Chapter 105: Door to Door

  Evening had settled over the streets of Kah-Kamun, the sky a deep, velvety indigo bruised with the last streaks of violet. The temperature had dropped, a welcome relief from the scorching day, but the air still held a lingering, dry warmth. The group had moved away from the apartment complex, finding a quieter spot on the edge of a public square where a single, ornate streetlamp cast a pool of yellow light.

  "Without Mr. Tseh," Malik said, his voice low as he adjusted his glasses and peered at his handbook under the lamplight, "our suspect list is now down to eleven people." He looked up at Raito, who was still giving Yukari a piggyback ride, though she had relaxed slightly, her chin resting on his shoulder. "Which one do you want to interview first, Sir Raito?"

  Raito shifted Yukari’s weight, adjusting his grip on her legs. He tapped his unlit pipe against his chin thoughtfully. "Preferably someone who has been to, or interacted with, anything Volnear," he said, his detective persona slipping just enough to reveal the sharp mind beneath. "That crystal... that battery technology is specific. It's not something you just pick up at a local market."

  "Do we even have info on that, Malik?" Samira wondered, leaning over her fiancé's shoulder to peek at the notes.

  "If it's about the scholars' study history, I do have it," Malik said, flipping through the pages with practiced ease. "Let's see..." He ran a finger down a list of dense, scrawled notes. "Ms. Zayna, Mr. Mahir, Mr. Mirash, Dr. Kadiem, and Dr. Nezhat. Those five people have taught lectures or have studied in Volnear at some point in their careers."

  He paused, frowning at the page. "But if all eleven have been to Volnear for personal travel or short visits... I simply don't have that history. Official records only cover academic tenure."

  "That is enough, Wang-Son," Raito declared, waving a hand dismissively. "Once we interview them, the truth shall become clearer. We start with those five."

  "If I may, Sir Raito," Malik said, raising a hesitant hand.

  "Yes?" Raito turned to him, raising an eyebrow beneath his deerstalker hat.

  "What kind of questions are we going to ask them?" Malik asked, his brow furrowed with genuine concern. "It would be better if we come to their living space with a clear goal. Or perhaps... something specific to look for and spot in their house?"

  Raito grinned, a wide, proud expression that made his fake detective persona shine. He reached out and slapped Malik heartily on the back, nearly knocking the scholar over.

  "There you go! You're finally in this!" Raito laughed, his voice dropping into that deep, fake baritone. "I'm proud of you, Wang-Son! You are right. We should have a clear plan."

  He lowered his voice, leaning in as if sharing a state secret. "What I want all of you to do is scan their homes. Look for any sign of torn paper—documents that might match the fake suicide note. Look for pictures that are hidden or turned away."

  He paused for effect, his eyes gleaming in the lamplight. "And as for questioning... I need them to reveal if they have any contact with resin."

  "Resin?" Yukari asked, her voice muffled against his shoulder. She lifted her head, confusion etched on her face. "Why resin?"

  "Trust me on this one, my dear Ruboo," Raito said with a grin that was all sharp angles and confidence. "If we ask this in the middle of the usual questioning... we will find the proper trace. Just watch."

  The hunt for the truth began. Their first step took them to a modest, well-kept apartment on the edge of the scholars' district, the abode of Ms. Zayna.

  The door opened to reveal a Crane Sacred woman with elegant features and soft, white feathers framing her face. She smiled warmly as she ushered them inside, her attitude the picture of cooperation.

  "Please, feel free to look around," she said, gesturing to her cozy living room filled with books and artifacts. "I have nothing to hide."

  "Thank you, Ms. Zayna," Samira said, bowing politely.

  The group split up, scanning the room with focused intensity. Raito moved methodically, checking drawers and scanning bookshelves. Yukari leaned against her crutch, her sharp eyes taking in every detail.

  "Too positive," Raito muttered under his breath, his back to Ms. Zayna. "For someone involved in a massive fire a few days ago... she's remarkably calm."

  He picked up a framed picture from a side table. It was just Ms. Zayna, standing alone in a library. He checked another. Ms. Zayna at a dig site. Another. Ms. Zayna receiving an award.

  "Single life is all I need," Ms. Zayna commented from the kitchen, where she was preparing tea. "My work is my family."

  "It checks out," Malik whispered to Raito, consulting his handbook. "She got her epigraphy certification in one of Volnear's top schools. She lived there for five years."

  Raito nodded, slipping the picture back onto the table. He turned to Ms. Zayna as she set a tray of tea down.

  "Ms. Zayna," he asked, his voice casual. "Have you worked with any resin lately? Perhaps for preserving artifacts?"

  Ms. Zayna blinked, her expression one of genuine confusion. "Resin? No, I deal mostly with stone rubbings and parchment. Resin ruins the texture." She didn't flinch. Didn't react.

  Raito scanned the room again. No signs of paint. No sticky residue. No torn paper matching the note.

  “How about the museum guard, Mr. Tseh, have you been I contact with him?” Raito asked.

  “No, not really, we barely talked even when I worked under the queen’s order, did anything happen to him?” Ms. zayna concerned.

  "No, nothing,…… And where were you during the last few days?" he changed the topic.

  "Meditating," Ms. Zayna replied serene. "To calm myself down after the fire. It was quite traumatic." She shrugged gracefully. "I was alone, so I'm afraid no one can confirm it."

  "Too odd," Raito murmured, stepping away. He tapped his chin with his pipe. "The alibi is weak. The opportunity is there. But... something tells me she is not the culprit."

  Smack.

  Yukari's hand connected solidly with the back of his head.

  "Stop monologuing," she hissed, hobbling past him on her crutch. "You're creeping everyone out."

  "Sorry, can't help it," Raito rubbed his head, grinning sheepishly.

  "Thank you for the questioning, Ms. Zayna," Samira said, bowing again as they moved toward the door. "We apologize for the intrusion."

  "Oh, that's quite alright, Princess," Ms. Zayna giggled, covering her mouth with a delicate hand. "The pleasure is all mine. It's so nice to see the young playing detectives."

  She gestured to a bookshelf near the door, filled with a familiar series of colorful spines. "Shilook Huang was also my favorite novel growing up. I have the complete collection."

  Raito froze. His eyes widened, shining with a sudden, intense light as he stared at the pristine first editions.

  "Yup," he declared, turning to the group with absolute conviction. "No fan of Shilook can be the culprit. She's innocent."

  "Your bias is showing, Mr. Detective," Yukari commented dryly. She grabbed the back of his tweed coat. "Let's go. We are not getting anything else here."

  She began to drag him out the door, despite her limp.

  "But... first editions!" Raito protested weakly.

  "Stay safe, kids!" Ms. Zayna waved cheerfully as the door clicked shut behind them.

  Once outside, the group gathered under the streetlamp again.

  "So I assume we can cross out Ms. Zayna?" Malik asked, charcoal pencil hovering over the page.

  "Yes, please cross her out, Wang-Son," Raito said, adjusting his cap back to a jaunty angle. "She is not the culprit."

  "Even when there is no one to confirm her alibi?" Yukari asked skeptically. She poked him in the chest. "Don't tell me it's because of her Shilook novel collection."

  "No, it's not just that," Raito countered, though he looked a little guilty. "Even when her alibi is unconfirmed, she did not have any reaction to the word 'resin.' No flicker of recognition, no hesitation. So she is likely innocent. And she has nothing to hide—did you see all the displayed pictures? They were everywhere, out in the open."

  "I guess," Yukari relented, accepting his answer for now.

  "Alright," Malik said, drawing a line through the name. "That leaves us with ten suspects. And the four people who have a connection to Volnear."

  "Then let's go," Raito said, checking the darkening sky. "Time is of the essence. The sun is almost down."

  The group picked up their pace, their footsteps echoing on the cobblestones. Their next destination was the home of Mr. Mahir, the Lizard Sacred scholar of Coreology.

  Unlike Ms. Zayna's warm welcome, Mr. Mahir was less than thrilled to see them. He opened the door only a crack, his yellow reptilian eyes narrowing suspiciously. It took Samira stepping forward and using her royal authority to finally get him to let them in.

  His house looked like a mad scientist's lair. Every surface was covered in stacks of old books, diagrams of Core structures, and scattered, lifeless Core crystals that had been discarded by their owners. The air smelled of dust and ozone.

  "Make it quick," Mr. Mahir hissed, his forked tongue flickering. "I am busy."

  "Mr. Mahir," Raito began, scanning the cluttered room. "We understand you have been to Volnear?"

  "Once," Mahir grunted, not looking up from a crystal he was examining. "Dr. Wilburt called me to give a lecture on my expertise on Cores. I was only there for two months. Hated the food."

  Raito moved through the room, his eyes sharp. Nothing really stood out amidst the chaos. Just books and dead stones.

  "Did you know Mr. Tseh well?"

  "No," Mahir replied flatly. "When the Queen called us together as the Scholar Twelve... that was the first time I met him. He was just a guard."

  Raito picked up a discarded Core, turning it over. "Have you worked with any resin recently? Or perhaps... slime?"

  Mahir looked at him as if he were an idiot. "Resin? On a Core? Are you trying to insulate it? That would ruin the conductivity! I use magnification and light, boy, not sticky goop."

  The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

  There was no reaction. No flinch. Raito walked over, casually grabbing Mahir's hand to "inspect" the crystal he was holding. He checked the scholar's fingers. No chipped nails. No signs of a struggle.

  "Hey! Watch the merchandise!" Mahir snapped, pulling his hand back.

  "Sorry," Raito said. He signaled to the group. "We're done here."

  As they were practically shoved out the door, Raito sighed.

  "This one is also a bust," he said, watching Mahir slam the door and lock it. "He is single all his life, too. What is with scholars and being single?" he complained.

  "That is just how passionate people are," Malik commented quietly, looking at his own feet. "They are invested in their work. I was also like that... until..."

  "Until me!" Samira popped out from behind him, wrapping her arms around his neck and beaming.

  "Right," Raito chuckled. He pointed down the street with his pipe. "Then we shall go to the next one! Pick one, Wang-Son!"

  "Right, sir," Malik said, his confidence growing as he flipped through his handbook. "How about Mr. Mirash? He lives not far from here." He gestured down the street. "I'll lead us."

  Malik started walking, a newfound purpose in his stride.

  "Oh, Malik taking initiative," Samira commented with a grin, nudging Yukari as they followed him. "This is new."

  A few minutes later, they stood in the modest, tidy home of Mr. Mirash, the 43-year-old Human astronomer.

  He was a thin, nervous man who couldn't stop wringing his hands. "It's such a waste," he lamented, pacing back and forth in his living room. "All that precious information... burned down like that. Centuries of star charts! Gone!"

  He slammed his fist onto a table, his face flushing red. "I won't forgive the culprit for doing such atrocities! Whoever they are, they have set us back decades!"

  Raito watched him carefully. "Mr. Mirash, you've been to Volnear?"

  "Yes," Mirash nodded, stopping his pacing. "I was invited to work with Dr. Wilburt on railroad pathing. Using the stars for navigation across the wasteland routes."

  Raito moved to a small shelf where a framed picture sat. It showed Mr. Mirash standing next to a young woman with a bright smile. She was wearing the uniform of an adventurer's guild receptionist. Her hair was a warm brown.

  "Is this your girlfriend?" Raito asked.

  "Yes," Mirash said, a faint blush coloring his cheeks. "She works the front desk at the Iron Will Guild."

  "Not green-haired," Raito muttered to himself, placing the picture back down. "Mr. Mirash, did you know Mr. Tseh?"

  "Who?" Mirash blinked, looking genuinely confused. "I don't know who that is."

  "The guard at the museum," Malik supplied.

  "Oh. No. Never spoke to him," Mirash shrugged.

  "One last question," Raito said, leaning in. "Do you use resin for your telescopes?"

  Mirash stared at him. Then he snorted. "Resin? On a lens? Are you mad? That would distort the light! We use polished glass and mirrors, boy. Resin is for carpenters." He shook his head, mocking Raito's ignorance. "Stick to detective work, not astronomy."

  The group finished their search. The house was normal. Painfully normal. No hidden rooms, no strange chemicals, no signs of a struggle.

  "I'm guessing this one is also a no," Yukari commented as they walked out the front door.

  "Yeah," Raito sighed, slumping a little. "Also a bust."

  "Okay," Malik said, drawing a line through the astronomer's name. He looked up at the darkening sky, then at his friends. "Two more to go."

  "Two more to go," Samira repeated.

  "Dr. Kadiem is at the infirmary," Malik said, consulting his handbook. "I believe he is being treated for minor burns from the fire. And Dr. Nezhat... her home is in the opposite direction."

  "Let's go to the infirmary first," Yukari said, her voice surprisingly firm.

  "Why?" Raito asked, confused.

  "The bandage," Yukari said, pointing to her ankle with her crutch. She grimaced slightly. "It's getting very itchy with all the walking and the heat. I need to get it replaced."

  "Ah," Raito nodded, understanding immediately. "Alright then. What she said."

  Samira and Malik nodded.

  After a short, brisk walk through the darkening streets, they arrived at the Kah-Kamun Infirmary, a clean, white stone building that smelled of antiseptic and herbs. Yukari was quickly ushered into a treatment room on the ground floor, leaving the rest of the "Shilook Squad" in the lobby.

  "We shouldn't waste time," Raito said, adjusting his hat. "Malik, lead the way to Dr. Kadiem's room."

  They climbed the stairs to the second floor, the atmosphere quiet and sterile. They approached a door at the end of the hall, marked with the doctor's name. But as Raito raised his hand to knock, he froze.

  Voices. From inside.

  "No, please... not here..." a man's voice murmured, sounding flustered.

  "Oh, come now, don't be shy," a woman's voice purred, low and playful.

  "That's weird," Samira whispered, her brow furrowing. "Who would be visiting a man with no family at this hour?"

  Raito narrowed his eyes. He nodded at the others, his hand drifting to the hilt of Koenka beneath his cape. "Be ready," he mouthed.

  Then, without warning, Malik threw the door open.

  "Dr. Kadiem! Are you... safe?!" he shouted, rushing in.

  The scene that greeted them was not one of danger, or conspiracy, or murder.

  Dr. Kadiem, a middle-aged man with a bandaged arm, was sitting slightly upright on his bed. And sitting on the edge of the bed, leaning in very close, was their other possible suspect—the Fox Sacred, Dr. Nezhat.

  They both jumped apart as the door banged open, their faces turning a brilliant, matching shade of crimson. Dr. Nezhat smoothed her skirts frantically, while Dr. Kadiem pulled the sheets up to his chin.

  "Dr. Nezhat?" Malik blinked, his brain stalling. "You are here?"

  "Oh! Young Malik!" Dr. Nezhat laughed nervously, her ears twitching. "Good evening!"

  "What are you two doing inside this room together?" Malik asked, the innocence in his voice cutting through the awkward tension like a knife.

  "Oh, that..." Dr. Kadiem stammered, looking everywhere but at the intruders. "We are... we uh..." He trailed off, clearly struggling to find a plausible excuse for a clandestine meeting in a hospital room.

  "Perfect," Raito said.

  A slow, predatory grin spread across his face as he stepped into the room, the door clicking shut behind him.

  "Two birds with one stone," he declared, his voice dropping back into the deep, gravelly tone of the Great Detective Shilook. He adjusted his lapels, looming over the flustered couple. "Since you two are here... we can question you together."

  The interrogation came as a surprise, abrupt and awkward under the flickering lamplight of the hospital room. Even the two seasoned scholars weren't expecting to be grilled late in the evening by a cosplaying detective and a princess. But, aware that the group was operating under the direct orders of the King, they helpfully obliged, sitting up straight like chastised schoolchildren.

  Raito paced at the foot of the bed, firing off questions.

  "Dr. Kadiem," Raito began. "Why were you part of the Scholar Twelve?"

  "I was scouted for my expertise in illnesses," Dr. Kadiem explained, his voice steady despite his earlier embarrassment. "The Queen was concerned about potential ancient diseases or pathogens sealed within the structure. It was a precautionary measure."

  Raito nodded, turning to the Fox Sacred. "And you, Dr. Nezhat?"

  "I was there less for my botanical expertise," Dr. Nezhat admitted, smoothing the fur on her ears. "But rather as a liaison for the Adventurers Union. Since excavation would require manpower, the adventurers were to be hired to help with the heavy lifting and protection. I was there to negotiate the contracts."

  "Family?" Raito asked sharply.

  "None here," Dr. Kadiem sighed, looking down at his hands. "My son left years ago to pursue work in the shipyards of Ruhong. My wife... she passed away."

  "I am in a similar boat," Dr. Nezhat added softly. "My husband has passed, and my two children left Zarateph to build their own lives in the other region. I live alone."

  They answered truthfully, their eyes clear.

  "Volnear?"

  "Yes," Dr. Kadiem nodded. "I went there twenty years ago. To combat a plague that was ravaging the lower districts. I stayed for a year."

  "And I went to lecture on desert crop rotation," Dr. Nezhat said. "But that was a decade ago. Neither of us have been there in recent memory."

  "Resin?" Raito threw the word out like a lure.

  Both doctors looked confused. "Resin?" Dr. Kadiem asked. "No. Medicine uses herbs and salves, not industrial resin."

  "And botany uses soil and water," Dr. Nezhat added. "No connection."

  Raito stared at them for a long moment, his eyes narrowed. No flinching. No hesitation. No green-haired relatives.

  "Now," Raito said, leaning in, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "As for the elephant in the room..."

  The two scholars stiffened, their blushes returning.

  "The reason why you are both here, together, late in the evening," Raito pressed.

  Dr. Kadiem looked at Dr. Nezhat, and his expression softened. "It's... simple, really," he murmured. "We have grown close since the fire incident."

  He touched his bandaged arm. "When the fire broke out... I shielded Dr. Nezhat from a falling beam. That's where the burns came from."

  "He saved my life," Dr. Nezhat whispered, placing her hand gently over his. "And afterwards... I found myself looking to him to help me deal with the trauma. We found comfort in each other."

  She looked up at Raito, her eyes shining. "That is how we became close. Perhaps... too close for professional standards."

  Raito straightened up, his detective persona softening. He looked at the genuine affection between the two lonely scholars, forged in tragedy.

  "Alright," Raito said, tipping his hat. "That is enough questioning. That helped us a lot. Thank you."

  He bowed deeply, a gesture of respect, and turned to leave.

  "Are we sure we can leave them like that?" Malik whispered, leaning close to Raito's ear as they walked out the door. "It seemed... unresolved."

  "Malik," Samira protested, grabbing his arm and pulling him into the hallway. She pouted, shaking her head. "Leaving them alone like that is precisely why we should leave! Don't be a third wheel!"

  She poked him in the chest. "You really need husband training."

  Minutes later, they found themselves back in the lobby. Yukari was sitting on a wooden bench, adjusting her new, clean bandage.

  "How did it go?" she asked, looking up as they approached.

  "Well," Raito sighed, flopping onto the bench next to her. "Dr. Nezhat is somehow also there. But... neither are possible culprits." He shrugged, tipping his hat back.

  "If I may..." Malik interjected, adjusting his glasses nervously. "What made you so sure, Sir Raito? I am still confused how quickly you can cross out the names. They all have been to Volnear, just as the records said."

  "Detective intuition, dear Wang-Son!" Raito declared proudly, striking a seated pose. "Also, logic."

  He held up a finger. "While they were in Volnear, they were not even close to working on the mysterious invention—the batteries. They didn't have access to it, nor the expertise. Judging by their reaction to 'resin,' I was watching to see if they even had a flicker of recognition for translucent resin something that closely resemble the crystal we found. But none of them had the reaction I was looking for."

  He lowered his hand, his expression turning serious. "Then, remember. Mr. Tseh knew our culprit. He let them in. But neither of those people we interviewed today knew Mr. Tseh personally. They wouldn't have been invited inside for a glass of water."

  "Next," Raito continued, his voice low. "We are still missing the green-haired girl. Who holds the key that was used to lock the window back after the culprit left."

  "Wait," Yukari sat up straighter, surprised. "You figured out how the culprit ran through the window? Since when?"

  "Since I gave you that piggyback ride earlier," Raito said with a grin. "You are using Lily's hair oil, right? The stuff she gave you in Spica?"

  "Yeah..." Yukari blinked, her mind racing. "Wait, don't tell me..."

  "Exactly," Raito nodded. "The residue on the window latch is hair oil. The culprit placed a dollop of it on the latch mechanism. It's thick and sticky enough to hold the latch open temporarily."

  He mimed the action with his hands. "So, they run out the window, and then, with a simple strong closing from the outside, the vibration dislodges the latch. Because it's been greased with the hair oil, it slides right back into the locked position."

  He looked at Yukari, his eyes twinkling. "Couldn't have figured it out without you smelling like lavender."

  "You gotta thank Lily for that," she said with a shrug, though she looked impressed.

  "So we are at a dead end?" Samira asked, her shoulders slumping.

  "Not quite," Raito said, standing up. "These questionings are helpful because we managed to cross out five people from our list. Isn't that right, Wang-Son?"

  He turned to Malik.

  "Ye... yes, Sir Raito!" Malik saluted randomly, fumbling for his notebook. He showed everyone the crossed-out names. "Five down. Six to go."

  "But it's getting late," Samira said, glancing out the window at the dark street. "We'd better head back. Dad and Uncle Bob will be angry if we miss curfew and dinner."

  "Oh yeah," Yukari commented, wincing as she stood up. "Bob does get angry if we miss dinner. It's scary."

  "Well then!" Raito adjusted his cape. "Shilook Gang, disperse!"

  He turned and ran toward the palace gates.

  "Uh, Sir Raito!" Malik called out, chasing after him. "We are heading the same way!"

  "Oh, right!" Raito stopped, laughing sheepishly. "Forgot we are also sleeping at the palace!"

  Later that night, the large guest room in the palace was quiet, save for the soft rustle of silk and the distant chirping of desert crickets.

  "Man, that feast was awesome," Raito groaned happily, letting himself drop face-first onto the massive, plush bed. The heavy tweed suit was gone, replaced by comfortable nightclothes, though his hair was still a mess.

  "You ate too much," Yukari said, her voice soft. She was already in her nightgown, sitting on the edge of the bed, brushing her hair. She leaned close to him, poking his side.

  "But those local delicacies were something else!" Raito rolled over, grinning up at the ceiling. "Spiced lamb... those sweet cakes... amazing."

  Yukari put her brush down. Her expression shifted, the playful teasing fading into something more serious.

  "Okay, okay. Hey," she asked, her voice concerned. "Are you done with playing detectives?"

  "No, of course not!" Raito sat up, his eyes shining with excitement. "This is awesome! The King even praised our progress at dinner! You should've seen Tanvir's speechless face when I explained the window trick! It was priceless!" He laughed, slapping his knee.

  Yukari didn't laugh. She stared at him, a cold knot forming in her stomach.

  "Someone died, Raito," she said quietly.

  "And it's the culprit's fault," Raito replied instantly, his smile not faltering. "So it's up to us to find them and bring them to justice!"

  "Did you hear yourself right now?" Yukari asked, her voice trembling. She reached out, grabbing his shoulders. "Shilook aside... you are not mourning the loss of a life. You're treating this like a game. Like a puzzle."

  She searched his eyes, looking for the empathy she knew was there. "Listen to yourself. What happened? Please tell me. I'm your wife."

  Raito blinked. His smile faded, replaced by a look of genuine, baffled confusion. He tilted his head, looking at her as if she were speaking a foreign language.

  "I'm... I'm not sure what you mean," he said slowly. "I genuinely don't know. I'm... I'm sorry I made you sad?" He frowned, struggling to grasp her point. "But I really don't understand."

  Yukari stared at him. The disconnect was terrifying. It wasn't malice; it was absence. A piece of him was missing.

  "It's... it's alright," she whispered, pulling away. She lay down, turning her back to him. "I'm probably just tired. Let's just go to sleep."

  "O... okay," Raito said, confused and a little hurt. He reached over and turned off the lamp, plunging the room into darkness.

  Yukari sulked next to him, the distance between them feeling miles wide in the king-sized bed.

  Kyaaaaaa!

  A shriek tore through the silence of the palace. It was distant, high-pitched, and filled with terror.

  Raito and Yukari jolted back up in unison, the tension between them forgotten in an instant.

  "What happened?" they whispered, turning to each other in the dark.