Albert Francis… Kidnapping cases. If they are connected, then these two kidnapping cases are not at random, but a deliberate arrangement. In that case, then Albert's kidnapping isn’t ordinary—it involves the Twilight Order!
Ulrich stopped, then leaned his head back while taking a deep breath. In the Albert case, when examining it as a crime based on monetary value, there is nothing significant, not enough to concern the Ministry. In fact, after the death of Dulvis and the two accomplices, the Ministry attempted to investigate further, only to hit a dead end. This was despite their act of performing a spirit channeling, as well as investigating all the suspects' backgrounds.
Ultimately, the case was closed, and all the related items and evidence were locked away. However, Selena case is entirely different. This matter involved the Twilight Order, an organization that causes havoc across the entire Eastern Luminants, one that worshiped a Drowned God. And yet, in his hand is the connection between the two.
Even then, this is merely a suspicion, an educated assumption at best with the use of dream divinations… With that thought, Ulrich got dressed again and shoved the earring back into his chest pocket.
As of right now, there’s not enough of a concrete connection to link the two. For that reason, he left the sanctuary and made his way to the warehouse next to St. Samuel.
According to Rosaline's words, part of Selena’s belongings is currently held in the warehouse after they investigated her home. Ulrich hoped that there was some portrait or picture frame that would allow him to instigate an investigation from Captain Ottis.
By the time Ulrich made it to Euston Street near St. Samuel, it was dark, a little too dark even for the inner district.
The fog was dense and heavy, obscuring his vision. As he got off the carriage, the drizzling rain struck his brown coat. Without much thought, he opened his umbrella and made his way to the warehouse.
At the entrance of the red gate, there were two tall guards. Ulrich noticed the bulge on their waist, covered by a thick black coat. They stood beneath a canopy, avoiding the splashing rain.
At this moment, he wasn’t sure if his eyes were playing tricks on him, but for some reason, his eyes glowed with a dark light from the reflection of the nearby glass window.
My vision is enhanced at night? Is this due to the blessings of the shadows? After awakening, Ulrich had obtained three abilities—two spells and one talent. Spells are active in the sense that unless he willed it, they will not activate.
The only passive ability that he has is talents, which are inherently passive. And the only talent he had was “Blessings of the Shadow”, which contained no memory or description to speak of. Thus, Ulrich had to make his own guesses regarding the effects of his talent.
Regardless, he was relieved to discover one of the effects of this talent naturally.
While Ulrich sank into his thoughts, the guard noticed him approaching. Their eyes narrowed, hoping that this stranger was only passing by. After all, it was currently dark out past midnight, and the rain would discourage anyone from taking a step outside.
However, to their dismay, Ulrich stopped just a couple of feet in front of them.
“This is a private area.” One of them said with a slight smile.
Ulrich's eyes noticed both of them subtly hovering their hands toward their waist. He shook his head, then reached into his pocket.
Immediately, both of them frowned, their hands quickly tucked inside their coat.
Fellas, no need to be so tense, right? Ulrich's face froze, then sighed—Actually, I would’ve done the same.
His hand revealed the official inspector badge given to him by the Ministry. Seeing this badge in Ulrich’s hand, the muscles on their face relaxed, followed by a wide smile. At the same time, they stepped back and made way.
“Sorry, sir, we did not know you were an inspector.”
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
Ulrich shook his head and explained, “No problem, it’s best to be on guard nowadays, especially more so at night.”
With that said, he walked past them and entered the spacious warehouse. It was pitch black inside without a source of light, and yet, with his Blessings of the Shadows, he was able to adjust relatively quickly.
Not just enhanced sight, but also minor night vision? This blessing must be quite rare… Ulrich covered his nose. Even so, the dust and dead particles in the air itched his nose.
Achoo!
Right away, the dust flew like starlight in the night sky. Ulrich rubbed his nose, then made his way down the endless aisles of shelves.
July 3? 4? 5? J… J… He counted inwardly. The shelves were arranged by names and dates—some were empty and lacking, while others were stacked to the brim with papers and boxes. Eventually, he found the J-shelf.
Selena Morris, July 3rd.
On the shelf with the name Selena Morris was a single wooden box. There wasn’t as much ‘evidence’ as anticipated, considering that this matter is of great importance to the Ministry. And honestly, he wasn’t sure what to expect, perhaps, at least some papers or a report. But there was none.
However, thinking about it again, he let out a hollow laugh and knocked himself on the head.
Selena’s lack of dossiers made perfect sense. In dealing with supernatural affairs, the matter of confidentiality stands. With the way the Churches operate, it is normal for there to be no record or report in this warehouse. If there was, it was probably held within the Cathedral, or Sanctuary itself, certainly not here.
After clearing his confusion, Ulrich took down the box, then opened it on the floor. Inside were various jewelry, business cards, and even notebooks.
Nothing? Was I wrong? And somehow, my dream divination was inaccurate? Since it was his first dream divination, Ulrich wasn’t confident in his ability to navigate the dream scrying or interpret the corresponding signs.
As he continued to take out the useless junk in the box one by one, his doubt swelled. Eventually, his hand stopped.
What am I doing this late at night? Simultaneously, his head leaned back to face the ceiling. From his peripheral vision, there was a reflection of his eyes. One that was filled with starlight, resting against the backdrop of the window splashed with rain.
Was the rain always this loud? His breath grew shallow, as though the cold and dense smoke had invaded his lungs. For a moment, he couldn’t quite breathe properly. After a while, Ulrich let out a deep breath and lowered his head.
He gathered all the items on the floor into a pile, then stuffed them back into the box.
Boom!
A thunder clap drummed in his ears. In that instant, the entire sky was lit, and from there, Ulrich caught a glimpse of a black wooden frame at the bottom. Without a thought, he dropped everything to the floor and reached his hand toward the bottom.
I— It’s here. . .
He used the edge of his black sleeve to dust the picture frame. After doing so, Ulrich’s lip quivered ever so slightly, inconspicuous even to him.
There it was, Selena Morris with her golden hair and fair skin. She wore a white and green dress—her appearance was like a vibrant forest under the clear sky. Ulrich recognized the background in the back being her home.
He stared at the portrait in his hand, his eyes dimmed as a concerning thought appeared in his mind.
This earring belongs to her… How did this detail escape his mind? And it was no wonder that he felt a sense of familiarity upon receiving this gift from Captain Ottis.
Then, why did I forget about this?
Ulrich didn’t dare to claim to be her closest friend, or ‘friends’ at all, at least in the past. This term, and this concept, were completely foreign to him, a transmigrator from another world. But regardless of his thoughts, they can be considered somewhat close, and he knew her quite well.
With that in mind, he can't help but stare into the drizzling night.
In the beginning, when he started this search, was it out of guilt? Or was it his conscience that ate away at his heart? Or was it both? Either way, he never gave it much thought.
Ulrich had many beliefs in this fleeting thing called life. One of them is the belief that people are inherently selfish. In knowing that life is solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and miserable in nature. People, subconsciously or not, act out of pure self-interest.
That is the true nature of humanity, the desire to self-sustain, be it happiness or other monetary values. In that same sense, he saw life, and the people that dwell in it as nothing more than a blanket of darkness.
In spite of his view, Selena struck him as a dazzling gem, a lighthouse in the dark. Perhaps it is because Ulrich lived under this blanket of darkness, aware of humans’ selfishness and its ugly state, that he grew to appreciate Selena’s selfless attitude and acts.
In that moment, Ulrich let out a deep sigh and admitted a single truth—She is considered a close friend.
There was a moment of silence in the warehouse, not quite entirely still and deafened. The rain splashed and crashed against the window, waking Ulrich up from his stupor.
He briskly stuffed everything back into the box, including his feelings, and only kept the picture frame. After doing this, Ulrich left the warehouse and returned to the Sanctuary to meet with Captain Ottis.
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