Dear Melinda Joiner,

Although it was decided that your time with the Continental Investigator Agency had come to an end after the debacles spawned from your unique circumstances, I believe you hold unique insights into specific matters.

If you have the time, I’d hope to refer a case to your independent practice regarding a recent theft reported by Baron Garretti Berda and his recently wedded wife, Baroness Fiona Berda.

The Baron wishes to speak in private at the Berda Estate regarding the matter, so unfortunately I do not have further details to include.

If you have not the time, feel free to disregard this letter, however, I am eager to see what results you come across.

Signed,

Chief Investigator Clark Nopaly

-A recent letter sent to the abode of Molly Joiner, ex-investigator of the Continental Investigator Agency.

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I glanced up from the letter up at the large, golden gate in front of me. The stylized initials of the Berda Family were familiar, something anyone in this part of the city would recognize.

Zarna had business elsewhere, although she’d offered to join me. I, uh, didn’t think I needed her? Something about the offer was nice, but I had only met the woman that morning. That really wasn’t a good foundation for a working relationship.

‘It’s a good basis for a different kind of relationship though!’

Shut up!

Regardless, I was excited to finally have a chance to investigate something again. A real mystery! Solving a theft was a good way to get back into the saddle and it paid really well. The only, uh, problem was…

“So, uh, how do I get inside?” There weren’t any guards around to open up the gates, protective runes to swear a sacred oath to, or really much of anything to go off on for a method of entry.

‘Those vines look climbable. To our left.’

I looked over at the patch of greenery twisting around the gilded iron fence of the Berda estate, long thick vines that had crawled around and between the sections of the outer perimeter of the grounds, “Oh, good eyes, Frank.”

‘What can I say? I know what and what not to climb.’

I took a step over to the vines when I realized what I was doing, “Wait, fuck, I can’t just break into my employer’s estate, Frank!”

‘Maybe it’s a test? Make sure you're the real deal?’

“I doubt that,” I took another step towards the vines, my curiosity tugging my gaze towards them. It was actually a little odd for the vines to be this unruly around a noble estate, but some went for that kind of aesthetic.

“Uh, ma’am?”

I shot up to my feet, “Ok!”

Blinking, I silently looked over at an older looking man on the other side of the gate, dressed in an efficient, black vest fitted over a silken white shirt. I noticed he had a very nice pair of pants too, a lot of pockets that seamlessly blended in with the rest of the material to give the illusion of a sleek dress pants.

And he was looking at me with his heavy white eyebrows furrowed in no small amount of suspicion as he, likewise, took in my appearance.

I nonchalantly dusted at my arm, trying to give my best smile. I’d come dressed up in my old CIA uniform. They, well, they had never asked me to give it back after the first time they asked, so it’d been gathering dust for the last few months. Of course, I’d cut off the CIA patches, uh, which were illegal to wear if you weren’t a member.

‘We look hot!’

It made me look professional, I thought in protest. Even if it was a size too big for me, something that the agency had planned to fix before my, uh, parting.

“-here? Ma’am? Ma’am!”

I blinked, “Ok, uh, sorry. What?”

The man was frowning now, “Do you have business with the Baron, ma’am? We’re quite busy and we aren’t accepting unscheduled guests at this time.”

‘Ooh, I like his stern older man vibes.’

‘Any vibes you don’t like, Coco?’

‘Yeah, greasy hobo vibes, Frank.’

I swallowed, “Uh, I’m Molly Joiner?”

The older man sniffed, readjusting his vest, “Was that a question? Are you uncertain about who you are?”

Well, I was getting a tad uncertain about where I was. No, no, this was important! I just had to take a deep breath and remember why I was here. To solve a mystery!

I coughed, “I’m Molly Joiner, the independent investigator the Baron’s case got referred to by the CIA.”

He took me in for a moment, before he nodded, “Yes, we were informed you’d be of some help. Please, allow me to open the gate and I’ll escort you to the Baron.”

‘He can escort me anywhere!’

I ignored my most salacious spirit and took a deep breath as the butler, I assumed, opened up the gate for me.

It was time to solve a mystery.

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Or answer a thousand questions.

“And what exactly is your Class, Investigator Joiner?” Benjamin Abert, the butler, had questioned my attire and my pedigree long before he actually got my Class.

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Exhausted, I blew a messy bang out of my face and kept my answer short, “Medium. Level 37.”

I wasn’t happy that he’d made a big deal about poking around in my background.

“I see. And how will such a Class aid in my employer’s interests?”

‘Holy shit, I’m this close to tagging in and punching this guy.’

Please don’t, I really needed this job. Annoyingly invasive butler or not.

“Well, Iunno,” I eventually shrugged, “I wasn’t exactly clued in to what actually happened except that it involved a theft.”

We’d been walking through the empty yard for a while now, mostly at Benjamin’s snail pace. It had to be intentional with all these pointed and insulting questions he was throwing my way. Even Coco had lost interest in his ‘stern older man vibes’ eventually.

The butler sniffed, sounding faintly amused, “We are keeping the situation very private, not even the other employees, even myself, have been allowed to leave until the matter has been settled to keep news from spreading.”

That explained how empty everything was. I’d thought I’d see a gardener around or something, some kind of groundskeeper. Hell, I was pretty sure the Berda had small homes for some of their trusted employees and their families. Were they keeping all the kids inside?

I scratched my head, “Ok, well, when I get a better idea of the situation, I’ll be able to let you know how I can help, ok?”

“I’d thought you experienced enough to have an understanding of your own general capabilities, but if not, then yes, we shall wait until you are informed of the situation.”

I felt like I was back in the academy, “Ok.”

Eventually, we made it to the entrance to the main household of the estate, a large two-wing abode that towered upward about two stories from my estimate. However, while I’d seen a glimpse of the household from the gate, I could pick out a few new details.

One of the large front windows, with tinted green glass, had been shattered outward, the scatterings of glass still glinting in the sun amongst the grass.

I stopped upon noticing it, tilting my head, “Uh, ok?”

“Yes, unfortunately I can’t have the groundskeepers clean that until the situation is resolved.”

Ok, good, this was a part of everything. I mean, I’d thought it was, but assuming things was a dangerous hobby that I tried to indulge in moderation.

‘Looks like someone beat a hasty retreat.’

I stepped a little closer, examining the shattered panes of glass. They were really well made, some high quality glass you only see in places like this. Some of the shattered remains looked a little odd though, darkened and scorched by a fire.

“Come along, investigator, there will be time to evaluate the premises after meeting with the Baron.”

“Oh, uh, ok,” I cursed my tongue as I made to follow. My nerves were really beginning to get to me and, well, I really couldn’t mess this up. This was my chance to…well, actually do something? Maybe if I did a good enough job, the CIA would take me back?

‘Yeah! That’s the spirit! We’ll get our job back in no time!’

I smiled despite my growing worry over that little hope. I’d learned a long time ago it was better to deal with the now then hold out hope for the later.

“Welcome, Miss Joiner,” Benjamin opened up one of the large wooden double doors of the main entrance, “To the magnificent Berda household.”

Dusting at my clothes, I swallowed down the hard lump in my throat and stepped inside.

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If you’ve seen one gaudy mansion, you’ve basically seen them all. They all tried to be different, tried to spice it up with some unique reference to some ancient heritage, hell, some of them even managed to get me to double-take, but…

The Berda household wasn’t really one of them? I mean, ok, the welcoming room was large and opulent, with beautiful checkered marble floors and a mahogany staircase that fancily winded up to the second floor of the abode, but it was still just the standard noble aesthetic that had been popular for far too long.

“Uh, nice house,” I wasn’t feeling like getting into a deep discussion with the family butler about how standard their house was.

“Of course. Here,” My thoughts were brought up short as he pulled a cup of amber liquid and offered it to me politely, “A drink to enjoy as I go to alert Baron Berda of your arrival.”

I took the drink, taking a sip as he walked up the stairs and disappeared from sight. I had been feeling a bit parched and this drink, well, it was really nice. Not quite wine, but still kind of grape-y? It had a nice rich smell, like the scent equivalent to holding a hefty bar of gold in my hand.

‘Oooh, I want more! Let’s go raid the cellar!’

“Yeah, I probably shouldn’t do that, Coco,” I took another sip as I began to walk around the welcoming room, “Still, while the butler is away, the investigator shall play.”

There were plenty of portraits lining the walls depicting the members of the Berda household, from past and future. I wasn’t a historian, but I recognized Thomask Berda, the first patriarch of the family.

He’d been one of the founders of Stratum, alongside the other heads of the royal families, possessed with the same desire to create a prosperous, independent city away from the wars of greater nations. In the stories I’d heard, he was the economic powerhouse of the families, a great wealth that had barely waned as it trickled down to his descendants.

Beautifully tended brown hair that curled at the bangs, barely concealing the sharp glint of intelligence in the green eyes of the historical figure. They said he could appraise the value of any soul he met eyes with, something I wasn’t going to contest.

Classes could get weird in the upper levels.

‘I can’t wait until we get weird!’

“We’re already weird, ok?” I lightly nudged a few books aside and looked behind a few pieces of furniture, “Everything’s so clean in here. No dust at all.”

“Ah, thank you, Investigator Joiner. I’ll let the staff know.”

I definitely didn’t jump at the voice, but I definitely whipped my head up to the top of the stairs where a very familiar man was staring down at me with an amused smile. The same brown hair, the same intelligent eyes, if his chin wasn’t slightly pointier and his eyes weren’t blue, he’d be a convincing stand-in for Thomask Berda himself.

Benjamin stood beside him, looking down on me with far less pleasantness in his gaze, “Introducing Garretti Berda, the patriarch of the household, to his honored guest, Investigator Melinda Joiner.”

I coughed, “Uh, ok, well, Molly is fine, my Lord.”

The Baron descended down the stairs, every inch closer revealing more and more about the man. He dressed nicely, with deep black robes with golden trim, and he walked with practiced ease. I had little doubt that he was a high Level, probably with some sort of social Class.

Stepping off the stairs, the Baron gave an easy smile, “Well, Melinda, we thank you for coming here on such short notice. This is a very private affair and I hope you haven’t felt too estranged.”

‘Oh shit, this guy’s a dick.’

‘All nobles are dicks! Even the ladies!’

I was of the same mind, honestly. I really didn’t like being called Melinda, “Well, uh, ok. It hasn’t been a problem, I guess? So, I’m here now, what’s the problem?”

Because the sooner I solved this mystery, the sooner I could get out of here. Although, I really didn’t want to rush my first real investigation after so long. It’d be kind of like rushing a fine drink of wine! Or, uh, something like that. I didn’t want to sound like an alcoholic.

“Of course,” Baron Berda motioned me to follow, turning and letting his robe billow behind him as he began to make his way up the stairs, “Come, come. This is no place for my sordid tale.”

‘I know a good place for that sordid tail.’

Blushing, I followed the Baron up the stairs into the second story of his massive home, having to take two steps to match the Baron’s gait as he led me to his personal office. The door swung loosely on its hinges and the Baron carefully opened it up for me.

Stepping inside his office, I knew something was horribly, horribly wrong. Stacks of books burnt, portraits toppled, various antiques shattered on the ground, and in the center of the mess, almost left perfectly pristine from the chaos around it, ten shimmering golden coins in a nice stack on the floor.

The Baron spoke in a hushed, serious tone, “An attempt at theft was had, investigator. One that everyone on my property is a suspect in.”