"Enchantment's Kiss? Indeed, someone has inquired about it before," Vera said nonchalantly, propping one leg up and shaking it, her demeanor suggesting she had no association with illicit hallucinogens whatsoever.
"Is that so? What did the person who approached you say?" Ellie inquired calmly.
"He told me there was a guaranteed profitable project that required an alchemist. He claimed it would make me a hundred times more money than this 'crummy shop' of mine," Vera said through gritted teeth.
"I can't believe he actually had a guaranteed profitable project; if something is guaranteed to make money, it's likely illegal. What I find most unacceptable is that he referred to my shop as 'crummy'! I've put a lot of effort into making this place right! Look at the décor, isn't it refined and thoughtfully arranged, making customers feel at home?" Vera's indignation was palpable.
Levin glanced around the cluttered shop and nodded sincerely. "Yes, it's quite similar to my dormitory."
Ellie shot Levin a disapproving glare. "I've told you countless times to tidy up your dormitory, but you never listen."
She then turned back to Vera. "So, how did you respond to him?"
"I told him to get lost and threw a bag of herbs at him."
"In his attempt to dodge, he knocked over a bottle of perfume I had meticulously prepared for sale and then criticized the fragrance I had crafted as unpleasant. Truly, he has no taste."
Ellie's interest was piqued. "Oh? What kind of perfume was it? May we see it?"
Levin turned to Ellie. "Chief, we're still on duty. Isn't it inappropriate to…"
Ellie tapped Levin's head lightly. "Fool! This is a clue; don't interfere!"
Ah yes, you're a werewolf; your nose can detect scents. Levin massaged his head and silently grumbled to himself.
Vera's eyes lit up. "Oh? Are you interested? Come take a look! This is a new type of perfume I've carefully concocted. There's no comparable product on the market, and it will make men crave you!"
Ellie appeared slightly embarrassed. "Little one, I…"
Vera was enraged. "Damn it, don't call me that! I'm 23, you know! 23! Stop calling me a kid!"
After a thorough apology, Ellie managed to soothe the 23-year-old Vera's temper. Once assured of the importance of the clue, Ellie was allowed to examine Vera's new perfume.
"Here it is." Vera produced a bottle of brown liquid and placed it on the table. "If you guards need this for tracking, it might be too late. He's had this on him for almost half a month."
"That's fine; we'll just try it first and think of other methods if necessary." Ellie took the bottle, uncorked it, and waved her hand gently to fan the scent towards herself, her face revealing a subtle expression.
"How is it? Do you think it will be popular, and can I make a fortune?" Vera eagerly asked Ellie for her opinion.
"It should… be okay, I suppose…" Ellie responded, choosing her words carefully.
What an odd smell, Ellie's expression is so strange. Levin mused inwardly, leaning closer to the open bottle to sniff it discreetly.
A tantalizing aroma wafted towards him, reminiscent of the black pepper sauce found on high-end steak.
"It's truly an intoxicating and unforgettable scent," Levin remarked instinctively, eliciting a delighted reaction from Vera.
Ellie whispered to Levin, "Isn't it a bit dishonest to deceive her like this?"
Levin, puzzled, replied, "I'm not deceiving her; I'm speaking the truth."
Could Vera's formulation be genuinely correct? Perhaps it's I who am out of touch with current trends and men's tastes?
Ellie fell into a deep state of self-doubt.
After leaving Vera's alchemical workshop, it was already evening when Ellie and Levin returned to their office with the day's findings.
"Let's summarize today's intelligence," Ellie said, opening her notebook and noting each point.
"This drug-dealing organization began small-scale promotions within the city about half a month ago, seeking collaborators and buyers."
Levin listened while jotting down the information on the whiteboard with charcoal pencil.
"However, this organization has been selling drugs in the Empire for over a year."
Levin wrote down "one year" and then added a question mark.
"Why? If the information from the Empire is accurate, and this organization's headquarters is in Weimar City, why did they start by selling to the Empire and only recently begin dealing in Weimar City?" Levin inquired.
Ellie shook her head. "It's too early to draw conclusions with the current information. It could be that they avoid selling close to home, perhaps it's more profitable to sell to the Empire's nobles, or maybe this organization originated from the Empire and is now operating here."
"Furthermore, the organization is very cautious. Anyone who has had contact with them has never seen their faces, and their transaction methods are one-way, making it nearly impossible to track them."
Ellie pondered, taking out the perfume sample she had obtained from Vera. "There's only one clue: a member of the organization had come into contact with this new perfume about half a month ago…"
But it's been half a month; tracking such a scent would be extremely challenging unless… Levin kept the idea of using his werewolf senses to himself.
"Let's write up the current findings as a report and submit it as a lead. We'll continue the investigation tomorrow. The individuals involved in these cases may not have told the whole truth… or any truth at all." Ellie closed her notebook, signaling the end of today's investigation.
**Late at Night**
Levin emerged from his bed and changed into casual clothes.
The shop owner from the alchemical workshop he visited earlier had a hidden agenda, which was information known only to Levin.
Although it was unrelated to the current case, Levin felt it couldn't be ignored.
Earlier in the day, Levin had used Chaos Probe on Vera before leaving.
There was no particular reason; he simply thought it was worth trying before the day ended.
The result revealed crucial information.
[Chaos Probe activated successfully!]
[Target information acquired as follows:]
[Age: 149 years]
This world has many long-lived beings, but they typically have distinct physical differences from humans, such as elves with their long ears.
However, the shopkeeper appeared to be an ordinary young woman. Most importantly, she claimed to be only 23 years old.
What is she trying to hide?
After parting ways with Ellie, Levin looked up relevant information, gaining a rough understanding.
Returning to Vera's alchemical workshop, he found the sign on the door had changed from "Open" to "Closed."
Levin knocked three times on the door.
"Damn it! Are you out of your mind? Can't you read the sign? Get lost! We're closed!" Vera's trademark feisty voice mixed with Weimar's rough language emanated from inside.
Unfazed, Levin continued to knock firmly.
The door was flung open with a rough motion, revealing an enraged Vera.
"What the hell is so urgent at this hour… hmm? You're… the guard from this afternoon?" Vera's expression shifted from anger to shock.
"You've already asked all your questions. What more do you want from me? I've shared everything I know," Vera said, regarding Levin with suspicion.
"You're 149 years old this year," Levin stated flatly.
"..." Vera's suspicion deepened, her pupils narrowing and her sharp canines slightly exposed as she hissed through gritted teeth, "What are you talking about?"
"You're not 23 years old; you're 149," Levin continued as if discussing the weather, showing no sign of being intimidated by Vera's reaction.
"I don't understand strange things like that. It's late, and I need to sleep. If you bother me further, I'll file a complaint with the city hall," Vera's demeanor hardened as if she had just heard a poorly told joke, her face cold as she attempted to close the door.
"I'm not here as a guard at the moment, but that may change once I leave," Levin sighed inwardly, feeling the necessity to use his authority as a guard to make a threat.
"... Come in then," Vera opened the door, signaling Levin to sit at the coffee table from earlier with a frosty glare.
"What do you want?" Vera did not offer tea but instead crossed her arms and glared at Levin.
"Don't be alarmed. I don't intend to make this public. Look, I'm in casual clothes. I'm just here out of a personal interest in the well-being of the citizens," Levin said, relieved that Vera begrudgingly agreed to talk.
"Personal interest? It seems even your guards have their complexities," Vera scoffed.
"I don't wish to trouble you, Ms. Vera. However, having discovered this by chance, I cannot ignore it without discomfort. You're not human, are you?" Levin did not waste time and got straight to the point.
"Oh? So you know my age precisely and now come to ask this? Have you prepared a recording stone to make me admit something?" Vera sneered coldly.
Levin cleared his throat. "Ahem… I haven't prepared such things. The age matter was an incidental discovery. Though I have my suspicions, it's best to confirm with you."
Vera's eyes suddenly shifted from deep blue to a vivid red. She leaned closer to Levin, baring her sharp canines and spoke in a chilling tone, "Knowing too much, aren't you afraid you might not walk out of here?"
Of course, I'm not afraid. If your strength were far superior to mine, the Chaos Probe would likely have failed.
Levin had thoroughly prepared and assessed the risks before coming. Even if Vera turned hostile, he was confident he could escape.
"Since you've chosen to live here, you must wish to be a law-abiding citizen. I trust you will make a wise decision," Levin smiled slightly, unflinching.
If a confrontation ensues, wouldn't that entirely compromise your hidden agenda? Levin's underlying message.
Vera retreated, languidly sitting in her chair. Her clear, jade-like red eyes turned back to blue.
"Alright, you win. I am indeed not human… not anymore."
"Now, I am a vampire."