Chapter 28: Private Investigations in Tinto
Frank noticed both Lene and Cara are already getting dressed into their modern clothing and became complimented over their appearances.
"You ladies are pretty nice, wearing simpler outfits."
"Why did you have an eye patch, Frank?" Lene asked which Frank smirks.
"Nah, it's part of my disguise so most people would even think I lost my right eye. Especially wearing hats to cover my baldness."
"Uhm... your highness. Your precious bodyguard just giving him a make over." Sean arrives as his shoulder-length blue hair was pulled down into a low ponytail.
"You have full of surprises, Inspector Rockwell. You mean the red haired dude." Cara said amused over his modern appearance.
"Yep, he never wore these kinds of outfits in their time. So I decided to give him a make over because we're in the modern world." Sean shrugged and he smiles. "Hey, red head... you gotta show it to the girls. Lene would even love that."
Lene was surprised to see Seed wearing a modern outfit like the others and he wears a dark teal bomber jacket with a gold collar, pale blue long sleeved shirt, dark gray jeans and brown leather shoes. She was attracted to his appearance.
"You look great, Seed." Lene complimented which Seed blushes while he clears his throat.
"Well, uhm... thanks for the compliment. The truth is, I've never wear these outfits in my time. We always wore tunics and other royal military ones. The only person would wear those is Lord Jowy."
"You really do respect to that person." Lene smiled happily as Sean tells him.
"Well I guess it's time to see Lauren in Tinto City."
At Tinto City, the group arrives to see Lauren Pendragon who is the mayor of Tinto as one of the guards inspects them and they proceed. They saw many civilians are wearing modern day wear than the ones seen in other respective provinces and Seed was surprised to see them.
"This is just like in Rockaxe but they wore just like us."
"I smell a whole lot of investigation going on in this city." Sean said as one of Lauren's assistants came to see them.
"You must be the famous Inspector Sean Rockwell and the other one is the princess of the Silveria Kingdom. Lady Lauren would like to see you and your group."
"I guess this is a steward or something." Seed smiled only to be elbowed to the chest by Lene.
"Keep your voice down, Seed. You need to be respect them."
"I'm Maddie... I'm one of Lauren's assistants. Steff and Thierry are gonna waiting for me there."
At the Pendragon Residence, Lauren looked to see her ancestors which is both Gustav and Lilly Pendragon and to see Lene and the group.
"It's been a while, your highness. You look very good on your outfit. What brings you here?"
"I'd like to know about the missing women here in your city and that includes the tragedy of the two suspects." Lene said wanting to know about the current investigations in Tinto.
"This is what Steff and Thierry are trying to tell me. Those two goofballs, they were remain at large since they had murdered one person by decapitating with their chainsaws." Lauren said explaining about both Frank and Jessica. "They were saying that both are taking their separate turn and I decided to to put a bounty on their heads in order to capture them, dead or alive."
"Speaking of bounties, Lady Lauren. I'd say that those two people are innocent if you know what I mean." Sean said noticing how innocent the two of them were and that surprises Lauren.
"What!?"
"As an investigator, these two people are just being framed by someone who also wields that chainsaw. One person can even kill innocent people in cold blood or swiftly kills them in one fell swoop." Sean said recognizing about Leather Face. "Blaming the wrong person is not a good sign to have them captured."
"So who's the real murder besides those two goofballs."
"The man's name is Leather Face. These two you were trying to capture are just trying to went after him in hot pursuit after implicating them of the crimes they had never committed. But Leather Face is the one who accidentally killed an innocent person." Sean said knowing of the real suspect. "I think right now, he must be sided with anyone who has motives to kidnap women who were missing."
Therefore, Steff arrives to see Lauren and immediately informs about Evan who is confronted by vampires.
"Lady Lauren, Evan is trying to battle the vampires."
As the group goes out of the city, they see Evan facing against a vampire who is responsible for capturing the women who went missing.
"Where is my girlfriend, you bloodsucker..."
"Ahhh... the mayor of Tinto. Seems like you came here to become as my bride."
"Enough, Rambert... you have gone too far for kidnapping many women here in my city. Now go away!"
"I have my zombie army to get rid of you and this man over there." Rambert pointed out on the zombie army until they were obliterated by flames coming from the Fire Wall magic, burning them into a pile of ashes. "What!? Who did this?"
Seed is revealed to casts Fire Wall from his Rage Rune while wielding his sword and smirks to see him.
"I think your zombie men won't get through with my fire. Because I can burn them down."
"Damn you..." Rambert gritted angrily to see him until the appearance of the Star Dragon Sword.
"Vampire, you dare to make this place into a territory. Not on my watch."
"Grrr... I'd like to take over this city soon enough until you mopheaded humans will be here to stop me." Rambert said as he disappears in a dark.
"This vampire seems pretty modern. Cause the last time, this one is trying to make his own kingdom by taking over the town with his zombie army." Sean said as he learned from the history books about Neclord and how he was perished by Viktor by having an assistance with both Kahn Marley and Sierra Mikain.
"You're right about one of the two suspects who went missing." Lauren said knowing about Jessica's disappearance. "Apparently, Rambert is originally a human like us who's interested to know about vampire bats. However, one of the bats had bite him to become what he is today a modern vampire. Jessica was one of his victims and his motives is to kidnap all younger women around the city. Not just in Tinto but between Crom and Tigermouth Village."
"I heard you're gonna held a party for tonight, Lady Lauren." Cara said and seeing how his plan is. "Those guys like him are always present during parties to create their plans of abduction."
"Hmmm, yes... we always have a night parties in this town. It's best if you and Inspector Rockwell team up. As for you, your highness. You can feel free to stay at my place. There's a lot of room to choose."
As Lauren and the others went back to their quarters, Evan was thankful to see them dealing most of Rambert's zombie army.
"I thank you for obliterating this man's zombie army. I've never seen people can wield Runes like that."
"You must be Evan Grice, right. Actually, it was Seed who casts magic to incinerate those zombies." Lene said as she pointed out on him.
"So it is true... the zombies' weakness is to incinerate with fire. It was the first time to see the princess who hangs out with our current mayor." Evan said nicely as Frank reveals himself to him.
"You surely are brave to fight that vampire. If it wasn't for these people, you would get killed by them instead."
"Frank, you're still on bounty. But why are you here with them as well." Evan said and knowingly because he is involved with Leather Face. "Oh right, I know where Leather Face is."
"Tell us about it..." Seed said and Evan reveals to them.
"Leather Face has been sided with Rambert. According to my informants here, Leather Face became the right-hand man of that bloodsucker who captures my girlfriend."
"So that bastard freak have been captured many women without reason. That guy needs to be burned down." Seed grunted in disappointment and Lene easily knows his true motives.
"I'd be honest, his reason to capture them is to make them as his brides. Because he would suck their blood as his food."
"I guess the best thing is to find out the latter's true motives are." Sean said as he goes to see them along with Cara. "As a famous investigator around Dunan, I'm gonna pose as one of the party goers for tonight."
"What party are you talking about, mockingbird?" Seed asked while raising his brow as Sean responded in a snobbish tone.
"As Lady Lauren says, she's gonna held night parties around the city. I'd bet you wanna try it."
"I'll pass, mockingbird. I'm not a drunkard." Seed remarked while shrugging at him and Cara decided to assist him.
"Maybe I'll help you too, Inspector Rockwell."
Back at the Pendragon Residence, Lene, Seed and Frank meet up again with Lauren and this time they were visited by Tougou, Clemont and Geddoe.
"It's you Tougou and how come Geddoe is with you?" Lene asked and Tougou smiles.
"He likes to come along with us in case if there's a new threat going on with the Silverian Army. Apparently, he brought someone to join our cause."
"Your highness... this person is the new Flame Champion and also the current chief of Karaya. I convinced him to assist you in times of crisis."
"Actually, he is the descendant of Hugo who is the son of Lucia and the current Karayan chief." Clemont said and Seed recognizes who they are.
"Karaya? Don't tell me that you're Lucia's..."
"Actually, I'm the descendant of Hugo and I'm here to help the princess." The man said and finally introduces himself. "My name is Drogo and I am it's current chief as well as wielding my ancestor's True Fire Rune."
"It seems that you're going to join us." Lene said which he nods in agreement.
That evening, as night parties are held in Tinto which is lively. Sean, Cara, Geddoe, Drogo are here to investigate the parties and seeing that vampires are targeting women and was disappointed because Lene and Seed are not interested to go on a party.
"I can't believe that both Lene and Seed are not going to come with us."
"Probably, they don't like drinking alcohol, that's for sure." Cara said reassuring him.
"A lot of people are always go to the tavern in my time with Hugo. But this is the first time that I have to experience an outdoor drink." Geddoe said and Drogo tells him.
"Don't forget, our objective is to find the culprits behind the parties in this city."
"All right then... let's get this party started." Sean said and the group proceeds to get through the night party.