Chapter 181: Who Told You to Claim Kinship?

If Irene hadn’t grabbed her by the collar, Mag would have slammed her head into the hard wall. Irene released her grip, and Mag’s expression immediately turned into one of deep fear. It was as if she had suddenly come to her senses. The hatred in her eyes faded, replaced by a complicated mix of emotions. Mag was, after all, terrified of death. The mere thought of it cured her madness instantly. Mag was just about to say something to thank Irene, to lull her into a false sense of security. After all, this kid had just saved her. These students, police officers, or soldiers always had a strong sense of justice! But before Mag could utter a word, Irene had already reached out and grabbed Mag by the throat. The room was empty, and the real Irene finally revealed herself. Her entire presence was terrifying; the way she looked at Mag was as if she were looking at a roadside weed—completely inhuman. Mag struggled to breathe, her face turning red with fear and shock. “Guess what? If you die here, do you think people online will say you deserved it, or that I should pay for your life?” Irene’s smile was wide and cruel, her indifference to human life making Mag’s own ruthless nature seem weak by comparison. Could this disaster really be a murderer? Mag was instantly terrified! Irene’s voice was cold enough to chill the bones: “I never believed you from the start. Finding out if you’re my real parents is simple—it just takes one hair.” Irene’s smile widened as she reached out and plucked a hair from Mag’s head. Though it didn’t hurt much, Mag’s eyes widened in terror. “Do you know why I came with you?” Irene’s voice dropped lower, like the whisper of a demon. “Tell me, who sent you to City A to find me?” Irene had long suspected that Mag and Klan were up to something. When the Kashi family had thrown her out, where was Mag then to claim kinship? And now, after suddenly showing up during a live broadcast when the Kashi family discovered her, the timing was too coincidental not to make Irene suspicious. Irene’s tone was sinister, and Mag screamed, as if seeing something horrific. “You’ve heard of an old Eastern country’s punishment, haven’t you?” Mag’s pupils constricted in terror as Irene continued, “They pour boiling water over you and then comb your back with an iron comb.” Mag struggled wildly, but she was no match for Irene’s strength, even though Irene only used one hand. “If you want to try it, you can stay silent,” Irene whispered. Mag’s consciousness began to fade. She heard Irene’s voice as if it were coming from a dream: “I remember you. I remember your family, and I remember that wretched cellar.” “Now, two questions.” “Where did the hairband that was tied to my head when I was little go? And second, as I asked before, who sent you to do this?” “If you want to answer, blink.” As soon as Irene finished speaking, Mag blinked frantically. When Irene released her, Mag gasped for air, her breath coming in huge gulps. She looked up to see Irene smiling at her with a terrifyingly cheerful expression. “Now, start talking.” Mag was truly scared out of her wits now. Realizing that she couldn’t overpower Irene even with all her strength, she abandoned any thoughts of revenge. She hadn’t expected that someone so young could remember things from such an early age. By all logic, it shouldn’t have been possible! Under Irene’s threat, Mag had no choice but to speak. Irene crossed her arms and watched her. If Harper were here, he would recognize that Irene’s posture was very relaxed. For those trained for years, they knew exactly what stances allowed them to be at ease yet ready to counterattack at any moment. It meant Irene didn’t consider Mag a threat at all. Mag glanced at Irene with fear and said, “You were quite strange as a child.” Irene looked at her coldly. Mag, lost in her memories, didn’t notice Irene’s gaze and continued, “We always suspected you were a witch. Every time we passed by the police, you would cry.” “There were several times we almost got caught because you were crying at checkpoints.” “Klan said we should take you to the priest and have you purified.” Mag subtly blamed Klan. She had disliked Klan for a long time, especially since he was seeing someone else behind her back. He thought she didn’t know! If it hadn’t been for the money, Mag would have divorced Klan and taken the assets long ago instead of pretending to be a loving couple in front of Irene. Irene understood what Mag was implying. The priest Mag mentioned had already passed away. The new priest, his apprentice, had become blinded by greed and, in their remote town, began advocating for the return of medieval punishments. According to online records, during that time, many girls and women were burned as witches under the guise of “purification.” Mag continued, “Because of you, we had to take detours and return home early.” She added, “Klan and I couldn’t bear to give you to the priest.” “You were a beautiful child, worth a good price. But no one dared to buy you because of that hairband on your head.” Irene raised an eyebrow. “It was just a hairband. Why?” Mag shook her head, saying, “You don’t understand. That hairband looked ordinary, but the decoration on it was something only the ancient nobility of E-country used. At that time, they were hunting down nobles, and every household was being checked.” “Our place was remote, so no one came to inspect us. But buyers in the big cities recognized the symbol and were terrified, afraid it would bring them trouble.” Irene nodded slightly. Mag was telling the truth. Years ago, during the capitalist revolution in E-country, a certain noble, who had connections with Q-country’s nouveau riche, had escaped here. During that time, there was a fierce conflict between those protecting E-country’s old nobility and those opposing them. Ordinary people’s lives were hard during this period, caught between the conflicting forces. City A was aligned with those opposing the protection of E-country’s old nobility. Anyone found with items related to E-country was taken away and imprisoned for questioning. Many took advantage of the chaos, falsely accusing others to extort money. Life was truly tough during those chaotic times. Fortunately, the chaos didn’t last long. Irene nodded her chin, signaling Mag to continue.