Afterlife Department

Chapter 394 – Err

"How did Prille come here? No… why is he here?" Huo Ling asked Yi Bing as they watched Iris told the police to confine Prille before he and Lin Ze went inside Quinn's villa and find more policemen inside as some interrogated the housekeeper along with the other servants while the other policemen looked for traces and clues around the villa, especially in Quinn's bedroom. 

The only children – or sons, of Iris Hudgeson that can be said to be connected to Prille are Rhyan and Harris. The former was saved by Prille, while the latter can't even be said to have any interactions with Prille. So, why is Prille in Quinn's villa? Or, specifically, loitering outside the villa? What connection does he have with Quinn? Could it be, not only Quinn, but Prille also have something to do with Renton's death? 

Iris and Lin Ze are as puzzled as Huo Ling and Yi Bing on Prille's connection with Quinn. 

"Sir." Lin Ze called as they climbed the stairs. "Someone said that they have seen fourth young master in the Win Club at one in the morning and left at two." He said, then paused. "They said they have seen him with a young man. He's…" he glanced outside the villa. 

This young man is none other than Prille.. 

Iris' head ached. "The Decathlon is coming up, but why are the students engage in messy things?" he asked as he held his head. 

Lin Ze helped him regain his balance when he staggered. He also heard earlier while Iris talked to Huo Ling that Huo Ling and Yi Bing found two students – a male and a female, having an intercourse in one of the classrooms last night. Although Huo Ling said this to testify his and Yi Bing's 'innocence', but to Iris and Lin Ze, this sounds like an insult. Meaning, the students of Fughlia High are all debauched. 

Now, they found Prille outside the vila of Quinn, who died. 

"Draft up a set of new rules for me. Make them stricter." Iris told Lin Ze. 

"Yes." Lin Ze answered. 

Iris and Lin Ze finally arrived in Quinn's room. Although Iris isn't strict with his children's night life, but he knows they wouldn't cross his bottom line. That's why he didn't believe what Huo Ling said earlier that Quinn killed Renton and, worse, buried Renton's body beneath the swimming pool. 

"Lin Ze." Iris called as he stopped outside Quinn's room. He stared at the open door and could see the policemen inside along with the forensic team. "Investigate what happened two months ago, precisely the Fughlia Swimming Pool project." He told him. "And Prille's origin." He added and entered the room before Lin Ze could answer. 

"Yes!" Lin Ze answered and left. He knows Iris doesn't want to be seen grieving by someone. 

Yi Bing and Huo Ling who were watching while being invisible followed Iris inside Quinn's room. 

"As expected. We can't pull his biography." Huo Ling spoke as he opened his Death Note to look for Quinn's biography, but it showed an error. He sighed and looked at Quinn's corpse above the bed. "Was it not him who killed Renton?" he asked and looked at Iris crying by the bedside. He started to doubt his judgement. 

Yi Bing knows Huo Ling is an empathic person and can be swayed by his emotions. But, right now, seeing Iris' grief, he can say that they really must have been wrong before. Iris is a businessman, so he definitely can tell a person's character. When he says that Quinn didn't do anything wrong, then, Quinn definitely must be innocent. 

He sighed and rubbed the space between his brows. "Just what the hell is going on…?" he muttered. 

"Yi Bing…?" Huo Ling called. He saw Yi Bing really looked tired. "I'm sorry." He apologized. 

"Why are you apologizing?" Yi Bing asked. 

"I must have influenced your judgement about Quinn." Huo Ling bit his lip. "I'm… a burden, aren't I?" he asked. 

Yi Bing stared at Huo Ling for a long while. 

Huo Ling's shoulder sank. But, he suddenly felt a pain on his forehead. Yi Bing flicked his forehead. "… why?" he asked as he rubbed his forehead. 

"You're not a burden." Yi Bing told him before he turned to Quinn's corpse. "We must have overlooked something." He said. 

"What is it?" Huo Ling asked. They have gathered all the information that they could. 

"I don't know." Yi Bing honestly answered and frowned. He doesn't like the feeling of everything not under his control. 

Huo Ling also felt helpless. They've all done that they could, and everything led to Quinn as the perpetrator. But, it turns out to be wrong. Although it was their emotion that they are using to judge the things right now, but Huo Ling trusts Yi Bing. Yi Bing would not lie to him, nor he would cover up an unjustifiable crime. 

"Prille." Yi Bing suddenly spoke. 

"Huh?" Huo Ling looked at him. Why did the green tea's name come out of Yi Bing's mouth? He thought, puzzled. 

"His presence here is the most suspicious." Yi Bing spoke and looked outside the window where they can see the police cars parked outside. 

Huo Ling didn't speak and just let Yi Bing continue. 

"Just like what you asked earlier, why is he here? And how did he get here?" Yi Bing said. "This community has the highest security in the country. No ordinary person can enter, so how did Prille appear here?" he took a deep breath. "I think Prille knows something regarding Renton's death. Quinn has an involvement. And – " he looked at Huo Ling. " – Luren must know everything." He told him. 

Huo Ling remembered Luren's deep eyes as every time he looked at the swimming pool as he stood by the library's glass wall like a statue. In contrast to his indifference, his eyes spoke volumes. The eyes are the windows to the soul, indeed. 

"But, we can't just ask him. It won't be that easy." He shook his head. "Not only do we have to consider his feelings, be wary of his temper that he might suddenly explode… there's also Renton's ghost." He sighed. 

Yi Bing knows this. "We'll ask Luren if we've reached a dead end." He said. 

"Okay." Huo Ling agreed. 

Suddenly, rushed footsteps were heard. They all turned and saw Lin Ze panting as he placed a hand on the doorway for a support. "Sir…" he called as he looked at Iris. 

Iris' eyes sharpened. "Did you find something?" he asked. 

Lin Ze heavily nodded. He showed an unfamiliar phone to Iris as he walked towards him. It was then that they noticed that Lin Ze was holding two phones. 

One is his, and the other one is… 

"This is Prille Devogne's mobile phone." Lin Ze spoke. 

Iris' expression turned ugly. "Say it!" he snapped at Lin Ze. 

Lin Ze's facial muscles tightened and he took a deep breath as he unlocked the phone. He must have forced Prille back in the police car to remove the PIN and the password for Lin Ze to access all the information in Prille's phone. 

"Prille Devogne… is blackmailing the fourth young master." Lin Ze said. 

Iris' expression changed. "'blackmail'?" he laughed in anger. "You want to believe me, he can blackmail Quinn?!" he asked. 

Quinn is the most cunning person he knows. Even Iris becomes helpless in facing Quinn. But now, Lin Ze says Prille is blackmailing Quinn?! 

Lin Ze closed his eyes as he bit the bullet. "Yes." He answered. Before Iris could explode, he continued. "It's for the third young master's sake." He said. 

Iris' expression darkened and he almost fainted on the spot. Suddenly, he felt his mind cleared. Right… he bitterly smiled. Even the weakest person can topple the strongest person… it all depends on interests, and things they care about. 

"Rhyan…" Iris muttered. "He and Quinn are at each other's throats… how can Quinn let Prille blackmail him? Quinn would've help Prille trip Rhyan instead!" he said, his eyes wide in disbelief. 

"Sir…" Lin Ze called as he looked at Iris' red eyes. He felt pity towards Iris. "You better read their messages." He told him and gently opened Iris' clenched fists. He wiped Prille's phone before he placed it on Iris' now shaking hand. 

Iris knows that Prille has saved Rhyan before, and Rhyan asked Harris to give Prille a scholarship – a ticket to Fughlia, as a payment. Iris knows Rhyan is dumb, and Rhyan would sometimes fall into mishaps. But, the worst that happened to Rhyan is being mugged, leading him to meeting Prille. Other than that, there's none. 

Iris is confident with his children's characters. But, for the first time, he felt dread as he tapped on the message thread of Prille with Quinn. 

"Do you know that Rhyan likes me?" 

"Slut!" 

"Hahaha. Why are you so angry? Because with just one call, Rhyan would crawl to where I am?" 

"I don't care what happens to me! But, don't you dare lay your filthy hands on my brother!" 

"But, what do you think will your brother think if he knows you are involved in a crime?"