A pair of black horses with curled horns jutting out of their heads trotted across the dirt road as they pulled a wooden carriage behind them. The rental carriage was currently on its way to the Tidal Manor.
The sun was minutes away from setting, dying the sea in an orange hue. Lisa looked out at the sea through the horse carriage, and a faint smile formed on her delicate lips.
"So beautiful…" she muttered.
"Huhu, thank you, thank you." Adam, who was sitting beside her, brushed his hair and smiled smugly.
"You might not know this, but I was considered the most handsome boy back in my village." He smiled charmingly and continued to brush his hair backward, thinking it made him appear very handsome.
"Most handsome boy?" Edward snorted. "Was your village full of orcs?"
Adam's lips twitched and his eyes narrowed. "Fatty, you've been too outspoken on this trip. Looks like you need a beating."
"Enough!" Lisa reprimanded. "We're about to meet the Count, so you both better be on your best behavior."
"Especially you, Adam!" She glared at the youth. "We'll be representing the Clover Academy. Please don't do something unbecoming of a Magus."
"Fine, fine, I'll behave." Adam raised his hands in the air as a show of surrender.
Soon, the horse carriage stopped at the compound gates of Tidal Manor. The trio got out of the carriage, paid the driver, and walked toward the entrance guarded by armored guards.
"Halt! Who goes there?" One of the guards approached the trio, his eyes gleaming with vigilance. However, when he saw the four-leaf insignia of each of the three kids' olive cloaks, he was stunned.
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "64ce79d606107d003c23ea27", id: "pf-5140-1"})"Are you three perhaps…" he began.
Lisa stepped forward. "We're from the Clover Academy. We have come to meet the Count."
…
Count Hannes, Emory, and Karl were in the Count's study room and were instructing a few guards behind them about how to proceed with the investigation. All of them were standing around a large table that had the city map spread on it.
The count marked several points on the map and instructed his guards, "These were the areas where the victims were last seen within the city. Keep strict watch around these places and thoroughly inspect all the abandoned buildings around these areas."
"Yes, sir!" The guards solemnly replied.
"Okay, all of you disperse. Night has fallen; the chances of the culprit showing up are great. Travel in groups and shoot the flare signal as soon as you see something suspicious. The two Lord Magi and I will immediately rush to your positions—"
Suddenly, the door to the study opened and the butler barged inside. He looked around and when his gaze landed on the Count, he spoke with excitement, "My Lord, they're here!"
"Who's here?" The Count frowned. He didn't like the butler barging into the study without his permission.
"Help from Clover Academy has arrived!" The butler spoke in elation.
"What?!" Count Hannes was shocked, and so were Emory and Karl.
Honestly, the Count didn't think that the Clover Academy would send help in the first place. Firstly, the academy was an aloof existence in this part of the continent. And secondly, his territory was very far from Moon City.
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "64cc9e79c7059f003e4ad4b0", id: "pf-5109-1"})"Where are they?" The count appeared in front of the butler and grabbed his shoulders.
"T-They're standing at the front door, m-my lord." The butler struggled to speak as he was being vigorously rocked by the Count.
The Count immediately rushed downstairs. Emory and Karl looked at each other and then followed behind the Count.
Emory could finally see a faint ray of hope. They'd already begun their investigation two days ago, but till now they hadn't found anything. But if the Clover Academy aided them, then it was a completely different matter.
How could countryside Magi compare to the ones that had been nurtured by a prestigious Magus organization such as the Clover Academy?
When the three Magi reached the front door, they were stunned. When they heard that help from the Clover Academy had arrived, they didn't expect the help to be in the form of three young children!
The Count looked at the three kids and his lips twitched incessantly. In the middle, a refined young girl with blonde hair and emerald eyes was standing gracefully. To her right, a chubby youth wearing luxurious garments was standing with a solemn expression.
And to the girl's left…
A youth wearing a black, pointy hat was standing with a bored expression. Moreover, he wasn't even standing straight and was leaning on one leg and had his arms crossed.
Who… is this hooligan? Count Hannes couldn't help but develop a bad impression after seeing Adam.
Lisa followed the Count's gaze and when she saw Adam act so casually, she was furious. She viciously elbowed Adam in the ribs, causing the latter to grimace.
Adam saw Lisa glare at her and involuntarily gulped. Then, he stood with his back straight, a serious expression on his face. Seeing this, Lisa nodded.
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "663633fa8ebf7442f0652b33", id: "pf-8817-1"})Then, she looked at the Count and greeted him with a smile. "Good evening, Count Hannes. My name is Lisa de Clare and these are my teammates Adam and Edward. We've been dispatched by the Clover Academy to help you with the problem plaguing your territory."
The Count was tongue-tied. In his head, only one thought echoed continuously. How can a bunch of brats possibly offer help!?
He looked at Lisa and asked, "The academy has only sent... you three?"
"Yes," Lisa replied with a courteous smile.
"I-Is it just the three of you?" Even Karl was dumbstruck. Clearly, he didn't expect any help from the three children.
Sensing the doubt in their voice, Lisa had a hard time maintaining her smile. Despite that, she replied politely, "Yes, sir, it is just three. We apologize that it took us so long—"
However, Emory had had enough. He walked right in front of Lisa and roared. "Is this a fucking joke to you?!"
Lisa was stunned at this man's sudden behavior. She involuntarily stepped back as she stared at Emory with incredulity.
Emory continued to scream in anger, "So many people have disappeared, and the Clover Academy has only sent a bunch of useless children?! Do you have any idea—"
But right then, a cold voice drifted into Emory's ear, causing him to instantly shut his mouth.
"Oi."
Emory turned his head toward the source of the voice and saw Adam looking at him with displeasure. For some reason, Emory felt a chill run down his spine when he looked into the youth's abyss-like eyes.
Adam, who'd had enough of Emory treating Lisa disrespectfully, muttered in a chilly tone, "Is that a way to talk to a girl?"
