Chapter 136: The Abyss Detective Agency Sets Out
“When did you buy this hat?”
After interrogating the three followers of the Lord of Nightmares, Abyss and his companions left the guesthouse, leaving the unconscious men, their memories partially erased, in the care of the Restoration Army. They would rejoin their unit when the main force met up with the guerrillas. Flora remained in Rebecca’s laboratory, diligently repairing Abyss’s clothes, while the other three prepared to investigate Kohler, hoping to find a way to lure him out.
Leona, having mastered the art of using Abyss’s magical catfish, summoned it and retrieved a hat from its belly, placing it on her head. It was a hat designed by her ancestor, Star, with brims both front and back, and earflaps that could be folded up. It was known as a “detective hat” and had frequently appeared in Star’s stories about a fictional character named “Sherlock Holmes.”
Such hats weren’t commonly worn in Hai-Teweru. Leona had somehow acquired one and stored it within the catfish’s belly.
“I bought it in Lavoisier City,” she said proudly, adjusting the brim. “How do I look?”
She did look adorable, her silver hair peeking out from beneath the round hat.
Abyss patted her head. “You look great. It reminds me of a unique type of burial mound in the Boergan Khanate. The mounds are shaped like…”
Before he could finish his sentence, Leona, her cheeks puffed out in annoyance, stuffed a carrot into his mouth. She had been carrying it with her.
Rebecca almost burst out laughing. She, like Leona, enjoyed reading novels and knew that this type of hat, invented by Star, had become a staple in detective stories. Leona was clearly trying to channel her inner detective.
She was always so childish.
“Where are we investigating first?” Leona asked Rebecca, adjusting her hat, her voice eager. “I can’t wait!”
“Let’s ask Alva,” Rebecca replied. “She’s observant. She might remember some details about Kohler. We need to figure out where he came from.”
Abyss, munching on the carrot Leona had given him, said, “Kohler’s Common Tongue was flawless. I couldn’t detect any accent. But Alva, as an Ossi native, might be able to identify his regional dialect.”
Even in a small kingdom like Ossi, different regions had distinct accents, a remnant of their past as separate tribes, their languages merging to form the modern Ossi language.
“Let’s go!” Leona exclaimed, eager to play detective.
They wasted no time, heading to the headquarters. Learning that Alva was at the barracks, they set out for the military camp.
The soldiers at the barracks recognized them. They had the princess’s permission to enter any area, so they passed through the gates without any questioning.
The camp was even busier than before, the new recruits diligently learning combat skills, the veterans maintaining their weapons and practicing formations. The quartermaster and the logistics teams were busy preparing supplies, and several temporary ovens had been set up, bakers from the town baking hard, salty bread for the soldiers.
They found Alva with Haina and Cassandra. Haina, her spirits high, was practicing magic with her staff.
“Good evening. What brings you here?” Alva asked, approaching them. “Haina just learned a new spell. I was helping her practice.”
“We’re here to inquire about Apos Kohler,” Rebecca said, getting straight to the point. “Miss Alva, you must remember some details about him. Could you share them with us? We need to know where he came from, to gather more information about him. It will help us in our fight against the Lord of Nightmares.”
“Apos?” Alva’s expression turned serious. “I do remember a few things. Let’s sit down and talk.”
They sat on nearby benches, and their discussion began.
“Alva, could you identify Apos’s accent?” Abyss asked.
“His Ossi accent?” Alva thought for a moment. “He did speak Ossi in the palace. His accent… It was from the western region of the kingdom. The west is coastal, their fishing industry thriving, but their location limits their trade. They mostly rely on sea routes to the Western Empire. The people there aren’t very… refined. Most Western Ossi people are quite rough. Someone as well-educated as Apos is rare.”
“Hmm, that’s true. His Common Tongue was flawless. That alone sets him apart from most Ossi people,” Abyss said, nodding.
Alva didn’t disagree. Fluency in Common Tongue was indeed an indicator of one’s education.
“I have another question. If Apos Kohler wasn’t originally from the palace, why is he a eunuch?” Rebecca asked. “Most men wouldn’t willingly… remove their manhood.”
“The Ossi Kingdom palace recruits eunuchs as servants every year,” Alva explained. “Some men castrate themselves, hoping to secure a position in the palace. Of course, not everyone succeeds. Those who pass the tests receive compensation and a stable job, but some are rejected.”
“I know, I know. The Western Empire’s palace also recruits eunuchs. It’s to prevent them from having affairs with the maids, which could cause chaos,” Leona chimed in. “But self-castration is forbidden in the Western Empire. Anyone caught doing so is disqualified and fined.”
“Officially, self-castration is also forbidden in Ossi, but we usually turn a blind eye. Since it’s considered a great shame in Ossi culture, few men resort to such measures.”
“Hmm… I think I understand why he’s helping Kevin now,” Abyss said thoughtfully.
“Then our next step is to investigate the western region of Ossi,” Rebecca suggested.
Abyss hesitated, then said, “That’s a good idea, but I think there might be a more direct approach…”
Rebecca, understanding his implication, asked, “You’re suggesting…”
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