Chapter 14: Investment 14— Investigating (Part One)

About a week ago Elliot asked Deria and Edith to keep an eye on Flora and Alex for any suspicious movements. They relocated to a secluded section of the garden where they were sure not to be overheard by anyone.

"We saw him talking to a female student that I don’t think I have seen before. Anyways, from the emblem on her chest she must be a third year student or above," Deria mentioned.

"Anyways we heard him saying something about fulfilling his end of the bargain so it was her turn to keep her promise," Edith chipped in.

"Then she said ’Don’t worry soon enough I’ll expose —’ before we could hear the name the night patrol started to come their way and the lady well disappeared," Edith let out a sigh.

"What do you mean, disappeared?" Elliot knitted a brow.

"As in actual vanishing into thin air kind of disappeared," Edith muttered.

"That’s surprising. Teleportation-like spells are usually from the 14th tier above," Seria mumbled.

"You know what’s also weird? The third and fourth years aren’t supposed to be around now." Deria snapped her fingers.

She brought to their notice that something even more suspicious might be going on behind the scenes.

"Wait a minute." Edith brought out the semester schedule for the third and fourth years.

"How do you have that?" Seria pointed a finger.

"I have connections in high places." Edith rubbed a finger beneath her nose with a smug grin.

"More like you stole it." A grin tore across Deria’s face.

"Tsk!" Edith clenched her teeth.

"Anyways, instead of dwelling on how I got it, isn’t it best for us to focus on what we could gain from it?" She followed up with a self-vindication speech.

"I agree with Edith. Even though she used an underhanded method to obtain it," Elliot mentioned.

"Thank you Elliot for your half-baked support," Edith grunted.

"Ahem?" She cleared her throat. "From the info written here, they are supposed to be farming for Sterion points on the 41st floor of the dungeon," she read out.

"Sterion points are non-negotiable to final year students due to the fact that they won’t be able to graduate without sufficient amounts. So there’s no way any of them would bail," Seria said as she slowly lowered her gaze.

"Except if it’s an imposter." Her eyes widened as she let out those words.

Seria’s discovery shocked the others but at the same time made quite a lot of sense to them. Sterion points are way too important to neglect. Apart from being needed to graduate they also determine their overall Sterion rank.

Which dictated their starting rank as Arbiters. A name given to individuals that cleared dungeons.

"Though it’s a bit hard to believe that the headmaster would allow an imposter to roam free in the academy. Isn’t his alias the All Seeing Eye?" Deria could barely make heads or tails of their current situation.

"Well, I guess he didn’t see that," Edith muttered with a disturbed tone.

"For now I think we should focus on clearing Seria’s name," Elliot reminded them of the pressing matter at hand. If they didn’t clear Seria’s name soon the situation could get a lot worse.

"So what are you suggesting mr knight in shining armour-kun?" Deria said with an inquisitive tone.

Elliot brought his face forward and placed both hands underneath his chin as a wide grin tore across his face.

"Well my friends. We investigate." His words sounded like a slap of delight to both Deria and Edith.

"Ever since I was a child I knew being a detective was my calling." Out of the blue Edith was already wearing the complete detective outfit: a coat, hat, shades and a pair of boots.

"Wasn’t it a scholar that you mentioned last time?" Deria muttered.

"You are ruining the moment Deria!" The veins on her forehead throbbed

highlighting that she was pissed.

Deria stood and sprang into a coat. "Don’t worry Edith, detective Deria is here to solve this mystery." The cape of her coat blew in the wind.

"AHahahaha!" They both laughed in their moment of delusion.

Seria pursed her lips while she stomped her feet on the ground. "Seria too wants to be a detective."

"Seria can’t," Elliot mentioned.

"Tsk. Fine." She folded her arms.

"But Claudia can." Elliot wore a pair of glasses that instantly changed her appearance.

She now had black hair and brown eyes with a tiny mole on her cheek to tie it all together.

"Thanks Elliot." She hugged him with a bright smile on her face.

"But where did you acquire such an artifact?" She asked letting go of him.

"Well, you can consider it a courtesy of my roommate," he replied.

A while back Elliot got another mission from his system which entailed him including Seria in the investigation team. So he asked Taumus for the glasses he usually uses to disguise himself when he went to the commoner district.

"Speaking of which. I would like to introduce you all to the newest member of our team." He pointed forward.

Taumus entered into the secluded section of the garden.

"Hello my comrades in arms I am Taumus. The pleasure is all mine ladies." He placed a hand on his chest and bowed his head.

"Well, well if it isn’t Taumus." Deria grinned.

"I find your courteous demeanor a fraud. You are a goof just like us aren’t you?" Edith pointed a finger at him with a crooked smile on her face.

"As expected of the obscure shadow. He hid his presence perfectly. I could barely sense he was there," Seria thought.

"Taumus I trust you overheard all the details," Elliot stated.

"Well, you did signal me to follow you," Taumus replied.

"Ahh, Seria I didn’t notice you there," Taumus exclaimed fakely. He had been glaring at her ever since he walked in.

"I forgot to mention. I am Elliot’s very very close friend." With each very he moved closer to Elliot.

"If it isn’t the noble who got himself tricked and disgraced by Alex." Seria’s ice cold words hit Taumus like a dagger to the heart.

"Tsk, they don’t call her the ice queen for nothing," he grunted inwardly.

"Though a pervert as you are, I am sure my lovely fiancé has a good reason why he chose to trust you." She wrapped her hands around Elliot’s arm and pressed her boobs against it. "Isn’t that right my honey?"

Steam erupted from Elliot’s head as his entire face turned red.

’Hckkkk. Is this heaven?’ He mumbled to himself lost in total bliss.

"Yes, yes of course my glorious Seria," he quickly regained himself and answered her question.

"Ooohooooho. Couple goals. Am I right?" Deria smacked Taumus’s shoulder.

"These two are meant for each other. I would give up any silly fantasies if I were you," Edith whispered into his ear