Alexander also pressed the envelope aside and looked up.
"Mia, why do you say this letter proves Lucas killed Matthew?" Elliott asked directly. "And earlier, you all vaguely mentioned that Lucas is an outsider—what evidence do you have?"
Mia immediately replied, "It's simple. My late husband once told me that if he were to die, I should give this letter to the elders."
"Oh? Then why did he know he would die? How did he know he would die at Lucas's hands?" Elliott pressed.
"I never said he knew he would die by Lucas's hand. And—"
"Ah, so you can't even confirm the exact circumstances under which Matthew told you this. Then how can you be so sure it was Lucas who killed him?"
This rapid-fire questioning was a common modern tactic. Elliott's words made Mia pale, and the others sensed something amiss.
Elliott continued, "Regardless, whether we open this letter or not has no bearing on whether Lucas killed Matthew. So it's better not to read it. Besides, this letter doesn't even seem genuine."
"What do you mean it's not genuine? This was passed down by previous sect leaders!" Mia retorted.
"Oh? Passed down by previous leaders? That would make it at least several decades old." Elliott deliberately pointed out. "Amelia, does that letter look new or old?"
Amelia glanced at the letter in Mia's hand and said, "It's new."
Elliott smirked. "A decades-old item still looking this fresh? Mia, you've preserved it remarkably well."
Everyone's eyes turned to the envelope—it did indeed appear brand new. Suspicion toward Mia grew heavier.
Alexander, realizing he had acted rashly, clasped his hands and said, "Amitabha. Mia, it seems this matter is now an internal affair of the Beggar Sect. This old monk shall take his leave." With a nod to Lucas, he departed.
Watching Alexander leave, Michael exchanged a glance with Elliott before leading his sons away. Joseph, Evelyn, and Liam soon followed.
With her supporters gone, Mia began to feel uneasy.
"Lucas, though I'm not a member of your sect, I must speak fairly. The Beggar Sect has never allowed women to handle its affairs. Why would such an important letter be in Mia's possession? I heard Matthew died suddenly—something seems off. If he was truly killed by someone from the Vanderbilts, I demand to see the body. Only then can we confirm if it was Noah's doing," Elliott proposed.
"No! Matthew has already been laid to rest. How can we reopen his coffin for you?" Jackson objected. "Besides, I'm certain the four captured elders knew the letter's contents—that's why they rose against Lucas, this treacherous scoundrel!"
Lucas bristled at being called a "treacherous scoundrel," but Elliott cut in, "Jackson, I heard that before joining the Beggar Sect, you were nearly beaten to death for betraying your master. And how do you know the elders knew the letter's contents? Did you tell them? Have you read it yourself?"
Elliott's words struck like lightning. The four elders suddenly realized they had been deceived. "Ah! To think I've lived this long only to fall for a villain's scheme," one lamented. "Sect Leader, I have nothing to say. Execute me if you must."
Their words spoke volumes.
Lucas declared, "The matter of the four elders can wait. First, we deal with Jackson and his scheming."
With a single effortless step, Lucas closed the distance to Jackson and raised his palm to strike.
But then—
A black-clad figure materialized beside Jackson, intercepting Lucas's attack with a palm strike of his own. The force of their collision sent shockwaves through the air, bones creaking under the pressure.
Lucas retreated, channeling his inner strength. Elliott, unable to see, could only shield his own men.
The mysterious stranger had arrived.