Chapter 21: The Answer Is Obvious

“Are you sure this is where the intense magical reaction was detected?”

Ilene stood in the middle of the empty street.
The uniform jacket draped casually over her silk nightdress was puffed slightly by the night wind, outlining her slender, well-proportioned waist.
She frowned as she examined the overly pristine street before her, suspicion creeping into her heart, and turned to the young acolyte beside her.

After arriving here, her primary mission had been to deal with the Gluttony cultists lurking within the city.

Ilene had originally thought that no matter how rampant those Gluttony cultists were, they wouldn’t dare make a move on her very first day here.

Yet not only had it happened—it had happened in the dead of night, just as she had finished changing into her nightwear and was about to go to sleep.
As a result, she was now dressed in nothing but a silk nightdress with a jacket thrown over it, and even so, her body’s curves were impossible to conceal.

Having the most wonderful moment of the day interrupted like this, even Ilene couldn’t help but feel irritated.

“Uh… according to the detection results at the time, this should be the place.
But I don’t know why there’s not a trace of magical reaction now.
It’s like it vanished into thin air.
Could this thing be broken?”
The young acolyte looked at the crystal ball in his hands, now dull and lifeless, utterly confused.

“Tch…”
Ilene snorted coldly.
“You’ll split into five teams.
Each team takes a magic-detection crystal and thoroughly search every corner of the area.
Don’t even skip the trash bins!”

As she turned, the silky hem of her nightdress swayed gently.

Upon receiving the order, the surrounding acolytes immediately scattered, searching like well-trained hounds.

“Captain, according to the patrol roster for this district, the ones on duty nearby at the time were two men named Tom and Gaffy.
The police department reports that both have been missing for some time and are currently classified as missing persons.”

Anna hurried over to Ilene’s side, holding a thick copy of The Encyclopedia of Elemental Knowledge in her arms.

“If nothing unexpected happened, those two are dead for sure.”

Compared to Ilene, Anna’s attire was extremely formal.
She wore the standard Tuning Division uniform, her tie perfectly neat without the slightest flaw.

“Is there any other information about them?”
Ilene asked.

“There is, but…”
Anna hesitated, her voice unconsciously lowering.
“It’s something you really dislike, Captain.”

After all, she knew very well how much Ilene detested cases involving obscenity.

“Then don’t say it.”
Ilene cut her off immediately.

The last trace of sympathy vanished from her eyes, replaced by icy disgust.

Any lingering pity evaporated in an instant, leaving only the thought that those two had died well.

Sometimes, when the law can’t punish certain people, it really does take someone even more lawless to do it.

“Tch.
Those Gluttony scum really know how to pick their timing—causing trouble at a moment like this.
If I catch her, I’ll cut her down myself.”

This was directed at the Gluttony cultist.

Her once-good mood ruined, a hint of murderous intent crept into Ilene’s tone.
As her words fell, her attention was suddenly drawn to the darkness behind her.

Within her field of vision appeared a flash of white.

Two massive white steeds stamped heavily against the ground, iron hooves clattering as they neighed, pulling an exquisitely crafted carriage behind them.

The church’s carriages also used white horses, but they were different.
Church carriages were usually lavish, adorned with elaborate patterns and decorations—nothing like the one before them.

Ilene and Anna exchanged a glance.
They both knew who had arrived.

Others might not recognize such a carriage, but among the Tuning Division, there was no one who didn’t.

The carriage stopped by the roadside.
Before the coachman could dismount to open the door, the carriage door was shoved open from inside, and a young girl jumped down briskly, completely ignoring the footstool the flustered coachman hurriedly offered.

“Miss…”
the coachman called helplessly.

“There’s no one around anyway.
No need for all that troublesome stuff,”
the girl said, referring, of course, to noble etiquette.

“Hi~ Ilene, long time no see.
I really didn’t expect you to be here.
Sorry—things were a bit busy during the day, so I only had time to come see you now.”

The girl in a white short dress jogged over to Ilene, lifting both hands to gather the messy pink hair at her forehead and toss it behind her.

“Miss Isaacson, it’s been a while,”
Ilene replied.

Confirming that the visitor matched her expectations, Ilene gave a slight nod and discreetly fastened the buttons of her jacket, covering the neckline of her nightdress.

The youngest daughter of Duke Isaacson, and also the younger sister of the Tuning Division’s captain—
Albena Isaacson.

“Shh, no need to be so formal.
Besides, you’re wearing sleepwear too, aren’t you?”
Albena blinked playfully, teasingly pointing at Ilene’s nightdress.

Anna chimed in at the right moment to ease the atmosphere.
“Albena, what have you been busy with in Pharisa?
I haven’t heard the bishops mention any assignments for you at the church.”

“Anna really gets me,”
Albena said with a grin.
“Of course I’m here on a family mission.
Let me tell you, it’s really tough.
I’ve been at it for three whole days and still haven’t made any progress.”

“Three days?
That sounds a bit exaggerated,”
Anna remarked.

“Not at all.
Anyway, enough about that.
How’s my brother been lately?”

“He’s the same as ever,”
Ilene answered, her tone tinged with helplessness.
“Sword never leaves his side, nagging like an old man.
Sigh… every time I’m with him, it feels like he’s taking care of a child.”

“That’s good then.
He just worries too much.
No need to mind it.”

“And yet, didn’t you also rush over the moment you heard even the slightest rumor?”
Ilene glanced at the busy acolytes behind her, pointedly implying that Albena was just as incapable of sitting still as her brother.

“Well, that’s because we’re siblings, isn’t it?”

Albena laughed it off, though she was too embarrassed to admit that her late-night visit was mostly because she’d been bored out of her mind in Pharisa and wanted something interesting to happen.

“Alright then, hurry up and tell me what happened here.”

“A Gluttony cultist attack—at least, that’s our current judgment,” Anna answered.

In truth, the reasoning was simple.
Among the infiltrative threats humanity currently faced, there were only the Gluttony Church and the remnants of the Beastfolk.
And the Beastfolk primarily targeted prominent figures like Albena—not two ordinary patrol officers.

So the answer was obvious.

The only ones who could have done this were the Gluttony cultists.

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