The Hat and the Hidden Truth
After that, several more questions came up, but nothing special emerged.
The couple’s relationship was absolutely harmonious, as expected in a family that ran its own businesses—standard debts and a reasonable amount of grudges were part of the deal.
Demison’s president’s busy schedule was public enough that I didn’t even need an alibi.
“Back then, your senior raised his head sharply and asked, ‘Wait, a high elf who controls the fire spirits installed an artificial waterfall?’ With that question, charisma exploded. ‘If the office chief didn’t see it, don’t speak.’”“
“I’ve already heard that story five times.”
To Marian’s repeated line, the chief of staff answered in his monotone voice.
“It’s because the office chief actually didn’t see it. If you truly saw it, you’d be sliced by the sharpness.”
“I’ve been watching it for years. The more I watch, the less surprised I get.”
The office chief kept his eyes fixed on the menu and scanned every item.
After five minutes of careful thought, he raised his hand to call the waiter.
“One milk mille-feuille, an éclair with apple jam, and three fig cannelés. Three madeleines and two tarts, please.”
The thick-fingered dwarf office chief delicately traced the menu with his fingers.
I had seen this sight for years, yet it still felt fresh every time.
Watching the waiter’s back as he turned after taking seventeen other orders, I asked the office chief,
“Chief, has the identification been confirmed?”
“Yes, inspector. As you expected, Tearel Erestor has her own dedicated personal butler, but no one knows his exact identity.”
“What species is the butler?”
“Besides the fact that he always wears black clothes, no one has memorized his face precisely. It’s suspicious.”
The office chief pulled a notebook from his pocket and showed it.
The notebook held a blurry sketch of a man.
“Based on the statements, this is the only montage I can make.”
“Good work. Return the notebook to the Central Defense Agency database. And Marian, can you approach the World Tree?”
“Huh? Ah… yes. Well, to some extent…”
Looking at Marian’s lack of confidence, the office chief mumbled around his éclair,
“Marian Inspector seems unable to form a proper contract with a spirit.”
“What?”
“Ah! Chief!”
I had witnessed the summoning of a spirit from Demison’s living room with my own eyes. That meant a contracted spirit existed.
Among the high elf’s many abilities, spirit summoning was the pinnacle.
Through it, one could access the World Tree containing information on every elf living in the Gilorian Empire.
“Marian, is there a problem with the spirit contract?”
“Actually… I haven’t completed a full contract yet.”
Marian lowered her eyes while holding a cannelé in one hand.
Once an elf reaches adulthood, they form a formal contract with a spirit to richly utilize natural attributes.
This is why contracted elves are recognized as true adults, and failing to form a full contract means the spirit’s will remains unsettled.
Whether the elf is healthy, intelligent, and capable enough for a lifelong contract.
“Tch. Since it’s already exposed, I’ll be honest.”
Marian took a large bite of her cannelé.
“The spirit… that guy’s personality is terrible. He disappears the moment I threaten him with expulsion. He left again just now and still hasn’t come back.”
No special findings emerged from the search of Demison’s presidential residence.
Investigations are a battle against boredom.
Extracting details or contradictions hidden among data and countless statements—that is investigation.
I requested copies of the magical recording devices installed along the house exterior and her route.
With these, I planned to track Tearel’s movements.
“Chief of Staff Piaje, has the requested item been prepared?”
“Yes, it’s on the desk.”
On a desk as spotless as new, documents about Tearel Erestor’s movements and information were neatly arranged.
“Tearel, this woman really lived in luxury.”
“The spirit came back?”
“No. Once she leaves, she stays gone for over a week.”
Marian showed no sign of fatigue whatsoever.
For an elf, refusing a spirit contract is a fatal humiliation, yet the subject herself seemed hardly to care.
Tearel’s life was the very definition of splendor.
Born into a noble high-elf family, she was loved by the Gilorian Empire’s citizens for her beauty.
After marrying Demison, she reached the pinnacle of life.
And shortly afterward, their daughter was born.
“An only daughter, so she must have been pampered.”
Edelien Erestor.
Currently, the only daughter of the Demison couple attends a private boarding school for high elves.
Born between a human father and high-elf mother, she is not a pureblood high elf, but they secured permission to enroll her in a school that only high elves can enter by donating heavily.
“It seems they created this foundation to get their daughter in. Unfortunate elves… does that even make sense?”
The office chief handed over the documents.
Green Elf Salvation Foundation
… The concept of viewing elves as objects of salvation was novel, but compared to what followed, it was tame.
Chairwoman of the Green Elf Salvation Foundation
23.3% ownership of Red Corporation shares
Other numerous corporate shares
The Green Elf Salvation Foundation is a foundation that helps unfortunate elves—(unfortunate by elf standards, so don’t misinterpret) and creates sponsorships to expand forests and trees.
For elves, forests and trees are directly tied to existence, so a foundation was indeed necessary.
However, unlike wealthy elves, most Gilorian Empire citizens must destroy forests and trees to survive.
They need firewood for heating and cooking.
Precisely, synthetic magic stones are the firewood.
“But why use synthetic magic stones? Magic stones are far more efficient and eco-friendly.”
Marian asked.
The office chief glared at her.
“Elves swimming in the Sea of Plenty don’t need to know, but people practice frugality. Frugality.”
The office chief gave a twisted answer, but it was correct.
Synthetic magic stones are far cheaper.
Magic stones as eco-friendly, high-efficiency fuel? Everyone wants to use it.
But only a few Empire citizens can use it. Roughly the top 5%.
The rest have no choice but to use synthetic magic stones mixed with secret ratios of magic stones and fossil fuels.
And the ones profiting from those secret ratios are Red Corporation.
Red Corporation is the top synthetic magic stone manufacturing company.
It is also the company that destroys the most forests and trees in the Gilorian Empire.
“Ah… it’s about money.”
Marian muttered like a philosopher who had just gained a new insight into something painfully obvious.
“People destroy trees because of money. Hah… Empire citizens should live warmly, but forests shouldn’t be destroyed either…”
“Are you carrying a spear and shield yourself and doing a promise duel?”
The office chief sneered at Marian.
But the words were quite precise.
A duel of spear and shield performed alone.
It suited the situation of the Demison couple.
Tearel had one foot on the heterogeneous worldview of arms and medicine providers and was walking a tightrope, winning or losing didn’t matter.
Because the rest of Red Corporation’s shares were held by Demison.
Marian, who had been pondering alone, blurted out,
“Tearel is such a bitch.”
She spoke coldly, creating deep wrinkles on her forehead like wounds scratched by forests and trees.
I believe conflicts between upper classes inflict no greater damage on public sentiment than anything else.
Political battles and corporate inheritance disputes have grown tiring.
Even more so, another high elf’s grumbling directed at high elves.
I had no need to listen further.
“Chief of Staff, has the schedule been confirmed?”
“Yes, inspector. As you said, it’s going to be a real victory in three days.”
The documents the office chief handed over listed the schedule for three days later.
Red Corporation Shareholders’ Meeting and Green Elf Salvation Foundation General Meeting
In three days, another spear-and-shield duel begins.
Red Corporation will hold a shareholders’ meeting to secure large-scale funds for increased logging.
The Green Elf Salvation Foundation will hold a meeting to restrict logging.
Both agendas are scheduled for the same time and place.
And Tearel must vote on both.
At that moment, she was cleverly “missing.”
With enormous shareholding.
“Demison is restricted from exercising voting rights at the Red Corporation shareholders’ meeting.”
“Why?”
Voting rights restrictions for shareholders are rare. One must commit a serious crime of legal violation…
“A few days ago, there was a violation of the law maintaining magic stone trading order.”
“Ah…”
Demison had accomplished something difficult.
The timing was ironic.
“Then, Demison’s voting rights are frozen, and the actual Red Corporation decision lies with Tearel?”
“Yes, inspector.”
The office chief nodded.
“She must have been in such a headache that she disappeared. Tearel must choose between destroying the trees or destroying Red Corporation.”
It was a highly sensitive and conflict-laden situation.
“Senior, you should see this.”
Marian turned her monitor toward me.
Marian had been reviewing Tearel’s daily activity records from the magic stone recording device footage.
But in the footage, Tearel was doing something strange.
“What is she doing?”
Tearel appeared in the shopping mall parking lot.
And suddenly she froze like ice, not moving an inch.
She stood still as if she had discovered something, staring at one spot for a long time, then suddenly dashed to the opposite side and hid behind another carriage.
“Marian, is there footage from another angle?”
“Here it is. This too. I’ve checked every angle, but no suspicious person.”
Marian played the multi-angle footage.
But as she said, no suspicious person was anywhere.
The strangest person was Tearel herself.
“Here. This part is the strangest.”
After catching her breath, Tearel calmly stood and walked into the parking lot.
And Tearel stopped again.
She stood still as if time had stopped, glancing around, then hid in a dark spot and pulled a large hat from her shopping bag, putting it on.
Then, with a leisurely step as if nothing had happened, she boarded her own carriage.
On top of a duel of spear and shield alone, the feeling of watching a silent theater.
“Wait! Rewind a little.”
“Here?”
“A little more.”
“Again.”
“A little back.”
“Again.”
The screen was frozen at Tearel putting on the hat.
“Here? Why is this?”
Marian asked with eyes full of incomprehension.
“Marian, access the Central Defense Agency database and check all of Tearel’s military personnel.”
“Yes? Yes.”
“Her movements afterward?”
“She immediately went home. She took her private butler-driven carriage.”
Since then, there has been no footage of Tearel leaving until today.
Of course, there is no footage of anyone entering Demison’s residence either.
At that moment, a beep sounded from Marian’s computer, and the screen printed out.
“None. Apart from plastic surgery, there is no other military personnel.”
“Check all places Tearel has frequently visited in the last three months, especially if there are any periodic locations.”
“Hic.”
Marian let out an odd sound.
Until now, no clues had emerged about where Tearel Erestor was now, why she had disappeared, or who the suspects were.
But a clue to Tearel Erestor’s identity had appeared in the screen from moments ago.
A secret the world does not know.
Do her family members know?
“Senior, where are you going?”
The saying is that when things get difficult, you return.
I know the meaning—everything has its order, and when you hit a wall, return to the basics and think carefully.
But I do not agree.
Returning does not automatically yield an answer.
If there are no other variables, returning still leads to the same destination.
“Demison’s presidential office.”
Head-on collision.
“President, thank you for making time despite your busy schedule.”
I went to Demison’s presidential office.
The office was not as flashy as the residence.
It emphasized efficiency at a glance.
I showed the president the video of Tearel.
“I need information about his wife. Has anyone ever extorted his wife?”
Demison sat leaning on a simple sofa, his eyes unreadable.
“Why exactly is Tearel…”
“It looks like she is being chased by someone. Did anything unusual happen lately?”
The quality and angles of the magic stone recording device footage were excellent, making even her small expressions easy to read.
Her eyes were filled with terror.
“Many people must have envied Tearel. You know she loved to show off. But since it was everyday life, it wouldn’t be particularly hateful.”
An unsatisfactory answer.
I had expected it.
“She is a lovely being to everyone.”
His belief in his wife was solid.
Then I might as well throw a stone.
“May I show you the full video?”
Demison’s pupils quickly contracted.
“It’s bait. The one who bites is the perpetrator.”
It was safer to speak through another’s mouth.
Better through the public’s mouths.
The situation changed abruptly.
The video was released, and the public quickly stirred.
“They switched to public investigation? Can we handle this?”
Looking at the crowd gathering in front of the playing video, Chief of Staff Freida worried, but…
Tearel Incident Detective Club Recruitment
Reflections on the Video Editing Conspiracy
High Elf Leader Gathering, Held Successively
It was a spark thrown into a dry field.
Interest spread like wildfire.
Those who watched the video started writing their doubts on the Central Defense Agency homepage.
Of course, most were useless garbage.
— Kongsla: Did Tearel make a movie?
└ richwolf: The promotion is refreshing?
— sunshine_elf: My sister is so pretty!
└ tearel_forever: Tearel’s beauty is truly off the charts.
└ oliviahot: Did Tearel get magic plastic surgery? Her mouth doesn’t open properly.
— richking778: How much was that carriage? Is it decorated with dragon fire?
— alaind1: I’m looking for someone who wants natural encounters. I’m a young demi-human of a healthy 137-year-old. I can change according to your taste. Contact me.
But among them, there were things that sparkled like raw gems.
— Unbridged: Evidence of video editing. The video speed near the 3-minute-20-second mark is abnormally fast. Someone must have intentionally edited the video. Urgent confirmation is needed for the video management department.
— In Cold Blood: Please carefully check the shadow parts. It’s supposed to be two suns, but the shadow shape is strange.
It was extremely meaningful.
Wisdom shining in the crowd of fools.
I collected all the nonsense and wisdom written on the bulletin board and instructed Marian to analyze it.
“So much?”
Marian was shocked, but she had no time to spare.
“Marian, request video analysis as well. Check who accessed the shopping mall recording device. Also, check the entry/exit management list for that day.”
“Hic.”
Lost among the massive document pile, Marian let out another odd sound.
She kept flipping through documents, standing up and sitting down, like a puppy desperately seeking a poop spot.
The office chief sighed and said,
“Inspector, the video analysis should be ready in about 16 hours. I paid the defense agency analysts a rush fee, so it should be available this afternoon. Marian Inspector, just secure the entry/exit management list at the shopping mall.”
The office chief neatly summarized the work he had handled skillfully.
And…
“Inspector Zeo. Edelien Erestor has asked to be delivered.”
The office chief had accurately read my hunger like a mother bird.
It was verification of the only daughter of the presidential couple, Edelien.
To cross-check in case Demison’s statement contradicted anything, I had sent a questionnaire about his wife, Tearel.
And in the response…
“Double-faced. Crazy bitch. Idiot.”
A plain three words, in bold red.
“Whoa! My senior’s prediction was correct?”
Marian’s recovery resilience was incredibly high.
Marian had already returned to normal expression and was turning the response letter over, soaking it in various magic culture solutions.
To check for any other hidden messages.
The moment the doubt in my mind turned into certainty…
Before I could even speak the next words, the office chief opened the door and quickly disappeared.
“Chief, where are you suddenly going?”
Pretending not to hear Marian’s words, he slammed the door and vanished with his short legs.
“Hah… Can Demison even handle this?”
The shadow of Tearel in the video shook unnaturally.