This is terrible...

   We finally reached our place of investigation—the local slums.

   The change in atmosphere was immediate. The lively hum of the shopping district had been replaced by a suffocating stillness, broken only by the occasional murmur of voices from shadowed doorways. The streets here were narrow and uneven, with cracked cobblestones swallowed by dirt and mud. The air was heavy with the smell of rot, stale alcohol, and unwashed bodies, clinging stubbornly to every breath. Makeshift shacks leaned against each other for support, their wood warped and splintered, their roofs patched with mismatched scraps of metal and cloth.

   Lilith’s eyes swept across the scene, her expression twisting in visible disgust. 

   “This is… awful. I can’t believe a place like this exists in Silverbane’s lands. All the reports they send to the capital informed only about how well they’re developing...”

   I glanced around at the crumbling walls and gaunt faces peering out from the shadows. 

   “It’s not that hard to predict. People often say that when a country grows richer, everyone living in it should enjoy better lives. But in reality…” 

   I let my gaze settle on a group of barefoot children rummaging through a pile of trash. 

   “…reality isn’t that colorful. The truth is, the rich just keep getting richer, while the poor drown deeper in their own misery.”

   That’s why foundations like the one run by Victoria are so important. There should be more people like her. But… I already know from my own experience, that too many people are just selfish creatures.

   “So, what exactly are we looking for?” Lilith’s voice cut into my thoughts.

   “Anything suspicious—” I replied without hesitation. But as my eyes roamed over the street—the shifty movements in the alleys, the closed shutters with whispers leaking from behind, the desperate glances exchanged between strangers—I realized that here, almost everything qualified as suspicious.

   I exhaled sharply. “Let me rephrase. Right now, the only way to fix out all our problems is by destroying the Silverbane family in a ‘peaceful’ way.”

   Lilith’s brows furrowed. “What do you mean by ‘peaceful way’?”

   “I've read the Territorial Law last night, and I found that if the family managing a sub-territory is caught committing a heavy crime, they’ll be held responsible. Their title and assets will be taken away by the clan until a new successor is chosen to manage the sub-territory.”

   Lilith blinked, connecting the dots. “So… if we use that law, the Silverbane family will lose all their authority, along with the control over their shops. And all of that would be transferred to our Clan?”

   “Exactly.”

   Her lips pressed into a thin line, and I caught the faint trace of disapproval in her expression. 

   “That sounds... as if you are planning to set them up. Is that your plan?”

   I shook my head. “No. That will be our plan B. For now, I'm planning to find some real evidence. That’s why we’re here—to find something useful. After all as this one saying goes: If you want to hide a tree, plant it in the forest. By going with that analogy: If we want to find the evidence of commiting a crime, we have to go somewhere, where the law doesn't matter.”

   Lilith’s posture relaxed slightly. “I see… but finding something specific here might be difficult.”

   “That’s why we should start searching right away,” I said, glancing down the winding streets that branched off from where we stood. Then a thought struck me. “Since you guys decided to tag along, we might as well split into two groups to cover more ground.”

   “I’ll go with Bel. Luna, you will go with Lilith. Please make sure she doesn't do anything stupid.”

   "Understood. You can leave her in my hands." She said with graceful bow.

   "What did you mean by that?! Who do you take me for?"

   "Reckless person who does things without thinking it over."

   "Wow... You know that saying things like that without hesitation might hurt, right?"

   “Anyway,” I said, ignoring her complains. “Let’s move on. We don't have a whole day.”

   "Hey! Don't ignore me!"

   With that, we split into our pairs and went our separate ways, each vanishing into the maze-like streets of the slums.

* * *

   We moved quietly through the slums, my eyes flicking over every detail. The buildings here were nothing more than crumbling shells of what they once might have been—walls stained black from years of neglect, windows either broken or covered with whatever scraps people could find. The cobblestone streets were uneven and littered with refuse, and the air carried the mingled stench of rot, smoke, and hopelessness.

   Every now and then, I caught glimpses of people watching us from the shadows. Thin, wary faces peered from behind cracked shutters or torn curtains, but they vanished the moment I looked their way. No one here wanted trouble, and no one trusted strangers.

   We checked corners, backdoors, abandoned stalls—anything that looked even remotely suspicious. But so far, nothing stood out. It was all the same: dirt, decay, and people trying to survive.

   As we made our way down a narrow alley, the light dimming between the looming walls, Bel’s voice broke the silence.
“Big brother… is there anything we can do for these people?”

   I shook my head, keeping my gaze ahead. “No. Not yet. But if our plan works out, we’ll definitely do something about this place. I already have a few ideas.”

   Bel smiled faintly. “As expected, big brother is amazing.” 

   Then, after a pause, “By the way, big brother… can I ask something?"

   "Hm? Sure go ahead. Something happened?" 

   "No, It's just... why are you so harsh on Lilith?”

   I slowed a little, my steps echoing off the walls. 

   “Well... Mostly because I’ve met someone like her before. Someone who goes with their own sense of justice without thinking about the consequences. She doesn’t think twice—she just does things. It was the same when she asked us to help with this case. And when something doesn’t go her way, she just waits for someone else to help her… like in the shopping mall.”

   That’s probably why Rex is so worried about her. If she keeps acting like that, someone’s going to get hurt.

   I glanced at Bel. He looked troubled, his brows furrowed. I reached over and ruffled his hair. “But she’s still a friend. I’m just worried about her, that's all.”

   “Okay.” His smile slightly returned.

   It lasted only a moment before his nose twitched. “Big brother… something smells weird here.”

   I stopped. “Did you find something?”

   He sniffed again, his tail flicking behind him. “Yes, something like… iron?”

   I breathed in, and the metallic tang hit my senses instantly. I froze, my stomach tightening. “It's not iron. It's a blood.”

   Without a word, I followed the scent, my steps quickening. It led us deeper into the backstreets, through passages where the air grew heavier, until we reached a narrow, almost hidden alley. Trash bags were piled high on both sides, overflowing with filth. The smell of blood was stronger here—sharp enough to burn the back of my throat.

   I scanned the piles until I found the source. Several of the bags were stained dark, their shape… wrong.

   “Stay back,” I told Bel, my voice firm.

   He stepped away without protest, watching me closely.

   I crouched beside the nearest stained bag, my hand hovering over it for a second. My gut told me I wasn’t going to like what I saw, but I gripped the top anyway and pulled it open.

   The sight inside made bile rise in my throat. My chest tightened, and I had to force myself not to recoil.