Chapter Twenty-One: The Harvest

"Why are they being sent back? Didn't he already pass the test?" Although Fletcher had already stated that he could not explain the reason, Viera acted as if he found it difficult to accept, asking a question he was destined never to have answered. "Is it just because he went out with me yesterday? We didn't interact with anyone while we were out; there shouldn't have been any slip-ups."

"I cannot disclose that information. However, do not worry; I will arrange for him and your other friend, Nord, to return as soon as possible." Fletcher remained firm. "Now, prepare to go downstairs for lunch."

Viera's mood dropped significantly. He nodded slowly and followed Fletcher downstairs.

His former friend was truly dead, gone just like that, so easily. It was fair to say that Viera had a hand in his death, and the thought troubled him. Fletcher noticed Viera’s sadness but naturally interpreted it as grief over Dempsey’s departure, paying it little mind.

After lunch, Fletcher unexpectedly gave Viera half the day off. "You may rest for the afternoon, but remember, you are not to leave this house."

"What about you?" Viera asked.

"I have matters to attend to, so training will continue tomorrow," Fletcher replied vaguely.

Once Fletcher left, Viera stood by the window, watching until he saw Fletcher depart.

Carmine had not returned for lunch, Julia was at school, and Mela and Kellerman would be taking a nap after their meal. Viera had an estimated two hours to search the study undisturbed. He had a strong intuition that he would gain something significant today.

After waiting a few minutes, Viera watched as Fletcher’s car left the estate. He immediately turned, opened the door, and slipped from Julia’s room into Carmine’s study, picking up where he had left off last time.

An hour later, the bookshelves had been thoroughly searched, yet no hidden compartments were found.

With the two most likely shelves checked, only one possibility remained: the hidden compartment was beneath the floorboards, just like the one in Chris’s room.

Viera hadn't checked the floor initially because he assumed the study offered better places for a hidden compartment; he hadn't expected to be too clever for his own good. Once he began inspecting the floor, he quickly discovered something unusual beneath the globe.

Just like the one in Chris’s room, the gap between the floorboards was slightly wider than elsewhere.

Viera moved the globe aside and used a small knife to pry up the board. It opened smoothly, revealing a space of the same size as the one in Chris’s room.

"Typical of this family..." Viera muttered. He didn't act rashly, first observing the contents.

Neatly stacked inside were various paper documents, along with several keys of unknown purpose and a few locked boxes.

Viera had no use for the keys or the locked boxes yet. He memorized their positions and then lifted out a thick stack of documents.

He was about to uncover the secrets of Carmine and Chris, and his forehead broke out in sweat from the tension. Fearing that a drop of sweat might mar the papers, he quickly wiped it away.

He still had time, but now that he held the documents, he felt a sense of trepidation. He chose to stand by the window, watching the estate entrance while he sifted through the papers to find those related to Chris.

He didn't have to look through many before he saw a thick file folder labeled "Chris" and "Rebel Organization." His breathing grew heavy. He pulled the file out and set it aside.

Viera intended to take the rebel organization file with him—not because he couldn't memorize the information, but because once he was firmly aligned with the rebels, Carmine having this information would put them at a disadvantage. By stealing the file, he would strip the Thomas family of their leverage against the resistance.

Even if Carmine discovered the files were missing later, he wouldn't suspect Viera. In a way, he had Dempsey’s death to thank for that. Dempsey had gone out with Viera and was assassinated that very night. From the perspective of Carmine and Fletcher, only the rebels had the motive and capability to assassinate Dempsey.

With the files regarding the rebels going missing at this exact moment, they would naturally blame the resistance, and Viera, who had always acted timid and obedient, would never draw any suspicion.

Having already planned to take the files home to study at his leisure, Viera used the remaining time to steal other items. He couldn't miss the opportunity to grab more secrets about Carmine and the Thomas family; once he grew strong enough to confront them directly, having leverage would be useful.

Besides, if these items were stolen, the blame would simply fall on the already-suspected rebels, leaving Viera’s own record clean.

"Ledgers..." Viera flipped to a folder labeled as such.

If they were ordinary ledgers, they wouldn't be hidden in such a secure place; there were likely many dark secrets within. Viera opened the folder and began to browse.

Inside were dozens of pages of old and new ledgers detailing massive transfers of private funds. While Viera didn't recognize every name, the sheer amount of money Carmine spent suggested that each person listed was of great value to the Thomas family.

These ledgers were highly valuable. Viera tucked them away. Once he had the chance to identify the people behind these names, the purpose of their clandestine collusion would be exposed.

Just as he prepared to look further, a car drove up in the distance. Viera recognized it as the one Fletcher had taken earlier. He quickly bent down to avoid being seen.

With little time left, Viera set the ledger folder and the rebel folder aside and returned everything else to its place. By the time the floorboard was closed and the globe moved back, Fletcher had stepped out of the car and entered the house.

Viera threw the two folders into Julia’s room first, then scrambled over, carrying the two files that could overturn the current power balance back to Chris’s bedroom.

"Phew..." Unsure if Fletcher would come looking for him immediately upon returning, Viera hid the folders in the wardrobe, deciding not to read them in a rush.

He felt a pang of regret that he couldn't get more, as the locked boxes likely held even more shocking secrets. If he could have taken those too, Carmine might have been scared to death.

Unfortunately, time was limited, and the boxes were too bulky to carry or conceal. It was a thought he would have to abandon for now.