Vana's POV
“Good, there are a lot of things we need to inform you about… including the possible location of the Dragon Egg,” Gregory said.
“The location of the Dragon Egg? Did you figured out where it was being hidden?” I exclaimed, taken aback by the news.
We returned inside the attic as we call out Ms. Mera and Mr. Klein out from their rooms, waking them up as we gather at the living room of the attic. We sat around the coffee table, listening to the news that Gregory and Yuna has to offer.
“Not yet, but we may have a clue,” Yuna answered to my question.
Jerome reclined on his seat, with his mind still wandering in our conversation earlier at the rooftop. I doubt he’ll move on from it soon, but I’m certain he’s taking this conversation seriously despite his doziness. At least I hope so.
I focused on the conversation, trying to s
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The Case of the Serpent and Scorpion Chapter 158: Ancient Books
Vana “For a small library, this holds too much,” I mentioned as we enter the library in Yuna’s old home. I gaped in awe as I saw the clustered room. The library was small and cramped compared to other libraries I’ve seen, filled with books and bookshelves clustered together in the space. The walls are surrounded by shelves, with two bookshelves adjacent to the left and right walls, standing at the center of the room. The caretaker of the house has been dismissed by Yuna today, the key to the house given to us by Yuna before we rode out to the East Coast. We also handed Yuna the Book of Dragon, which she will hand to Lady Ailima for safety reasons. With only a quick exchange of glances, Jerome and I scooted inside the room, skimming and checking the books one by one in each shelf. I checked the books on the right side of the wall, while Jerome checks the left side of the wall. The book
The Case of the Serpent and Scorpion Chapter 159: Kidnapped
Vana's POV I groaned, feeling drowsy and sluggish as I blink my eyes open. Where am I? What the hell happened? Flashbacks flooded in my mind as I recollect the last thin that happened before I lost consciousness, snapping as I tried to stand up. Snapping didn’t work at all, though, as I realized that my body is tied up on a chair, with my arms strapped behind the chair and my legs tied on the chair’s legs. My head slumped forward and back, recoiling from my attempt. Damn it, the last thing I remember is Chairman Zerondale catching us and knocking us out in Detective Clorence’s office. Panic rumbled inside me as I gaze at my surroundings, trying to figure out where we are and how to escape. My eyes landed at Jerome, who is also tied on a chair across from me. He’s still unconscious, his head lowered. I tilted my head as far away as I could, searching for anything I can use to
The Case of the Serpent and Scorpion Chapter 160: Crimes and Murders
Vana's POV “Bring me a chair. I’ll tell them all about the things I did so they can connect the dots. It’s going to be a long story.” One of his men brought him a chair, and he sat down, heaving a breath as he reclines on his seat. I glowered at his direction, stopping my attempt of escaping as curiosity and my instincts got the best of me. I lowered an eye on my blouse top, glancing down in one of my buttons. “Why don’t we start in the research Clorence, Yerica, and I conducted. I’m certain you’ve learned of that today,” he stated. “The one Duke Highmore funded,” I muttered. “Exactly, and would you believe me that I convinced Duke Highmore to fund the research and to end up taking the land as our territory?” Chairman Zerondale explained, glancing at me. “By the look in your eyes, you did.” Manipulation, acting, and gaslighting ar
The Case of the Serpent and Scorpion Chapter 161: Orchestrated
Vana's POV “Yes, all those murders you solved. All of it was orchestrated by me.” “What?” I mumbled with a cracking voice. Did he just say that he orchestrated all the missions we’ve been. “What does that mean?” “First off, I initiated the terrorist attack on the ship to keep the public and the Special Unit distracted as I steal the Dragon Egg from the museum,” the Chairman explained. “You bribed Reynolds McValeri.” “I persuaded Reynolds McValeri and Clashing Seasons to start a terrorist attack, while I stea the Dragon Egg from the National Museum of Ashern,” he corrected. “I didn’t bribe him.” “And what about our missions?” I asked, pulling myself forward. “Duke Castiel’s death and the Cindre sisters’ death are necessary for my plans; to shake the kingdom’s pillars and slowly make my way up the ranks,” Chai
The Case of the Serpent and Scorpion Chapteer 162: Torment
Vana's POV “It’s in your office, isn’t it, Chairman,” I chuckled, teasing. “Inside the Magic Council Tower… in Jasper Academy.” Chairman Zerondale heaved a breath, chortling as though our words are a joke. He raised his gaze at us, piercing through us as its cold hollowness sent shivers down my spine. I dared to hold my gaze against him, his façade smile fading from his expression. “I thought you’re just a random pair I needed to threaten, but you’re a more serious to me than I thought,” the Chairman muttered. “Why do you want to get rid of the pillars, Chairman Zerondale? You tried to shake it and get rid of two, why do it?” Jerome asked. Chairman Zerondale turned his cold gaze at Jerome, staring at him. “Obviously, because I was aiming to get my hands on the Sword of Darkness.” Jerome’s brows furrowed in confusion, baffled by th
The Case of the Serpent and Scorpion Chapter 163: Pain
Vana's POV My consciousness is drowsy when I woke up, vision blur as I adjust to the new place we’ve been relocated in. metal bars lined on my left and a wall against my right. The smell of rotten food and sewage water tickled my nose, the dim surrounding not helping clear my vision. A prison cell; a dungeon. The walls were made of cobblestone, growing with moss and dirt. The dimlight in the dark cave coming from a few torches scattered around the dungeon. I adjusted my eyes on the surrounding, scrunching my eyes. I grunted my hands that are now in front of me, cuffed up on a long chain against the wall. It clang with a loud metal noise, echoing in the empty place like a deafening shriek. So, now we’re locked up until tomorrow. I groaned as my head ached for a moment. Flashbacks of the earlier events came flickering in my head, reminding me of the physical torment Jerome suff
The Case of the Serpent and Scorpion Chapter 164: Losing Control
Vana's POV “I can run if I have to,” he boasted. I nodded, glancing at the cell door. I approached it, using my hands to feel my way to the door’s lock. The cell doesn’t use a padlock, so I had no choice but to search for the lock attached to the cell door. I managed to find the keyhole, inserting the pin and the clip inside. It didn’t take me long to hear a click coming from the door, the hinges creaking as the door opens. I peered my head over to Jerome, urging him to follow me from behind. I, then, peeked in the hallway, making sure that there is no one guarding corridor. I took a step forward as I confirm the coast is clear, stepping out of the cell. I crouched down, fists raised upfront as I move my way to the door on our right. Jerome tailed behind me with a hoarse breath, one hand with his palm facing up, a swirling ball of wind surging on top of it.
The Case of the Serpent and Scorpion Chapter 165: Ice Magic
Jerome's POV “No, please, stop!” I heard Vana’s scream, turning around to find her down on her knees with her magic brewing above us. The man who beat me up and nearly tortured us with a knife stood in front of Vana, watching her with a wide, psychotic smile in his lips. My eyes landed back to Vana, baffled at what’s happening. Vana looks as if she’s in pain, a dreadful look painted on her face. I was caught off guard as one of Chairman Zerondale’s goons ambushed me from behind. He managed to throw a fist at me, only to be thrown to the ground by my magic. His fist was inches away from me, and with a quick flick of my fingers and a command in my magic, he was sent flying to the ground. I returned my attention to Vana as I make sure there are no more goons around. I gritted my teeth, enraged as I saw the psychotic man take a few steps away from Vana. He still has the same misc
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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