“Do not worry, I will look around for what happened and keep you kids updated about the same. There is no need for you to worry about this problem.”
This was what Jack Hollow promised Horas and Howard. But once he had begun to look around for evidence, there had not been much he had been able to find. Especially the greenhouse looked clean and not tampered with.
“Boss. We just had a look around and we were not able to find anything that would indicate foul play. I am afraid that we will have to give up for the time being. The guests are getting suspicious of our intentions now.”
Jack sighed, knowing fully well that he had no choice but to give up for now. The guests were being detained for the time being but they would begin to ask questions soon.
Especially those from well-known guilds would cause trouble for Jack’s guild if he was not careful in handling them.
“Alright, I understand. Tell them that they can leave for today but we might need to call them in again soon. Meanwhile, announce that we found a thief in the tower and that was why we held them back.”
Jack knew that the truth could not be hidden away forever so he needed to forever with how he handled things. But at the same time, he also could not admit that someone had managed to set his tower off in such a manner.
So, the only compromise was to reveal a half-truth that would blend the things just enough to allow Jack to tell what happened without the real facts.
Most people who not look too deeply into what happened. And those who did, they would be dealt with alone by him in a dark corner of the world.
After all, it was impossible to run and hide from him.
……………………….
“Do not worry too much about what happened. Jack will have an answer for us soon so you do not need to look so grim. The people who snuck in would not have any chance to harm us anymore.”
Howard tried to assure Horas but his words fell on flat ears. Horas was not interested in what Jack would discover.
After all, it was already too late and the culprit must have run away long ago. There was no trace of evidence that Jack would be able to find now.
“Look, he is here. Let us hear what Jack must tell us, alright?”
Howard dragged Horas behind him to Jack’s current position. The guests had decided to go home one by one as soon as the announcement had been made.
Now only a handful of people were left in the hallway and it was convenient to get to Jack.
Horas took one look at Jack’s face and he knew that Jack had not found anything. It had been given but it still caused Horas to look disappointed.
“Jack, what did you find? Do you know the reason that the plant monster went berserk? Is that something to do with one of our guests? Or was it something else?”
Howard was being a little too eager and his openness was not helping things remain quiet. As such, Horas had to take matters into his hand.
As much as he did not want to stop Howard from asking these questions, he had to interfere and place a hand on top of Howard’s mouth so that he could remain quiet.
“That will be enough. I am sure Jack will tell us what he needs to tell us. Privately.”
Jack sent Horas a grateful look that crept Horas out. But he somehow maintained his calm and heard Jack out.
“You both should come to the back room before you hear what I have to say. And Howard, contain your excitement. I do not want to let my secrets be known in the open.”
Howard opened his mouth, only to quickly close it again once he realized what he had been about to say and where. A sheepish looked followed his almost-blunder and Horas sighed in relief.
But it was nothing compared to how Jack looked right now. He ushered the pair into the side room and then turned his serious look toward them both.
“The fact that you are calling us in a separate room can only mean that you were not able to find the real culprit. It is a shame but I guess things like this happen.”
Horas confirmed as soon as the door closed behind him. Howard took in a deep and sharp breath, realizing what a blunder he had been about to make before.
“You are right. I was not able to find the culprit behind the attack, nor was I able to find the mastermind. The crime scene was too clean. A little ‘too clean’ for my liking.”
Jack confirmed Horas’s suspicions. Someone had planned this attack.
“That reminds me. The one who asked Howard to show me the greenhouse was Saint Nicolas. But I doubt she is involved with the villains. So maybe we are looking at all of this from the wrong angle.”
Horas admitted and Jack looked alarmed suddenly. The involvement of an adventurer, especially such a high-profile one as Saint Nicolas was a piece of big news. But as Horas had said, that seemed almost impossible to happen.
“Ugh, this complicates things. We will need to inform Saint Nicolas and her guild of what happened and take measures for the same. Horas, Howard, you both go back to the academy for now. I will see you both later.”
It looked like Jack was fighting a migraine as he tried to absorb what he had just heard from Horas.
When it looked, like Howard was going to complain, Horas put a hand on his shoulder and dragged him outside. There was no need to stress Jack out even more than he already was.
“We understand that you need time to look more into this case. I will take Howard back to the academy for now and wait for the news to come.”
Howard fell quiet once he was dragged out of the room. But Horas knew that Howard was determined to get to the end of this attack at all costs.
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