Watching Ske flee in disgrace, Rei did not show much joy on his face.
Because he knew very well that this was only the beginning.
As the investigation went on, the problems and pushback he would face would only get worse.
This was no longer just a case, but a fight for survival.
At that moment, Chiori walked up to Rei and held out her hand. "Pay me back!"
"Why should I repay money that I borrowed through my own ability?" Rei said as he placed a bottle of nice perfume into her hand.
Chiori rolled her eyes at him, opened the perfume bottle, and sprayed it on her hand.
A strong smell quickly filled the air.
She smiled. "I guess you have a little bit of a conscience after all!"
Rei chuckled, then turned and walked quickly toward Federic.
His expression became unusually grave. "Federic, starting today, don't touch this case anymore. Leave it all to me to handle."
Hearing this, Federic's eyes grew slightly red. "But... Vice Captain... what about you?"
Rei reached out and patted him on the shoulder, speaking with confidence. "Don't worry, I'll be fine!"
Federic nodded. "Vice Captain, I believe in you!"
After saying that, he wisely said goodbye and left, not wanting to get in the way between Rei and Chiori.
After Federic left, Rei and Chiori walked into Chioriya Boutique one after the other.
The shop smelled like fabric. There were many nice clothes arranged neatly, and sunlight came in through the windows.
As soon as they entered the shop, Rei took out the button. "Do you recognize this?"
Chiori took it, examined it carefully for a few moments, and said, "This button belongs to Olev. This outfit was made right here."
Hearing this, Rei's eyes lit up. "In that case, that outfit will be key evidence."
Chiori said quietly, "I don't want to make you feel bad, but that outfit was probably already thrown away. If not, his servants wouldn't have wanted me to make new clothes for him so fast."
Rei shook his head and said, "Olev definitely would have told the servants to get rid of the clothes, but that outfit is very valuable. To a regular servant, it's a lot of money."
"You mean, the servant might not have disposed of it as ordered, but secretly hid it away?" Chiori asked uncertainly.
Rei nodded a little. "I think there is a good chance that's what happened. For now, we can only hope it is true."
Because the police helped, almost all the evidence was gone.
And when it came to witnesses, besides Emilie and Chiori, no one else was willing to come forward.
This button was almost the last clue they had.
After exchanging a few more words with Chiori, Rei stood up to take his leave.
Leaving Chioriya Boutique, Rei headed toward the Marechaussee Phantom in the Palais Mermonia once again.
The Marechaussee Phantom was located on the second floor of the Palais Mermonia.
Rei was received by a cute Melusine.
After hearing why Rei was there, the Melusine quickly ran to ask her bosses what to do.
As expected, he was turned down without mercy.
Rei hadn't really expected to see the case files anyway, so he turned and left right away.
Not long after he left, the Marechaussee Phantom welcomed a guest who attracted much attention—Furina.
Her posture was elegant. After stepping into the hall of the Marechaussee Phantom, she opened her arms and announced loudly in her signature exaggerated tone:
"I, as the incarnation of justice, the Great God, am about to conduct an in-depth investigation into a mysterious case hidden under layers of heavy fog! Cheer! Marvel! A magnificent banquet unprecedented in history is about to raise its curtain!"
As soon as her voice fell, the surrounding staff stood up one after another and applauded enthusiastically.
Once the applause faded, a Melusine who was very excited walked up quickly.
Her eyes were full of excitement, and her voice shook a little. "Lady Furina, are you finally going to personally investigate the Serial Disappearances of Young Women case?"
The smile on Furina's face instantly stiffened, and her expression looked slightly awkward. "It is not that case."
"Huh? Then it is..." The Melusine's cute little face was written with confusion.
Furina cleared her throat and announced solemnly, "What I want to investigate is the death of Flora."
As soon as these words came out, the expressions of some people present changed slightly.
The Melusine was even more confused, scratching her head as she said, "But my Lady, that case has basically been determined as a suicide by drowning. It is just waiting for Monsieur Neuvillette's approval."
Hearing this, Furina suddenly felt unsure what to do.
If Neuvillette passed the approval, then her investigation would very likely turn into a farce.
Just as she thought about giving up, Furina suddenly remembered Rei's face.
After thinking for a moment, she decided to trust Rei this time.
"This case appears simple, but in fact, it is not simple at all. And I shall dispel its fog and reveal the true truth!"
Hearing this, the Melusine's large eyes flickered with the light of adoration once again. "Lady Furina, I will go get the case file for you right now!"
Furina smiled. "Then I shall trouble you."
Not long after, the Melusine returned hurriedly, holding a dossier.
Furina took the dossier and brought it back to her suite, preparing to study it carefully.
Office of the Chief Justice.
"I harbor some doubts regarding your approval this time."
Chief Judge Oldman Cappet stood straight in front of Neuvillette's desk. His face looked calm, and he spoke in a quiet voice.
As the head of the Cappet family, he always acted polite and confident.
Neuvillette looked up at Oldman. He asked in a flat voice, "Oh? What doubts?"
"Regarding the death of Flora, this is obviously a suicide by drowning. There is no need to let the agents of the Marechaussee Phantom waste energy investigating it," Oldman replied with great certainty.
After listening, Neuvillette calmly opened the approval documents for Flora's death case and looked at the papers.
"First is the section regarding the victim's family statement. In all such cases I have encountered, the victim's family requests to hold one or more parties accountable. Yet in this case, why did the victim's family not request to hold the Fontaine Research Institute accountable?"
Oldman was momentarily at a loss for words and could only say, "Perhaps the victim's family is reasonable and has no desire to pursue it."
Neuvillette did not respond to his words. Instead, he continued speaking to himself.
"Secondly, the statements from her classmates and teachers are almost identical to a case I handled over two hundred years ago."
He paused and spoke in a cold voice.
"Judge Oldman, do you think this is a coincidence?"