Roughly six hours until dawn.
On the third floor of an apartment in the riverside district, Patricia and Ronald stepped out of their room and then headed onto the streets together in the night.
"Ronald, I need to go back and get a few things."
"Shall we meet here in three hours, is that okay?"
"No leaving without seeing each other."
With just a few sentences, they arranged the time.
Ronald and Patricia parted ways on the street, their expressions neutral.
However, unlike the apparent calmness on the surface, Patricia went home to prepare by taking the treasured possession hidden in her family, aiming to bring her combat capabilities to their peak.
He certainly wasn’t going to idle away and wander aimlessly through the streets.
Since Wis University was also located in the riverside district, he planned to visit and scope out the situation. If he could persuade the bigwigs of the Book Research Society, the dawn festival would certainly be much more manageable.
In times like these...
Finding any possible assistance can be the crucial detail that influences the situation.
On the streets of the riverside district at night, Ronald headed toward Wis University.
Perhaps due to the festival being close, newly replaced street lamps occasionally revealed small groups of students lingering near them. Given the special status of Wis University established by the queen, it was also one of the important parade spots for the next day.
These students, immersed in the festival atmosphere, set aside.
If one focused their attention somewhat, they could spot agents of the investigative bureau covertly stationed nearby.
It was just as Ronald recalled.
Springs’ investigators were always diligently on duty.
Then, Ronald saw an investigator step out of the shadow. The individual just gestured a signal to a colleague with a hand wave and then directly approached Ronald.
"Mr. Ronald, may I ask what you are doing...?"
There was no need to mention the details in the question.
The investigator simply voiced out Ronald’s identity and then silently awaited his response.
"I’m planning to make a trip to Wis University."
"Regarding today’s festival, I have some information to discuss with friends, it’s nothing secretive or underhanded."
"Then I wish you smooth sailing."
The approaching investigator seemed quite confident.
After getting such a straightforward response from Ronald, he retreated back to his original position.
Watching the man’s demeanor, Ronald couldn’t help but speculate.
Was this calmness due to the existence of a "lie detector," or was it out of trust in the research institute’s Prophetic Spell?
Amidst the silence, Ronald continued forward.
He had traveled this path before, breezing through the streets, and Wis University appeared before Ronald’s eyes.
Ronald paused unusually for a few seconds at this location.
If he had to find a suitable adjective from the vocabulary in his memory.
The students who remained within the school were indeed immersed in the atmosphere of the imminent festival celebration. However, for someone with remarkable insight like Ronald, the present Wis University was undeniably a well-fortified tactical fortress.
Magically endowed platforms embedded in the main avenues, investigators lurking everywhere from the upper floors among the woods, and even certain special individuals mingling among the students...
Just by walking within Wis University.
There was no escaping the well-established and robust security system.
"No wonder it’s the Investigative Bureau..." Ronald muttered softly, before heading towards the library.
Having been questioned by an investigator earlier, his passage afterwards was unimpeded.
He arrived at his long-unseen workplace.
Ronald could tell that the library was not specifically guarded.
Or rather, it didn’t need to be.
As the headquarters of the "Scroll Research Society," the defensive forces here were already strong, and many powerful Casters regularly conducted research here.
Unless it was an emergency like the original tome nearly going berserk.
Otherwise, this place could definitely be described as an easily defensible fortress.
Ronald stepped onto the stairs at the main entrance and quickly spotted a sign erected next to the front door—[Restricted Access to the Collection, Temporarily Closed. No Visits During the Festival.]
Ronald turned his head to check the direction he had come from.
Seeing that no one was paying attention to this area, he sidestepped and easily leapt up to the third floor of the library. With the abilities of a "Supreme Angel," Ronald opened a window inside the building and effortlessly infiltrated the library.
And then... the defensive spells immediately detected the intrusion.
The third floor was where the offices were located, and a room nearby quickly had its door pulled open by a Caster readying defensive spells, who then saw Ronald.
The Caster who appeared was just an ordinary researcher from the "Scroll Research Society." Recognizing Ronald, he froze on the spot. A basic understanding of both parties’ strengths made the situation clear.
Thus, the Caster sensibly put away his spell.
Then, somewhat stutteringly, he asked:
"You, why are you here?"
"I’m looking for Mr. Oppenheim." Ronald revealed a smile indicating goodwill, "It’s regarding the festival, and the situation is quite urgent."
Ronald’s smile reassured the Caster, but the news he relayed next was less promising:
"Mr. Ronald, Mr. Oppenheim is also participating in the parade. He left for the Palace of the Sky a few hours ago. If there’s something you need to communicate, maybe..."
Ronald didn’t come here just to ’leave a message’ on the phone.
Hearing this response, he directly interrupted the other’s ritualistic speech:
"Then, how about the heads of the laboratories? Who among them is here now? Or who is the highest-ranking person at the Research Society here? My visit is extremely important, it’s not..."
Suddenly, Ronald cut himself off.
His keen hearing picked up on someone coming up the library’s east side staircase, the rhythmic footsteps even carrying a hint of familiarity.
Turning around, Ronald quietly watched the direction of the staircase.
Shortly afterward, a group of three Casters, two women and one man, appeared in the corridor.
Ronald recognized two of them.
Walking in the center was the first princess of Grid, Claudia G. Bark.
Behind her were Mou Li from the "Scroll Research Society" and another young man.
Mou Li hardly needed introduction.
And this young man... Ronald vaguely remembered from the queen’s discussion meeting that this young man had been seated in the Royal Knights’ designated seats; his role here today at the library was likely to protect Claudia.
Both sides were stunned by the sight of each other for a few seconds.
Then, as the unquestioned leader on the scene, Claudia spoke first:
"Ronald... what are you doing here?" ʀᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀᴛ novel·fire.net