A middle-aged man with an oval face. Long dark curly hair that would have suited on the head of a woman.
The hair was let loose and he wore a battle gear that was made of a shiny blue metal and it could work as a mirror. If he really goes out in that armor, there would have been no way the enemy wouldn't have spotted them.
It was unsuited for battle and purely worn for aesthetics.
His face was fair without a hint of tan and his palms were smooth without a hint of callous.
Dhana who was a mage had more calluses than him, who goes by the title of a swordsman. An eight-circled Knight and the Deputy of the Investigation Bureau Brand of Varah City.
Aman Sookar.
He had his hand extended as he tried to greet Dhana. But Dhana just looked at that hand and didn't even acknowledge his existence. She turned to Dharma and asked.
"Why did you want us to come here? And why didn't any reinforcements come? The Parva city is in a mess.
A decorated war veteran and a count was burned down along with his estate."
She looked at Dharma, however the actual recipient of the words were definitely not just him. They were loud. So, loud that I was sure that at least people three blocks away could have heard it.
So, the people deep inside the bureau too heard those words. And they implied one thing and one thing only. The bureau didn't do its duty properly.
Aman looked at Dhana with a frown. He lowered his hand and said.
"Dhana, you are called here up on my orders. We have some business with you."
Dhana frowned at those words. She then looked at Dharma and said.
"Did the water enter your brain and made it swell?"
*COUGH* *COUGH*
Dharma coughed awkwardly and Aman's face turned red.
Dhana just continued.
"How dare you call me here? You even called me up on orders of a Deputy of a Branch? Did you already forget the hierarchy? You are now taking orders from a Ducal Branch's deputy and even ordering your superior around?"
Once again, the words directed at Dharma, but the true target was Aman.
She is just reminding him of his own place. Dhana is the Deputy of the Headquarters. That implies she is the deputy of the whole department. Much less a Branch deputy, even the Brand Heads have to come and talk to her with their hands folded.
Just because she preferred field work and roamed around a lot, combined with her lack of proper background, some assholes thought they could just boss her around.
And one of those assholes happened to be Aman.
"YOU…" He was about to rage, but at this moment…
"Aman, stop it."
Someone spoke from the back. Dhana looked at the woman that just spoke and her frown deepened. That is the head of the Investigative bureau branch of Varah City. And also the head of the Sookar family.
The second most powerful family in the Varah Duchy. They hold a Marquis title and she is the title holder.
Also, one of the strongest and most creative users of wood magic Daksh kingdom has known. She is also the Elder sister of Aman. Her name is Bhoomi Sookar.
She extended her hand towards Dhana and greeted.
"Long time no see, Deputy Chief Dhana."
And that is the way to greet an office superior to your own rank.
"Nice to meet you to Branch Head, Sookar."
"You can call me, Bhoomi. We need to talk."
"We are not going anywhere. We need to return to the capital. I need to talk to Parvir Paras immediately."
Bhoomi smiled and said.
"It is about that. I already talked to Duke Paras. He told me to get all the information we can from you three regarding the attack on the Count.
He also told me that you three might have the most insight into this guy that's wreaking havoc in Daksh.
After we are done with that, you can talk to Duke Paras through the communication device and then do as he says."
Dhana frowned.
"Why would he ask me to give you the information?"
"Because we are going to be involved in the case as well. At least, partially. I can't reveal the details here. We can talk in my office."
She asked once more.
Dhana sized her up without saying anything.
Bhoomi is an eighth circle mage. She is tall and slender and no one would believe that she is a middle-aged woman. She is a mature beauty through and through. She had that calm, gentle nurturing aura.
Unlike her brother, she had a healthy amount of tan on her skin along with that beautiful curly hair.
Her robes were classy, but functional.
"Alright."
Dhana answered and looked at me.
"Didn't you say you have business at the Gazette office. You can deal with it. We will meet there."
"No, he cannot go."
Even before Bhoomi could interrupt, Aman already reacted. He spoke as well as blocked my rear. As if he was afraid that I would leave this place.
I frowned and turned to Bhoomi.
"I am sure Duke Paras didn't say anything about having all three of us at the same place. All you need is information and she has all the information that you need. You can talk to Dhana and Dharma.
I need to go to gazette."
"I already said no."
Once again Aman said decisively and his aura is raging.
I frowned and said.
"I am the Branch head of the Gazette and I am also a war reporter appointed specially by the King himself. You better control your subordinates' emotions. If I feel even a bit threatened, I must have to suspect the whole bureau of suppressing the war time news and report you to the King."
I directly let out a threat.
Much less reporting to the King, I highly doubt that arrogant guy would even meet me. But just like Dhana said, we need to give as much resistance as possible. I was also sure that they wouldn't let me go to the gazette yet.
Because they need first hand information, as fresh from our mind as possible. There are many reasons for that, of course.
"What did you say?"
Aman got riled up. I don't know what he is riled up for. I didn't even call him any names.
I looked at him and said.
"Is this a threat, Chief Sookar? Are you violating the agreement between the Mage Association and the Royal Court of Daksh? Your subordinate is threatening me with his aura."
I just acted like a brat.
"Enough, Aman." Bhoomi finally spoke and said.
"Sir Tej. Duke Paras said that you are the key to this whole investigation process until now. He constantly stressed the information that you have should be collected by you first hand. He values your input and perspective greatly.
So, I have to insist that you help us."
"I am sorry, but I don't like to be detained."
"You are not being detained. I can assure you that."
"Same thing happened at the Kurma City and we almost died with the rest."
I just said it out loud. I was going all out.
Bhoomi sighed and said.
"We are not detaining you. After the talk that we have, you can leave. I will personally escort you back to the Mage tower, if you would like it. Please don't make this difficult for me."
Just from her tone and expression, I understood that she saw through us. But we just acted like she didn't.
It is not like she can call us out anyway.
After three minutes, we were sitting in Bhoomi's office. We were offered some tea. We didn't find a reason to reject it. With that bath in the demon infested ocean, I would have preferred a hot bath too, but tea had to do with it at that moment.
After a cup of tea and a refill, Bhoomi asked.
"Duke Paras, didn't say to look for anything specific. Right now we are just trying to keep track of the threat. The last report was that he still stood in the Parva City. The burning of estate was taking place very slowly.
We have our people there and they will follow him."
We just nodded.
"Is there anything that you would like to start with? Anything? For starters, it would be great if you tell us what happened in the Anta City. Only the three of you survived as far as we knew. And there are some citizens who were spotted in the nearest village.
Why is that?"
She asked.
Dhana froze as she was about to take a sip.
"Why did we survive? Or why did only we survive? What is your question exactly?"
Dhana asked with a cold tone.
Both of those questions have a completely different meaning. Bhoomi looked at Dhana's face for a moment and said.
"None of them. I was asking why was there such a situation there. What happened?"
"Demons happened. The whole city collapsed. First the waves hit and then the ground broke. Water drowned the whole city.
Deputy Commander Arun was the last one who tried to stop that wave. But he might have died by now.
We were planning an evacuation, when the attack happened. But we didn't have any means. All the people we gathered died. Drowned there.
The last thing we knew before we escaped was that the demons were swarming in the waters and none of the humans would be alive after that."
"Then how did you end up in the Varah Duchy? Near Parva City?" Bhoomi continued.
"I brought us three, with a special technique." I answered.
"What technique would that be?" She asked.
I raised an eyebrow and asked in return.
"Is this a murder investigation or is it an investigation for treason?"
"No, just asking."
"I already mentioned it is a special technique. Unless it is an investigation of that level, I am not obligated to reveal it.
So, I can't help but wonder what your intentions are. After all, you of all people should know the rules better than me. You are the enforcer of them."
Bhoomi looked at me calmly and said.
"Why are you guys so hostile?"
We didn't answer.
She shrugged and said.
"Alright, let's just continue. Be as you like…"
She continued the questions and we answered. All of them as honest as we could be.
"So, did you get anymore information from the small interlude between Count and Ash?"
She asked again.
I thought for a moment and said.
"I don't if it would help, but that identity of the fifth person could be a clue. From what I understand, Count was subjected to a special curse that made him unable to speak of that fifth person.
If I am searching, that would be the point I will focus on. Find the person who can place such a curse.
I am sure there are not many people who can do it. The few who can should be known to the bureau. And the people who can afford them are even fewer. Unless that person is directly involved in the incident, you can definitely find them."
"Thank you so much. That is indeed a valuable lead."
After a couple of more questions, I was let go. Dhana and Dharma were asked to stay for a bit more.
I went to the Gazette office and hurriedly worked on the news articles for the next day.
The disappearance of Anta City.
I am the very few who actually saw it and I believed I have an obligation to let the world know. I wrote the articles, developed the pictures and sent the drafts.
After that, I went to meet the reporters of the branch."
"I need to ask you guys a few things."