She is a natural disaster.

Chapter 78 The Dangerous Madman

At this moment, even the usually icy Catherine Capulet panicked.

She understood Bill Montagu's almost explicit hints and gradually became aware of the many unusual things that happened that night.

The first thing that seemed obviously wrong was the number of people on Montague's side.

Bill Montagu had been a prominent figure in the business world for many years, accumulating enormous wealth. Recruiting people to work for him was not a difficult task.

Tonight, as the Montague family faces a life-or-death crisis, Bill's side has very few men, only seven or eight including the old butler, which is clearly an odd number.

Bill Montague knew very well that there would be a big battle tonight, and how could he be unprepared when he was so resolute?

Another point is that Iniz Blatt is not here. He is not only Bill's brother-in-law, but also a superhuman who has caused man-made disasters. Why did Iniz not appear at this critical moment?

The second thing that was obviously off was Mr. Stone’s performance tonight.

The Bureau of Anomalies and Mr. Stone's goal is to regain the face the Bureau of Anomalies had previously lost by mediating the contradictions and conflicts between the two sides.

Since it is a mediation, it should act as an intermediary to resolve the dispute. Even if armed intervention is involved, the essence of mediation will not change. Ultimately, it is still to bring the two sides to a reconciliation, even if it is only temporary.

What did Mr. Stone do?

His mediation failed to alleviate the conflict; his attempts at mediation were a prime example of a failed case of success.

His armed intervention was so foolish it deserved to be in a museum. The combat squad immediately engaged in combat with Lonkinswit's side, and he himself even joined the fray in hand-to-hand combat.

This can't be called armed mediation, this is clearly an armed conflict!

The Bureau of Anomalies and Mr. Stone not only failed to mediate, but also made things even worse. Is that right?

This is clearly not right. Mr. Stone is a very thoughtful person, not the kind of fool who should be put in a museum. How could his behavior and decisions be so foolish?

These two unusual points alone are enough to explain a lot.

Catherine Caplette considered many possibilities, each with consequences she did not want to see.

"Where is Iniz Blatt?" Caplett asked in a deep voice.

This is the most likely possibility Catherine Capulet has in mind; Iniz Blatt is the key tonight.

"Iniz won't show up tonight, and maybe never again," Bill Montagu said. "He's already left Gloria."

The candles inside the church burned quietly, their flickering light illuminating Bill's face. He looked very peaceful, as peaceful as a doll sculpted by a master artist.

"Where is Mike Montagu?" Caplette pressed.

When the nest is overturned, no egg remains unbroken; Bill Montagu could not possibly fail to make arrangements for the future of his only son.

"If nothing unexpected happens, he should be at Fajar Church in the Old Town right now," Bill said. "Father Lawrence likes Mike very much."

Catherine Caplette was quite surprised that Mike Montagu hadn't left Gloria.

“Don’t be surprised, Ms. Caplette,” Bill continued. “I won’t let Mike leave Gloria. Montague needs his successor to stay.”

These words left Catherine Capulet completely bewildered.

After tonight, it's questionable whether Montague will still exist. Is it really necessary for Michael, the heir, to stay?

Another point is that although Bill said he didn't have the ability to overturn the chessboard, what he was doing was overturning the chessboard. Wasn't he worried that someone would retaliate against Mike afterward?

Catherine Caplet suddenly raised her gun, the dark muzzle pointing at Bill Montague in front of the icon, the thorns and roses engraved on the gun barrel lifelike.

"Montague, being too confident isn't a good thing," Caplett said. "I can kill you first, then I'll kill Mike Montague."

Catherine Caplett realized that Bill Montagu dared to leave his only son in Gloria because he was certain that no one would dare to retaliate later.

"That makes no sense." Bill remained calm, leaning back on the altar. "Wasn't my choice today entirely orchestrated by you, all of you, and them step by step?"

Catherine Caplet slipped her finger into the trigger guard, her fingertip resting on the trigger, and the thorns and roses engraved on the gun suddenly seemed to come alive.

Capulet wasn't just threatening Bill Montague with words; she genuinely intended to kill him and nip the danger in the bud.

"Put the gun away, Ms. Caplette," Bill said calmly. "I'm going to die tonight. You'd better save your bullets; there's no need to waste them on a dying man."

"Everything you did tonight was for Mike's safety, am I right?" Catherine Caplette said. "You took responsibility for everything tonight with your own death, and you also used your death to intimidate everyone."

Using his own death to intimidate everyone—this sounds like a joke, but that's exactly what Bill Montagu did; it was his solution to the problem.

“I’m Mike’s father, and I have to do something for him,” Bill said. “I want him to be able to take control of his own life.”

Upon hearing this, Catherine Caplet lowered the muzzle of her gun; she was unwilling to point a gun at a father who was prepared to sacrifice himself, even though his actions were incredibly foolish.

"I want to know what you're going to use to ensure Mike's safety," Caplette asked softly. "The winds are strong in Gloria, and the Kilupa River is deep."

"Many years ago, my parents decided to visit a factory to explore opportunities in order to expand their business," Bill said. "Unfortunately, the factory had an accidental explosion, and both my parents died in the accident."

Catherine Caplette knew about the Montague family’s past and knew that the accidental explosion was actually a pollution outbreak.

"The official death toll from this accident is 2374, with very few survivors," Bill continued. "Coincidentally, I was close to three of the survivors."

Catherine Caplett could guess who the three survivors were, but she didn't say it.

"My wife Olivia, my brother Iniz, and my old housekeeper—all three of them are survivors of that ordeal," Bill continued.

"A pollution outbreak..." Catherine Caplette murmured, "Impossible, how could this be..."

“That’s right, Ms. Capulet, it’s the pollution outbreak,” Bill said. “Tonight, Montague Manor will be the source of the pollution outbreak.”

Catherine Caplette raised her pistol again, aiming it at Bill Montague in front of the icon. She was unwilling to point a gun at a father who was about to sacrifice himself, except for the sinner who was about to detonate the contamination.

"It's no use, Ms. Caplette," Bill said calmly. "The pollution is about to erupt, and I, as an ordinary person, cannot survive."

"You must be crazy!" Catherine Caplette exclaimed. "You're a complete madman!"

"I am indeed insane. Only madmen inspire fear!" Bill said.

At this moment, Catherine Caplett no longer felt panicked, because the pollution outbreak was almost impossible to stop.

"Since I can't overturn the chessboard, I'll overturn the table and end this game here!" Bill almost roared as he said this.

"Foolish!" Catherine Caplette exclaimed. "Even if you wanted to flip the table, you didn't have to go this far!"

In Caplett's view, Bill Montagu should not have ignited the pollution, let alone in his own home. He had other ways of solving the problem since he controlled the source of the pollution.

"Talking about stupidity with a madman, who's the stupider one here?" Bill said.

Catherine Caplette remained silent; she certainly shouldn't be discussing such matters with a madwoman.

"If I didn't do this, would you people even acknowledge Montague?" Bill continued. "No, you wouldn't. You'd just continue to see Montague as a pawn on the chessboard!"

Catherine Caplett was speechless. If Bill Montagu hadn't been desperate for help, why would he have resorted to such a desperate measure?

If Bill dared to reveal that he possessed the method to detonate the contamination, he would die an unexplained death, and the demise of the Montague family would come sooner than expected.

"Ms. Caplette, the reason I made such a crazy and foolish decision is all because of you," Bill continued. "You forced me to do it."

Bill Montague stood before the icon, the flickering candlelight distorting his face into a maddening image, a stark contrast to the merciful icon behind him.

Catherine Capulet went too far, and a pang of shame rose in her heart because her role in this matter was not honorable; she too was one of those who ignored the tragic fate of Montague.

At this moment, Bill Montague turned around, faced the icon, and slowly spoke:

"He is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters."

Suppressing her shame, Catherine Caplet looked again at the madman Bill Montague, listening to the dangerous insane man recite prayers.

"You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil, and my cup overflows."

Catherine Caplet holstered her gun, turned, and walked out of the church.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in his house forever.

Catherine Caplet glanced back at the chapel.

The scene was incredibly ironic: Montague Estate was engulfed in flames before her, and Bill was reciting prayers behind her.