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2024-10-29 19:42:56Vana's POV
“Is that… a town?” I wondered, eyes squinting as we approach the secluded area. The trees thinned as we neared the buildings, finding out that it was an abandoned town.
Not only was there an abandoned, isolated train station, but there’s also a forgotten, abandoned town in the middle of the forest. The town wasn’t on the map either, not drawn nor identified as one, but seeing as we ended up here, the map may have pointed us at the right direction.
My mouth gaped in awe and fright as we approach the town, skeptic and perplexed of our discovery. This is a good place to be a hideout for Igneus, though its quite far from Glymoke. Many questions piled up in my head as we enter the abandoned town, the pavements broken into pieces, layered by a lawn of grass and fern.
Why is an abandoned town not visible in the map of the territory? Why is the two abandoned in the first p
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The Case of the Serpent and Scorpion Chapter 116: Randwin's Evidence File
Vana's POV “These arrows may mean something and if I’m right, it might lead us to what we’re looking for.” Jerome stared at me with a confused and baffled look, waiting for me to talk again. I had to repeat everything in my head about the arrows in the journal, forgetting and erasing the scene earlier as I concentrate in finding a solution to our problem. The arrows are found in the page where the details of the report and evidence of the cases were written. I have theories about these arrows: one, is that the arrows are found in the report pages of the journal and points to one of the three remaining locations of the evidence files. Two, the arrows are found in all the pages that tackled the Serpent and Scorpion case, leading us to possibly either Ms. Madison or Mr. Randwin’s evidence file. Either way, I’m certain that it leads us to one of the evidence files.
The Case of the Serpent and Scorpion Chapter 117: Zander Clarion
3rd POV With his hair dyed in a lighter shade of red, and his eyes having a blue shade, Gregory’s illusion deceived the eyes of the people as he sat down in the far corner of a coffee shop in the center of Jasper Island’s town. He wore a semi-formal attire, eyes locked on the window as he waits for someone’s arrival. He had boarded a ship in secret at night, travelling the sea to arrive at Jasper Island before the sun dawn. Thanks to Yuna’s efforts, he was able to appoint a meeting with Professor Zander in secret, in hopes to discuss the Shadows with him. Unfortunately, Yuna was unable to join him on the trip, departing to Mt. Kondub halfway through their journey as they separate at the border of the East Coast. Gregory had to make his trip quick before the palace realizes he had gone missing throughout the past two nights. He had made sure to let the guards on duty know of h
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3rd POV “I plan to tell you something, but I want you to promise not to tell anyone about it, Professor Zander. I trust you,” Gregory muttered, tilting his gaze at Professor Zander. Professor Zander met Gregory’s gaze, nodding as he accepts his conditions. “Very well, as you command,” Professor Zander muttered, his head lowering to prove his loyalty and honesty. “I am investigating someone in my circle. As you know, two of the pillars have been disrupted for months now, and the only pillars left standing strong is the one Yuna and Chairman Zerondale holds,” Gregory began. They turned to the street on the right, entering an empty alleyway that leads to the second busiest street in town. Gregory kept an eye on his surroundings, watching for any suspicious actions near them. He continued speaking as he assesses their path to be clear. “And recently, Yuna a
The Case of the Serpent and Scorpion Chapter 119: Mt. Kondub
3rd POV Light rain awaited Yuna as she arrives at the city of Kondub, the carriage she rode rattling as they drive up the steep road. The road was slippery and wet, soil and mud covering a few parts of the road pavement. Ironic how she was at the place where Chairman Danuel died in the same weather conditions. The city was built on the edge of the mountain, slowly covering the side of the mountain and around its bottom. Buildings were constructed on one side of the mountain, creating a terrace effect on the steep slopes. The roads and streets and alleys zigzagged along the cliffs, almost like slides but for vehicles. Yuna’s carriage drove past the buildings of the city, climbing up the mountain to reach the top of Mt. Kondub. The road is steep, narrowing the more they trek up the mountain path. Before she arrived at the city, Yuna has pinpointed the location she was supposed to go.
The Case of the Serpent and Scorpion Chapter 120: Disrespect
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The Case of the Serpent and Scorpion Chapter 121: Chairman Danuel's File
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The Case of the Serpent and Scorpion Chapter 122: Gathered Evidence
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The Case of the Serpent and Scorpion Chapter 123: A Dangerous Mission
Vana's POV I blinked. Twice. Multiple times. Did I hear Gregory right? Did he just say that he recruited Professor Zander in the team? He’s the new member of the Shadows? My jaw dropped as it sinks in my mind, dumbfounded at Gregory’s boastful announcement of the news. “Professor Zander. Our new member,” I exclaimed, slamming a hand on the table. “Yes?” Gregory replied. “Please tell me this isn’t true…” Jerome mumbled, with his shoulders slouching. “You don’t like the Professor being a member of Shadows?” Yuna wondered, confounded. “We don’t hate it. What surprises me is why him of all people?” I corrected, clarifying our intentions. Professor Zander knows that Jerome and I were investigating about the case of the Serpent and Scorpion, and if he has met Gregory prior to our conversation today, it means
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
