After Grace and Tibaut had been brought to the clinic on the property, they immediately began questioning Grace. She had a curtain between her and Tibaut because she couldn't help but have a pained expression on her face each time she looked at him.

"Why don't you cut it off already?" She asked.

"Like I said, it's for those adventurers to decide. Besides, it's a miracle the flesh on his hand still looks healthy." Albus responded.

Due to how quickly the pair had arrived back from their skirmish with the other maids, Avis wasn't able to get much information from those who returned other than being driven back by Tibaut and Grace, along with the appearance of a strange third party.

"His hand is still healthy looking?" After Grace said that she paused in thought.

"Is there something wrong with what I said?" Albus asked.

"Hey Lord Bradley, can curing magic prevent infections in wounds?"

"(He knew curing magic? So that's how he countered the tranquiliser darts.) Yes, they can." He responded. He looked at her some more. She had bruises all over, a black eye and a cut lip. "Give me a moment." He told her before getting up.

He walked towards Avis and snapped his finger to get her attention. He began whispering.

"The hell were those guys doing? Why the hell did she get so roughed up!?"

Avis sighed at her master's concern.

"Master, you don't expect them to take a beating from someone just because they're one of our own? I'm sure there was a good reason they couldn't deal with both of them without attacking her."

He thought back to those injured below and clicked his tongue.

"I suppose you're right, it's my fault for letting her stay around him in the first place." He relented before walking back towards Grace with his head held low.

What he said was correct but Avis couldn't help but feel somewhat bitter having him say it was his fault.

When he returned to her side, he signalled Avis to come over. She slowly walked over and began asking the questions he wanted to ask from the start.

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"By the way did you get a good look at these guys? I bet it was a group called the Lochmull Independence Society."

Avis carefully observed her face as she walked over.

"Uh, I honestly couldn't tell you but I think Tibaut recognised them. I think I overheard him mention something about some cult."

He briefly stole a glance at Avis and she didn't seem to have any issues with what she said.

("The cult? I suppose he isn't too far off but what gave it away?")

"Also there was this guy in black leading them."

Both Avis and Albus raised an eyebrow at this. "Guy in black?"

"Well, they were all in black but they had a loud mouth for a leader."

"And you're sure this person was a man?" He asked. Avis quickly pinched him for asking such a suspicious question.

"Uh, yeah. I heard his voice pretty clearly."

"Well, that's interesting." He said while hiding the pain of the pinch.

They continued questioning her until they were satisfied but didn't get much more usable information. After she fell asleep the pair went back to the underground for some more information.

After meeting with Elizabeth, they went back to the main building of the manor to Albus's bedroom.

"It seems he knows nothing for now," Albus commented.

Avis sighed. "Master, you're being too relaxed about this. Based on what we heard from those below he heard the voices of the women."

"Yeah but he didn't hear them speak, just groan at the worst." He responded as he crossed his legs on the bed.

"Yes, however, he also possibly saw the binding wrap around the chest of Natalie. We can't discount the fact he knows that one of the kidnappers was a woman."

With his legs still off the bed, he laid his upper body down.

"Don't beat around the bush, Avis. You're saying we should kill him."

"The only one beating around the bush was you, my Lord. You seem insistent on not bringing up the option after visiting him."

Albus didn't respond as he stared up at the ceiling.

She sighed. "Master please dec-"

She was cut off by her own master. "Let's do it. I'll think of something but let's do it tomorrow. But…"

Avis rolled her eyes.

"Only if he acts too suspicious." He continued.

"Very well. After all, killing him too hastily could lead to suspicions from those of his group left behind. And killing all of them more troublesome." She walked over to the bed to sit beside him. "So what do you suggest, Master?"

"Well…"

Despite saying he was going to be the one to think of something, the night went on without anything being done.

"Ugh, come on Avis that one has to be good?"

"Master, do you really think having him be accidentally killed while the two of you attempt to spy on the maids showering is plausible?"

"I mean if you're the one throwing something. Besides I might as well let him die while seeing something go-"

She covered his mouth. "Master, please stop talking."

"If my ideas are so bad why don't you suggest something!" he shouted at her.

She placed her finger on her chin in thought. "By the way, master, we haven't explored the base of those mongrels that attack every so often, have we."

"What? No, there'd be no point. If they're not around, our pickups would be way more suspicious."

"Then how about we invite him with us to explore their base? If you do decide on killing him, we can say they killed him when we entered a skirmish. Besides, we are already curious about their origins are we not?"

"Well, I suppose that could work." He said dejectedly.

"Good. Then I'll visit him as soon as he wakes up."

"No," he said. "I'll do it."