Chapter Seventy-Four: Conspiracy

Faced with the crowd’s questioning gazes, Bai Niao felt her mind go completely blank and instinctively looked toward Wang Hui.

As soon as she looked at him, everyone else’s attention followed. Wang Hui was squatting by the corpse, putting on an act as he examined the body, and only after a long while did he slowly stand up.

“This person was killed by an anomalous entity.”

The moment these words left his lips, the entire atmosphere turned silent, and each person's expression was different—some were fearful, some shocked, others simply confused.

Someone finally voiced their doubt: “How do you know that?”

This question was just as Wang Hui had expected. He straightened his clothes with great care, then slowly spoke.

“Oh, I forgot to introduce myself. I am a researcher specializing in anomalous entities. If you don’t believe me, you can ask the lady spirit handler over there.”

With that, he glanced at Bai Niao.

Only moments ago had Wang Hui learned that Bai Niao was a spirit handler. Remembering her earlier actions, he guessed she must have been terrified by his invincible boss, and now wouldn’t dare do anything rash.

Bai Niao was utterly stunned. She couldn’t tell what Wang Hui was really after. But did that matter right now?

It didn’t. All she cared about was one thing—how to survive.

Wang Hui’s words seemed to offer her a lifeline, a chance to live, and she clung to that chance with all her might.

“Yes, he’s indeed a researcher of anomalous entities. I know him.”

Desperate to survive, she didn’t hesitate, nor did she care about her duties as a spirit handler.

Many at the reception had seen Wang Hui with Bai Niao earlier, so no one doubted his identity now. Everyone kept their eyes on him. Though some had suspected him of being Mr. Li’s illegitimate son, they quickly dismissed the thought; it wasn’t surprising for Mr. Li to know a researcher in this field.

Wang Hui was more than satisfied with this effect. He scanned the crowd and spoke in a cold tone.

“I’ve heard of this method of killing before—it’s used by an anomalous entity known as the Malevolent Wraith.”

“The Malevolent Wraith!”

Everyone shuddered. Just the name itself sent chills down their spines.

But Wang Hui paid them no mind and continued, “I’ve heard of this kind of entity. It often hides aboard ships and kills the people on them. Its ability to conceal its presence is formidable, so we must first find it and have a spirit handler destroy it. Otherwise, it will slowly kill every one of us aboard!”

As soon as he finished, someone’s knees buckled and they nearly collapsed.

Death was a distant thing for these wealthy elites, something they’d never truly considered.

Seeing his words had an effect, Wang Hui pressed on.

“This kind of entity can disguise itself as a human and lurk among us, waiting for the right moment to kill. That means any one of you could be the creature in disguise.”

The impact of this statement was immense. The crowd, who had been huddled together, instinctively stepped away from those beside them, afraid the person next to them might turn into a monster.

Suddenly, someone suggested, “If that’s the case, let’s point out everyone we know for a headcount. Anyone no one recognizes must be the entity.”

This proposal was quickly approved by the group, but Wang Hui interrupted once again.

“If it were only that simple, we’d have nothing to fear. The trouble is, this entity can alter human memories.”

He paused, walked up to a couple, and addressed the man.

“This is your wife, yes?”

The man nodded, terrified. “Is something wrong?”

Wang Hui shook his head. “That’s the very problem. This entity could have altered all your memories, even given you a perfect, fabricated past. You’d believe she’s human.”

He looked the man in the eye. “Perhaps your wife is the entity in disguise, and you were never married at all.”

Stunned, the man instinctively shoved his wife aside. But when he saw her expression—more terrifying than any monster—he quickly pulled her back, shaking his head firmly.

“That’s impossible. I have a son. He’s the proof of our love, the witness to our marriage.”

He pulled a young man over.

Wang Hui glanced at the youth and narrowed his eyes.

“How do you know your son is human? Perhaps you and your wife never had a child—all those memories could have been forced on you by the Malevolent Wraith.”

The wealthy man was dumbstruck. Looking at his son, he saw the boy was even more shocked than himself.

He pushed his son aside, shielding his wife. “What…what exactly are you after?”

His son, frail from years of indulgence, fell straight to the floor with the push.

“Dad! What are you doing?”

The man snapped back to himself and hurriedly helped his son up. “S-sorry.”

Then he glared at Wang Hui, exasperated.

Wang Hui waved his hand dismissively. “It was just an example. Why are you taking it so seriously?”

But in the next moment, his smile froze. He turned to the crowd. “That deduction applies to every one of you.”

Now, panic erupted among the crowd.

If what Wang Hui said was true, anyone around them—even their closest family—could be the entity in disguise.

Not to mention acquaintances; even their most beloved kin could not be completely trusted.

After all, in such circumstances, the more vivid the memories, the likelier they were false.

In less than three minutes, the once lively reception emptied in chaos—everyone fled.

Terror filled every heart. The atmosphere grew so oppressive it was suffocating. Everyone returned to their cabins, but the unease only worsened.

Their vigilance toward those they once trusted made it even more unbearable.

No one dared sleep, speak much, or let anyone come too close. It was the primal fear of the unknown.

Until—

“Aaaah! They’re dead! All dead!”

The scream drew everyone’s attention. Like madmen, they rushed outside, only to find the doctor crouched over more bodies, examining them one by one.

When they realized these were the bodies of the spirit handlers, everyone was struck dumb. They’d hoped the spirit handlers would be useful in this crisis, but instead—they were all dead!

“What…what’s going on?”

True terror set in. Their plan had been to find the anomalous entity and have the spirit handlers destroy it, but now the handlers were all dead. Even if they found the entity, it wouldn’t matter anymore!