Chapter 558: Chapter 435 Searching for Isabel Chapter 558: Chapter 435 Searching for Isabel With Philip’s help, Aiwass quickly arrived at the port.
But of course, he didn’t go searching person by person…
that would have been like looking for a needle in a haystack, foolish and highly inefficient.
Aiwass wasted no time in revealing his position as the Minister of the Department of Care of Magical Creatures, demanding in a very firm manner that all ships stay in port for an additional six hours for a thorough cargo inspection.
This was a completely reasonable request within the jurisdiction of the Minister of Commerce.
Now with the position of Minister of Commerce vacant, the Minister of the Department of Care of Magical Creatures could temporarily take command with the Queen’s authorization.
Naturally, Aiwass didn’t have Isabel’s authorization, but such things could be supplemented later.
He also didn’t expect such an order to stop the Succubus Emma…
but if Emma really intended to leave with Yulia, then Isabel would definitely be on board the only ship departing.
He would then be able to narrow down the range significantly.
After precluding the possibility that Emma could have stealthily taken Yulia, Aiwass breathed a sigh of relief.
The ‘Minister Griffiths’ had already shown a desire for Yulia’s blood, and he was connected to the Eye Demon, which in turn was related to Emma.
Emma kidnapping “Yulia” would mostly be for the same purpose.
If possible, he actually hoped to find the Succubus Emma inside the Lohar Building—based on Aiwass’s brief encounter with Emma, there was a high probability she would hide “Yulia” in the Lohar headquarters and set a trap; or, she might erase Yulia’s memory after taking her blood and send her directly back to Moriarty Manor; or, she might want to negotiate a second round with Aiwass after taking “Yulia.”
And if she had to get Yulia no matter what, then it should be other accomplices at the port who would directly take “Yulia” away, and then she herself would return to the Lohar Building to feign innocence and create an alibi.
The Guardian, despite having no contact with Emma, was experienced.
He instantly considered these possibilities.
That’s why he arrived at the Lohar Building first, and then sent Aiwass to check the situation at the port.
—If Emma had already returned, she certainly wouldn’t leave at will.
Her conspiracy must either be completed here, or she needed to be here to hide her actions.
So, if Emma wasn’t here, there could only be a few scenarios—either she was on her way back but hasn’t arrived yet, or she set up a trap and was lying in wait nearby, or she had already fled with Yulia, or she had already killed or taken control of Yulia and was in the process of extracting her blood.
Considering Emma had an official status to some extent, Aiwass believed that she wouldn’t dare to engage in too extreme actions.
After all, when Aiwass confronted her, he had defied her openly—Emma at the Fifth Power Level did not dare to lay a hand on Aiwass of the Third Power Level.
From this, it could be surmised that Emma was likely the more cowardly type in nature.
She would probably adopt a relatively conservative strategy, prioritizing her preservation over harming others.
Compared to battle and slaughter, Emma seemed more inclined to weaken or control others through plots and traps…
Of course, if she wasn’t such a character, she certainly wouldn’t have awakened as a ‘Succubus,’ a Demon Incarnation.
…And for such reasons, Aiwass always felt there was something off about Emma’s logic in her actions.
Even if she wanted to capture Yulia, it didn’t seem necessary to do it during the Candle Master’s ritual, right?
Wouldn’t it be better to capture her when preparing to leave, or after already having left?
Aiwass was somewhat puzzled.
Precisely because it was entirely disadvantageous to her and would only disrupt Emma’s plans, Aiwass was even more uncertain about what she intended to do.
However, Aiwass and the Guardian had already blocked off the Lohar Building and the port.
Next, they just needed to search slowly, area by area.
Under these circumstances, Aiwass could use the ritual to search for people.
Fortunately, Aiwass was a Priest, thus he had mastered a whole host of miscellaneous praying rituals.
The searching ritual was only effective if the target or a clue was nearby.
The advantage was that as long as there was a clue nearby, it was sure to be found.
There would be no situation like with the Eye of Avalon where “even though it should see, it is blind to what is in front of it.”
So, Aiwass had Philip fly to a high point above the port.
Afterward, he pulled out the ritual dagger, briefly prayed to sanctify it, and then forcefully plunged the now sharp and sturdy ritual dagger into the palm of his left hand, with the tip barely peeking through the back of his hand!
Due to the intense pain, Aiwass’s complexion immediately turned pale, and he trembled violently.
Gasping heavily, he convulsed uncontrollably a couple of times.
Enduring the severe pain, Aiwass closed his eyes and prayed solemnly, word by word, “I solemnly call upon you, noble fire-stealer!”
“God of the sacred number three, The God of Thorns Bound, The God Who Burns Body and Pursues Darkness—the Stag God of the Candle!”
Theoretically, all Priests are first and foremost disciples of the Candle Master.
But this was the first time Aiwass had felt such piety towards the Candle Master.
Golden red glimmers sparked within his pupils, and tiny flames flickered between the fingers of his left hand grasping the ritual dagger: “I beseech you to descend into this blood and fire!”
“I am a novice on the path of Dedication, a Priest of the Nine Pillar Gods!
I am Aiwass Moriarty!”
“Please guide my path, inform me if the trace of the person I seek is near!”