Chapter 1.7

As the main dinner came to an end and they began to drink tea, Catherine de Graaf asked Mike, "What have you found out about the current investigation Mike?"

"Yes, we have begun the investigation, but we haven't found out much yet," Mike said. "With your permission, I will repeat some of the information for Lady Anabelle."

"Thank you," Lady Anabelle says to him.

"So," Mike began. "It began with dispatching Captain Crocan to the kingdom of Irid to conduct an on-site investigation. He was to take the River Acheron almost to his destination, the rest of it by land. But he didn't make it to the Kingdom of Irid, stopping halfway in Artea. Two days later he was killed, at night during a drunken bar brawl. The murderer was arrested. Why he was in that bar is still unknown."

"A team of two investigators was sent to the place. Upon arrival, they began their investigation. They examined Captain Crocan's body and his belongings. They found nothing out of the ordinary. Captain Drake arranged to meet with the arrested murderer. But the meeting did not take place, the captain did not show up at the appointed time. No one has seen him since. The local authorities and our own have found nothing."

Mike took a breath and continued.

"Captain Crocan is 70 years old, has no family, and lived alone in a rented apartment. Good reviews in the service, careerist, diligent, and non-confrontational. Fourteen years in the service. Considered his last assignment a good opportunity for himself. No record of any infractions or reprimands. Had a couple of missions to central countries."

"Captain Drake is 130 years old, married. Lives in his own house. His wife and two sons live apart. 40 years in the service. Got good reviews, too. But hot-tempered, had a couple of conflicts with his superiors. He applied for a transfer to Internal Investigations a few years ago but was rejected. Had a dozen missions to central countries. The connection between the two has not yet been established."

"We intend to visit the places where they lived and talk to Captain Drake's family. Then question their coworkers and superiors tomorrow."

"No connections to the Magical Enclave or the Holy Empire?" Anabelle asked.

"No direct or indirect yet, but Captain Drake has worked in countries with Holy Empire influence a couple of times. But I'm pretty sure we won't find anything here in the capital."

"I thought so," Anabelle said.

"Mike, have you thought about who you're going to take with you to Artea to investigate?" Catherine asked him.

"Not yet. Of the locals, I'd take the fewest. Yes, and Tirel can be against it. Better to take an outside group from the countryside. I haven't decided yet."

"You don't have much time. If you need someone in Artea, let me know in advance. You can let me or my deputies know directly."

"Bypassing Colonel Tirel?"

"Yes."

"Okay, Lady Catherine, I'll prepare a possible list."

"Okay, Mike, let's not keep you any longer, it's late already," Catherine told him. " I made sure the carriage will take you back."

Mike stood up and bowed. "Lady Catherine, Lady Anabelle good night to you."

"Michael, I don't think Captain Drake is dead yet," Lady Anabelle said suddenly. "Or rather, only his body is dead. I wish I were wrong, but I'm almost certain of it."

" That's…" Mike was surprised. "Well, I'll take your word for consideration."

Mike bowed again and followed the maid.

"What a good boy," Lady Anabelle said as Mike left.

"I won't give him away. Not yet... I'm sorry milady, he's too young."

Anabelle laughed.

"Don't apologize. He will come on his own. And sooner than you think, Catherine."

"Did something serious happen? You saw something."

"Nothing major yet. But you know I'm not all-powerful. I have a feeling something is about to happen."

"I'll increase my observation, milady."

"Catherine, baby, stop calling me milady. Call me by my name. After all, we're old friends," Anabelle smiled.

Catherine sighed. If only it were that simple.

"And you shouldn't intensify observation. You'll only speed things up, and you won't be able to change anything anyway. Soon your hands will be tied up."

"What do you mean milady?"

"You have a National Assembly meeting coming up. I think some complications await you there."

"Yes, you are right mil… Anabelle."

"Thank you for dinner, Catherine. I don't often get a chance to remember what it's like to eat dinner at home. Unfortunately, with time, both memory and feeling came dull. And don't worry about Michael, I'll keep an eye on him. All right, I'll see you later."

"Yes, Anabelle."

Lady Anabelle's body literally evaporated like a cloud, leaving not even a hint that anyone was sitting across from Lady Catherine.

The carriage stopped outside the house.

"We have arrived, sir," the coachman said to Mike.

"Thank you," Mike told him and got off the carriage. "Good night to you."

"Good night to you too, sir," the coachman said and drove off.

Mike was left alone in the street. It was past midnight, there were hardly any people or carriages on the streets anymore, but the street itself was well lit by streetlights all night.

He stood for a minute looking around the street. He saw no one suspicious and headed into the house.

13th day of the 5th month of the year 50143

Early morning, somewhere on the outskirts of the capital. A small vacant lot next to the road. Forest on both sides. A pre-dawn gloom. Heavy, dense fog.

A freight wagon stands in the wasteland. Two large tall men in raincoats and hoods stand near her and smoke. A lone lantern behind the wagon weakly illuminates a small patch of ground.

"Where are they Steve," one says to the other and looks at the wristwatch. "They should have been here half an hour ago."

"How do I know Stan," replied the other. "I didn't make the deal."

“If they don’t come in half an hour, I’ll slaughter that lying pig. Brr, I'll be an ice cube in here soon."

“Okay, Stan, another half an hour and we'll be back. It's dangerous to stay any longer. It'll be dawn soon."

Somewhere in the distance, a horse neighed.

"Maybe it's them," Stan asked.

"Quiet," Steve cut him off. " Keep your eyes open."

The horse neighed again. And Steve thought he heard the clatter of wheels and then a door opening.

"Sounds like a carriage," he told Stan.

A lantern was lit nearby, but because of the heavy fog, it was impossible to see anything.

"I hope it's them," Stan said quietly.

"Be ready," Steve said as he unbuttoned his cloak and unbuckled his belt holster. Stan followed his example. Both had mechanical revolvers on one side and elbow-length daggers on the other side. Both were wearing army uniforms under their raincoats.

After some time, it was possible to distinguish two figures approaching them, one taller and the other shorter with a lantern. When they got within a few meters, Steve was finally able to see them. The smaller one matched the description they were given. He was grey-skinned, short, and thin with short greyish-brown hair and greyish-brown eyes. Nickname Kelp. The second one didn't fit the description. At all. Tall, swarthy, dressed in an expensive suit with silver embroidery, lacquered black shoes, and a white cane, the handle of which resembled a wolf's head.

Steve didn't like the tall one. Just looking at him sent a chill down his spine and the cold blue eyes only added to the feeling. And he was completely calm, unlike the nervous Kalp.

"Kalp, who is this? The deal was different,” Steve was the first to start talking to the strangers.

"Stan and Steve. Right?" Kalp asked instead of answering.

"He's Stan. I'm Steve," Steve corrected him.

" I'll be the one in Baldy's stead."

"And who are you?"

"I'm their Boss."

"Boss?"

"Yeah, what's unclear about that?"

"Okay Mr. Boss, you brought the money?" Steve asked and turned to Kalp.

"Yes. 100 golds each, as agreed," Brown said and nodded at his Boss.

Steve looked back at the Boss. On his belt, he noticed a purse embroidered with gold.

"Where's the goods?" A Boss asked him.

"In the wagon," Stan replied.

“Well, get it here,” A Boss said impatiently, looking at Stan.

Stan looked at Steve, who nodded affirmatively. Stan walked over to the wagon and pulled back the covers. A minute later he lowered a heavy wooden box with a lock to the ground.

"Open it."

Steve reached into his pocket, pulled out a key, and handed it to Stan. Stan unlocked the lock and opened the lid. And then he stepped back a little. The box contained two round objects 20 centimeters in diameter, with a central part, 6 centimeters in diameter, slightly extending by a couple of centimeters.

“Two army mines. As agreed. Now the money."

"Yes, yes, of course," Boss assured him and smiled.

Steve didn't like his smile, not sincere at all, but rather predatory with sadism. And when the Boss's hand reached for his purse, he became frightened and activated his shield.

What happened next shocked Steve. Instead of untying and handing over the purse, Boss swung his cane carelessly in the direction of Stan and Steve. At the same moment, Steve's protective shield flared brightly. The shield held, but the ring on his finger got very hot. A muffled wheeze was heard to his left, and when he turned his head, he saw Stan sinking and falling onto his back with a long deep wound across his entire chest, from which blood gushed. The wound was so terrible that through the scraps of clothes you could see the protruding pieces of the ribs. Quite mechanically, without even having time to turn his head back, he took out a revolver and shot several times at the Boss.

To his enormous surprise, Boss was intact, without a single scratch. He held his arm outstretched forward with an active shield. Two fired bullets were visible, which flattened against the shield and fell to the ground in a second.

"Wow," Boss said with a wide smile. "Didn't expect that."

Before Steve could say anything, Boss was next to him, and his cane was pressing against Steve's still-active shield. There was a loud crack as Steve's shield shattered, as did the ring on his charred finger. But before he could realize what had happened his throat was pierced by something hard and his eyes darkened.

The Boss's cane pierced through Steve's throat, completely destroying the vertebrae and trachea. With a sharp movement, he pulled out the cane, and Steve's body began to slowly fall to its side. Blood gushed from the hole in his throat. They were both dead.

The boss examined the bodies and then turned to Kalp, who stood in fear.

"Gather their weapons and take them to the carriage," he ordered Kalp.

He didn't move and stayed where he was. The Boss raised his cane at him.

"What did I tell you?"

The Kalp shuddered slightly at the sight of the cane. But the threat worked, he came out of his stupor.

"Yes, sir," he said, bowing a little lower than necessary. " I'll do it now."

He quickly ran to the corpses and, being careful not to get dirty with still-warm blood, took out their weapons. He also searched their pockets and removed Steve's watch and wallet. And then quickly took everything back to the carriage.

When he returned, Stan's body was already blazing, as if doused with a combustible liquid. Kalp noticed a large clot of scarlet flame in the Boss's hand, which then threw this flame into Steve's body. Upon contact with the body, the clot of flame spread as if it had been made of water, and after a second and the second body was blazing. From the sight of burning hair and eyes bursting from the temperature, he became ill. And as soon as the smell of burnt meat reached him, he immediately vomited, twisting in half.

"Take the box to the carriage," the Boss ordered him when Kalp finally got his stomach under control.

Kalp, covering his nose from the smell, locked the heavy box with a key and quickly carried it to the carriage. All this time, the Boss remained in place and Kalp returned to him again.

"What's next sir," he asked him, still covering his nose.

With a movement of his cane, the Boss pointed to the wagon. Bowing, Kalp took a step towards the wagon. But the next moment, the Boss struck him with a cane just below the shoulder blades, right in the spine. In the next moment, Kalp's chest exploded, scattering blood and organs remains forward for several meters, and the body fell to the ground, broken in half like a rag doll. Parts of it flew even to the wagon.

“Heh. What a sloppy job,” Boss smiled broadly. But such a job he clearly liked.

He inspected his cane to make sure it was not dirty, and then returned to the carriage to see if he had taken everything. After making sure everything was in order, he ordered the carriage driver to leave. And as soon as the carriage door closed, the carriage started moving.

Mike woke up rather late, at half-past six. He quickly freshened up and went downstairs, where he made himself some tea. Half an hour later Mike was ready to go to work.

His group had been assigned a separate cabinet. The room was spacious, three by five meters, but to Mike's disappointment, without windows. It was lit by four large ceiling lights, one of which, however, shone faintly. There were tables along the walls.

"Good morning," Mike said as he entered.

"Good morning, sir."

Captain Chester Nights and Lieutenant Alex Crowley were already in the room, along with another girl he didn't know.

"You must be Lieutenant Caroline de Tarro," he addressed the stranger.

"That's right, sir," she replied. Tall with long dark hair, brown eyes, and dark skin. Typical northerner.

"You were told that you would be assisting me in the investigation?"

"Yes, sir."

"Good. Where are Shtof and Pryte? They haven't been there yet," Mike asked.

"They went to see Captain Drake's wife and children this morning," Captain Nights answered him.

"They were already at Drake's house yesterday, weren't they? He lives apart from his family, doesn't he?"

"Yes, sir."

"Did they have time to make a report?"

"Yes, Pryte brought it in this morning. It's on your desk, sir. I put our report on Captain Crocan on your desk yesterday as well."

"And in a few words."

"Nothing, sir. Captain Crocan's house is clear. We didn't find anything of interest to us. Only a few bills came to him, that's all."

"All right, I'll look at the reports," Mike said, then turned to Carolina. "Lieutenant, have you had time to study the case?"

"Not yet, sir. I'm just going over the materials right now," she replied.

"Good, keep studying," Mike told her and then turned to Nights. "Captain, I think you need to talk to Captain Crocan's coworkers and superiors. Go see them in the department. If there's anything interesting, then invite them over for a thorough talk. I think we will devote the second half of the day to this."

"Yes, sir."

Closer to lunchtime, Captain Shtof and Lieutenant Pryte returned.

"Good afternoon, sir," they said to Mike.

"How was your visit?"

"Nothing significant. Captain Drake's wife hasn't seen him in a while, about three months. Don't know anything about his trip to Artea. The same is said by one of his sons. The other son is not in the capital at the moment. Should be back in about twenty days. All in all, nothing suspicious."

"I see," said Mike. "Then you'll just have to talk to their coworkers and superiors."

"Yes, sir. We'll do that right away."

At that moment, Aireen entered the room.

"Mike, it's good to have you here," she said. “You need to urgently pass the physical, magical, and combat training attestation, as well as the psychological test.”

"Urgently? Is this, an order from the colonel? Mike asked her.

"Yes."

"When?"

"Today or tomorrow."

“Okay, thanks, Aireen. I'll take care of it now," Mike told her, then turned to the others, "You have a task. Toward evening we will hold another meeting and discuss what to do next.

"Alright sir," they answered in unison.