Free Web NovelChapter 24: A Bad Feeling
"Prepare your officers to head out!"
All the officers stood up and saluted August before they quickly began to head out of the room. Viva let out a nervous breath and leaned against the table! That entire meeting had been nerve-wracking, and Viva was surprised that she managed to do so well! Viva just hoped that this would help them solve the case! But Viva was surprised when August spoke up.
"What are you doing, officer? Why aren’t you going to get prepared?"
Viva looked at August in surprise! He wanted her to go with them!?
"R-Really!?"
Viva was shocked by August’s words because she wasn’t used to going out with the Attack forces to apprehend criminals. Viva’s main job as a City Guard was to respond to emergencies and file documents. This was actually the first time she would be carrying out any sort of investigation since investigations like these were usually reserved for officers at the lieutenant level or higher! August smiled and pat Viva on the shoulder.
"I always believed in you, Viva. You did a good job with your investigation. I remember you graduated as an offensive magic caster at the Academy, didn’t you?"
"Y-Yes sir!"
"What element?"
"I can use lightning and fire spells up to C Rank, sir!"
"So you’re a Third Realm Expert. Good, you’ll join my group inside the mansion. You have to see this through to the end. Is that clear?"
Viva’s cheeks were hurting from how hard she was trying not to smile, and she saluted August happily!
"Yes, sir!"
August nodded before he left the room to join the other officers, and once he was gone, Viva did a fist pump and exclaimed happily!
"YES!"
....
[Verati Academy Library] ƒree𝑤ebnσvel.com
"Hello, little one. What can I help you with?"
Rita spoke with a beautiful smile from behind the librarian’s desk, and she watched as the young boy standing opposite her stammered dumbly while trying to force his words out.
"I-I-I w-wanted to check these books out."
The boy raised a small stack of books in his hand, and Rita smiled kindly as she told him to please put the books down. The boy had a huge blush on his face as he followed Rita’s instructions, and Rita took his library card and began to check the books out.
"Hey, Rita. Did you deliver the book order from the Orphanage?"
Percy spoke up as he walked out from a door behind Rita, and Rita put a hand on her cheek and exclaimed in surprise while saying that she had forgotten!
"It completely skipped my mind. I’ll handle it right after I’m done here."
Percy smiled and shook his head.
"No need for that. You can handle things here. I’ll go for the delivery."
Rita blinked in surprise when she heard this, and it only took a moment for a look of realisation to come on her face, and she spoke up softly.
"You’re still worried about the case, aren’t you?"
Percy chuckled when he heard Rita say this, and Percy realized that it was impossible for him to hide anything from Rita.
"I’ll just swing by and see how the investigation is going. I have a bad feeling about it."
Rita’s eyes widened in shock. Percy having a bad feeling about anything was actually a very serious matter! As someone who possessed a high affinity for magic, Percy possessed a sixth sense that allowed him to easily predict or point out certain things without an explanation. Percy’s instincts were so good that Rita always joked that he could see the future! If Percy said he had a bad feeling about this case, then he definitely needed to do something about it!
"Do you want me to come with you?"
Rita turned to Percy fully as she said this, and Percy just smiled and gave her a short kiss.
"No need for that. We wouldn’t want to leave Lana here on her own. Just take care of things until I come back, alright?"
Rita nodded, and she pulled Percy in for another kiss before she smiled at him.
"Come back soon."
"Of course."
Percy waved at Rita before he grabbed the books that he was meant to take to the orphanage and walked out of the library. Once Percy was gone, Rita looked back at the boy who had been waiting for her and she laughed when she saw that his entire head had gone red after seeing Rita kiss Percy. Children were so adorable!
....
[Jacques Mansion]
[Upper East Side of Aquinas City]
Things had not gone to plan at all for the Aquinas City Guards.
The raid on Jacques’ mansion had started out the way most other raids did! The City Guards arrived at the mansion with their horses and carriages, and they formed a massive perimeter around the mansion as they prepared for the raid. The Upper East Side of Aquinas was where most of the high-class citizens lived, and every house in this part of the city was a mansion with enough space around it to fit three other mansions! This abundance of space made it easier for the guards to form their perimeter, and once the mages were in position, August spoke into a magic device in his ear.
"Erect the barrier."
Twoon!
Multiple mages raised their hands, and a massive magic circle suddenly appeared in the air and began to spin slowly. The magic circle pulsed with a yellow light before it began to expand into a half-dome that covered the entire mansion! This dome was a special magical barrier used by the City guards to prevent any form of physical or magical transportation out of a region! This way, no one would be able to leave this mansion until the guards were done with their raid!
August was standing in front of the house with fifteen city guards standing behind him, and there were four other groups positioned at the four corners of the house to cover all the exits. One of the guards behind August was Viva, and she had a nervous energy around her body as she waited for the raid to begin! This was the first time she would be doing something like this, so she was doing her best to avoid shuffling her feet!
Once the barrier was fully set up, August called out to the guards!
"Defense mages!"
Five mages who had high affinities for defense magic moved towards the door, and August and the other offensive mages all moved together behind the defense mages. They got to the door, and one of the guards kicked it open and entered! There were some maids moving around the mansion, and they all screamed in surprise once they saw the guards!
August spoke in a loud voice!
"This is a raid! I have a warrant for the arrest of Mr. Jacques! Please follow our instructions!"
The maids all stepped back with their hands raised, and August turned to one of them and spoke.
"Where is Mr. Jacques?"
"I-I don’t know. I haven’t seen him for a few days now. B-But the head maid might know where he is."
"Bring her to me."
"I’m here."
The head maid spoke up from the top of the stairs leading to the upper floor, and August commanded her to tell him where Jacques was. The head maid was an old woman with an air of elegance around her. Her hair was tied into a bun behind her head, and she held her hands in front of her regally as she addressed August.
"Master Jacques has been locked in his study for the past three days. We haven’t heard anything from him in that time. It was the madam’s death anniversary a few days ago, so I think he is in mourning."
August narrowed his eyes, and he told the maid to lead them to the study!
