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2024-10-29 19:42:56Vana's POV
Jerome and Yuna peered on each of my shoulder, reading the journal entry as we start to search for the truth. The journal entry was about the time Master Sergis and Master Ashmere met with Detective Clorence secretly.
According to the entry, Detective Clorence met the two masters at the same day in two different times. He met Master Ashmere in the early morning at his office, while Master Sergis met him at a bar at night.
“Is the reason for their request written?” Yuna asked.
I nodded, my finger pointing at the part of the entry where their reasoning was written. From Detective Clorence’s understanding, the reason why the masters wanted to investigate the cases again was because Chairman Zerondale chose to close the case because there was no concrete evidence.
The case was closed, with no culprit or suspect being apprehended or arrested. Know
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The Case of the Serpent and Scorpion Chapter 104: Start of it All
Vana's POV “He killed his student,” Yuna muttered, her voice full of disdain against the truth. The fact that Yuna mentioned sank into my bones as I realize how far the Chairman is willing to go to get what he wants. First, the Dragon Egg and the Igneus conspiracy. Now, the Serpent and Scorpion case. It makes me wonder if the two cases are connected after all. Why would Chairman Zerondale want to be the Chairman so badly that he went as far as hurt his friends? To murder someone? Why would he go as far as steal the Dragon Egg? I went back to the journal, eyes reading the next journal entry. It was the third entry in regard to the Serpent and Scorpion case. The journal entry was written two days after the second entry, and six days after the first entry. The entry was short, with only the summarized version of what’s in store for us in the next page. Detective
The Case of the Serpent and Scorpion Chapter 105: Carriage Incident
Vana's POV “What the…? How is Chairman Danuel’s death related to this case?” “What are you talking about?” I asked with a baffled look, brows furrowed at Jerome. “The entry was written two months after the case, and a month after father started the investigation. The same time as Chairman Danuel’s death,” Yuna stated, answering my question. “And?” I wondered. “The carriage accident that resulted to the death of Chairman Danuel is the same carriage accident where former duchess Zeraphine was thought to have been killed,” Jerome stated, dropping a bombshell. “What?” Yuna and I exclaimed in unison. “It says here, Duchess Zeraphine and Chairman Danuel got in an accident that resulted to their deaths,” Jerome read, quoting Detective Clorence’s written words. But Ms. Zeraphine did n
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Vana's POV I paused for a moment to let the written words sink into my head. I remind myself that Chairman Zerondale and Detective Clorence are mentor and student. I had to remember that Chairman Zerondale is Detective Clorence’s mentor. I’m sure the two had a close relationship; one that is filled with trust and memories. For Detective Clorence to say these words would be of great challenge. The fact that the Detective had the determination and conviction is what made me aspire to be him in the first place. And the fact that he was willing to stop and apprehend his own teacher and mentor, is a heartbreaking thing to witness. Most especially, the feeling of being killed at the hands of your own teacher can feel worse than death. A nightmare I wish that I would never have to go through. In silence, I flipped over to the next page, with Jerome and Yuna heaving breaths in a quie
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Vana's POV “What will be our next move?” Jerome asked, raising a scorned brow. I glanced over him, pondering over his question. My mind lingered at the raw emotions of sympathy to Detective Clorence, unable to relieve myself of the feeling. I erased these thoughts away, focusing on Jerome’s question. “We should inform Jerome about everything once we’re back. His Majesty will know the right call to make,” I stated. We work for the King now and only he can give us orders. And if anyone would know how we should proceed in all of this, it would be Gregory. “Gregory would be shocked if he hears of this. My only wish is that he controls his expression in front of Chairman Zerondale once he learns of the truth,” Yuna stated, sighing in concern. “Is Gregory not good in acting?” Jerome wondered. “He’s bad at hiding his expression or emotio
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The Case of the Serpent and Scorpion Chapter 110: The Paperfelt
Vana's POV Jerome and I met up at the clock tower a couple of days after we visited the palace. Our first assigned location is the place near the clock tower, the location of the testimony that Sir Hendry wrote in order to prove that Chairman Zerondale manipulated the nominations eight years ago. “Are you sure we’re going at the right place?” Jerome scowled as we found ourselves lost in the middle of a shopping district. The alleys were lined with shops, stores, and boutiques, the sidewalks filled with strolling people that bustled in the afternoon sun. Vehicles horns blared as traffic jams the intersections, making the whole scene way chaotic than usual. We were walking for the past few minutes, drenching ourselves in our sweat as the scorching sun glisten against our skin. It’s not a good idea to walk in the middle of a street at exact noon, with no skin protection and no hat to w
The Case of the Serpent and Scorpion Chapter 111: Sir Hendry's Testimony
Vana's POV We travelled all the way to the Northern Bridge of Archborn in search for the school the old lady in the bookstore mentioned. We were so focused on our search that we even forget to ask the old lady’s name and the son’s name. That’ll be another challenge in this mission. “Would that be the school the old lady was talking about?” Jerome wondered, pointing at a small building beyond the Northern Bridge. “That might be it, though we don’t know the name of the man we’re looking for,” I said, glancing at Jerome. “We’ll just ask,” Jerome grunted. “How? We’ll ask, ‘hey, is there a teacher here whose mother owns a bookstore named The Paperfelt’?” I retorted, snorting. “Yeah, well, that’s basically the only information we had. And I don’t want to go back there just to ask the old lady’s son’s name,” Jerome scowled as we
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- The Case of the Serpent and Scorpion
Epilogue Part 3:
Vana's POV“I do. I plan to return to Ashern after I graduate. I also plan to publicly leave the Shadows and remain its member in the dark. Then, I’ll open my own detective agency—”“You’re opening your own agency!” Jerome exclaimed, slamming his hands on the table, which startled me. “Seriously?”“Y-yes?” I stammered, bewildered. “Something wrong with it?”“Not really, but you’re going to do that alone?” Jerome scowled.“No, why do you think I’m telling it to you?”“It’s not what I think, is it?”“More or less. It’s what I need your opinion—or your answer, in this case. I can’t do it alone, and that’s a fact. That’s why, if you would like, I would like to have a partnersh
- The Case of the Serpent and Scorpion
Epilogue Part 2:
Vana's POVI stared in front of Green Serpent’s guildhall as I arrive at their doorsteps, contemplating myself. I gulped, pursing my lips as I hesitate to take a step forward. Maybe it’s a wrong idea to be here.The last time I stepped foot in this place was when I left the guild. Since then, I never tried or dared to return or join any other guild. I have other plans for the future. None of them includes joining another guild, even if it is Golden Scorpion.“Vana, I thought you wouldn’t arrive,” a voice called, and I turned to face who it was. Cara plastered a smile on her face as she came up to me, her hair flailing on her bare shoulders.“Good afternoon, Cara,” I greeted with a thin line on my face.“Why haven’t you entered?” she wondered.“Well…” I hesitated, gla
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Epilogue Part 1:
Vana's POV9 months laterI got off the train with my suitcase rolling on the ground, lifting my hands up in the air as the sun beamed above me. It’s been six months since the last time I was in Auregon. It’s been nine months since the Case of the Serpent and Scorpion came to an end.Many things happened in the past nine months. Many to be even count in my hands. I don’t even know where to start. After Chairman Zerondale’s arrest, he was jailed in the palace dungeons and was investigated for nearly a whole month by the royal investigators.He was put in trial the following month after the investigation, with all the charges we filed to him. It took almost two months for all his crimes to be verdicted, and in the end, he was sentenced to death.Lifetime of servitude or liftetime in prison wasn’t enough of a verdict for all
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Chapter 178: Conflict Resolved
Vana's POV“You’re right. I made a mistake… a lot more than I could have ever imagined,” Master Sergis agreed, muttering.I flinched, my head tilting down at Master Sergis’ direction. His hands crumpled the letter, staring at it with his teeth gritting. A regretful gaze flickered in his eyes, raising it up at the ice wall’s direction.“From the beginning, I should have known something is going on when Zerondale enticed me against Ashemre. I should have… noticed that he fabricated it all,” he admitted, his voice full of sorrow and regret.“I knew Ashmere wasn’t that kind of person, and my wife would never betray me like that,” he mentioned, pertaining to the conversation between Ms. Madison and Master Ashmere that led to a cheating misunderstanding.“I should have… listened to t
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Chapter 177: Two Guilds
Vana's POV“And I have the evidence to prove it,” I boasted.Heads turned and raised up at me as I yell, jaws dropped and irritated looks carved out of their faces. I stood in front of them with my back straight, breath hitching as my actions sink into my head.What in the magic did I just do?“Now you’ve done it…” Jerome mumbled with a sigh next to me.Not only did I used my magic arbitrarily and unexpectedly, but I also revealed the journal right from the start without any prior explanation. It’s already a mess, and I think I only made things messier.“How are the two of you even here? Aren’t you supposed to be executed?” Master Sergis asked in a shout. “Wha—how—” That is exactly the reason why things got complicated.It was surprising
- The Case of the Serpent and Scorpion
Chapter 176: Unsettling Feeling
Vana's POV“Case closed…” I mumbled with an unsettling feeling in my chest.“Vana, are you okay?” Jerome asked as he ran towards me in concern.I blinked, flustered as Jerome took my hand as soon as he knelt next to me. My eyes widened, but I remained composed as I pick myself up. “I’m… fine. I just… felt underwhelmed by everything,” I said, standing up from my spot.A soft smile curled up my lips as I assure him. He held my hand gently and we walked down from the stage. The chaos was all over the place, but my gaze fixated on Jerome as we head down the stage together.I followed him from behind, my eyes going back and forth between his back and his bleeding hands that held mine. I paused on my step, unable to stop the urge to speak.“Are you satisfied? About your revenge?&r
- The Case of the Serpent and Scorpion
Chapter 175: Case Closed
Vana's POV“Do you see it now? We lured you in a trap, Chairman Zerondale. Do you think I would be stupid enough not to realize that you were planning to assassinate the king?” I stated, a smirk plastered on my face.Chairman Zerondale stepped back, horror and fury stirring in his eyes. His jaw clenched, gritting his teeth with his eyes glaring at me. The Shadows surrounded him at the back center of the platform, our weapons drawn.“You can’t run away from your crimes forever, Chairman Zerondae. It’s time for you to face it,” Jerome said, taking a step forward.A sharp curve cured on Chairman Zerondale’s lips, a hysteric laugh leaving his mouth. He laughed out loud, a grim atmosphere emitting out in the air. He raised his eyes at us, a grim smile plastered on his face.“You can arrest me all you want, but I will alw
- The Case of the Serpent and Scorpion
Chapter 174: Trap
Vana's POV“Can you do it?” I asked Gregory as I roam inside his room.Gregory, Jerome, and I gathered inside his chambers to cast the illusion spell as part of our trap against Chairman Zerondale. Thanks to the information Professor Zander provided from the Magic Council Tower, and with a bit of calculation, inferencing, and assumptions, we narrowed down the day the Chairman would assassinate the king.“Shall we start then?” Gregory implored, standing at the center of his chambers.He glanced at me, gesturing for me to move out of the room as he prepares himself to cast the spell. Jerome observed the scene from outside of the room, leaning against the doorframe with his injured body covered with gauze.It hasn’t been a week since we were treated, and his bruises aren’t healed with magic either.I moved ove
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Chapter 173: The Dragon Egg
3rd POVThe halls of Jasper Academy remained peaceful as the new academic year began. It won’t be long for Professor Zander to be asked to return to the academy, having to start teaching his new students. Unfortunately, he’s still in the middle of a mission.He made it an excuse that he’ll be having orientations with his new class, hiding his main objective of heading to the Magic Council Tower. Gregory already made arrangements with Angela about the Special Unit helping them, requesting Angela’s mother, Chairwoman Iris, to access the tower.Professor Zander lurked around the hallways near the Magic Council Tower, observing the people entering in and out of the tower. In the few minutes of his observation, only Chairwoman Iris entered the tower, with none of her assistants following her inside.It was the signal he’d been waiting for; one that Angela and Gregory menti
