【Windsor Vitalis Pharos】
【She is the Second Princess of Ansu… She seems to be Avena’s childhood playmate】
【The Princess’s visit somewhat disrupted our plan. The police cars are gone, but tabloid reporters are swarming around the Deton Hotel like flies, impossible to drive away】
【But I always feel that the way that Princess looks at me is not quite right… I hope this is just my imagination】
Was it the white-haired young girl with heterochromia just now?
Vitalis, in Old Ansu language, means “strong, rebirth, victory.” It is also the name of the Queen of Ansu. And Pharos, at the end, is the surname she inherited from her father’s lineage…
Ciel frowned slightly.
She was just Avena’s childhood playmate.
【July 25th, 10:00 AM】
【The Princess’s visit basically exposed Avena to the sight of all nobles. People are curious why this “exiled” Duke’s daughter has returned. Avena had no choice but to move into her new house early and host a banquet for familiar nobles and surrounding neighbors】
【Also thanks to the Princess’s help, many upper-class guests sent letters hoping for an invitation… Establishing a presence upon arrival in the city, with Princess Windsor’s help, seems easier than expected】
【This banquet inevitably invited some members of the Roswell family, including William, the Minister of Internal Affairs, who returned to report on his work. With the Princess’s arrangements, this banquet was very grand, as if to wash away the shadow that had previously enveloped Ansu City due to the explosion】
【Because I felt it was too dangerous recently, I persuaded my sister to go to the modification school sanatorium of the Redemption Society in Bliss City for treatment. With Lucy’s connection, my sister is guaranteed to receive the highest standard of care—after all, Lucy is also a frequent visitor of the Redemption Society】
【I feel like I have PTSD from banquets now. To ensure Avena’s safety, I also attended the banquet, but not as a guest, but as part of the security team with Tara and Nia】
【On a side note, Lucy has really been promoted to Executive Director… Perhaps I should refer to her by her title from now on, call her Director Lucy】
【July 25th, 10:00 PM】
【Banquet ended, Nia is missing】
Ciel saw this and her eyes narrowed slightly.
The shorter the time interval, the more happened. The fewer the words, the bigger the matter.
After seeing the record for the 25th, Ciel knew that something major had happened.
Ciel quickly scanned the remaining records.
Almost every day was spent recording the process of searching for Nia. Avena was also very anxious about this, but various social engagements kept her tied up. This concerned whether she could establish a firm foothold in Ansu City.
To keep Avena focused, her simulated self took on the task of investigating Nia’s disappearance. She used her abilities to launch an investigation, and at the same time, covertly had Tara dispatch some helpers to infiltrate Ansu City.
Lucy also joined the investigation, and her connections could be used openly in Ansu City. For this, Ciel in the simulation even drank the “Detective” potion.
With these helpers, there was no need to worry about the “Detective” potion not being digested.
But in early August, Lucy brought very unfavorable news.
Her investigation was stopped by the board of directors. On the board, she learned part of the truth.
Further investigation would involve the Church of the God of Order. Lucy could no longer dig deeper.
This basically made Ciel focus her target on the Church of the God of Order.
Ciel’s investigation in the simulation also reached a deadlock, because she couldn’t investigate within the Church of the God of Order.
But because she was in a simulation, Ciel in the simulation was exceptionally bold.
She directly kidnapped Seraphim, the “Crown Guard” from the Roswell family who believed in the Church of the God of Order, the same person who had stopped Avena upon their arrival in Ansu City.
This was likely her simulated self bringing personal grudges into the matter. But since she was going to capture someone anyway, she might as well capture someone she had a grudge against.
With days and nights of brainwashing by several “Radiant Bishops” of the Divine Advent Church, Seraphim’s mind was already on the verge of a breakdown. Cracks had appeared in her firm faith.
After several rounds of torment, she finally revealed the truth.
Nia was already dead.
She was indeed taken away by people from the Church of the God of Order during the banquet. Almost exactly during the time Ciel started her investigation, Nia had already performed the ritual connecting to the “Other Side,” completely lost her mind, and became an iron corpse locked up in a dungeon.
This result was somewhat unexpected for Ciel in the simulation. But before she could figure out how to tell Avena, Avena had already guessed what happened to Nia through Ciel’s expression.
【Avena was almost collapsing, cried in my arms all night. Her voice was completely gone】
【Nia, to Avena, was not just a steady and mature elder, nor just a guard and childhood playmate, but more like Avena’s grandmother, an important person who accompanied her as she grew up】
【I know, things will definitely not be peaceful from now on… But before considering helping Avena get revenge, I first have to investigate one thing】
【That is, who gave the order, and how can I prevent this from happening in reality】