Chapter 82. Criminal Investigator Rol
"Princess Serela, Your—Your Highness is actually here at dillion Duke Manor?!"
When Security Captain Grego Hoke walked into the reception hall and caught sight of that incomparably beautiful golden-haired figure, those perpetually squinting little eyes of his instantly flew open wider than a brass bell.
He had never in his wildest dreams expected to run into Her Highness the Fourth Imperial Princess here!
"This is going to be a problem……" Grego muttered inwardly.
But the mont he thought of the full bag of Gold Faras Luo Nan had given him before, he imdiately suppressed that flicker of hesitation.
Besides, the heavens had collapsed and there was still soone tall standing behind him to hold it up!
"You are the Security Captain responsible for the area where Luo Nan's assassination took place?" Serela cast a glance at the deferential Grego and asked offhandedly.
"Yes, that is this humble one. This humble one's na is Grego Hoke, currently serving as Captain of the Fourth Patrol Unit of the Third Brigade of the Opalia Security General Bureau! Greetings to Your Highness the Fourth Imperial Princess!" Grego respectfully perford a salute toward Serela.
The Imperial Princess gave a slight nod, then shifted her gaze to the lanky figure standing behind Grego.
When Serela turned her eyes toward him, that lanky figure averted his own gaze.
Upon noticing this, Serela smiled faintly, as though she had perceived sothing, and continued asking: "Captain Grego, the person behind you is……"
"In reply to Your Highness, he is a mber of the Fourth Patrol Unit—Rol s." Grego turned his head and glanced at Rol, conveying a aning with his eyes.
Rol seed to read Grego's look. He raised those dark eyes of his once more, t Serela's gaze directly, and spoke in a businesslike manner: "In reply to Your Highness, this person is Rol s, currently serving as a Criminal Investigator of the Fourth Patrol Unit. Regarding the investigation into the assassination of Luo Nan von dillion, I have so developnts here……"
"Oh? Luo Nan's na…… is that sothing you are permitted to address him by directly?"
Serela unexpectedly cut off Rol's speech, her tone carrying a faint chill.
He had gotten too comfortable—the words had slipped out of his mouth.
Rol realized his slip of the tongue at once and imdiately corrected himself: "My apologies, Your Highness, please forgive my discourtesy."
Seeing Rol yield, Serela's lips curved upward again with a barely perceptible trace of amusent, and she said offhandedly: "Do continue."
Rol nodded. "Based on our on-site examination of the assassination location of Luo Nan…… Young Lord dillion, as well as our investigation into the identities of the assassins, we can confirm that the perpetrators were Abyssal Cultists recently active in Opalia who worship the Great Lord 'Nature.'"
Rol reached into his hand-carried satchel, produced a sheaf of case docunts, and respectfully placed them within easy reach of Serela.
"Anya, have a look first—after all, you were also a firsthand witness at the scene."
"Ah? ?" Singled out by na by Serela, Anya pointed at herself with a sowhat surprised expression. Upon receiving Serela's second confirmation, she tilted her head, picked up the docunts from the table, and read through them carefully.
"Indeed…… based on these materials, there is no question that those who attacked Luo Nan were Followers of 'Nature'—but why would they do sothing like that?"
After finishing the docunts, Anya affird Rol's investigation but still could not fathom the motive those fellows had for assassinating Luo Nan.
"Let us set that aside for now. Mr. Rol, do you have any other investigative developnts?" Serela took the docunts, looked through them quickly, and then asked Rol with a markedly disinterested tone.
It seed these results were not enough to pique the Imperial Princess's interest.
"Of course—we have found a critically important lead. It concerns…… a Mole within dillion Duke Manor!"
Rol dropped a bombshell.
From the corner of his eye, he seed to detect the graceful, near-invisible maidservant Pati's body give an almost imperceptible tremor.
"This matter is of grave consequence—it may be connected to the conspiracy behind this assassination…… since Your Highness is present, I would like to request that you serve as our Notary."
"Oh? Mr. Rol, what sort of notarization would you have
perform?"
As though sothing had co to mind, Serela smiled faintly and asked in a warm and composed tone.
"We need to conduct brief questioning of the manor's mbers who may have had knowledge of Luo Nan's whereabouts, in order to support the follow-up investigation."
Serela straightened up slightly, an expression of interest crossing her face. She propped her jade hand beneath her chin, those violet eyes fixed on the perfectly composed Rol, and said: "Of course—I might even say…… acting as a Notary is sothing I am quite accomplished at."
"Thank you for Your Highness's support." Rol averted his gaze once more and perford a bow.
"Miss Pati, am I qualified to do so?" Serela turned her head to ask.
"Of course—with Your Highness's standing, you are naturally qualified."
"Good. Then please call all mbers of the manor together. Could I trouble you to make a run for it, Miss Aina?"
"Yes, Your Highness!" Upon receiving the task, the young maidservant spun around at once and trotted off in her high heels.
Clack clack clack—
"That…… Mr. Rol, may I ask sothing? Why are you certain there is a Mole in the Duke's manor?"
After Aina departed, the hitherto silent Anya Sivans suddenly spoke up with a question.
The girl had a sense of déjà vu—she kept feeling that this Rol s seed familiar from sowhere, as though…… he owed her money.
"That…… once all the manor's mbers have gathered, I will naturally provide the reason." Rol glanced at Anya and deliberately left the matter hanging.
"……" Anya felt this fellow was just as insufferable as Luo Nan—they both loved speaking in riddles.
Thinking this, she sullenly reached over and picked up the fruit tray on the side table, and began eating on her own.
Bong, bong, bong—
Just then, the capital's Baber Tower Clock struck twelve tis, heralding the arrival of the next day.
Rol glanced out the window at the twin moons, feeling a vague unease settle over his mind.
As though so terrifying presence had fixed its gaze upon him.
"All right, Mr. Rol—all the manor's mbers who may have had knowledge of Luo Nan's whereabouts are here now. Please begin."
Picking up the Sulan Black Tea that Aina had brewed, Serela took a refined sip and spoke to Rol.
Forcing himself to snap out of that unnerving state of mind, Rol swept his gaze over the manor's servants who had by now gathered in the reception hall.
Good—everyone was indeed here.
They could begin.
"Ladies and gentlen, due to the assassination attempt on Young Lord dillion…… yesterday at noon, following our investigation as well as the direction indicated by a certain key piece of evidence, the case has advanced to a critical juncture."
Rol paused briefly, letting his gaze sweep across the crowd with their varied expressions, committing each one to mory, then continued: "Now, under the notarization of Her Highness the Imperial Princess, I need to inquire of you all about certain matters and, on that basis, carry out the follow-up investigation. I hope all of you will cooperate with ."
"……"
After a brief silence, maidservant Pati was the first to speak. "Young Lord Luo Nan's safety is naturally paramount—Mr. Security Officer, we will cooperate with your investigation."
Rol gave a nod. "Many thanks for your cooperation. In order to protect the privacy of each person, we will conduct individual questioning—please do not have any reservations."
Having said that, Rol turned to Serela. "Your Highness, if you would?"
"Mm, that works," said Serela, setting down her teacup and glancing back at Rol, "why not start with Miss Aina, who is closest to ? Is there any required order?"
"Of course not," said Rol, looking toward the young maidservant Aina. "Miss Aina, shall we?"
"N—no problem! I will tell you everything I know!"
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