Gifts

"What?" Abner was startled. Had he brought the wrong information on the Devil?

Daly merely pulled the invitation meant for her from the documents and smiled teasingly. "I only saw this tucked inside and decided to joke with you... But it seems I may have hit on the truth?"

"That isn't funny at all, Miss Daly." Abner rubbed his forehead helplessly.

"All right, I accept the invitation. Heh, you're in luck—I happen to be free Wednesday evening." Daly put away the information on the Devil and added, "I'll bring your reimbursement along then."

In fact, the elite Mandated Punisher from the Thunder Church had arrived a day later than expected, forcing them to postpone their planned Wednesday departure for Tingen until Thursday...

But there was no reason to tell Abner that.

At the luxurious House of Earl Hall villa in Empress Borough.

"An exceptionally brutal murder occurred near St. Samuel Cathedral in North Borough. The victim was found in a horrifying state..." Having finished lunch, Audrey was casually leafing through the Backlund Evening News in the sitting room.

Hearing his daughter murmur, Earl Hall shook his head and sighed.

"Apparently, this is already the sixth similar case, but neither the police nor the official Beyonders have found any clues."

Audrey wished she could become a detective, take Susie with her, and catch that wretched culprit. She knew that was impossible, though, so she asked instead, "What about the Hero Detective? Has he found no clues either?"

Earl Hall, with his neatly groomed mustache, chuckled and offered a hint. "If detectives solved every difficult case, how do you think the police would feel?"

"The police are deliberately keeping Detective Braine out of the investigation? How can they do that? People are dying!" Audrey's lovely brows drew together in anger.

"My