"...That is correct."
A trace of distress appeared on Malz's aged expression.
He realized his words made Anderson seem very suspicious, but the two were old friends who had known each other for decades, and he knew the other man's character deeply. Yet now, his few words could potentially plunge him into ruin.
He no longer wanted to lose any more colleagues. But at the same time, he was unwilling to conceal any information; that would be a desecration and irresponsibility towards the lives of the deceased.
Haida then shifted the direction of her questioning. "Then, Mr. Malz, did you notice anything unusual before that night?"
"No, everything was normal."
After pondering hard for a moment, Malz shook his head solemnly. Seemingly worried Haida might doubt the reliability of his account, he added a supplement.
"Sister, although I am old, after so many years as a librarian... I have never once made a mistake in recording book loans or returns. Indeed, nothing particularly noteworthy has happened in the past month."
Looking at Malz's cloudy yet sincere gaze, Haida gradually stopped the pen in her hand from recording the testimony.
"I understand."
--
Inside Sigrid's personal forging chamber.
A male agent from the Confidential Division led Fran into the room with a respectful demeanor and then explained the situation to her.
"Miss Sigrid is one of the most talented artisans of the Sun-Forgers Cult, possessing unparalleled talent in forging and smelting. Before the age of twenty-five, she mastered over five Category Two, mid-tier secret arts of the Sun-Forging system and could even operate large-scale Category Two forging rituals alone."
The agent then sighed with implicit regret and continued, "Now she seems to be suffering from some form of post-traumatic stress disorder, to the point where no matter how we ask, she cannot respond."
"Coincidentally, you are a medical personnel within our external framework, and with Sister Haida's recommendation. So we wanted to ask you to assist us with the routine inquiry. What are your thoughts on this?"
"The honor is mine. However, the remuneration for this is..."
Upon hearing there was a new patient, Fran clasped her hands slightly, a flash of excited brilliance passing through her amber eyes.
Not only did she not care that she was hired under the title of "medical examiner," it seemed the Secrets-Hunter Cult didn't either...
"The base remuneration is 300 Norlington standard silver coins. But because you were accidentally involved in this incident, we will issue additional subsidies after the work is completed."
"Hmm... A fair price. We will cooperate very pleasantly."
Fran gave a shallow smile, seeming quite satisfied with the offer.
After receiving her reply, the Confidential Division agent stood to the side, taking out a notebook and pen to record the conversation between the two. While the Secrets-Hunters tried to remain friendly towards Fran, they wouldn't actually leave her alone in a room with an important witness.
"Good day, dear Miss Sigrid. Can you hear me?"
Fran appreciatively glanced around the forging chamber, then approached Sigrid, who was wrapped in a blanket and shivering.
"Ugh... Ugh..."
The only responses were dry, pained sobs and fragmented murmurs akin to sleep-talking.
It was early autumn in July, and the weather was already sweltering, with the perceived temperature inside the Sun-Forging Spire being even higher. But Sigrid's face was pale, her muscles trembling uncontrollably, like a drowning person who had fallen into a deep, icy abyss.
"Disturbance of self-consciousness, accompanied by mild delirious aphasia."
After diagnosing the condition, Fran leaned her ear close to the other's constantly moving lips, patiently listening to those indistinct, scattered words.
"Quiet, quiet... Too quiet! So cold, so quiet... How can it be... not a sound, not a single sound... Dead, all dead..."
Soon, she discerned the word the artisan lady kept repeating amidst the chaotic, overlapping sounds—"quiet."
"...Is it because it's too quiet here? That's actually easy to solve."
Fran pursed her lips slightly, revealing a faint smile.
She picked up a small, heavy steel hammer next to the forge, heated a piece of iron blank, and began fiercely hammering it on the anvil. The intense, rhythmic sound of metal striking immediately echoed and reverberated within the forging chamber.
The Confidential Division recorder nearby couldn't help but narrow his eyes slightly. Although he didn't understand Fran's intent, he still very dutifully recorded her current actions.
Sigrid, originally filled with panic, hearing the familiar striking sounds beside her ear, gradually calmed her disordered breathing, and her unfocused gaze also began to concentrate.
The clang of metal, the crackle of coke burning in the furnace fire, the roar-like hiss of the bellows... Her spirit, which had fallen into boundless darkness, was returning to reality bit by bit with these familiar "noises."
"Feeling better? Have some water. There's medicine here to stabilize your mind."
Fran handed a cup of steaming water and a capsule to Sigrid. The artisan lady, not yet fully conscious, seemed dazed.
She instinctively took the medicine and swallowed it with water. Then immediately stuck out her tongue, panting heavily, unable to suppress it.
"It's hot! Ah... Ginger tea?"
The stimulating spicy taste in her mouth made her much more alert in an instant, completely dispelling the drowsiness upon waking.
"Specially made. Besides ginger and rice, it contains a certain type of mountain pepper. It's generally used to ward off cold. But it might also slightly alleviate mental chill? Probably a placebo effect?"
Fran watched as a glistening bead of sweat slid down from Sigrid's temple, a smile quietly appearing at the corner of her lips.
"Thank you very much... Doctor. What should I call you?"
"Fran Herschel, external physician and medical examiner for the Secrets-Hunter Cult. You can call me Fran."
Sigrid pulled the velvet blanket off herself. As her self-awareness stabilized and memories of last night gradually became clearer, she furrowed her brow, revealing a pained expression.
"Dr. Fran, you probably already know my name... Regarding the inquiry about yesterday's events, will you be conducting it, or the gentleman behind you?"
As she spoke, she looked at the Confidential Division agent leaning against the wall, silently recording.
"Of course, it will be Dr. Fran. I'm just a recorder."
The agent shrugged modestly, not intending to participate in their conversation. Compared to soothing the emotions of an interrogation subject, he was more adept at using some minor methods that couldn't be put into words to make the tough ones talk.
"Well then. Although disturbing a weak patient's rest goes against my habits, since I've accepted the job, I must do it well..."
Fran interlaced her fingers, her pale, frost-like eyelashes lowering slightly as she looked at Sigrid with an apology-filled gaze.
"Ah, please don't blame yourself, Dr. Fran. I will cooperate with your work... Please begin the inquiry."
Sigrid was a passionate and gentle young woman. Even though her spirit was nearly shattered by the previous immense blow, upon seeing Fran's somewhat dejected look, she instinctively offered words of comfort.
Fran then composed her expression, her gaze returning to calmness.
"Alright. Then, please recall your actions and movements from yesterday before you lost consciousness."
"I've been hitting a design bottleneck for a few casting projects these days, so after getting up in the morning, I've been in the library perfecting the blueprints and the required ritual sequences. Even my meals were brought to me by Mr. Malz..."
Sigrid felt somewhat embarrassed talking about her experience of having food delivered, but at the same time, she felt an inexpressible sadness from the memory, her voice gradually choking up.
Fran listened patiently and quietly to Sigrid's narration, the faint smile in her eyes remaining as ever, unchanged.
"Alright, Miss Sigrid, I have a general understanding of the sequence of events. You can rest for a while, to consolidate your still-unstable mental state."
"Is that all?"
Sigrid widened her eyes slightly, seeming surprised. She thought the doctor would ask more detailed questions.
But Fran didn't seem to care much about this inquiry, merely going through a simple procedure without pressing for any details.
The Confidential Division recorder immediately stepped forward, ready to take Sigrid to a resting place. But she waved slightly, signaling him to wait a moment.
"...Wouldn't ending it like this be a bit hasty? Dr. Fran, I respect your medical expertise and believe you're not treating this matter perfunctorily... but I still hope you could be a bit more serious."
Fran naturally didn't mind this reasonable doubt.
"You're overthinking it. Please don't question my professional integrity. Even for work outside my primary duties... I strive to do my best."
The reason she wasn't very invested in this inquiry was purely because obtaining information from others was far too inefficient. She had much quicker methods, guaranteed to be without omission, clear and reliable...
"Alright, rest assured. Even if we can't solve the problem, won't your Sun-Forgers Cult main temple send people? No need to worry."
"Well... then I'll trouble the Secrets-Hunters."
Under Fran's reassurance, although Sigrid was still somewhat uneasy, she ultimately returned to her room.
At the same time, Silver Wing Locust brought Haida and Vivian to Sigrid's personal forging chamber.
Silver Wing Locust brushed aside her crimson hair hanging by her neck and walked rather casually up to Fran.
"So? Any way to alleviate that artisan's psychological trauma? Dr. Fran."
"Of course, it's not difficult. Miss Sigrid is now largely recovered. As for her testimony, the recorder has a written record, but there's nothing particularly noteworthy. Mostly just trivial daily routines within the Sun-Forgers Cult..."
Fran lightly clapped her hands, briefly summarizing her side of things.
"It's about the same on our end. Combining the accounts of all three... everything was normal before the unknown disaster occurred."
Silver Wing Locust rubbed her temples somewhat vexedly; this kind of dangerous, completely clueless unsolved case was her least favorite type.
That unknown source of "light and heat" could silently turn everyone inside the entire Sun-Forging Spire into ash overnight. Who knew if it might suddenly happen again today?
"So it seems unlikely to get valuable information from the survivors' mouths."
She sighed, instinctively reaching for another cigarette, only to find her jacket pocket empty.
"Miss Silver Wing Locust, during the routine physical examination this quarter... did the medical report from the Medical Wing advise you to smoke less?"
Like a magician, Fran produced an expensive box of lady's cigarettes from her hand, showed it briefly, and then returned it to the still-stunned Silver Wing Locust.
"Judging from your breathing rhythm and some characteristics in your speech, there are some minor lesions in your lungs and bronchial tubes. Therefore, cigarette intake should ideally be limited to one per day, and quitting would be best."
"...I'll pay attention."
Silver Wing Locust could only regretfully abandon the idea of having another one. At the same time, she couldn't help but narrow her eyes slightly, looking at Fran again.
When exactly did she pick my cigarette case from my jacket pocket?
Being the director of the Confidential Division yet failing to notice such a close-up sleight of hand gave her an inexplicable sense of defeat.
After a moment of recollection, Silver Wing Locust still couldn't figure out Fran's method... ultimately giving up further contemplation.
"Let's wait for the patrol agents to return and report their findings. In the meantime, you can search the Sun-Forging Spire yourselves, see if anything was missed. I've marked the areas you are not authorized to explore; remember not to go deep."
Since no decisive information could be found in the "testimonies," the only breakthrough would have to be sought in "evidence."
However, searching for evidence inside a secret cult's headquarters was no simple or pleasant task. Even with permission, this action still carried significant, unignorable risks.
After explaining the specific task details, Silver Wing Locust handed the relevant documents for this case to Haida and then headed straight for the exit of the Sun-Forging Spire.
"Director Silver Wing Locust, where are you planning to go?"
Haida narrowed her eyes slightly; naturally, she couldn't let Silver Wing Locust just leave like that and immediately inquired about her destination.
"One of the three 'Corona Riders' from the Attilan Main Temple is close to Norlington; he will arrive within today. No choice, Alwin asked me and a few other directors to handle the reception. I'll leave this place to you, Sister Haida."
Silver Wing Locust waved her hand casually, her tall figure gradually disappearing around the corner of the Sun-Forging Spire corridor.
Haida closed her eyes momentarily, falling silent.
The Confidential Division's ability to slack off was truly astonishing... even the director was no exception.
After a period of waiting, the Confidential Division agents who had completed the internal investigation of the Sun-Forging Spire came before Haida.
After Silver Wing Locust left, she, as the Burial Court's "Mistress of Attendants," held the highest rank present, so the report naturally went to her.
"Sister Haida, within the areas we have permission to search, no anomalies were found... no residual ritual arrays, all traces of 'spirit' have been completely erased."
"I understand."
Haida nodded slightly; this situation was not beyond her expectations.
If this incident was truly not a "natural disaster" but "man-made," then the mastermind behind the overnight overturning of a Sun-Forgers Cult branch... would absolutely not leave such oversights.
In this situation with no leads, they could either venture deeper into areas the Sun-Forging Main Temple did not permit entry to, or wait for the envoy to arrive and take over everything at the branch.
Choosing the former risked intensifying conflicts between the two cults, while the latter... might cause the Secrets-Hunter Cult to miss the truth. She had to consider it carefully.
Fran's amber eyes opened slightly wider, as if suddenly remembering something important. She lightly clapped her hands, then immediately pulled Haida and Vivian towards the direction of the deep, restricted search area.
"Oh right, Sister Haida. Before you arrived, I found some interesting things in a rather special room... Come take a look with me? It might give you some inspiration."
The Confidential Division agent nearby keenly noticed what this doctor was about to do. Pulling down his hat brim, he pretended to see nothing and left the main hall.
"This seems against regulations."
Haida followed closely behind Fran, pondered for a moment, and finally voiced this sentence.
"No. Everything is perfectly reasonable. I don't make mistakes on contracts... nor do I err on terms and clauses."
Dr. Fran walked leisurely, explaining her operating principles.
"I am an external personnel for the Secrets-Hunters. Not being bound by your cult's internal regulations, I will do my utmost to help you investigate the case. Moreover, I am the first witness to this incident. Entering those unauthorized areas was purely accidental."
"And you, Sister Haida, were brought into the restricted area by me without prior knowledge. It's all just a beautiful misunderstanding."
"That is indeed Dr. Fran's style..."
+++
T/N: Hey readers~! New Translator here! Before I say anything, I'd first like to thank the original author for creating this wonderful story. Without them, I wouldn't have the chance to share this adventure with you. I hope my translation does justice to their work, and that together, we can enjoy this story.
With that said, I'm happy to let you know I'll be uploading daily chapters. And for those who wish to support my work and gain early access, I've set up a Patreon where advanced chapters will be available.
[email protected]/PeakTL