Chapter 575: Smells Like the Stench of a Corpse

Chapter 575: Chapter 575: Smells Like the Stench of a Corpse

Landon Winston raised a finger to his lips, saying nothing.

Claire Sinclair nodded in understanding. Her gaze swept casually around the room as she changed the subject. "Winston, how much longer until the car gets here?"

Landon Winston: "About twenty minutes."

Theo Rhodes feigned a complaint. "What’s taking so long? I’m dying to go for a swim. I’m covered in sweat."

Landon Winston remained silent.

"There’s air conditioning in here, so stop complaining," Claire said calmly.

Theo Rhodes muttered something under his breath, then abruptly stood up to look around.

Claire reminded him, "Don’t wander off or touch anything. This is someone else’s office, so be respectful."

She had barely finished speaking when an unfamiliar woman’s voice came from outside the door. "It’s fine. There’s nothing valuable in the office. Touch whatever you want."

They looked toward the sound and saw a sultry woman in a miniskirt enter. The heavy scent of her perfume assaulted their senses, filling the room.

This woman was none other than Cyrus Marshall’s mistress, Joan Jacobs.

Playing dumb, Claire spoke up. "Hello, are you the factory manager?"

Joan Jacobs walked over and sat down across from her, smiling and nodding. "I am. My name is Joan Jacobs. And I know you—Claire Sinclair, the top reporter for the Astoria Daily. I never thought I’d have the pleasure of meeting you."

"I’m just an ordinary person, really. Thank you for letting us come inside to escape the heat. It’s just too hot out there."

"It sure is. The weather’s been brutal this year. A lot of people can’t stand it, so they go soak in the hot springs. You’re all heading to Hot Springs Mountain, right? You don’t look like you’re here on business."

Claire nodded. "Yes, we’re on our way to Hot Springs Mountain. Our car broke down, and the air conditioning gave out. We had to get a replacement, but it’s taking a while to get here from the city."

"It’s no problem. You can just wait here..."

The two women made awkward small talk, neither seeming to know what to say next.

It wasn’t until Landon Winston received a call that their ride had arrived that Claire said it was time to leave.

Before she left, Joan Jacobs gave her a business card and said she’d like to be friends.

Claire accepted the card, and then she left the office.

As the group walked to the main gate, a small truck happened to be pulling in from outside. A putrid stench emanated from it, drawing everyone’s eyes.

"That’s the garbage truck," Joan Jacobs explained. "It comes to collect the trash here at the same time every day."

’Collecting trash at three in the afternoon? Plus, the truck has no markings, and its design doesn’t match a garbage truck at all. It’s obviously not a garbage truck.’

But Claire saw through the lie and said nothing. She simply nodded, covered her nose, and hurried outside.

The car had arrived. Claire got in and shut the door, not even bothering to say goodbye to Joan Jacobs.

After the car had been driving for a few minutes, Claire let out a long sigh of relief. "What on earth was that truck carrying? It reeked."

Theo said, "It didn’t smell like a garbage truck. Besides the normal stench, they usually have a sour smell, too."

Landon Winston suddenly spoke up. "I think it was the smell of a corpse."

Having never smelled anything like it before, both Claire Sinclair and Theo Rhodes looked over at him. It was Claire who spoke. "The smell of a corpse?"

Landon Winston nodded. "I’ve participated in countless disaster relief operations. Whether it’s a person or an animal, this is the smell they give off when they decompose."

At his words, the master and apprentice duo fell silent, a chill creeping over them.

’If that truck was carrying a decomposing body, that would be horrifying...’

"I’m going to check where that truck came from, so we don’t end up scaring ourselves over nothing." After speaking, Claire Sinclair pulled out her laptop and began typing furiously.