Cassian toured the academy alone in hopes of bumping into Professor Hawthorne, but even at half past eight he didn't see him once.
So he decided to go back to his dorm, located in the northern wing he entered the big building which had the crest of the Ironveil's on its doors indicating this was where every Ironveil had lived during their time at the academy.
'Thankfully I became a son of Count Morrigan, no one is more honorable than the Ironveils and its vassals which includes my father the Count.' He thought as he entered.
Upon his entry he saw a white haired woman sitting in the living room by the fireplace, all alone with a book in her hand. It was easily distinguishable who she was.
The white hair was cut to shoulder length along with the red eyes were clear indications of her being an Ironveil, and the only Ironveil currently in the academy was third year student Luna Ironveil, or famously known as the 'The White Leopard.'
'Do I greet her or not?' Cassian hesitated but he kept a confident face as he walked towards the stairs leading to the first floor.
"Good night." He said as he neared her and got a nod as a response from her as he turned and went upstairs.
He walked through the corridor and up to his dorm and unlocked the door with a key. Inside a woman in her early thirties mopped the floor.
She wore a standard maid outfit consisting of a plain, long-sleeved dress of cotton while the skirt fell to her ankles in heavy folds.
Over the dress, a crisp white apron was tied securely at the waist, and to top it off was a simple white cap pinned carefully into her hair, keeping it neatly contained and out of the way.
"Welcome back, Young Master." She said and stopped what she was doing.
"Martha, where is Ser Oliver?" He asked as he sat down on the couch and leaned back.
"He's out for your errand, probably will be back in an hour. Do you want dinner right now?"
"Yes, I walked around the academy, and God it is huge, definitely bigger than the Academy in the Capital." He got up from the couch and went to his room, "bring dinner to my room," he said and closed the door.
Inside he had a medium size bed, two nightstands, a study table in a corner and then a wardrobe to the side.
He opened the drawer under the study table and pulled out a revolver and some bullets and changed into a white button-up shirt, black pants and a long over-coat on top. He wore black leather gloves and holstered the gun in a hidden holster under the over-coat.
Martha brought him his dinner, and also changed into different clothes and trailed behind Cassian as they left the dorm and walked towards the carriage waiting for them outside the academy gates.
***
"Ser Oliver, you seem tense. Is there anything you want to tell me?" Cassian questioned him calmly as he inspected the sword Oliver had given him.
It was a normal sword however on the pommel was a lion head, the animal Morrigan's are associated with. All in all, it was an excellent sword but more so a much needed sword.
Ser Oliver looked at him and gulped, then his eyes met Martha's blue eyes and he sighed.
"Young master, Detective Crowe is not available at his agency but his assistants are. I booked an appointment already." He replied as the carriage stopped near a building with the sign, "Crowe Logistics."
Cassian got off the carriage alongside the other two and turned to face Oliver. "Ser Oliver, down the street is a merchant, take Martha with you and buy yourselves winter clothes, you're going to need it."
He opened the door and saw the stairs leading to the agency, he quietly walked up and knocked on the heavy metal door in front of him.
"Password?" A man spoke through the other side of the door and extended his hand from a secret compartment.
Cassian took out a circular object from his pocket and put it in the man's palm. It was a badge with runic inscriptions of being a regular and a high-value client for his boss.
"The password is, duty." Cassian replied and waited for the man to unlock the door to let him inside.
The interior was nothing flashy, a man and a woman were busy looking through a heap of files while the man who opened the door sat in the farthest corner near the private office of Mr. Crowe.
Cassian walked towards him and pulled out the sealed details of the investigation and set them on the table as he sat in front of him.
"Watson, pass them to your boss when he comes back. This contains my next set of investigations. I'm sure he'll be pleased to see I've come to him again." He said and leaned back on the chair.
"Why you–" Before Watson could blurt out whatever slur it was Cassian spoke, "the money is already inside, oh just to make sure like everytime…the seal can only be opened by me or Julian."
After hearing the mention of money he couldn't help but calm down. His white hair fell on his face just above his eyes as he took out a cigar to smoke.
"Mr. Cassian, I'm really curious as to what type of investigation the boss does for you that he never tells a single soul about it. Not even me." He said as he indulged himself in his cigar and waited for a response.
"If I told you what they are, then what would be the point in all this confidentiality?" Cassian answered and got up from the chair.
He ran his hands over his hair and adjusted his coat. "I'll tell you what it is one day Watson, till then you can try guessing if you're bored."
Cassian walked down the stairs and out of the building, the streets were empty for the most part.
Couples walked arm in arm, a few teenagers ran around playing and then he saw in the distance, turning left from where a lone carriage stood, Professor Edmund.
He wore a brown overcoat, underneath was the same clothes he wore at the academy with the only additions being a cane and a top hat.
Cassian didn't waste any time and quietly started following him, he stayed behind at a reasonable distance where even someone like the Professor wouldn't know he was trailed.
'As far as I remember, Edmund is from the Capital…so where is he going at this hour.' He thought as Edmund entered a building with a sign, "Imperial Historical Audit Office," above the door.
Cassian would have let it go but since he knew very well that the names are often cover ups of what is actually the purpose of an organization, so he crossed the street and stood in front of the door.
He raised his hand in the air and then moves in the direction of opening a lock and the door unlocks from inside, he used a noise suppression plus telekinesis spell to make his entry without any sound.
The inside was dark, no lamps were lit and neither were there any light bulbs which had been discovered recently.
He quietly took a step but a kick to his knee sent him tumbling forward as someone grabbed his right arm, pulled his shoulder as if he was ready to dislocate it and didn't let him cast a defensive spell.
"Who are you?" A familiar voice asked in a calm manner, it was none other than his homeroom professor, Edmund Hawthorne. A man who had no records of having any speciality in physical areas nor in magic disruption.