Robert handed over the locations of five places to Leila and Arcangelo. They were places that were suspected to be residences.

"The investigative agency believes that one of these five places is a hideout, three are traps, and the remaining one is a laboratory."

"A hideout and a laboratory?"

"Yes. To be precise, it would be close to a place where poison is produced."

Upon hearing Robert's words, Leila naturally became skeptical.

"You figured that out, but why are you sending us? Wouldn't it have been okay for us to infiltrate as soon as we figured it out?"

"The creator's combat abilities are better than expected."

"How good are they exactly...?"

"Under normal circumstances, we would have deployed more people, but since it needs to be kept confidential, we decided it would be better to leave it to Urseau and Cassilia investigators."

There was nothing particularly strange about Robert's words. However, Leila felt that something was off.

She couldn't exactly put her finger on it, but she had a strange feeling in her gut. She felt like there was something he wasn't telling her.

"Maybe it's because of this."

Leila raised her fist, feeling a surge of energy.

"Damn it, let's investigate separately! That's what we'll do!"

"You speak quickly. If you had said that earlier, we might have been able to investigate one or two more places."

"Good grief, Chief. What have I done to deserve such misery? I have been nothing but good up until now..."

"..."

Leila meant every word. As for Arcangelo, he was on the brink of disaster, especially in the areas that ticked her off the most.

"This is terrible. It's a nightmare..."

"Do you usually say that in front of that person?"

Arcangelo's expression became slightly uneasy.

"I guess I'm fortunate that I know I'm a nightmare, Detective Urseau."

"I knew your combat skills were lacking, but do you have no manners as well?"

"Who made me like this?"

Leila rolled her eyes.

Ever since Robert gave him the mission, she had to endure Arcangelo's complaints.

"Stay apart and complete the mission. Don't you realize that's more efficient? Honestly, you don't seem to be of any help in battle."

"Why are we wasting time investigating something in this place without even a creator, especially for so long?"

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'Is he trying to trigger my neurasthenia?'

I suffered so much that I had this thought.

"Enough. Fine. Since this is work, let's just do what we need to do."

Leila took out a map with checkmarks. She had confirmed two locations so far, both of which were traps, so the remaining two locations were likely the hideout and the laboratory.

And she had a rough idea of where the laboratory was.

"I'll go this way, so it would be best for Detective Urseau to check one of the remaining two places."

"Do you think the laboratory is more likely?"

"Probably. There isn't enough space in the other places to create a secret location."

If Robert was right, the hideout and the laboratory were separated.

"To be honest, that part doesn't make sense to me. Usually, these people's homes are their labs."

But Leila didn't understand all the criminal's thoughts, so she just nodded. Delving too deeply would make her a monster herself.

"If the laboratory is there, wouldn't it be better for me to go there?"

"Do you think Detective Urseau can get more information there than I can?"

"......"

"Really?"

Arcangelo didn't answer, which meant no.

Leila Cassilia may not have the combat skills of Arcangelo Urseau, but she excelled in gathering information through infiltration and disguise. In fact, she was arguably the best among all the current investigators.

"This mission is to capture or eliminate the creator, but we also need to obtain information about 121. There is still no antidote for that damn poison."

121 was an extremely unique poison.

Unlike other poisons that attack the body, this poison attacked the waveform of the person.

"It's a special power that allowed the waveform of a merfolk to become that of a human. There is still much to uncover about this mysterious energy."

"It was difficult to create an antidote. Therefore, we had to apprehend the creator for his sake."

"There is no guarantee that another poison won't be made again."

"I understand. There is no need to say more."

"Also, there is a condition for our separate investigation."

Leila looked straight into Arcangelo's eyes.

"When the creator is found, leave a radio transmission immediately. Whether I discover him or a Urseau investigator does, it is the same."

"Do you think I will be the one to fall victim to him?"

"It's better than being careless and dying. Life doesn't come back once it's gone."

Arcangelo scowled as if his pride was hurt. Leila observed him doing so.

"To be honest..., it's disappointing."

Until now, she thought he was a good investigator, even if he tortured her.

As the heir of the Urseau family, who is one of the top ten families, he has never used his family's power to press people down. He proved himself solely with his own abilities.

But what is this behavior now?

"Transmit every 30 minutes. Even if you find the creator, transmit it. I won't accept any suggestion of doing a separate mission."

"Are you ordering me now?"

Leila ignored his words.

"I honestly don't understand. You shouldn't make it so that it affects me even if I don't want to be involved in this."

"...."

He was strange today.

"Okay. Are you going to do it or not?"

".... Transmit, I will."

"Okay. Let's do it that way then."

Leila immediately turned and walked towards a place that could be considered a laboratory. Arcangelo watched her for a moment and then went his own way.

".... Something is still off."

So, he didn't know.

"Should I follow her? No, no. Checking the laboratory comes first."

Leila had some thoughts but stopped.

".... I still have a bad feeling."

* * *