Beyond the kitchen, the mansion had fully come alive.
Soft music drifted through the halls in measured harmony, accompanied by the low murmur of conversation and the soft clink of crystal glasses. Chandeliers bathed the grand hall in warm light, reflecting off the polished marble floors and ornate pillars carved with the crests and symbols of various noble houses.
The event had begun in earnest.
Guests filled the space in carefully arranged clusters, nobles clad in refined attire, visiting dignitaries speaking in hushed tones, and attendants moving with practiced precision between them. Laughter surfaced here and there, restrained but genuine, as servants carried trays of wine and delicate appetizers.
Somewhere within that crowd, the detectives had already taken their places, with crystal glasses in hand, as they made an effort to blend in among the nobility.
Somewhere within that same crowd, Sil Bernard could be seen engaged in conversation with a member of the Vikii family.
To be precise, he was speaking with the woman in her forties. Judging by their relaxed posture and the genuine smiles they exchanged, the conversation appeared warm and cordial, more like a pleasant reunion than a formal exchange between host and guest.
A few nearby nobles cast discreet glances in their direction, well aware that no exchange involving the Vikii family was ever without consequence. Sil Bernard, however, seemed perfectly at ease. He let out a soft chuckle at something the woman said, inclining his head in polite acknowledgment.
"Do enjoy the evening," he said warmly.
With that, he excused himself and stepped away, the practiced ease of a seasoned host returning to him as he moved toward the center of the hall.
The murmur of conversation gradually softened as attendants subtly signaled for attention.
Sil Bernard straightened his posture, lifted his voice just enough to carry, and began to address the assembled guests, welcoming them to the evening's gathering.
He spoke briefly, offering his gratitude to the guests for attending, acknowledging the honored members of the Vikii family, and expressing his hope that the evening would serve as both a celebration and a moment of unity among those gathered.
His words were courteous and measured, spoken with simple politeness and no wish to impose.
Moments later, Jack finally stepped into the grand hall, his expression grave and composed.
"What did I miss?" He murmured, eyes sweeping over the guests as they laughed and dined on the meals he had prepared earlier.
It had taken him two hours to arrive, having scouted the mansion in detail to identify anything that seemed off. The only item that caught his attention was a platinum ring that rested innocently in Sil Bernard's office, inconspicuous yet slightly out of place.
Jack had thought that Sil Bernard's summons was tied to Nyx's financial matters. But after reviewing every file he could access, everything appeared stable.
Curiously, the name on the documents wasn't simply the alias Jack or his real name, Kevin—it was merged into a single entry: Nyx Kevin. This clever combination had made it easy for him to access the records and to hide the fact that he wasn't of noble blood.
The numbers in their account were staggering. The account held over 18,000,000 gold coins and 76,000,000 silver coins, impressive by any standard, enough to surpass several nobles in wealth.
After taking a moment to survey the hall, Jack's gaze finally landed on the detectives at the far edge, with their composure unshaken, despite the weight of their work.
A grin slowly spread across his face. There you are… I thought you'd be panicking, but I was wrong.
Jack allowed himself a brief, satisfied pause, enjoying the scene before him.
"Huh?" Jack exclaimed as a sudden tug from behind caught him off guard
He spun around and saw Melissa, balancing a tray of crystal cups filled with red wine like it was nothing.
"...It's you again?" Jack said, a nervous chuckle escaping his lips, though a small smirk tugged at the corners.
Of course, it's her.
Melissa didn't respond with a smile. Instead, her green eyes fixed on him. "Quit standing around and help me deliver these drinks to the guests," she said flatly.
Jack glanced at the tray, then back at her, realizing that she wasn't joking.
Seriously? This is what I get for showing off?
"Why me?" he asked, shrugging casually.
"...Uh?" Melissa breathed in surprise, blinking at his question.
Jack blinked, waiting for her answer as his gaze fell to the other attendees in the hall. And they were all mostly maids rather than battlers.
"Because you aren't doing anything, and these things are heavier than they look. So help me—or else," she demanded, her gaze unwavering.
Heavy? Aren't you carrying them just fine? Jack thought, masking his curiosity behind a calm, neutral expression.
"...I actually was about to head somewhere, but…" He paused, letting his eyes drift toward the detectives for a brief moment. Rolling them subtly, he added, "I mean, this isn't exactly the right time," and turned back to her.
Melissa's eyes didn't waver; she blinked slowly, sizing him up.
"Anyway… take this." She shifted the tray into his hands, then pivoted and walked away without another word.
Jack was left dumbfounded, watching Melissa walk away
He let out a quiet sigh and shifted his gaze elsewhere.
A moment later, he spotted his sister moving through the crowd, flanked by Vanessa and the young Vikii woman who had worn that grave expression when she first arrived.
Nyx's presence immediately caught him off guard. Wait… is that Vanessa and the mayor's daughter with her?
He parted his lips slightly, surprise etched across his face. Of course, his little sister was here because she had been invited to the event. And, as he now realized, she was the one who had ratted him out as the skilled cook.
From his vantage point, they all appeared engaged in light conversation, and, by the looks of it, they were genuinely enjoying themselves.
"Hey, you!" a lady's voice called from behind him.
Jack pivoted, his eyes narrowing slightly as he took in the newcomer. She wore a composed smile, her posture elegant, undeniably a member of the Vikii family, the same one Sil Bernard had spoken to earlier. But Jack didn't know that, since he just arrived.
"Let me try what you're carrying," she said, her tone both polite and assertive.
"...S-sure," Jack stammered, stepping closer. Perfect, he thought. This gives me a chance to get closer to the detective without drawing too much attention.
A moment later, the lady reached forward and took a glass from the tray.
"Excuse me, I'll take one too," another guest said, a polite smile tugging at their lips.
Jack tuned, facing them. But he noticed that the lady he just served looked and sounded somewhat familiar to him, but he didn't ask, since she was nobility, and currently, he was an attendant to them.