"I'm sensing Necromancy at work, could that be Sir Kruger?" Lorelei looked at the ominous bird with caution, unable to detect a single ounce of life affinity within.
She lowered her glass onto the table as she rose from her seat, subtly gesturing for Mr. Watson to remain calm.
Lorelei then made her way towards the wall across from them. Stopping in front of the tall arch, sliding window, she locked eyes with the undead raven for a moment, reading its spiritual energy. Naturally, she had to be certain the little creature wouldn't pose a threat before welcoming it in.
'So it is, sir Kruger…' Lorelei acknowledged inwardly. Immediately after, another thought came to mind.
'If they decided to send a messenger, wouldn't that mean they managed to progress in the case….'
Just as she reached for the frame to raise the lower segment, Mr. Watson, who stared at her in disbelief, suddenly shouted.
"Are you really letting it in!? Something about that little one seems off."
"Heh.. while I do agree with your assessment, this raven was sent by the priest you met earlier."Lorelei smiled broadly. She opened the window, extended a hand, and allowed the bird to perch on her fingers. She closed her eyes, entering a brief resonance before opening them again as understanding flickered in their depths.
'It seems they already completed the exorcism. Sir Kruger wishes to handle the menial tasks using an Arcane tool, but if this Josephine woman is truly a key suspect, I could handle the rest of this investigation. The recognition from the Church and the gratitude of the families would surely elevate my standing if even a little..'
Unbeknownst to the public, the churches operated internally on a point-based system that rewarded Specters based on conduct and performance.
Unlike her colleagues, she rarely got a chance to gain points working with a team, and while some aristocrats argued the churches were using unscrupulous methods for assessments to suppress members, they weren't able to substantiate those claims.
'At least a salary of twenty-five thousand dollars a month is assured. I'd rather have that over what those Aristocrat hounds receive.'
Amidst her thoughts, Lorelei's gaze flickered to Mr. Watson, who began drinking once more. His hand moved with a slight tremble as he poured another round, still eyeing the raven with undisguised suspicion.
She then turned her attention back to the bird, still patiently waiting for a response. "I could send the carriage and head to the suspect after getting 1006, but if there are more threats like the one they just faced, I may need assistance," she muttered and frowned.
At that moment, the wooden chapel door flew open. Soon, Detective Rǔchuān came into view from the cathedral's nave.
Much like before, he was dressed in a fitted Huaren tunic suit, now paired with a large black trench coat drenched from the brief rainfall and high-ankle, triple-strapped leather boots. His chest heaved up and down as his dark eyes betrayed unmistakable fatigue.
Catching his breath, he looked at Mr. Watson and Lorelei, then asked, "Are you the deaconess working on the case with special investigators, Damon and Henry?"
"Ah..You could say that " Lorelei responded with a look of puzzlement as she gave a light curtsy. "May I help you with something, Sir?"
The detective nodded and said, "Detective Cheng Rǔchuān and I believe I've found information critical to the investigation ."
'What a coincidence… So have I…' Lorelei held back her urge to cheer when she heard the Gentleman. Who would have thought the perfect assistant would appear before her at just the right time?
Already dreaming of her reward, she smiled and gestured towards the door, "Shall we discuss this while we walk back to the main area? I'll need to speak with another deacon regarding an item and arrange for a carriage to be sent to Winchester Street."
"Yes! of course!" answered Rǔchuān like clockwork.
After a brief discussion with Mr. Watson, Lorelei wordlessly cast a simple illusion spell, forcing the man into a gentle slumber. As his body slouched over the table, she then turned around and walked out of the chapel, accompanied by the impatient detective and the eerie raven.
"Now, could you tell me where you met the two young investigators..?"Lorelei asked, curiosity piqued."They hadn't mentioned you in our earlier briefing. Were you the one who told them about Cecil Watson's disappearance?"
Walking beside her at a lively pace, the detective clarified with a rueful smile, "We only met by chance when I caught them trying to enter the Watsons' residence. I informed the lads of what happened to Cecil and was there to witness Margaret Watson's untimely death. After that, I went to get help so we could transport her body, but they weren't there when I returned, and I wasn't sure what do, so I went to the precinct after the officers delivered the body. If not for an officer by the name of Charlie rambling to himself, I wouldn't have been able to discover what was really happening."
Noticing the man was dragging his words, Lorelei struck the heart of the matter with a question, "Was that what led to your discovery?"
"Yes. After getting the addresses of the victims, I managed to pinpoint all the locations their bodies were found on a map based on the Quintet Music College and realized it created a curved arrow directed towards the residence of one Josephine Franz." Rǔchuān explained, retrieving an instant film from his coat pocket.
'Franz ?'
'Wasn't that also the family name of the Duke's paramour reported in every major newspaper last year..?'
For a few seconds, Lorelei banked out after taking a glance at the woman framed in the Polaroid print. She then caught sight of a bald, dark brown man dressed in a yellow robe that bore a resemblance to the Huaren monks of old, loosely tied at the sides with lace and complemented with loose white trousers and soft, low shoes.
This was the deacon who granted her entrance into the cathedral!
"Lindani!"She called out with enthusiasm, immediately walking over. "Could you guide us into the crypts. Sir Kruger has requested the use of an Arcane tool 1006. It was deemed necessary for our ongoing investigation."
The man's gangly frame seemed to falter, hearing her words.
"..Alright," He said.
With that agreement, they entered a period of silence as Lorelei and the detective followed the man away from the nave and down a corridor. After taking a left turn, they then moved down a short flight of stairs and into a tunnel before stopping.
The man named Lindani turned his head and said sternly, "No matter what, do not touch anything else while we're inside. We cannot risk having any other tools resonating with any of you and developing an ego. Lastly, under no circumstances should any of you stop or look back until we have retrieved the tool." While speaking, he held both hands upright, pressing palms together and interlocking fingers upward in a hand seal. After a minute, he parted his palms slightly, extending his index fingers and crossing his thumbs, with the left thumb resting over the right, forming another seal.
'Arcane tools collected here must be rather odd…what purpose do these seals serve?' Lorelei pondered as she watched his every action.