Shop.
Julius gently knocked on Eleanor’s door, and from inside came a soft, “Please come in.”
He pushed the door open and saw the blonde Saint Candidate sitting by the window, holding a thick tome in her hands.
Moonlight spilled over her, casting a silver glow on her features.
“How’s the situation?”
Eleanor closed the book, a hint of concern flickering in her deep blue eyes.
“We’ve gotten new leads, Miss.”
Julius stepped forward and gave a detailed report of tonight’s findings in the alley tavern:
The circulation of poison, the concentrated potion found inside the room, the black-robed man with a centipede-shaped scar on his hand, and finally the clue they obtained—the Arnold Potion.
He also mentioned Allen’s safety to Eleanor, who nodded in approval.
Eleanor’s brow furrowed as the report progressed.
“The Abyss Cult’s reach extends farther than we imagined.”
She stood and walked to the window. “I’ll propose to Father that we send people to secretly search for that man with the scar on his hand.”
“The Upper District…”
She turned to Julius. “I need you to investigate how the poison has infiltrated the noble circles there.”
“As for the Lower District,”
the young lady continued, “leave it to Kyle and Selena to continue the pursuit.”
“They are familiar with the environment there and have more experience handling situations like this.”
Julius nodded.
“Understood. I’ll start investigating the Upper District immediately.”
***
After leaving Eleanor’s study, Julius stood in the corridor, lost in thought.
The Upper District was vast, filled with noble mansions, and deciding where to start the investigation was a difficult problem.
He realized that relying on his own strength alone, it would be hard to find a breakthrough in a short time.
Without noticing, his steps led him to the familiar Abandoned Warehouse on the west side of the estate.
Warm light still shone through the workshop’s windows; it seemed Helos was still busy.
Julius pushed open the creaking wooden door of the workshop, and a familiar mixed scent hit him.
Inside, Helos was leaning over the cluttered workbench, her silver hair shimmering under the oil lamp’s glow.
She bit the end of a pen, frowning in thought as she stared at an open notebook, fingers unconsciously twisting a lock of hair.
Hearing the door open, she looked up; her pale violet eyes lit up the moment she recognized him.
“Julius!”
The girl put down her pen, her voice filled with surprise. “You’re back so soon? Any progress with the investigation?”
Julius closed the door behind him and walked to the workbench.
The tabletop was scattered with various odds and ends, some looking like new gadgets.
He cleared a space among the tools and gently sat on the edge of the table.
“There’s been some progress.”
He briefly described the discovery in the tavern’s basement, the black-robed man with the centipede scar on his hand, and the final clue—the Arnold Potion.
Shop.
Helos listened intently, occasionally letting out surprised gasps.
“Ohhh~ so that means you probably don’t need to go to the Lower District for now, right?”
“That’s right.”
Julius nodded. “So Miss Eleanor gave me a new task: to investigate the circulation of the poison in the Upper District.”
He sighed deeply, his fingers pressing down on the edge of the workbench without realizing it.
“But the Upper District is just too large, with noble mansions everywhere. Each has its own supply channels and social circles… I really don’t know where to start.”
“What’s so hard about that?”
Helos shrugged with both hands, her silver hair swaying slightly.
“Since it’s confirmed that this thing is a potion, and in the Lower District it’s spread by mixing into drinks, you should naturally start your investigation with places related to potions and drinks.”
She jumped down from the stool and stood before Julius, counting on her slender fingers.
“The nobles in the Upper District are very picky about what they eat and drink. Ordinary beverages simply won’t catch their eye, let alone make them willingly drink it.”
“So,” she raised an eyebrow, a small smile playing at her lips, “if the Abyss Cult wants to spread poison in the Upper District through this route, they must first make some kind of ‘special drink’ popular among the noble social circles.”
“That requires the right occasions, reliable supply channels, and… enough temptation.”
Helos looked up, her gaze locking onto Julius’s.
“Unlike the common folk in the Lower District, what you’re looking for in the Upper District isn’t some hidden small workshop, but a place that can openly supply ‘exclusive drinks’ to the nobles. Only then can it explain how the poison spread so quickly there.”
Julius nodded as if understanding.
“So, that means I should start investigating places that serve nobles exclusively?”
“Exactly!”
Helos nodded with satisfaction.
“And it’s best to start with places that have recently changed their supply items or suddenly become popular. After all, sudden changes usually mean something suspicious is going on behind the scenes.”
Just as the girl finished speaking, she noticed Julius’s gaze fixed on her without blinking.
The focused look made her suddenly feel guilty for no reason, and she couldn’t help raising her voice.
“W-why are you staring at me with such a weird look?!”
Julius seemed to snap out of it, turning his eyes slightly away, but a rare faint smile tugged at his lips.
“Nothing. I just didn’t expect you to have such sharp thinking. I’m starting to look up to you.”
“?”
Helos blinked wide-eyed, disbelief in her pale violet gaze. “What do you mean by that? Did you think I was a complete idiot before?”
Julius pretended to ponder. “Not exactly. It’s just that whenever I think of you, the first thing that comes to mind is the deafening explosions in the workshop.”
He paused, adding slowly before Helos could erupt.
“In other words, you’re an unqualified ‘explosion genius.’”
“Tch, you jerk.”
The corner of Helos’s eye twitched slightly, but she rarely didn’t get angry and just turned her face away, muttering softly.
“If you ask me, the real idiot is you for not even coming up with such a simple idea.”
“It’s fine,”
Julius didn’t argue but gently waved his fingers, a warm smile appearing on his face.
“I don’t mind being a bit stupid; after all…”
He deliberately paused and glanced at her with a mischievous look.
“There’s still you here, isn’t there?”
Before Helos could react, he continued.
“If I run into problems later, I’ll come to you for advice.”
“Hey!”
Helos spun back around, her pale violet eyes glaring fiercely at the black-haired youth in front of her.
“Do you think I’m your on-call consultant? Or a magical wish machine?!”
“Uh, is there really any essential difference between the two?”