The sky deepened its voice, trying to drown out the conversation between the two. After saying one sentence, it realized the strain on its vocal cords was too much and caused discomfort, so it gave up.

The two people across had already looked over in response. After all, compared to the others, The Vault's face was clearly much more pleasing to the eye.

“It’s actually very simple to verify. The person who came to investigate us before was Rachel Thornton. I don’t think she knows the truth about what happened back then, and she made this decision behind her mother’s back.” The Vault cleared her throat with a dry cough. “If our guess is correct, Mrs. Thornton herself definitely doesn’t want us to keep digging. You two can go find her tomorrow and test her attitude.”

Quinn Foster’s focus was always spot-on: “Us?”

The Vault pointed to her own throat and said, “Five hundred ducks—do you think it’s appropriate for me to visit someone’s house like this?”

Julian Grant and Quinn Foster exchanged glances in the air, and after a second, both turned away with a look of deep suffering.

Julian Grant insisted, “We’re adults, not little girls going to the bathroom together. Do I need someone to accompany me? Or do you doubt my abilities?”

Quinn Foster chuckled, “Saying that just shows you lack self-awareness. Don’t worry, since I have a friendship with The Vault, and she’s asked so nicely, I suppose I can agree.”

The Vault quietly added, “Quinn Foster isn’t one of your Trident people. If there’s a conflict, you can push the blame onto him. Plus, he’s got a bad temper and is well-versed in ethical gossip. Sending him to negotiate with Mrs. Thornton will make it easy to get something out of her.”

After these words, the two across from her froze. The Vault calmly picked up the tomato soup on the table and took an elegant sip.

Quinn Foster was furious. He suddenly stood up and leaned toward The Vault, as if he was about to grab her collar the next second, and shouted, “The Vault, aren’t you going too far! Are you really going to use me as a tool to the end? Do you have any conscience at all?!”

The Vault gave a look that said “you’re only just realizing this?” and replied, “Haven’t you always been asking this question? How come you still haven’t found the answer?”

Julian Grant laughed heartily on the side, feeling much more agreeable toward Quinn Foster.

Quinn Foster grabbed the clothes on the table, slung them over his arm, and said petulantly, “I’m leaving!”

Julian Grant called after him, “Take your stuff with you! You come visit the sick and leave a table full of trash—how is that okay?”

Quinn Foster slammed the door hard: “I came here today just to see someone with no conscience! Let her reflect on the trash—don’t anyone bother me!”

Quinn Foster left in a dramatic fashion, but not long after, The Vault’s phone rang.

While lamenting the fragile dignity of men, The Vault comforted his wounded pride, making sure Frank the Sidekick would be able to show up for duty the next day.

·

The next day was the weekend. Mrs. Thornton had no work scheduled, and Rachel Thornton was also at home resting. At eight in the morning, Julian Grant was once again standing at Rachel Thornton’s door with Quinn Foster.

Both of them looked a bit grumpy, but after looking away, they quickly put on friendly faces, appearing to be a pair of well-matched partners.

Julian Grant straightened the device on his chest and pressed the doorbell.

Soon, Rachel Thornton came running over in slippers to open the door.

This still somewhat childish girl didn’t know how to hide her feelings. As soon as she saw them, her emotions were instantly exposed. Her pupils shook, her mouth opened wide as if to speak but got stuck halfway, then she quickly glanced back at the living room. After confirming no one was coming out, she relaxed a little.

Rachel Thornton instinctively closed the wide-open door a bit, poking her head out through the gap and whispered, “Why are you here? How did you find my house? And who is this person?”

The Vault’s slightly lazy voice came through the earpiece: “Her changing expression tells me she’s very shocked, and a bit flustered. Congratulations, your plot exploration just jumped ahead.”

Julian Grant smiled calmly and said, “Underestimating Trident’s intelligence network? Since you know the police have been paying close attention to this case, you should be prepared for your personal information to be thoroughly investigated. After all, you entered the game willingly.”

Rachel Thornton’s lips moved as if to speak, but she hesitated. After a moment, she said, “But you shouldn’t just come to my house directly. At least call me first… Wait, let’s talk outside.”

She tried to slip out, leaving the door ajar behind her, but someone inside the house noticed the commotion.

Mrs. Thornton’s hurried footsteps approached quickly, and she called out loudly, “Ruier, who is it?”

Rachel Thornton answered nervously, “A classmate!”

Julian Grant glanced inside and replied, “Hello, I’m a staff member from Trident. We’d like to verify some information with you.”

Rachel Thornton’s muscles instantly tensed. She glared hard at Julian Grant, too angry to speak. But it was too late—Mrs. Thornton quickly approached and pulled the door open.

This middle-aged woman must have been close to fifty, but she was very well maintained and looked quite young. She wore light makeup and a fitted dress.

To be honest, Julian Grant was a bit surprised when he saw her, but that look flashed by and he quickly returned to his polite demeanor.

“Hello,” Julian Grant said with a smile, “Trident is working on a special feature and needs your cooperation for an investigation.”

“Who are you?” Mrs. Thornton was unmoved, her body language clearly resistant. “We do not accept any investigations. Please leave immediately!”

“Huh?” came a surprised voice through the earpiece. “Her personality doesn’t quite match the profile.”

According to their analysis, Mrs. Thornton should have been calm, composed, shrewd, and meticulous. But at first glance, she gave them a very different impression.

The Vault said, “Quinn Foster, you try.”

Chapter 96: Complaint

Quinn Foster cursed inwardly at The Vault’s instructions, but put on a smile and said, “Beautiful lady, your necklace is quite lovely.”

Mrs. Thornton retorted bluntly, “What’s it to you!”

Quinn Foster kept up his cheeky grin, “You’re not working today, right? All dressed up—do you have a date?”

Mrs. Thornton snapped, “Are you crazy?!”

Her patience exhausted, she pulled Rachel Thornton inside by the arm and tried to slam the door. Julian Grant quickly reached out to block it, preventing her from closing it.

His tall figure cast a shadow over Mrs. Thornton. The middle-aged woman glanced up at him, then tried even harder to shut the door, cursing as she did.

“No need to be so irritable.” Quinn Foster flashed his white teeth, seemingly unfazed. “Trident has a pretty good reputation in society. We haven’t even said what we’re investigating, and you’re already so agitated—why is that?”

Mrs. Thornton shouted, “Are you leaving or not? If you don’t, I’ll call the police! Coming to someone’s house and saying all this harassing nonsense, and you expect me to be nice? Get out!”

While the two of them were being scolded, The Vault was quite relaxed. Crunching sounds came through the earpiece—she was probably eating an apple.

Quinn Foster clicked his tongue in frustration. The Vault realized she was being a bit unhelpful, so she reined it in and said, mouth still full, “A person’s face often reflects their character. The expressions they habitually make shape the lines and muscles of their face accordingly.”

The Vault swallowed her food.

“From Rachel Thornton’s fearful reaction and her mother’s strong negative response to hearing Trident, it’s clear this lady is impulsive, quick-tempered, forceful, and not gentle, nor good at hiding her emotions. If she were someone who could calmly plan everything, using all resources around her—including her own daughter—to achieve her goals without anyone noticing, she’d be more composed, slick, and thorough. Offending a big company with close ties to the police isn’t a smart move.”

Quinn Foster was still arguing with Mrs. Thornton when he heard The Vault’s rambling finally come to a conclusion, followed by another instruction.

“Quinn Foster, provoke her a bit more.”

After being scolded for so long, Quinn Foster’s smile turned a bit twisted. “Madam, you must know why Trident is interested in Harold Thornton’s case, right? Meredith Stone was one of the witnesses in Harry Forrest’s case. Judging by how things have developed, she was likely coerced into giving false testimony, and then silenced. The most important man in her life was Harold Thornton. We’ll be reconstructing this part of the story.”

Mrs. Thornton snapped, “You have no right! You’re invading people’s privacy!”

Rachel Thornton tugged nervously at her mother’s sleeve, uneasy. “Mom…”

Mrs. Thornton shook her off impatiently, scolding, “Adults are talking—why are you butting in? Go inside!”

Quinn Foster smiled meaningfully, “It was your daughter who asked Trident to help investigate the truth about her father’s death.”

Mrs. Thornton froze, as if completely petrified for a second.

Rachel Thornton shrank her neck and turned away from her mother, just missing this moment.