Mays Academy

As dusk approached, Glen finally sold all the meat from the black pig, earning a total of 2,400 copper coins. His pockets visibly bulged with the weight of his earnings.

I've finally managed to escape poverty for a while. Now I can treat myself to something nice! Maybe some hot pot tonight. I wonder how Layla and Bonnie are doing... They must've been scared yesterday. I'll check in on them after I buy some ingredients. After all, what happened has something to do with me...

As Glen cleaned up the mess from his stall, planning to load the trash onto his cart to avoid causing trouble for the street cleaners, he noticed a group of people approaching. They weren't regular customers. He'd seen them lingering at the edges of his stall, observing his meat-selling operations. Only now were they making their move.

Dud Town police officers, huh? Glen guessed, recognizing their demeanor and posture from his past encounters. He was quite familiar with the mannerisms of people in law enforcement.

"Are you Mr. Glen?" the officer at the front asked. His sharp, one-line mustache made him look stern. "We're from Dud Town's police force. Could we have a word?"

"Police officers?" Glen feigned confusion and a bit of alarm. "Did I do something wrong?"

He already knew why they were here—Layla and Bonnie must have reported the incident to the authorities, and the police were now conducting an investigation.

"Relax, sir," the younger officer behind the captain reassured him with a smile. "We just need to ask you a few questions. It's part of an investigation. Please cooperate with us."

Glen let out a quiet sigh of relief. "Alright, feel free to ask. I'll tell you everything I know."

"Thank you for your cooperation." The captain pulled out a small notebook and a pen, his voice becoming businesslike. "Your full name is Glen Nibankru, correct?"

"That's the name I'm using now. My previous name was Dylan Nibankru."

Glen wasn't sure how official records worked in this world, so he decided to give his original name. If he hid it, it could create problems later if the police cross-referenced information.

The captain quickly scribbled something in his notebook, then looked up. "May I ask why you changed your name?"

"Some things happened, and I wanted to put the past behind me, officer," Glen answered, keeping his tone neutral.

The captain nodded thoughtfully and continued, "Were Miss Layla and Miss Bonnie at your house yesterday at this time?"

"Yes, they were."

"Do you know Layla's father, Bob?"

"No, I don't."

The questions continued for a few more minutes, focusing mostly on the events of the previous day. Then, the captain asked something strange, his tone and expression curious.

"Do you really live in Bayek?"

"Yes, I do. Is there a problem, officer?" Glen's curiosity was piqued by the captain's odd demeanor.

The captain smiled faintly, looking around as if to ensure no one else was listening, then leaned in closer. "When I was the captain of the police, I was told to avoid that place unless absolutely necessary."

Glen froze, his curiosity growing even more intense.

"You were probably tricked into buying a house there. Believe me, kid, if you can, it's best to move out. It'll be for your own good."

After saying this, the captain and his team left, their footsteps fading into the distance.

Glen stood still, mulling over the conversation. It seems the kingdom's government knows about Bayek, but why don't they do anything about it? There are clearly some very sinister creatures living there…

He shook his head after a moment, trying to push the thought out of his mind. No point in dwelling on it now. I've got more important things to worry about. Let's get the ingredients and check on the girls.

The Police Team's Discussion

Not long after leaving the marketplace, one of the officers spoke up.

"Captain, we still don't have any leads. It seems like that young man has nothing to do with this case."

"Maybe so," the captain responded cryptically, his tone unclear. "At least, he's not working with them."

"But if they strike again, it's going to cause panic in the town," one of the officers said, looking concerned.

"They probably won't make a move for a while," the captain continued, his eyes darkening as he spoke. "You see, their targets have always been outside the town, meaning they're hesitant to act within the town limits. What could they be afraid of in town? They wouldn't fear us, would they?"

The other officers looked puzzled as the captain continued.

"That's right. They know the big knight, Berlin, is in town now. They're probably worried that Berlin might take action. The few families with children outside town have all been targeted. As for the far-off places… those are beyond our reach. Now, they can only target within the town until Berlin leaves. They'll stay hidden until then."

The officers remained silent, trying to piece together the captain's reasoning.

"But Berlin only arrived two days ago, and the first child abduction happened five days ago," one officer said, frowning.

The captain didn't change his expression. "The news of Berlin coming to Dud Town spread a week ago. If they had acted during that time, it would have spread throughout the town. Once Berlin arrived, they'd be in trouble. The big knight would have taken action immediately. Berlin has a knight's heart; he'd find them. So they had to wait."

One of the officers brightened up. "Then why don't we get Berlin's help? We could find the criminals much faster."

The captain sighed. "I already tried. The mayor wouldn't let me meet Berlin. He said Berlin's here for something important and won't waste time on this matter."

The officers deflated, looking disappointed. The captain turned and glared at them, his voice hardening. "Listen up! Don't just rely on others to solve our problems. It's our job to catch the criminals!"

The officers jumped to attention, responding in unison, "Yes, Captain!"

The captain exhaled slowly. "Keep up with the patrols. We'll catch them sooner or later."

Mays Academy

Glen stood in front of the iron gates of Mays Academy, staring at the large, imposing lock. It was clear the academy didn't welcome outsiders.

He stepped forward, his footsteps crisp on the stone path as fallen leaves crunched underfoot. The gates were made of dark, vertical iron bars with symmetrical spiral designs, giving them an old, almost medieval feel.

Peering through the gates, Glen saw the tall, yellowish stone towers of the academy buildings, their sharp spires cutting into the sky. The sounds of lectures and voices drifted out, suggesting classes were in session.

Looks like they're in class... Glen stood straight, but then he felt a sudden prickle at the back of his neck. Someone was watching him.

He glanced up and realized the source of the gaze was the stone raven sculptures carved into the pillars on either side of the gates. Seems like a regular school. They wouldn't have magical constructs here, right?

But then, he wondered, Well... maybe even normal schools have magic involved without the students knowing. Just like in my previous life...

He shook his head, trying to refocus. He had come here to check on Layla and Bonnie. The two girls had been through a lot, and he was concerned. But looking around now, it seemed they were fine. He couldn't risk being mistaken for a troublemaker by barging in.

As he turned to leave, something caught his ear. A faint sound, something out of place.

What's that?

He followed the sound cautiously, staying close to the stone wall, his curiosity piqued. Something seemed off.