Chapter 61
Chapter 61: The Strange Fire
“What?!”
The security captain’s face instantly turned deathly pale, and the pen in his hand fell to the floor with a *clack*.
The mayor had just suddenly died at the banquet, and now his residence had been burned down in a fire?
That was obviously no coincidence!
A commotion broke out in the side hall. Upon hearing the news, Lina immediately rushed several steps to the enormous floor-to-ceiling window and pressed both hands against the cold glass as she looked outside.
In the distance, in the direction of Sycamore Street, the previously tranquil wealthy district had now been swallowed by a blinding crimson glow.
This was no ordinary fire.
A massive pillar of flame shot into the sky, tearing through half the night and staining the clouds above the entire southern part of Gaul City blood-red. Amid the rolling smoke were flashes of eerie blue light, a phenomenon typically seen when high-purity alchemical fuel underwent a sympathetic detonation.
Even from such a great distance, Lina felt as though she could sense the suffocating heat waves.
The streets had descended into chaos. Countless alarms rose and fell one after another. Magitech fire engines flashing red and blue warning lights raced through the roads, their shrill sirens piercing even the Crystal Palace’s soundproof glass and echoing across the city.
“What a huge fire...” Lina muttered, her golden eyes reflecting the distant blaze until they seemed completely crimson.
However, after staring for several seconds, she keenly noticed something strange.
Sycamore Street was the best-landscaped area in Gaul City. Both sides of the roads were lined with towering sycamore trees that had grown for decades. Although there was some distance between the villas, with a fire of this magnitude, the flying embers and radiant heat should have instantly ignited the surrounding vegetation and neighboring buildings.
Yet they had not.
The raging inferno seemed to be firmly confined within the mayoral residence’s walls by some invisible barrier.
Even though the flames soared dozens of meters into the air and the explosions were deafening, the roof of the neighboring house just beyond the wall had not even had a single fallen leaf set alight.
The feeling was as though someone had taken a scalpel and precisely cut the “Mayor’s Residence” section out of the city map before throwing it into an incinerator.
Lina narrowed her eyes, lightly tracing a finger across the glass.
This was definitely not ordinary arson.
It looked more like a precisely calculated targeted purge.
The cause of the mayor’s death was certainly connected to something inside his home.
“Damn it! This has to be a series of terrorist attacks! A declaration of war against Gaul City’s political elite!”
The security captain had clearly not observed things as carefully as Lina had. All he saw was a city in chaos and a career that was about to come to an end.
He abruptly turned around and roared at the disorderly side hall:
“Activate the Crystal Palace’s Level-One Defensive Barrier immediately! Notify the city defense army and seal off all surrounding districts!”
Taking a deep breath, he looked at the guests in the room—people of wealth and status, each wearing different expressions—and gritted his teeth before making a decision.
“Ladies and gentlemen, the situation has already exceeded the scope of ordinary public security management. It is extremely dangerous outside right now. The perpetrator may still be moving around the city, or may even be lurking somewhere while planning the next attack.”
“For your personal safety and to assist with the upcoming investigation, I hereby announce—”
The security captain paused, his tone becoming unquestionable.
“From this moment onward, the Crystal Palace will enter full lockdown. No one is permitted to leave this building tonight! We will immediately arrange the top-floor VIP guest rooms for your accommodation. Until the fire is brought under control and all suspects have been screened, this place will serve as your temporary shelter.”
“For your own safety, please cooperate with our work.”
At his command, the heavily armored magitech walking machines that had originally been responsible for perimeter security rapidly entered the hall and sealed every exit.
Because the incident had occurred so suddenly, and because these guests held such distinguished status, the Crystal Palace management naturally did not dare act carelessly. Although the security captain had locked down the building, several luxurious executive suites on the top floor were urgently cleared out as temporary accommodations.
At the guests’ request, the security personnel returned the staffs and less-lethal magical weapons they had been carrying for self-defense. Once all her precious equipment was safely back inside her storage ring, Lina felt an inexplicable sense of reassurance.
Perhaps out of consideration for “looking after one another,” or perhaps because Hepburn had specifically spoken to management, Lina, Annie, Sibyl, and Hepburn were assigned to the same presidential suite, complete with a massive floor-to-ceiling window and a private reception room.
Compared to the streets outside, which had descended into complete chaos, the room was warm and quiet. The thick soundproofing barrier blocked all noise from beyond its walls.
“Phew... This day has been even more exhausting than fighting a bunch of cultists.”
The moment she entered, Lina unceremoniously threw herself onto a soft sofa and let out a long sigh.
Kicking off her high heels, she rubbed her slightly sore calves.
“You’ve worked hard, Miss Lina.”
Ms. Hepburn walked over with a smile, elegantly removing the blanket draped over her shoulders. Having regained her usual composure, she picked up the crystal water pitcher from the table and poured everyone a cup of warm water.
“A lot of unexpected things happened tonight.”
As Hepburn bent down to hand the cup to Lina, a faint fragrance drifted into Lina’s nose.
Back in the interrogation room, the air had been filled with the smell of gunpowder and tension, leaving Lina in no mood to pay attention to it. But now, within the warm and enclosed room, the scent became exceptionally distinct.
It was a very cool woody fragrance.
At first, it smelled like a blend of iris and cedar, but the lingering notes carried a unique hint of bitterness and chill.
It smelled wonderful, and it was extremely distinctive, completely different from the cloying and pungent perfumes commonly found on the market.
“Miss Hepburn,” Lina said as she accepted the cup. Unable to resist, she leaned closer and took a sniff. Curious, she asked, “What brand is the perfume you're wearing? The scent is very unique. I've never encountered anything like it before.”
Hepburn's movements paused slightly, and a gentle smile appeared in her emerald eyes. Lightly stroking her wrist, she replied softly:
“Of course you wouldn't be able to buy it, because I made it myself.”
“You made it yourself?” Lina asked in surprise.
“Yes. I don't like those formulaic industrial fragrances.” Hepburn sat down beside Lina. “This was based on... a friend's recipe. I added some of my own understanding to it and refined it using special alchemical techniques. In this world, it is a one-of-a-kind scent. No perfume factory could ever reproduce it.”
“So it's an ‘exclusive limited edition,’ huh?” Lina finally understood, then sighed regretfully. “No wonder it smells so good. I was actually thinking about buying a bottle.”
Hearing Lina's praise, the smile on Hepburn's lips deepened.
Turning her head, she looked into Lina's eyes and said, “If you like it, once we return to the residence, I can give you a bottle. My supply isn't large, but it would be its honor to be given to someone who truly appreciates it.”
“Really? Then I won't stand on ceremony!” Lina's eyes lit up.
Another freebie!
Today, not only had she gotten two custom haute couture dresses for free, she was also getting a limited-edition perfume personally blended by a famous celebrity!
“Alright, girls,” Sibyl said as she emerged from the bathroom. She had already removed her banquet makeup and returned to her usual fresh appearance. “Even though quite a few things happened tonight, we should get some rest early if we're going to continue the investigation tomorrow.”
Barefoot, Sibyl stepped across the soft carpet.
Her damp long hair was casually gathered over one shoulder. Several strands had darkened from the moisture and clung to her slender, fair neck.
Her skin, warmed by the steam, carried a tempting rosy hue, like a freshly peeled lychee.
While drinking water, Lina subconsciously glanced at the rise and fall of Sibyl's chest. Then she lowered her head and looked at her own neckline, which was respectable enough but clearly in a different weight class. Silently taking a large sip of water, she sourly lamented inwardly:
So this is the nutrition of a noble young lady... Truly terrifying.
The Crystal Palace's service was exceptionally attentive, providing them with clean bathrobes and sleepwear. At Annie's request, the four of them decided to sleep together on the enormous circular waterbed in the center of the guest room.
After everyone had washed up and settled in, the magical lights were extinguished, plunging the room into darkness. Only the distant glow of the still-burning fire outside reflected against the ceiling, casting mottled crimson shadows.
The room fell silent, filled only with the steady breathing of its occupants.
Ten minutes passed.
Twenty minutes passed.
“...Mmm.”
The sound of someone turning over broke the silence.
Then came a second turn.
And a third.
“Big Sister Lina... Big Sister Sibyl...” Annie's tearful voice came from beneath the blankets. “I can't sleep...”
“What is it, Annie?” Lina groggily opened her eyes and reached out to pat Annie's head. “Having trouble sleeping in a different bed?”
“No...” Annie poked half her little head out from under the blanket. Her large eyes sparkled in the darkness. “Whenever I close my eyes, I see the mayor's twisted neck... and that smiling doll... And it's all red outside. It feels like a monster is going to crawl in.”
For Annie, the visual shock of tonight's events had indeed been overwhelming.
Sibyl sighed, sat up, and gently patted Annie's back.
“Don't be afraid. We're all here with you. It was just an... accident.”
“But it was really scary!” Annie hugged Lina's arm tightly.
Seeing that Annie was completely unable to sleep, Lina helplessly sat up as well.
“If we can't sleep...” Hepburn, who had been quietly lying on the outermost side all this time, suddenly spoke.
“How about we play a game?”
“A game?” Annie blinked.
“Yes.” Hepburn turned onto her side, propping her head up with one hand. “How about each of us tells a story? It doesn't have to be real. It could be a rumor we've heard.”
“That's a good idea.” Sibyl smiled faintly, apparently thinking it was a good way to ease their fears.
Hepburn's emerald eyes shimmered in the dim light.
“When a story begins, the fears of reality retreat. So, what do you think? Shall we try it?”