To the people in the tavern, it was just an ordinary meeting. They talked freely about the rumors of the Imperial Knight Commander being reborn from fire, allowing the gossip to continue fermenting in the capital. Kane used this as an introduction, saying, "You always manage to surprise me."
He ordered two chilled malt beers, satisfied with the public’s chatter about the rumors.
"I have something I want to ask you."
Ethan went straight to the point, taking out a parchment which had strange symbols they found on the altar in Bigfoot Village. "Have you seen this symbol? To which god does it belong?"
Kane’s relaxed expression changed slightly. He took the parchment and examined it closely. After a long while, he shook his head, "Never seen it before."
"Even you haven’t seen it before?"
This answer surprised Ethan. After all, Kane might be one of the oldest Evil Gods in this world. Previously, he and Lindong suspected that this symbol might belong to some unrecorded Old God.
"These symbols are essentially a means of communication between us and our followers. Although I don’t know who left this, I can tell you what these symbols roughly mean. They say...this winter in the capital will be very cold, an unprecedented cold will come. If I were a resident here, I’d consider moving somewhere warmer before the weather turns."
Kane looked more serious, "It seems the monster you encountered in the Northern Territory is just the beginning of this severe winter."
However, this only made him excited. He wasn’t afraid of the cold, only that this world would fall silent and cease its conflicts. He loved the atmosphere of the capital; every street corner filled with hatred and anger made him want to grab a chilled beer and say a few words on stage.
It was the best of times.
The Knight Commander, who should have died, returned from Hell, and someone had to step up to give words to this miracle, to give it real meaning. For example, her return was to end this dark and decaying era by the Knight Lord.
So, where was the source of this decay?
Why had this country fallen from the Golden Era to this point?
Perhaps at the start of his speech, he should properly describe the scene of the Golden Era, helping people recall what the Empire’s nobility and clergy were like at its founding.
Kane was eager to try. Before he took the beer and went on stage, he returned the parchment to Ethan and reminded him, "Your ’friend’ has come to see you."
The parchment instantly turned to ash in Ethan’s hand, as if it had never appeared. The tavern-goers were attracted by the uninvited guests bursting in, and their discussion about the rumors lessened significantly. Those clad in black trench coats, exuding a fierce aura, walked straight toward Ethan, showing their badges immediately upon meeting him.
’Blood Seeker, Class A Investigator.’
"Please come with us to assist in our investigation."
Ethan nodded, downing the beer in his glass.
The arrival of the Reception Bureau was within his expectations. After all, the site of the other side’s death was investigated by him and Ave. The photos registered by the "Horned Owl Beast Daily" were taken by them. Now that the Knight Commander was alive again, those who wished for her death were certainly displeased. Conveniently, he was a part of the bureau, so the main bureau had the right to summon him at any time.
"The report from Gear City mentions you have a cat. Where is she now?"
"She likes quiet and doesn’t like the atmosphere of the tavern, so I left her at the inn."
In reality, he and Lindong had split ways. At this moment, Lindong should have already concocted the invisibility potion, infiltrating the forbidden section of the Imperial Library, seeking the information Ave left for them.
The Blood Seeker seemed dissatisfied with this answer. He glanced meaningfully at Ethan but said nothing more, turning to lead him.
The capital’s main bureau used early three-wheeled automobiles as means of transport, which Ethan found somewhat novel. Even Gear City didn’t have such things. The Blood Seeker didn’t give him a chance to return, instead, with another investigator who didn’t show him identification, "escorted" him back to the main bureau.
Once in the vehicle, no one spoke, and the atmosphere grew somewhat oppressive, resembling the treatment of a suspect about to undergo interrogation.
Upon entering the stately gates of the Reception Bureau, Ethan saw someone wearing the Judicial Court uniform waiting there. The Blood Seeker saluted the person, exchanged a few pleasantries, and introduced Ethan to the person, "This is Chief Prosecutor Minos."
Ethan greeted the prosecutor with a hooked nose, as if everyone present owed him 20 gold lions, thus falling into a midlife crisis.
According to Reception Bureau regulations, before the investigator’s affairs are internally defined, no other agency should be involved. However, since the new director took office, the rules had become mere token phrases, manipulated in various ways by the clergy and the Judicial Court.
Just like now, the Chief Prosecutor of the Judicial Court was personally responsible for this interrogation.
Mr. Minos was not one for smiles; he just nodded slightly, leading Ethan to the prepared interrogation room. The door to the room was locked. He drew a circular array on the table, writing dark red symbols for the array, and stated in an undebatable tone, "Place your right hand on it, and do not remove it until the conversation is over."
This was a trick of the God of Trickery, functioning much like a lie detector.