Lin Yu sits cross-legged on his bed, shadows curling faintly around his fingers as he absorbs the extraordinary particles in the air, replenishing the flow of energy within him.
The low hum of focus breaks when the bell of his home tolls, its sound carrying through the halls.
He does not rise immediately, keeping his eyes shut until the knock comes at his door.
Standing, he smooths his robe and crosses the room, pulling the door open.
Samuel waits there, composed as always, though his voice is low.
"Young lord, the police are here to meet you."
Lin Yu's brows lift slightly, curiosity sharpening his gaze.
"Did they tell you why they are here?" he asks while following Samuel toward the stairs.
"They only told me to call you," Samuel replies evenly.
Descending the staircase, Lin Yu sees them waiting in the drawing room—two figures who rise as he approaches.
One is a young woman, her beauty striking in the eyes of mortals, her posture disciplined but not without grace.
The other, a middle-aged man, bears the plainness of an ordinary officer, his expression firm, his stance practical.
Lin Yu steps closer, his tone polite yet steady.
"Good afternoon, gentleman and lady. What can I do for you?"
The middle-aged man clears his throat, voice clipped.
"Mr. Weston, we have some questions for you."
Lin Yu gestures calmly toward the seats opposite him, taking his place in the armchair with measured ease.
"Please, sit," he says.
They exchange glances before lowering themselves back into their seats.
"What kind of questions?" Lin Yu asks smoothly. "But first, it would only be proper for you both to introduce yourselves."
The man nods slightly.
"Thomas Corn, inspector of Grenton City."
The striking young woman follows, auburn hair catching the light, emerald eyes steady but sharp.
"Nora Ashford, inspector of Grenton City."
Lin Yu's lips curl faintly into a smile.
"Miss Ashford, your father must hate your choice of work."
Her emerald eyes tighten with sudden tension.
"You are acquainted with my father?" she asks, tone edged.
Lin Yu leans back, relaxed.
"We are business partners," he says evenly. "He invested in my eateries across the city."
He lets the words hang a moment before tilting his head.
"But you two haven't come here to ask about my relation with your father."
Inspector Thomas leans forward slightly, voice steady.
"Yes, we have come to question you about the missing stone tablet back at the ruined castle."
Lin Yu shows the appropriate level of interest, his expression calm and polite.
He *is* interested in the tablet, but with his mastery over emotion, even if someone close to him bled at his feet, his face would remain unmoved.
"Did the Blackthorn police find the stone tablet?" he asks lightly. "But if that were the case, you wouldn't need to come all the way here to inform me. It must be another matter. Let me guess—the man we suspected of taking the tablet is dead."
His words flow without hesitation.
He hasn't pried into their minds to reach the conclusion; he doesn't need to.
Though now a mortal who has only just stepped into the extraordinary, his essence still mirrors that of the gods of this world.
His mind cuts through shadows of uncertainty with ease.
And judging by the flicker of shock on their faces, his deduction is correct.
Nora narrows her emerald eyes, locking them on his without wavering.
"Are you involved in his murder?" she asks, voice firm.
Lin Yu leans back, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
"Why would I murder him?" he replies smoothly. "He did me no harm."
Yet in his mind, the tablet drifts like a faint shadow.
He should examine it closely, but his thoughts remain tangled around the Shadow Flower Serpent's remains.
The tablet stirs his curiosity only slightly—not enough to drive him into pursuit.
Inspector Thomas narrows his eyes.
"You and Finn may have been working together to steal the tablet—and you killed him to keep it for yourself."
Samuel, standing behind Lin Yu, bristles with anger.
"Be careful, Inspector, of whom you are accusing."
"Samuel," Lin Yu says softly without turning, "don't be angry."
His gaze locks on Thomas, calm and sharp.
"So, the thief's name is Finn," he says evenly. "And the tablet wasn't found in his home."
He tilts his head.
"That scenario is possible. But why would I have joined him?"
His lips curl faintly.
"For money?"
He doesn't wait for their reply.
"Both of you know I am not short of money."
Nora cuts in, her voice edged with steel.
"That is your family's money, not yours."
Lin Yu smirks, eyes glinting.
"You can inquire with your father whether I am short of money or not."
Thomas presses on.
"You wanted to keep the tablet's information secret."
Lin Yu spreads his hands in mock surrender.
"You must have already spoken to my professors and fellow assistants. Then you know—I am the foremost language expert at the university. If the tablet were with us, I would be the one deciphering it. There are countless ways for me to conceal the information with little risk, if that were my goal."
Their questions continue for several minutes, but Lin Yu's replies remain steady, his composure unshaken.
At last, they rise and take their leave.
Lin Yu stands at the window, watching as the two inspectors climb into their carriage.
The horses snort, hooves striking stone, and the carriage rolls away into the city streets.
Lin Yu speaks without looking back.
"Samuel, prepare tea and refreshments. A guest will be visiting soon."
Moments later, another carriage halts in front of the house.
From it steps Elise, her carriage driver moving swiftly to pull the bell.
The doorman answers, and before he can announce her, Lin Yu's voice carries from within.
"Let her in."
Soon, Elise enters the drawing room, her beauty radiating beyond mortal bounds.
Like him, she has stepped into the extraordinary path.
Her path is that of the Witch, leading toward the Goddess of Moon and Mystic.
She wastes no time.
"Are you involved in the murder?" she asks.
Lin Yu answers with calm finality.
"I swore an oath with your father to share any extraordinary material, inheritance, or knowledge found in the castle. The tablet is clearly extraordinary."
Elise exhales softly, relief easing her shoulders.
"I know. I was confirming."
Samuel steps forward, placing a tray with tea and refreshments between them.
Lin Yu's voice turns dry.
"If your confirmation is finished, you may leave."
Elise glances at him, her eyes narrowing faintly.
"I didn't come only for this matter."
Lin Yu simply holds her gaze in silence.
"Tonight," she continues, "at Everwood Manor, there will be an extraordinary gathering. I want you to accompany me."
"When," Lin Yu asks, "should I be there?"
"No," Elise replies, "I will come to pick you up. We will go together."
"Fine."
Elise rises gracefully and departs.
Outside, her carriage glides away down the city street—passing another carriage that lingers in the shadows near Lin Yu's home.
Inside sit Inspector Thomas and Nora, their eyes following Elise's carriage as it vanishes into the dusk.
Nora studies the insignia etched on the carriage door.
"It's from the Blackthorn family," she murmurs.
Thomas narrows his gaze. "Why do you think they came here?"
"Most likely because of the tablet," Nora replies. "It's rumoured to be from the previous era. Noble families love collecting such relics."
Thomas huffs. "Your father, too."
Nora's lips tighten. "He wants to—but he cannot."
Thomas turns to her, puzzled. "He's one of the richest men in the Griffin Kingdom, and he cannot?"
Nora's eyes harden. "We're a so-called new noble family. No matter the money, we aren't allowed into that market."
Thomas leans back, thoughtful. "Then what about Lin Yu Weston's part in the massacre of Finn and his family?"
Nora falls silent for a moment, emerald eyes clouded in thought.
Finally, she says, "I don't think he was involved. But he knows something."
Thomas nods slowly. "Yes… The question is, what does he know?"
He raps the carriage wall with his palm, and the driver snaps the reins.
The horses surge forward, hooves striking the cobblestones as the carriage rattles into the city night.
The carriage halts before the Grenton City police station.
Nora and Thomas step down onto the cobblestones, their coats catching the chill of the evening air.
They walk toward the gate, boots clicking against the stone path.
The guards at the entrance straighten, saluting them sharply.
Nora returns the gesture with a curt nod.
Thomas asks, his voice steady, "Have Ben and Mark returned?"
The guard closest answers, "Yes, Inspector."
Thomas and Nora exchange a glance, then push forward into the station.
The interior hums with movement—clerks shuffling papers, constables rushing past with reports, the air thick with ink and urgency.
They weave through the crowd, heading toward the far end of the station.
At last, they step into a wide room lit by hanging lamps.
Ben and Mark wait inside, their expressions grim, fatigue written in their posture.
At the centre sits their captain, Anna, a stern middle-aged woman with iron-grey hair pulled tight behind her head.
She rises slightly from her chair as they enter, her sharp eyes sweeping over them.
"Everyone is here," Anna says, voice clipped and firm.
"Let's gather the information and solve this case."