Zich and Walwiss conversed briefly. Walwiss asked questions expected of a visitor while Zich gave mild replies to all his questions. From time to time, Walwiss asked questions to catch Zich off guard, but like a sly snake, Zich never gave any suspicious answers. As if he had reached the truth, Orland opened his mouth after looking at Zich.
“Did you hear about the commotion yesterday?”
“You mean the commotion that happened in the Jaewicks’ mansion? Yes, I heard and saw it too. The lights from the fire were visible even from here.”
“Yes, there was a trespasser at the Jaewicks’ place yesterday. I even took part in it myself, but we missed him unfortunately. We did beat that guy well with our magic though. Although it’s a bit embarrassing for me to say this, I’m confident in my magic. I’m sure that guy will be suffering from some injuries even with potions or healing.”
Zich smiled widely. “You are suspecting me.”
“Are you disappointed?”
“Not at all. I’m the one who said that there might be a companion of the robed figures among the participants at the mages’ meeting. Wouldn’t it be ridiculous for me to get angry that I was suspected in this case? It’s also true that the timing somehow fits perfectly.”
“Thank you for thinking that way. Then, could I ask you another question while I am at it?” Walwiss narrowed his eyes and asked, “Are you the trespasser from yesterday?”
A heavy atmosphere clouded inside the room. Wayne’s fingers twitched like he wanted to arrest Zich right away while Orland and Walwiss took turns looking at Zich.
“No,” Zich answered.
“Can you prove it?”
“Unfortunately, I can’t prove it since my companions’ testimony won’t be enough to prove that I am not the trespasser. But I also think that not many people would have alibis during that timeframe.”
The event had happened late in the day when the lights in the sky were disappearing. Most people were inside their houses and it would be difficult to get another person to testify for them at that time.
“Hmph! Aren’t you just making excuses?”
“Then, can I ask you all in response? Do you have any evidence that I’m the culprit? It’s simply a coincidence that my condition worsened the day after the commotion happened. If you just accuse someone of being the culprit based on your assumptions, you are not the one who should be talking, Mr. Jaewick.”
“What?”
“The corpses wearing the robes. Did you clear the suspicions about the fact that you could be involved with the group that kidnapped Elena?”
“What nonsense! I have no connection with those guys!”
“I’m the same. I don’t know what specifically happened yesterday, but I have no connections to the incident.”
“Y-You…!” Wayne’s great desire to strike Zich with the staff he was holding clearly poured out of him. However, Zich simply stared at him calmly, which angered Wayne even more.
“Then is it okay for us to assume that you have no connection to what happened yesterday?”
“Yes, certainly.”
“I see.” Walwiss got up from his seat. “Thank you for answering. We can’t trouble a sick person any longer than this. Take good care of yourself.”
As he turned around, Walwiss looked at Zich again. “I know it’s shameless of me to ask you this, but could you continue helping us look for Elena?”
“Don’t worry about that sir. I will be fine by tomorrow, and I will start looking for her again then.”
“Thank you.” Walwiss nodded as if all his questions had been resolved.
However, Wayne intervened and said, “Before I forget, when are you going to let me meet your servants?”
“Hans and Snoc? They are going to come back in a few days. Let’s have a meeting as soon as they come back.”
As if he couldn’t wait for that moment, Wayne gave a menacing glare like a viper and backed away.
“Let’s go now.” Walwiss took Orland and Wayne and left the room. Orland bowed his head slightly but Wayne didn’t even meet Zich’s eyes as they left.
“What do you think, sir?” As soon as they got out of the lodging, Walwiss turned his head and stared at the approximate location of Zich’s room.
“There wasn’t anything strange about his statements at least.”
“But…”
“It’s true that the timing of his illness is suspicious though.”
Wayne’s face brightened up. “Yes! It’s very suspicious! Are you finally agreeing with me, sir?”
“It’s not been decided that he is the culprit. I think this calls for a little bit more cautiousness.”
“Yes, certainly, sir! Of course!” Wayne passionately agreed as he stuck close to Wayne’s side. It seemed like he was overjoyed that Walwiss began to look at Zich suspiciously. Then, he blabbered on, gossiping about Zich to Walwiss. Orland quietly watched them from behind.
* * *
After Walwiss and his group left, Zich lay on his bed for a bit. But a brief moment later, when their presence departed far away from his lodging, he abruptly got up.
“Congratulations on your recovery.” Lyla’s soulless congratulations remark sounded incredibly unmeaningful.
“Thank you.” Zich also responded indifferently and got off his bed. Unlike what he said and showed until now, he didn’t look sick or injured anywhere. Instead, he actually looked upset that he hadn’t been able to move his body before.
“I’ve been hungry since I was sick.”
“You are so good at lying.” Lyla sneered as she saw Zich rubbing his stomach.
Zich pouted, “Aren’t you being too harsh to someone who was sick?”
“If you were actually sick, my attitude would be different.”
However, Zich wasn’t sick. In fact, he couldn’t have been healthier.
Zich plopped onto his bed. Lyla’s eyes followed him.
“Are you really alright? After listening to them, it seems like it’s true that you were hit by some powerful magic attacks.”
“My body is too tough for me to suffer from that,” Zich shrugged.
“It seems like Walwiss Dwayne is starting to suspect you,” Lyla said. If that was true, that didn’t seem like it would be ideal for them. Yet, what she added next indicated the opposite. “…As you planned.”
“If I get sick at a time like this, anyone would be suspicious.”
“Will it really be all right? This will definitely help Orland.”
“Yep.” Zich nodded. “And that’s what I wanted.”
“You’re purposely trying to walk the harder route.”
“Yeah, and that’s nothing new. I’ve always been like this. I’ll definitely do a kind act in the end, but I’m going to do it my way.” Zich thought of Orland and smiled.
Lyla sighed, “Well, I already said I’ll help you, so I’ll act according to your plans. But try to minimize Elena’s pain as much as possible. She didn’t do anything wrong.”
“I’ll try, but you know that’s impossible, right? Since the mastermind of this plan is her father, she’s going to get hurt regardless of what happens. Her father is the reason for her humiliation and pain, and he’s trying to corrupt her grandfather. Moreover, he might have used her mother and killed her.”
“…Yeah, that’s true.” Despite how intelligent she was, Lyla could only shake her head sadly since it was impossible to shield Elena from the upcoming catastrophe.
“The only thing you can do for Elena right now is to help correct what has been distorted and what will be distorted in the future. So if you’re trying to help Elena, strengthen your resolve.”
Lyla nodded at Zich’s serious advice.
* * *
Like Zich said, he returned to the meeting the very next day. Several days later, he brought Hans and Snoc and introduced them to the rest of the people in the meeting. Wayne sharply questioned Hans and Snoc, but he was not able to gain much information from their answers. In the first place, their answers were very simple. They said they camped outside the city walls and looked for any suspicious-looking areas.
Wayne tried to get them to spill information by questioning them about the topography of the areas outside the city, but Snoc and Hans easily answered all of his questions. Moreover, Wayne was also not knowledgeable about areas further away from the city. In the end, Wayne let both of them go.
When the meeting was over, Zich took Hans and Snoc back to their lodging. Even though Wayne was unable to get the answers he wanted, his face was surprisingly calm. Instead of going back home, he waited to be left alone with Walwiss. Orland also stayed behind, but Wayne was used to it now and ignored Orland; he turned to Walwiss and said, “Sir, let’s send someone to follow Zich’s servants.”
Orland frowned. “Was it not enough to question Zich’s servants?”
“Why would I drop my suspicions from a few questions like that? In the first place, their answers were exactly as I expected. On the other hand, what we have found out is only just beginning.”
Then Wayne looked back to Walwiss. “If Zich and his companions really kidnapped Ms. Dwayne, his two servants are the ones probably watching over her. Even though Zich brought them to avoid suspicion, he’s going to send them outside soon because he would feel nervous about leaving Ms. Dwayne by herself. We have to send someone to follow them before they go outside of the city.”
“Didn’t you tell us that you already sent people to follow them, but all of them lost sight of Zich’s servants every time? Then how will you follow them? Are you going to ask Zich if you can send people to accompany those two?”
Wayne wanted to hurl insults at Orland for his constant interruption, but he firmly pressed it down and replied, “We can’t make such a request. He’ll obviously refuse by saying various excuses, and if he does accept it, they’ll never lead us to where Ms. Dwayne is.”
Wayne’s gaze moved back to Walwiss. “Sir, I’ve been wondering how they were able to escape from the people I sent every time. But if Zich really is the intruder, I can understand how they managed to escape every time.”
“The invisibility artifact,” Walwiss murmured, and Wayne nodded his head.
“Yes. Even a tracking or tailing specialist would be fooled if people borrowed the great power of magic.”
Since they were all mages, all of them judged magic to be superior to other skills and powers. However, regardless of their thoughts about magic, Wayne’s words were quite convincing.
“So I’m thinking about sending a mage skilled in tailing people. Sir, if Zich and his companions really kidnapped Ms. Dwayne, they will lead us directly to where she is.”
Then Walwiss asked, “Did you say that you already sent people to follow them?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Are people still following them?”
“Yes.”
“Then if Zich’s servants show any signs of moving out, tell me right away.”
Wayne blinked his eyes at the unexpected reply. “…Sir, what do you mean?”
“I will go after them myself.”
Wayne and Orland were shocked.
“What? Sir, how could someone like you do such a….!”
“My granddaughter is involved in this. If I don’t step forward, who will?” Walwiss firmly replied and continued, “Moreover, the intruder last time had a very high-quality artifact. The amount of magical energy it let out was extremely small. For that reason, the two of you also couldn’t notice that there was an intruder.”
Wayne put his head down in embarrassment and Orland scratched his face. As two of the top mages in the magician’s tower, their pride were hurt that they were unable to notice a magic artifact nearby.
“I don’t mean to criticize you two. I was also barely able to notice it, so it’s more accurate to say that the intruder’s artifact was extremely advanced. If Zich’s servants also have similar artifacts, other mages will easily lose sight of them. If we want to make sure that they don’t escape, it’ll be better for me to follow them myself.”
“Sir, but still…”
“I also know that the public opinion on this case is steadily getting worse.”
Since the whole city was being thoroughly searched to find Elena, the people of Sunewick were increasingly becoming more stressed and fatigued. Even though they were obediently following the magical tower’s authorities so far, the people might start protesting. There were already signs of agitation and tension in the air. People in the city also had their own lives to think about.
Walwiss continued, “So we have to finish this case as fast as possible, and in order to do that, it’s better for me to step forward.”
Like this, Wayne was unable to stop Walwiss anymore.