According to the situation in memory.

Ronald brought Nicole and Costate to the base of the cultists he knew about.

However, a month had passed.

This residence, which looked unchanged from the outside, was already deserted; the highly cautious cultists had long moved elsewhere, with no habit of staying in one place for long.

"Costate, in this situation, can your spells still track them?"

Ronald turned his head to look at the maid, but she could only shake her head regretfully:

"Sir, I'm very sorry."

"They've been gone too long, and there were too many people involved for me to continue tracking under such circumstances."

"..."

Seeing that even Costate was at a loss this time,

Nicole immediately turned to Ronald upon hearing this:

"Ronald, do you know of any other bases of these cultists in Waterfall City?"

"I do know one more place." Ronald admitted with a nod.

But as he answered, his expression already indicated to everyone that this wasn't good news:

"But that place is located precisely in the southeast of Waterfall City."

"Southeast direction..."

Nicole instantly realized the location of the base Ronald was referring to.

"The base you mentioned, is it in the ruined part of the city?"

Ronald nodded in response: "Yes, do you want to go have a look?"

"..."

Nicole thought for a few seconds and finally chose this place:

"Let's try it first. We really have too few clues on hand now."

A few words decided the next target.

The three of them turned and began to walk towards the southeast of Waterfall City.

In fact, if Ronald wanted, he could also go find Entrode agents to ask for some information, but due to a series of incidents before, Ronald didn't want to get involved with those people at all now.

As for Nicole in the team...

Due to her identity as an investigator of Grede, she couldn't possibly seek help from this group of people.

So, faced with the current situation,

The three of them could only abandon official channels and rely completely on their own abilities to achieve their goal.

The night deepened—

Ronald and his two companions, considered absolute powerhouses on the mysterious side, continued walking southeast of Waterfall City this night.

Meanwhile, as time passed, the Entrode agency also took action.

After all, the abilities and identities of Ronald and his companions were quite exceptional.

If they had gone out together in the daytime, it would have been fine, but at night, these individuals, who are supposed to protect Waterfall City and Entrode workers, couldn't possibly let such a thing go unchecked.

When Ronald and the others reached the ruins in the southeast part of Waterfall City,

an interesting scene appeared on the street.

While Ronald and his companions continued calmly into the city district, frequent sightings of figures in coats and hats following them remained a block or several buildings behind, continually trailing them.

This felt as though Ronald and his companions were some important figures in disguise, with guards all around secretly protecting their safety.

Even more interesting was that,

the answers Ronald and his companions sought might just be known by the Entrode agents surrounding them.

But due to various realistic restrictions,

they had to forsake the answers so close by and instead search for the truth themselves.

"..."

Ronald felt a bit bemused by the current situation.

As he led his two companions into the ruins on their search, he couldn't help but jest with Nicole:

"Nicole, if something like this happened in Berlenwig, would the investigation bureau send this many people to surround it?"

Upon hearing Ronald's question, the investigator girl glanced around.

Though she saw no shadows, Nicole knew that she and Ronald were surrounded by Entrode agents.

Nicole smiled:

"The investigation bureau wouldn't have the luxury to send out so many people at once unless they're rounding up particularly dangerous individuals or responding to a critical citywide incident. Otherwise, such a situation wouldn't happen!"

Having answered Ronald's question, Nicole felt it wasn't quite enough.

She specifically gestured with her fingers, adding:

"For important figures, we typically only dispatch one or two squads to guarantee basic safety. After all, even a powerful caster must consider whose territory they're causing trouble in within Grede's domain."

"..."

Nicole's words held an air of matter-of-factness.

For this explanation, Ronald had a different view.

He recalled his encounters in both Berlenwig and Springs cities, muttering strangely:

"In Grede, I don't think things are that scarce."

"That's because of your special circumstances!"

This time, Nicole was unexpectedly sensitive; hearing Ronald's jab, the investigator girl was slightly edgy.

"For ordinary people... no, normal casters living in Grede, even after a year or two, they wouldn't encounter any trouble or extreme situations. The reason you think otherwise is because the people and circumstances you deal with are quite unusual!"

"Think about it—cultists, senior church figures, and ancient secret organizations like the [Nine Commandments Conclave]. What regular caster gets involved with these things?"

"And... and..."

Saying this, Nicole's voice suddenly paused.

The girl hesitated, her face a bit conflicted. After a few seconds, she finally pointed at herself:

"And also us investigators."

"Though I hate to admit it, regular casters do see us as harbingers of bad luck."

"Like when the bureau once enlisted public casters for assistance, Ronald, you were one of the rare exceptions in Berlenwig!"

"..."

Ronald felt a bit bemused; he didn't expect Nicole to be so concerned about this.

Though he had to admit the investigator girl had a point, so he nodded with a bitter smile:

"Alright, I guess that's on me."

"But if I could help it, I'd avoid involving myself with such matters. Who doesn't want a peaceful and stable life?"

This comment made Ronald recall his early experiences of crossing over.

In truth, thinking carefully, the first mysterious person he met in this world was Elloise, the senior Entrode agent.

If an analysis of interpersonal relationships were necessary,

then indeed, from the start, he was on the wrong track!

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