Chapter 219 Past Events of the Fishing Village

Chapter 219 Past Events of the Fishing Village

"Honestly, I've done my homework on you. I went through all the files from that Silverlight City case with the cops, the DA, and the court. I think you had a big hand in it, thanks to your husband Alan's strategic planning. You two make a great team. But let's be real, luck played a huge part in that case. It wasn't as miraculous as people say."

I nodded. Kurt was spot on. I also believed luck was a major factor in the Silverlight City case. Alan's involvement was crucial in following the leads.

"But now, my opinion of you has changed a lot. You know what they say, 'seeing is believing.'"

Kurt looked at me intently and said sincerely, "I'm curious about something, Ms. Johnson. You studied law, and as far as I know, you didn't study criminal investigation in college. After that, you worked at the prosecutor's office. How did you develop such meticulous logical thinking?"

"Not only is your logic meticulous, but you also didn't miss a single detail and have a strong ability to think backward to solve the case. That's quite rare."

"Thanks for the compliment. You're too kind. It was just luck."

I responded. Before Kurt knocked on the door, I wasn't sure I could accurately guess it was him. But the moment he spoke, all the pieces fell into place, forming a complete picture.

"Now it's time for a story. You've gone through a lot to get here, and I appreciate your honesty."

Kurt downed his drink and shook his empty glass, making it clear he wanted more.

"You like to drink?"

"No drink, no story. This is your place, so naturally, you should treat me. Another glass of brandy, please. I've already tasted the whiskey."

Kurt swirled his glass, grinning widely.

Although I didn't speak Vesperian, Kurt did. He waved over a waiter and exchanged a few words. Soon, another waiter brought a bottle of brandy and poured him a glass.

Kurt looked satisfied, bringing the glass to his nose and taking a deep breath, savoring the aroma.

"When I was a kid in a fishing village, all the kids would gather around the TV to watch movies. We admired the scenes of foreigners enjoying their drinks, dreaming that one day, we'd make it big and drink like that. It felt so sophisticated, you know? Very gentlemanly, even though I didn't understand what was so great about the drink."

"You know, kids born in a fishing village are likely destined to a certain fate. The good life we dreamed of was probably never going to happen."

"Byron told me that when you talked about your childhood, there was a plague. But I checked the records for Emerald City over the past few decades and found no major plagues."

Kurt paused and looked at me. "You work fast. You couldn't find it because it wasn't a natural disaster."

"A man-made disaster?"

I asked.

Kurt nodded heavily, his eyes flashing with anger and humiliation.

"It was man-made."

I was stunned. Kurt's eyes suddenly burned with intense humiliation and rage. He gripped his glass so tightly that his fingers turned white.

The thick glass shattered in his hand.

Blood dripped onto the floor, and the waitstaff rushed over. Kurt, unfazed, calmly picked the glass shards from his fingers.

Then he took a white towel from the table and wiped his hands, blood still oozing from the wounds.

"You should go to the hospital and get that bandaged. Be careful of infection."

I frowned. Kurt suddenly seemed to have a self-destructive tendency, not even flinching from the pain.

"No need. I often do this to remind myself not to forget the past."

Kurt smiled and extended his left hand, covered in scars.

"I'm not from Emerald City. I'm from Sovereign City, and I grew up in a village there."

"Over a decade ago, something happened that nearly wiped out everyone in the surrounding villages."

Kurt said calmly.

"Was it a nuclear waste leak?"

I guessed. Such a large-scale disaster, unrecorded by the authorities, could only be a man-made catastrophe like a nuclear waste leak.

Kurt paused, then shook his head.

"You're wrong. Every country discharges nuclear waste. Those are just bargaining chips at the negotiation table. It was an experiment."

"When we were kids, a research station was built next to our village. The people there were very nice, friendly. We didn't know what they were researching. We snuck in a few times and saw lots of bottles and jars. It seemed like magic to us—metal catching fire, water changing colors with a few drops of something."

"They also grew plants and kept animals. It was fascinating."

I thought for a moment. "Biological research?"

Kurt nodded, his eyes distant.

"More precisely, genetic and bacterial research. I only realized it when I grew up. The plants and animals were experimental results cultivated with bacteria. I once saw a rabbit with fangs, a turtle with spikes, black sunflowers growing towards the moon, and vines that looked like snakes. It might sound like a story, but I saw it with my own eyes. The animals and plants seemed to be in a state of madness. They all died within days, buried hastily, and the experiments continued."

"It must have been genetic programming research."

Global genetic programming research isn't open. Many countries strictly regulate this technology. I didn't expect someone to conduct such research here over a decade ago. From Kurt's description, it was likely illegal research.

"After a year or two, the research station was raided by police in hazmat suits. I saw it myself. Even in hazmat suits, they died shortly after leaving the lab."

"I was a teenager, scared to death, crying and running home. But on the way, I realized something."

Kurt's eyes were filled with fear, his lips trembling.

"The bacteria from the lab started spreading. The police were too close and died quickly. When did the bacteria start spreading? Would it affect our village? Would everyone in our village die too?"