Kole was baffled by the Police steam car coming towards the Turner's villa, not understanding why it was there.
Despite feeling confused and lost, he stayed composed and didn't panic.
The steam car paused outside the gates of the villa, where Kole was standing. As the doors of the steam car opened, a middle-aged man in a navy-blue uniform with a cap that had a stiff visor walked out.
He had a revolver strapped across the belt of his waist, and the stars etched on his shoulder blade revealed his position in the Police.
Along with him, a lady wearing a clean white pantsuit stood beside him. She wore a white blindfold over her eyes, which confused Kole.
Why would a blind person be involved with the Police?
However, when he thought this world had several unique abilities and techniques that Ascendants use, he didn't question it and accepted it as something ordinary.
The man glanced at Kole and approached him, "Looking at your appearance, you must be Kole Akerse?" The man said with a meaningful smile.
Kole wasn't flustered and gave an equally confident air. With a mocking grin, he said teasingly, "Looking at your appearance…"
He discreetly put a finger on his chin and continued, "Yeah… I can't seem to remember you at all."
The man froze, and the lady flinched a little.
Kole shrugged nonchalantly.
The bout of words was started by the man. Instead of introducing himself, he boldly proclaimed — 'I know you! Don't dare hide anything from me. I don't care about your status and would address you by name!'
Obviously, Kole didn't mind someone using his name and didn't feel much attraction toward mere titles.
But the man purposely did that to show Kole his place, which Kole wasn't a fan of as his Dominator instincts kicked in.
Clearing her throat, the lady put a stop to the façade as she turned her face at Kole with an intriguing smile, "Heir Akerse, you are as the rumors say, humble when treated well, and a tyrant when needed be…"
Wondering inwardly what happened to the lady's eyes, Kole nodded gently.
He knew, despite being only a few hours after his birthday, the Police must have tracked him after the affection he had shown for Alice, suspecting he was involved with Mark Moore's murder case.
As such, they must've some preliminary information about his personality by now.
This was because this world wasn't simple, and he had interacted with quite a few observant Ascendants who secretly had connections with the Police and must've fed them all the interactions he had with several people.
She continued in a measured tone, "Although he should be the one saying this, it seems it would be best if I do the introductions. I am Detective Eleanor White, and this is my partner — Chief Inspector Ryan."
Looking at Eleanor's pure white attire, Kole felt like joking about her surname, but he restrained himself.
He was a noble and had to act as one.
"You are very pretty, Detective Eleanor." He gave an offhanded compliment.
She was indeed beautiful. Her hair was snow white, and even though her eyes were hidden behind a blindfold, Kole could imagine a dazzling pair of eyes. She had fair skin and a beautiful impeccable face with not a single speck of blemish.
Her physique wasn't like that of a young girl but appeared quite mature with full soft curves.
The aura she emitted was that of a gentle lady, but Kole knew appearances were meant to be deceived.
The young ones were much easier to assess compared to mature ladies and that's why Kole didn't wish to get closer to her.
Not to mention, her profession was one such department where Kole didn't want to stick his nose in. Even though he wasn't a bloodthirsty cruel serial killer, he wasn't a law-abiding citizen either.
"Thank you for the compliment." Eleanor nodded with a smile, "But I'd like to know why you are here if you don't mind."
Kole tilted his neck and questioned, "Is it because of Mark Moore? It happened so long ago… not to mention, I haven't even seen him once in my lifetime!"
He then snorted, his tone growing frustrated, "And sometimes I wonder whether Police and Detectives are doing their job properly or not. How can an ordinary person kill an Ascendant?"
Kole continued with a scowl on his face as a hidden mocking light flashed in his eyes, "It truly baffles me that I'm on the list of suspects just because I took a liking to a girl while the real killer might be hiding among us, and planning to assassinate his next target! Who knows, I might be next on the list of targets! This unsettles me greatly..."
Ryan scoffed, "Of course, an ordinary person can't kill an Ascendant. But who stops them from hiring one to do the job? As for the list of targets... why would someone put their own name on that list?"
Kole's lips twitched, then his mouth curved in a mocking grin, "Yeah. Okay, I did it. I am guilty. Now what?"
Ryan: "…"
The lady by his side maintained her composure and said:
"Heir Akerse, please don't joke around. And I don't think I've asked for too much…" She cooed gently.
This detective is really good at keeping her calm!... Kole praised inwardly.
Kole sighed ruefully, "I think, as a detective, you must know by now the upbringing I've received. The Duchess isn't the one to spoil her children."
Shaking his head to make his acting more believable, Kole chuckled, "But it isn't a bad thing either. I get to interact with other people — commoners and nobles alike to carve my own path, and I'm just doing that exactly."
His explanation was very reasonable, with no possible flaws.
But.
With narrowed eyes, Ryan asked, "As far as I remember, weren't you supposed to undergo your Ascendancy today, Heir Akerse?"
Kole wanted nothing more than to bash Ryan's head inwards.
He wanted to scream at his face: 'Today can imply any time of the day! It's only half past nine! Stop bothering me, for Goddess's sake!'
Fortunately, the detective in white interjected with a smile as she 'glanced' at Ryan with her blindfolded eyes, "It is fine Chief inspector. Heir Akerse must've his reasons."
She then turned to Kole to 'gaze' at him, "And Treon respects the Duchess very much for making it secure from outside interferences," Eleanor commented curtly.
Kole nodded since knew the detective was talking about Faneia's military might, which has bought a period of unprecedented peace to the Treon Kingdom.
Although Kole had no idea how strong his mother was, he had known long ago that she was a sort of trump card that other neighboring dynasties didn't dare to test.
After all, her fists were so strong that the King readily gave her the title of Duke after she swore loyalty to the Kingdom in the name of Goddess with no hesitation.
From a commoner to a Duke, in an instant, by just demonstrating her strength. It was a legendary tale, and there must be something — that compelled him to do so.
"Anyhow, it's quite a coincidence that we arrived at the same time." Eleanor smiled eloquently, "And the even more incredible point is that we came here to 'interact' with the Turners, as well."
Kole's eyes narrowed as he gazed at her blindfolded eyes. He felt if her eyes were visible, he would be able to see a hidden glint flashing in them.
"Did something happen?" He asked curiously with a raised eyebrow.
"You will know in the newspapers tomorrow…" Ryan snorted as he showed his ID card to the guards at the gates, and stridently walked toward the villa. Eleanor followed suit.
Kole felt a deep harrowing feeling in the pits of his stomach. He had a gnawing inkling — that something big has happened.
Suppressing the uneasiness, Kole followed behind. He didn't want to wait until tomorrow. He needed to know now!
Seeing him following, Eleanor smiled and craned her neck to 'glance' at him.
She spoke tersely, "We don't mind you following us, Heir Akerse. But I hope you don't interfere with our job."
Kole let out a sigh of relief and agreed with a nod. 'Seeing' him nod, the blindfolded detective also nodded and approached the luxurious manor as they passed a fountain in the middle of the path.
"…" Kole's eyelids twitched. Can she see through the blindfold? If that is the case, then why is she even wearing one?
Soon, they arrived at the majestic-looking doorway.
Within a moment, Head butler Hugh arrived to receive them.
Seeing Chief inspector Ryan, Hugh panicked a little. Why were the Police here?
Regardless, it wasn't his job to inquire about the details. Thus, he led the trio to the waiting hall without questioning their purpose.
Upon being seated on the couches, Hugh looked around with uncertainty.
"Is Viscount Turner at home?" Ryan got to the point without dawdling around.
"Uh. Yes. After returning from yesterday's event, he has been in his room. It is still early morning, so he should be getting ready for breakfast." Hugh revealed everything he knew.
"Um. We need to have a chat with him. Please get him to know of our intentions." Eleanor said lightly.
Hugh nodded and left the hall as he went upstairs to inform his master about the Police's arrival.
Time passed by as Kole kept glancing at his pocket watch habitually as the discomfort grew in his heart.
About half an hour later, a gorgeous blonde lady in an olive-green frilly dress entered the hallway with some uncertainty and confusion visible in her emerald eyes.
"Kole?" She muttered.
"Ah, Alice." He gave a smile.
Before he could talk to her, Ryan and Eleanor stood up with frowns and confusion evident on their faces.
They glanced in a particular direction of the villa simultaneously.
Seeing their frown, Kole's eyes narrowed as he inspected the situation with his techniques secretly.
"Holy shit." He muttered to himself as he felt a burst of Spirit Energy flooding outward from a particular room in the villa upstairs!
It was dense and full of heavy malevolence.