As I walked toward Abigail's villa, my thoughts drifted to Samuel's soul. Would it ever find peace, or was it too deeply scarred by the events he endured? But that was no longer my concern. Kayla was safe with George, and I had far more pressing matters on my mind. The system had already given me a new path to walk.
I reached the villa, the cool night air filling my lungs. As I stood there, I took a final glance at the darkened windows of the house, knowing Abigail was still inside, probably lost in her guilt and despair. But that was her problem now. I had no time to spare.
Bringing up the system once more. My eyes scanned the list of available side quests, and as the words filled my vision, I felt a strange sense of detachment. These quests, these tasks—they weren't about revenge anymore. They were about my own path.
"Alright, show me the remaining side quests, and tell me how much time I have before the battle with Morgrath."
[Sub-Quests List]
1. The Missing Heirloom – A wealthy collector has reported that a priceless artifact has been stolen. Solve the case and retrieve the heirloom. (Reward: +5 Intelligence, +1 Random Ability)
2. The Whispering Corpse – A morgue has reported strange noises coming from one of the bodies. Investigate the case before the corpse walks on its own. (Reward: +7 Strength, Combat Adaptation Upgrade)
3. Eliminate Lesser Nightcreatures – Track and defeat at least 10 Nightcreatures roaming the city. (Reward: +10 Strength, +10 Endurance, Hidden Skill Unlock)
4. The Underground Arena – A secret fight club in the slums is rumored to be a front for something much darker. Enter, fight, and uncover the truth. (Reward: Special Martial Arts Technique, +5 Strength, +5 Charisma)
I scanned the options. Each one seemed interesting in its own way, but I wasn't ready to just jump into anything randomly. Morgrath was still out there. The clock was ticking, but there was no rush—I had time to handle this carefully.
I thought for a moment before making my decision. "Select Quest 1. The Missing Heirloom."
The system chimed in, acknowledging my choice.
[Quest 1 Selected: The Missing Heirloom]
[Quest Details: A priceless heirloom has been stolen from a wealthy collector. Find the artifact and retrieve it.]
[Time Remaining: 72 Hours before Morgrath arrives.]
"72 hours…" I muttered, feeling the tension settle into my muscles. "I've got time, but not much. Let's make this quick."
I turned on my heel and began walking away from the villa, my mind already racing through the possibilities. "A wealthy collector…" The clues were sparse, but there had to be something—some thread I could pull on. I had a sharp eye for detail, and I wasn't going to let anything slip by me.
As I made my way toward the collector's mansion, I thought about what I might find. A stolen heirloom, probably some priceless family artifact, hidden away for safekeeping. But someone had taken it. And I wasn't about to let them get away with it.
The mansion stood before me, a grandiose structure with towering pillars and ornate windows. The lights were dim, but I could tell someone was home. A butler opened the door as soon as I rang the bell, his face neutral but wary.
"Yes, how may I assist you?" the butler asked.
"I'm here about the missing heirloom," I replied, flashing him a cold smile. "I'm a private investigator."
The butler's eyes narrowed slightly, but he stepped aside. "Of course, sir. Please follow me."
As I walked through the mansion, the air felt heavy, thick with the wealth and history of the place. The grand paintings and expensive furniture were a stark reminder of how much the owner valued his possessions.
We reached a study, where the collector was waiting. A middle-aged man, dressed sharply in a suit, his graying hair slicked back. He looked more annoyed than worried, but the tension in his shoulders told me he was far from calm.
"You must be the investigator," he said, his voice tinged with impatience. "I assume you have some idea of how to find my heirloom?"
I met his gaze and nodded, walking around the room, studying the layout. "Tell me everything you know about the heirloom, and don't leave anything out."
The collector sighed, clearly frustrated, but he began speaking. "It's an antique necklace, passed down through my family for generations. It was locked in a safe, but the night it went missing, the safe was broken into. No sign of forced entry, though. The thief must have known the code."
I stopped in my tracks. "A safe with a code. That's an important detail."
The collector looked at me, his brow furrowing. "Yes, and I suspect someone on the inside. Someone who knew about it."
I raised an eyebrow. "That's a bold accusation. Do you have anyone in mind?"
He hesitated. "I've had a few employees over the years, but most have been loyal. There's one though, a maid. She's been acting strangely lately."
I smiled, mentally making a note. "Let's talk to her."
The maid was called in, a nervous-looking woman in her late twenties. I could see it in her eyes—the fear, the guilt. It was written all over her.
I crossed my arms, studying her carefully. "Tell me about the night the heirloom went missing."
She shifted uncomfortably, glancing at the collector, but she couldn't hold back her nervousness. "I—I didn't take it, I swear. But I saw something strange. Late at night, I heard noises near the safe. When I went to check, the safe door was slightly open."
I leaned in, studying her more intently. "And did you tell anyone?"
She shook her head, looking down. "No… I didn't know what to say. I didn't think anyone would believe me."
I knew she wasn't the thief, but her information was helpful. She had heard the sound of someone near the safe late at night—someone who knew how to open it.
I turned to the collector. "I'll need to look at the security footage. Someone in your house knows more than they're letting on."
The collector nodded, clearly desperate. "Anything, just find it."
As I watched the security footage, a figure moved in the shadows—someone wearing a hood, slipping through the mansion unnoticed. The figure paused by the safe, their hands working quickly, and then the safe was opened.
I smiled. "Found you."
It was clear now someone on the inside had betrayed the collector. The heirloom would be in someone's hands soon enough, but it was my job to take it back.
I turned to the collector and said with confidence, "I know who took it, and I'll have it back by tomorrow."
The system chimed in, confirming the quest's progress.
[Quest Progress: The Missing Heirloom – Ongoing]
I glanced at the screen with a smirk. The path ahead was clear. I had 72 hours to take care of Morgrath and wrap up these other quests, but I was ready. Nothing would stand in my way.