Payton fell into the water. He grasped onto a reef, managing to hold on despite the surging waters.

Seeing Urias approaching, he cried out, "Save me, sir. I'm drowning!"

"Traitor!" Urias spat out, utterly disappointed in Payton. "Where did the Withering Spirit Poison come from?"

Payton looked toward Adrian. "Will you help me if I tell you the truth?"

"I will," Adrian conceded as Payton was his only lead.

Payton, sobbing and sniffling, confessed, "We were out hunting, and it was my first time. They had me shoot the first arrow and then sent me away, claiming it was to test my strength."

‘Hunting?’ Adrian was taken aback, then realized he was thought of as prey.

Those men in black could not have been from the Randell family as their faces were all destroyed. What was going on here?

"Be more specific!" Adrian demanded.

Juleen and Urias exchanged confused looks. Hunting in the forest was one thing, but why at the Riston family's estate?

Urias' face darkened with anger. "You were