The trio exited the Black Pearl and Adam decided that they should explore Bazaar District since they were here already. Edward and Lisa were still in a daze after witnessing what had transpired earlier.
Adam, however, was grumbling under his breath. "Hmph, what a stupid policy! Who in their right mind would prohibit a customer from taking the Caldera wine outside the tavern? Idiots!"
Suddenly, he stopped in his tracks and muttered after some contemplation, "Well, it kind of makes sense, I suppose. No wonder that place is always crowded. Hmm, now that I think about it, it's a good way to retain customers…"
As Adam was stupidly mumbling to himself, Lisa asked him an important question, "What would happen to the server after the effects of the spell wear off?"
"Hmm?" Adam raised his eyebrow. "It's just a simple charm spell. Nothing would happen to her. She'll only be very perplexed after the spell ends, wondering why she disclosed so much information to a total stranger. But that's about it."
"Are you sure?" Lisa asked with narrowed eyes.
"Hmph! What do you take me to be? I'll have you know I'm a morally upright person. I would never harm an innocent woman like her." Adam complained exaggeratedly, his palms balled into fists and his heroic gaze staring into the distance.
Lisa simply rolled her eyes in response. But she knew Adam's character, she knew he'd never implicate innocents. Meanwhile, Edward threw a jab at him. "Sure, you're a morally upright person who stares at women's breasts."
Adam's lips curled up into a smug smile. "Yeah, it takes one to know one."
"S-Shut up!" Edward's face reddened and he secretly glanced at Lisa to see her reaction. However, the latter was thinking about something else and completely ignored them.
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "64ce79d606107d003c23ea27", id: "pf-5140-1"})She began biting her nails as she went into deep thought. Then, she looked at the two of them and solemnly said, "From what the server just said, it's worse than we thought."
Adam nodded with a serious expression. "Yeah, looks like our target has been very active in the time it took us to travel from the academy to this place."
When they'd received the mission, the intel stated that the number of victims was less than ten. However, from the server, they learned that the victim count had already increased to more than a few dozen!
This was one of the worst cases of abduction, and possibly serial murder, in a very long time in Hannes City. And the killer's recent victims included the upper-class people of the city. This would definitely cause the Count to panic and invest all his manpower in searching for the culprit.
"I can't believe the Black Pearl's owner's son also went missing last night." Edward clicked his tongue. "And to think the tavern is still operating as if everything were normal."
The trio went silent as they walked on the sidewalk. Lisa then looked at Adam and stated, "We won't be able to take this as easy as we'd thought. I'm sure the Count must be frantically searching for the people that he'd been expecting from the academy."
"Indeed." Adam nodded. "However, let's wait for at least a day more. I want to confirm this intel from other sources as well."
Edward and Lisa nodded.
"Then…" Adam licked his lips. "Shall we head to the other taverns?"
"Is that the only place you can think of?" Edward snorted.
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "64cc9e79c7059f003e4ad4b0", id: "pf-5109-1"})"Oh, ease up, will you? Besides, we can go tavern hopping and collect information at the same time. It's like killing two birds with one stone. Hahaha!"
Adam put his arms around Edward's and Lisa's shoulders and dragged them towards their next stop.
At the same time, while he was displaying a carefree and playful attitude on the surface, he was secretly vigilant to the extreme. The feeling of being watched when he first entered the city continued to bother him.
He wanted to confirm whether he was still being spied on and if that gaze followed him everywhere he went.
…
The Tidal Manor was one of the more famous landmarks in the City of Sails. It was situated on the eastern side of the city, in a relatively remote place. Constructed at the top of a hillock, this opulent manor overlooked the Misty Seas.
Moreover, there were acres of lush land around the manor adding to its beauty. The majority of this land was turned into a vineyard by the manor's owner. And the owner of this famous manor was none other than the lord of the county, Count Hannes.
Although the atmosphere surrounding the Tidal Manor was picturesque, the atmosphere inside was very gloomy.
Currently, Count Hanes was sitting in his study with a pensive look. The last few months had been very taxing on him. After all, so many people had disappeared from right underneath his nose and he couldn't do anything about it.
Even though he was a Rank 1: Organ Stage Magus, he was helpless. In the end, he could only seek the help of the overlord of the Southern Federation, the Clover Academy.
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "663633fa8ebf7442f0652b33", id: "pf-8817-1"})However, it had been more than two months since he'd sent them a letter asking for help. Still, there had been no word from them. He couldn't help but wonder if the academy had ignored his pleas.
Thinking this, he couldn't help but spit through gritted teeth, "Those bastards! It was foolish of me to even expect help from them in the first place. Damn it!"
The middle-aged man began pacing around the room, thinking of how to proceed with the problem plaguing his territory. Right at that moment, a butler barged inside the study, his face revealing sheer panic.
"M-My Lord! Lord Atkinson is causing a ruckus outside the manor. He's demanding that you meet him now!" The butler hurriedly spoke, anxiety etched all over his face.
Count Hannes rubbed his forehead in frustration. "Took him longer than I'd thought…"
Emory Atkinson was one of the wealthiest residents of Hannes City. He owned multiple businesses in the city, the Black Pearl being one of them. Moreover, he was also a Magus!
If it were anyone else, Count Hannes would have outright dismissed them. However, it was Emory that had visited him. Not only was he a Magus, but his son had also become the latest victim of the string of disappearances from what he'd heard.
Count Hannes knew that now he wouldn't be able to sit idly by waiting for help that may never arrive. All this while, he'd been passively searching for the heinous criminal, offering rewards to any mercenary that could find clues.
But now…
He had to take matters into his own hands. He looked at his butler and solemnly instructed, "Bring him in."
