After leaving the warden’s mansion, Ronald and his two companions should have considered their mission complete.
At this moment, they hadn’t been dragged into a dungeon by their enemies, and the two priests from within the dungeon had been rescued—and they had been rescued alive.
Everything seemed to have developed in line with the best expectations they had before taking action.
The entire process was safe and efficient.
The outcome was very satisfactory.
However, just as the trio departed from the mansion’s backyard wall and stood on the forest-lined street, Swift suddenly turned around to look behind him.
—That was the direction of the warden’s mansion.
—It was also the location of the mansion’s front entrance.
Gazing into the air as if looking at something distant, a few seconds later, the detective’s voice, tinged with complexity, rose to Ronald’s and Nicole’s ears:
"It seems our choice earlier was indeed correct."
"The warden... he’s returned..."
As soon as Swift spoke,
The small team of three fell into a tacit silence.
They were of course aware of the dangerous nature of this operation and understood that trouble might be encountered.
But the problem was that the warden had returned much too quickly.
According to previous investigations,
The other party would normally take at least a few hours to complete their work routine; the probability of them returning to the mansion now was almost zero.
The only explanation was that they had been alerted to the events occurring in the dungeon.
This was a return to capture prisoners.
The three exchanged glances and saw a trace of relief in each other’s eyes.
Ronald’s decision just now was correct.
If they had truly continued to explore further into the dungeon and delayed leaving the mansion...
Then the warden’s return home at this time would have definitely trapped them inside the dungeon!
In the home court of an original tome’s master, facing this enemy in direct combat,
Was absolutely not a wise choice.
In the silence, several breaths of time passed.
Seemingly wanting to break the quiet, Nicole was the first to speak:
"Our conversation earlier shouldn’t have triggered any of their pre-warning spells, right?"
Ronald immediately responded:
"We indeed did not trigger any of their pre-warning spells,"
"However, those two malevolent magicians who were dealt with later had ample time to act. It is likely that, after they discovered the situation, they used their unique method of communication to send a message, which is why the warden rushed back so promptly."
Nicole nodded in agreement:
"If that’s the case, the explanation would make sense."
As her words fell, the investigator girl stood in place and moved her body slightly.
Adjusting the priest on her shoulders to a more comfortable position, she continued:
"Since that’s how it is, we’d better hurry to the Blenheim Investigation Bureau."
"Seeing as the warden has returned, he will definitely take some corresponding measures once he detects anything amiss. Our time is still quite urgent."
At the same time, upon hearing Nicole’s thoughts,
Swift decisively made his way to the side of the street and then said to his companions behind him:
"I’ll hail a carriage; you two take good care of the priests."
Having said that, the detective had already reached the roadside and began to hail a passing cab.
It was precisely during this time Swift spent hailing the carriage,
Nicole moved closer to Ronald and spoke very seriously:
"Ronald, Swift and I will take the priests back to the Bureau,"
"But for you, I hope we can act separately."
Hearing the investigator girl’s suggestion, Ronald’s eyebrows arched:
"Is it for me to hide away?"
"That’s not incorrect." Nicole nodded without hesitation and then continued to explain her thoughts, "Ronald, this suggestion comes from my concerns for safety."
"Although everything on our side is going smoothly at the moment, during my year-long service at the Blenheim Investigation Bureau, I’ve encountered more than one unexpected twist that completely shattered the original plan."
"Moreover, the one we are dealing with now is one of the strongest Casters in Blenheim and also a big shot with considerable political influence."
As she said this, the investigator girl’s gaze shifted to Swift who was hailing a carriage by the roadside before she continued her explanation:
"If something unexpected happens today."
"Both Swift and I are people who have left very noticeable traces in this matter."
"The information Swift has gathered and the residual spell fluctuations I caused in the dungeon just now."
"These are traces that cannot be erased."
"If someone intent on digging starts investigating, we, who have a certain reputation in Blenheim, will almost inevitably encounter trouble."
At this point, Nicole paused in her explanation.
The young girl’s deep gaze gradually moved from Mr. Detective over to Ronald in front of her.
Then she spoke with a serious attitude and a very cautious tone:
"Ronald, you are different."
"Throughout this affair, aside from our trio’s actions today, at other times your exposure to the mysterious circle of Blenheim has mainly been as ’a rather powerful Caster,’ and no one would cast a suspicious eye on you."
Nicole’s gaze became somewhat dim, but she continued anyway:
"If something happens to me and Swift afterward, then all the hope will then rest on you."
"Consider this my final act of caution as an investigator."
Having said her piece, Nicole stood there silently watching Ronald.
She was waiting for the man in front of her to give her a response.
Ronald, watching Nicole as well, felt complicated at the moment.
To be honest, the investigator girl’s seriousness touched him.
Even as they were about to celebrate their final success and achieve their goal, Nicole still maintained her own calm and contemplation.
She was even considering leaving behind a hope that could change the situation should any more twists occur.
Even among the various types of people Ronald had seen,
this quality was quite rare.
In the end, he still seriously nodded to Nicole:
"I’ll handle that kind of thing."
Essentially speaking.
Ronald wasn’t someone who craved honor or sought to gain fame through such matters.
he would prefer to spend a snowy afternoon alone in a warm room, sitting at his desk, and then leisurely reading an interesting book, occasionally opening the window to smell the cold air outside.
These past two months,
to speak frankly, had been the result of being compelled by circumstances more than anything.
Therefore, facing Nicole’s thoughts,
he could easily accept the suggestion.
After placing the unconscious clergyman beside Nicole, he turned and walked towards the other end of the street.
Nicole and Swift, who had called for the carriage, quietly discussed for a moment and communicated the situation.
They also understood the importance of being careful and cautious in such matters.
So they got into the carriage, and the two of them, along with the unconscious clergyman, headed towards the Blenheim Investigation Bureau.
Meanwhile, on a roadside path at the edge of the woods,
Ronald walked alone and slowly toward the distance.
His gradually disappearing figure
was indistinguishable from any ordinary passerby.
—But there was one special thing.
Now, he was walking forward,
towards Long Beach Street.