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Novel Catalog
Chapter 188
There was a sharp snap as the bearded man, Kale, threw the clipboard onto the table, his voice cold and challenging. “Are you here for dinner, or what? If you’re here to look for trouble, then you’ve come to the wrong place.”
Just then, the proprietor’s wife, a sturdy woman with a warm smile, approached with a steaming bowl of fish stew, placing it carefully on a nearby table.
“Oh, Mr. Calcraft, you’re here!” The old woman’s face lit up as soon as she saw Nash, her excitement palpable.
Her eyes flicked briefly to Kale’s sour expression, and she quickly added, “Kale, this is a friend of Dr. Tanner’s. He even had dinner with the richest man of Jonford right here in our restaurant!”
Kale’s attitude softened slightly as he picked up the clipboard from the table, his demeanor grudgingly respectful. “I see,” he muttered before limping toward the kitchen, his limping gait a stark contrast to his earlier aggression.
The proprietor’s wife, turning to Nash, offered an apologetic smile. “He’s my nephew. Had an accident when he was young, broke his leg while climbing a tree. Grew up with a bad temper. You don’t have to pay him any mind, Mr. Calcraft.”
Nash gave a polite nod, acknowledging the woman’s words. “It’s alright. I’d like to invite the proprietor to have a few drinks with me. Is now a good time?” His voice held an undercurrent of intent, and his eyes flicked toward the kitchen door, subtly signaling to Jupiter and Angelica. He was concerned Kale would try to slip away.
Angelica, sensing something was amiss, hesitated before handing the menu to Nash, but Nash’s casual tone had already shifted her focus. “Mr. Calcraft, would you mind ordering for us?”
Jupiter, ever the tactician, leaned over with a grin and asked, “Good lady, where’s the toilet?”
The old woman, though still a little flustered from the earlier interaction, pointed toward the back of the kitchen. “The toilet is outside the kitchen. You can go through the back to get there.”
Angelica, catching Nash’s subtle hint, immediately stood up. “I need to go as well.”
Without missing a beat, the two of them left, following the direction the woman had pointed. Nash, realizing the opportunity had come, stood up with a casual air. “My stomach’s feeling a bit off too. I’ll join you in the line for the toilet.”
The moment he stepped into the kitchen, a man carrying a pot of shredded potatoes almost collided with him. The man’s eyes widened in recognition when he saw Nash.
“M-Mr. Calcraft, you’re here for dinner again?” The man stammered, clearly surprised. He moved to part the curtains that led to the back, as if expecting someone else to be with Nash.
Nash smiled lightly, not fazed by the question. “Just heading to the toilet.”
The proprietor parted the curtains with a glance over his shoulder, looking out to see if anyone else had come. “I see,” he muttered, seemingly content with Nash’s explanation.
Outside, a small courtyard housed the public restrooms—two separate toilets tucked in the corner. Nash glanced at the door and walked toward it. But as he did, the sounds of commotion reached his ears.
Jupiter and Angelica were already positioned outside, blocking the bearded man’s escape.
“Wesley, we know it’s you!” Jupiter’s voice rang out, steady and authoritative.
The bearded man—Kale—paused in his tracks, his expression freezing for a moment. “My name is Kale,” he said in a dull voice, though his eyes briefly flickered with something dangerous.
Jupiter, unfazed, retorted with a cold sneer, “Kale or Wesley, I hope you’ll join us for a walk.”
In that split second, Kale’s demeanor shifted. His once dull eyes sharpened, and with alarming speed, he made a break for it, charging toward the two-meter-high wall. His movements were fluid, almost graceful for someone with a limp.
Angelica didn’t hesitate. With a snort, she dashed after him, while Jupiter followed closely behind. Kale vaulted over the wall with impressive agility, flipping over it in one smooth motion.
Angelica and Jupiter didn’t waste time. They both grabbed the edge of the wall and pulled themselves up, following him over in quick pursuit.
Moments later, the sounds of struggle and combat echoed from behind the wall. Nash, who had started toward the toilets, stopped in his tracks as the noise reached his ears.
The proprietor, now visibly alarmed, hurried out of the kitchen. “Mr. Calcraft, there were two guests who needed to use the toilet. The public restrooms are small—let me take you to my house instead. It’s more convenient.”
Before Nash could respond, the sounds of fighting grew louder. The proprietor’s eyes darted nervously toward the direction of the noise.
Then, just as quickly, the fighting stopped.
Nash, sensing the moment had arrived, made his way toward the courtyard. As he passed through the iron gate, he saw Jupiter and Angelica pushing the cuffed man inside. It was clear now.
The proprietor’s face drained of color when he saw the bearded man in cuffs. “Kale… Who… who are you people?” he stammered, eyes wide in disbelief.
Jupiter stepped forward, his expression serious. He flashed his ID. “We’re from the Inspection Department. We suspect Kale is connected to the explosion at the Lewis family’s estate.”
The man’s face twisted in confusion and fear. “You… You’ve made a mistake. Kale has been living with us since he returned from the countryside. How could he be involved in such a crime?”
Jupiter’s gaze hardened. “Is he Kale, or Wesley?”
The question hung in the air, charged with unspoken implications. The truth was finally beginning to unravel, and the man’s reaction would either confirm or deny the dark suspicion that had been building for weeks.