-~*~-
.
.
.
.
.
Yanyi keep on staring at the two boys who gave nothing but silences as she cross her arms for a show of annoyance. At last, Luyao let out s sigh of defeat and let everything out on the table before Kazuto has any time to interfere. "We both have a look over at Uncle Ryuichi's office of the state.
"Where all the recorded signia is kept?" It doesn't really sound like a question but a statement indicating that Yanyi can instinctively guess what their purposes is. They have been searching and looking through all the records of Azure signia and finds one that are plausible enough to be their suspect.
Kazuto glare with his side profile about the mannerism of Luyao and give up trying to cover it anymore. "We only filter out the profile of those who seems to not be able anymore to wonder around in the night. The pile is still big to read." According to the procedure of travelling into the Empire of Volparine, every person who possesses a Signia must have them registered before passing the border.
This is to ensure that if there's any track of crime cause any of the travellers holding a Signia, it will be easier to convict them by demanding for Signia exam. This is basically a protocol to lower the unsolved crime rate in the Empire. And what do you know, it works!
Luyao and Kazuto explain their initial plans to her before she could blow up from impending rage or form those cold lifeless glare. "And we plan to tell you after we hopefully have filter through half of them." Yanyi didn't start yelling but starts moving back and forth. Both male somehow have the feeling that they are not in any sort of trouble at all.
Yanyi — "So you guys have yet to filter through half of them?"
Kazuto — "No. Like we said, if we had we would've told you already."
Yanyi — "Well then, let me help you."
They begin to filter through the names faster than before having three members and now they have come down to 10 suspects. Each of the 10 suspects have somehow or somewhat used dry ice in their daily work, though some are not as frequent as the other. "I think we can shorten the list even more." Luyao reasoned and they proceed to do the deeds, making sure that there's a reasonable reason as to why the person is not their suspect.
At last after 2 hours of back and forth filtering they had found they designated main suspects. Yes, suspects as in they aren't able to filter out all until one is left but only able to do so until 3 people are left on the list. The first on the list is named Corla Smit, who had come from a viscount family and had married into a count household. However, her spouse has developed a terminal illness in their early years of being together and sadly he passed away 5 years after their marriage. Now she holds all the assets of her late husband and gained the title of Countess out of her own efforts.
"Countess Smit is actually running a business in medicine, specifically speaking medical herbs. This field of research requires a tremendous amount of dry ice for testing and experimenting purposes which makes sense in putting her in one of our prime list." Yanyi commented as she re-read her documents and learning more about who this woman is. She may not be in class a lot during her academy years but she still ace everything. So learning about this part has come naturally from her having to self study after days of not attending the class.
Kazuto took the second files and quickly went through them in an attempt to learn more about their next candidates. He flips through the files and see a picture of a man nearing his late 50s. He has a rather unique hair color which consist of light vermillion on the top and muted neon at the root end.
Kazuto — "Hah. Broke Mathen, an owner of a Plantation company in Kinsel. It says here that he mostly deals with exotic plants for special medication or other use."
Luyao — "Not drug, or I'll raid his home and call for a banishment order from the Marquess."
Yanyi — "Any records saying what plants he had cultivated?"
Kazuto flips more through the files and proceed and see a section that has all the plant that he had cultivated. Some are often heard by the people and some are widely known by Kazuto due to his parents relations. Soon enough his eyes caught on a quite unique name.
Kazuto — " Well there's this plant called Kyns- Kynsquioptil? I think I said it right."
Yanyi — "Oh damn!"
Luyao — "Why? Is that a drug plant that I don't know of?"
Yanyi — "Not for that drug. It is used in a quite a few special medication that is used to treat rare diseases like Myropim. It's quite expensive and hard to find."
"Let's leave that for now. Start another file." Luyao grab the last file laying right before their eyes read the name for all ears to hear. "Edouard Choffard, a business man from Anderil that owns an entertainment business in here. Said to own a big ballroom stage for all his companies contracts holders."
With his legs crossed and flinging over the arm rest Kazuto with a face like a new born child that just step into the world for the first time voice. "I thought that there's only one big ballroom for all the performances in Kinsel? The one that got it's hallway burned down."
Luyao — "Well that one is under the guardian of Uncle and the late care taker."
Yanyi — "The one who died? I thought that he was the owner of the stage?"
Kazuto — "Technically he was the owner as he was the one who planned to build it, but the budget got tight and he had to ask permission from my father for hep. He brings it up in their oriental session with the Emperor and he approve to give some budget with a condition."
Luyao — "The condition that the ownership of the ballroom will be under the jurisdiction of the Empire and State. He will have his portion from all the money the place made but he will be the one taking care of the place."
"So correct me if I'm wrong, is it because of this reason that you both showed up at the scene instead of the Inspector?" Both are silent and slowly nod. Particularly they got an order from Marquess Ryuichi to personally inspect the area as it is owned by the Empire. In order to help the Marquess in next oriental imperial discussion, they both had to went over and see for themselves and sent a report.
"Forget about that, what is it that makes it so easy for him to get a hold of dry ice? I don't think it was ever used in stage performances." The male sitting beside Yanyi ask in confusion and disbelief. How can he be in their suspect list for no apparent reason. "Yanyi? You're the one who choose him to be in this pile. Care to explain?" Luyao directed the attention to Yanyi who is crossing her arms, leaning against the headboard and closing her eyes like she was sleeping.
"Haven't you guys seen any stage performances before in your life? Specifically a story related to winter season?" Contrary to her belief, the two peers of her just shakes their head in denial. Her face contorted into a mixture of annoyance and disbelief. You can't really blame her though. In their two decades of life living with silver spoon in their mouth, you would've thought that they had at least seen a show.
"Have you ever heard the terms smoke screen?" Immediate response is -maybe-. Sighing in defeat, she fix her posture and place her elbow on the table, interlinking their fingers and placing her chin over them. "What do you suppose a smoke screen do? Just by hearing it."
Luyao — "Covering the area with smoke? Like how black screen is just a screen covered in black."
Yanyi — "Precisely. It is usually used during the performers entrance and scene relating to such imagination."
Kazuto — "Your point?"
Yanyi — "There's many ways to make a smoke screen, the common a smoke machines that heats up a type of oil to generate smoke that is typically safe for the human body. However this methods is quite expensive as the technology is only provided for the entertainment building under the Volparine's name. Other people can use it but it'll be quite the money they use."
Kazuto lay his head on his palm and said with eyes half closed. "And your point?" Yanyi throw the files directly to his faces after snatching it away from Luyao's hands. She hates being bothered by someone who is impatient and stupid and in her point of view, Kazuto fits all those criteria.
"Read the damn files and see his financial status! Do you think he is able to afford such money to buy those equipment? We are talking about a 10,000 pure gold coins mind you." The man reluctantly read the financial status and see that this Edouard person is not someone well known, even in Anderil. He's just an ordinary business man.
Kazuto — "Dang! He really won't be able to get one of those machines even if he sell off all his organs."
Yanyi — "Exactly. The reason he is still able to produce such effect is by using other methods of producing smoke screen. It doesn't cause harm to the human body if not being used excessively, but the mere handling of such items could cause serious injuries if not being under protection."
Luyao — "You mean?"
Tilting her heads down, her eyes turns straight into a glare from hell. With her mouth covered behind her hands, Yanyi said two word that explains her prosecution of Edouard.
"Dry Ice."
.
.
.
Okay now that they are away from all this suspects list, they still need to find put how could such idea of using a dry ice lead to the kidnapping of many young women be possible. They could not have simply move from the location in the time spam of 5 minutes to get away from the LCTV. "Perhaps some sort of mechanism was used to transport so many people. Like say a van or something similar."
"How could a van could possibly be unnoticed in the LCTV and not make any noise from transportation, Kazuto?" Luyao rebut his finding. It's not like he hates the idea but from the descriptions that Yanyi gave, it simply is not possible to move around with such large vehicle unnoticed.
The red-headed boy turns to become the sulky face and begin to retaliate against the man who had disowned his theory. "That what did they use?! A cart with magnets where they can easily push people with more help they get?!" Both people starts to look at Kazuto in disbelief which the man inferred as a moment for another scolding.
Yanyi — "Wow... you really be a genius sometime, huh."
Kazuto — "What...?"
Yanyi — "What you've just said now. It is possible and I think that it is the only way you could move so quick without any sound projection."
Kazuto felt like smiling to show how he does know what he is talking about, but the feeling of being left out makes him starts to silently signal for his adopted brother to explain what his idea means. Luyao who, thankfully, the only person who notices his pleading gaze proceed to explain what they could have been figuring out.
Luyao — "Uncle Ryuichi has been talking about a faster way of transportation between major cities in the state. I have a look into his files while he was in the office and he said how the project is talking about building a railway transportation using Mana generated and magnets."
Yanyi — "Perhaps they receive such idea from someone and think of using them to cover their tracks. There's no even a single track of vehicle being used so that makes sense."
Kazuto — "A mole inside of the company? Oh I'll get that mole out alright. My question now is, how the hell did the culprit purchase such powerful magnets to lift several people away?"
"You can actually buy the magnets on their own albeit the hefty price. They must've buy some and create a repelling magnetic field to levitate the carriage." Luyao starts to look into the documents on his shelves. Most of them are of closed or on hold case that is being handle by other Inspector of different region. That is only talking about one bookshelves though. The rest is where he kept the data that is commonly needed in an investigation.
He open a document books called the mechanical of magnets and vehicle. It is quite the new book, but he kept it so that he'd be able to understand all the possible loopholes when the railway is done. "Here." He gave the already open page for Yanyi and Kazuto to read.
Inside is titled the floating magnetic field and the amount needed to carry such big people. Apparently, they use mana for the strengthening of the mana conductivity. And this allow for many weight to be piled on top of the vehicle. "That more prove that we are dealing with a whole big ass group rather than a small group." Luyao sits back in his chair and proceed to take book and put it away.
Kazuto — "All of them can have a big followers. Corla Smit is a Countess and her team of researchers are those that she had raised from when they are tiny wee babies. They'd do whatever she'd said."
Luyao — "The same can be said for the second suspect. He deals with many customers and seeing that he is the only supplier for the rarest medicine, they would follow his request without question."
Yanyi — "..."
"Why are you silent? Aren't you supposed to be saying something about our third suspect? That's how this thing goes around." Kazuto starts to make a commotion just because of her silence and got a smack right above his noggin. Luyao on the other hand, take back his extended arm from the red head start to see why Yanyi kept her silence.
Edouard Choffard is an outsiders as compared to the other suspects. When you start to consider the relationship between Anderil and Volparine, it is not of the closest one. In facts the Anderillians are only able to pass through into Volparine after the South Vile War 20 years ago.
"Are you thinking that he has other possible motive?" Luyao doesn't really trust in natural instinct, especially during an investigation. He would prefer to be presented with definitive evidence. However, he has this feeling that Yanyi might know something about this man.
"Yanyi?" He start to call for her after not receiving anything on his end of the call. The girl snaps back into reality and let out a "Huh?" Luyao raise one of his eyebrows and there's no need for him to repeat his question, she had already get them the first time.
"Oh nothing. It's just... I think I have heard of his last name somewhere... but I can't recall where exactly." Her hands starts to squeeze the side of her head in order to hopefully relief some of the brain tension she has up there. Inside he wanted to know more on what she has, but when rethinking it back, it's best to leave her be.
Kazuto — "Hey, are you okay? You don't seem so fine?"
Yanyi — "I-I'm fine! Just some headache. It'll be over in a giffy."
Luyao stands up and collected everything on his table while simultaneously called for "Let's stop here. Night is coming and it's best if you make your way back home, Yanyi." Luyao proceed to put everything back to where it was and did not give a glance when Yanyi take her hat and coat and start to head out.
"He really is serious about this one." She mumbles quietly and takes her leave.
.
.
.
-~*~-
*The next day*
"Hiyahhhhh!" The blue hair nest starts her day with a cat stretch and rubbing her eyes to get the gunk away. She has to get back to work and find a way to find more clues on either case. However, seeing that the killing case is related to the missing case then it's best to settle that one first.
Regardless of which she decided to finish first, a bath and breakfast is number one. "Yiyi!" She heard Irene call from the living room balcony. Sticking her head out from her bedroom door she yelled, "What?!"
"Could you please take a look at the mail box after your shower! It's the end of the month, our bills should be coming soon." She said as her feet starts to make way into the kitchen. Yanyi replied with a simple thumbs up and proceed to run to the bathroom to get herself freshen up.
After getting ready for the day, she went down to the mailbox, taking them out and reading them to see what is important and what is not. Suddenly a passerby bumped into her making all of her mails fall to the ground. She notices a mail from the man falling into her own pile and try to search for the person by her vision. Luck doesn't seem to be on her side as she did not even see the person.
"I guess I'll have to drop this..." Her tone turns down to suspicious as she turn the said mail in order to see the address of the man. Surprised when she sees her own birth name written on the paper. No address aside from her name. And you be damn to actually share the same last name as the high nobles if you are not related to them.
She walks into the gate of her house with confusion into the living room where Irene had just finish cooking up breakfast. "Hey, if you're done with the mail put them down on the coffee table and have some meal." When she turn to the girl after cleaning her apron, she is still where she last saw her. BY the front door, not moving.
Irene — "Yanyi?"
Yanyi — "..."
Irene — "Yanyi!"
Yanyi — "What?"
"You have been standing there for more than three minutes staring at one mail only. Something the matter?" Irene starts to beckon her into the kitchen where Yanyi slowly moves herself to be seated. She sets all the unrelated mails on the side of the table with no occupants.
"Let's eat first, I'll tell you later." She starts to clench to the piece of mail and using only one hand, alternate between fork and knife to eat. Irene wanted to comments on how weird she is acting but kept her silence. If Yanyi says that she'll tell it later, she'll tell it.
Finishing their meal, Irene tried to stand up and put the dishes in the sink when Yanyi's hand came into contact with her arms. "We need to talk about this first." She flash the mail in front of her and boldly written name of her friend on that letter. Now she's feeling suspicious.
Irene — "How did it get here?"
Yanyi — "Someone dropped it. They must've been watching us carefully."
Irene — "The hand writing is the exact same. Read the content."
Yanyi open the envelope slowly and saw only a rusted key and a piece of paper with a picture of an otter. "What are we supposed to do with a rusted key? Did they put any clues inside the letter, like an address to where it lead to?" Yanyi flip open the said letter and see no address or something that can show them to the key location. But rather...
Yanyi — "There's... a story written in here."
Irene — "A story? Why would there be a story? No weird code or anything?"
Yanyi flip the envelope upside down and flash the letter into Irene's eyes. Just as she said, nothing except for a story. "'A village of otter'. What a weird name for a story." Despite the weird name, Yanyi still went ahead and read the story line by line.
——————————
On the side of the river,
Where water flows;
Straight to the ocean,
A place unknown.
The otters' only wish,
Was to build a shelter;
But all of their attempt,
Was destined to falter.
On a destined day,
The elder otter say;
"This flow has destroyed our home.",
"We must take them under control.".
One brave otter came forward,
"How are we to do with the method?";
"Rain will flood our village sooner.",
"If we delay them we'll be a goner.".
Two otter step up to help,
Each has the same yet different stopper.
One suggest to build a dam,
Prevent the ocean from coming in;
The other wants a wall so high,
Liquid can't spill over.
Banter and banter,
They continue;
The elder took both ideas,
Split them in teams to go through.
And soon the rain pose threat no longer,
Now they lives in peace forever;
The plan was evicted,
As they made way to new land.
——————————
What in the Auril did they just read? It looks like a fairytale but teh way it was worded doesn't really play it out as such. "Did we receive some kids horrible story telling?" Irene starts to question the validity of the information. Did someone just prank them.
*Knock knock* They hear them coming from the front door and quickly hid the paper under the plate. They saw Luyao and Kazuto coming in and start a conversation upon seeing the ladies in the kitchen. "Hey, just finish breakfast? What did you eat?" Irene tried to entertain him by saying what he had brought over from the store outside.
Yanyi on the other hand stayed silent with her arms crossing across the dirty plate underneath. Luyao is not an idiot to not see the little edge of a paper underneath the plate. "Did you guys get a threat or anything?" is the first thing he said, eyes directly towards Yanyi.
Yanyi wave her hands in denial, trying to explain that they hadn't received such thing at all. He saw the pile of mail on the table and get more curious as to why she is only hiding that one piece of paper. Taking advantage of her panic mode, Luyao lift the plate and took the paper in his hand.
By the time Yanyi is conscious, he had already raise his hand up in the air. With the major high difference between them, there's no way in hell that she'd be able to get her hand on the paper back. At last she just outright smack him and chase him all over the house. It is not until she slipped down the stairs that the chase end.
Yanyi — "Ahhhh! *Slips down the stairs*"
Luyao — "Yanyi!"
He forget about their little chase and see the girl had face plant into the brick pavement. After helping her to sit on the stairs, he take a look at her feet and see that it had a slightly twisted the nerve. "Irene, do you guys have a small rod and a bandage?"
"I'll go and get it!" She scream as she ran into her room. She and Kazuto had been watching the two playing catch for quite the time and did not interfere. After getting the items, Irene leave the treatment part to Luyao who had already tried to straighten the nerve. It was so painful that Yanyi had to bite Luyao's arm, which he had offered, from screaming from the top of her lungs.
Luyao — "*Wrapping the bandage* That should be it."
Yanyi — "*Letting her mouth go of his arm* Sigh, I hate you."
Luyao — "Well you should be more careful, especially when you go down the stairs."
Yanyi — "Wouldn't have happen if you did not snatch the paper from my plate."
Luyao — "You mean clue? It is of protocol that you must let the leader know for each clue you own."
Yanyi — "That is fucking directed at me, not the station."
"'The otter village' is it? You think I don't see what the resemblance is?" Yanyi starts to show some confusion as to why he can't decipher such text when she can't. The letter is for her, yet why is it that some outsiders is able to read them?! This never happen before! Not even when they had been find out by other people!
"Ouh, that ancient children story, right? Why is it sent to you?" Kazuto who had just been an observer up until this time said in an interest tone. Okay, at this point I think that it is possibly a story that those from Ashrin had never heard before.
"Ancient Children Story? Why is it called that?" Curious, Irene starts to question why is it referred as 'ancient' instead of old story like what the elders would say about fairytale. "Because it was a story foretelling the time of which our ancestors came to build the empire or so what they called."
Irene — "What do you mean?"
Luyao — "It was of old time story before scientist further prove that our empire was found in a different way. In order to decrease the amount of children getting tricked by such fairytale, it was referred to as ancient."
Kazuto — "Yup! That way not only children see it as a fictional story but also preventing the said story to be spread."
Yanyi — "How come you guys knew about this?"
Luyao — "Because Uncle has a collection of these sort of stories hidden in his house. So when we get bored, Uncle allows us to read these story with the condition of not getting the story out into the world."
"But isn't it weird?" Everyone twist their head to Kazuto who has his chin supported by his hands. He start to contemplate on how come someone else knew of the story aside from both of he them. "How is it that this story can get out? Uncle is the only one that has the story."
Yanyi starts to feel a strong bloodlust coming from behind her. Turning back to see the man that had played chase and treat her wound is now glaring with daggers directly at Kazuto. The same can be said for the other side. Kazuto is glaring at Luyao. The same question came across both, "Did someone break into the chamber?"
Yanyi — "To clear out my name, this was drop by a man that bump into me when I was collecting the bills."
Luyao — "Did you get a glimpse of how he looked?"
Yanyi — *shakes her head* "When I wanted to sent the letter back he had vanished. The place wasn't crowded yet so I have no idea how he can go invisible so quickly."
"Aside from that man, I have a request." The statement came from Irene. Focus on her, Irene starts to say what she had been wondering all this time. "If such thing is a clue, would you mind to educate us on what the story is telling about?"
.
.
.
-~*~-