CHAPTER 354: CHAPTER 211: WIND ELEMENT, IS THIS ONE YOU PLAYED WRONG?_3

On the morning of the etiquette examination, I knocked out Princess Sophia with a drugged handkerchief, causing her to "oversleep" and miss the exam. And so, the ruthless competition concluded with my victory.

Princess Sophia is clever, but she was sent to the Neseriel Sanctuary for orderly knight training. Ave, however, was different; she went to a small town on the Empire’s border. During these two years as the town’s sheriff, she often dealt with local gangs and became very familiar with their methods.

Speaking of cunning tricks, how could Sophia possibly beat her?

"Princess Sophia was grounded by her aunt for a month."

The golden-haired figure above comfortingly patted Ave’s head. She probably would never forget the look Sophia gave her—a glare that was unprecedented for the Empire Princess, who had learned noble etiquette from a young age.

"Let’s not talk about these things."

Ave shook her head, "I heard that you recently solved the Mage Tower murder case. I didn’t expect you to be a detective too."

She had considered the profession of a detective before, but after evaluating various aspects, in the current environment of the Empire, this profession seemed too terrible. The risk might be higher than that of a Reception Bureau investigator, often inadvertently dragging a bunch of people into it. Of all the detectives she knew, none had a career lasting over three years.

However, Ave thought Ethan was quite suited for the profession.

Once you discover one cockroach, you can step on the whole nest.

"I only read some detective-themed novels before."

Ethan modestly said that the Mage Tower case wasn’t as convoluted as those in novels. The culprit was impulsive and fell hastily into a trap upon hearing there was treasure in the stargazing room.

"Well then, I have a royal commission here. Would you consider it?"

"Royal commission? Did a murder happen there too?"

"Not a murder case. The Royal Palace seems to have been infiltrated by something strange recently. The Forbidden Guard turned the palace upside down but couldn’t find the issue. My aunt invited the Reception Bureau director, who couldn’t provide a satisfactory explanation and made her quite angry, already considering replacing him."

Ave felt this was understandable.

The current director of the Reception Bureau was a ’stable person’ fostered by Julius. This director was even so timid that he didn’t dare respond to Julius’s coup, locking himself in his office on the most chaotic day in the capital, leaving no actions accountable to his name afterward.

As for the current director, Ave’s feelings were complicated.

If you consider him a collaborator of Julius, he behaves like a breath of fresh air, hardly associated with any wrongdoing. Yet, if you view him as a good person, he hasn’t done anything during his years as director, allowing the situation with the Evil God’s followers and cursed items to worsen.

Due to his incompetence, he became someone not even wanted for committing crimes, lest he spoils the plans.

"If you’re willing to be the Reception Bureau director, that person can pack up and leave tonight."

"Let’s first talk about the case you encountered."

Retiring peacefully at the Reception Bureau had been Ethan’s dream, but he has grown numb to it now, having discovered potential from the Empire’s developments.

He had no interest in the Empire’s internal affairs, but if magical technology could flourish, he might truly return to the convenience of a modern era with mobile phones, air conditioning, and the internet in his lifetime—a compelling prospect for someone who had lived in modern society.

This was part of his motive for promoting the reconstruction of the magical network.

Unfortunately, the Mage Tower transformation cannot happen overnight, even if the Great Mage is willing to respond. The academy may not be willing to accept the magic masters who have been oppressing them for years.

In Lindong’s words, today’s academy is like an isolated utopia, where Elemental Shapers can cast aside worldly disputes and devote themselves to magical research.

In such an environment, the Elemental Shapers’ ideology is deeply ingrained; even without the oppression of magic masters, they couldn’t manage relations with the Empire—they simply disdainfully discriminate against everyone outside of Elemental Shapers, believing all others are somewhat foolish.

As for magic masters, it’s not stupidity; it’s malice.

After the Mage Tower meeting concluded, the Great Mages were willing to dispatch representatives to the academy, yet whether the academy would welcome them remains uncertain.

As Ethan pondered, Ave produced a parchment from who-knows-where, "Initially, the servants heard strange noises at night, and upon following the sounds, they discovered a kind of creature they had never seen before."

"What kind of creature?"

"A large creature, its movements appeared somewhat stiff."

"Is that all?"

Ethan felt that while the current director of the Reception Bureau was incompetent, you couldn’t attribute everything to him just like that. With such scanty descriptions, even if you revived the author of ’Unveiling 100 Dark Creatures’ to investigate the Royal Palace, they likely wouldn’t offer any enlightening conclusions.

"The servant was scared unconscious. After all, monsters have never appeared in the palace. Oddly, the creature didn’t harm her. When the patrol guard discovered her, the creature had already vanished. Upon receiving the news, the guards were highly alert, thoroughly inspecting every corner of the palace, yet found nothing."