Chapter 17: Talent
Chapter 17: Talent
Flames engulfed the three-story building and rapidly spread, setting the entire block ablaze.
The fire was intense.
By the time it was completely extinguished, it was already the wee hours of the morning.
Patrol Hall.
A figure pushed the door open and entered, taking a seat opposite Karl before handing him a steaming cup of milk coffee.
"This incident has caused quite a stir, even the city lord has been alerted, so we can't help but ask a few more questions."
The newcomer's voice was gentle:
"You don't need to worry. The investigation is clear, and it has nothing to do with you. You should be able to leave shortly."
"Ahhh!" Karl sighed:
"Who would have thought that place was a Fire Thief's hideout?"
Since returning to the Patrol Hall, he had already been questioned several times, so he wasn't surprised by this round either.
"Indeed!"
The newcomer leaned back, half-hidden in the darkness, his face barely visible under the kerosene lamp. He asked:
"When Miles died, only you and Lady Dena were there. Did you find anything on him?"
"Or perhaps, did you find anything, considering you regained consciousness earlier than Dena?"
Hm?
Karl frowned and looked up at the newcomer.
Under the dim light, the other's features were shrouded in a mist, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't make them out clearly.
After a moment's thought, Karl spoke:
"After I triggered the sleeve arrow, I passed out. When I came to, the area was already engulfed in flames. I was too busy trying to escape to search for anything."
"Is that so?"
The newcomer rested his chin on his hand and said:
"You said Miles' methods were peculiar, yet he died from a single arrow to the throat from your sleeve. That seems a bit unusual."
"Hmm..." Karl chuckled:
"I don't think so."
Compared to the sleeve arrow killing someone, the methods Miles used were truly more baffling.
"Alright!"
The newcomer sighed, straightened his upper body, and placed a book on the table, gesturing to Karl:
"Take a look at this book and see if there's anything wrong with it. If there's nothing, you can leave."
"A book?"
Karl's face showed surprise, then he carefully examined the book.
It was a leather-bound book about two fingers thick, with a brown-yellow cover bound by two dark red threads.
On the front cover was a faint image.
Upon closer inspection, the image seemed to depict a woman holding a wooden staff, her face obscured by a light mist.
Karl didn't open the book but instead stared at the woman in the image, his brows furrowing in thought.
"Whoosh..."
A gentle breeze seemed to come from nowhere in the sealed room.
The kerosene lamp flickered, and the woman on the book cover seemed to twist and move, as if she were coming to life.
"Come!"
"Over here!"
A murmuring voice echoed in his ears.
Karl's expression turned vacant, and the woman on the cover took a step forward, slowly emerging from the mist.
As she drew closer, her features became clearer, even the fine pores on her cheeks were distinguishable.
However, strangely enough,
The woman's specific appearance and overall face remained indistinct, only her eyes growing ever closer.
"Rustling..."
The wind whispered through the forest and fallen leaves, an unusual sound reached his ears, and he could even smell the fresh scent of the countryside.
Countryside?
Wasn't he in the room at the Patrol Hall?
"Hmm!"
Karl's body jolted, his eyes clearing, and he found a cold sweat on his back.
"Clang..."
He pushed the wooden table in front of him aside, his body retreating frantically.
"Get back!"
"Get back!"
"What is this thing?"
Karl's breathing was rapid, his heart pounding, and he instinctively wanted to find a suitable weapon.
"Clap!"
"Clap clap!"
The figure opposite stood up and lightly clapped his hands:
"Being able to shake off the mental influence of the Wizard's Tome, it seems you have talent. No wonder you're resistant to the Succubus Wail."
In a spacious hall, dozens of candelabras were arranged in order, their flames illuminating the entire space as bright as daylight.
This was the Yeager Family's manor.
Dena stood in the center of the hall with a somber expression, unaware of how long she had been standing there, only knowing that her legs had lost all sensation.
"Clang!"
The sound of shattering porcelain echoed from the inner hall.
"You shouldn't have let her become a patrol commander in the first place. Look at the mess she's caused, all that effort wasted."
"What's the point of bringing this up now?"
"How can it be useless? If you had listened to me back then, we wouldn't be in this trouble now."
"Alright, alright."
"..."
"Bad luck!"
A sharp female voice filled with resentment:
"Wasting family resources, unable to accomplish anything, might as well marry off to a man and stop being a nuisance."
"That's enough," the man's voice deepened, "She is, after all, my daughter."
"Hmph!"
"Clatter..."
As the chaos subsided, a weary-looking man slowly walked out.
"Father!"
"Oh!"
Sachsen Yeager waved his hand, "Don't stand there, sit down and talk."
"Father," Dena's cheeks tightened, "I was investigating the mummy case and tracked them to that location. If we hadn't eliminated those fire thieves, they might have caused even bigger trouble."
"What you say makes sense," Viscount Sachsen didn't deny, and continued,
"But this operation resulted in the deaths of three patrol officers and seven civilians, and affected over a dozen houses."
"These are all your responsibilities."
Dena lowered her head, unable to refute.
"The civilians are of no concern, they're dead and gone. At most, we'll compensate their families." Viscount Sachsen sighed, "But those three patrol officers, each of their elders has already caused a stir at the city lord's mansion, and I can't say anything about it."
"Your punishment is inevitable."
"Father!" Dena's voice rose.
"As your father, I will definitely help you," Viscount Sachsen raised his hand, interrupting her, "But precisely because you're my daughter, I don't want you to take such risks. If something happens to you, how can I face your late mother?"
Dena's eyes reddened.
"Remember,"
Viscount Sachsen admonished, "Don't be so reckless in the future, and don't let your family worry."
"Yes."
Dena slowly bowed her head.
"I know you're eager to obtain a life elixir and be promoted to a knight," Viscount Sachsen continued, "But you were too impulsive this time."
This operation would not only fail to earn praise from her superior but would also result in punishment, undoubtedly a significant failure.
Dena, despite her youth, had become the Southern City Patrol Commander, not solely due to her abilities but also with the support of her family background.
Her incompetence would also implicate her family.
"And that Karl," Viscount Sachsen said, "He may not be very capable, but he's still a noble. He accused you of framing a noble for credit. Try to calm him down."
Dena opened her mouth, wanting to speak but stopping herself. She knew she was in the wrong.
"In a few days, your cousin Will will come to play in Signo City. Take a few days off to accompany him."
Seeing his daughter's reluctance, Viscount Sachsen's voice turned stern, "This is an order!"
"I must go!"
"Yes," Dena nodded helplessly.
(End of Chapter)
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