18: Another murder (thanks to handsome guy 2333 for the monthly ticket)

Night, like thick ink, spread over Wolf Den City, and Arthur dragged his leaden legs back to his room.

Today had been truly eventful; both the thrilling kidnapping during the day and the scheming dinner with his father at night had successively drained his energy.

He was too lazy to even wipe the dust from his face and collapsed onto the bed.

Vanka, who had been quietly waiting in the room, now carefully approached to ask, "Master, should I prepare bathwater?"

Arthur waved his hand dismissively, indicating there was no need to trouble herself.

"Let me give you a massage, Master," the young girl suggested, her tone hinting at a desire to please. "When I was in my hometown, I learned some massage techniques from the village's herbalist grandmother."

"Rather than that, I'm more interested in how many words you memorized today?"

"I memorized all of them, Master, everything you taught me, I..."

"Don't call me Master," Arthur interrupted. "I'm not used to it."

Arthur's words left Vanka a bit flustered.

Seeing the girl remain silent, Arthur turned to look at her and said with a wry smile, "Don't be nervous, I'm not angry, nor am I blaming you."

"I just don't like that title; it makes you seem like my property."

"You can call me Young Master, Sir, or any other title you deem appropriate."

"I know by your customs, you must use a respectful title to address me, but just not that word."

The young girl didn't understand much of what Arthur said, but she did grasp the main point.

"Then... then Young Master?" she asked uncertainly.

"Whatever you prefer," Arthur sat up from the bed. "Come on, since you've learned those words, I'll teach you new ones."

Hearing that Young Master was going to teach her to read again, Vanka was very happy.

But she suddenly thought of something and asked, "Are you... are you not tired, Young Master?"

"The sooner you learn to read and write, the less tired I'll be."

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The first thing Arthur did the next morning was check for new intelligence.

Today's intelligence was quite explosive: three blue intelligence reports and one white intelligence report.

Blue Intelligence (Enhanced/Follow-up): Slaves are uniting under the call of Catherine Cromwell, and a riot is brewing. Remaining time: 27 hours, 15 minutes, 54 seconds.

Blue Intelligence: The slave owner Gobler took the amulet of the orc gladiator Mag Mad-Tiger. It was a keepsake left to him by his mother. Returning the keepsake to him can greatly increase his favorability.

Blue Intelligence (Follow-up): Tina Buffa died in the early hours of this morning. An important list is hidden in the bookshelf of her home studio.

White Intelligence: There is a batch of Black Hand Gang smuggled goods on the supply ship from the capital. These goods will be sent to the Stone Forest smuggling point downstream of the wharf tomorrow night.

Arthur first noticed the intelligence related to Tina Buffa. He threw off the covers and shot up.

"What time is it now, Vanka?"

"Around eight. Do you want to wash up, Young Master?"

Arthur shook his head and instructed, "First, go to the stables and have someone prepare a horse.

"Then go to Warehouse No. 3 at the dock, find a woman named Airo, and tell her to meet me at the Sheriff's office."

"Yes, Young Master," Vanka responded and quickly ran out.

Arthur stretched his body, pondered for a moment, then quickly dressed and left the room.

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Around nine in the morning, Arthur appeared at the Sheriff's office in Wolf Den City.

The receptionist told him that Sheriff Adelaide had gone to Tina's residence.

Arthur spent some money to get Tina's residence location from the receptionist.

He waited for a while at the Sheriff's office, and after Airo arrived, the two rode together to Tina's residence.

On the way, Airo asked, "What are we doing?"

"Do you believe in coincidences?" Arthur countered.

"Coincidences are just jokes of the gods. I don't believe in true coincidences in this world."

"Neither do I."

Arthur told Airo about the corruption.

After hearing him out, Airo asked, "So you think this series of events are interconnected and you plan to investigate?"

"Don't you think so?"

"I just wanted to say, the focus right now is probably not on that. I've been secretly watching your slaves all night, and I bet they're plotting something."

"Don't worry, I'll deal with that later."

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The dwarf merchant's mansion was located in the central district of Wolf Den City, where most famous artisans, merchants, and local officials resided.

While the public order here was not as good as the wealthy district near Wolf Fang Keep, serious cases like murder rarely occurred.

When the two arrived, the red brick building was already surrounded by a crowd of onlookers.

Two Sheriff's deputies were trying to maintain order. Arthur stepped forward to state his identity, then led Airo into the building.

As soon as he entered, Sheriff Adelaide walked towards him.

The two were startled for a moment, then the Sheriff asked confusedly, "Why is my nephew appearing at a crime scene?"

"It's good to see you too, Aunt," Arthur replied with his signature smile.

Normally, this tactic was very effective on women, but he wasn't sure if his aunt would fall for it.

As the head of public order in the city, Adelaide was tall and agile, decisive and impartial in her actions, earning her the nickname "She-Wolf."

Although she was thirty-seven years old, she had never married, and there had always been rumors that she actually preferred women.

The Sheriff decisively ignored Arthur's smile and asked directly, "Don't tell me you're involved in this case. I don't want to clean up your mess."

"No, no, no, you've misunderstood. No matter how much of a scoundrel I am, I couldn't possibly commit murder, could I?

"I'm here on behalf of my mother to retrieve something. Before you tell me this is a crime scene and everything is evidence, I need to explain.

"This merchant woman was responsible for the arrangements of the temple inauguration ceremony. She visited my mother yesterday to discuss the arrangement details.

"Now that she's dead, Mother sent me to see her arrangement plans. If there are written documents, it would be easier to hand over."

The Sheriff took some time to assess Arthur's words; it was always wise to be cautious with this notorious nephew.

Seeing his aunt hesitate, Arthur added, "Let me go to the studio and take a look; I guarantee it will save more time than you sending me away."

"Alright, but she has to stay," the Sheriff pointed at Airo, "and I have to go with you."

Arthur indicated he had no objections to this.

Arthur agreed. Led by his aunt, he arrived at the study—also the merchant woman's studio.

His goal was clear; based on the intelligence, he went straight to the bookshelf, but found nothing but books inside, no list at all.

This made Arthur frown. He believed the intelligence wouldn't be wrong.

He calmed down and carefully examined the entire bookshelf.

The Sheriff leaned against the doorframe, somewhat impatiently urging, "Have you found what you're looking for? I don't have all day to waste here with you."

Arthur did not respond.

He noticed a Mother Earth Church scripture, which seemed out of place among the other books related to banquet arrangements on the bookshelf.

He took down the scripture, opened it, and sure enough, found the list hidden in a false bottom.

Arthur discreetly put away the list, then pretended to casually flip through things on the desk, and said, "It seems she didn't have time to leave anything in writing. Let's go."

"Are you sure you don't want to look again?" the Sheriff asked suspiciously.

Arthur shook his head, "No need. I won't delay your investigation."