Chapter 190-1

Vivian took out a stack of cash from her bag. "We really mean no harm. If any of you can give me any clues, I will pay you."

Danielle glanced around the village. The villagers were all very hostile toward strangers, and it seemed that they were not going to get any information from the villagers.

"We really haven’t seen this person. If you don’t leave now, don’t blame us for our actions" The hostile villagers warned the Darling family.

“I’m telling you…"

"Xavier, Mom, Dad, let’s go!" Danielle pulled her family back into the car.

"I really didn’t expect this village to be so wary and hostile toward strangers. Now the villagers won’t say anything, and we can’t get Matthew on the phone. What should we do?" Vivian asked anxiously.

"Why don’t we wait until everyone is asleep at night, sneak into the village to survey the terrain, and see if Matthew is here? But there is a possibility that Matthew has already left the village." This time Xavier’s idea was the same as Danielle’s. They would wait till nightfall to investigate before making a decision.

"Xavier, this suggestion sounds feasible. Let’s go over there and check it out later."

"Since the people in this village are so rude and hostile, I will go in with you later." Howard was worried that his children would be in danger.

Danielle shook her head, "Mom, Dad, you and the bodyguards should wait for Xavier and me in the car. The villagers will spot us easily if all of us go."

"It’s too dangerous for just the two of you to go in."

"It’s okay. We’ll be back soon."

*****

Blackpool Village Committee.

"Chief, the people who came today are looking for that lawyer. Do you think they’ve discovered something?" A villager asked timidly.

Another villager spoke with a disdainful look on his face, "We didn’t do anything. It was that lawyer who insisted on going behind the mountain. It’s none of our business whether he lives or dies. You just need to keep your mouths shut. Think carefully about what you should and shouldn’t say."

"But those people look very rich and a bit intimidating. Why don’t we just tell them? They said they’ll pay for what we tell them. This way, we can also get some money. As for whether they can find him or not, it’s none of our business."

"Damn! Are you obsessed with money? Maybe these people have nothing to do with that lawyer. Maybe they want to buy our land. I just don’t understand. What’s so good about this place? Why would a big company want to buy it? Do you think there’s some treasure buried here?"

"Our village must not have any contact with outsiders because we don’t want our identities to be exposed. Maybe they already know who we are."

The village chief, Orion Serrano, who had remained silent, finally spoke, "That lawyer was too curious and wouldn’t listen to our advice. He insisted on going to our forbidden area. But none of those who went in ever came out alive. Curiosity killed the cat. It’s a pity."

As the sky gradually darkened, Danielle and Xavier came to the village to investigate. They discovered a very strange phenomenon. The door of every house was locked and no lights were switched on although it was only eight o’clock. The entire village looked like it was uninhabited.

Both of them walked to the village center and heard a few crows crowing. It seemed particularly strange as if they had entered some deserted place.

"Danielle, it’s so dark here. How... How can they all rest so early?" Xavier grabbed Danielle’s arm and said in a trembling voice.

Danielle looked around vigilantly. "It’s okay, Xavier. People in villages usually go to bed early. I used to go to bed early in the countryside." Although Danielle comforted Xavier, she did feel that the villagers here rested too early, and none of them had their lights on, which was very unusual.

Xavier had never lived in the countryside before, so he believed what Danielle told him. He became calmer than he was just now. "Really? I don’t know if Matthew is here or not."

"Danielle, look! There is light in that house in front. Let’s go and have a look."

The two of them came to the gate of the office of the village committee. The gate was still open. They eavesdropped at the window and realized that the villagers were talking about them.