Before they came, they had already investigated everything thoroughly.

These two—one a widower, the other a widow—were renting someone else’s courtyard, and had been completely ransacked. Even if they had relatives or friends, it was unlikely anyone would collect their bodies.

After all, that’s all money...

...

Swing the blade!

Swing the blade!

Swing the blade!

Inside the Cauldron of Gluttony, Samuel Bennett was utterly absorbed, wielding a broken blade in a dense, impenetrable flurry, completely immersed in practicing his swordsmanship.

He was venting the fear and agitation in his heart after killing.

Ding~

No one knew how much time had passed. Only when the progress bar on the cauldron wall changed again did he slowly put away his blade.

When he opened his eyes again and looked at the familiar roof, Samuel Bennett was a little dazed.

After a night of venting, his heart had calmed down, but for the moment, he still felt a bit out of place.

This wasn’t the fear after killing, but the panic brought on by overturning, with his own hands, the worldview he had built up over twenty years in his previous life.

He was a law-abiding person, after all...

“William Walker, is he really just an executioner? Or is it...”

Sitting up with his clothes on, Samuel Bennett was still a bit dazed.

Thinking back to how casually William Walker treated human life, he still felt at a loss.

Knock, knock, knock~

A not-too-light, not-too-heavy knocking sounded at the door.

A robust voice came from outside: “Sister-in-law, are you home? It’s me, Thomas.”

Thomas?

Constable Harris!

Samuel Bennett’s heart tightened, a chill running down his spine, and goosebumps broke out all over him.

After all, he worked at the yamen, so he naturally knew Thomas Harris.

This Head Constable Harris was known for his iron-faced ruthlessness, was skilled at apprehending criminals, and his methods were harsh—he was a notorious hardliner in Heishan City.

His reputation was even greater than that of the county magistrate ‘Three-foot Liu’, who might not even hold court once a month.

“Wasn’t it said that he was seriously injured while escorting prisoners to Qingzhou? He’s already recovered?”

Having just killed someone and now this hardliner was at the door, Samuel Bennett couldn’t help but feel a bit panicked.

Mrs. Bennett had already opened the door, wiped her hands, and took the wine and meat handed to her: “Since you’re here, why bring things?”

“It’s cold, sister-in-law, remember to put on an extra layer.”

Thomas Harris entered the courtyard under his umbrella. While exchanging pleasantries with Mrs. Bennett, he lifted his eyelids, and his cold, sharp gaze pierced through the window, landing on Samuel Bennett.

“What a piercing gaze...”

Samuel Bennett’s heart trembled, though his face remained calm, the hairs on his back stood on end.

“I remember, I remember.”

Mrs. Bennett forced a small smile, then mentioned she would be handling her old man’s funeral tomorrow and insisted he must come.

“Old Brother Bennett...”

Thomas Harris paused, his expression softening a bit, a trace of guilt in his eyes: “Brother Bennett is only missing...”

Looking at the now much more haggard old woman, Thomas Harris’s voice choked, unable to continue.

Prison guards weren’t supposed to escort prisoners, but because so many of his men had been injured or killed, he had requisitioned him for the job.

Who would have thought...

“Even if he’s just missing, making a memorial tablet is still something to hold onto, isn’t it? If he never comes back...”

The old woman’s expression dimmed, but she forced herself to cheer up and invited Thomas Harris inside, then went to the kitchen to prepare food.

“Head Constable Harris.”

Suppressing his panic, Samuel Bennett stepped forward to greet him and thanked him for approving his leave these past few days.

“You’ve done something big.”

Glancing at the nearly empty house, almost everything sold off, Thomas Harris’s tone was cold and harsh:

“You handle a blade well, but you’re still too inexperienced.”

“Huh?”

Samuel Bennett looked confused, as if he didn’t understand: “Head Constable Harris, did something big happen in the city?”

Killing might have been a moment of rage, or perhaps it was Old Man Walker’s request.

But Samuel Bennett wasn’t a fool—he’d worn a mask to avoid being recognized, and cleaned up quickly after the deed.

He figured that even if he had a motive, without evidence, the yamen couldn’t touch him.

“Two people died in the west of the city. Coincidentally, one was Grace Harris, who came to your door before, and the other was Charles Harris, who tried to block you at the city gate.”

“And even more coincidentally, both were killed by a broken blade, and judging by the angle of the wounds, the killer’s height and build are not much different from yours.”

Thomas Harris stared deeply at Samuel Bennett: “Don’t you think that’s quite a coincidence?”

“Huh? Charles Harris was killed?”

Samuel Bennett felt tense inside, but his face showed anger: “Serves him right! That Charles Harris ran rampant in the streets, bullying who knows how many people. Maybe he was killed by a passing hero who rid the world of evil!”

There are all kinds of people.

Some get flustered and babble when nervous, while others become even more clear-headed.

Samuel Bennett was the latter.

As he replied, he was also recalling his actions from the previous night, convinced he hadn’t left any traces.

So, he would never admit it!

“Charles Harris got what he deserved.”

Thomas Harris nodded, seeming to agree.

Samuel Bennett was slightly taken aback, then saw this cold-faced hardliner pace around the room, come to the window, and pick up the broken blade from the windowsill.

“You cleaned it well, but the smell of blood isn’t so easy to wash away.”

With his back to Samuel Bennett, Thomas Harris gazed out at the wind and rain, as if lost in thought: