“State your business at this time of night.” A night guard firmly asked the trio.

“We need to see Detective Morse and Constable Emelia.”

The night guard nodded and pulled out a mirror tablet. His finger wrote something on the surface then he waited.

“Yes?” Emelia’s voice was heard from the mirror’s surface.

“Three armed henchmen here are asking to see you.”

“I’ll be right out!”

A short while later Emelia stood before them.

“What’s going on?”

669 handed her the doll they had found together, and gave her a rundown of his suspicions.

“The moon is approaching a New Moon phase. That’s a good time to cultivate deviant energies for necromancy.” 777 soberly said.

“Then your power…” Emelia trailed off feeling concern for the man’s magic curse.

777 chuckled and showed him the oil fuel guns 789 had invented for him. “Welp, I’ll rely on these. You guys flash the magic good stuff, okay?”

The guns had an oil barrel chamber that was fed through a pressure and spring system. When the trigger was pulled it would pump the oil through the chamber and barrel to push out a projectile pellet. The pellet was 777 special pill mixture of liquid gunk that made things go boom when it collided with a surface.

“Boss. My guns never let you down,” 789 proudly said of her inventions.

“Just make sure they fire at will, okay.”

She looked insulted by his words, but brushed them aside.

“I think we need Detective Morse this time,” Emelia said to return everyone’s thoughts back to the present situation.

When Detective Morse had joined them, 789 handed them a set of wings each. They all flew at the speed of sound to the Miller’s mansion.

Night was still high in the sky when they approached the entrance gates and long road to the mansion. Morse had them land not far from the gates. Where they huddled behind a set of bushes.

“Okay, let’s be careful and quiet as we make our way back to the building.” He instructed the team.

“Before he could say more, they heard a harse skid to a halt at the side of the building, a head of them.

They peaked their heads over the bush and saw, by the building's burning wall lamp, a man amble up the steps to a side door and go inside.

“Let’s go.”

“Freeze!” Detective Morse called out to the man when they entered the main foyer.

So, it was a given, that the man freaked out and made a run from them.

“You could’ve just snuck up on the person, you know.” 669 wryly commented as they began the chase for the man.

“It’s not a Royal Guard’s nature to be sneaky.”

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“Ha!” 789 laughed.

They split up to catch the man in various angles. Fortunately, for them the man wasn’t versed in running or fighting.

“I give up. You can take everything if you don’t kill me!” The man weakly pleaded for his life.

Upon closer look of his body and face in the sparse hall light, they saw a skinny man in a brown business suit and shoes, with a thin mustache about a small mouth and almond shaped brown eyes. The rest of his features were unremarkable. Even his short and slicked back brown hair. His hands were covered in cloth gloves, but the strong color and light leathery texture to his skin showed his away from the civilized village lifestyle. In 669’s opinion, the man was mousy.

“We’re not bandits.” Detective Morse said and flashed his badge before the man on the ground, who was scrambling pitifully away from him.

He sighed and tossed the badge to the floorboard near the man’s head. The man paused when he caught a glimpse of the royal clover seal.

“Law Enforcement?” Instantly the man changed his tune and began grovelling before Detective Morse with his plea. “Please. My family. Help me find out who killed them and give me justice!”

“Get up.”

The man nodded with a sniffle and wiped tears from his eyes. He stood to face them.

“Why were you running away?” Emelia bluntly asked with her notebook and quill in her hands.

“I thought you were bandits come to kill me. My name is Simon Miller, I’m a water merchant for the Dessert Barren Lands. As you know, water is a precious commodity in the arid regions.”

Simon explained that he had spent most of his years dealing water in the heart of the Demon Domination zones, where there were more demons than humans. But a few days ago he had received a Thunderbird message from his father to come home.

“But when I arrived at the Border City, no one was there to validate my entry. I had to contact one of my resellers to sponsor my entry with the Border Guard.”

He explained that he felt it was strange for his father to not send word, or personally send a litter for him. And wondered if he was in trouble.

“So I thought it was wise to rest for a short while at the Peony Soap House. I sent word to my family I was back, but only now decided to come myself.”

Emelia nodded as she captured his story. “And who was this reseller you had contacted?

“A local water seller. Harper Tank. He sells to various merchant families on our behalf.”

“Isn’t he the man that followed us at Border City? And the one that had an argument with Lord Ashton before his death?” 669 commented.

Detective Morse rubbed his chin with a thought and said, “I think it’s time we bring this water seller in for a proper talk.”

“As for you.” He turned to Simon. “Don’t leave town. I recommend you stay in the Cannon Fodders guest house while the mansion is a crime scene.”

“WHAT?!” The Cannon Fodder team and Simon Miller said with outrage.

“I’m sure Lord Miller will compensate you well.” Detective Morse said with severe tones that had Simon unable to refuse.

“Of course, of course.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll have a pair of our guards keeping the man company.” He patted 777’s shoulder.

“Mr. Miller better pay well.” He bluntly said to the businessman.

“Barbarians.” 669 sighed and shook his head. He whipped out his hand fan to spread a cool breeze about his face and make himself look dignified as he approached the weaselly lord. “You’ll be our guest. And I’ll take you Maud’s once you have regathered your strength.”

Simon instantly perked up and felt there was at least one refined person among the brutes.

Morse heaved a weary sigh. “Fine. Once he’s recovered he can spend his time at the soap house. But…” He added with a tone that was commanding. “He is not to deviate away from the area. Enjoy the scenery that’s before him while he can.”

“Yes, yes.”

“Alright. Get him out of here.” Detective Morse said.

They supported Simon as they prepared to usher him out of the mansion. Strange cries and howls made them pause and go silent.

Simon screamed with the corpse of a maid peeled herself off the floor to rise and stand before them. The stench of magnolia wafted into the main foyer, near overpowering their senses. Naturally, Simon fainted from both fear, shock and being weak to the poison magic.

However, the Royal Guards and Cannon Fodder 4Hire team were bracing themselves for a fight with corpses that were standing up to surround them.