The sun sank behind the walls of the city, leaving traces of purple and pink in the sky. Long shadows danced on the cobbled streets, casting a mysterious atmosphere over the city of Glafelden. The candlelight flickered behind the windows of the houses, inviting the townsfolk to cease their activities and embrace the peacefulness of the evening. The aroma of fresh bread and burning wood carried on the wind, creating a warm and inviting ambiance. The bustle of the townspeople diminished with the passing of time. While some places remained lively—like the restaurants, bars, and the main streets—the majority of the city had calmed down as night fell.
However, this bustling scene would not last much longer. The Elitist Knights had imposed a curfew starting at nine o'clock. No one was allowed to be outside after the designated hour, or they would be arrested and thrown into prison for a full month. Dozens of people had already been caught under this new rule, even though they were not the ones being specifically targeted.
The Elitist Knights had divided their forces into different sections. One group worked as intelligence agents, gathering information on the townsfolk, while another group stood guard at the city gates during the day, alongside the regular city guards. The rest of the force patrolled the streets of Glafelden at night, apprehending anyone suspicious. Despite their limited numbers, the Elitist Knights performed their duties efficiently.
Although the night progressed in tandem with time, Guffy still worked in the mayor's office. The thin, long-mustached man was busy going over the list of suspicious individuals being watched by the Elitist Knights. After a moment, he crumpled the papers and tossed them aside. He felt frustrated after discovering that the name "Anggi"—the target he had successfully identified—was not on any of the lists.
For a moment, Guffy doubted the authenticity of the information he had received. However, since it came from Prince Alucard's trusted spies, he had no choice but to trust it.
Searching for someone with an unfamiliar name in Glafelden should have been easy, as few people likely had the name "Anggi." Unfortunately, this had become difficult because that name did not appear in any of the city's archives. It wasn't listed in the population census, nor in the records of students, both current and graduated, at the Bureau of Education, nor in any criminal records at City Hall.
"If that's the case, this Haier-Elvian girl must have entered the city secretly," Guffy explained to Fritz, who was sitting on the sofa.
"Is that so? No wonder she's not in any of the city's records. How she entered is a mystery. According to procedure, visitors without proper identification should report to the City Guard," Fritz murmured, his expression serious.
"Maybe that's why she rarely socializes with the locals. As a result, very few people have heard of her name."
"You're right, Captain! Even though we've asked many people and gathered information, no one knows anyone by the name 'Anggi.' It seems that girl is hiding in the shadows of the city. It's incredibly hard to get information about her." Fritz let out a long sigh. "When we were tracking the leader of the 'Burges' criminal syndicate, it only took us a few hours to find their hideout. But now, three days isn't enough to track down a girl."
"But that doesn't mean she'll be hidden forever, right? Surely, there's been a time when she's gone outside and interacted with someone. It's that person we need to find. This is just a matter of time," Guffy said, staring out the window.
"What if the girl has realized our purpose and fled the city?" Fritz countered.
"You've tightened the entry-exit routes at the gates, right?" Guffy asked in a deep voice, as though trying to assert control over the situation.
"I've already done so, Captain!" Fritz replied firmly. "I've ordered the Elitist Knights and the city guards to check the identification of everyone entering and leaving the city, as well as inspecting every cart and its cargo passing through the gates."
Guffy smiled in satisfaction. "Good, that way people without proper identification, like this girl, won't be able to leave the city easily. Yesterday, I rode around the city gates and didn't find a single weak point we could exploit to escape."
"But didn't you say this Haier-Elvian can use magic? What if the girl uses magic to escape the city?" Fritz countered.
"That's a possibility," Guffy said, his voice growing serious. "Our priority now is to trace her whereabouts within the city. Once we know where she is, then we can track her departure."
In the middle of their conversation, a sound of footsteps approached from the stairs. The hurried rhythm of the footsteps was unmistakable. Slowly, the sound grew louder and stopped at the door.
*Knock! Knock!
"Captain! Are you in? I have something to report! It's important!" a voice called from behind the door.
"Come in!"
At Guffy's command, a knight with dark skin entered the room. He gave a respectful salute before reporting. His expression was calm and firm, in perfect harmony with his tall and sturdy build.
"What is it, Corporal Obigris?" Guffy asked calmly, leaning against the backrest of his chair, clearly focused on the knight.
"Report, Captain! We've found someone who knows our target," Obigris said, causing Guffy and Fritz to both stiffen in surprise. Both needed a moment to react.
"Continue!"
"It seems our target, a girl named 'Anggi,' frequently visits the city library. Some of the library staff recognize her as a regular visitor who often borrows books," Obigris continued. "I've also interrogated several staff members to gather more information. It seems they don't know where she's from, what her occupation is, or anything about her background. It appears that our target is very careful to keep her personal information hidden. The one thing they all remember about her is her distinctive habit of always wearing a hood."
"I see. The regular visitors they know must be our target. You said she always wore a hood, right? She might be trying to hide something on her head—her long ears, which are different from a human's," Guffy mused.
"Captain! If she's always hiding her long ears with a hood, does this mean she can't use her illusion magic right now?" Fritz interjected, having been quietly listening to the conversation between Guffy and Obigris.
"Hmm... You're right! Which means, for now, this girl is still unable to use high-level magic. Most deceptive magic requires advanced techniques. In other words—"
"She's probably still in the city!" Fritz cut in, finishing Guffy's thought.
It was uncharacteristic for a subordinate to speak out of turn, and realizing his mistake, Fritz immediately closed his mouth and bowed, apologizing to his superior. However, Guffy didn't mind the interruption. He simply waved his hand dismissively, as if to say it was no big deal.
Guffy then turned his attention to Obigris. "What else have they learned about the girl?"
"One thing, Captain. The staff always mention that she comes and goes from the direction of the western gate," Obigris replied.
Guffy's face hardened. His mouth moved, but no words came out. He didn't know what to say. There was a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips. After three days of fruitless searching, he had finally found a breakthrough for his mission.
Guffy turned to Fritz and Obigris. "Fritz! Obigris! I want you to bring the entire Elitist Knight squad to block off the area around the western gate right now! At dawn, search every house and interrogate every resident. If anyone knows her, separate them for further questioning!"
"Understood, Captain!" both men responded in unison, saluting before quickly leaving to carry out the orders.
Guffy stood up from his chair and walked toward the window. The man with the thin, bicycle-style mustache looked pleased. He had been wanting to carry out this order immediately. However, it was already late at night, and most people had already gone to bed. If he acted now, the reputation of the Elitist Knights would be tarnished in the eyes of the people.
To the common folk, a situation that followed established norms would be considered normal. But any deviation from that norm, any mistake, would be remembered and seen as a flaw. Even if Guffy managed to complete his mission of capturing the Haier-Elvian girl, his reputation would suffer if his actions were seen as disorderly. If his name was tarnished, it would be harder for him to rise through the ranks, no matter how successful the operation.
Guffy thought about this as he stared out the window, contemplating what lay ahead.