Afterlife Department

Chapter 396 – Quarrel

"This… it's just like this?" Huo Ling asked as they watched the medic aids carry the unconscious Iris to the ambulance with Lin Ze following them. 

The police has already taken Prille away and locked him up, never to have anyone visit him, as per Lin Ze's instructions. 

"Mn." Yi Bing nodded. "We can't interfere much with this world. We can only leave the matter with the Portkins in Iris' hands." he said. "Iris won't eat too much loss. He will definitely strike them hard because of this." he told him. 

"Oh…" Huo Ling muttered. "Prille really just spilled everything about the Portkins, huh? I didn't expect it.." he said. "Isn't he afraid of the Portkins' retaliation?" he asked. 

"Lin Ze must have promised Prille to make him confess." Yi Bing said. "Whether Lin Ze would keep his promise… only Lin Ze knows." He explained. 

Huo Ling looked at him. "What do you think did Lin Ze promise to Prille, convincing Prille to sell out the Portkins?" he asked. 

"If you're asking me this, then you must definitely look down on this world's number businessman's personal assistant and secretary." Yi Bing said. 

"I'm not." Huo Ling frowned. 

"I know. My words apply to the people of this world." Yi Bing said. "There's no useless person around Iris, and Iris definitely wouldn't keep one." He told him. 

"Except Rhyan." Huo Ling spoke in a matter-of-fact tone. 

"… yes. Except Rhyan." Yi Bing forced a smile. He chose to change the topic. "Since we now found out the ones who killed Renton, the only thing left for us to do is resolve this world's energy." Hed said. 

"Yeah." Huo Ling nodded. "How do we do it?" he asked. 

"Wait." Yi Bing answered. 

"… are you pulling my leg?" Huo Ling asked as he stared at Yi Bing. His gaze is telling Yi Bing that if Yi Bing would answer 'yes', he would strike him. 

"No." Yi Bing swiftly answered. He really isn't joking. "Look. In order to remove that object beneath the swimming pool to fix this world's energy, and at the same time, release Renton from it, we have to dig the swimming pool." He started. "But, we can't do that. And, only the expert that the Portkins hired knows what devious spell did he cast to disrupt this world's energy, and to fix Renton in this place." He explained. 

"Oh…" Huo Ling muttered. 

"So, only Iris can dig that swimming pool. Only Iris can deal with the Portkins." Yi Bing continued. "Of course. Since he already knows there's this shady 'expert' that the Portkins hired, he would definitely find him. If not, then, we'll tell Iris about Renton's ghost and that that expert has disrupted this world's energy, so we have to find that expert to fix everything." He explained. 

Huo Ling's eyes brightened. "Great idea!" he said. "Then, we'll just lie down to win!" he laughed. 

Yi Bing smiled. He was about to agree when he remembered something and he froze. "… not necessarily." He said. 

"Huh?" Huo Ling looked at him. 

"… the Decathlon is coming." Yi Bing said. "It's next week." He reminded him. 

Huo Ling. "…" f*ck. Is it too late to transfer school? He'd rather work to investigate cases than to waste his brain cells in a stupid school contest! 

Hospital, Monday.

The Decathlon is a three-day school event. Fortunately, it is just intra-school Decathlon that will be held next week, and it falls every Wednesday. Or else, Lin Ze would've been sent to the emergency room next to Iris. Nobody expected for the Fughlia High's principal's fourth son to die. Misfortunes fell on Fughlia High one after another. 

"How is father?" Harris asked as he and Lin Ze stood beside Iris' bed while Odrey sat beside the still unconscious Iris. 

"It's not serious. Your father has been living healthily since he was still struggling to become rich." Lin Ze said and paused. "In fact, he actually isn't interested in being rich. Or else, he would've already been sent to an ICU." He sighed. 

Harris nodded in agreement. He could tell that Iris has been living humbly and doesn't care whether he is rich or poor. He's only interested in making businesses, and not in the wealth they would bring. But, he's just too damn good with everything, so, he became nouveau rich. 

Suddenly, they heard a loud slapping sound outside. Through the glass window, they saw Rene scolding Rhyan while Rhyan hang his head in shame in front of her. His right cheek is vivid red with a handprint. 

"Rhyan is too muddle-headed." Lin Ze spoke. 

Harris didn't say anything. Lin Ze has become a part of their family long ago. Whether as Iris' personal assistant and secretary, or as their father-in-law. They and Iris are all poor before, so they don't care about Lin Ze's origin. They could also see that Lin Ze likes Iris, and he's been following Iris from the moment Iris took him home. 

In short, Lin Ze devotes his life to Iris. And they could see that Iris also has feelings towards Lin Ze. So, Harris didn't scold Lin Ze when Lin Ze badmouthed Rhyan. And what Lin Ze said is a fact. Although Rhyan was schemed against by the Portkins and Prille, they don't blame him for not realizing it. What they are mad about is carelessly lowering his guard against Prille and even giving personal information to Prille. 

Rhyan is too stupid. They don't know how he managed to live until now. In fact, it should've been who died instead of the cunning Quinn. But, in the end, it was Quinn who fell because Quinn cared too much about Rhyan. Now, Iris has became sick. It was all Rhyan's fault. They don't know who will be next among them who will fall because of Rhyan because of his mindless actions. 

It's not that they don't dare to beat up Rhyan so they left him to Rene to be slapped. They are all indifferent. What they are afraid is that they can't control themselves and they would beat up Rhyan too much that he'd become half-dead. So, they left him to Rene. 

"I'll handle the Decathlon event of Fughlia High." Harris told Lin Ze. "You… just stay here with father and look after him… uncle." He said. 

Odrey looked at them when she heard what Harris called Lin Ze. 

"Mn." Lin Ze nodded and his tensed shoulders finally relaxed. He looked at Iris, his eyes overflowing with tenderness. 

Harris who saw Lin Ze's gaze on Iris. "…" I've fcking worried too much. He thought and called Odrey for them to leave. Then, he opened the door and saw Rene has finally finished scolding Rhyan. 

"What are you fcking crying and feeling aggrieved for?!" Rene snapped at Rhyan when she saw Rhyan looked at Harris, looking pitiful. 

Harris and Odrey. "…" she still hasn't finished… 

"Was I wrong?!" Rene continued as she glared at Rhyan. "If you just cut off your contact with that bitch Pill, fourth brother wouldn't have died! And father wouldn't be sick and lying on the hospital bed right now!" she said, can't help raising her voice. 

Among them all, Rene is the most protective of Iris. Not only because women are more emotional than men, but because she likes Iris. Although not to the point of being deeply in love like Lin Ze, her deep respect towards Iris kept her emotions in line. This is one of the reasons why she stayed in the main villa, and to also look after Odrey. 

This is also why they left Rhyan to Rene to scold him. Rene vented out all of their frustrations towards Rhyan for making their family be harmed because of his actions. 

"How could I know he…" Rhyan said. 

"How can you not know?! Is your brain just a decoration inside your skull?!" Rene asked. "Then, make it useful by donating it to a medical university! I'll personally cudgel it out for you!" she said and was about to reach for Rhyan's head when Harris pulled her back. 

Rhyan was horrified by Rene's words and action. She really was serious! His face paled and he took a step back. 

"Rhyan, you fcker!" Rene finally reached the peak of her anger. "You never grew up! You've just wasted all of father's affections for you! As well as fourth brother!" she cried. She was always strong, but with Quinn's death, added with Iris falling sick… although Lin Ze told them it wasn't serious, but how can they not feel worried? "Tell us honestly. Are you working with the Portkins?!" she asked. 

Harris and Odrey looked at Rhyan. Of course, this isn't a grounded accusation. They all have thought of this. Rene just voiced it out for them. 

The blood in Rhyan's face disappeared and his tears fell. "How can I?!" he asked. His voice also rose. "Why would I harm all of you?! Why should I repay father's kindness with ingratitude? Why should I harm father who cared for me all this while?!" he said and sobbed. "I am sad about fourth brother's death… I am very worried for father… why must you accuse me?!" he asked, hurt.