Why are you only picking on me?
Captain Hagrid did it too!
Besides, the golden hair above your head is pointing at you!
Ethan muttered in his heart in response to Ave's verbal threat.
This burly man was named Hagrid. When he was young, his dream was to become an honorable knight, join the Kingdom Army, and dedicate his strength to the Empire. However, he couldn't even pass the interview stage and had to return to Ximu Town, wielding a sword as a security guard while he was still strong and robust.
These were all things Captain Hagrid talked about when drunk.
The team of a dozen men he led formed the town's defense works and was also Baron Gledin's private armed force.
Ethan quickly built a good relationship with this "local tyrant" after arriving in Ximu Town. He found Hagrid to be a straightforward man in speech and action, with no ill intentions. As long as you invite him for a few drinks during his days off, he would see you as a best friend.
Ave pulled Hagrid aside and gestured animatedly, "The 'Necromancy Scroll', a simplified form of Spirit Communication Magic, high-tier Spirit Masters from the imperial capital inscribed their magic into scrolls. If you follow the steps appropriately, even common people can achieve magical effects."
Seeing Hagrid somewhat puzzled, she began to explain the scroll-making process in detail, successfully making Hagrid even more bewildered.
At this moment, Hagrid was on pins and needles. Ave's earnest explanation made him unwilling to admit he hadn't understood a word, so he could only cast a pleading glance at Ethan.
"To put it simply, Sheriff Ave and I were just investigating this man's cause of death."
Ethan seized the moment to summarize Ave's lengthy academic explanation.
In fact, this academic explanation also revealed a lot of hidden information.
Ave's family background is certainly unusual; scroll craftsmanship isn't widespread in the Empire. He once overheard hunters in the Guild discussing how functional magic scrolls could sell for 2 Gold Lions, almost equivalent to what hunters earn over several months.
Ave hadn't even blinked when she slapped the scroll onto the man's forehead earlier.
Now Hagrid understood and asked, "Did you find any results from the investigation?"
Ave replied, "He came from Riverside Town, cursed by witchcraft. The curse likely comes from the water source there, causing his internal organs to dissolve. That's the cause of death."
Upon hearing these three words, Hagrid's expression changed dramatically. He gritted his teeth and said, "The Baron wants to invite Miss Ave for a visit."
"Since the Baron is asking for you, then I—"
Ave gripped Ethan's shoulder, "You're the town's expert in the occult, we need your opinion."
Ethan sighed resignedly, signaling Miss Keroy, who'd peeked her head out from behind the counter, to wait here.
Baron Gledin owned an estate located north of Ximu Town. Many maids in black and white uniforms greeted Ethan with a respectful bow as he passed by.
Two years after arriving in this world, Ethan experienced being surrounded by maids for the first time.
Baron Gledin had been waiting in the main hall, once again wearing his perfectly tempered tailcoat, looking no different from when he gave speeches at the town square. His physique appeared somewhat thin, with a handlebar mustache, fitting Ethan's stereotype of nobility. Upon seeing them enter, the pacing Baron finally relaxed, but then glanced curiously at Ethan, trailing behind the group.
Before Ave could speak, Hagrid stepped forward and said, "This is Ethan, a scribe from the Guild who is well-versed in the occult. He's my good buddy and should be able to help."
The Baron nodded and said, "This is a traveling merchant who returned to the town this morning. He's brought back some news about Riverside Town."
Ethan then noticed another person in the room besides the Baron, mainly because the traveler's positioning was quite awkward. His entire body was curled up into a ball, hugging his head, hiding behind the sofa, clearly greatly frightened, his body trembling constantly.
Ethan could see the traveler was trying hard to make himself blend in like a inconspicuous mushroom.
"Dead, all dead, all of them dead!"
As he approached, he could hear the merchant's murmurs.
The Baron frowned and explained for the merchant, "When the merchant went to Riverside Town to stock up, he found everyone there dead."
When Ave used the 'Necromancy Scroll', the corpse also murmured continuously, "They're all dead," but Ethan subconsciously thought it referred to the man's companions, the caravan being ambushed mid-route leading to all being killed. Such incidents weren't uncommon in border towns, but the entire town being wiped out...
That was truly terrifying.
The thought of that night's red moon crossed his mind; it seemed someone in the neighboring town was conducting a large-scale sacrificial ceremony, while he had thought he'd summoned wrath from heaven by continuously casting fireballs up the mountain!
"When was the last time you visited Riverside Town?"
Ave's expression remained unchanged, her tone still calm.
She thought deeply, placing her hand on the traveling merchant's shoulder, "Someone killed everyone in Riverside Town within two days. The bodies you saw had no external wounds but bled profusely, making a mess everywhere."
The merchant finally lifted his head, staring at her in disbelief, "How, how do you know?"
Ave revealed her conclusion, "They died from curse-killing. The town's water source had a problem, and everyone who drank the water was cursed, explaining why everyone died within two days."
A rather malicious curse, designed from the start to kill everyone, "Captain Hagrid, you need to investigate the town's water source immediately."
"But how can I determine?"
Hagrid was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan. He knew he needed to do something but had no idea where to start.
How exactly could he determine if Ximu Town's water source was also cursed?
Should he taste it himself? If he dropped dead like the residents of Riverside Town, it would confirm the water source was cursed?
Ave tossed him a palm-sized rhombus crystal and said, "If the crystal lights up, it means the water source has issues."
"You must immediately do as Miss Ave instructed!"
The Baron also immediately commanded, and after the guards left the manor in grandeur, the Baron, now pale, collapsed onto the couch in exhaustion. He adjusted his breathing, trying to make himself look as dignified as possible, until a few minutes later, he asked, "The curse you mentioned, is it similar to witchcraft?"
"I didn't specifically refer to witchcraft."
Ave scrutinized Baron Gledin with sharp eyes, noticing clues from his unusual state, "But you seem certain it was the work of a witch. Can you tell me why?"