CHAPTER 84: DIVINATION

And so it begins...

The Wandering Nine commences this covert operation the moment we leave the Duke’s Estate, though I already suspect that the mastermind is aware that we’ve been given this task.

Now, we just have to figure out how to outsmart him.

No, not even him.

In the end, this guy likes to remain in the shadows, so he employs people to do his bidding. These goons of his are very fallible and are nowhere as formidable as him, hence they’re the ones we need to outsmart.

But where do we even start?

Of course, it’s the crime scene, which we promptly visit after leaving Duke Ravenwood’s Estate.

Being the leader of the team, as well as the most competent person in terms of investigation and research, I lead the search for clues. Dahlia takes a rather active role in the mission, which is to be expected, considering how this is her family.

As nice as it is seeing her extra motivated, I also have to consider her emotional well-being.

But... Dahlia has sort of shut me out.

I understand.

It’s how she is at times like this, and so I’ve decided to give her some space and let her focus on helping solve the case. As for me, I do my best in trying to piece the clues together.

Naturally, we use the Duke’s resources—since we have his full backing—to help us in our endeavors. This allows us to better utilize Potions and Scout Armaments to cover the area and gather even more clues.

We’ve found the secret path the enemies used to ambush the Duke’s family, and thanks to the Trace Elements left behind from the use of Potions and Armaments, we have also managed to discern how many people attacked and the kinds of Potions as well as Armaments that were used.

Thankfully, with Esther and Rupert with us, the process has been easier than it would have been.

With Esther’s Grimoire and Rupert’s deep expertise, we have gathered so much information from just the Trace Elements left behind from these special items.

The attackers were cloaked with Grade 3 Potions and all wielded at least C Grade Armaments, with their leader having a B Grade Armament.

These are high-level individuals, and they’re very skilled too.

The fact that they didn’t have a single casualty, based on the Scout Armament’s information, as well as the lack of enemy blood or corpse traces, proves that they all managed to escape unscathed.

Such coordination... It’s perfect and beyond reproach.

They had too much information, and they were also competent enough to complete their assignment without much difficulty. Honestly, if it wasn’t for the Trace Elements left behind by their Potions and Armaments, we would have very little to work with.

Thankfully, these Trace Elements have given us the Potions and Armaments the enemies used.

Adding that to all the information we’ve gathered thus far as well, we can finally use our trump card: Ruthina’s Divination.

The ritual occurs at Midnight, and with all the materials specially prepared by the Duke, it is bound to be a success. All the Special Resources are worthy sacrifices, and the Grade 4 Potions that Ruthina will consume have the highest quality.

Even the single Grade 5 Potion, which elevates her already sensitive senses to another level entirely, barely has any impurities.

Needless to say, the Duke has spared no expense in helping us out here.

The most nervous in this ritual is, of course, me.

After all, if this fails, we’ll be grasping at straws to find anything remotely close to the enemy’s hideout or their plans. Since we’re running out of time, Ruthina is our best bet and only chance.

It’s why the Duke even gave out the extremely rare and valuable Grade 5 Potion.

Just for reference... a Grade 3 Potion serves as a valuable Heirloom for even High-Rank Knight Households. Grade 4 Potions are highly valuable, even among the High Nobility, and Grade 5 Potions are Heirlooms to them.

Only a Duke Household or the Royal Family could freely give out a Grade 5 Potion like this.

Based on the world’s current understanding of Alchemy, Grade 6 is the highest Potion that can be brewed and consumed by humans. Those Potions are revered as Masterworks, and anything higher belongs in rumors and legends.

I haven’t heard of a single person having a Grade 6 Potion before.

Because of this, the second most nervous person in our group is Ruthina, since she’s the one who has to consume the Potion.

"I-I’ve never used something so pure before. This Divination... I’m not sure I have the skills to complete it effectively." She says, before I calm her down and encourage her.

Diviners are too rare, and independent ones are even rarer.

The Church keeps most of the select few in its grasp, and they are kept secret from the rest of the world. Even with his immense authority, Duke Ravenwood will have to pay a huge price to use one of the Church’s Diviners.

He wouldn’t mind doing so, but that could cause the information about our progress and plan to leak out to our enemies.

Since Duke Ravenwood is trying to be secretive about the entire affair, he can’t make such a bold move. If he suddenly visited the church or made such a huge move, it’s clear what his intentions would be.

Since Divination exists, there are also Spells and Anti-Divination Rituals that block that power.

We can’t afford to tip off the enemy.

Even though the mastermind already knows that the Wandering Nine is involved in the investigation, and we have a Diviner with us, they’ll be wary of our power. However, Ruthina is famed as the Midnight Diviner for a reason.

She is known to be able to perform Divination to see only into the affairs of the night.

Plus, she has to be present in whatever she divines.

But—

Right now, her powers have been heightened to the max, which means she can also see events of the day, even beyond her own presence.

Our adversaries would have only made preparations based on their understanding of Ruthina’s current abilities, which means her current Divination will catch them by surprise. Everything has been put in place after careful consideration.

In conclusion, I’m fairly confident of this plan, and I let Ruthina know that.

She’s our best bet right now.

In the end, we can only rely on her Divination.

"Alright... I’ll begin!"

After taking all the Potions and sacrificing the Special Resources, ranging from Rank 1 to Rank 4, a bright light ascends into the sky, and she suddenly gasps, entering into a deep trance.

Good.

The Divination has begun!

************

’Where am I...?’

Ruthina looks around her, in the world of white, and finds that it is different from her standard Divination. She looks at her invisible hands, realizing that she has successfully entered into the trance, and with all the clues gathered, she should be able to witness what it is she desires.

Then, just like clockwork, what appears to be frames of events begin to play.

"Yes! Yes! It’s working!"

However, her excitement is cut short.

The frames suddenly freeze almost as soon as they start playing, and darkness begins to taint them with rapid precision.

"No... no, how can this be?!" Ruthina cries out in disbelief. "Anti Divination?! Even in the daytime? But Javier said it wouldn’t be like this..."

Her heart starts to race, and her slightly pointy ears twitch in worry.

It seems the enemy was too cautious.

They actually set up Anti Divination that matches her current strength, preventing her from catching more than a mere glimpse of the events. Even the glimpse she captures is so obscure that she can hardly see anything or remember what she saw.

This is the problem with Divination.

One has to witness sufficient information for an impression to be established. If not, then the Diviner won’t remember anything when they return.

Ruthina is well aware that she won’t even remember being in this white space once she returns.

’The plan failed... oh no!’

Right as she thinks this, a sudden gray mist rises in the white void, creating a deep fog that envelopes everything around Ruthina.

"W-what is this? What’s happeni—?!" Before she can say anything else, her body suddenly freezes as deep fear becomes ingrained in her.

A massive hand suddenly appears—larger than anything she has ever seen.

It is likely bigger than the entire Randalorion Kingdom.

By far!

The hand appears pale and feminine, with the fingernails painted black. This hand reaches for the distorted frames that have been obscured by darkness and plucks out the darkness, almost like it is nothing but a sheet of paper.

Once the darkness is taken away, the fog slowly clears, and Ruthina’s eyes once again witness the frames move accordingly.

Her body still trembles, and she feels a great sense of dread.

Not just because of the appearance of the mysterious hand, but because she can sense something... something watching her from behind.

’Don’t look! Don’t look back! Don’t you dare look back!’ Her instincts scream at her.

The fear is overwhelming—paralyzing.

She can only watch the frames like a helpless, obedient little girl, until the world around her completely fades away.

Then, and only then, does she wake up.

Unfortunately, she remembers nothing of the giant hand or the mysterious gaze that rests on her.

Only the events of the frames remain etched in her memories.

But, for the sake of finding the Duke’s family and saving the Randalorion Kingdom from eventual chaos, that is more than enough.

"I found them!" Gasping loudly, Ruthina takes in large gulps of air as she smiles at everyone who watches her with deep concern and anticipation.

Sweat flows down her skin, with her perspiration glowing under the moonlight like sparkles.

Yet, her smile is brighter than it all.

"I know where the Duke’s family is!"

************

Yes!

The plan succeeded!

Ruthina managed to pull through, just as I knew she would, and everything else has fallen into place right as I intended.

After getting the detailed information from Ruthina, we report back to the Duke and tell him everything. At this point, he covertly requests the aid of the Royal Knights, and with the overwhelming aid of the Royal Faction, we invade the enemy’s hideout and save his family.

The team was largely divided into two.

One was the rescue team: my group.

Second was the assault team: the Royal Knights.

The plan was for them to storm the hideout from the front, while we used the diversion to sneak in from the back to save his wife and two daughters.

Thankfully, they are all alive.

We found them malnourished and frightened, but they are still alive!

After retrieving them, we signaled the Assault Team, allowing them to rain hell down on the enemy’s territory. Since we already know the nature of the Dark Guild, they don’t even attempt to capture anyone alive.

The Royal Knights simply raze them to the ground.

As I watch from a safe distance, witnessing the chaos and destruction, my body shudders at the sheer display of power.

Even with my C Grade Armament and incredible experience, I stand no chance.

Is this what real power looks like?

Setting that aside...

The good news is that the Dark Guild didn’t succeed in instigating war, and the Randalorion Kingdom is once again safe.

Duke Ravenwood still suspects the Noble Faction, but after a lengthy conversation with him, I managed to present strings of evidence that present them as the unlikely perpetrators. The Duke is sensible, so I’m sure he sees my point.

Still, he can be an erratic man.

I hope he gives up the path of revenge—especially if it will lead to war.

With everything neatly resolved, my biggest worry remains the hidden figure who has been orchestrating this whole thing from the beginning. I still don’t know the extent of their intentions, but I do know that their actions will lead to the entire Kingdom suffering.

Both the Noble Faction and Royal Faction will suffer.

That means this person doesn’t belong to any of the Factions—at least, not truly.

Their interests lie in selfish gain.

But...

"... I still don’t know who such a person could be!"