Chapter 74: Investigation

Chapter 74: Investigation



In the early hours, the fog still lingered.

A group from the Patrol Hall had arrived at the Lap Textile Factory early, led by none other than Chief Goff.

"What a stench!"

Someone in the crowd covered their nose and mouth:

"The river nearby is full of dead fish, and the water has changed color. Is this a place for people to live?"

"It's said that the latest technology requires high-temperature steaming and dyeing of the fabrics, which can alter the water quality and cause a strong odor." Another person explained:

"Of course, I don't fully understand it either, but that's what I've heard. The thick smoke being emitted is certainly real."

The crowd looked up at the towering chimneys, from which dense black smoke was billowing into the sky.

This black smoke would eventually become a part of the air, enveloping the entire city of Signo.

Someone muttered softly:

"No wonder the air quality in the city has been deteriorating in recent years. Factories should be located farther away from the city."

"Welcome! Welcome!"

Before the group could finish their discussion, a man emerged from the factory's main entrance, bowing enthusiastically:

"Goff, my friend, why didn't you inform me of your visit? I could have made preparations."

"Jack." Goff smiled faintly:

"This time, we're here to investigate a case, and we might need your cooperation. Can you shut down the factory for the day?"

"Shut down the factory?" Jack's expression changed:

"Goff, are you joking?"

"The machinery in this factory is different from others. Starting and stopping it takes a long time for adjustments. The workers' wages and machine maintenance alone would cost thousands of pounds. Who's going to pay for that?"

Thousands of pounds?"

The crowd exchanged glances, surprised by the consequences of merely stopping the machines.

"Jack!"

Dana stepped forward and said:

"We're not here to negotiate. Female workers have been disappearing from this factory every month, and we must conduct a thorough investigation."

"You are..." Jack turned to look at her.

"Dana!" Dana spoke sternly:

"Dana Yeager."

"So, you're the daughter of the Yeager family." Jack nodded, and his previously kind expression turned serious:

"Then you should know what this factory represents?"

"The clothes produced here are meant for the front lines. Are you going to leave the warriors there without fresh clothing?"

Turning around, he scanned the crowd:

"The Lap Textile Factory is a prominent industry in Signo City. Nobles like the Franks and the Fosters have invested in it."

"I want to see who dares to shut it down today!"

The crowd fell silent.

Everyone exchanged glances, their eyes filled with hesitation.

Goff frowned, slightly annoyed, but he didn't force the issue.

The person Jack mentioned held too much weight. Even as the Chief of the Patrol Hall, Goff couldn't help but be cautious.

"Alright then!"

Goff sighed and waved his hand:

"Let's go inside and talk to some people. That shouldn't be a problem, right?"

"Of course!"

Jack's face lit up with a smile again, and he extended his hand to gesture inward:

"Welcome!"

Second Floor.

Xize Foster, leaning on his cane, watched the patrol officers moving around below, his eyes filled with gloom.

"Recently, the city has been under investigation."

"As it should be."

Apothecary Robert appeared behind him, nodding:

"The Fire Manipulator's suicide attack resulted in casualties among the city's nobles, embarrassing Baron Baro in front of Princess Sak. It even caused some unrest among the front-line troops. This is no small matter."

"Moreover, with so many people here, it's inevitable that some information will leak out, given that you've sheltered those individuals."

Fire Manipulator!

This was the term Kolonians used to refer to those who controlled fire. They were followers of Sunlit, and in the eyes of the Gandor, they were Fire Stealers.

Xize Foster, the renowned successful merchant and apothecary of Signo City, was actually connected to the enemy forces.

Not just him!

The Foster family was also involved.

"What should we do now?" Xize asked with a bowed head:

"Will they find that place?"

"Don't worry, they won't." Robert smiled and waved his hand:

"As long as the machinery keeps running, the spinning propellers will block the passage. No one can get in."

"As for the other secret passage..."

"Not to mention it's already hard to discover, but I've also set up a magical trap above it, making it even more difficult to enter."

Xize nodded slowly.

After a pause, he continued:

"But this isn't a solution. The patrol officers and police have already focused their attention on the north side of the city."

"They'll find out eventually."

"Yes!" Robert sighed:

"Moreover, the time given by that person is too tight—only ten days. It's really difficult for us."

"Otherwise..."

"Create a distraction to divert their attention?"

Xize nodded.

First Floor.

Dana carefully inspected every floorboard and room in the factory, her gaze never resting.

"Let's go!"

Goff waved his hand and called out:

"Let's move on to the next place."

"Chief."

Dana followed closely, speaking softly:

"I feel like there's something wrong here. Kerry mentioned that his fiancee's disappearance was also related to this factory."

"Hmm."

Goff's position as Chief wasn't just about his identity; his keen sense for cases was equally essential.

"You're right. The Lap Textile Factory is definitely hiding something, but we can't uncover it at the moment."

"Chief..." Dana's eyes lit up:

"What do you mean?"

"A covert investigation." Goff bowed his head, his voice heavy:

"I feel like the Fire Manipulator's suicide attack is just the beginning. The matter might not be over yet."

"If my instincts are correct, they must have a base of operations within the city."

"Investigate!"

"We must find it!"

As he spoke, he looked up at the second floor, his keen perception sensing the faint hint of murderous intent from earlier.

The Fire Manipulator's attack had put the entire Signo City on high alert. Civilians were under curfew, and no one was allowed to leave their posts without permission.

Even the laid-back Karl had to buck up and report to the Patrol Hall daily.

This significantly slowed down his progress in refining the Broadsword.

Only after work each day did he have time to visit the Fragment of the Divine Domain to forge his weapon.

"Clang!"

Forge Room.

Karl, bare-chested, held a pair of fire tongs in one hand and swung a hammer with the other, relentlessly pounding the iron plate on the anvil.

Each heavy blow sent sparks flying.

After a certain number of hammer strikes, the metal is heated in the forge and infused with certain materials.

The extreme heat causes the metal to melt.

Then, it is quickly plunged into the icy water nearby, causing thick white smoke to instantly billow out, filling the entire forging chamber.

This process is repeated over and over again.

The iron plate gradually takes on the shape of a broadsword, and the surface even reveals a fish-scale pattern from the hammering.

"Hmm?"

Karl suddenly furrows his brows, pauses his movements, and turns around to step out of the Fragment of the Divine Domain.

The night is dark, and the waning moon is obscured by dark clouds, making it dim but not pitch-black.

He pushes open the window.

In the corner of the room, something seems to be there, so he leaps down from the second floor and approaches the shadow, casting a light spell to illuminate the corner.

"A person?"

It was 'she' who triggered the witch's trap in the courtyard, setting off the alert.

...

"Quick!"

"Hurry up!"

Eugene, dressed in a police uniform and wielding a long sword, leads a group of officers to the courtyard and knocks on the door.

"Open up!"

"Open the door now!"

The loud knocking not only wakes up the residents of the small courtyard but also the neighbors, who one by one light up their candles and look outside.

Many people open their windows and peer out, annoyed at being disturbed from their deep sleep. Karl, wearing a robe, opens the courtyard door.

"It's you guys again?"

He looks at the officers in front of him with anger in his eyes.

"What are you doing?"

"Do you really think that just because a noble has fallen, you can bully them at will? Tell me, who is your superior? I will complain to the Noble Council, and I will make sure none of you can wear that uniform again!"

"Baron Karl," Eugene says, without the courtesy and respect he showed the last time, but with a cold expression, "We received a report that you are hiding a missing little girl here, and we are here to search by order!"

"Nonsense!" Karl rages, "I am a noble, and without the permission of the Noble Council, you have no right to search my residence."

"And..."

He continues angrily, "Who said I'm hiding a missing girl? Bring that person here, and I'll show them the consequences of framing an innocent noble!"

"Sorry," Eugene shakes his head, "We strictly keep the identity of the informant confidential."

"And..."

A sinister smile suddenly appears on his face, "Due to the Fire Thief attack, the City Lord is inspecting any suspicious individuals, including nobles. So, we are now qualified to search your residence."

"Let's go!"

Nelson, the officer who was rude last time, charges into the courtyard without hesitation, "I knew he was hiding something. He wouldn't let us in, so there must be something he doesn't want us to see."

"Search!"

"Don't let him escape!"

"Baron?"

Turning away with disdain, Nelson spits, "Pfft!"

Karl's expression turns cold, but he doesn't forcefully stop them, allowing the officers to enter the courtyard.

Nelson changes direction and strides towards the corner.

"Hmm?"

The corner is empty, causing him to subconsciously turn around and look at Eugene with a questioning gaze.

How could there be no one?

"She's not here either!"

The group searches the entire courtyard, including the basement, but they don't find the so-called missing girl.

"Hmph!"

Karl scoffs, "What do you have to say now?"

"Sorry!"

Eugene regains his composure and once again puts on a flattering smile, bowing respectfully, "It seems there has been a misunderstanding, Baron."

"We're leaving now!"

"You better hope this matter ends here," Karl says, his expression cold and indifferent as he looks at Eugene.

"Yes," Eugene chuckles, "We will take our leave."

He waves his hand, and the group quickly departs, just as hurriedly as they arrived.

Karl watches them leave until their figures disappear, then closes the courtyard door and glides away.

After a while, he retrieves an unconscious little girl from an empty alley and brings her to a household, placing her in the courtyard.

"Hmm..."

The little girl opens her eyes, still groggy, and seeing the familiar surroundings, her expression changes from fear and dread to elation.

"Father!"

"Mother!"

She calls out softly, struggling to get up despite her injuries.

"Emmy?"

Inside the house, someone hesitantly speaks up, and as the candlelight illuminates the room, a couple rushes out in a panic.

"Emmy!"

"My Emmy, am I dreaming?"

"Mother, it's me," the little girl sobs, "It's me!"

The mother and daughter embrace, crying together.

"Benevolent Dawnlord, thank you for returning our daughter to us," the father kneels and continuously praises the Dawnlord.

In the shadows, Karl slowly withdraws his gaze.

He knows that some people dislike him, but this direct attempt at framing him has opened his eyes to a new level of treachery.

...

Night.

Several figures appear in the darkness.

They are in the northern industrial area, where various textile factories, smelting plants, and warehouses are located, and trade is bustling.

"Da Wu!"

Dana speaks softly, "Are you sure about the direction?"

"Absolutely," Da Wu Taro nods, "I've followed Kerry here for investigations several times. If there's a problem, it will definitely be there."

"Lap Textile Factory..."

"This factory is not normal!"

"Chief," someone speaks up, "We've already caught many people, and many of the missing girls have returned home."

The recent strict inspections have led to the capture of many 'suspects'.

Officers have been dispatched to search for missing girls in many homes and basements, and in their usual understanding, this is enough to fulfill their duties without the need to persistently focus on the Lap Textile Factory.

If it weren't for the insistence of their superior, half of them wouldn't be here.

"It's because we caught them that it's not normal," Chief Goff says seriously, "It's too coincidental, and some of them don't seem like real criminals. They might have been framed."

"Exactly!"

Dana nods in agreement, "They just don't want us to continue the investigation. The more they try to stop us, the more we must get to the bottom of this."

"I hope your speculations are true," someone whispered.

"The Noble Council has instructed us not to disturb the factories in the North District, so as not to affect the supply of our frontline warriors. This operation wasn't authorized either."

"Sir!"

"You should know what this means."

"I do." Goff nodded. "If we're discovered, we might face condemnation from the Council. But don't worry, if anything happens, I'll take responsibility."

"No." Someone behind him shook their head. "It means that if something happens to us, no one will know what occurred. It's not safe."

"..." Goff's eyes flickered. "Rest assured, even though we're not many, our strength is not to be underestimated. Even a Grand Knight need not be feared."

"There's no need to be afraid!"

Indeed.

They were all elite members of the Patrol Bureau, most of them knights.

As the bureau chief, Goff was a peak-level knight, capable of holding his own against a Grand Knight.

In Signo City, he might not be able to run rampant, but there weren't many things that could make him afraid.

"You're so talkative."

Da Wu shook his head.

"It's just ahead. Stay quiet and sneak in to avoid alerting those inside."

Upon hearing this, the group crouched down and silently moved forward.

They were at the warehouse of Lap Textile Factory, not far from the factory, and there were still patrols even at night.

The group avoided the patrol's line of sight and headed inside.

Da Wu seemed very familiar with the surrounding terrain, turning left and right until they reached an underground warehouse.

"I'm not sure what's ahead."

He stopped and shrugged. "What happens next is up to you."

Goff drew his sword and took a step forward, his body flashing as he appeared in front of a patrol officer.

He lightly tapped the officer's neck with the back of his sword.

"Slap!"

The officer felt a tingling sensation in his neck and fainted immediately.

"Go!"

Goff waved his hand and rushed forward.

The group pushed open a wooden door, but their movement suddenly halted.

Before them was a plaza-like area, illuminated by torches on the surrounding walls.

A short and ugly man in a purple robe stood in the center, his hands behind his back, waiting for them.

As if he had been waiting for a long time.

"Robert!"

Goff's eyes narrowed.

"How did you get here?"

"Of course, I was waiting for you." Robert placed one hand on his chest and bowed to the group. "My friend, you've finally arrived!"

"Hmm..." Goff cautiously scanned the surroundings. "Did you know I was coming?"

"I guessed." Robert strolled in the courtyard. "People like us aren't very sensitive to ordinary people's emotions, so I could see the doubt in your eyes, and I guessed that you wouldn't let Lap Textile Factory off easily. You would definitely investigate secretly."

"Sigh!"

He sighed, his voice filled with regret. "You shouldn't have come!"

"So what if I did?" Goff asked.

"Do you really have a connection with the Fire Thief of Cologne?"

"What are you trying to get out of me?" Robert chuckled and shook his head. "There's no need for guesswork. I can tell you directly that the Fire Manipulator does have some connection with me."

"Not just the Fire Manipulator!"

"Also, the followers of Elis."

"You're so bold!" Goff's face paled. "Aren't you afraid of the laws of the Gandor Kingdom?"

He didn't attack directly, as he knew the other party must have a trump card, appearing alone like this.

Moreover, he openly revealed secrets, which was even more likely to be...

Fearless!

Goff tensed up, a warning bell ringing in his mind.

"These laws," Robert shook his head, "only protect the strong and are never useful to the weak."

"Thud!"

He lightly stamped his foot, and a dull sound echoed through the darkness, accompanied by the rustling of something in the shadows.

"I wish you hadn't come, but unfortunately, you did. You must bear the consequences of your choices."

Before he finished speaking, a human-like spider emerged from the darkness, followed by another, surrounding the group.

"Followers of the Spider Goddess!"

"Spider Maid!"

The crowd stirred, many of them showing signs of panic.

They had heard of these half-human, half-spider creatures, but this was their first time seeing one.

"Attack!"

Someone roared.

"Take down Robert first!"

It was clear that Robert was controlling the Spider Maid, and capturing him would surely resolve the crisis.

"Swoosh!"

Before he finished speaking, he had already charged forward.

His sword unsheathed, he pointed it at Robert, and a sharp killing intent locked onto his target.

He was a knight!

"Be careful!"

Goff yelled.

"Don't be impulsive!"

"Hmph..." Facing the attacking sword, Robert's expression remained unchanged. He simply shook his head and clenched his left fist.

Enchanted Artifact - Ring Star Sword!

Starlight converged and formed six three-foot-long thin swords, appearing out of thin air around him.

The star swords trembled slightly and then shot out, streaking towards the attacking knight like six dazzling star rivers.

"Pff!"

"Pff! Pff!"

The starlight slashed through the void at an astonishing speed, ignoring the intercepting weapons and piercing the knight.

Knight!

Dead!

A formal knight was instantly killed by the mysterious Robert without even getting close.

...

In a certain courtyard.

Officer Nelson's face was filled with terror, and he kept backing away.

"No!"

"Don't kill me!"

Blood covered his palms, and his sword had been knocked out of his hand. His eyes were filled with fear.

"Hmph..." Karl, cloaked in black, with his face completely covered, shook his head at Nelson's plea.

"Where are your companions?"

"Call..."

"Eugene?"

He wasn't sure about the name.

"I don't know, I don't know." Nelson shook his head repeatedly, then turned and ran outside.

As he ran, he shouted.

"Help!"

"Pff!"

Before he could finish, his body was split in two.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end