51: Chapter 51 Street Abnormalities

After changing clothes, Nie Ning accompanied Norma onto the carriage.

Their destination was Shangrong Alley.

As the largest district in the southern part of the city, Shangrong Alley was naturally the most prosperous place, and many dignitaries liked to come here to shop.

When the carriage arrived at Shangrong Alley, a torturous day began.

After Norma's strength increased, her status within the Hervis Family also rose accordingly.

Because the value of an Official Knight was still very high.

Even though muskets had been developed, one still had to be able to hit the target.

They might not be of much use normally, but they were more than sufficient for protecting a home and family.

Furthermore, Norma had excellent Knight aptitude and had been Lilith's playmate since childhood, so she had always lived well within the Hervis Family.

With her improved treatment, she would be better able to assist the Hervis Family in the future.

...

The two girls strolled along the street, and Nie Ning felt that the greatest happiness was tagging along with them to eat and drink for free.

Because only at times like this could the two of them relax and not run around everywhere.

As they strolled, Nie Ning noticed something was off; he looked up and was blinded by the golden sign above.

Rose Beauty Salon...

And right next to it was Borton's Detective Agency.

"When did a Detective Agency open here?"

Lilith looked up with curiosity and spoke while looking at the Detective Agency's sign.

Norma shook her head: "I don't know, maybe it opened recently."

"Shall we go in and take a look?"

Lilith asked with a smile.

Hearing this, Nie Ning rolled his eyes from the side.

What was there to see in a Detective Agency? They didn't even sell anything inside.

"Forget it, there's nothing much to see inside. I heard a snack shop opened over there last time, why don't we go there instead?"

Norma pulled on Lilith's sleeve and pointed toward the other side of the street.

As soon as Lilith heard there was food, she immediately perked up and gave up on the idea of visiting the Detective Agency.

Nie Ning breathed a sigh of relief; he was truly afraid of running into an old acquaintance.

Even if he was pretending to be a mute now, Borton might still see through his disguise, which was the last thing he wanted to happen.

...

The group strolled along, and gradually the sky grew dark.

Nie Ning was carrying large and small bags, while Lilith and Norma walked ahead of him.

Just then, a crowd suddenly surged at the street entrance, as if something had happened up ahead.

'Ding~ Ding~ Ding~'

Nie Ning had originally planned to go watch the commotion, but suddenly a tapping sound came from the alley on the left.

Nie Ning stopped in his tracks and looked down the alley toward the sound.

The alley was empty, with only some trash remaining on the ground, but Nie Ning felt a faint, flickering sense of malice.

At this moment, Norma noticed that Nie Ning had stopped.

She followed Nie Ning's gaze into the alley but saw nothing at all.

Norma furrowed her delicate brows, feeling that Nie Ning was very strange, but she couldn't put her finger on why.

Sensing Norma's gaze, Nie Ning turned and returned a smile, but his mind had already flown elsewhere.

Lilith beckoned to the two of them and then pointed toward the surging crowd ahead, clearly wanting to go there and see.

Led by Lilith, the three of them walked forward.

But as they got closer, Nie Ning and Norma noticed something was wrong.

Because they saw people from the Guard Hall inside.

As the most prosperous street in the south of the city, those coming and going were all middle-class or above, so Guards would patrol here.

But since the Guards had come over, it was likely not a small matter.

Nie Ning stood on his tiptoes and took a look inside.

Inside, someone was lying on the ground, their limbs twisted and deformed, and the ground was covered in blood.

Seeing this scene, Nie Ning stopped Lilith, who wanted to join the commotion.

Norma glanced at Nie Ning, then lightly leaped up, also seeing the situation inside.

After all, she was someone who had undergone Knight training; although Norma felt uncomfortable, she could endure the tragic sight inside.

"There's nothing to see, let's just go home."

Norma pulled Lilith and began to walk back.

Although Lilith really wanted to see, Norma's strength was too great, and she forcibly dragged Lilith away from the scene.

Nie Ning watched the growing crowd, his brow furrowed as he followed them away from the street.

...

On the way back, Nie Ning sat at the front of the carriage, recalling the official case Borton had shown him.

It was written in the file that after hearing a 'ding-ding-ding' sound, someone had found a deceased person nearby.

And this was exactly the same as what he had just experienced.

He had also heard the 'ding-ding-ding' sound, and he had even sensed a faint malice.

He just hadn't expected that this matter would actually occur near Borton's Detective Agency.

If that Murderer really was in Shangrong Alley, perhaps he really would have to get involved.

Borton was an old friend after all, and most of his cultivation resources depended on this old geezer.

Even if it was only a very low-probability event, if it really happened, it would seriously affect him, or even worse, cause unnecessary trouble.

For example, having to find a new partner, while also worrying about the other person's character, the connections they possessed, whether he could get the things he wanted, and so on.

After a moment's thought, Nie Ning decided to go ask Borton after sending Lilith home.

...

Night.

Detective Agency.

At this time, Borton was still working, flipping through the files in his hand.

Nie Ning pushed the door open and walked straight into the office.

"How come you're the only one here? Where's your daughter?"

Nie Ning scanned the room and asked with some curiosity.

"She's my daughter, not my servant. What would she be doing staying here so late?"

Borton didn't even look up, his words full of affection.

Hearing this, Nie Ning shrugged, pulled over a chair, and sat down.

"How is that official case you mentioned last time going?"

Nie Ning asked casually.

Hearing this, Borton thought Nie Ning had changed his mind, so he immediately closed the file in his hand, took another one out of the drawer, and handed it to Nie Ning.

After getting the file, Nie Ning began to flip through it.

A considerable amount of time had passed since the last time; during this period, a total of 21 people had died, which, added to the 19 from before, made a total of 40 people.

Nie Ning picked up the photos of the deceased and flipped them open.

The appearance of the deaths was basically the same: limbs twisted, abdomens sliced open, looking like the work of some kind of beast-like creature.

But the strange thing was that no traces of beasts were found at the scene.

However, the Guard Hall hadn't found nothing at all.

Near the deceased, whether on the walls, the ground, or the trees, several small holes would appear, looking as if they were left by some kind of nail being driven in.

"So, what do you think? Quite a few people have died recently, and the Guard Hall has increased the reward. Do you want to give it a try?"

Seeing Nie Ning absorbed in the file, Borton propped up his chin and asked with a wretched smile.

If Nie Ning could crack this case, it would definitely make the Detective Agency's reputation soar.

Once those high-status clients came to the door, making money would be relatively easier.

...