Leo and his two companions returned once again to Doll Island, successfully bringing back Annabelle's body.
"Anna… Anna… ghost girl," Leo shouted loudly. "I found your body."He wasn't sure whether the powerless maintenance cabin could still preserve the corpse.
Hearing the commotion, Anna and Gloria rushed over. They had been searching for this body for seven years, and today they were finally reunited with it. Anna was overwhelmed with emotion.
After opening the maintenance pod and removing the body, Leo urged her to enter it immediately.
Seeing her own face—unchanged from seven years ago, only slightly thinner, yet still beautiful—Anna felt deeply grateful. She thanked Leo and the others, steadied her emotions, and let her soul return to her body.
Everyone watched anxiously.
Half an hour passed.
Nothing happened.
Suddenly, Anna's soul flew out of her body again, her expression shattered.
"Why can't my body move?" she cried. "I can clearly feel the connection between my soul and my body, but I just can't move… Wuu…"
They exchanged helpless looks. They had believed that finding her body would solve everything—but reality proved otherwise.
Charles frowned. "Tommy must have done something to your body. There are many ways to put someone into a deep sleep."
Leo nodded, recalling what he had read in medical texts. "That's right. For example, excessive consumption of sleeping mushrooms—or directly using zombie mushrooms—can cause permanent dormancy."
"Tommy… my brother… how is he now?"Hearing her brother's name, Anna stopped crying, desperate for news of her family.
"Your brother inherited the count's title and became the new lord of Param—" Charles began.
"What?" Anna interrupted. "Tommy inherited the title? Then what about our father?"
"Seven years ago, Tommy brought your body back to Param Island and told everyone you died in a shipwreck. The old count passed away two years later from overwhelming grief. Naturally, Tommy inherited the title—but…"
"So my body was taken back to Param by Tommy…" Anna murmured. "I want to see him. I want to tell him everything. I want to go home."
She wasn't listening anymore. Her mind was filled with only one thought: home.
Leo and the others exchanged helpless glances. Some truths had to be revealed before Anna saw them with her own eyes—or she might completely break.
"Anna, calm down and listen carefully," Leo said seriously."Your brother has a problem. Seven years ago, he found your body, but lied and said you were dead. He dug you up, hid your body in the basement, and no one knows the real cause of your father's death. Charles and I personally witnessed Tommy harming your body before we brought it back. All of this was deliberate."
Leo told her everything they had discovered—and everything they had seen.
Anna floated in the air, her soul hollow, tears streaming down her face.
Gloria looked at her anxiously. "Leo… can you help Sister Anna? You're so powerful—you must have a way."
"Of course," Leo replied. "Restoring your body is the key. Anna… what are you thinking?"
After a long silence, her gaze finally shifted.
"I want to return to Param. I want to go home. I want to ask Tommy myself."
"Alright," Leo said. "We'll take you back. But things aren't the same as seven years ago. Can you follow my instructions?"
"As long as you fulfill my wish," Anna answered softly, "I'll do anything."
Leo guided Anna back into her body, and they immediately returned to Param Island, planning to infiltrate the count's castle again that night.
The plan was simple: avoid the villagers, go straight to the castle, and confront Tommy face-to-face. With their overwhelming combat strength, subtlety wasn't necessary.
Leo had his own motives as well. Once Anna awakened, he hoped to reclaim the power of the Ghost Fruit, though he couldn't bring himself to tell her yet.
Reality struck faster than expected.
The moment they arrived at the port, they were surrounded by furious villagers. Tommy had already issued a wanted order, and news of Leo's group had spread throughout the town.
"That's the big guy who was asking about Lady Anna at the market!""They must have stolen her body!"
Villagers gripped farming tools, fury burning in their eyes. Just as violence was about to erupt, a squad of guards rushed in, rifles raised.
"Outsiders," the captain declared,"You infiltrated the castle, assaulted the count, and stole Lady Anna's body. Lay down your weapons and submit to the count's judgment."
Seeing the situation spiral out of control, Leo had no choice. He brought out Anna's body.
"Wait. You've all been deceived. Tommy has been lying from the beginning."
Pointing at the restoration chamber, Leo continued,"If Lady Anna was buried seven years ago, how could her body be preserved this perfectly? The truth is—she never died. She was imprisoned by Tommy in the basement."
The crowd hesitated, but doubt quickly turned into denial.
"Noble burial rites are different from ours. This proves nothing!""With the count's wealth, preserving a body is completely possible!""If Lady Anna is alive, why doesn't she stand up and explain it herself?"
The panic subsided.
Just as the guards and villagers prepared to attack—
A translucent soul slowly emerged from Anna's body.
"I am Anna," she said gently."My people… I'm back."
Her voice and expression were exactly the same as seven years ago.
But instead of smiles, she was met with terror.
Some guards fired in panic. Ordinary weapons couldn't harm a spirit, but the fear and suspicion in their eyes pierced Anna far deeper than bullets ever could.
Leo gestured to Will and Charles. In an instant, the guards were subdued.
Seeing Anna's emotions unravel again, Leo tried to comfort her."Anna, let's go find Tommy. He can fix your body."
She didn't respond.
Her soul drifted straight toward the castle.
Leo's heart sank. This is bad. If Anna kills Tommy, all clues will be lost.
"Will," he ordered, "carry Anna's body. We're going after them."
Anna's soul passed through streets and homes, sending villagers fleeing in terror. Some recognized her—but still ran, screaming about ghosts.
Hearing the cries of people who once loved her shattered Anna's heart.
The castle gates stood before her.
She accelerated—but another squad of guards blocked her path.
One soldier jogged forward and knelt on one knee.
"Lady Anna. Your loyal knight, Lannister, welcomes you home."
Leo and the others rushed over and immediately recognized him—the guide from the previous day. He had once been Anna's knight.
"Lady Anna," Lannister said respectfully,"Your guards have awaited your return. Please allow us to escort you into the castle."
"Knight Lannister," Anna replied softly,"Loyalty is your greatest virtue."
She allowed him to lead the way.
Leo and Charles exchanged wary looks. They were completely surrounded. This didn't feel like protection—it felt like imprisonment.
Lannister was definitely hiding something.
Inside the castle hall, lights blazed brightly.
Count Tommy sat alone at the center.
Seeing Anna float in as a soul, he showed no surprise at all. He even stood up to greet her.
"Annabelle," he smiled warmly."My dear sister. Seven years have passed, yet you are still as beautiful as ever."
"Still beautiful?" Anna whispered bitterly."Tommy… you still find me beautiful—like this?"
His gaze answered everything.
Leo had been right.
With a loud bang, the castle doors slammed shut. Guards took their positions around the circular hall.
"I'm truly happy to see you again," Tommy said calmly."Didn't you miss me?"
Lannister stepped back, standing beside Will.
"Lord Tommy," he declared,"Seven years ago, you lied about Lady Anna's death, deceived the people, and stole the count's title. Today, we swear to help Lady Anna reclaim everything that belongs to her."
As he finished speaking—
A massive iron birdcage descended from above, trapping everyone inside.
Leo stared at Lannister helplessly and muttered to himself:
"Brother… your acting really sucks.You haven't even mastered the timing of pretending to get hit.How could anyone believe you were beaten just by acting?"
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