In the center of the recovery camp, a larger and much distinct tent was set up. Unlike the ones surrounding it, it was bright red in colour with golden patterns, carrying an insignia of roaring lion representing the duke. Inside the tent Maren was sitting going through the reports of survivors and recovered goods. Beside her, her best friend and second-in-command, Calin was also helping her in her work.
"Most of the treasures protecting the town are shattered, arrays and formations are destroyed, which happens when the force striking is significantly greater than what is made to withstand. I still quite believe there are some people like that who can destroy an entire town in three attacks."
Calin spoke still shaken by the absurdity of the disaster. Maren listened quietly as two figures appeared in her mind that did have had this level of strength. Still, due to her knowledge she was relatively more composed and tried to find what exactly happened based on the reports.
"Assuming that what Sir Mark said is correct that this attack happened because of someone or something in the town, it makes this case way more complicated that it originally seemed, considering more than one party was involved. Northern part was on fire; southern and eastern part was encased in ice and what happened on western end is anyone's guess.
According to map, southern part of the town is where lord of the town Baron Magnus Ironfoot lived along with majority of rich citizens. Almost all of the defensive and alarm artifacts were placed there. The ice attack which had frozen the whole southern and eastern part must have been done with intention to freeze up all these artifacts and along with all the others which were placed in homes of those rich citizens. Attacker must have wanted to stop the information of his attack from leaking but it did leak anyway from the way the lord died, without putting up any resistance."
"Yes, all the nobles, which control the security artifacts and arrays are marked, so that the information of their death and memory of few moments before their death along with the control of all security is transferred to the marker.
This is done so that in case of his death, silent or otherwise. The defences of the town are not dropped and the marker can alert the reinforcing army. Exactly what happened in this case. Clearly the attacker did not know this."
"It may also point to the fact that this attack was not planned but a desperate measure. Attacker didn't have time to gather information and plan. But one thing I find weird is that when we arrived here in morning, there was no sign of life or activity. If whatever he had planned does not require that much time, why did it go through so much effort of freezing up the entire block. There are so many possibilities with no apparent motives and clues, how do the people at Investigation Department deal with this."
Maren said in frustration.
"Well well well, there is a reason why you were not selected in investigation department. Let's just handle what we can. Leave that stuff for the professionals."
Calin tried to deflect her friend of the topic, but knowing how much Maren loved the detective novels and had always dreamed of becoming one, she knew it would be hard but they had way too much work to do.
Just then a guard approaches the tent, Calin sensing the guard drooped the friendly mood and became a professional. The guard stopped before the tent and only after listening an "Enter" from inside did he enter.
Inside he saluted both the women and spoke.
"Lunch has been prepared; Lord Mark Oberoi has returned with rest of the investigators."
"Okay, we will head there in a moment. You may leave."
The guard bowed and left.
"Well, let's not keep them waiting, let's go."
Maren said while standing up from her seat and arranging the reports on the table, Calin also stood up and began helping her and then they left for lunch.
On the way to lunch, she was joined by the investigators who were here to take witness's statements.
"May I have a word with you, Miss Duskvale."
The leading officer spoke. Maren while walking, looked over to the officer and spoke.
"Sure, what is it, officer?"
"I want some information regarding all the nobles in the town yesterday night."
"There was only one noble family in the town yesterday, that of Baron Magnus Ironfoot, the lord of the town."
"You mean only his family were in records, right?"
"Ah yes, why do you ask so, officer? Did you find clues that there might have been more families."
"Something like that, let's go through it over the lunch."
With that officer opened the flaps of the tent and entered. Maren and Calin followed, though Henry and Franz went into adjacent tent.
Inside the tent, four figures were already seated in investigators uniform, waiting for them.
Mark sitting at the head of the table, with his four officers on his right.
As they entered, all of them saluted to the Mark Oberoi, as he was the highest ranked in the tent. Mark accepted the salute with a nod and asked them to sit. Maren sat to the left of Mark, then Calin and William.
"Alright, Let's start the lunch."
At Mark's works, all of them joined their hands for a short prayer and began eating.
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Ronan was sitting in the tent, looking at the translucent screen in front of him which showed the status of the patient beside him.
[ STATUS ]
[ NAME : SALEEM ]
[ AGE : 31 ]
[ RACE : HUMAN ]
[ DETAILS ]
[ HEIGHT : 5'9'' ]
[ WEIGHT : 73 KG ]
[ MANA AWAKENED: NO ]
[ MAX POTENTIAL : RANK D ]
[ STATE : UNCONSCIOUS ; WAS SEVERELY BURNT ; BEING RECOVERED ; NO LEFT EYE ; LEFT LEG NEEDS AMPUTATION ]
[ EQUIPED : CLOTHES (RANK E) ]
'So, this is status, tell me the properties of the person or object it is used on. Quite useful actually. Map function doesn't look that useful but I will have to test it more. Inventory is also very useful, being able to store items in a separate dimension is really useful. Its maximum capacity needs to be tested.'
At that moment, a nurse entered the tent with a bowl of curry and a loaf of bread. She, looking relieved seeing him sitting, walked up to him and gave him the plate.
"Here, your food. Don't leave the tent ask the guard if you want more."
"Ah, thank you."
She snorted at his words and left.
'I definitely should not have sat up. What rudeness.'
Though he thought so, he knew he would have sat down anyway, if he had another chance. Shaking his head, he put his plate down and began eating.
'Food here definitely needs work.'
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"Interesting."
Mark Oberoi exclaimed, looking intrigued. After finishing his lunch, he was listening to report by William, where he mentioned his finding and speculation about the boy he just questioned.