The morning at the Canham Estate came pretty quickly.
It seemed like just a few minutes ago, the servants’ screams could be heard along the corridors, and Arthur was trying to figure out where Tatiana and Adrian had disappeared to.
Now, sunlight was cautiously filtering through the tall windows, illuminating the traces of the night’s incident.
The broken window had not been replaced during this time.
The pieces had already been removed, but the cold wind continued to enter Camelot’s room, stirring the curtains.
Camelot himself hardly slept.
He replayed the events of the previous night several times in his head.
Fortunately, there would be people at the manor in the morning who could at least start an investigation.
When Camelot went down to the first floor, he heard voices.
«Have they arrived yet?»
«Yes.
They’re already here.»
«And what do they look like?»
«Oh, you better not ask.
The sight of them makes me want to stick my whole breakfast out of my mouth.»
Camelot stopped.
What does “better not ask” mean?
He entered the main hall and immediately realized that the servant was not exaggerating.
There were two people standing at the entrance.
They looked to be around thirty or forty years old, but they looked like they had lived for several centuries.
Their skin was so pale that it seemed almost transparent.
There were dark circles under his eyes, and his clothes were black, long, and completely unremarkable.
Except for a lot of silver clasps and thin chains.
One of them was holding a small pendulum.
The other wore a metal-rimmed monocle.
Camelot stared at them for a few seconds.
Are these the local police detectives?
More like two people who just escaped from the crypt.
The first one noticed his gaze.
«Don’t worry.»
Camelot raised an eyebrow.
«I’m not worried.»
«You’re looking at us as if you’re seeing dead people.»
«Because you look like dead people.»
There was silence.
Arthur, who was standing nearby, covered his eyes with his palm.
«Camelot…»
«What did I say wrong?»
The first man suddenly chuckled.
«I like him.»
«I don’t.» the second one replied dryly.
«It’s mutual.»
Camelot shifted his gaze to Arthur.
«Are these our detectives?»
«Not really.»
The Viscount took a step forward.
«These are representatives of the Search Engine Studio.»
Comedy looked at them once more.
The name sounded unusual, apart from guilds, orders, and the investigation service.
It was as if crimes were investigated here in the same way that artists created paintings.
The first man bowed slightly.
«Ilard Vane.»
«Third circle search engine.»
The second one only tilted his head slightly.
«Northed.»
«That’s it?»
«That’s it.»
Camelot looked at Arthur.
«They’re always so talkative.»
«Unfortunately.»
Ilard took out a pendulum.
At the end of the silver chain hung a small crystallized obsidian.
«The Viscount informed us about what happened last night.»
Camelot nodded.
«I told him everything I knew.»
The Viscount confirmed:
«Camelot informed me of the attack right after they disappeared.
I passed the information to the Search Engine Studio.
Ilard looked at Camelot carefully.
«So it was you who found traces of poison?»
«Yes.»
«And sleeping pills?»
«Yes.»
«And it was you who suggested that what happened three days ago was an assassination attempt?»
«Yes.»
The search engine stared at him for a few seconds in silence.
«What is it?»
«You look nothing like you were described.»
Camelot frowned.
«And how was I described?»
Northed spoke for the first time for a little longer than one sentence:
«Useless heir.
Alcohol.
Women.
Scandals.
Lack of interest in art.»
Camelot looked at Arthur.
«Excellent reputation.»
The Viscount sighed heavily.
«She really was like that.»
Camelot shrugged his shoulders.
«Well, we’ll have to change it.»
Ilard meanwhile walked over to the broken window.
He ran his fingers over the frame.
«The magic of displacement was used here.»
«Can you determine where she went?» asked Arthur.
Ilard shook his head.
«No.»
Camelot frowned.
«Why?»
«Because she didn’t leave a trace.»
He took out his monocle.
The glass flashed a faint silver color. This chapter is updated first at g.com.
The search engine looked through it at the window opening.
«Rather…»
He paused.
«What?»
«There’s a trail.»
Camelot came closer.
«And?»
Illar slowly took off his monocle, his face became more serious for the first time.
«This footprint does not belong to Tatiana.»
The room became quiet.
«What does that mean?» asked Arthur.
«That means that the magic she used doesn’t belong to her.»
Camelot felt a familiar tingling sensation.
The silver grimoire appeared in front of his eyes again.
[Unknown magical energy has been detected.]
[ Analysis is not possible.]
[Link: Black Sun.]
Camelot froze.
So even the grimoire doesn’t know.
Ilard hid the pendulum.
«We will do everything possible to find Tatiana and Adrian’s trail.»
«Will you find it?» asked Camelot.
«Not in one day, of course.
If they are still within this world.»
Camelot frowned.
«And if not?»
Willard looked him straight in the eye.
«Then we’ll have to search where people don’t usually search.»
After these words, both Searchers headed for the exit.
But before he left, the Northed stopped next to Camelot.
«And one more thing.»
«What?»
He looked at the silver grimoire that he couldn’t actually see.
«Don’t try to read everything.
The more pages, the more you crawl into the depths.»
Camelot froze.
«What?»
The Northed was already leaving.
«Especially if your death is behind them.»
Camelot looked after him.
How did he sense that I was seeing the grimoire?
After the departure of the Search Studio, the estate was again plunged into silence.
But Camelot didn’t have time to think.
The Council was supposed to arrive today.After the departure of the Search Studio, the estate was again plunged into silence.
But Camelot didn’t have time to think.
The Council was supposed to arrive today.
He elegantly walked up the steps to his room.
His clothes were already waiting for him in front of the mirror.
Family Canham’s dark formal suit with an orange
handkerchief, where the hieroglyph of the drawing brush was painted.
There are silver clasps on the sleeves.
The coat of arms of the family on the chest.
And a long raincoat, which Arthur ordered to wear.