Chapter Fifty-Eight: Epilogue (Part Two)

On Purgatory Island, the newly arrived space magic master, Eudoris, was carefully observing the teleportation array.

"Perfect. Simply perfect."

"Yes, I can see that. From the very beginning, this little fellow has been studying how to create a one-way teleportation array. Mr. Raschel was absolutely right—these markings are for positioning. Although there isn’t a corresponding array for him to link to, he used parameters like distance and elevation for a rough designation of the target location. That way, he can land within a general area."

"Can you determine exactly where he landed?"

"It’s rather difficult. For now, what I can see is that he set the target distance to more than twelve hundred miles away, and the altitude about fifty meters above this island’s sea level," Eudoris replied. "The direction is southeast. That’s all I can tell."

At that, Raschel, the police hound from the Department of Justice, spread out a map and pointed at it. "Look, I told you he didn’t leave the Empire of Lance. This little fellow is bold, indeed."

He then took out a ruler and began to measure. Drawing a long arc on the map, southeast from Purgatory Island at a distance of twelve hundred miles, he said, "This line is where he landed."

Chaklay spoke coldly, "Yes, Mr. Raschel, but your line cuts through the entire Empire of Lance."

"Oh, don't worry. In investigations, we always follow the clues. The difficulty doesn’t matter; what matters is whether our opponent has left us any trail. As long as there’s the faintest clue, a good investigator can use it to find more," Raschel said with utmost confidence.

Now it was Eudoris’s turn to be intrigued. "Then, investigator, how do you propose to further narrow down Xiuyiglaire’s exact location?"

Raschel returned the question, "Master, why do you think the little fellow set his altitude fifty meters above the island’s sea level?"

Eudoris answered, "Spatial teleportation always carries incalculable risk, especially regarding distance. Space barriers are everywhere; without precise coordinates, he could end up anywhere—including underground. Even a space mage like myself, without a spatial anchor, would not dare send himself somewhere out of sight. It’s not just a matter of limited magical power; if you can’t be sure of your position, you can’t guarantee the outcome. By comparison, earth mages have an advantage here. They emerge from the ground, and as long as they avoid water or metal, they can go almost anywhere, though they face other limitations—distance, power, and duration. He raised the altitude to avoid ending up underground."

"Excellent." Raschel smiled faintly. "But another question: is it necessarily safe in midair?"

"That fellow studied combat aura with Lancelot and knows a bit of magic. A drop of several dozen meters wouldn’t trouble him," Chaklay replied.

Raschel shook his head. "No, that’s not my point. I’ve reviewed his records thoroughly. I mean, is it impossible for him to appear in a dangerous area in the air?"

Chaklay and Eudoris were both taken aback. Eudoris exclaimed, "You mean a mountain?"

"Or a tall building," Raschel said coolly. "Though not a high likelihood, you can’t deny the possibility."

Eudoris cried out, "Exactly! I see now, Mr. Raschel. If Xiuyiglaire doesn’t want to appear inside a mountain, he must choose a broad, hill-free plain."

Raschel’s finger traced the line on the map. "On this line, the broadest plain is the Versar region in the empire’s center. I think we’ve found the spot."

Eudoris admitted, "Mr. Raschel, you are indeed sharp and capable. Xiuyiglaire will surely choose to teleport there; it’s the safest for him. If he lands there, he won’t risk ending up inside a mountain… There may still be danger, but at least he’s minimized it."

Chaklay couldn’t help but add, "Versar lies in the empire’s heart. From there, he can travel anywhere in the empire. I must remind you both: it’s been nearly a month since all this happened. I doubt he’d wait there for us to catch him. Even if he did, it’s a vast area; finding him will still be difficult."

The Free Spirit made two round trips across the Sea of Death, wasting valuable investigation time.

A month is enough for a man to cross half the empire.

"I don’t see it that way," Raschel replied with a smile. "Let me remind you: every crime leaves traces. Our opponent is clever and cunning, but a cunning fugitive isn’t necessarily the hardest to catch. In fact, many criminals fall because of their own cunning."

"Mr. Raschel, I don’t see the logic in that."

"That’s because you don’t understand. The truly hard-to-catch fugitives are those who don’t know where they’re going or what they want—aimless wanderers. As long as they’re not too stupid and leave no clues, we can’t predict their movements. But cunning and ruthless adversaries are the opposite; they always have a plan, a purpose, never acting without reason. They set goals and pursue them. That makes their movements traceable."

Raschel’s tone turned meaningful. "Clearly, our little fugitive is just such a man. Smart, cunning, but not a professional fugitive—while I am. I can be sure he had a plan before leaving the island. If we know what he wants, we’ll know his destination—and then we’ll catch him easily."

Chaklay asked skeptically, "You think you can figure out where he’s going?"

"Thanks to the records you provided," Raschel replied. "While waiting for Master Eudoris, I’ve been studying Xiuyiglaire’s case. I found some interesting things—like his good relationship with the little princess… There are things I’d rather not mention for now. But if I recall correctly, he’s from Southwell Town?"

He stared at Chaklay. "You bought him from there, didn’t you?"

Chaklay was momentarily stunned, then nodded. "Yes, that’s right. I bought him from Southwell Town in the Nords region."

Raschel handed the map to Chaklay. "Why not check where Southwell Town is?"

Chaklay didn’t need to look—he knew. Southwell Town lay right on the line Raschel had drawn earlier, just in the neighboring Nords province to Versar.

He sighed softly. "Mr. Raschel, you think he’ll return home?"

This time, he used the formal ‘you.’

"Yes, and he certainly will. Of course, I can’t be sure when he’ll go or how long he’ll stay, but I believe he’ll return. It’s his birthplace, full of memories. After so much suffering, anyone would long to return home, if only for a while."

"I know what to do," Chaklay said coldly. "Mr. Raschel, you’ve been a great help to us in this case, and I thank you. But I imagine at this point, Wellington has already dispatched elite investigators from the Department of Justice. From here on, you need not concern yourself."

Raschel sneered, "You’re casting me aside?"

"No, just that we have no further need of you. If this weren’t urgent, we wouldn’t have come to you. Remember, this is the empire’s highest secret. Just keep your mouth shut, Mr. Raschel."

With that, Chaklay turned and left.

Eudoris looked after Chaklay in confusion, not understanding why Chaklay would abandon such a capable investigator and instead appeal to the Wellington Central Department. Raschel, meanwhile, looked even more pleased with himself.

He walked over to Bailey nearby. "Lord Bailey, may I have a word with you in private?"

The once bustling castle was now deserted, save for the crew of the Free Spirit and a few guards assigned to the ship.

As they walked among the ruins, Raschel glanced around to make sure no one was near before inviting Bailey to sit.

"Lord Bailey, you may not know me well yet, so before we speak, I feel I should reintroduce myself," Raschel said courteously. "I’m just an ordinary investigator, no more than a police chief in Deep Harbor. I have no ambitions, no interest in becoming a noble, and lack the proper upbringing. I tend to speak bluntly and offend others easily. I have no magical talent, and I’m not even diligent—I haven’t advanced beyond third-level warrior. I’m really not much use at all."

Bailey regarded him coldly, saying nothing.

Raschel chuckled. "But I have one strength at least—I read people. Often, I can tell a man’s mood from his expression, his words, his gestures…"

Bailey’s face began to change.

Raschel went on, "It’s because of this that I became a hound. I love my work—nothing is more satisfying than catching a cunning criminal."

He sighed. "It’s a pity. I may have encountered the most cunning criminal in the history of the Empire of Lance, yet I won’t have the chance to catch him myself. That will be my lifelong regret."

"I regret it as well," Bailey finally spoke, "but there’s nothing to be done."

"I don’t think so," Raschel said suddenly. "I’ve noticed that you, your companions, and Lord Chaklay have been acting strangely during this time."

Bailey’s heart skipped a beat.

"From the moment I arrived, I’ve wondered why, after discovering Xiuyiglaire was the culprit, Lord Chaklay and you warriors have behaved so oddly. I sense fear in you… What are you afraid of? I was surprised. I even noticed that a great earth warrior like you shows no interest in hunting down the fugitive responsible for the tragedy of Purgatory Island. Instead, you repeatedly emphasize the difficulties of the task, trying to dissuade the empire from pursuing Xiuyiglaire nationwide."

Bailey couldn’t help but step back. Raschel advanced, fixing him with a gaze. "Lord Bailey, can you tell me why?"

Bailey forced himself to remain calm. "I don’t know what you’re talking about, Mr. Raschel."

"Oh, really? Then how do you explain the interesting detail I found in this damaged logbook…" Raschel produced a fire-scorched, incomplete record. "It shows that from the third month after Xiuyiglaire arrived, for nearly four years, he was present at every supply delivery. First as a servant, then as head servant, later as apprentice and assistant. Ordinarily, as his rank rose, there’d be no need for him to personally handle every delivery, yet he never missed one. Even during his most critical research, he was always there. Why is that? I also spoke to some sailors from the Free Spirit; they told me that every time, Xiuyiglaire himself came aboard to deliver supplies, and you always invited him to your cabin for a drink…"

Raschel’s words came rapid-fire, as if a machine gun riddling Bailey with holes.

Bailey roared, "And what does that prove?"

Raschel laughed. "Yes, what does it prove? I’ve been considering that… But one day, walking through these ruins and lamenting the tragedy, I suddenly realized: everything produced on Alchemy Island is of tremendous value…"

Bailey began to tremble.

Raschel grinned. "Given your odd behavior, and remembering that a man like Xiuyiglaire would never do anything that didn’t benefit him, an answer popped into my head… Oh, heavens, it was so terrifying that I thought I’d gone mad for even considering it. But there’s no denying—it fits the facts. It explained how Xiuyiglaire could move so freely on this island, doing things no one imagined. He had a special resource channel…"

Bailey took a deep breath and spoke in a low voice, "Mr. Raschel, I’ve heard that the Department of Justice treats everyone as a criminal. I used to think that was nonsense, but now I see it’s true. Do you realize what you’re saying?"

"Oh, no, Lord Bailey, don’t misunderstand. I never wrong a good man. That’s why, when we went back to invite Master Eudoris, I asked a friend in the Department to investigate some matters for me. It wasn’t hard—just a look into your recent circumstances, your friends’, and Lord Chaklay’s."

"You dared investigate me!" Bailey was so furious he could have killed Raschel on the spot.

Raschel’s eyes turned cold. "The Department of Justice has the right to investigate any suspect and to doubt anyone. I’m not yet clear on your exact situation, Lord Bailey, but I do have a report on your time in Deep Harbor. It shows that you live more lavishly than most nobles, yet I can find no other income besides your current position. Nor does your family provide any, being an endless drain on your resources. I suspect that when we return to Deep Harbor, a more detailed inquiry will confirm this."

Bailey was ashen-faced. "No, Raschel, I didn’t collude with Xiuyiglaire."

"I know, and I believe you," Raschel nodded. "Otherwise, you wouldn’t be afraid, shocked, or worried. But that doesn’t mean you’re blameless—it doesn’t mean you didn’t indirectly help him with his plan. Can you tell me what you gave him in return?"

"Some… things he specifically requested," Bailey stammered.

"And what were they?" Raschel pressed, nodding as Bailey listed them. "No wonder he outsmarted Lancelot; he’d already uncovered everyone’s secrets. You even gave him a soul grimoire, helped him kill a new apprentice so he could keep his position… Oh, my, you gave him whatever he wanted, letting him command you like dogs! Greed… your greatest sin," Raschel sighed.

Bailey’s face grew vicious.

Raschel smiled at him. "I bet you’d love to kill me now, wouldn’t you?"

Bailey stiffened.

"Unfortunately for you, I left information in Deep Harbor last time I was there. If I die, my suspicions will land on His Majesty’s desk within days. No matter the cause of my death, that’s what will happen."

Bailey was defeated. "Raschel, what do you want? I’ll give you all my money."

"No, Lord Bailey, that’s yours, not mine. I have no interest in money—I care only about catching the fugitive with my own hands. But it seems Lord Chaklay doesn’t want me involved. I suspect he means to let Xiuyiglaire vanish forever. Too bad—I’ll have to disappoint him. I need you to tell Chaklay that he must immediately petition the Central Department of Justice, and, using his rank as an earth warrior, request that I—Raschel, Chief of Security in Deep Harbor—take personal charge of the manhunt for Xiuyiglaire."

"Is that all?"

Raschel chuckled. "I know what you’re worried about. So I propose we work together. I’m a man who uses his brain, but my combat skills are poor, so I need capable helpers. As I understand, Xiuyiglaire is no simple man—he was taught by Lancelot, Paget, and Cross. He appears a junior warrior, but I suspect he hides his true strength, which is not surprising, is it? He’s also an alchemist. He may have masterminded the incident with his mind, but if he resorts to force, he’s surely formidable. A man who could pull off such a feat cannot be underestimated. If I find him, I’ll need someone to take him down."

He looked at Bailey. "I’ll catch him and secure the spatial artifact; you’ll kill him and protect your secrets. A win-win. What do you think? We both know the empire wants him alive. So, without me, you have no chance."

Bailey exhaled in relief. "Raschel, you nearly scared me to death. If you’d just said so, Lord Chaklay and I would have agreed. Someone has to do it—better it’s one of our own."

Raschel sneered. "There’s one more condition: you must obey my orders completely."

"That…" In terms of rank, even Bailey outranked Raschel, to say nothing of the eighth-level earth warrior Chaklay. Obeying Raschel’s command would be a tough sell.

But the next moment, Bailey nodded. "Fine. I’ll persuade Lord Chaklay. It shouldn’t be difficult. From today, you’re in charge of coordinating the nationwide manhunt for Xiuyiglaire."

"Exactly what I wanted," Raschel replied with a satisfied grin.