"Good morning, both of you. I hope your drive here was smooth." Iliana said with a smile, standing up from her desk and signalling them to sit down on the sofa.

"Yes, it was.." Juricia said with a smile as her and Stailor took a seat on the sofa while Iliana served them tea and biscuits.

"Well, with the hospitality aside. Iliana, you know that this is the third year of this case re-opening. As far as I've read and understood, the last survivor of that tragedy Alisa only wants the property to be 'to sell every property that The Ranberr's owned, use it to pay the legal fees and donate the rest to charity.'.. I suppose the proof of the actual statement is here as well. Just so you know, this case can be here for a while, the perpetrators have all denied the accusations but there is proof about everything."

"I understand." Iliana said calmly, her expression as calm as water in an untouched lake and her eyes glowing, though the actual reason for this wasn't known to Juricia, thus she took it as 'yearn for justice' or 'fame'.

"Anyways, the judge for the case this time is different from the one from the last hearing. So we can make a few good impressions and get justice." Juricia spoke with a calm look before opening a file and handing a sheet of paper to Iliana. "Just get these things. Usually, these wouldn't be necessary but the judges here are incredibly speciesist so a few safety nets isn't all that bad."

Iliana nodded at Juricia, understanding the importance of safety nets in evidence when it comes to cases like these.

"So.. we need a blood test of Alisa Ranberr? You want to be sure that Alisa is really alive and human." Iliana inquired with a calm look, receiving a nod from Juricia.

"Yes and that's why Inspector Stailor is here. He'll go with you to the Black Market where you'll collect the blood samples in his presence. He has been appointed to this duty as per State Laws." Juricia said calmly before closing the case file.

But this took Iliana by surprise, for most of the investigation over the past few years, she has made sure that only Abel and Eluya were present whenever it was time for blood tests for Alisa but an actual inspector being present means she can't give her own blood.. but she already expected this scenario so she has her own plans.

"Alright. So should we leave now, Inspector Stailor?" Iliana said with a nod and a smile. To her, this was the matter of her life. She only lived to this day so she could get justice for her Family and the maid that died protecting her.

"Ah, yes.. Let's go now if that's what you wish to do." Stailor replied calmly but just as Iliana stood up and turned towards the door, he spoke once again, but this time, in a serious tone as if doubting Iliana. "But before we go.. I have one question, Miss Iliana.. Why is that you wish to pursue this case despite there not being any merit to your agency.. If it's fame then you already have Eluya and Abel, the current Rank #4 and #7 detective of the Empire and you yourself aren't that far off, Ranking #1355.. Why do you pursue a case whose judgment has remained unchanged for the last 3 years of your agency handling the case?"

Iliana stopped in her tracks and she didn't dare look back at Stailor. Her heart was already weak to questions like these and without the support of Abel or Eluya, she was particularly weak.

"It's because of personal reasons, Inspector Stailor.. I am not inquiring about your past considering you specifically chose to step into this case, am I now?" Iliana was on the edge of a breakdown but she held herself tightly. "My words might come off as 'rude' but I can assure you that I am not walking towards the path of Injustice. Justice is all I want.."

"Now if you care to drive me to the Black Market, we can get a sample quickly." Iliana said calmly, her back still facing Juricia and Stailor.

"My apologies.. I was just confirming something but it seems that wasn't the case." Stailor apologized before bowing apologetically.

Meanwhile, Juricia was dumbstruck by this sudden exchange of aggressive words between the two. She knew pretty much everything about Stailor and knew why he wanted to join the investigation. But Iliana was still an enigma to her, her reasons were all very generic but to her, Iliana was giving solid evidence so it wasn't much of a concern if she was hiding something sinister.

If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

"I'll be waiting for you two here.. I need to prepare my script for the court." Juricia said calmly before lightly pushing Stailor. "Inspector Stailor, I advise you to not get nosy into someone's past."

"Alright.. Miss Iliana, please follow me." Stailor said calmly as he walked in front of Iliana as they exited the Agency, leaving Juricia alone there.

"Let's head to the Pharmacy nearby to collect the Blood collection kit." Iliana said calmly as she sat in the back of the car while Stailor drove. She wanted to make this collection as normal as possible, as risking her identity as the real Alisa can have its own risks, the ones she wasn't willing to make.

While Stailor and Iliana handled the blood collection, Juricia was sitting on the sofa in the Agency, her expressions were pretty complicated, showing both excitement and anxiety.

"The case.. though fool proof because of the evidence. The Judges are very hesitant of changing judgments passed in the past.. I hope the new one is at least willing to listen. After all, the only demands are to sell the property at a reasonable rate, pay the taxes and legal fees and donate the rest to charity.. Even in moments like these, This Alisa Ranberr is trying to be helpful to the very people who killed her family.. I guess that's what Ranberr's are at their core" Juricia mumbled to herself when a group of three people entered the agency.

"Oh sorry but the detectives are go—" Juricia stopped midway as she noticed the Empire's State Security Badges on the three individuals.

"I'm sorry sir that I didn't recognise esteemed individuals like you. Advocate Juricia at your service." Juricia said as she stood in an attentive position with her hand on her chest and her head turned down.

Then the Shortest of the three spoke, as he gazed around the agency while the other two, one of which was a buff guy and the other was a girl, slightly taller than Juricia herself, with all three of them having black hair. "Advocate Juricia, at ease.. We are from a new group made under the Emperor's watch and this is our first public mission. Do you mind answering a few questions?"

"Yes, sir. It's an honor to serve the Emperor." Juricia said calmly, while bubbles pop in her chest as any meaningful statement in a case where the Emperor's direct command is present, is a good way to get fame.

"Advocate Juricia, do you know of any Vampire or any God's High Priest or Proxy?" The man spoke calmly as he closed his eyes.

"No, sir. I don't know of any such individuals." Juricia said calmly, as a bead of sweat fell from her forehead.

"She's telling the truth, brother. At the very least, she's unaware of the truth even if it's happening around her." Said the girl who was roaming around the agency, smelling a few things but a disappointed look is obviously on her face.

"Yes, and this place doesn't reek of vampires, Big Brother. At least not the weak ones.. Could be that a 'numbered one' is present." Spoke the taller guy of the three individuals.

"Ah, I see.." The shorter one, who is the biggest of the three guys present sighed before questioning Juricia once again. "This agency, what detectives own this place?" He asked, as the other two beside him returned back to stand behind him.

"Detective Abel, Eluya and Iliana, Sire. Current Rank 7, 4 and 1355, respectively." Juricia said with a calm and confident tone. After all, this agency is known for its small yet efficient detective work.

"Oh.. I see. So they are already under His Majesty, the Prince's Watch." The short guy spoke before sighing.

"We'll take our leave now, Advocate Juricia. Keep this conversation hidden from the public." After saying this, the three individuals left and Juricia finally relieved as the three of them left.

"I was so scared.. Wait, but if they are looking for a proxy or Numbered Vampire.. Isn't that a threat to the Empire itself?.. Oh well, it doesn't concern me yet." Juricia muttered to herself before sighing. "Well, I'll forget about this conversation like they told me to."

Meanwhile, outside the agency, the three individuals entered a car and sat down with a sigh. The Shortest one, Codename: Delta, spoke to the taller one, Codename: Zeta and the girl, Codename: Epsilon. "Report to Alpha and Beta, we found nothing."

"But Brother.."

Zeta tried to speak but was interrupted by Delta.

"Just do as I say.. Don't report our findings to anyone but Omega herself. She's the only one that can handle this, if this is even handleable."

"Brother, are you saying that even us, The Corps of Seven, who took down the Second Proxy of Obrax won't be able to handle this.." Epsilon said with a surprised look on her face, shocked by Delta's call on the matter.

"Yes.. Though we didn't find any traces of Vampires or any High Priest or Proxy, that agency reeked of 'Harmony'.. Only Omega has the clearance to deal with it." Delta spoke calmly before he began driving back to the hotel, in the Southern District they were staying in with the other 4 members of the Corps of Seven.

"And besides, even if there was a Numbered one or a proxy here, the 'Harmony' would make it so that we couldn't fight there. So let us leave that for Omega." Delta spoke calmly as he continued to drive, in short, he just didn't want to be scolded by Omega, the strongest of the Corps of Seven.