Chapter 87 – Fate of those that spy

Aile finally realized what was going through her mind. She thought that Aile was fishing a reason to get rid of them. Laila believed that Aile noticed their worthlessness and was now trying to justify getting rid of them.

Aile said with a determined tone, "One, I will not discard the both of you, ever. Two you and Leia are not worthless, you are not useless without your eyes. In fact, you should be able to use your other senses better, making you better than them.

Leia has not detected the energy outside, there is nothing wrong with that, in fact, maybe she is taught the wrong way, after all, everyone is unique. Or maybe, it is just taking her a bit longer after all many people start their cultivation later than others. We will find a way that is suitable for her.

The necklace is indeed a communication device, but not something you guys can use at your level of cultivation. So, I never doubted you. In fact, I do not think you will risk being cursed by the world to communicate behind my back. So, from now on, I do not want to see you behave like this. Plus, I believed your promise to never betray me."

Laila nested in his bosom, and her breathing became calm as she nodded at Aile. Leia also joined in, she had also figured out Laila's speculations and started to weep.

With all the things happening today, Aile decided against training, he also wanted to relax. Over the past few days, he had slept minimally and today seemed like a destined day to rest. He slept in between Leia and Laila, while they held him like a koala. They had felt Aile's care for them, and for the first time, they had someone to rely on. They consciously and unconsciously did not want to let him go.

They slept, and soon it was dawn, throughout the night, he nestled in their warm embrace.

Aile felt someone touching his leg when he woke up. When he was awake, the first thing he noticed was the wrapped hands of the sisters around him, he relished the comfortable feeling. Sophie was standing at the bottom of his bed, waking him up through his feet as she did not want to disturb Laila and Leia.

This was the first time in a while that Aile was woken up by someone. Usually, he would be up in the morning before anyone. It seemed that his body really craved this rest after many sleepless nights. He slowly wiggled his way out of Laila and Leia's grasp.

Then he greeted Sophie like the usual, only today she seemed to be jealous of Laila and Leia, and she maintained the hug for a while longer. He went to the bathroom to clean up, and when he got out, Sophie was there with a towel.

They went to the balcony to talk, and Aile slowly stretched and started to do some physical exercise.

Occasionally Sophie would ask about some unique exercises that Aile did, and she would learn it from him. After some time, Emily entered the room and saw the happy Sophie and Aile in the balcony, and her mouth formed a grin seeing them. She went and greeted Aile, then sat at the ledge, occasionally looking at the fast-moving clouds and blue sky and listening to Aile's explanation of exercises.

She had noticed that Aile really did know a lot of unique ways to strengthen the body. She was curious whether he can actually help her improve in cultivation at the 10 years that she had given him.

Soon Sara joined in, and she too enthusiastically learned from Aile. Not long after Laila and Leia participated. Emily also asked to clarify a few of the steps as she became engrossed in them.

This was the first time Aile was explaining things, so he also learnt how to instruct everyone clearly. Soon after, everyone entered back to the room after the sun became more prominent in the sky.

Diana brought some food for breakfast after everyone ate it together everyone spread around. Emily stayed, and she asked Aile how he will deal with the people that they suspect; without letting them know of Sophie. Aile smiled, he had a method that he had always wanted to try. He had learned of this from his inherited memories, and he was curious if it would actually be able to identify those with schemes against him.

He asked Emily to get a fox, some firewood from the black-bark tree and call all the employees for a meeting after lunch, and also prepare a room without any natural light. Emily was surprised at his choice of items, she was wondering if he was planning to make a meal or catch the spies.

Emily curiously asked Aile how he will use those items to find the suspects. However, Aile shrugged, telling her that she will find out. She declared that it would be impossible to identify the spies with just those items. Aile had a sly smirk on his face as he looked at her.

She then claimed that if Aile managed to find even 70 percent of the culprits, then she will help Laila and Leia with basic training, and if he fails, she will make a request. She added that she will also help identify their talents after noticing him unperturbed.

Aile knew that she just wanted to help him by giving Laila and Leia some basic training, but nonetheless, she was challenging him. So, he accepted the bet.

Not long after Emily brought the firewood, the fox and told Aile that they have vacated one of the storage rooms that was underground. There were no windows there. Aile nodded an smiled back, he then started to burn the firewood and played with the fox. Emily was perplexed.

Seeing that she could not get anything from Aile, she left to gather the employees. Soon Sophie came to talk to Aile about today's event as she had heard that everyone was summoned after lunch by Shadow. Aile gave her a few jobs and handed her the fox to take to the vacated room. He also told her that Shadow will be dealing with the employees. After all, they were working for him, and they had done their job. Now it was up to him to identify and question the people.

After that, he asked one of the maids to call Fiona. It did not take long for Fiona to arrive. She smiled at him and said, "It is prepared!"

"Good, we will need it to be ready by after lunch."

"Do you want to see it?"

Aile nodded.

He was brought to the end of the estate, and there was an underground passage. He went inside and saw two doors. He went to the first room, and there was a large hall, on one side was a couple of beds, 3 bathrooms. On the other was some workbenches.

He then looked at the other room and saw the same setup. Fiona came and asked him what his opinions were.

"It is a decent place to keep them as prisoners here, after all, they betrayed us first. If we did not need people right now, they would surely be killed."

He then had lunch with Fiona, and it was time to turn into Shadow. He wore his robe and mask and changed everything about him, including adding a different perfume. Laila would be able to catch these anomalies if she comes close to him. He started to completely change and get into character as to not give it away.

As Shadow, he then went to where the employees gathered. With his changed deeper voice, Aile greeted and welcomed them into his estate and their new job. After the casual conversation, he said, "I have kept my eyes on all of you and have figured out that not everyone here is working with clear intentions."

The employees started to murmur, and some had a fearful expression. It was not just the people that were guilty that was fearful the innocent ones were too because different people deal with such situation differently. They all knew stories of where innocent people were tortured, to mass killings and many other ways that employers used to find moles, this made all of them fearful. Therefore, everyone started to worry. Some cursed themselves for being enticed to a larger sum of money. Others questioned themselves as to why they worked for a merchant that they did not know much about.

Aile said in a solemn tone, "Do not worry, I will not punish anyone that is not guilty or has come here to work genuinely."

Then suddenly one person tried to run, he took two steps before there was a sound.

Swish

Thud

He dropped, and blood oozed out of the wound at his head. It was Emily's doing from the dark.

"Anyone that tries to run away, I will take it that they are guilty and they will die."

The death of one of them made their fear increase.

A chef took a step forward, "How do we prove our innocence?"