423: The most effective way to clear suspicion

Chapter 422: The Most Efficient Way to Clear Suspicion

Ten minutes later, the materials Dick needed were delivered one after another.

The spatial rift here is equivalent to the starting point, and Apricot Lilli's location is equivalent to the ending point.

Using the starting point to find the ending point is theoretically feasible, but the actual operation is very complex and requires setting up a large number of professional Mage formations.

Not only that, most of these Mage formations are high-level, and Dick's current level is not enough to set them up.

But it doesn't matter, Dick can't set up the Mage formations himself, he can let others do it, and he just needs to direct from the side.

Thanks to Luca III's extensive recruitment of talents over the years, the Suweier Empire is full of talented people and does not lack high-level Mages.

Especially in the army, it only takes a minute to find an old Mage above level seventy.

Generally speaking, mobilizing high-level combat power requires many procedures, but at this critical juncture, it's just a matter of Isurna saying the word.

On the other side, Claude finally finished handling all the affairs.

He hadn't slept for over a month straight, and the high-intensity work for many days made this diligent Investigating Officer feel a bit muddled.

At this moment, Claude could finally get a comfortable sleep, although only for half a day.

Now is a critical period for the empire's rise. Even Luca III, as the emperor, often stays up all night, not to mention those fighting on the front lines.

As a level seventy-three Mage professional, Claude actually doesn't need sleep, but he is not a magical machine, and necessary rest is still required.

Moreover, working day and night at such high intensity, even a machine would break down!

"Oh, after drinking this thousand-year-old fine wine, I'm sure I'll have a good dream later..."

"Claude, come to the scene where Ryan was assassinated immediately. I have something very important that I need your help with."

Claude, who already had one leg on the bed, suddenly heard Isurna's telepathic message in his mind.

Claude's mouth twitched, and he said with a bitter face, "Lady Isurna, I have other matters..."

"Immediately!"

Just ten minutes later, Claude, having changed into his uniform, rushed to the crime scene. After hearing Isurna's instructions, he immediately exclaimed.

"You, you mean, you want me to set up the Mage formation under Dick's guidance?"

Claude felt extremely speechless. He was a level seventy-three Mage expert, considered a top-tier existence in the Central Region.

Giving lessons to Dick would be a bit of a step down, and Isurna actually said she wanted him to follow his command?

Moreover, the Mage formations to be set up later were all things Claude had never heard of. Dick just needed not to get in the way.

An hour later, the military tent was filled with various inscriptions, thousands of magic stones were placed in a scattered yet orderly manner, and the composite formation had already taken shape.

"This resonance magic stone is very crucial. Use the Aika Equation Embedding Method to place it in the formation eye of the twenty-seventh formation."

"Then, within one second, place another activation magic stone at the inscription connection of the third formation, replacing the original one..."

"The technique is very important. Your error cannot exceed one millisecond, and the magic power output must be controlled at... Claude, don't tremble. Do you want all your previous efforts to be wasted?"

At the center of the composite Mage formation, Claude was covered in sweat, listening to Dick's extremely fast instructions, struggling to perform various complex operations.

"Dick, slow down a bit. I'm not a professional formation Mage..."

Hearing this, Dick felt a bit disgusted and couldn't help but complain, "These are just basic operations that anyone with hands can do. As a level 73 Mage, you shouldn't be so flustered."

When Isurna introduced him earlier, Dick still had some expectations for Claude.

In the Central Region, where prodigies frequently emerge, Claude is also considered a shining star. A 62-year-old level 73 Mage, his talent is many times better than Fama's.

However, Dick's standards were still too high. After all, the prodigies in his eyes were either Heroes or Witches.

Another two hours passed. After several mistakes, the Mage formation was finally set up, and Claude was so tired he collapsed onto the ground.

Looking at the incredibly complex composite Mage formation before him, Claude felt a bit dazed. He found it hard to imagine that he had set it up himself.

Although Dick was directing the entire time, Claude had to admit that this young man under twenty was crucial.

Claude made many mistakes, but Dick was able to cover for him every time. He could always think of the best solution and turn the tide.

So much so that later on, Claude simply cleared his mind and completely became a machine controlled by Dick, doing whatever he was told.

Buzz—!!

A huge buzzing sound rang out. Under Isurna's shocked gaze, the spatial rift slowly opened.

Then, a pale blue ball of light continuously gathered, and after a few seconds, it rushed out of the military tent and flew rapidly in one direction.

"Northwest!"

Dick's eyes narrowed, and he added, "And based on the size of the light ball, the destination of Apricot Lilli's teleportation is less than ten thousand li from here. She's still in the Central Region!"

Although the destination of the teleportation was found, Dick didn't hold out much hope.

More than a day had passed. It was impossible for Apricot Lilli to still be staying in the same place. Perhaps she had teleported to another place to carry out her next assassination.

Moreover, it was obviously impossible to catch the strongest Divine Machine Witch in history based on just a vague location.

However, in this way, Dick at least obtained useful clues, and the investigation's deadlock was broken.

"Immediately send people to investigate all towns and villages within ten thousand li in the northwest direction..."

Isurna gave the order, and Claude immediately stood up and left after receiving the command.

Looking at Claude's swaying figure as he left, Dick let out a light breath and put the matter out of his mind.

If the Investigating Officers caught Apricot Lilli, it would certainly clear his suspicion, but the probability was too small, infinitely close to zero.

Dick did this merely to make Isurna feel at ease and increase her favorability. This was part of the strategy.

If he truly wanted to catch Apricot Lilli, he would have to use himself as bait to fish.

Moreover, the most crucial point is that catching Apricot Lilli and clearing suspicion are actually two different matters.

Dick had always known what the most efficient way to clear his suspicion was.

If she, Apricot Lilli, committed another crime elsewhere, and he himself stayed by Isurna's side, he would have a perfect alibi.

Apricot Lilli's actions were flamboyant. She would leave her name almost every time she assassinated someone, as if afraid others wouldn't know she did it.

In this way, wouldn't it just so happen to prove that he wasn't the culprit?

So in fact, Dick didn't need to do anything. As long as he honestly stayed by Isurna's side, his suspicion would naturally be cleared.