The investigators from Springs made their way through the crowd, appearing on the second floor of the theater.
These were two investigators that Ronald had never seen before.
Among the two men, one was taller but somewhat lean while the other was shorter and slightly fat, both dressed in distinctively different attire.
But overall, they were dressed in very ordinary clothes, the kind that an average citizen might wear.
They belonged to the type that would hardly be noticed if they stood in a crowd.
Of course, the current situation was not the case.
When the word ’Special Investigation Team’ was heard by those who were spectating the crime scene on the second floor of the theater, even though those allowed to watch the show here were of no low status or were business magnates, they obediently made way, allowing the tall and short men to easily walk out of the crowd.
The two investigators were accustomed to such situations.
After passing through the crowd, they immediately saw the body lying on the ground, as well as Ronald and Ariadne standing at the side.
Facing the two standing by the body, the investigators exchanged glances, simultaneously realizing that this matter was not going to be easy.
One was an actor who had come to Springs at the nominal invitation of the Queen.
The other was the bearer of the original texts, who had just been reported by the station as newly arrived in Springs.
The events of today were likely more troublesome than anticipated.
After hesitating at the spot for a few seconds, the shorter of the two investigators quietly muttered the incantation for the "lie detector," then approached Ronald and Ariadne.
He greeted them with considerable politeness and began:
"Would the two of you mind telling me what happened here?"
Without waiting for Ronald’s response, Ariadne stepped forward and nodded gravely at the investigator:
"Within the past ten minutes, someone killed a worker from our troupe in this corridor and it seems there was also the intent to frame Mr. Ronald."
Hearing Ariadne’s explanation, the investigator naturally shifted his gaze onto Ronald at the side.
But before he could speak, Ariadne, noticing this, preemptively took the initiative to speak on behalf of Ronald:
"During that time, Mr. Ronald was constantly watching our performance from the viewing seats in the box; I’m absolutely certain about this, so he cannot possibly be Ai’s murderer."
Upon hearing Ariadne’s explanation, the shorter investigator raised his eyebrows.
The lie detector informed him that the actress in front of him was acting normally, with no traces of lying beyond the psychological activity a normal person should have.
So Ronald truly was without suspicion?
While the investigator pondered with a somewhat solemn gaze, Ronald spoke:
"Sir, I was indeed watching the performance just as Ariadne said."
"Moreover, I might be able to provide some clues about the matter."
"Perhaps we can have a good talk about it."
Feeling confident in his innocence, Ronald spoke with clear conscience and glanced at the onlooking crowd.
Was also fed back to the investigator by the lie detector.
Grasping the hint in the words of the original text’s holder, the investigator nodded slightly to both of them and then turned to wave at the crowd:
"Alright, everyone please disperse."
"We will take care of what follows, do not stay here and disturb the scene."
Under the investigator’s persuasion, the crowd gradually dispersed.
In the end, apart from Ronald and Ariadne, only the theater’s security chief, as well as the young man who stood by the side of the servant girl unwilling to leave, remained.
Seeing the situation before him, although not far away, the theater’s security chief still trotted over eagerly to the investigators:
Unfortunately, the investigator had no intention of listening to him and interrupted directly:
The security captain blinked in surprise:
The investigator turned his head, and with an indifferent glance, pointed down the corridor:
Gradually understanding the situation from his initial confusion, the security captain backed away with an embarrassed and ingratiating smile on his face:
"You... please continue."
After the security captain left, Yalida then pointed to the young man beside her and added an explanation:
"Deke is also one of our people; there’s no need for him to leave."
"No problem," the investigator nodded in understanding, and then immediately went over to the maid girl, squatting down to start examining the remaining condition on the body.
He took the opportunity as well.
Ronald watched the working method of this Springs investigator.
He saw the slightly shorter investigator squatting on the ground while placing his right hand on the top of the corpse’s head. After closing his eyes for just over a minute, he promptly stood up.
Watching the investigator’s actions, Deke, who was already emotionally agitated, immediately asked:
"Mr. Investigator, have you found anything?"
"Who exactly killed little Ai?"
Looking at the somewhat excited girl in front of him, the investigator this time was not as indifferent as before.
With a somewhat regretful shake of his head, he finally answered:
"The person who did it is very professional."
"Aside from quickly damaging the girl’s body, they even specifically covered the wound with non-attributed Magic Power, making it practically impossible to identify the assailant from this alone."
Hearing the investigator’s answer, Deke staggered back as if struck by a heavy blow, then muttered:
"How could this... be..."
"Little Ai... Little Ai..."
Seeing the young man’s eyes lose their luster, the investigator shook his head as if this were nothing new, then turned to look at Ronald beside him:
"Mr. Ronald, you must know something, right?"
Faced with the investigator’s question, Ronald did not respond immediately.
He was now pondering a central issue:
——Why would someone frame him?
His visit to the theater today was a last-minute arrangement with Yalida, and it was highly unlikely that he had been deliberately targeted.
In such a case, it was nearly impossible for someone to have set their sights on him after just a few days in Springs.
Was it the work of that mysterious organization from Elva?
The likelihood was so small, Ronald thought it unlikely.
Because he was prepared to inform the investigator of the information he possessed, Ronald naturally kept his gaze on him.
It was this very gaze that allowed him to sense a possibility in the matter.
Thus, he immediately asked:
"Mr. Investigator, are you from the investigation bureau assigned to handle the theater’s affairs specifically?"
The investigator nodded:
"Of course, that’s why we were able to come here so promptly."
Hearing this response, Ronald’s expression changed:
"They’re deliberately diverting our attention; we need to leave now!"
"We might still be in time!"