The Heiress’ Return: Six Brothers at Her Beck and Call (Wynter Quinnell) novel Chapter 1730

After she hung up the phone, Drexel approached Wynter with visible excitement. "Ms. Quinnell, the medicine has shown remarkable effects! Many patients are already starting to recover!"

Unbeknownst to them, a group of patients had followed closely behind Drexel. As they saw him speaking with Wynter, they gathered around, their eyes filled with gratitude.

"Thank you, Ms. Quinnell. We wouldn't have made it through this ordeal without you."

"We've all begun to recover thanks to your medicine. We came together to express our gratitude."

"I can't believe how young you are. You truly live up to the saying, 'Great talent shows itself early.'"

The crowd spoke one after another, and when they finished, all eyes turned toward Wynter. In unison, they bowed deeply.

Wynter tried to help them stand one by one, but they remained bent over.

Suddenly, a golden light emanated from behind them, surging toward Wynter and merging into her body. It was invisible to the naked eye, but Wynter knew it was the merit she earned.

After the group finally stood upright, Wynter addressed them. "This was a collective effort. You've only just begun to recover. Please return to your wards to rest for now."

She then instructed the nurses to assist the patients back to their rooms.

Meanwhile, the Special Unit sent in an update. "All medicine has been distributed, and the crisis is resolved."

Wynter quickly issued a message. "The outbreak is under control. Lift the lockdowns."

Just then, Lucas called. "Wynter, without you, Cascadia might have fallen under this virus' grip. We've just apprehended a spy hiding in the province, and we've also tracked down the two fugitives from the hospital. If nothing goes wrong, they'll be captured within ten minutes."

Wynter replied firmly, "Lucas, once those two are caught, inform me immediately. I'll handle their interrogations personally."

Lucas acknowledged her request and hung up, heading off to oversee the capture operation.

…

Meanwhile, in a courtyard located in the western part of Colifernia, someone reported, "Mr. Lofstedt, Mr. Tarvin has been taken into custody."

Eric Lofstedt, who was sitting on a rocking chair, slowly opened his eyes. "Taken into custody? For what?"

"He tried to intimidate the Quinnell family and caused trouble in the restricted area during the lockdown."

Hearing this, Eric shook his head. "What a useless fool. Deliver a message to the Chamber of Commerce later. From today onward, Rohan is relieved of his position as chairman. Make sure it's handled discreetly.

"If anyone asks, say it was Rohan's own decision, and that the chamber had no involvement in his plans."

After giving the instructions, Eric closed his eyes again and muttered to himself, "It seems this plan has failed. Rohan will have to suffice as a scapegoat."

…

Not long after, Lucas sent Wynter a message. "The targets have been apprehended. They are in the holding cell."

Upon seeing the message, Wynter headed to the door. She straddled her superbike, revved the engine, and sped toward the holding cell.

Arriving at the location, she strode directly toward the room where the two individuals were being held. Inside, Dave and Arwel sat with their legs crossed, their demeanor relaxed and completely oblivious to the danger inching closer.

The door opened, and their gazes landed on Wynter.

Dave spoke first, sneering. "You're that nurse from the hospital. I had a bad feeling about you. If I'd known, I'd have taken care of you earlier."

Wynter smirked disdainfully. "Dream on. Letting you escape from the hospital was my oversight, but this is Cascadia. No matter how far you run, you'll never leave this place."

Dave replied dismissively, "It's just a matter of time. Sooner or later, we'll walk out of here."

"I'm afraid things won't go as you hope. You'll be staying here permanently. But before that, I have a few questions for you," Wynter replied, unfazed by Dave's words.

Dave and Arwel turned their heads away in defiance, clearly unwilling to cooperate.

Unbothered, Wynter began, "I've investigated the both of you. You're from Magota, yet work for Foplya. Based on this alone, Magota will abandon you. Besides, Foplya won't dare openly admit your association. Your escape routes have been cut off."

Hearing this, the two turned their heads back. "How could you know such classified information?"

Wynter pressed on, "Anything that happens leaves a trail. Now, it's in your best interest to answer my questions. If you cooperate, I can recommend a reduced sentence. You couldn't have pulled off this pandemic alone.

"Foplya sent someone to assist you, and that person kidnapped my team members. Judging by your ranks, you likely didn't have direct access to that person. But Foplya forced you to obey him, didn't they?"

Dave's previously relaxed demeanor was gone. He didn't know how Wynter found such information. "Will you let us go if I answer your questions?"

Wynter shook her head. "What you've done is unforgivable. Your endings are clear if you refuse to speak—execution, with no one to collect your bodies. But if you choose to cooperate, I can help you earn a chance at atonement."

Dave sighed, then admitted, "You're right. Foplya did send someone. Specifically, a Cascadian was working with them. I only met him once, back when we dumped monkey carcasses in a mountain village. He seemed almost lifeless."

Wynter's hypothesis aligned with his words. She recalled Layla's account of a man and a healthcare worker discarding the carcasses.

"Why that village? Why not anywhere else?" she pressed.

Dave responded with a scoff, "He said something about the village having the Essence of the Heavenly Law. Utter nonsense. If Foplya hadn't ordered me to follow his lead, I wouldn't have bothered going there."

The Essence of the Heavenly Law? Wynter went quiet as she pondered.

After a moment of silence, she asked, "Why is Foplya against Cascadia? What is their goal?"

After a moment of hesitation, Dave revealed, "They wanted to disrupt Cascadia's development and economics, creating an opportunity to exploit."

Wynter nodded thoughtfully. "Do you remember what that person looked like?"

Dave shook his head. "The only thing I remember is that he wore a robe."

"So, your work was arranged by Rohan, and it was also that person who asked him to do so."

Dave nodded.

With this confirmation, Wynter turned toward the door, but Dave called out hastily, "Wait! What about the leniency you mentioned?"

Wynter glanced back. "The minor crimes will be dealt with first. Then, we'll handle the major ones. Everything you've done has struck at Cascadia's core. Do you really think you'll escape death?"

Dave shouted furiously, "You said we'd earn a chance at atonement if I cooperated! I didn't think Cascadia's leaders would be such liars!"

"Cascadians don't deceive each other. But are you one of us?"

With that, she strode toward her superbike.

Before starting the engine, Wynter sent a message on the dark web to her team. "Bring me the clan leader from the riverside mountain village."

She murmured to herself, "It seems we're dealing with a puppet master operating from the shadows."

…

Meanwhile, one of Eric's subordinates came to report, "Someone has been investigating you in the Chamber of Commerce."

Eric nodded calmly, signaling his understanding. "Find an opportunity to silence Rohan."

The subordinate continued, "Mr. Lofstedt, why haven't we heard from that cultivator who came to see you last time?"

Eric turned to look at the subordinate. "Don't let curiosity get the better of you about things you're not meant to know."

The subordinate quickly apologized profusely before retreating from the room.

…

Layla had just prepared some offerings and was about to head to the River God's shrine. She refused to believe that the River God had simply left and held onto the belief that the deity would continue to watch over the village.

As she stepped out of her home, she encountered the men Wynter sent. "Good evening. Please come with us. We need to ask you some questions."

Layla took a step back warily. "What does this have to do with me? Why should I—"

Before she could finish, the Special Unit members firmly escorted her away. Their orders were clear—bring Layla to Wynter.

Meanwhile, hidden behind a large tree, a man observed the scene. He held a dagger in his hand. Watching them lead Layla away, he pulled out a phone and made a quick call. "The mission has failed. Someone arrived before me and took her away."

From the other end of the line, a hoarse, weary voice responded, "Return immediately. Do not let yourself be seen."

The man nodded and slowly backed away, disappearing into the shadows.

…

Not long after, Layla was brought before Wynter. Upon seeing her, she exclaimed, "Why is it you? You said you wouldn't arrest me!"

Wynter replied calmly, "I need your help to recall something."

She gestured to the person next to her. "This is a sketch artist. I need you to describe the cultivator you saw so that he can draw him."

Layla was about to claim that she didn't remember when Wynter interrupted her with a stern tone, "You can choose to say you don't remember. However, if that's the case, my previous assurances won't stand. Someone, take her into custody."

Layla panicked. "Wait, wait! I'll talk! I'll try to remember... That cultivator was very old."

"What else?" The sketch artist had already prepared a pen and paper, ready to begin.

"He has a lot of wrinkles on his face. When you get close to him, there is this terrible smell. It smells like something rotten. But his eyes were different—they were deep and piercing, like he could see right through you.

"His hair was completely white." Then, she paused to think. "And his voice—it was heavy, like he carried a lot of sorrow. His posture was hunched, but his movements didn't match someone his age."

Wynter nodded. "Take a seat and try to think if there's anything else you can remember."

The artist began sketching based on her description, each stroke carefully capturing the details. A short while later, the artist handed over the completed drawing to Wynter.

One of her team members took one look at the sketch and immediately frowned. "Boss, isn't this—"