. It was the sap from the Withered Root Tree,”
He added, “With solid evidence and the culprits in hand, shall we report this to the authorities?”
Eliza looked at the thieves, who showed no fear at the mention of being handed over to the officials. She smiled faintly.
She said, “No. No need. What’s the point of reporting it? It’s better to keep them here and deal with them slowly.”
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