Chapter 287 - 286: I Suspect the President of Astraeus Group is Asher

Chapter 287: Chapter 286: I Suspect the President of Astraeus Group is Asher

The screen read: The president of the Astraeus Group is a genius with a communication disorder, is introverted, and has never appeared in the public eye.

I glanced at Asher. "How is this clue any different from nothing at all?"

Asher didn’t speak.

"I mean, why are the people behind this going to such great lengths to find a president? What’s the point?" Lucas Grant asked, looking up at the screen in confusion. He was still holding the murderer, who was lost in frantic thought, with one hand.

"Because this is just the appetizer," Felix Foster explained. "For the past few years, the president of Astraeus Group has invested massive funds into The Genetics Organization. He’s their prized cash cow, so The Genetics Organization can’t allow anything to happen to their sponsor. The Resistance plans to use this to take The Genetics Organization down a peg."

At the start of this cruise ship game, The Resistance’s goal is to capture the president of Astraeus Group first, as a way to provoke The Genetics Organization.

"Then they could at least give us some useful information," Lucas Grant grumbled. "Isn’t this all just a bunch of nonsense? How else could he hide so well if he weren’t a genius with social anxiety? I bet this president isn’t just an introvert. He’s probably physically deformed and has some serious personality flaws, too. We should just search the crowd for anyone with a physical disability."

Felix Foster kicked Lucas Grant the moment he finished speaking.

Lucas Grant was furious. "What’s your problem? Why do you always have to get physical?"

Felix Foster stroked his chin with an air of someone wise beyond his years, analyzing with great seriousness. "The way I see it, this Astraeus Group president isn’t just a genius, he’s an incredible person. He’s definitely exceptionally handsome, with off-the-charts good looks. At least as handsome as me."

"..." Lucas Grant rolled his eyes. "You little punk. When the Astraeus Group was founded, you were probably still playing in the mud. Besides, they already checked your palm print and iris scan yesterday. It’s obviously not you, so stop dreaming."

Felix Foster shot Lucas Grant a smug look. "What do you know."

I looked at Felix Foster, then turned back to Asher, my gaze filled with suspicion.

Asher avoided my gaze, lowered his head, and started picking at the gauze on his palm.

I slapped the back of his hand. "Stop that. What are you doing, picking at your wound? Is it healing too fast for your liking?"

Being scolded by me actually seemed to make Asher happy. He smiled... a truly captivating smile.

I snorted. ’Your pretty-boy act won’t work on me.’ "Don’t touch the wound. Can you feel your fingers now?"

I took Asher’s hand and carefully held his fingers, touching them one by one and asking if he could feel anything.

Because of the injury, his fingers were all black and blue. It was a painful sight.

"I can feel this," Asher said with a perfectly straight face, using his injured hand to caress my cheek, then my waist.

’...’ ’Flirting with me like this... Does he have a death wish?’

"Have some decency. We’re in public," Felix Foster said, rolling his eyes at Asher.

"She’s my wife. We’re legally married." Asher pulled me into his arms and kissed my forehead in front of everyone.

This gesture clearly wasn’t meant to provoke Felix Foster, but everyone else—like Julian Fletcher, who wasn’t far away, and Killian Lancaster, who was still watching us menacingly.

"Sebastian Lancaster, I’m starting to think you’re..." I looked up, about to tell him off, but he just lowered his head and kissed me.

’...’ ’My brain short-circuited. ’Where there’s smoke, there’s fire.’ What is he so guilty about?’

"Be a decent human being for once... Is that how a person should act?" Felix Foster muttered, turning to kick the murderer. "Just looking at you is annoying."

The murderer was still deep in thought, pondering how to lure out the mastermind of the Meridia serial killings.

"Find the president of the Astraeus Group, and the mastermind of the serial killings will definitely show himself," the murderer analyzed, his logic surprisingly coherent. "He’s positioned himself as a Judge. He believes he must eliminate the source of all evil, and from his perspective, the president of the Astraeus Group secretly funding The Genetics Organization *is* evil. So, as long as we find the president, the Judge will surely appear, kill him, and put his body in a display case for all to see."

"Hey, that was a whole lot of nothing," Felix Foster said, kicking him again, deliberately aiming for his injured leg. "And can *you* find the president of the Astraeus Group?"

"A genius has a special aura. No matter how deep they hide, there are always telltale signs." The murderer sniffed at Felix Foster. "You’re in disguise... Beneath this mask of a teenager, you have another face."

The murderer’s gaze toward Felix Foster filled with a mix of glee and madness. "Your blood... is exceptionally vibrant..."

SLAP. Felix Foster landed a heavy slap across the psycho’s face. "People like you just deserve to be hit."

’There’s no point talking to a psycho like that.’

The murderer bared his teeth in a grin, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth. "You can call me Simon..."

Simon moved closer to Lucas Grant and sniffed. "You’re a cop, aren’t you? But you lack an air of justice. You’re not sharp enough, a little arrogant. You could only be considered the best of the common folk."

"Is this guy a fortune-teller?" Felix Foster’s interest was piqued.

Simon then moved toward Zeke Shaw. "Loyal, straightforward, rigid. All brawn and... a little bit of brain, but not much."

Simon started to approach the unconscious Madeline Quinn, but Zeke Shaw blocked him with a scowl. "Get any closer to her and I’ll kill you."

’If it weren’t for this damned psycho, Madeline Quinn wouldn’t still be unconscious.’

Simon gave Madeline Quinn a meaningful look and said with a smile, "Your little group is very interesting. Except for him... all of you are in disguise. You’re all wearing masks. What a delightful surprise. We’re kindred spirits."

Simon was referring to Zeke Shaw. Everyone but him.

"Don’t be so fucking disgusting," Felix Foster said with revulsion.

Simon excitedly moved toward me, only to be kicked away by Asher.

Simon’s eyes showed a trace of fear as he looked at Asher. He quickly scrambled to hide behind Zeke Shaw. He was a good judge of character; he knew Zeke was the only one who wouldn’t break the law to kill him.

"He’s... he’s a demon. I’ve never seen anyone so terrifying. He eats people, doesn’t he..." Simon babbled, sounding completely unhinged.

"Hah. A murderer like you is actually afraid of a cannibal?" Lucas Grant pulled out a pair of handcuffs, securing one cuff to the man’s wrist and the other to his own. "You’re under arrest. From now on, don’t leave my sight."

’No way I’m letting him go. This guy is a walking first-class commendation.’

"The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind it. Ordinary people are the cicadas, I am the mantis... but *he* can eat the oriole," Simon was still raving, his gaze landing on me, his eyes growing even more excited. "Birds of a feather..."

"Shut your mouth if you want to live," I threatened coldly.

"The president of the Astraeus Group... he’s right here in your group, isn’t he..." Simon covered his mouth, as if he’d just told a joke.

My expression darkened, and I turned to look at Asher.

’Actually, my suspicions started back when The Resistance needed a palm print to open the safe.’

"Cece..." Julian Fletcher walked over, calling out my old name before quickly correcting himself. "Silvia Lynch... can we talk? I have some information about the president of the Astraeus Group."

Behind him, Erin Whittaker followed nervously, practically glued to his side.

Ace sneered, not even deigning to look at her.