KS: (sighs miserably) The alert system is on the blink again. And it was active for about a week. What is this site coming to? Anyway, here's the next chapter.

Bell made his way to a large mansion with statues of a robed, effeminate figure lined up the path. He had been here before, and the sight never got old.

"Let's hope their god isn't too drunk."

Once he reached the doors, he opened them and walked inside, taking the majestic sights of the the main hall. Pictures of valiant knights were seen on the walls and there was at least a few suits of armor presented.

"These people sure take pride in their home," he mused.

"Ah, I knew I heard a familiar sleuth in our midst."

Bell turned to his left to see a young man with teal hair tied in a ponytail, an eyepatch over one eye and rather exotic clothing walk towards him.

"Hey Kaeya," he greeted. "How have things been around here?"

"The same, as usual," Kaeya replied with a shrug.

Kaeya Alberich

Barbatos Familia, Level 4

Bell chuckled. "Not much goes around here, I take it?"

"Oh, I wouldn't say that," Kaeya said. "A lot of things go on around here. You just aren't around to see them."

"Fair enough."

Bell immediately felt a soft sensation press against the back of his head, followed by the scent of lavender.

"Come on, Lisa. Can't you greet me normally?"

A tall, buxom woman with blonde hair and green eyes, adorned in a mage outfit that wondefully emphasized her curves chuckled.

"Oh, but I always greet an adorable cutie like this," Lisa said in a teasing tone. "Especially when they've been such a big help to us."

Lisa Minci

Barbatos Familia, Level 4

"Well, could you move back a bit?" Bell asked. "Hestia's gonna get upset once she smells the lavender again."

Lisa faked a pout, but complied and stepped back. "Hestia is a such a clingy girl. She ought to learn how to share sometimes."

Bell could do nothing but chuckle awkwardly.

"Hey, is that Bell?" an excited voice called out from above.

The young detective looked up to see a brown-haired, golden-eyed girl wearing a red and white jumper outfit with brown shorts rush down the stairs, occasionally sliding down the railing until she was right in front of him. Immediately, she picked him up and gave him a big hug.

"Ugh... hi, Amber," he groaned.

The girl giggled excitedly. "It's nice to see you again!"

Amber

Barbatos Familia, Level 3

Both Kaeya and Lisa giggled at Amber hugging Bell tightly.

"Can you put me down now?" Bell asked. "I want to see if Jean is here."

"Oh, she's here," Amber said, putting Bell down. "She's speaking with Lord Barbatos right now. Probably planning another expedition again."

Lisa sighed. "Honestly, it's always work with that woman. She really should learn how to take it easy."

"I agree," Kaeya said. "I'm amazed she hasn't burned herself out yet. Still, it's liable to happen at some point."

Amber had a sad look. "Yeah, I wish our captain wouldn't work so hard."

"She wouldn't have to if you lot didn't keep dragging your feet."

A tacturn voice caught everyone's attention as they turn towards the speaker. A young man around Kaeya's height, eyes as red as his hair, wearing a black dress shirt under a dark brown coat, black pants with brown boots and black gloves on his hands.

Amber pouted. "There's no need to be mean, Diluc. We're doing the best we can here."

Diluc scoffed. "You ought to increase those efforts, then."

Diluc Ragnvindr

Barbatos Familia (Vice-Captain), Level 5

He looked at Bell with a stern gaze. "Nice of you to arrive, Bell."

"Gald to arrive," the boy replied.

Diluc turned around and walked off. "If you're looking for Jean, she's speaking with Barbatos in her office. It's where she usually is after adventuring. If I didn't know any better, she slept in there."

"Oh, don't worry about that," Lisa said with an amused smile. "I took out the futon out of her office so she doesn't sleep there anymore."

Diluc looked back at her with a blank expression. "And if she falls asleep at her desk?"

Lisa tittered. "Then I go in, carry her to her room, put her in her nightgown and lay her to bed."

"And surely after, you lay down with her, if I am not mistaken," Kaeya commented.

Lisa continued to smile, but Bell, Amber and Diluc saw lightning charge in her hand.

"Oh Kaeya… you never seem to keep your foot away from your mouth for long, do you?"

Kaeya shrugged. "What can I say? It's one of my most striking features."

A discharge of lightning magic was heard throughout the mansion.

A young, blonde woman was at her desk, writing down more reports regarding her familia's recent expedition to the dungeon. Next to her was a boy wearing a frilly white top with a corset-like midsection, teal shorts with gold embroidery and a matching teal cape held together by a deep blue and gold bow.

"Plan to burn the midnight oil again?" the boy asked.

"Lord Barbatos, please," the woman sighed as she continued her paperwork. "I need to fill these reports in."

Barbatos let out a sigh of his own. "Come on, you've been at this for hours. Maybe go out and take a breather or something."

The woman would've protested further, but a knock on the door interrupted her.

"Come in," she said.

The door opened, revealing Bell and Diluc as they walked in.

"Look who decided to darken our doorstep once more," the vice-captain said.

Bell smiled and waved. "Hello, Jean, Barbatos."

The woman, despite her slightly visible fatigue, smiled back. "Nice to see you tonight, Bell."

Jean Gunnhildr

Barbatos Familia (Captain), Level 5

The familia's patron god also greeted Bell with his usual grin. "Nice meeting you again, Bell."

Barbatos

Barbatos Familia, God

"Same to you, Barbatos," Bell greeted the small god.

Barbatos grinned. "Love to get to the pleasentries, but I think we should talk work. And as we all know, our dear Jean here has a long term relationship with it."

Jean shot a a dirty look at Barbatos. "Was that some kind of slight against me?"

"No, just a simple fact," Barbatos replied. "One that you seem to willfully ignore."

Jean merely pouted.

"If we can move on from your captain's workaholic tendencies for a moment," Bell interjected. "I was told that you have work for me?"

Jean dropped the pout and put on a face of professionalism.

"Yes, of course. We have a job for the agency, one that requires some… discretion."

"What do you mean?" Bell asked.

"We have gotten word that one of our members is being harrassed by a stalker," Jean asked. "We don't know who they are or who they are targetting, but it is possible that they have ill intentions."

"Stalkers," Bell sighed. "They come in all shapes and colors. At the end of the day, they all follow one cardinal rule: be a nuisance to whoever they're stalking and anyone around them."

"As with many stalkers," Barbatos said. "But enough of the depressing talk, let's talk about payment."

"How much is this case worth?" Bell asked.

"A solid 80,000 valis," Barbatos replied. "With an additional bonus if you can uncover the stalker's motive."

Bell smirked. "Consider the case taken. I'll go let Ash know immediately."

"It was nice seeing you, Bell," Jean said with a smile. "Be safe going home."

"And give Hestia my regards!" Barbatos added.

"I'll be sure to do those things," Bell replied.

With that, he walked out of the room.

"It's always nice to have him around," Jean said.

"Indeed," Barbatos agreed.

KS: Now, if you'll all excuse me, I'm going to see if I can figure out where my life is headed. Wish me luck.