The group was puzzled, some blushing.
[Oh my God...]
[This is the first time I've heard something I didn't know I needed so much in my life.]
The maid smiled and adjusted her hair.
[Okay, please sit down now. Your host was tired of waiting for you. The mansion is about a 30-minute drive away, so it would be wise to get there before dark.]
People were jostling and suspicious, Eris stepped forward.
[Wait a second, maid, I think you owe us an explanation. What does all this mean? Wasn't this supposed to be a private party for special guests? What are all these peasants doing here?]
[Who are you calling peasant? Vodka girl!]
[You, what's your name?]
[... Toby.]
[Why am I not surprised? Hello Toby, how are you, Toby? Everyone say hello to Toby, that's the last time his name will be spoken.]
The maid laughed softly as Toby cried, she motioned for the bus driver to get ready to leave and the passengers began to board. However, she held off the detective's group.
[Indeed, several guests have been invited but... It's true that some are more special than others.]
[Hmm! Finally, someone who speaks a language worthy of the Magnificent Eris. You are forgiven.]
[Well it was clear in the letter but... Why did you call 2 detectives?]
[Hm~ my master's instructions are unpredictable and incomprehensible yet filled with common sense. In your case, maybe a little competition would optimize the result.]
[Dannazione!] The detective shouted in anger.
[Круто!] Eris shouted happily.
Marcia and Puella looked at each other, curious at the uproar of their comrades. The assistant approached them.
[The truth is that me and Mr. Luc, and apparently Eris and Guinea Pig too, were contacted for a matter... Let's say delicate, by the way, that's why I'm surprised that there are so many guests.]
[Oh don't worry, that's also part of the "plan". Let's go for now. There is a change of clothes on the bus that you can borrow. We'll explain everything to you in private. You may refer to me as Bonny, happy to serve you.]
They got on the bus and started a long journey. The road was long and passed through a vast forest, with tall trees close together. Surprisingly, unlike the beach which was welcoming, and worthy of a resort, the forest seemed dark, holding dangerous and mysterious secrets. Not a single animal, no organic life, just trees, and the occasional rock. They soon arrived at a huge bridge, over a ravine where the waves tore the sharp rocks. A real life-size blender, the perfect place to kill someone. The passengers looked terrified. The mansion was in the middle of the island, soon its dark roof appeared above the trees. In front of the mansion stood 10 maids lined up in 2 rows of 5 and a tall bearded butler. Everyone greeted the passengers as they exited the bus and escorted them inside, except for the detective's group that the maid Bonny was leading to the back of the building.
[Hmm? Why aren't we with the others?]
[Your case is different, Miss Assistant because as you know, you were called here in the case of my wife's girlfriend.]
[What-the-fuck?]
[Calm down miss Puella, it's the name of a jewel.]
[Ah...]
[Which is to be exhibited today.]
[I see...]
[But disappeared some time ago.]
[Oooh...]
[Wait, so madam officer here, did you really come undercover?]
[The gallons of water you drink drown your brain if you think I'll bend down to look for a thief. Especially on a rest day.]
[... Do you always have to be so violent?]
[Do you realize who I am, little boy?]
[Why are you here then? And Marcia and Puella too, isn't this a top-secret detective thing?]
[Because, ladies and gentlemen, it's not just about stolen jewelry. This evening, among those present, there is an individual corresponding to your specialty.]
The group turned to a high staircase at the top of which stood an old man in a suit, dark eyes, and white hair reaching from the nape of his neck to the shoulders, leaving a slight baldness on the top of his head, giving them a terrible smile showing his many teeth.
[Allow me to introduce myself: I am the owner of this noble place, Earl Leonord Anastov Ronschia III. And today could be my last day alive.]
<4:02 p.m., 6 hours before the tragedy.>
The group sat in a luxurious living room over a cup of tea. A young red-haired servant was nervously adding another sugar cube to the officer's cup, who was looking menacingly at her.
[One more.]
[But it's already 8...]
The detective observed their host who silently sipped his cup of tea, the Bonny by his side. He looked quickly around the table and broke the silence.
[So like that, it's you who...]
The old man waved his hand for silence, the nervousness was palpable. He lowered his hand and drank a few sips of his tea, smiling, under the increasingly annoyed gaze of his guests.
[Damn it, what's wrong with you? First, you bring us here to talk about your problem but it's already been hours! Speak already or let us go! ]
Marcia held his friend back but her reaction didn't seem to affect old Leonord who took another sip smiling.
[Easy... Let's not make a scene here...]
[He looks at us discreetly and then he laughs, he's making fun of us... Look! He just did it again!]
The old man took a sip again, smiling, then put down his cup.
[By the way, one of these cups may be poisoned.]
[WHAT?!?!] They all screamed as Eris spit out her tea.
[That's enough, old fool! You're not going to make fun of the Great and Busy Eris anymore! Speak now or I swear today will truly be your last day alive!]
[*sigh* Young people today no longer know how to savor good things. Bonny, let them in.]
The maid nodded and walked to an adjoining room. The old man took a serious pose and suddenly the atmosphere darkened. Probably due to a gathering of dark clouds in the sky though.
[So see, dear friends, as I told you in your invitation, the purpose of this exhibition today is the disappearance of my most precious jewel: my wife's girlfriend. By the way, I'm the one who chose the name, genius isn't it?]
[Please earl.]
[Right, right, sir Luc. So the thing is that this jewel, worthy of millions of dollars... Which is weird because I don't remember why our device is the dollar. Which country is it even?... Fufu calm down, don't get angry, I'm coming. Thus, exactly one month ago, after the death of my dear wife, I came into possession of this jewel, as an inheritance of course.]
Everyone nodded in understanding.
[From our daughter of course.]
This time the faces were puzzled.
[Yes, so you see, my wife and I had been separated for a few years and she had obtained custody of our children. Can you believe that? That old rascal.]
[... What is the relationship between... Wait a minute...] The assistant paled.
[So you discovered my terrible secret... Haha. MUHAHAHAHA! Yes, I took advantage of her death to regain custody of our children! It was not very difficult since she died a few days after the deliberation... By chance... Unless... There would be... Something more... Sinister... Huehe...]
(Rumble of thunder)
[Madam Officer, I think you should arrest this madman.]
[Your eagerness to see me work overtime is the only thing that impresses me... And your knockers.]
Puella hid her chest, blushing in embarrassment and anger.
[When it comes to beating up an MC you're always in the front row but to stop a potential murderer you're on vacation?!]
[Beating an MC is a bonus, but now it's resting time so deal with it.]
[Why you little...]
[Hehe so we can run away after a murder?]
[Maybe, but a beating is still universal.]
[Haha, yes yes, still so intense isn't it? So, I continue my story. The jewel, which is attached to a necklace, belongs to my daughter and therefore, for reasons I will not mention, is in my possession.]
All eyes were on the officer drinking his tea.
[However, a few days ago, the necklace disappeared from my jewelry box, from my secret room where I store all the treasures that I stea... I earn... Huehe. And I have reason to believe the culprit right now is among the people my maid is going to bring here.]
[Mr. Luc please, first I feel uncomfortable working for this man, and then our job is to hunt down the MCs, if even the police don't intervene why should we?]
[Hm-hm, that's one of the reasons I brought two rival detectives, Sir Luke, are you going to let Lady Eis win this case and drive the wedge between you two?]
[... It's been hours that I... The Me, ERIS, say my name... And you manage to make a mistake?]
[Shouldn't you say "HER name"?]
[... Number 2, give me a pen.]
[Miss Eris... I think you should calm down...]
The old man burst out laughing and wiped away a tear. The door opened, revealing the maid Bonny and several individuals. A tall lady with curly green hair, yellow eyes, and purple eyelids made up and dressed in a large red dress, two young girls with short green hair for the smallest and with long and purple hair for the taller, following them a tall handsome young man with shoulder length straight hair and a girl with pink hair in a pink and white sailor outfit, typical magical girl. A tall black butler, a few feet taller than everyone else, followed and closed the door.
The earl with a terrible, terrifying smile.
[The second reason I called you, dear MC hunters, beaters and others, is because among the main actors gathered here are a thief, an assassin and an MC.]
(2nd rumble of thunder)
<6:01 p.m., 4 hours before the tragedy.>