"It is his son," The elf confirmed flatly, then resumed her words in a rather mocking tone. "The man had it hard he almost looked like a decrepit old man."
"Heh... Officials said he'd been evacuated following the attempt on his father's life. Pretty good excuse if you ask me." the fox sneered. "So, are we going to investigate that as well? I'll be honest, boss, I don't have much intel beyond the tittle-tattle in a speakeasy."
The elf just shrugged. "We are rescuing him as well."
"What?! For real? How?"
"You heard that right. We are not alone on this. Don't worry"
That was all Jazdia could afford to disclose. Keito meanwhile took his time to mingle with the rest of the team, exchanging greetings and other pleasantries before reporting his assessment to her again. Mostly concerning their background. Some were solid, while others sounded grossly exaggerated.
"Why didn't you ask them yourself?" the elf chuckled, answering Kaito's concern with another question that sounded more like an announcement instead of whispering.
Keito tilted his head and took a glance at them."Nah, if you trust them, then we're good... Anyway, the assassination attempt is the talk of the town at the moment. Lots of people are saying that Meche is behind it. Or at least that the assassins that got killed came from Meche. That seems to be public knowledge. What is more interesting is that some say a noble house from Kindeance is involved as well. Nobody is saying names or pointing fingers to a specific house. Trying to figure out the source of that rumor but no luck yet on that part.”
His report about the citizenship of the assassin sounded... strange. If they were professional, there was no way they could be easily identified even in death. Brainwashed Mecheans? Could be, although professional assassins with more patriotic background and willing to be a martyr was not unheard of.
The rumor about a certain noble house taking advantage of the ensuing chaos was a rather common story. Almost like a natural occurrence in every kingdom and era. That was why nobody had a solid pointer on it, because everyone, to some extent, would be willing to see the king lose his influence so they can strengthen their own. Fredricus might have noticed this, but no details were spared for her to salvage, not even when she shuffled the documents on his table.
****
As they approached the public park, Jazdia could not shake off the feeling that someone was tailing them. She gandered at numerous high rises and activated her eyes. Nothing.
She shifted her attention to the street, eyes still glowing in violet, but not for long, as everything seemed normal. Another false positive. Years of retirement had made her quite sloppy. Or perhaps it was hunger that made her jittery. She peeled the leaf wrappings and helped herself to the rice roll this Chounan guy gave them earlier.
The streets were not as bustling as they usually were, but surely weren’t deserted either, despite the apparent feelings of bewilderment that struck the entire populace five days ago, and the streets now adorned with several checkpoints and outposts, people were moving on with their lives. Street vendors peddling their wares, a father bringing his daughter for a walk, and a couple of youngsters could be seen sitting together on a bench under the tree, enjoying the warm summer as if the world belongs to them alone.
Somehow reminded her of the old days with Faldiar, and it felt like a lifetime ago.
___
Separating the public park from the more gloomy part of itself was a high metal fence with sharpened ends. Old and sinister, probably erected in the same year when this city had its first foundation built. The cemetery ground was flanked by a large chapel building with high eaves on the right, and a fortified wall separating it from the Royal Palace complex on the left. Occupying the grassy plot of land were a dozen graves, each built grandly like twelve monuments guarding a very sacred entrance.
And indeed, at the end of the paved path that divided this memorial park was a lavish mausoleum with a marble door. Two guards could be seen guarding the entrance, and four more were stationed near the chapel. A bit too much for a graveyard, but not every graveyard was the place where a king was nearly murdered.
One of the guards, wielding a polearm approached them. “Who goes there? This place is off-limits for the civilian!”
“Don’t worry.” Jazdia greeted the guard with a smile. Then turned to introduce her companions. “We are here by the order of Madame Matilda, we are private investigators, you see. These are my assistants, Mr. Keito, Mr. Chounan, and Miss Yvonne.”
The guard scowled, then looked at every one of them. Chounan seemed to be the person he observed the most. “Oh yeah? Then where is Madame Matilda?”
“Madame Matilda is on an important mission,” Jazdia answered dryly. “Whatever it is, it should be no concern of us, freelancers. I know you understand.”
Jazdia was a terrible liar. But all she said so far was the truth it was easy to deliver them convincingly. That was also why when the same guard asked for relevant documentation to prove the legality of their activity, her expression turned sour, and she cursed under her breath at how guards these days had become bureaucratically smarter.
"I need to see the seal."
The seal. The only document in her possession that has Fredricus' seal on it was her procurement contract. It contained sensitive details that Jazdia wouldn't be willing to disclose even if ordered by Fredricus himself. She eyed the guard, he was a reasonably young man, loyal to a fault. It wasn't clear to what extent Fredricus would want the abduction of the prince to become known, and if Keito's intel was any indication, Jazdia see no reason to share any information with this low-ranking grunt.
“It is confidential. I don't think you have the authority to question our assignment. Move aside!”
her curt answer caused the guard to look at them even more suspiciously. But instead of apprehending the feisty elf in front of him, he rolled his eyes and plunged the tip of the hilt of his spear into the ground.
“Give it a rest madam. I know you and yous ain't ordinary folks, but the orders are orders. I shall not let you in until I heard it from Madame Matilda herself.”
The guard didn't look like he would budge any time now. Jazdia was clearly unfit for negotiation and letting her talk for more might invite unnecessary attention. The other guards at the chapel were starting to take notice, some were on their way here.
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