The test results from the alchemical residues found in Bori's home matched the "Enchantment's Kiss" sample sent by the Empire of Haien exactly.
Faced with such irrefutable evidence, Bori, in tears, confessed, "I originally thought it was just a harmless experiment…"
Levin tapped the table. "Stop with the excuses and tell us the details of your crime."
Seeing that his strategy of feigning innocence was futile, Bori reluctantly divulged everything.
"At that time, I had just left the red-light district, feeling that life had lost its meaning."
"I had experienced all kinds of services, and they all felt the same. Sheriff, you understand that profound sense of emptiness…"
Ellie's forehead twitched with veins, and she slammed her hand on the table, her voice dripping with irritation.
"Get to the point!"
Bori, startled, hurriedly moved past his personal sentiments and continued, "Then a man in a hooded cloak asked if I wanted to know the meaning of life, if I truly wanted to live…"
How audacious! To ask such questions in the same manner! Doesn't he fear being sued for infringement? Levin mentally ranted.
"I said yes, and then he gave me this vial and a method of transaction…"
"Hold on." Ellie interrupted Bori's account.
"Did you know at that time that this was an illegal hallucinogen?"
Bori shook his head frantically. "No! If I had known, I wouldn't have touched it!"
"Even though you didn't know what it was, you still used it?" Ellie, exasperated, rolled her eyes. "And did you recognize it after using it?"
After a moment of silence, Bori said, "After using it, I felt incredibly euphoric, as if I had entered a paradise. I imagined walking along the paths of Weimar Duchy with the lady of my first love, feeling utterly exhilarated…"
Levin meticulously recorded Bori's responses, noting these key characteristics of the Enchantment's Kiss.
"Then I recalled the public lecture by the Sage Council on illegal hallucinogens. The effects of this drug were similar to what was described in the lecture…"
"And then?" Ellie pressed. "Why didn't you report it?"
"Later… I found myself unable to live without it, unwilling to part with it. I couldn't live without it…" Bori broke down into tears once more.
"This hallucinogen seems different from the purely hedonistic drugs of the past. Beyond the physical hallucinations, it induces psychological satisfaction and dependency," Levin noted, sharing his deduction with Ellie.
"Yes, such drugs are even more dangerous than traditional illegal substances," Ellie agreed. She pondered for a moment before asking Bori, "What was the method of transaction he mentioned? Did you make any transactions?"
Bori composed himself and recalled, "He said he would find some merchants to resell it. If I couldn't find any, I could leave money in a specific location and retrieve the drug the next day…"
"Where exactly, and did you complete any transactions?"
"I didn't go. I found the transaction unreliable. I used the vial he sold me for a week and then asked at several stores I knew might sell such drugs. They didn't have any… I don't remember the exact location."
Levin's heart sank; the trail went cold again.
Ellie remained patient and said kindly, "Mr. Bori, your situation isn't as dire as it seems. You're only guilty of use, not distribution. This can be considered a mere infraction, not a full crime. If you provide useful information, you might avoid even detention…"
"I hope you can recall if he mentioned any specific places."
Bori, visibly more engaged, dug deep into his memory of that day. "He… he mentioned collaborating with an alchemical workshop. I think he mentioned Vera's Alchemical Workshop…"
...
"How about it, Levin? Have you noted everything?" Ellie asked, turning to Levin.
"Yes, all noted, Chief. What's our next step?"
"We'll visit Vera's Alchemical Workshop." Ellie gathered the notes and signaled to the team to escort Bori to the detention center, then headed out with Levin.
After over an hour of detailed questioning and confirming Bori had no further leads, Ellie and Levin finally ceased their interrogation.
"Chief, where are we headed now? Do you know the location of that alchemical workshop?" Levin inquired, puzzled.
"I don't, but I know all alchemical workshops must register with the City Hall. We'll go there to request the registration information for the shop," Ellie said, leading Levin towards City Hall without looking back.
City Hall was centrally located in Weimar, not far from the Fourth Division's base, and Ellie and Levin arrived swiftly.
The workshop was not well-known; neither Levin nor Ellie had heard of it, leaving them hopeful it was not an illicit establishment.
Ironically, the two officers hoped the place was legally operating. Levin silently mocked the situation.
"Hello, how can I assist you?" A pink-haired clerk greeted Ellie and Levin. "Ah! Sheriff Ellie, are you here for a casual visit today?"
Ellie, both annoyed and amused, rolled her eyes. "I wish. Each visit is about a case. I need your help again today, Flare."
Flare, unfazed, cheerfully responded, "No problem. What do you need?"
"I need to look up an alchemical shop, Vera's Alchemical Workshop. Can you find it?" Ellie asked, brushing her disheveled hair back.
"Searching for a shop, got it. Let me check… Vera… Vera…" Flare turned to rummage through a high file cabinet behind the counter and soon returned with a document.
"Found it! Vera's Alchemical Workshop. Owner: Vera Papalika. Address: 312 Commoner Street, East District."
"Thanks, Flare. I'll treat you to caramel pudding another time." Ellie quickly jotted down the address, nodded at Flare, and turned to leave.
"Hey! That's the fourth treat you owe me! Don't make it a bulk order!" Flare's voice followed Ellie out the City Hall door.
"Don't make me gain weight!"
Levin and Ellie arrived at 312 Commoner Street in the East District. Contrary to their expectations of a roadside location, the shop was a two-story building tucked away in an alley. The first floor displayed healing potions and other goods, with the door closed but displaying an "Open" sign.
Is this place truly open…? Levin wondered, extending his hand to knock on the door of Vera's Alchemical Workshop.
"Knock, knock, knock." Levin rapped on the door.
"Come in!" A faint voice echoed from somewhere upstairs, as if its owner were on the second floor.
Levin turned the door handle, which was unlocked, and with a click, the door swung open. A strong herbal scent assaulted his senses, nearly making him cough.
"Please feel free to browse on the first floor; I'm still working on…" A delicate voice trailed off from above, suddenly interrupted by a loud explosion.
"Boom!"
"Damn it!" An expletive unique to Weimar City erupted from the second floor, starkly contrasting with the previous gentle tone.
Levin and Ellie exchanged looks of bewilderment.
A minute later, a disheveled red-haired girl descended from the second floor. "Hello, officers. What can I do for you?"
Levin wiped the dust that had settled on him from the ceiling's tremor. "Hello, young lady. I'm looking for Ms. Vera Papalika. Is she here?"
"That's me! What? Does it not look like me? Just because I'm short? Damn it!" The red-haired girl exploded with a torrent of expletives, leading Levin to wonder if the earlier explosion had originated from her mouth.
"I didn't expect such a personality. Chief, I'm at a loss. How should we approach this?" Levin swiftly retreated behind Ellie, leaving the matter to the more experienced senior.
"It's alright, leave it to me." Ellie patted Levin's shoulder reassuringly, stepping forward and kneeling slightly. "Little sister, don't be afraid. We're from the guard."
"Damn it, I know that. Can't I recognize your uniforms? If you're buying something, just say so. If not, damn it, get lost!" Vera's anger boiled over at Ellie's childlike demeanor.
Ellie stood and stepped back, her gentle expression giving way to a more serious tone as she said to Levin, "She's indeed difficult to handle."
"Can you refrain from discussing how difficult it is to handle someone right in front of them? If you're done, I need to get back to my experiments!" Vera fumed, marching back up the stairs.
"Wait! We have business with you!" Levin, unable to hold back, reached out to stop Vera.
"Let go!" Vera glared fiercely at Levin.
Levin quickly released Vera, stepping back with his hands raised in a gesture of apparent innocence.
But Vera was unmoved. "Is this how your guard operates? I'll be filing a complaint at City Hall tomorrow! Thugs!"
"Exactly, undermining the reputation and image of our guard!" Ellie shot Levin a disapproving look, then adopted a gentle tone again. "Little sister…"
"Have you had enough?!" Vera's already chaotic red hair seemed ready to explode with rage.
...
After a few minutes of turmoil, the three finally settled into a semblance of peace and began discussing the purpose of Ellie and Levin's visit.
"The Enchantment's Kiss? Indeed, someone has inquired about it before," Vera said nonchalantly, her leg propped up as she rocked it, exuding an air of innocence as though she had never had any involvement with illegal hallucinogens.