Chapter 15

『Hmmmmm.』

Akio put his right hand to his chin and started racking his brain.

『The madam was poisoned, but there's no sign of poison in the food. So what really happened?』

It didn't take long for him to come to a conclusion. He came up with 2 answers to his situation.

『The madam did not get a poisoning at the table, but instead had somehow ingested a slow-acting posion from somewhere else.』

To Akio, the second answer was much more interesting. In fact, he wanted it to be the second answer.

『It was either that. Or maybe...she was not poisoned, to begin with.』

This could only be known by visiting the person in question herself.

『Where is the madam?』

『She....in her bedroom.』

The guard really didn't want to say this. But he had no choice. For his safety, his friend's safety and the madam's safety. He knew that if Akio wanted to, he could easily find the madam and kill her. Akio was asking him only to save time.

『Take me to her.』

『W-Why?』

『I said. Take. Me. To. Her!』

That glare was perhaps the scariest thing the guard ever felt. He felt cold. His legs wanted to give up. He was just one step away from crying.

『Okay, sir.』

Akio glanced around on his way to the bedroom. The hallway was proper for a mansion of that level. The bedroom door was identical to the one for the dining room but even bigger.

The inside was dimmed with some light peeping in from the outside. The bed was on the right end of the room.

Akio went over to the bed and behind him were following the guard and two butlers. What Akio saw was a normal body. If not known that she was unwell, everyone would probably think that its just a normal lady sleeping.

『Is this her?』

『Yes, sir. She's been like that for 5 hours.』

『Hmm. All of you get out of this room. Now.』

『But sir-』

『Now! I don't think you understand me. If you're suspicious, I will leave the door slightly open. You will be able to hear everything.』

They were not sure. None of them were sure. Should they really leave a stranger with the madam? They had no choice but to do it. It was good for both them and the madam.

『Don't peek inside.』

They left the door slightly open while pressing their ears as hard as they could on the door.

After 15 soundless minutes, Akio came outside. The people of the mansion were puzzled.

『Uh, sir? What did you do while you were inside?』

『That's not for you to know.』

『Sir?』

Akio sighed.

『If you really want to know, then go inside and figure it out. But you will find that I have not even touched a hair on ma'am. She is still alive and breathing.』

Hearing this, the two butlers rushed into the room ignoring everything in the way.

『Call the suspects.』

『Sir?』

『Are you deaf?』

『Sorry, sir. I will do so immediately.』

『Oh, and bring the maid too. I will be waiting in the dining room. Ah wait a second..』

『I need you to answer my questions first.』

『Yes, sir?』

Akio was waiting in the dining room for over 20 minutes when the suspects finally arrived in the room.

『I thought you said you were going to bring them immediately?』

『Sorry, sir. Two of them were out. One of them was out on errands while the other was busy searching for a doctor. The doctor isn't found. Hearing that even the household physician could not cure it, they dared not to come.』

『Welp, that was to be expected.』

『The suspects have already been provided the details about you. So you can skip the introduction.』

『Thank you. Please stand side-by-side in a single line.』

The three did as they were told, even though they didn't understand why.

Akio then passed mana through them but made it unnoticeable with the use of his magic. And he found just what he wanted in one of the suspected. He smirked to himself:

『So it's you, huh. kekeke.』

He couldn't help laughing. He felt a sense of excitement as he slowly put the pieces together.