In a private dining room at the hotel, Raisen was eating a steak when the old butler approached him and reported:
"Young master, the people we sent to investigate have returned."
"Speak."
"3-07 Apple Street belongs to the Adams Families, as does 3-06 next door. Mr. Adams is Ruilan's minister of energy and industrial development. His son, Piaget, currently lives at 3-06, while 3-07 should be vacant. Our people confirmed this in Piaget's presence."
"But someone is indeed living at 3-07 next door. That person stood on the second-floor balcony all afternoon. You could see him just driving past. He should be a sentry."
"If I remember correctly, my brother Gerson's cars were found at the end of Apple Street?"
"Yes, young master. After Master Gerson and the others disappeared, we conducted an extensive search and eventually found the two cars they had driven out at the end of Apple Street."
"Wasn't Tadel headed for the psychological clinic?" Raisen asked.
"Young master, Piaget owns that clinic. We now know that the traitor Tadel was influenced by the Remnants of the Church of Light, but Master Gerson and the others didn't know that at the time.
"So I suspect Master Gerson and the others went to investigate Piaget's House, then alerted the Light Remnants living next door. Master Gerson and the others were very likely killed by those Light Remnants."
"A coincidence, an alarm, and a murder?" Raisen frowned slightly. "That's a little too convenient."
"Young master, do you mean...?"
The butler had been the former family head's personal attendant. After the former head inexplicably turned to ash in the study, the Raphael Family had descended into infighting.
The butler had chosen to assist the former head's eldest son against his uncles' factions, because he had always believed this young master