What Happened and the Invitation

"1-025" had been here?

Had the owner of this place obtained the Sealed Artifact and been twisted by its negative effects into committing these crimes?

Or had "1-025" taken complete control of him?

Thoughts raced through Abner's mind. Without hesitating, he used Simulation to gain the ability to fly and shot into the sky. He had no obligation to investigate what had happened. He had come because the enemy had seemed manageable and because he felt for the abducted girls. If he could save them, he would.

But the possibility of a Grade 1 Sealed Artifact changed everything. If he did not leave now, was a mere Sequence 7 supposed to stay and have a midnight snack with a suspected Cursed Object?

Abner flew at full speed until he was nearly in Hillston District. Only then did he slow down and breathe a long sigh of relief.

When he returned to the Isengard Detective Agency, Abner found that he had beaten Xio back. He laughed at himself. The moment he encountered something he might not be able to handle, his first instinct was to run.

If he had noticed anything unusual along the way, he probably would not even have stopped in Hillston District. He would have flown straight to Harvest Church.

Standing outside his teacher's house, Abner reflected on his instinct for self-preservation as he waited for Xio.

The night was deep and still. Nearly everyone was asleep. He alone stood nearby, breathing the cool air tinged with fragrance and making the faintest rustling sounds.

Everything was peaceful and unhurried.

A carriage arrived some ten minutes later, breaking the silence.

As soon as Xio jumped down, she spotted Abner waiting by the door. "Back so soon?" she asked in surprise.

"Something unexpected happened..." With the driver still there, Abner