Lock scratched the cat under its chin, and it lifted its neck to enjoy the sensation. 'I have to go next week. Soon, I'll be your superior's superior's superior.'
He lifted the cat and held it in front of Annie, smiling. 'At that point, you'll have to listen to everything I say.'
Annie couldn't help but glance at the cat and reached out to pet it, but the cat hissed at her with a fierce expression.
Lock slapped the cat on the head, and its eyes instantly cleared. 'What are you doing? Looking for trouble?'
He grabbed the now-subdued cat by the scruff of its neck and tossed it into Annie's arms. 'I found it in the square area. It has no owner. Why don't you take it and keep it in the dorm?'
Annie, holding the cat, was feeling a bit at a loss when she realized Lock had already left.
Hitch then came over, playfully teasing the cat in Annie's arms, and said,' So cute. These days, there are still guys who chase girls by giving them cats.'
Annie lowered her head and retorted, 'We're just friends.' Lock returned to his office, but unexpectedly saw a middle-aged man smoking and waiting at his doorstep.
His attire clearly indicated he was a successful, accomplished man.
Lock approached and politely asked, 'Is there something I can help you with?'
... Taking the freshly brewed black tea Lock had just made, the man began explaining his reason for coming.
'My name is Mancio Ortega. The boss of the Royal Capital Chamber of Commerce referred me. I want you to help me gather evidence of my wife's infidelity.'
Lock mentally scoffed. Starting with such a classic detective job, how boring.
He sat down opposite Mancio and asked, 'Evidence? Do you already have a suspect in mind?'
Mancio shook his head and said, 'Not yet certain, but I can tell from the small things in daily life that she's already seeing someone else.'
Lock calmly stated,' So, it's just suspicion?'
Mancio grew somewhat impatient with Lock's probing and raised his tone slightly. 'I know my wife very well, so I'm quite certain there's a problem.'
Lock asked further, 'Mr. Ortega, are you usually very busy?'
Mancio hesitated for a moment before replying, 'I run several weaving factories in the walled cities around the Royal Capital. I don't spend much time at home, it's true.'
Lock glanced at Mancio's hand holding the cup and asked, 'Sir, your wife's status is rather special, isn't it?'
Mancio looked somewhat surprised and nodded.'She is a Marquis's daughter. We met in university.'
The son of a commoner and the daughter of a noble came together. The husband, with his father-in-law's help, built his own business and worked tirelessly for it, but in doing so, he neglected his wife.
And the wife, having never lacked material possessions since childhood, sought more spiritual fulfillment. If her husband couldn't provide it, she would look elsewhere.
In the end, it easily led to the current situation.
Lock asked,' Sir, I understand the general situation. Before I begin my work, I'd like to ask, what level of evidence do you require?'
'Is my verbal confirmation sufficient, or do you need more substantial evidence?'
Mancio hesitated for a long time before saying, 'Evidence that would make her father acknowledge it.'
Lock smiled, stood up, and extended his hand. 'Please leave me an address. I'll contact you as soon as I have any progress.'
'As for the fee...'
Lock smiled confidently. 'You are my first customer. I will definitely give you the best discount.'
'During this time, please continue your life as usual.'
'I understand.'
Their hands shook... In this world within the walls, there are no cameras, no DNA testing. So, how does one obtain substantial evidence of a wife's infidelity?
That is indeed a problem.
But what Lock was thinking now was, first, that he had to confirm whether the wife was truly having an affair.
Mancio was still hiding something from him. Naturally, people wouldn't tell a stranger everything in such matters.
Lock understood, of course, but he remained cautious.
'Let's go. The detective game starts now!'
Snapping his fingers, Lock put on his hat and left his office.
Lock first went to the home address Mancio had provided.
It was a three-story villa with a courtyard, not large in area but very refined.
The garden was also very well-maintained. The lady of the house had studied design and art in university.
The entire house was designed by her personally.
The lady's maiden name was Grace Hamilton, daughter of a Marquis, 27 years old, married for five years, no children.
Lock picked up a copy of today's newspaper and stood at a street corner, eating a sandwich.
Three minutes later, using his hearing, Lock confirmed there was no one in the house.
He glanced around, then easily scaled the wall and jumped into the yard.
Not using the front door, he took a running start, jumped, grabbed the edge of the second-floor balcony, pulled himself up, and vaulted over the railing onto the second floor.
Mancio hadn't given him a key, so he had to enter this way. Perfectly reasonable.
Lock took two pieces of white cloth from his pocket, wrapped them around the soles of his shoes, and entered the room.
Inside was the master bedroom. The room was unusually tidy. Mancio didn't seem the type to clean, and the couple hadn't hired any servants.
The lady of the house likely had a slight case of obsessive-compulsive disorder.
A painting hung above the headboard, depicting an endless expanse of lush green grassland, dotted with cattle and sheep.
How inauspicious... Mr. Ortega.
The painting was clearly done by Lady Grace herself. Mr. Ortega had mentioned his wife had held art exhibitions.
Lock couldn't judge the artistic level of the painting. He opened the wardrobe and found the wife's clothes were significantly more numerous than the husband's, with far more variety in styles.
This was still somewhat normal. Lock walked to the dressing table and inspected the women's cosmetics on it.
He unexpectedly discovered many items that were clearly freshly opened or not used for a long time.
After five years of marriage, the lady of the house had suddenly started loving to dress up again and had even changed her usual perfume style. This was indeed a bit suspicious.
Lock opened the bedroom door and walked out, scanning the furnishings and decorations in the house, which were completely in Grace's style.
Lock walked along a gallery to the room at the end and pushed the door open.
Inside was Grace's studio. The smell of paint was somewhat pungent.
From the hallway outside, it wasn't hard to see that Grace was very skilled at painting pastoral and farm themes. The ones placed here should also be... Hmm?
Lock carefully observed the various paintings in the room and found that many were no longer landscapes.
Angels, goddesses, demons, giants... and churches, priests.
Lock was somewhat surprised. Was Grace actually a believer in the Wall Cult?
Why didn't Mancio tell him?
The Wall Cult's doctrine clearly states that followers must uphold chastity and protect the family.
Dirty acts like infidelity are completely forbidden.
Did Mancio not know? His home visit was indeed the right move.
Lock walked to a stand covered with a white cloth and lifted the cover.
It was a portrait, depicting a black-haired woman in a pure white gown.
She was young, holy, her face devoid of sorrow or joy. Her eyes seemed to hold the Heavenly God, possessing an innate, boundless majesty.
Angel, goddess, pope, queen—the most exalted identities were all gathered in her alone.
Lock softly uttered her name:
'Frieda Reiss...'
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