Program fraud case (3)

Cel decided to intervene.

“Arthur would surely stand out in a suspicious gathering of nobles.”

“Then, can’t I act as a porter? Coachman is also possible. Leave it to me!”

Arthur did his best imitation of a laborer’s accent.

“Wow. If you listen to it, you would be considered a native porter from Lundane. Our prince’s skill is good.”

“Yes, Lei. This could be the start of a bigger case; how could we send you alone?”

“Yes, Lei can’t even hold a sword properly.”

“I am a level 5 wizard, guys? Are you ignoring that?”

“No, we’re simply showing appropriate concern.”

“Well, I have the heart to help out the family I’m indebted to.”

At Isiel’s sudden honesty to want to help Kleio, Cel changed her posture calmly.

“But we don’t know if this is a trap. If we all get caught….”

“I see! Then, we have to go together. I only come alive after stepping in one.”

Leticia patted the sword on her waist as she spoke. She was a swordswoman to reach level 4 at the age of fifteen; there would be little for her to fear.

Eventually, Kleio conceded and presented Melchior’s invitation to them. There was excitement in the twins’ voices as they turned over the envelope and cards printed on black paper.

“It’s Madame Lamor’s program.”

“Even the name seems suspicious.”

“Up to four companions can be brought, so isn’t she actively seeking new prey?”

“It’s scary, scary.”

Cel responded profoundly.

“Yeah, a scammer who uses spirits as a weapon is the worst of all.”

“Cel, there’s no romance in that!”

“I want to see a real ghost!”

It was summer, which meant it was the season of ghost stories. The twins were excited to go to a horror attraction, but Kleio could feel his shoulders drooping. He felt like he was once more going to be their chaperone.

***

Midnight, ten days later.

On the outskirts of the Nodus district, at the tributary of the Tempus river, was Madame Lamor’s mansion, surrounded by a vast garden.

As it was a secret meeting, there was no guide other than dark lanterns hung sparsely above the forest road. As such, the coachmen of each attendee had to drive cautiously, as the ability to see through the dark was an ability exclusive to advanced knights.

The land on which the mansion was built was originally wetland, so it seemed likely a wagon wheel would get stuck in the muck should it stray off the road. Of course, this wasn’t an issue for Arthur, who had already boldly memorized all the directions prior to assuming his mantle as a coachman. The borrowed wagon quickly passed through the dark lanes inside the mansion. Dozens of people had gathered there, but there were no wagons going back and forth. As Cel had sharply grasped during her first attendance last week, the time was written slightly differently for each invitation, preventing a line from forming at the entrance.

“It’s so foggy I can’t see a thing.”

Cel, head out of the window of the carriage, muttered cheekily. Isiel tugged on her shoulder to seat her, adding a word to be careful. She might’ve been an advanced swordswoman, but Arthur’s driving speed warranted a speeding ticket.

“Haha, I can’t be hurt by a shaking wagon! I’m a level 5 swordsman. too.”

“If your head is taken off by a stray branch, what would we do, Celeste?”

“Ah, are you worried about me? Let’s hope it’s quiet today again.”

“If this was an easy mission, the crown prince wouldn’t have sent Kleio. Don’t relax.”

“Okay, I’ll be careful.

”

At the faithless response, Isiel heaved a sigh. Her cap had been knocked to the side by the shaking of the castle, but Cel reached out and adjusted Isiel’s hat to hide her red hair. She was supposed to be dressed like a coachman’s assistant. The twins, accustomed to Cel, tied on each other’s masks without paying attention to them.

“Leticia, make sure the string is tight, so it doesn’t slip.”

“I got it.”

The meeting had a dress code, requiring a fluffy white chiton and a theater mask. Reluctantly joining them in the odd attire, Kleio was gradually loosening up thanks to the children’s excited reactions.

‘Everyone’s ready.’

Lippi’s mask looked like a middle-aged man with curled hair, a beard, and a frown. Leticia’s own mask resembled the face of an old man, with an even longer beard than Lippi’s. Both wore rich chitons, and in the dim light, it was hard to tell their age or gender.

At that timing, Arthur slowed down the horses and spoke up to them.

“Now, we’re approaching. Everyone ready to go?”

“We’re ready.”

“Lippi, that mask is hilarious.”

“Aren’t you scared? I’m a spirit~!”

“What? I’m more scared of myself! I’m a cursed ghost!”

“Oh, surprise somebody else.”

“If you pretend to be a ghost here, someone might believe it!”

The twins pretended to be ghosts in the narrow carriage. Kleio, pushed against the window so as not to be stepped on, also tightened the straps of his own mask.

‘They’ve adjusted to it quickly.’

Last week, when they had first come to the mansion, there had been tension among the children. Primarily, it was because the ancient costume made it impossible to carry a proper sword, so they had to do with daggers.

‘But the so-called spirit mediums were drinking, carousing, and calling out for souls while holding hands and dancing around.’

That was what it had been. Madame Lamor’s program for first-time attendees was shockingly sound, unlike the venue’s atmosphere. On a summer night, it felt good to dance, sing, and lie down in a spacious garden whilst wearing fluffy and light clothes. It seemed there was no point to their infiltration. If anything, the New Year’s party, where nobles kissed under the mistletoe branch, seemed like a more unhealthy ball by comparison. In that situation, it was natural Cel had almost wholly ceased to be interested in the case and was now concentrating on flirting with Isiel.

“Today is the usual program meeting, or will something happen? What fun is it to go home after just dancing?”

“We’re not doing this for fun….”

Cel laughed at Kleio’s steadfast response through her mask. Her mask was the face of a very handsome young man.

“Huh, I thought there would be something great after she turned off all the lights in the mansion, but this has been all.”

“I heard that for those invited a second time, a great banquet is prepared. Let’s hope we can find some clues.”

At that, the carriage came to a complete stop. The moon, which had just escaped through the clouds, lit up the front of the mansion in the pale light. The outer walls of the dark gray building shimmered like a jewel, revealing the estate was built in part out of scarce diamonds.

“We’ve arrived.”

Arthur, his blonde hair covered by a cap, opened the door of the carriage. Isiel, quickly jumping out of the carriage, helped him. They helped Kleio off, making sure his chiton didn’t get caught, as Arthur whispered to him quietly.

“Lei, be careful. If anything happens, use your magic.”

Kleio had his wand and pocket tied against his waist with a strap for an emergency.

“If you’re so worried, why not come in too?”

“When everyone goes inside, I’ll check the outside.”

“Don’t move alone and work with Isiel.”

Isiel nodded. After the last meeting had ended without anything of note, it was Arthur who had become passionate about the investigation. While there had been no evidence, Arthur argued that there was something ominous.

‘There’s no way Arthur believes in ghosts.’

Madame Lamor’s mansion had made the twins excited for ghost stories. The estate was built in the damp lowlands, and the air was humid. The vast and desolate gardens held ponds everywhere, with lotus flowers filling the water. Around the pond, violet irises bloomed, adding to the oddity.

‘If you wander around such a place at night, you couldn’t help but see ghosts.’

.

.

.

In front of the elegant entrance, where only a single candle had been lit, a guide servant in a mask held a lens that looked like a magic tool as he checked invitations. Confirming everything was in order, he opened the door. It seemed that they had prevented counterfeiting by using ink mixed with mana stone. No more information could be gained than that, however. All the servants of the mansion were silent, with earplugs fitted tightly in their ears so that they couldn’t be asked for anything. Their movements were strangely hard and mechanical, giving them an eerie feeling.

Of course, the twins didn’t care about the mood. Cel and Kleio followed after the Angellium sisters, who took the lead. The structure of the mansion was like a maze, so it took them a few moments to reach the central garden. Lit only by cloudy moonlight and candles, participants in ancient costumes had gathered in small groups there. Several of them held something like grass, sharing it and chewing on it before staggering around and stirring their arms. Kleio turned on Perception as he looked around, and Cel and the twins joined in with [detect ether].

“Is there anyone with ether sensitivity?”

“There’s no one that stands out in particular. Normally, wizards and knights don’t really believe in the psychic thing.”

At best, it would only attract the curiosity of children like twins. Cel glanced over at the small stone steps in the middle of the garden.

Last time, the spirit medium Madame Lamor sat there, chanting something like a spell as she called for spirits.

“The last necromancy show was completely fraudulent. The blue light rolling around the table was caused by phosphorus.”

“But everyone got crazy. There must be some reason.”

“Is it because of this?”

Cel produced a pouch of grass. It was the same thing that the other guests had been chewing. The scent of light mint and scented grain wafted from it.

“It seems to cause weak hallucinations… let’s investigate it when we leave. Thanks, Cel.”

“It was nothing.”

‘Is this all an excuse for that drug? Hmm.’

If it were such a shallow thing, Melchior and his men should’ve been able to see it.

‘Well, just keep eyes out today, and we’ll find out.’

It was the day of the last meeting. They danced around and round, drinking to Lamor’s words and songs, which seemed strangely agitating. Kleio, who ran wild alongside the mood, thought he was dying. Once everyone was exhausted and excited, Madame Lamor spoke eloquently beyond the half-mask that covered her face.

“I will have a prophet who will become the real channel of cross-communication, not the whispering of these young and lost spirits. If you prove your faith, he will tell you words from beyond this world!”

So, the poor necromancy was simply a trailer, and if you paid, you would see the full story. The nobles, caught in the atmosphere, gossiped and handed over fairly heavy sacks to a gloved servant.

Kleio ‘donated’ a bunch of Aurum coins, which was how he received the second invitation. As the night went on, smoke spread in the garden, and the musicians hired by Madame Lamor began to sing.

Kleio ground his teeth.

‘If I spent 5,000 dinars and don’t see anything today, I’m going to burn this place down.’

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This time, however, Madame Lamor really showed something.