Chapter 418: Chapter 418
When the last gunshot rang out, Wen Maixue at the campfire screamed.
The scream pierced through the sky, and as the first rays of Sunshine touched the snowfield, hunters thought of the month-long hunting reward not yet received and rushed out in a hurry.
Orleans’ hand kept pulling the trigger, the sound of empty gunshots still echoed in the barrel. Count Olson, who lay on the ground, had his eyeballs bulging out of their sockets, his hot blood melting into the snow, creating trenches.
In the camp, only two people were standing, Wen Maixue who was scared stiff, and Viscount Orleans who had killed the Count.
The rarely visited Alpine Mountains had not seen a major incident for many years, just before the onset of the deep winter, the arrival of over ten police cars made the entire Great Snow Mountain seethe. Thᴇ link to the origɪn of this information rᴇsts ɪn 𝕟𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕝⟡𝕗𝕚𝕣𝕥⟡𝕟𝕖𝕥
"Viscount Orleans has gone mad, he accidentally killed the Earl," all hunters agreed on their story, as though the scene unfolded before their very eyes. No one doubted the fact of the shooting, hearing and seeing were considered almost equal.
Only Wen Maixue, who had witnessed the incident first-hand, after drinking a few cups of hot cocoa and receiving a shot of sedative, recounted the whole event.
"Orleans has been living under Count Olson’s oppression for a long time, he has been controlling his emotions with psychotropic drugs for years. During this hunt, the Count, due to his inappropriate behavior, scolded him publicly several times, which surely increased his mental pressure. That night, I heard noises outside and went out to see; he seemed abnormal, claiming he saw a bear," Wen Maixue recounted, suppressing the fear in her heart. Since the incident, she has been very cooperative with the local police investigation, which made the romantically inclined French officers fully believe her testimony.
"Madam, if you find it difficult to talk, we can continue tomorrow," the police said considerately, as the autopsy had already found large amounts of psychotropic substances in Orleans’ body, along with other drug components, proving that Viscount Orleans was a drug addict. These nobles, living too leisurely, like to cause trouble, not a pleasing deed to rush dozens of people to the Great Snow Mountain.
"Later the Earl came out too, he was angry seeing Orleans in such a nervous state, and a verbal altercation started between them. The Earl, furious, fired several warning shots, and finally said ’You good-for-nothing, if you continue , don’t expect to inherit anything from me. I’ve already inquired, Pello is not dead, I have sent people to look for him. Once he returns, I’ll hand over everything of the Olson family to him,’" Wen Maixue declined the police’s kindness, her lips pursed as she continued in a subdued tone.
"Who is Pello?" asked the police officer taking notes. Wen Maixue shook her head; she could not provide more information, as it would cast doubt upon her testimony.
"The Olson family’s housekeeper has arrived," another officer brought Housekeeper Dennis, who had come overnight, into the interrogation room.
"Pello is the former Earl’s only son, said to have died on a hunt in the mountains over a decade ago, but the last time the old master returned, he mentioned hearing that Mr. Pello had not died, and that he was saved by a hunter in the mountains," the testimony from the strictly professional British housekeeper further confirmed the authenticity of Wen Maixue’s statement.
"So, the truth of the case is that Viscount Orleans, due to the excessive use of psychotropic drugs, suffered a mental breakdown and, under emotional provocation, accidentally killed the Earl," the French police wrote a conclusive statement in the case record.
"I guess Orleans thought Count Olson was a bear at that time," Wen Maixue delicately added.
"We will have him sent to the asylum near Nice for isolation and treatment," the French police thanked Wen Maixue before letting her leave the station.
After leaving the police station, Wen Maixue looked around but did not see Pello. Pello should have descended the mountain earlier than her, so why wasn’t he there to pick her up personally?
"Miss Wen," Housekeeper Dennis stood respectfully beside a car, "Mr. Pello had said that the future Piero Manor will be overseen by this lady here. Though emotionally, Housekeeper Dennis favored Miss Su who visited that day, the young master was very happy when with her, wasn’t he? But the young master’s thoughts, as a servant, he should not presumptuously interpret."