Chapter 20: The True Objective

Feeling that Wenger’s emotions were stabilizing, Kyle immediately asked, “Can you tell me if Morgana has had any recent conflicts with anyone?”

This was the most common question during investigations because in many cases, the perpetrator did not plan the crime long in advance; rather, it was often a crime of passion—a sudden impulse. Such crimes occur when a person, under specific circumstances of time, place, and environment, momentarily loses rationality and balances psychologically, committing the act on a sudden whim. These crimes usually lack premeditation but are characterized by recklessness, high impulsiveness, severe harm, and deep regret afterward. Over 90% of these suspects have no prior criminal record—in other words, they are ordinary people.

Of course, Morgana’s current situation likely did not fall into this category. Kyle asked just in case: if someone had come into conflict with Morgana and acted impulsively, that would be important to know. Such details are easy to overlook if not discovered early.

Without hesitation, Wenger answered, “No! Everyone likes the princess, and she is very kind. She would never have conflicts with others.”

This was the expected answer, something Kyle already understood. Morgana’s reputation in Camelot was well-known to him over the past month. The girl was beloved by all, even the vegetable vendors praised her endlessly. Morgana was polite to everyone, never abused her status, and frequently helped the vulnerable in the city—truly an angel on earth.

“Do you know if anyone wants to harm Morgana? Anyone at all—even a wrong glance counts. Take your time to think carefully before answering,” Kyle said slowly and gently, trying not to make Wenger nervous.

Wenger pondered seriously but eventually shook his head. As mentioned, Morgana was practically an angel; who would want to harm her without reason?

Seeing Wenger’s response, Kyle turned his gaze to King Uther and the others.

“Your Majesty, do you know anything? Arthur, think carefully as well.”

King Uther showed some impatience but, for his daughter’s sake, thought for a moment before replying, “Morgana is an angel. No one would harm her. To be frank, there are many who wish me dead in this city, but Morgana? No one would harm an angel!”

Arthur also shook his head, unable to imagine anyone wanting to hurt Morgana.

Kyle nodded. “So the motive is unclear. Morgana has lived in the palace since she was young and has little contact with the outside world, so revenge can largely be ruled out. She has no economic dealings externally either, so money is not a factor. Yet, the perpetrator’s actions show clear planning, and Morgana was the initial target. Why Morgana?”

Ignoring others’ reactions, Kyle continued, “What purpose would harming Morgana serve? If the intent was to strike Camelot, harming Morgana is pointless; her death would not affect the kingdom.”

This was not to belittle Morgana but a fact: the kingdom’s king was Uther, with Arthur as heir. Morgana’s significance to the kingdom was limited—she was merely Uther’s adopted daughter. Even Kyle’s own succession ranking was higher. To put it bluntly, Morgana’s death would only cause grief to Uther, Kyle, and Arthur for a while—nothing more. The perpetrator wouldn’t go to such lengths merely to cause them sorrow.

“Could it be a matter of love?” Kyle asked, turning to Uther and the others.

Facing this question, Uther felt awkward. Kyle was unnervingly calm, almost cold-blooded, as if discussing someone else entirely rather than Morgana. They couldn’t understand how Kyle remained so composed, showing no agitation, even when talking about why someone would harm Morgana.

But since Kyle had always been like this—unfailingly calm—they reluctantly followed his line of questioning.

All shook their heads firmly.

“Impossible! Morgana has been waiting for you and hasn’t grown close to anyone else. It can’t be a matter of love!” Uther said with a grim expression. He was starting to doubt his earlier thoughts—would Morgana really be happy with Kyle? Kyle’s coldness was hardly a virtue for a lover!

Kyle knew what they were thinking but didn’t care. He had to remain calm; panic and anger never solve problems—only reason could.

Moreover, things weren’t bad enough to shake Kyle’s composure. Others might be unaware, but he clearly sensed a force within Morgana resisting the curse’s corruption. He didn’t understand this force, but it was strong and harmless to Morgana.

Besides, even if the worst came to pass, Kyle had ways to deal with it—his decade of travel hadn’t been just leisure.

“I also think it’s not that,” Kyle said. “So the question is, this perpetrator has no grudge against Morgana, perhaps no connection at all. What is their true purpose? And why hide their tracks, refusing to be discovered? What does that mean?”

Kyle quickly reviewed all information in his mind. After ruling out all possibilities, only two remained. One: the perpetrator acted randomly, choosing a target arbitrarily to commit the crime. Such criminals frustrate investigators—they may have no motive, just a desire to offend. But such cases are rare; Kyle hadn’t encountered one in seven years as a police officer.

Behavior is always driven by purpose and motive—that is logic. Madmen without logic are scarce. So this possibility was very unlikely.

Only one remained.

When Kyle’s mind reached peak clarity, his thoughts raced with astonishing speed, completing this chain of reasoning in an instant.

“The only possibility I can think of is that the perpetrator’s true target is not Morgana!”

No one expected Kyle’s sudden declaration. They glanced at Morgana lying on the bed, then back at Kyle, puzzled. Gaius, however, seemed to realize something.

Ignoring their reactions, Kyle turned seriously to Gaius. “Gaius, I want you to answer honestly—do you have any way to cure Morgana? Any method at all?”

Gaius looked at Kyle and understood his meaning better now. He replied candidly, “No… the best I can do is prevent Morgana’s condition from worsening over the next few days. As for a cure, I’m sorry, I have none.”

After speaking, Gaius bowed slightly to King Uther, an apology in gesture.

At this, Uther no longer blamed Gaius. After all, this was caused by sorcery; holding Gaius responsible would be unreasonable. He waved his hand in acknowledgment. As a king, Uther’s sensitivity sharpened, and he seemed to grasp the situation more clearly.

“This gets interesting. The perpetrator even knew that Gwen could bring the flower to Morgana, so they must be aware of Gaius’s presence. Gaius returned yesterday and made no effort to stay low-key; everyone knew. The king even held a feast to welcome Gaius back. Knowing Gaius is here, a master healer, the perpetrator still dared to harm Morgana like this. It seems he’s very confident, believing he won’t slip up,” Kyle mused, stroking his chin.

Arthur, baffled, muttered, “What slip up? Sorcery? Didn’t we already know that?”

Kyle gave his foolish brother a helpless look—still so naive at this point. What was to become of him?

Uther now understood Kyle’s point: the perpetrator’s target was not Morgana—or at least not solely her. As Kyle had analyzed, the culprit employed sorcery. A sorcerer had appeared in Camelot, and their intentions were hostile. There was no need to guess their purpose; over the years, Uther had made many enemies due to magic and sorcery. Some wicked sorcerers sought to destroy Camelot.

Conversely, would a sorcerer brave enough to strike at the royal family focus only on a princess of little importance to the king? Impossible! In the sorcerer community, Uther’s enmity toward them far outweighed Morgana’s.

Furthermore, although Kyle hadn’t said it aloud, Uther understood: if the perpetrator truly wanted to kill Morgana, they wouldn’t wait helplessly while she lay unconscious. They would have ensured her death. Since Morgana’s condition could be concealed, killing her outright would be even easier.

Their true target must be Uther or Arthur, for harm to either would shake the entire kingdom. The perpetrator’s elaborate efforts against Morgana served only one purpose: to get close to Uther and Arthur.

That was why Morgana’s true condition had to remain secret.

Thus, the perpetrator was confident enough to deceive Gaius and ensure Morgana’s survival. Otherwise, Uther would become alert, and the perpetrator’s plan would fail. After all, Uther had his own trump cards after years of hunting sorcerers.

“Learn well from Kyle, Arthur!” Uther sighed, weary in his heart. It was obvious, yet his son remained ignorant, too insensitive. But as his own flesh and blood, Uther was willing to teach him more and shared his own suppositions.

“…If Kyle hadn’t discovered this was caused by sorcery, and if Gaius knew nothing of Morgana’s true condition, what do you think we would have done?” Uther asked, posing this as a test for Arthur.

At last, Arthur understood Kyle’s cryptic meaning: from the start, the perpetrator’s real target was Uther or himself. Morgana was merely caught in the crossfire.