Kapitel 97: Investigation
So that's how it is… Indeed, Sealed Artifacts have very strong side effects. Unless one can use Sefirah Castle to intimidate others like Klein, one shouldn't easily find loopholes.
Ebner looked at Xio's pale face. "How are you feeling?" he asked with concern. "I know an apothecary. If you not feeling well, maybe we can get him to concoct a medicine."
Xio waved her hand and said, "It's alright. I'll recover soon."
"Is it really alright?" Ebner was still a little worried. He secretly activated his Spirit Vision and looked at her Ether Body. He realized that the color that she represented health was very normal. She was just a little tired, so he felt relieved.
"It's really fine," Xio repeated with certainty before deliberately changing the topic. She mentioned how she had been stopped by MI9 and finally said,
"That person should be my father's former subordinate that Detective Stanton mentioned. I can sense that he has good intentions towards me."
"He invited you to join MI9 as a spy? Did you agree?" Ebner asked curiously.
"I haven't agreed yet… I want to hear your opinion. Yes, I've asked Fors as well. The suggestion she gave me is also to ask you." Xio looked at Ebner, her eyes filled with anticipation.
Ebner knew what she was looking forward to. The lady wanted to infer from his attitude whether joining MI9 would be helpful in investigating her father's case.
"You can join. The identity of MI9's secret agent will not only provide you with the opportunity to investigate the truth, but it's also the key to improving your strength. After all, acting in the Arbiter pathway requires official cooperation." Ebner thought for a moment before giving an affirmative answer.
"Alright, then I'll give that 'golden mask' an answer when I return today." Xio nodded, her tone somewhat excited. She felt that she was one step closer to being wronged by her father.
Seeing that she was happy, Ebner was also infected as a smile hung on his lips. Following that, he also mentioned his matters to Xio and asked her to help him gather some information regarding the "Winston's Labor and Services Company".
When Xio heard the company's name, she pondered for a moment and said, "What a coincidence… Yesterday, I received a request from a working family in the East Borough. Their eldest son mysteriously disappeared while working for that company, and his whereabouts are still unknown…"
"What is the background of this company? Did the client provide any concrete information?" Ebner frowned, raising the danger level of this company.
Xio shook her head and explained, "I don't know yet. This commission was handed to me by the middleman. I plan on personally making a trip to the client's house later."
"Then I'll go with you and join your first case as a Sheriff. Is that okay?" Ebner asked with a smile after some thought.
"I'm honored." Xio raised her eyebrows and answered bluntly.
…
On the steam locomotive heading to Backlund, a beautiful girl who looked to be about seventeen or eighteen years old returned to her seat with three cups of iced tea she had bought from the train attendant.
She casually distributed the extra iced sweet tea to her two companions and then tucked her long brown hair behind her head. She then complained, "Who said the north is colder? The weather is even hotter than Via."
Hearing this, a handsome man with black hair and red eyes sitting opposite her chuckled and said, "Judy, you have to know that the climate in the coastal cities is different from that of inland cities, and they feel completely different when they're hot."
"Cullen, I really envy your physique. That way, you won't have to worry about the summer heat." The girl named Judy took a sip of the sweet ice tea and smiled. "However, it's a rare and beautiful experience to have a cold drink in such a hot summer."
At that moment, a burly man who looked to be in his thirties and was more than two meters tall, sitting beside Cullen, opened his eyes. He glanced at the man and woman who had just spoken and reminded them, "Be careful when you speak in public. Besides, this is Loen. Try to stay alert."
Judy and Cullem looked at each other, nodded obediently, and whispered back, "Yes, Captain."
Only then did the tall captain reveal a smile. He nodded and asked, "How long until we reach Backlund?"
"The train is already past East Tucker County. It should arrive at six in the evening," Judy replied as she glanced at the time on the train door.
"Then let's take a nap first to recover our energy. Perhaps we'll be able to find that person tonight…" The team leader said vaguely, but he believed that his two team members could understand his meaning.
After listening to her, Judy finished the cold drink in her hand and then began to close her eyes to rest. Only the man named Cullen was left staring with his eyes wide open, bored, and on guard. After all, for him, the night was the time when he had the most energy, and there was no need for him to rest during the day.
…
In the afternoon, Ebner followed Xio to a bar called Machinery and Inferno at the intersection of East Borough and the factory district.
They were not here to meet the client, but to find a middleman called Williams.
As it was not yet the working hours of most factories and docks, there were not many people in the bar. Xio immediately saw the drunk young man she was looking for.
Ebner also looked over and saw that the person was in his twenties. His face was thin and long like a horse, his eyebrows were messy and fierce, but his facial features were relatively gentle.
Xio walked near the person and knocked hard on the table in front of him. She frowned and said,
"Williams, can't you quit drinking? Save up your money and marry a nice lady. There will be hot water, dishes, and warm greetings every day when you come home. You can share with her all the various things you've seen while she tells you about the trivial things that happened at home. There will also be cute children kissing your cheeks and playing around with you. Isn't such warmth good?"
Back then when she first arrived in Backlund, she was able to quickly establish herself in East Borough thanks to Williams's help. Therefore, she had always hoped that he would lead a better life.
"Warmth?" Williams was first taken aback, but when he saw that it was Xio, he scoffed. "That's built on the money I bring back. I've long seen through it. If I can bring home 20 soli a week, then I'm sure my family will be warm. It's what you described. But if it doesn't work, Lord, the screams and insults of women and children will drive me crazy!"
"My mother is a role model. Every time my old man comes home, he's always accompanied by beatings, scoldings, and quarrels. Since that's the case, I might as well exchange the soli and pennies I have on me for drinks. Here, no one cares how much I earn. Everyone drinks and chats. The atmosphere is very great. If you miss women, there are those cute street girls outside. They won't quarrel with you."
Xio's lips twitched as she said, "You really are an incurable believer of the Lord of Storms. One day, you will die from alcohol and some strange diseases."
"At least I've already enjoyed it," Williams replied without care. Then, he looked at Ebner beside Xio and asked in puzzlement, "How do I address you?"
"Ebner, a detective." Ebner nodded at him and continued. "We're here to ask you to show us the way to meet our client."
"Ebner? Oh, it's that kid who often eats breakfast with Xio. I've heard of him." Williams came to a realization when he heard that. Then, he revealed a teasing smile and said, "A detective and an arbitrator. This profession is very compatible!"
"Don't waste time, Williams," Xio said as she took out a five soli note and handed it to him. She said, "This is the introduction fee for you, as well as the alcohol."
"Xio, how can you be so generous? Isn't the introduction fee usually paid by the client?" Williams was somewhat surprised, but he didn't think too much about it. He took out a pen and paper from his pocket and quickly wrote an address before handing it to Xio. "This is the address of the Kelly family. She and her husband work at night, and they usually work after eight in the evening. It's perfect for you to go now."
Ebner looked at his pocket watch. It was already three o'clock, so he didn't linger at Williams's. He left the house and hurried to the address on the note.
None of the public carriages dared to enter East Borough because they were afraid of being robbed.
When the two of them followed the address on the note to the shabby apartment that Kelly's family had rented, they realized that a fight had just taken place.
The rolling baskets, torn clothes, and fresh blood on the wall all indicated that a group of uninvited guests had entered.
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
-- Power-
Rangliste 
-- Power-
Stein