Chapter 181 What a brilliant explanation!
"An advanced Soulmancer?"
Zoey instantly recognized the level Nelson had reached.
Upon hearing this, Wes stared intently at Nelson. An advanced Soulmancer was undoubtedly considered a top expert in the current Soulmancer circle. Had he just run into one by chance?
And he seemed to have never seen this person before.
Wes had memorized the internal information of the 13th Bureau, but he couldn't recall who this significant figure before him was.
"Cough! Zoey, don't you remember me? We've met before in Ravenwood." Nelson cleared his throat. He used to have long hair, wore a magic hat and a wizard's robe, and had a long goatee. His appearance was very different from now, so it was normal not to recognize him.
"Ravenwood?" Zoey stared at Nelson for a while with wide eyes, and finally said, "I don't remember."
"Oh!! I... I remember now!" Wes pointed at Nelson, his hands trembling, "The Grand Wizard Nelson?"
"Nelson?" Zoey pretended to recall, and two seconds later, energy surged wildly through her body. She said coldly with an expressionless face, "You should come with us."
"…" Nelson felt like dying. Needless to say, the matter of stealing artifacts from Mount San Juan Teotihuaca had been reported to the 13th Bureau.
Wes hurriedly said, "Sis, wait a moment!"
Zoey continued to stare fixedly at Nelson. If Nelson had any intention of escaping, she would definitely not hesitate to pounce and give him a good beating.
Nelson gave a bitter smile, "You want to ask me about the incident on Mount San Juan Teotihuaca, right?"
"Hand over the items, and I won't beat you up." Zoey was also arrogant, showing no mercy even when facing someone like Nelson.
Wes was embarrassed. In the world today, probably only his sister would dare to talk to Nelson like this.
Nelson hurriedly said, "Zoey, calm down, there's a misunderstanding. I didn't take those things! People from your 13th Bureau should have gone to check already, right? If you couldn't take them, how could I have carried those items away?"
As he spoke, Nelson sneakily glanced at William; he was shouldering this responsibility for William's sake.
Although William claimed the items were his, this responsibility wasn't so easy to bear.
Nelson had indeed become more powerful, but Zoey was extraordinarily gifted with unique abilities, recognized as the strongest in the entire superpower community.
Even Nelson was definitely not her match. If he were to be defeated by Zoey at this moment, his credibility in front of William would be lost.
Zoey said, "So many people saw you fleeing from the cave, and all the items were gone. Are you saying it had nothing to do with you?"
"It really had nothing to do with me; by the time I arrived, the items inside were already gone."
Nelson was in a bind. The real thief was standing right beside him, yet he dared not speak out and had to bear the blame—this feeling was unbearable.
However, he believed that after weathering this storm, William would surely think more highly of him.
"So, you're saying someone took the items before you got there?" Zoey asked. "But at that time, so many people only saw you inside. Based on the timing, the items were there before you entered, but after you went in, they were all gone. The experts from the archaeological team discovered you, and you hastily fled the scene. If it wasn't you, then who could it be?"
William was standing beside, listening.
The situation seemed to be as Zoey described.
Walker had gone in without being detected but didn't take the items. Then Nelson should have informed the people from the archaeological team when he entered.
In the end, William arrived, packed up all the items and left. No one detected him throughout the process. When the experts from the archaeological team went back in, all the items were missing, and only Nelson was inside.
How would Nelson explain this huge responsibility for stealing historical artifacts?
Nelson thought for a long time but couldn't shake off the suspicion.
He finally steeled himself and said, "Actually, the president of the Arcane Society came by. He took all the items. If you want them, go find him."
William thought inwardly—what a brilliant explanation!
Effortlessly throwing the responsibility onto the head of his own Arcane Society's president, this move indeed had a vibe reminiscent of the power struggle between the godly brothers Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades.
If you can't shake off the suspicion, shift it onto someone else. Given Nelson's aggrieved expression, his words seemed reasonable.
Zoey fell silent for a moment before asking Wes, "What do you think?"
Before Wes could respond, Nelson interjected, "Would I really frame the president of our Arcane Society?"
"I think what Nelson is saying is probably true," Wes pondered and then spoke. "Given the president of Arcane Society's capabilities, it shouldn't be difficult for him to take away the artifacts undetected. Nelson seems to be taking the blame for his Arcane Society's president."
Zoey considered this and finally said, "Then you should come back with us to Ravenwood, confront your Arcane Society's president face-to-face, and have him return the items."
Nelson sighed and spoke even more aggrievedly, "Zoey, aren't you harming me? If I go back to Ravenwood to confront the president of the Arcane Society, even if you get the items back, wouldn't I be killed by him? The situation is as it is, if you want the items, go to Ravenwood and ask him yourself. I won't be going to Ravenwood for the next few decades; we've fallen out."
Zoey was suddenly at a loss. If the items weren't with Nelson, it wouldn't be right for her to take action, would it?
Wes had no choice but to say, "We should inform Director Garcia about this matter. After all, the Arcane Society is a legitimate organization and has contributed a lot to the country. The president of the Arcane Society has a good relationship with Director Garcia; let the two of them discuss it. There's no need for a violent resolution."
"You handle this," Zoey finally decided and said to William, "Let's go, it's time for dinner."
William didn't say much, he simply closed the bookstore door and, along with Nelson, followed them towards the east gate of the academy.
On the way, William didn't forget to message Evelyn, "I'm going out for dinner, are you coming to the store later?"
Evelyn quickly replied on WhatsApp, "Are you going to Alice's house? I heard your great-grandfather passed away?"
William was momentarily at a loss for words. Alice had told Evelyn she was William's cousin, which, by that calculation, would indeed make Charles Turner his great-grandfather.
His great-grandfather had passed away, and instead of paying his respects, he was out having a barbecue?
This situation was somewhat awkward.
Indeed, telling one lie led to having to explain it with hundreds more.
William simply replied to Evelyn, "I am not her cousin; she made that up. I visited the Turner family yesterday; I'm outside now."
After a few minutes, Evelyn responded, "Can you watch the store alone tonight then? I want to pay my respects to Charles Turner; Alice has been very kind to me."
"You go ahead," William didn't say much more. The funeral was open to everyone; those wishing to pay their respects were welcomed. If Evelyn wanted to express her condolences, how could he stop her?
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