Chapter 773: A Familiar Smell Tina found it strange as her gaze swept over the weeds growing in the field. From a distance, with trees obscuring her view, she couldn't tell what was being cultivated. She furrowed her brows and asked, "Uncle, how many drug ingredients car you recognize?" She could identify poisonous herbs but wasn't familiar with the raw materials for drugs.
A cold gleam flashed in Jared's eyes. "Not many, just the common ones. Tina, are you suspecting that the Bailey family is using this place as a base for growing and refining drugs?" "That's impossible, Serena." Before Tina could answer, Cole had already refuted the idea. "The villagers have suspected their crops before, even filing police reports. But the police cseveral times and found nothing." When he first arrived at Bright Village, Cole had considered the possibility. He even checked around the Bailey family's property. It was common knowledge that refining drugs would produce waste, and without a proper sewage system in the village, the waste would likely end up in the river.
But the village wells, streams, and even the large river located several kilometers away were all clean. The Bailey family didn't live near any water sources, and aside from Kael Bailey occasionally leaving the house, the rest of the family rarely ventured beyond their courtyard. For over a decade, their movements had been confined to their home.
Cole recalled what he had seen and glanced around before lowering his voice. "To be honest, their place doesn't smell like drugs. But the smell there... I can't describe it. It's like something rotting, but not quite." He crossed his arms, his eyes flickering toward Jared. "Mr. Farrell, you've cacross so many people. Can you tell what that smell is?" Jared shot him a glance. "I'm not a dog." What had gotten into Cole? He had been all smiles the last tthey met, but today, his tone was dripping with sarcasm.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtCole was momentarily stunned, unsure of how to respond.
Jared gave him a faint look and said calmly, "Let's go in and take a look." Cole took a deep breath, suppressing his dissatisfaction. "Mr. Farrell is right. Serena, follow me. The Bailey family's house is just ahead." After navigating through the long village paths, Tina followed Cole as they weaved through twists and turns, eventually arriving at a large, flat area. The further they went, the fewer houses there were, and the quieter the surroundings became. Finally, they stopped near the Bailey family's property.
Surrounded by lush trees and waist-high weeds, there wasn't another hin sight. Kael Bailey's two-story house stood alone in the wilderness, surrounded by a worn-down wall and featuring a slightly old-fashioned architectural style. It looked like the perfect setting for a horror movie.
As Cole had mentioned, the moment they stepped into the Bailey family's vicinity, an indescribable stench hit their noses. Even though the three of them had cprepared with masks, the smell still seeped through, overwhelming their senses.
Tina wrinkled her nose, sniffing cautiously as an unsettling feeling spread through her. She glanced around and nudged Jared's side. "Uncle, I feel like I've smelled this before." "I feel the sway," Jared replied, a hint of surprise flickering in his eyes. "But I can't remember where. What about you, Tina?" "Shere," Tina admitted.
Cole interjected, "Serena, should I knock on the door?" Pushing aside the strange feeling in her heart, Tina nodded. "Go ahead." The sound of Cole knocking echoed through the desolate wilderness. Jared surveyed the area, noting how suitable it was for setting up an ambush. His gaze swept over his team, who had discreetly surrounded the Bailey property, maintaining a distance of five to six meters.
He made brief eye contact with a few of them before shifting his focus back.
Cole knocked persistently for ten minutes before footsteps approached from inside. A woman's irritated and rough voice drew closer. "Who is it?! How many times do I have to say it? We don't need anything from the village! Your stupid plaza has nothing to do with us!" Grumbling, she opened the door.
At first glance, her annoyed gaze landed on Tina and Jared, pausing for two seconds before turning wary. "You're not from the village." Diana had lived there for over a decade and rarely interacted with the villagers. Even so, most people in the village recognized her. But Tina and Jared, along with Cole's demeanor, were nothing like the locals-hardworking farmers tied to the land.
Tina and Jared, in particular, exuded an air of elegance and power, like royalty stepping out of a castle. Startled by their presence, Diana tensed up. "Who are you looking for?" Ignoring her reaction, Cole stepped forward after receiving Tina's approval. "We're here for one reason only." "The Ashbury Dyer family. Surely you haven't forgotten them." Diana's pupils contracted, and she immediately tried to shut the door. But Cole was faster, blocking it with ease. A woman in her fifties or sixties was no match for him. With a slight push, the old door creaked open.
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"What do you want?!" Diana snapped, her tone shifting as her eyes darted around. "The Dyer family killed my son years ago! Those two bastards b of theirs jumped off a building! What now? Have you cto kill us and avenge them?" Realizing she couldn't overpower them, Diana quickly changed her approach. "I'll tell you this-killingwon't change anything! The Dyer family deserved what they got!" Tina's long lashes fluttered as a cold glint flickered in her eyes. "Whether they deserved it or not isn't for you to decide. We're here to find out the truth." She stepped past Cole and kicked the door. The other half of the door slammed against the wall with a loud bang.
"We're here today because of what Toward happened over a decade ago." Tina advanced toward Diana, entering the house. Her sharp gaze swept over the four or five people who had rushed out of the rooms. There were both men and women. The eldest, who appeared to be Diana's husband, was about her age. The others seemed to be around Kael Bailey's age-likely his siblings. "Mom!" "Wife, what's going on?!" Ozan Bailey, hunched over and supported by his children, shuffled forward. He glanced at Tina and her companions before turning to Diana.
With her family now present, Diana suddenly collapsed to the floor, wailing as she slapped her thigh."My poor son! He was so young when these cursed Dyers took him from me! And now they've cback to torment us! Oh, why didn't you takewith you, my boy? At my age, I'm still being bullied by these people!" "Leave, all of you!" she cried, sneaking a glance at Ozan. "Take the kids and go! I'll hold them off. Today, I'll avenge my son if it's the last thing I do!" Ozan's three middle-aged children stepped forward without hesitation, forming a protective barrier in front of their parents.
"Mom, Dad, go! We'll handle them. Today, we'll fight to the death for our brother's revenge!"