The next day the group gathered inside the inn and discussed everything. “We should start with Georgia Smith. I’d suspect it will take an hour or two to rule her out then we move on to Nathan Price.” Jenora turned to Serena. “We’re far ahead of schedule too so no matter the outcome we’ll be fine on time.

  Victor commented “This will be-”

  Serena grabbed his lips. “No. Stop.”

  Swordie’s voice dripped with disappointment. “He cannot stop himself.”

  “Does this place have a back door?” Emilie eked out. “I’m still tired from yesterday even though I’ve over the mana fatigue and exhaustion.” She flashed her baggie eyes.

  Serena shook her head. “I don’t think it does. We’d have to crawl out a window which would look bad if we get caught. Victor I’m going to let you speak now. Are you going to say something that makes things significantly more difficult?”

  He shook his head no. She released him. “I can go out first and let the three of you go to her house in the northern part of the city. I’ll meet you there.” He turned to Cawthorn. “Cawthorn yesterday you said you spotted some monsters and a few potential lairs but nothing unusual. I need you to watch the southern path for the next few days, particularly for Luke’s griffin. Can you do that?” He tossed him a sausage.

  “FOR SAUSAGE I WILL DO ANYTHING! I WILL FIND HIM MY MAGE!” Cawthorn took off.

  “Thank you for that Victor.” Emilie held her head. “I appreciate it.”

  “I’m trying to be considerate. Sorry about yesterday.” Victor looked down.

  Emilie shook her head taking full responsibility. “It’s my fault. You… make me feel inadequate. Serena being faster sure, she’s a rogue. I just wanted to show you up at least once. You’re chosen by an angel and I’m… a failure that couldn’t save her family.”

  “You can’t save everyone.” Those words felt so wrong coming from Victor’s mouth. He knew them to be true but refused to accept them. Like sandpaper scraping out of his mouth he still told her the truth.

  “I don’t want to save everyone. I just wanted to save them.” Her golden hair hung down covering her face as she drooped over the table.

  Jenora rubbed her back. “We’ll make sure nothing like that ever happens again.”

  Emilie bit her lip upset. “We need to get stronger faster. We should take risks and try to defeat enemies more powerful than ourselves. I hate being weak.”

  Serena shook her head disagreeing. “If we fight enemies more powerful than ourselves regularly we will eventually lose and die.”

  Victor turned to her. “Forala would disagree. I bet Zolvorn would too. Take any challenge you have even the slightest chance of success and you’ll become stronger. Risk is part of life.”

  Serena sighed. “Or dead. I’d prefer to be alive.”

  “Being alive is pretty great,” Jenora smirked.

  “I’m going to go out there now. Give me a few minutes to deal with them before you come out.” Victor got up and walked out.

  Jenora sighed. “Let’s see how this goes. We can decide if we’re ready to take on creatures above our tier later. We did kill that skeletal mage after all and I wasn’t even there.”

  Serena countered. “We had a massive earth elemental and still nearly died. If it wasn’t for, thank Goddess he’s not here, Cawthorn we’d have died right then and there.”

  Emilie looked up through her hair. “Yeah, but he was fighting that without you as well. Your attack didn’t work on him because he was a skeleton, and you do mostly bleed damage. That was shit circumstances and we still overcame it.”

  Serena frowned slumping back in her chair. “Seems everything I’ve fought except for a few bandits in the past few months has either had incredible regeneration or didn’t bleed. You aren’t wrong but it sucks. I even have Gushing Wounds to increase the healing required to staunch my bleeding effects. Ironically it wasn’t my choice to get these skills because they mean I don’t get as many kills but my allies do. I just want to be able to keep up with you 3.”

  Jenora spoke up. “Well you were really useful in that dungeon you completely prevented several fights and we also didn’t die to the traps so it isn’t like you didn’t help immensely. Parties are supposed to cover each others’ weaknesses after all.”

  “I am happier killing undead because the Golden Goddess wills it but after the Necropolis we can stop seeking them out if you want. If it’s dangerous for us to fight undead because we have members who aren’t great at it then we shouldn’t. We can hunt bandits or do bounty quests for money.” Emilie nodded taking a drink of her coffee. “I think he’s had enough time. What about you?”

  Jenora looked out the window. “They are mostly gone.”

  “Whatever let’s go do this. It would be nice to capture the culprit by the end of the day.” Emilie stood up tired but determined.

  The three emerged as Victor finished clearing away the small crowd and shaking hands. “Well, ladies and gentlemen my party has arrived. It’s time for me to get going.” A collective groan rose as people walked away. “Shall we?”

  Serena picked up Victor. “Jenora let’s go.” Jenora picked up Emilie. They didn’t race but instead ran alongside each other to the northern part of the city past the church.

  They stood in front of the house genuinely shocked. “Is this the right place?” Victor pointed to the massive mansion.

  Serena pulled out the number she scrawled on the parchment earlier. “Yeah. It is. Caleb had a large house and a sizable estate, but this is absurd.” A four-floor building decorated in golden finery with statues at every corner depicting angels with instruments accented to them. Massive hedges completely blocked the first floor behind large metal bars. Beautiful statues dotted the walkway to the mansion.

  The home was nearly as large as the church. They walked up to the gate in complete confusion and tapped on the gate. Victor called out. “Hello?”

  Eventually, once again someone came out. A black cat wearing a white suit far furrier than Winston approached them with the same dignified look his paws behind his back and spoke in a dignified baritone voice. “Good morning adventurers. How may I help you this morning?”

  “Hello sir, my name is Victor Vogal. I’m here to speak with Mrs. Georgia Smith.” Victor extended his hand to the gate.

  The catfolk twitched his whiskers. “Victor Vogal? The angelic knight everyone is going on about?”

  Victor bowed his head. “The same, sir…”

  “You may address me as Blackie Bernard good knight. I will speak with the lady of the house but I am certain she will wish to speak with you.” He turned around walking into the mansion with his hands behind his back.

  Victor slumped his shoulders. “It’s always slaves.”

  Serena looked at him with a look asking ‘Are you serious before asking. “You do remember that it’s incredibly common here, right? It’s not quite as bad as Hoxal but nearly every country on the planet has some slaves.”

  “It’ll never get easier for me to see. How can you tolerate it so well?” Victor asked.

  “It’s not happening to me. I want them freed, ideally, I’ll help but it’s not possible for me to do so. It’s not something I worry about. I mean are you worrying about the infernal war on the eastern continent? The dwarven cave wars? There are far worse things in this world and we can’t do anything about those either. If you don’t get used to categorizing things you can do differently than things you can’t you’re going to have problems.” Serena shook her head.

  Victor looked down. “I guess seeing suffering just makes it more real.”

  Swordie cheerfully added. “May you see the world, Victor.”

  Blackie returned. “Come in good sir knight. Your party may accompany you. She’s excited to meet you.”

  The four of them entered the marvelous manor in the foyer. Escorted down its marble floors to the end of a carpeted hallway where Blackie opened the door. “Right this way ladies and gentlemen.”

  At a bookcase holding a book upside down a blond woman with a long ponytail stood in a poufy gown. “Heavens look at you. Three beautiful girls in tow!” She put the book on the shelf upside down. “I hear you are an angelic knight. The second one is anywhere in Peria, possibly the entire world! Come sit! I’ve baked treats.” On a coffee table, a large number of cookies and tea sat arranged carefully in front of them.

  They took seats and looked at each other knowingly. “Hello Mrs. Smith, my name is Victor Vogal, this is Serena Brooks, Emilie Ward, and Jenora Oath.”

  This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

  “Oh heavens so formal.” She bent half over and then sat down tea in hand. “Just call me Georgia. What would someone with your esteemed title and position want with little old me?”

  ‘I’m not sure we need to ask the question at this point.’ Was the only thought in his mind. “Alright, I’ll get right to the point. Four years ago, you were living near 5 Star Road and were rather poor. The next year you were fabulously wealthy. I think I already know why but could you enlighten us?”

  “Of course! I met my heavenly husband Carl when I was selling flowers outside the bank and after four months of dating he married me!” She held out her hand with a truly massive diamond worth likely more than 5,000 gold.

  They all nodded at each other. Victor turned back to her. “Sorry for wasting your time madam.”

  “You’re leaving?” She stood up somewhat panicked. “Please stay the cookies and teas are delicious.”

  The three looked around and Emilie sighed with a smile on her face. “It would be rude to refuse her hospitality.”

  Victor sat back down and took a sip of the tea; it was pretty good and rather sweet. “Apologies Georgia, we were performing an investigation, and it is apparent we weren’t looking for you. I should give you a bit more respect for being willing to give us an audience.”

  “An investigation? Heavens. Why did you need to speak to me about such unpleasantness?” She leaned forward with her hands on her knees.

  “We are investigating an old murder that occurred near an inn around 5 Star Road 4 years ago. We suspected that there may be a financial motive given that he was part owner of a bank. Your financial situation changed massively right around the time he died so we felt looking into it would be prudent.” Victor explained. “However it is abundantly clear to us you’re not the murderer.”

  “Good heavens! I should hope not. I’m so sorry for that. I hope you catch the rapscallion that did it.” She answered back.

  Serena leaned back in her chair somewhat menacingly. “We will, but you can’t speak to anyone about what we’ve spoken about today. If you do the suspect might learn someone is looking into it and flee.”

  “My lips are sealed! I wouldn’t do anything to hurt an angelic knight or an investigation into a bad guy.” She leaned forward nodding. “Would um… Would all of you be willing to wait here for another 15 or so minutes? My husband will be home soon after he is done speaking with Father Reynold.”

  Victor looked at them as Emilie gobbled down another cookie and Jenora sipped tea and just shrugged. “Well,, I suppose we could take a short break before resuming our investigation.”

  She rapidly taped her feet happily. “Thank you I’m sure my hubby will be happy. He’s been excited to meet you and Luke is his close friend! He’s an exceptionally devout follower of the Golden Goddess.”

  Emilie finished another cookie. “That’s great! She could always use more wealthy people to back her and fund more powerful spells.”

  “I know! I’ve seen Father Reynold’s pure healing restore the legs to a poor worshiper thanks to him! It cost a huge sum of gold too! I don’t know how much was in the pile but it was a LOT!” She proclaimed slapping her knees.

  ‘Wait how unusual is it to restore limbs in this world? What tier of spell would be required to do that?’ Victor desperately wanted to check.

  Almost on instinct, Swordie commented. “Tier 9 magic is rather impressive. A level 61 priest is the lowest level possible to cast a tier 9 spell. Something my student knows of course but some of the non-spellcasters among us may not.”

  She jumped back in her chair. “The book talks!”

  “Of course I do. I am the angel that bestowed the title upon Victor. My power is reduced until he reaches a higher level.” Swordie replied.

  She practically tipped over her chair leaning toward Victor. “May I see him! I’ve always wanted to see an angel.”

  Victor pulled out Swordie and opened him. “Hold him and say status sheet.”

  She picked him up and said “Status Sheet.” Her face lit up. “He’s a tome! That’s incredible. Will he have a body when you reach higher levels? Angels usually have wings.”

  Swordie clarified. “I could at a later level.”

  She giggled happily. “When you can may I see it!? I’ve always wanted to see an angel fly through the sky!”

  Victor pulled his head back absolutely shocked at this answer. “What level?”

  “91,” Swordie replied. Total silence filled the room as Victor wanted to rip a page out.

  He reached out and she handed Swordie back. “You’re telling me you can manifest if I’m level 91 or higher.”

  “Yes.” He answered before displaying a single sentence for Victor alone. ‘If I ceased protecting you even for a second he’d have killed you.’

  Victor gritted his teeth angrily trying not to show his rage as Blackie opened the door. “Madam the master of the house has returned. He will be in momentarily.”

  “Thank you Blackie.” She kept looking at Victor.

  Victor and Georgia both took a drink of their tea, as a tall man with black hair and black eyes walked in with a matching black suit and tie accented only by a white shirt closing the door behind him. He looked at them through a monocle while wearing a top hat. ‘It’s physically impossible this universe doesn’t have monopoly. If he had a mustache, he’d be a dead ringer.’

  He adjusted his suit slightly before approaching Victor with his hand outstretched. “Victor Vogal I presume?”

  Victor stood up to shake his hand. “Indeed I am. This is Serena Brooks, Jenora Oath, Emilie Ward, and Swordie the Angel.” He moved to shake each of their hands.

  With a sly business smile, he added. “I’d be happy to shake Swordie’s hand, but it seems you lack the necessary appendage.”

  “Your sign of acknowledgment is noted,” Swordie commented.

  “I must say it is unusual as I’ve always envisioned angels to have wings. Luke has them when he transforms.” Carl noted.

  Victor thought for a moment. “Have you ever met the angel who bestowed the title on him?”

  Carl paused. “No…”

  Swordie commented. “Most angelic knights do not reveal their angel as there is significant danger in doing so.”

  Victor commented. “Because you can be stolen or kidnapped right?”

  “HAH! No.” Swordie’s curt attitude continued. “It is because cultists, devils, and undead will seek their life.”

  Victor smiled. ‘If cultists wanted me dead I’d be dead right now.’

  “And don’t forget demons!” Carl added.

  “Right.” Victor looked down at Swordie. “They couldn’t kill you in that form, could they?”

  “It is exceedingly unlikely,” Swordie noted. “Flame, blade, or strength none will be effective against me in this form. Zolvorn however did manage to inflict some damage on me.”

  “He actually hurt you?” Victor asked.

  “He cracked the part of me that became your armor,” Swordie explained.

  “Zolvorn? I’ve heard that name before. Isn’t he a Gizixil Cultist?” Carl asked.

  “Yes. Serena fought him and then I did. She nearly killed him. I fought him in an explosive battle a few days ago south of here and Gizixil himself showed up putting a stop to our fight.” Victor explained.

  Georgia turned to Carl to ask a question. “Honey isn’t that the name of that Void Lord thingie?”

  Carl visibly had bumps arise on his neck from anticipation. “It’s not surprising that massive blast was a result of a fight like that. Is it true that Gizixil showed up? He has many mouths and many eyes.”

  “Four mouths with eyes inside them on his face, and four on his chest,” Victor replied.

  “He didn’t instantly kill you? That does seem unusual for the Lord of Violence.” Carl seemed confused.

  “He wasn’t there for me and Zolvorn wanted a rematch. He didn’t seem interested in me.” Victor waffled.

  “Zolvorn is his high priest or rather high warrior on Verdan. You’re extremely fortunate his bloodlust didn’t result in your death.” Carl nodded quickly clearly nervous thinking about what happened.

  “I still think I could have won.” Victor groaned. “It wasn’t that bad. He was on the verge of death when the fight stopped.”

  “Truly. That would be impressive.” Carl tilted his head down. “I’m so happy to have been able to meet you but I doubt meeting me is the reason for your attendance here. What can I do for you fine adventurers here?”

  Serena shook her head. “I don’t think we’ll need any assistance from you. We’ve been investigating an old murder and it’s abundantly clear your wife was not responsible for it. We investigated finances first and her marriage to you was one of the most unusual gaps in income across the city the past few years.”

  “Ah yes, my lovely wife. I met her when I was still banking at 5 Star Road before I moved to the Freedman’s Guild Bank. Why would that make her a suspect?” He scratched his chin.

  Serena’s head bobbed acknowledging that there was no way it was her. “It wouldn’t, we’re seeking leads.”

  “Understandable, I’d hope investigators always run down leads.” He added.

  “We will leave the two of you to your day. I’m sorry for wasting your time.” Victor stood up.

  “An angelic knight could never waste our time.” Carl shook his hand. “If your group would like to remain here I’d like to show you something.”

  Victor turned to the three of them confused. Emilie stuffed another cookie in her mouth. “We’re good!”

  Victor intrigued simply added. “Lead the way.”