From Hogwarts to Strixhaven.

Chapter 492 Investigating the Murder Case

Nine Fingers naturally had no reason to refuse the suggestion.

She would gain an ally who knew everything about the Zantalin Society, and Ivy would gain the freedom to avoid being questioned by the Iron Guards.

Nine Fingers acted swiftly; early the next morning, the adventurers changed their appearance, put on identification, and left the guild hall.

“Frank Mason, please grant me passage to Sharis for pleasure at Dragon Pass…” Gale, with his pockmarked face, asked with great doubt, “Do I really look that thirsty?”

Nine Fingers obtained all sorts of outer city passes, with all sorts of identities and motives, so Ivy used magic to help everyone disguise themselves.

“Relax, darling, that’s just a fake identity.” Asdell’s disguise featured a large beard, which he had personally glued onto his chin to make it look more realistic. “But your face does look like you need to spend money on Charis’s caresses to be able to let loose. And double the amount.”

“Ha! Mine’s for the Doomsday Circus!” Karak flicked her pass. “I had no idea such an interesting group had come to Livington! I really want to go see it! I haven’t done any entertainment in ten years, except for slaying demons and drinking!”

"If it's on my way, sure." Actually, Ivy also wanted to go there for a visit. The guild's bartender said that the Doomsday Circus was a cross-dimensional entertainment group, whose members were all interesting guys from different dimensions.

Ivy wasn't interested in interdimensional beings, but she was somewhat interested in the circus owner.

Thanks to Charlotte's caresses and the Doomsday Circus, two places for seeking pleasure, quite a few citizens did indeed leave the city.

Having passed through the petrified lizard gate guards while shrouded in illusions, and quickly traversed a series of outer city districts, the adventurers finally arrived at the south wing of the Flying Dragon Pass Bridge.

The famous caresses of Charlotte were built on this bridge.

“Don’t rush into having fun, young man.” Jahira stopped Asdalon, who was about to turn around. “Now that we’re in the lower city, come with me. The Harpists have a base here, and we can recruit some more people.”

The Harpists' stronghold that Jahira mentioned is hidden in the Flying Axe of Dunseron. It's an adventurer's supply shop, with a complete range of items from potions and magical weapons to supplies and all sorts of magical arrows, and it's a place where many adventurers gather.

That's why the Harpists chose to set up their base here, making it easier for them to extract information from various people.

"Dansiron's Flying Axe, that name doesn't sound very tree-friendly," Halsin commented. "Can a flying axe really increase logging efficiency?"

“That’s the shop owner’s security measure,” Will, a local from Bode, explained. “The shop owner, Dantheron, has an axe that flies through the air. Every night, that axe automatically patrols the shop, attacking any thieves who try to steal without working for it. It’s said that several thieves have died by that axe.”

"Is it true, Jashira?" Karak asked. "A flying axe! Cool!"

“Hmm… I’d say the truth is far less interesting than the legend. Do you want to hear it?” Jahira pushed open the door of the Dantheron Flying Axe and led the adventurers inside.

As soon as the shop door opened, the owner's voice greeted the customers: "Welcome, esteemed guest. Your presence makes our humble shop feel special—"

“Long time no see, Ensor.” Jahira had removed the disguise magic from her face. “Those behind me are my friends. We were just talking about your throwing axes. You don’t mind if I tell them the truth, do you?”

"My goodness, I thought we could finally open for business, but so many harpists have come!" Ensor Danseron leaned out of the counter, his hands resting on the counter, and looked towards the door. Adventurers were still coming in one after another.

The Ring of Sanctuary created by Ivy isn't particularly reliable, so it's best to act as a group.

Since the monarch has the ability to breach its defenses, it suggests that other mind flayers might be as well. To prevent the influence of mind flayers controlled by the mastermind, it's best to act as a group.

“Every time a new person joins, you have to tell them my secret!” Ensor Dantheron pulled a key from the counter. “Go now! I really hope the Dwarf God will send me a customer who’s willing to pay.”

“I’ll take that as an agreement.” Jahira waved to the adventurers and led the way. “Actually, there’s no flying axe at all, just a flying magic bat. Ensol hired an illusionist to cast illusion spells on the bat every night, making it look like a flying axe. If a stranger wanders in, the bat will automatically chase after them, and that’s how the legend of the flying axe came about.”

“It takes advantage of people’s fear of the unknown.” Minsara nodded reservedly. “In terms of anti-theft measures, it’s quite clever. If he could display the heads of the thieves at the store entrance after killing them, that would be even more clever.”

After passing through the store's general store, Jahira led everyone up a downward ladder to a warehouse facing the Chowsak River.

A few scattered harpists stood in various places, all looking at the senior harpist, Jasira.

Before the adventurers could even express their thoughts on the Harpists' stronghold, a young man with medium-length curly hair took the initiative to greet them.

“A salute to the high-ranking harpist. May the tears of Serene illuminate this meeting.” The young man looked nervous.

"Such a formal greeting?" Jasira raised an eyebrow in confusion. "Are you alright, Gerardus?"

“Yes, yes, high-ranking harpist.” Jahira’s reaction made Gerardus even more nervous, and he repeated, “Standing beneath the tears of Serene.”

Not only Ivy noticed something was wrong, but the other harpists in the stronghold also noticed it.

An older-looking halfling approached Jahira: "Young man, you're just too nervous, Jahira. We've all heard of your great victory over the Supreme God. But what about your other companions? Who are they?"

Gerardus wasn't just nervous; "The Tears of Selenne" was a harpist's code, and he was sending a message to Jahira.

“Calm down, Gerardus.” Jahira winked at his companions, who were still maintaining their disguises. “This harpist looks familiar, doesn’t he? Like our old buddy Marcus?”

Marcus is a traitor to the Flamefist, saying that a female halfling harpist is like a traitor to the Flamefist. Then, without a doubt, the traitor attribute is important.

“Who is Marcus Jahira?” asked Minsk, a large, goofy man who had just jumped down from the ladder, his face contorted in a comical chubby expression. “Do we know him?”

"Oh..." Jasila covered her face, "I'd completely forgotten about you..."

Before the harpists could draw their weapons, lightning bolts from Ivy's fingertips charred them all.

In the scorched air, the imposters reverted to their original forms, the shapeshifters belonging to Orin. "It seems they not only stole your face, but also wiped out all the Harpists in Baldur's Gate." Ivy shook her head mercilessly. "If we don't get rid of Orin quickly, who knows how badly Baldur's Gate will be infiltrated."

"A shapeshifting conspiracy!" Karak nodded in agreement. "A hundred years ago, Salovek used this tactic to replace many nobles and threaten the entire city!"

In response, Ivy commented: "The trick doesn't have to be new, as long as it works."

The two harpists also completed their meeting during this time.

“The followers of Crimson Olin, a bunch of shapeshifters, silently replaced the Harpists in the city and set up such a trap…” Jahira shook his head. “The Order of the Supreme Gods is more troublesome than Sarovock. They will eliminate the opposition first and then replace them with their own people. First the Harpists, then the Guild… Who else but us can fight for Baldur’s Gate?”

“Me? A high-ranking harpist!” Gerardus said anxiously. “I am still a harpist, and I want to help!”

“A great battle is about to begin at Baldur’s Gate. You can survive under another identity instead of dying here,” Jahira advised.

“I want to fight… for those who died… I want their sacrifice to be meaningful!” Gerardus’s eyes reddened as he thought of his comrades who had died in the shapeshifter attack. It was because of their threat that he had chosen to bring the shapeshifters to this stronghold, waiting for Jahira’s visit.

"It's foolish to look for meaning in the dead, kid. That's just nonsense from a storybook!" Jasila's comment made Ivy glance at her.

The connection with the dead makes it difficult for many living people to let go of the past, immersing them in grief all day long, or making them want to do something to comfort their ancestors.

But all of this is meaningless; except for resurrection or being used by necromancy, the dead should not have any effect on the living.

“But a harpist is someone who dedicates their life to childish goals…” Jashira sighed. “The good news is that you won’t be the last harpist I can rely on in the city. The bad news is that all our outposts are no longer usable. Luckily, I didn’t send anyone to contact the liaison points in the city before meeting with you.”

“Jeradus, you’d better rest for a while. We’ll take you with us on the way back.” Jahira patted the young man on the shoulder. “Now, my friends and I are going to investigate the source of these shapeshifters.”

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

“Ilmet, the goddess of suffering.” Will looked up at the simple entrance of the Temple of Mercy. “One of the Three Saints of Justice, the most merciful deity. Who else but a religious fanatic like the followers of Baal would murder his priest?”

The murder of Reverend Logan has caused quite a stir in Livington, attracting not only detectives from the city but also the Doomsday Circus, which is separated from the temple by only a wall.

The adventurers discovered that, in order to verify the qualifications of visitors, they even released a ghoul as a police dog to sniff out the visitors' scent.

If they smell even the slightest trace of blood, they will immediately turn away any customer.

The clergy in the Temple of Mercy were all dressed simply, in patched linen robes and with a hemp rope around their waists, making them indistinguishable from the refugees fleeing the city.

Some refugees who own property in their hometowns appear to be more respectable than these clergy members.

Now, all of Ilmet's servants are in a panic, hiding in various corners and discussing Father Logan's death.

Standing beneath the statue of Ilmet are Sister Giannis and a little elephant wearing a detective hat and a monocle, discussing the case.

With her exceptional knowledge of dissecting corpses and her understanding of the Baal Order, Evil learned of Livington's murder from Flamefist Investigator, who was investigating the cause of Duke Sterme's death, and also heard about her disagreements with Dumbo Valeria.

However, Valeria's opinion was not important, and even Will, the son of the High Duke of Baldur's Gate, had become accustomed to the inaction of the city's official institutions.

After Dumbo and Sister Giannis parted on bad terms, Evil Thoughts immediately surrounded them: "We are investigators from the city. We heard there was a murder here as well?"

Valeria the Dumbo blames Father Logan's death on the refugees sheltered by the Temple of Mercy, and the refugee who was accused of murder also dies.

Due to the inaction of the officials, Sister Giannis naturally became suspicious of the evil thought's identity.

"One case, two teams of investigators?" Sister Giannis asked. "That doesn't seem like Flame Fist's style."

"Uh... because we discovered that this wasn't a simple murder; it's very likely the work of some kind of serial religious madman!" The evil thought immediately found an excuse. "Was Father Logan also missing a hand?"

Sister Giannis's expression immediately changed: "That's right...it seems you really are official personnel...is there anything I can do?"

“Take us to Father Logan’s body, and the refugee who was found with him.”

Before arriving at the Temple of Compassion, Ivy had already discussed the case-solving process with Evil Thoughts, and there was only one step in this process—let the deceased answer for himself.

Information obtained from the Flame Fist investigator confirms that Duke Bellena Stemey's hand was severed before she died. She was poisoned by a paralyzing toxin and could only watch herself die.

Therefore, she must have seen the murderer's true face. However, since her body had already been taken away by the Council of Four, it was impossible to use the dead to make her speak on her own.

However, as long as the murderer uses the same method, the evil intention can use the amulet found in the coffin of old man Yege to make the victim get up and identify the murderer.

As the high priest of the Temple of Mercy, Father Logan was well-loved by his colleagues.

Accepting refugees was his instruction, and all the clergy of the Temple of Mercy accepted them without hesitation.

Therefore, after his death, his body was arranged with great respect, and he was not buried until he received the blessing of another priest.

This provides great convenience for adventurers.

(End of this chapter)