Unexpected Companions

"Who is this...?" Kade asked curiously as he looked at Sky standing by the door.

Xia Lin gave a brief introduction. "Sky Starcrest, an inquisitor of the Imperial Tribunal's Evilbane Eye. She's recently been investigating the Music Box Ghost case, and I've been assisting her."

"Oh, someone from the Inquisition." Kade nodded and politely gave a Knight's Salute. "A pleasure to meet you, Inquisitor."

"We have urgent business at the Royal Botanical Garden outside the city." Xia Lin turned to Sky. "So we won't be able to accompany you for the time being, Inquisitor Sky. We'll talk again after we return..."

"I'm going too." Sky cut him off almost immediately.

"What?"

She wasn't good at dealing with unexpected changes in her plans, especially being unilaterally "fired" by her investigation target. This had brought both her mission and the case that had just begun to make progress to a standstill.

"I'm going too." Sky repeated herself. "You said that to understand adventurers, you have to go to places adventurers frequent. The threat posed by the magical creatures at the botanical garden also falls under the Inquisition's jurisdiction. I have every reason to join the investigation."

Xia Lin frowned. "Sky, this time is different. The place we're going is dangerous, and..."

"I'm not afraid of danger." Sky took a step forward. "I'm an inquisitor of the Evilbane Eye. I've received the strictest combat training. I won't hold you back."

"It's not about holding us back." Xia Lin shook his head. "This is a private mission. Kade's mother has gone missing. We need to act as quickly as possible. We can't..."

"Then I have even more reason to go." Sky interrupted him. "Searching for missing people is one of the Inquisition's duties."

Xia Lin opened and closed his mouth, unable to think of