As the night deepened, Li Yue gazed once more at the room filled with various collectibles. It was a space specifically built to showcase his acquisitions, each piece displayed on stands and protected by glass cases.
Li Yue couldn't understand why this man cherished his collection so much, yet felt the need to display his most prized possessions in a room larger than the living room, effectively creating a small private museum.
The manor's style was somewhat austere and oppressive, dominated by shades of grey. The other guards lived in an annex attached to the manor because the basement was reserved for the collection.
Miller’s bedroom was at the very end of the second-floor corridor. Throughout the rest of the house, the collection and furniture were arranged in an orderly, interlocking fashion. It couldn't exactly be called exotic; it was simply antique.
Private bedrooms, the study, the office, a private chapel... inside every room, whether it was a clock, a lamp, a small decorative stone carving, or even a tiny idol in the chapel and a letter opener, they were all works by masters from unknown eras.
Paintings from different periods and schools hung in the corridors. Li Yue could see traces of modernism in these works, even if she didn't know much about art.
In the center of the first floor stood a four-meter-tall statue of a massive stag, showcasing its beautifully carved antlers. It was surrounded by a pool, with a fireplace behind it depicting a scene of a god redeeming the world with a sacred flame.
These were some of the sights Li Yue had noted when Miller enthusiastically gave her a tour earlier that day.
There were also two guest rooms inside that seemed to have been recently renovated. Each had a beige single bed, a solid wood wardrobe, and a vase of fresh flowers on a wooden cabinet, seemingly tended to daily by a maid.
Since the guards' quarters were full and considering that Li Yue was female—while the others were all robust, ordinary adult men—she had been placed in one of these guest rooms. Miller had expressed some regret before leaving, saying that if Li Yue were willing to sell the blood diamond on her chest, he would clear out a guest room and renovate it into a display room for the gem.
She was currently patrolling around the vineyard outside. She had chosen this spot because it was the season for grapes to ripen, and the air was filled with a refreshing, sweet fragrance.
Carrying a lantern, Li Yue looked through the vines toward the distant woods shrouded in mist, staying alert for anyone suspicious. The quiet night kept her nerves on edge, making her jump at every rustle. Perhaps she wasn't used to this yet, or perhaps there was a lingering trace of fear in her heart.
It was nearing midnight. Although Li Yue found her resistance to fatigue had increased significantly—likely due to her starting to use magic—she still needed adequate rest.
Li Yue felt that Roland was exhausted every day, probably because of his heavy workload. Even as a Magician stage practitioner of the third rank, he couldn't withstand the toll of constant late-night work and fighting blood demons.
She let out a yawn as she saw a young man approaching with a lantern to relieve her. She stretched, signaled with her palm, and turned to leave.
“That lady just now... a new face. She’s quite beautiful. Is she a maid filling in?” The man stared blankly at Li Yue’s departing back. “It seems young male temporary guards are getting harder to find these days.”
After taking a hot bath, Li Yue lay down with a sense of satisfaction. Having just taken her medicine, she was extremely tired. She could drift into that dark dreamscape almost the moment she closed her eyes. In the hazy moment between dreams and reality, she thought she heard a faint commotion above her—the sound of a heavy object hitting the floor.
But before she could think further, she was pulled into sleep, returning to that small, drifting boat.
“Ahhh!!!”
A scream tore through the pre-dawn silence, and Li Yue was forcibly pulled back to reality. That cry of extreme terror made her wonder for a moment if she was still dreaming.
She heard the sound of a commotion. Ignoring her messy hair, she threw on a coat over her nightgown and hurried out of the room.
She quickly reached the third-floor attic. Several guards were blocking the stairs, and a few others were inside. A panicked Miller arrived shortly after.
Mr. Miller was dressed formally in a white shirt and a brown vest, seemingly having taken his time to dress properly. In contrast, Li Yue was still in slippers, her legs visible from ankle to just above the knee. However, no one cared at the moment; even Li Yue’s slight sense of shame was dispelled by the bizarre and oppressive atmosphere.
“What happened inside?” Li Yue stood at the door but was told she couldn't enter yet.
“Um, Master...” a guard said, bowing slightly and gesturing for Li Yue to step aside.
“There’s no need for Miss Nolan to step aside,” Miller said, composed himself.
“Yes...” The guard made way, and another led them toward the attic.
The guard’s expression was incredibly tense, his eyes unconsciously reflecting fear. The lead guard was the same; they both seemed to have suffered quite a shock.
The spiral staircase led all the way to the top attic. The faint scent of blood caused Li Yue’s tired nerves to instantly sharpen and tighten. She knew all too well what was inside.
The guard at the door was so shaken that his hands were weak, failing to turn the knob of the small attic door. Li Yue stepped forward and pushed it open first.
The scene inside was incredibly eerie. A man wearing a guard’s uniform lay on the floor, scarlet liquid slowly seeping from his seven orifices. His body was in a bizarre posture, curled into a circle on the ground.
The man’s arms, calves, and thighs were all curved into arcs. Even without an autopsy, Li Yue knew his bones were absolutely shattered. However, the fatal injury appeared to be the bruising on his neck; the force had been so great it had snapped his spine.
Miller couldn't hold it back and vomited right onto the floor. He stepped outside, clutching his left chest as if trying to suppress his racing heart that felt like it was about to burst.
Enduring her own discomfort, Li Yue carefully examined the corpse. The scarlet liquid leaking from his nose and mouth spread across the floor, emitting a strong scent of grapes and wine. Recalling the vineyard from last night, Li Yue almost lost her composure and vomited as well.
As for the cause of death, Li Yue didn't know how to perform an autopsy and couldn't tell yet if he had been drowned, strangled, or simply died from the extreme pain.
“I knew this boy,” Miller’s voice trembled, whether from emotion or the physical strain of vomiting. “His parents were the original owners of this manor. Later, after a series of accidents, his father’s business failed, and he was framed for a crime and executed. His mother committed suicide. I took him in and bought the manor.”
“He said he spent his childhood playing in the attic, so I simply let him work here, just to watch over the collection. This was supposed to be the safest, easiest job...” Miller looked dejected. “I will bury him this afternoon.”
“Then what about this incident?”
“Miss Officer...”
“Huh?”
“I know you belong to a hidden special department. On the surface, you’re a security company, but in reality, you work closely with the police. I know a little about these things.”
Li Yue was somewhat surprised. This man seemed to have guessed right, but only half-right.
“You want me to call for reinforcements?”
“No, no, no, Miss. To be honest, an auction is being held at this manor very soon. Now that this has happened... you understand.”
“You want to investigate the killer in secret?”
“Yes.” Miller glanced at the dark gold serpentine Blood Cup. His first priority upon entering had been to confirm its safety, only noticing the corpse after seeing it wasn't stolen. “The Blood Cup is still here. I don't know why the killer didn't take it this time, but I fear they have other designs.”
“I thought you wanted revenge or something.”
“That... is also a large part of it.”
“A bizarre scene like this is likely a curse or something similar. I suspect there might not even be a killer,” Li Yue said, lowering her head in thought while the others nearby struggled to move the body.
“As you know, my collection consists of aesthetic items, not magical ones. This must be someone’s plan.” Miller pulled out several silver coins. “The request will likely be extended, but I am willing to pay double the reward.”
Li Yue took the small pouch of silver coins and weighed it. It wasn't light, containing about ten coins.
“Alright.” Li Yue let out a breath, wondering if her conscience would bother her. However, pursuing a criminal was a good thing; taking a bit of compensation shouldn't be a problem.
Although the intent was good, assisting in a cover-up was certainly wrong. It was clearly the wrong choice, yet why didn't she feel even a shred of guilt...?
Li Yue stood in the room for a long time, seemingly not repulsed by the smell of alcohol and blood at all. Miller had long since been unable to stand the strange odor and had retreated, likely unable to enjoy a proper breakfast.
Li Yue returned to her room and glanced out the window. She took off her coat, began combing her silver hair in the mirror, and started to organize her thoughts.
Miller had said that if she were to investigate, staying as a guard would draw too much attention. After all, she looked like a frail young woman. She needed a different cover—one that would allow her to stay in the manor while having plenty of contact with everyone.
She slowly stood up and smoothed her hair. Looking at the clothes Miller had sent via a maid, she felt a bit dazed. It was as if she were facing an ordinary garment; her heart remained unruffled. Her sense of shame seemed to have vanished along with her sense of justice and guilt. She was quietly changing in ways she didn't yet understand.
A black classical one-piece dress with lace trim and a snow-white apron... a complete maid outfit now lay before her.
She picked up the note the maid had left, which seemed to contain detailed instructions on how to wear it. She slowly took off her nightgown and began to put the maid outfit together piece by piece.
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