Archibald was initially thrilled to hear that John was coming to see him.
However, his excitent turned to surprise when he spotted Alia and Isabella beside him, and he quickly pulled John aside.
"Brother, I'm really happy you're visiting my place, but why did you bring this she-devil along?"
Archibald whispered cautiously, glancing nervously at Isabella standing nearby, his voice fading to a near whisper.
Everyone knew Isabella of House dici was famously tough!
If it were just her aloof nature and reluctance to speak with others, that could be overlooked—after all, many geniuses tended to be temperantal.
But this lady was different.
The slightest displeasure could prompt her to take action!
Being a fire-based mage with a volatile temper, frankly, there were very few in the entire Imperial Capital who dared cross her.
Isabella gave Archibald a cool look, causing him to shiver involuntarily, then force a dry laugh.
He knew Isabella had heard every word he'd just said, and he inwardly groaned.
Known for her uncompromising nature, if she decided to hold a grudge, his school years ahead could be utterly ruined!
"Ahem... Well, the presence of such distinguished ladies truly graces my humble abode. Please, take a seat, I'll have tea served at once," Archibald said with a forced smile, attempting to excuse himself but was swiftly stopped by John.
"We've co here on business today; there's no ti for tea."
Seeing John's serious deanor, Archibald's expression also turned grave.
"Brother, ask away. I'll withhold nothing and tell all!"
Monts before, Archibald might have been in a playful mood, but that had changed now.
Since John was earnestly asking, he knew he had to disclose whatever he could.
"What do you know about Rose Bar?"
Rose Bar?
At the ntion of the bar, Archibald's face turned awkward, he touched his nose, and then in a hushed tone, he whispered, "Why are you suddenly asking about this bar?"
John didn't speak, rely nodding solemnly.
"Does this have to do with the previous mission?"
Archibald suddenly guessed, lowering his voice further.
John raised his eyebrows slightly, seeming to acknowledge Archibald's quick thinking.
"Mhm."
Archibald instantly understood why they had all co together today, and why the atmosphere was so serious.
"I don't know much about Rose Bar. I've only been there two or three tis, always with friends," Archibald began.
"But it's said that Rose Bar is a haven of solace... No matter what troubles you have, going there can soothe your worries."
"The won there only serve drinks, they don't offer other services. If soone wants more, it depends on the girl's own decision. And their proprietress..."
At this point, Archibald paused, seemingly trying hard to rember sothing but struggling to recall.
"What about their proprietress?" John asked, sensing sothing amiss.
If she were just an ordinary proprietress, why would Archibald look so troubled?
"Strange... I can't seem to rember what their proprietress looks like," Archibald said, gently tapping his forehead, trying to jog his mory, but to no avail.
"Ugh..."
The more Archibald tried to rember, the more his head hurt, and the figure in his mind grew increasingly vague.
"I only know that their proprietress has long, fiery red hair, often holds a smoking pipe, and always wears fresh roses in her hair. She slls of roses too, and then... and then..."
Archibald clutched his head in pain.
John and the two won exchanged glances, more convinced than ever that there was sothing peculiar about this proprietress.
This was likely more complicated than they had anticipated.
Archibald might have a poor mory, but it shouldn't cause such a headache just to think about this proprietress!
"I can't rember, I really can't rember..."
Archibald's forehead was covered in sweat, and his face had turned a shade paler.
"Don't panic. Take your ti and think carefully.
If you recall any clues, let us know."
Archibald, realizing sothing was wrong with his mory, tried to concentrate.
"No matter how hard I try, the image in my mind just keeps getting blurrier, like it's being erased."
This situation could an either drugs or so form of enchantnt!
"It seems we need to pay a visit to House Brown," John said.
They had hoped to resolve everything with Archibald's help, but now it seed they had to go further.
"I'm coming too!" Archibald insisted.
After all, he was also involved in this mission, and given what had happened, he needed to understand what was going on.
...
"The proprietress of Rose Bar?"
Leopold looked puzzled at John, not quite understanding why they were asking about her.
But as he tried to recall, the image in his mind grew increasingly vague.
"Ugh... I can't rember either. Why can't I suddenly rember what she looks like?"
Seeing Leopold experience the sa difficulty, Archibald's expression turned serious.
If this was the case, it confird that sothing was indeed very wrong with the bar!
So that's it...
John lowered his eyes slightly, now understanding how Rose Bar could be evacuated so thoroughly without fear of anyone recalling their activities.
Everyone who entered the bar had been tampered with, but how could they manage this in front of so many people? And at the sa ti, erase so many mories?
"Powder," Alia said quietly, and suddenly it all clicked for John.
Of course!
Everyone who entered the bar would have a drink, and the golden powder must have been mixed into the drinks!
That's why everyone who entered was affected, subconsciously overlooking the proprietress.
When they tried to recall her appearance, the image would fade, a side effect of the golden powder.
Now it made sense...
Leopold and Archibald imdiately realized the problem with the drinks they had consud, breaking into a cold sweat.
This ti, their drinks had only been laced with a mory-altering substance.
But what if...
What if it had been poison?
Or substances that could control them?
What would they do then?
More importantly, what would the entire population of the Imperial Capital do? These people were poisoned without any defenses.
The Dusk Sect was terrifying!
"I... I'm not poisoned, am I?" Leopold stamred.
John gave him a calm look.
"If you were poisoned, you'd probably be dead by now."
The poison likely wasn't present, but there might be other substances involved...
After all, with such an opportunity, they wouldn't have used just a mory-altering powder.
"It looks like we need to go back to Rose Bar and investigate thoroughly."
The others imdiately understood why John said this.
Since the powder was found in Rose Bar, to uncover the nature of these substances, they had to return.
Without hesitation, they headed back to Rose Bar.
Although Hidden Stars had taken all the powder from the remaining boxes, there had to be other clues left behind.
Just as they arrived at Rose Bar, before even entering, John received a ssage.
His face instantly turned serious upon reading it.
Alia noticed John's grave expression and paused.
"What's wrong?"
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