According to Ilimi Kati, he had sensed that something was amiss with his girlfriend Lier three days ago. He couldn't pinpoint the exact issue, but his intuition told him that something was off.
"I've got a grasp of the general situation. Now, please let me know what you're requesting, Mr. Ilimi Kati. Are you simply seeking confirmation that the other party is indeed your girlfriend? Or do you want me to investigate further to uncover her identity and whereabouts?" Lin Ruo inquired after listening to Ilimi Kati's description, maintaining a poised and gentle smile on his face.
"I... I hope you can locate Lier and bring her back safely. I'll offer you a reward that will surely satisfy you." Ilimi Kati's voice was filled with agitation, his tone bordering on urgency. He pulled out a stack of gold bills from his bag and presented them, saying, "Here are thirty pounds. If you manage to bring Lier back, I'll raise the reward to one hundred and twenty pounds!"
Lin Ruo glanced at the pile of gold pounds and raised an eyebrow in response. He understood that while one hundred and twenty pounds might not be a significant amount to him, it was likely the maximum Ilimi Kati could provide within a short timeframe.
Not immediately reaching for the money, Lin Ruo advised, "Mr. Ilimi Kati, though it may not be pleasant to consider, I have to remind you that if Miss Lier has indeed been replaced by someone else, she might be in grave danger, even to the point of being deceased. You should be prepared for the worst."
Ilimi Kati trembled upon hearing these words, his lips moving as if he wanted to say something. After a deep breath, he said, "If something really goes wrong with Lier, please recover her body. I will pay as agreed."
"Understood." Lin Ruo nodded and continued, "Now, who is posing as your girlfriend? Do you want me to investigate this person's identity and motives?"
Of course, Lin Ruo was posing the same question as before, but he intended to delve deeper into this matter regardless of Ilimi Kati's response. It wasn't just curiosity or a sense of justice that drove him. It was also because Ilimi Kati lived in the same neighborhood, and any local disturbance could potentially affect him. Being proactive in understanding the situation could help him stay prepared.
"The person impersonating Lier..." Ilimi Kati hesitated before finally speaking up, "Don't concern yourself with her... But if you can confirm that she's not Lier, please involve the police. I don't want to... Keep her around any longer." His tone held a touch of fear as he finished speaking.
"Of course, I'll do that." Lin Ruo smiled gently and nodded, proceeding to ask Ilimi Kati a few more questions before seeing him out.
Once Ilimi Kati had left, the businesslike smile on Lin Ruo's face vanished, and his eyes narrowed slightly. He opened a drawer and retrieved a crystal pendulum. Whispering, he said, "I am not a Sequence 5 of the Seer Path. That's a fallacy."
Activating the fallacy, Lin Ruo, having successfully simulated the abilities of a Marionettist, commenced traditional Divination.
"Ilimi Kati's girlfriend has been replaced by someone else," Lin Ruo's voice announced, and the pendulum in his hand began to rotate clockwise, confirming that Lier had indeed been replaced and that Ilimi Kati's worries were not unfounded.
With this confirmed, Lin Ruo continued his divination: "This matter involves supernatural factors."
Under Lin Ruo's gaze, the pendulum shifted—a quarter turn counterclockwise, then half a turn clockwise—before coming to a rest.
Lin Ruo: ???
Is the pendulum malfunctioning?
This outcome wasn't expected for a failed divination!
Despite his frustration, Lin Ruo maintained vigilance. If this outcome wasn't due to his side, then it must be a countermeasure from the opposing force.
Remaining cautious, Lin Ruo used the [Fallacy] Ability to simulate the skills of a Sequence 4 Bizarro Sorcerer, once again inquiring whether the replacement of Ilimi Kati's girlfriend was related to supernatural factors. This time, he received a clear answer—yes, it was.
"This has occurred..." Lin Ruo sighed, his eyes reflecting contemplation. He then sought to divine if his involvement in this matter would put him in danger.
The outcome indicated danger, but not a significant one.
Raising an eyebrow, Lin Ruo ended his simulated fortune-telling abilities and relaxed. "Divination isn't omnipotent... I should keep that in mind!"
He muttered, his half-lidded eyes revealing little of his thoughts.
…
In the afternoon, Backlund, West End—
"A cup of Niagara coffee, black, no sugar. Thank you."
The gentle voice snapped the cafe's front desk attendant out of her daze. While relaying the order to the back kitchen, she couldn't help but glance at the customer. Her gaze lingered, fixated on a young man with ordinary features—one who would easily blend into a crowd—with tousled black hair and warm caramel eyes. As she continued staring in a daze, her mind wandered.
The black-haired youth paid her lack of attention no mind. After ordering, he casually took a seat by the window, seemingly captivated by the view beyond.
This young man was Lin Ruo, who had expertly utilized the Faceless ability to change his appearance. He had chosen this location because of Lier, Ilimi Kati's "girlfriend."
Based on his gathered intelligence, both Ilimi Kati and Lier were educators. Ilimi Kati taught at a school, while Lier specialized in teaching social dance to noble ladies and wives from aristocratic families. Coincidentally, the noble family Lier taught was situated across from the coffee shop. Lin Ruo's chosen spot offered him an advantageous vantage point to spot "Lier" the moment she arrived.
Additionally, according to Ilimi Kati, Lier had a habit of indulging in afternoon tea. After her dance lessons, she often visited the cafe Lin Ruo now sat in to enjoy a cup of coffee and a break.
Even though Lier had been replaced, the imposter would likely uphold her predecessor's habits to maintain the ruse. This made the cafe a prime location for observation.
As Lin Ruo sipped his coffee, his gaze flicked towards the entrance when a brown-haired girl with blue eyes emerged from the house opposite. He observed her briefly and then shifted his attention away.
She's a Beyonder.
Lin Ruo's intuition was firm. The imposter wasn't of the Seer pathway by any means.
This was his second conclusion.
And that brought Lin Ruo to a pivotal understanding.