Chapter 66 - 66: Private Detective
The sun bathed the Raj district in golden light. Birds chirped, and cars moved smoothly along the roads.
As she walked through the market, a blonde-haired girl noticed a board covered with pinned papers and advertisements. While searching for something, her eyes caught it.
She wore sunglasses and carried a small bag that held something secret. Looking for a private detective, she studied the advertisement closely and stored the details in her mind.
She had been coming here every day, hoping to find a private detective she could hire for a mission. She had even offered a large amount—200 Rups—which was like a dream for a middle-class person. Still, the task she gave was difficult and dangerous. Some had accepted at first, but later returned both the money and the materials. Even so, she did not give up. She kept trying.
Today would be her last attempt. January was nearing, and the Tournament of the School of Thoughts and Perseverance was approaching.
"Private Detective Clami Almond, Street 16 House No. 23, Raj District. Hmm, never heard of him. I should try this one. I hope this time it works."
She immediately adjusted her glasses and headed for Street 16.
***
A man sat on a chair with a newspaper in his hands. His sharp, bird-like eyes were fixed on the print, and his short hair was neatly combed back. Just then, the doorbell rang twice.
His ears twitched, and his heart thumped. Ibaan had been getting steady work from neighbors and others. Most jobs were simple—things even an ordinary person could do—but his sixth sense gave him an edge, and experience had followed. He now earned enough to handle his expenses on his own. And it was still early morning.
"Interesting."
His heartbeat quickened with excitement as he stood and walked toward the door.
But he did not open it at once. He could not take risks. It might be some troublemaker or a beggar bringing bad luck.
He asked calmly, "Who is it?"
"Is Private Detective Clami Almond here? I'm here for a commission." A soft female voice came through the wooden door of the small rented apartment.
"A girl?"
"You're speaking to the right person," he said, opening the door.
A beautiful girl came into view—blonde hair, her eyes hidden behind dark sunglasses.
She did not waste time and went straight to the point. "I have a strange commission."
Ibaan replied with a faint smile.
"And what is it?"
She did not answer right away. She opened her bag and took out several small sealed polythene packets. Inside were strange red petals.
She picked up one packet and pointed it toward him.
Ibaan's smile vanished, replaced by a dark look as his eyes widened.
"What the hell…"
Before he could think further or understand the situation, the girl spoke.
"I need the origin and whereabouts of this petal. Here are 500 Rups."
"What the hell… These are petals of the Morrveil Bloodroot. When, where, and how did she get them?"
A cold chill slid down Ibaan's spine as he realized these were the same petals that had once entered his body.
And she was offering 500 Rups for this. Was she that rich? Five hundred Rups just for a commission? She must have discovered something about it.
The girl spoke again, breaking his thoughts.
"Will you accept the commission?"
Honestly, Ibaan had no reason to refuse. How could he reject an offer of 500 Rups—an amount equal to 20,000 golds? It was more than enough. He could buy an entire mansion with that sum alone.
.
Before agreeing at once, Ibaan decided to ask her name and confirm her identity.
"First, could you show me your identity?"
The girl looked surprised, as if no one had ever asked her that before. Yet, to Ibaan's surprise, she became unusually excited.
She quickly showed him a rectangular, laminated identity card issued by the School of Thoughts and Perseverance.
As his curiosity grew by the second, Ibaan took the card and examined it closely.
Name: Selphina De Forge
Profession: A-rank Researcher
Ibaan's eyes widened the moment he read the name. It felt familiar. The blue eyes and blonde hair in the photo looked exactly like someone he knew—the friend he had once made, the protagonist, Charlie De Forge.
She was none other than Charlie De Forge's sister.
Ibaan did his best to stay calm.
He understood it now. She had grown into one of the best researchers and one of the smartest characters in the original book.
He knew she would not give up on this investigation, even if he rejected her. He also guessed she must have gone to other private detectives before this. They either turned it down in fear or accepted it but failed to complete the task.
His curiosity only grew stronger. Instead of refusing, he decided to invite her inside and draw the truth out of her—find out how she had obtained the petals.
He handed her ID back and gestured inward.
"Please, come inside. I have a few questions," he said, letting her in.
She sat on the sofa placed in the middle of the room.
Ibaan asked, "Would you like tea or coffee?"
She shook her head at once and replied quickly, "No, no… but a glass of water would be fine."
Ibaan smiled. "Alright."
He was confident he could lead her into revealing where she found the petals. It was not hard to ask, yet it was not something to ask carelessly either.
He went to the kitchen and brought her a glass of water.
"Thank you."
Ibaan frowned slightly and asked,
"Can you tell me how, and from where, you found these petals?"
Selphina De Forge adjusted her posture and spoke.
"Actually, there isn't just one place where I found these petals. The first time, I found a few of them in one place—inside the academy, in my research lab. Then, a few weeks later, I found many more in my room where I live."