Chapter 129: Cease the Investigation

Ruchir sat at his desk, his mind racing with the recent discoveries. The letter found in the eerie clearing still weighed heavily on him, the words "Mask… Prince" echoing in his thoughts.

The implications were staggering, and he knew that this investigation was leading him down a dangerous path.

Just as he was piecing together his next steps, the door to his quarters creaked open, and Senior Catcher Ji stepped inside, his face uncharacteristically grim.

Ruchir stood up, sensing something was amiss. "Senior Ji, what's wrong?"

Ji hesitated, glancing around the room as if making sure they were alone.

He took a deep breath before speaking, his voice low and tense.

"Ruchir, I've received orders from above… from the Mysterious Heaven Palace. They're instructing us to cease all investigation into the ghost and the cult."

Ruchir's eyes widened in disbelief.

"Cease the investigation? But why? We're on the verge of uncovering something big—this could be a threat to the entire empire!"

Senior Ji shook his head, clearly conflicted.

"I don't know the full reasons, but the orders were explicit. They didn't give any explanation, just that we're to drop the investigation immediately."

Garret, who had been lounging in a chair, suddenly shot to his feet, his frustration boiling over.

"This is insane! We've been risking our necks out there, chasing ghosts and cultists, and now they want us to just walk away? What are they hiding?"

Ruchir remained silent, his mind racing. The orders made no sense.

They had been making progress, uncovering the connections between the ghost, the cult, and possibly even the Blackwood Gang.

To be told to stop now, just when they were getting close to the truth, was more than suspicious—it was alarming.

Senior Ji sighed heavily, running a hand through his hair.

"I know how you feel, Garret. Believe me, I do. But these are orders from the top. Disobeying them could have serious consequences."

Ruchir clenched his fists, the frustration building within him. He had never been one to blindly follow orders, especially when they contradicted everything he knew to be right.

But this was different—the Mysterious Heaven Palace wasn't just any authority.

Defying their orders could mean more than just personal consequences; it could endanger everyone involved.

Garret paced the room, his anger barely contained. "So what? We just sit here, twiddling our thumbs, while those cultists keep plotting? And what about the ghost? What about Lila's family? We're just supposed to ignore all that?"

Senior Ji looked at Garret with a mixture of sympathy and resignation. "It's not that simple, Garret. The Palace doesn't issue orders lightly. If they're telling us to stop, there's likely a reason—one we might not understand right now."

Ruchir finally spoke, his voice calm but firm. "Or they're trying to cover something up."

The room fell silent at his words. The possibility hung in the air like a dark cloud, unspoken but undeniably present.

The Mysterious Heaven Palace was known for its secrecy, but this went beyond that. This felt like a deliberate attempt to bury the truth.

Garret stopped pacing and turned to Ruchir, his frustration giving way to determination. "Ruchir, you can't seriously be thinking of following these orders. We're this close to figuring it all out. We can't just walk away."

Ruchir met his gaze, the weight of the decision pressing down on him. "I know, Garret. But we have to be smart about this."

"If we go against the Palace, we'll be putting ourselves in a dangerous position. We need to figure out why they're shutting us down and who's behind it."

Senior Ji nodded slowly. "Ruchir's right. This isn't just about us. There's something bigger at play here, something we don't fully understand yet. We need to tread carefully."

Garret frowned, clearly not satisfied but understanding the gravity of the situation. "So what do we do? Just sit on our hands and hope the answers fall into our laps?"

Ruchir shook his head. "No. We keep investigating, but we do it quietly. We don't make any moves until we're certain of what we're dealing with. If the Palace is involved, we'll need to be even more cautious."

Senior Ji looked at Ruchir with a mixture of pride and concern. "You're walking a dangerous path, Ruchir. If you're caught…"

"I know the risks," Ruchir interrupted. "But I can't just let this go. Too many lives are at stake, and the truth needs to come out, no matter who's trying to hide it."

Garret grinned, his old enthusiasm returning. "That's the Ruchir I know. Let's see this through, whatever it takes."

Senior Ji sighed but nodded in agreement. "Just be careful. The Palace doesn't tolerate insubordination lightly. If they catch wind of what we're doing…"

"They won't," Ruchir assured him. "We'll keep this under wraps until we have undeniable proof. Only then will we confront them."

The room fell silent again, but this time, it was a silence filled with resolve. The investigation would continue, but now with a new level of caution and secrecy.

Ruchir knew that they were treading on dangerous ground, but he also knew that there was no turning back. The truth was out there, buried under layers of deception, and he was determined to uncover it, no matter the cost.

As they left the room, Ruchir couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the beginning. The orders from the Palace hinted at something far more dangerous and complex than he had imagined.

The involvement of the royal family or another powerful faction loomed in the background, and the stakes had just been raised.

___

That night, in the dimly lit corners of the capital's underbelly, Ruchir moved with the subtlety of a shadow.

The labyrinth of narrow alleys and hidden courtyards teemed with life that the nobles and officials of the empire often ignored.

To them, these places were mere blots on the city's grandeur, but to Ruchir, they were a treasure trove of information.

He had learned long ago that the true pulse of the city could be felt not in the grand halls of the palace, but in these grimy, forgotten streets.

His first stop was a dilapidated inn known only to those who dealt in whispers. The innkeeper, an elderly man with one eye clouded by cataracts, gave Ruchir a nod as he entered.

No words were exchanged, but the innkeeper's gaze shifted toward a darkened corner where a figure sat hunched over a mug of ale.

Ruchir approached and slid into the seat across from the figure. It was a beggar, his face obscured by a tattered hood, but Ruchir knew him well. Old Man Po was not just any beggar—he was the eyes and ears of the lower districts, a man who could hear a pin drop in the midst of chaos.

"Been a while, Young Master," Old Man Po rasped, his voice like the creaking of old wood.

Ruchir nodded. "I need information. Discreetly."

Po chuckled, a sound that seemed to echo from the depths of his chest. "Discreetly, eh? Ain't that always the case with you nobles?"

Ruchir ignored the jibe. "A household in this place." While showing a paper.

"I need to know who's been asking questions, visiting late at night."

Po's expression turned serious. "Ah, that cursed place. Folk talk about it in hushed tones now. Word is, some high-borns have been snooping around. Nobles, merchants, the type who don't usually mingle with the likes of us. They come in the dead of night, leave before dawn. Always talking in riddles, never saying much."

Ruchir leaned in, lowering his voice. "Anything specific? Names, faces?"

Po shook his head. "They're careful, those ones. But there's a pattern. They always meet at the same place—an old warehouse near the river, abandoned for years."

Ruchir's mind raced. "And what do they do there?"

"Can't say for sure," Po replied, "but I've seen strange symbols, the kind that don't belong in polite company. Might be something dark at play."

Ruchir nodded, slipping a small pouch of coins across the table. "Keep your eyes open, Po. If you hear anything else, you know where to find me."

Po grinned, his remaining teeth yellowed and crooked. "Always a pleasure, Young Master."

___

That night, Ruchir found himself in the grand library of the capital. This was no ordinary library; it was a vast repository of knowledge, with sections long forgotten by most scholars.

Ruchir had gained special permission to access these restricted areas, though he suspected the higher-ups had no idea what he intended to find.

The smell of ancient parchment and dust filled the air as Ruchir walked through the labyrinth of shelves.

The light from his lantern cast long shadows on the walls, giving the place an eerie atmosphere.

Finally, he reached the section he sought—old records of cults and dark rituals, hidden away because of their dangerous content.

Hours passed as Ruchir pored over the texts, his eyes scanning every word with a meticulous focus. Many of the scrolls were written in archaic script, barely legible, but Ruchir's persistence paid off.

He found references to a cult that once thrived in the capital, long before the current dynasty.

This cult had been known for summoning spirits, using forbidden techniques that involved human sacrifice and dark pacts.

The name of the cult was never mentioned directly, but there were hints—symbols, rituals, and practices that matched what Ruchir had seen in Lila's household.

His heart pounded as he realized the implications. The cult hadn't just vanished; it had gone underground, waiting for the right moment to reemerge.

He made careful notes, copying down symbols and incantations that might come in handy later.

When he finally left the library, the first light of dawn was breaking, but Ruchir's mind was heavy with the knowledge he had uncovered.