He didn't think the situation would be like this. But Noir already expected it. So, he wasn't too shocked when the revelation came up.
However, if it was really that little girl who was the one who put up a commission. Then, how could she write so well?
Noir glanced at the letter that was supposed to be the commission request. Each letter on it was perfectly written and readable, something a kid at her age couldn't do or was impossible.
Looking at her appearance, Noir assumed the girl hadn't even reached eight yet.
'And you're telling me she wrote this?'
Noir was a bit skeptical. But that was actually not impossible at all. Because he himself could write readable sentences at the age of 4.
Still, it was different.
What the girl wrote was in a cursive script style, which was more difficult than writing a simple alphabet of the modern day.
Putting that aside, he examined the little girl sitting across from him.
She had long blonde hair. It was fluffy like clouds. And her eyes were gold. A bit different from Noir's original eye color. Hers were more vibrant. On top of that, that girl had a mystical and majestic aura, as if she was a royal.
Clearing his throat, Noir said:
"So, Novina... you're the one who wrote the commission letter and sent it to me?"
The little girl, Novina, nodded.
"And your reason for hiring my service is that you want me to investigate a suspicious group that your father joined?"
"Yes! That's what I wrote in the letter!"
Alright. Novina did write she needed Noir's service. But she never mentioned her parent being a part of the suspicious group.
Apparently, her father changed after joining that group. And he died a week ago because of it.'
Noir rubbed his forehead.
'Did this group do a demon-summoning ritual or something? Did they sacrifice Novina's father? Or...'
He recalled the rumor spread in Bronzeen City.
'Was it the work of the creature of night?'
Unbeknownst to him, Noir let out a grin.
'First, let's gather more information.'
After a few more discussions with an innocent little girl, which honestly, Noir had no idea what to talk about with her, he went to gather information.
Noir talked from one villager to another, trying to dig up information about their village. After all, hearing about Shelton Village directly from its residents was more credible than random travelers and the Bronzeen's dwellers.
Although the village was small, the people who lived here were enough to take up Noir's time. If he were to talk to every single person here, he would be done by night.
But it wasn't like he would do that. Only talking to important people was enough, like a vendor, village chief, and so on.
However, his approach seemed futile. After all that, the second objective had not been completed yet.
'Huh? Just what does it want me to do?'
Noir thought about going to the suspicious group's base directly.
But, according to Novina, no one would be at their base during the day. If Noir wanted to investigate them, he had to do it at night. That was the time they would gather together in their base.
At least, that was what Novina's father did when he was alive. Working during the day and hanging out during the night.
Pulling the book from his overcoat, Noir reviewed the information he had collected since day one of his test.
'I don't actually need to note the information in this book because it seems my [Memorization] is working despite the restriction.'
It seemed Noir's guess about passive Arts being excluded from the restriction was right all along.
'But... just in case I need to discuss and refer to the information, I will need physical evidence.'
At that moment, he remembered something.
A villager told him that leaving the house at night was prohibited. They didn't specify the reason, but their expression when saying that was genuine.
Noir was also told by a person who claimed to be the witness of Novina's father breaking a rule before he died mysteriously.
That night. That villager claimed to see Novina's father wandering in the night. He sneaked around like a thief, heading toward the sea direction.
'It's not much, but that's very crucial information.'
What Noir meant wasn't about Novina's father, but the restriction that "do not allow" the villagers to leave their house at night, and all activities were to be done before sunset.
'Is that why no one is aware of the suspicious group?'
Sighing, Noir stared at the ocean. The warm breeze grazed his skin.
'It's weird... are the members of the suspicious group a villager who lives alone? Except Novina's father?'
That seemed to be the case since no housewives were talking about how their husband or family member was missing at night.
'If that's true. The scope of my investigation has to be narrowed to only investigate an unmarried villager.'
Noir had set a new goal. That was to talk to unmarried villagers and rob information from them as much as he could.
As he was about to turn around, Noir heard noises coming from the west.
When he looked in that direction, Noir spotted a group of people gathered around the rocky coast, specifically under the arch.
After giving it a thought, he approached them.
...
"You know, right?"
"Yeah. I wish I could see it."
"I'd agree. I want to see God with my own eyes, too."
"Hmm?"
Noticing someone approaching them, one of the youngsters shouted to Noir.
"Hey, Mister! What are you doing here?"
Hearing his voice, Noir waved a hand.
"Oh, nothing much..."
Noir paused his sentence until he reached the group.
Showing his Detective license card, Noir continued.
"I'm a Detective. Can I ask you some questions?"
"Eghk?!"
"D-detective, you say...?"
Their expressions falter as if they had seen a ghost. Slowly backing away, they ran from Noir in unison.
Noir grinned.
'Is that how you guys want to play it? Alright.'
Popping his fist, Noir began chasing them.
"R-run!"
"Don't let him catch you, or else our secret will be expos—"
Before he could finish his words, Noir caught him and took him down.
"Let's have a short talk, shall we?"