The Heiress’ Return: Six Brothers at Her Beck and Call (Wynter Quinnell) novel Chapter 1716

As Wynter approached Rohan, she silently flung a silver needle at him. Rohan instantly dropped to his knees, as though his strength had been drained away.

The chamber of commerce members rushed to support him and glared at Wynter. "What did you do to Mr. Tarvin?" they demanded.

Wynter clapped her hands and glanced at Rohan. "Oh, nothing much. I was just keeping someone quiet. You sure know how to be ungrateful, Mr. Tarvin. It's a pity you're up against me—your good days are over.

"Just to be clear, it's not essential for me to acquire the market, but this place is dangerous. Unlike you guys, who only look out for yourselves, I have the people in mind."

As she spoke, a cultivator in his 40s, with a feather wand in hand, stepped out from the crowd. The chamber of commerce members hurriedly cleared a path for him, which further bolstered his ego.

The cultivator stopped beside Rohan, drawing out the silver needle from the latter's acupuncture point with a flick of the feather wand. He then turned to Wynter and chided, "You shouldn't needle others for no reason."

With a glance at his shoulder, Wynter recognized the cultivator as a disciple in Kaspar's lineage. Out of respect for Kaspar, she refrained from taking any action against them.

Instead, she explained calmly, "I don't usually act unless necessary. And when I do, it's because I'm dealing with a fiend."

Enraged by her words, Rohan attempted to order his men to strike but was stopped by the cultivator.

The cultivator approached Wynter and introduced himself, "I'm Cornelius Dagworth from Mt. Dragon, a disciple of the renowned cultivator, Alban Silvester. Did you mention this place is dangerous? That's ridiculous.

"This site sits strategically at the heart of three vital geomantic points, benefitting from a clear north-south energy flow and sustained by the city's fortune. No matter how you look at it, it's a truly valuable spot. It's definitely not as you've claimed it is."

Although Wynter was more well-versed in fortune-telling and geomancy, she had no interest in debating theories with Cornelius. "Even with a highly strategic location, this area is overrun with humans and animals.

"Without proper management, it becomes a breeding ground for germs, risking potential outbreaks."

She continued calmly, "You're Mr. Silvester's disciple, you say? Does he not advise you to trust in science and medicines rather than relying on mediums? Let's be clear—it's the frontline workers who determine this place's cleanliness, not you."

Cornelius bristled at her words and retorted, "I know you're the Quinnell family's daughter. I've been showing you respect because they are acquainted with Mr. Silvester.

"However, I've trained for years at Mt. Dragon. While I may not be as powerful as Mr. Silvester, I do have some skills.

"But you, Ms. Quinnell, are nothing but ignorant. You insult Mt. Dragon's arts with your nonsensical words. It's an utter disgrace to the Quinnells' name. Or, are the youngsters nowadays perhaps prone to exaggeration?"

When Cornelius mentioned Alban, his eyes gleamed with admiration. In contrast, he addressed Wynter with a tone of disdain, seemingly belittling her for her background.

The chamber of commerce members echoed his assertion.

"Mr. Dagworth hails from Mt. Dragon, while you're just a girl taken in by the Quinnells. You don't measure up to him."

"Mr. Dagworth is the Colifernia Chamber of Commerce's esteemed guest. Since his arrival, we've been on an upward trajectory, especially with his participation in the Arcane Way Forum. He even triumphed over foreign fortune tellers recently, bringing great honor to Cascadia!" a member added.

Cornelius modestly raised a hand. "It's merely a title, nothing more. Let's stay modest."

As Rohan was assisted to his feet, he chimed in, "No need for modesty, Mr. Dagworth. That girl is all talk when she claims this place is dangerous. I'm sure she's just eyeing the profits from the acquisition. Unlike you, who seeks nothing but sees only this land's value."

Cornelius could barely hide his smirk as praises rained down on him. During his time on Mt. Dragon, he had been relegated to house chores and meal duties. While he occasionally trained with Alban, he was far outshone by his more talented peers.

He never expected to be recognized upon leaving the mountains. He had everything he wanted in the Colifernia Chamber of Commerce, to the point where he even dismissed Alban's calls. Lost in the flattery and praise, he started overestimating his capabilities.

Wynter ignored the surrounding murmurs and asked, "What's your relationship with Kaspar Stavius?"

Cornelius was taken aback by the question before replying, "He's Mr. Silvester's mentor. I never expect you to know about him. "

However, he falsely assumed that Wynter admired Mt. Dragon and hoped to train under Kaspar. So, he added smugly, "You're welcome to join Mt. Dragon, though Mr. Stavius is out of your league. I could take you on as my disciple. That way, you might have a chance to meet him."

Wynter couldn't help but chuckle at his words, wondering if Cornelius was truly Mt. Dragon's disciple. After all, he was nothing like Kaspar. She was certain Cornelius would be mortified if he learned that Kaspar had once considered training under her.

Upon hearing the chuckle, Cornelius interpreted it as mockery. "Why are you laughing? Am I not worthy of being your mentor?"

Wynter regained her composure and smirked. "No, you're not. You claimed this place is energized by a clear north-south flow and sustained by the city's fortune, but you fail to realize that toxic energy could be flowing through instead.

"With its strategic location, it could easily turn into a sinister site if exposed to bloody energy. Tell me, what should be avoided when arranging a formation?"

Cornelius shot her a sharp look at her professional inquiry. Still, he answered with clear disdain, "Closing off the energy gates, obviously."

Wynter continued, "And where, may I ask, is the energy gate of this farmers' market?"

Cornelius confidently performed a swift divination before glancing toward the southwest. "The energy gate is right at—it's blocked?"

"It is. That neighborhood was built recently, and it happened to block the energy flow from the north-south side. Even if energy flows in, it's likely to turn toxic under such conditions," Wynter stated calmly.

She turned to Cornelius and scoffed. "Your understanding is shallow, yet you arrogantly jumped to conclusions. It seems the standards at Mt. Dragon are slipping."

Cornelius' face flushed with anger, and he retorted that his vision had been obscured. He snorted coldly and shot back, "Sounds like you have an issue with us, Ms Quinnell. Your family owed us a great favor in the past. Don't you think you're being ungrateful?"

Wynter burst into chuckles. "We owe Mt. Dragon a favor, you say? Does Mr. Stavius even acknowledge such a claim?"

Cornelius, stunned by the disrespect toward Mt. Dragon, nearly lashed out in fury, when a young cultivator held him back. "Don't make a scene," the cultivator warned, shaking his head.

Meanwhile, Cornelius took a deep breath. "If ten percent of the fortune is rescinded, Mt. Dragon will be without its talented cultivators for three years. But now, nearly half of it is lost! Who is the fool to cause such a disaster? They're bound to face the heavens' wrath."

The moment he said that, dark clouds swirled above Mt. Dragon, followed by flashes of lightning.

Kaspar, sensing the disturbance, was overwhelmed by his distress. He swore to find the fool who had angered the heavens. "The trail leads to Colifernia… Very well, I'll deal with you once I get there!"

At the farmers' market, a man in black approached Wynter after the chamber of commerce members had left. "What should we do now, Ms. Quinnell?"

Wynter swept a glance at her surroundings and said, "Just ignore them. Continue with your tasks. If anyone—especially those from relevant departments—comes for questioning, tell them to talk to me."

Before arriving at the farmers' market, she had already informed the higher-ups about the issue. Given how the chamber of commerce members threatened her, she was eager to see who would dare to stop her.

The sight of the polluted river and monkey carcasses heightened only Wynter's caution toward wild animals. After all, the farmers' market was a major source for both wild and aquatic creatures.

Since Blackie was found in the market, Wynter suspected that other aquatic animals for sale hailed from the same river. Though the virus remained unidentified, she was determined to prevent the situation from worsening.

"Let's have a meal. You'll think more clearly after some food," Dalton suggested. His deep baritone voice was pleasing to hear.

Wynter agreed, knowing she had to wait for the bait to be taken. She followed Dalton to a restaurant and settled into her seat to meditate.

Seeing that, Dalton poured her a cup of water and asked, "Are you thinking about the medium Layla mentioned?"

Wynter opened her eyes and gazed at him. "That's right. I'm wondering why he was accompanied by medics. We have no clue who they are, either."

Dalton took a sip of his water and said, "Finding the medics wouldn't be difficult. If they're planning trouble in Cascadia, they'll likely send spies or foreign visitors. Check the nearest hospital to see if anyone has left recently."

Wynter shook her head at his suggestion. "I've already checked the records. There's nothing unusual."

Her phone suddenly rang, and she moved to answer the call.

Lancelot's voice on the other end greeted her, "My dear Ms. Quinnell, as you requested, I found the person whose DNA matched the hair sample. I've sent the details to your phone. Take a look."

Wynter flashed a smile. "That's some impressive speed. Keep up the good work."

"Oh, it's my honor to be of service to you, Ms. Quinnell!" Lancelot chirped in perfect Emstanian.

As Wynter was about to hang up, Lancelot continued, "It seems like we're making progress, my dear Ms. Quinnell. I've also looked into the other matter you asked about. It turns out the hospital is hiding something about their patients…"