"The hotel's accommodation expenses..."

With Costate's reminder, Ronald immediately realized the economic issues he had to face.

After returning from this Arctic trip, Ronald did gain some financial reward.

However, since he was not a core member of the expedition team, the money he received was barely enough to cover daily expenses.

And now, the place Ronald and Costate were staying at.

It was a luxury hotel selected by the Entrodes special agency, the most upscale in the entire city!

Unless they return to the Adler's ancestral home in Coolpis immediately and withdraw some savings.

Otherwise, to solve the current economic problem right away...

They would have to find a side job.

"Costate, maybe we can move out of here and find a more ordinary place to stay..."

"Wait?" Ronald was planning to discuss the topic of changing their place of residence with Costate, but Nicole, standing beside him, suddenly raised her hand and interjected, "If it's just accommodation expenses, leave that problem to me."

"Huh?"

Hearing the investigator girl's suggestion.

Ronald turned his head swiftly, his expression became somewhat complex:

"Nicole, are you that rich?"

"Ronald, I'm actually a top investigator for the Bureau!" Nicole enjoyed Ronald's surprised look, and she even straightened her posture on the sofa before continuing proudly, "And the money I earn is from the Finance Department, which is worth much more than the common currency in rural places like Entrodes!"

"..."

Ronald fell silent.

Nicole was full of confidence at this moment, but her reasons were indeed valid.

After all, Great Britain's economy, the country Nicole served, was undoubtedly the world's strongest, and its currency naturally held more value compared to Entrodes. Plus, Nicole had a decent salary from her job.

So, affording a luxury hotel in Entrodes was something she could definitely handle.

"I never thought you'd be a wealthy woman..."

Faced with Nicole's one-line solution to the economic issue, Ronald slightly shook his head, then stood up from the chair:

"In that case, Nicole, take me to the scene first."

"I know you've definitely conducted a detailed investigation there, but with Costate and me, maybe we'll notice something you missed."

Nicole also got up following Ronald's lead:

"Thank you, Ronald."

Ronald returned a smile:

"I promised before that I'd help you as much as I can with this. Besides, didn't you pay for my accommodation as a favor in return?"

"..."

Before nightfall, the three left the hotel where they were staying.

As they advanced towards their destination under Nicole's lead, Ronald gazed at the investigator girl's back and suddenly recalled a lingering question:

"By the way, Nicole."

"I have a somewhat inconvenient question to ask."

"Eh! What is it?" Nicole turned her head towards Ronald, her expression curious, "Between the two of us... No, I seem to have nothing particularly secretive, what are you trying to ask?"

Ronald shook his head in denial:

"It's not a private matter between us, but about the Spell System of the Secret of Aogen group."

Since the topic was raised, Ronald didn't hold back his concern.

He straightforwardly continued his question:

"Isn't it true that one of your eyes went blind after completing a ritual which enhanced your abilities?"

Hearing this, Nicole became interested immediately.

Though her pace upfront didn't slow down, she intentionally changed her position to walk alongside Ronald:

"Ronald, are you saying you know the key to it?"

"I know some details." Ronald nodded in acknowledgment, "But if it aligns with what I know, some things seem inconsistent."

"Exchanging a single eye's vision for Wisdom's ceremony is theoretically connected to Rune spells, but the system of runes you use seems different."

From what Ronald knew.

The ceremony Nicole conducted was reminiscent of an experience of the chief god Odin in Norse mythology.

But if that were the case, the runes used by the girl in front of him should be things like Nordic runes or Runes ritual script. These powerful ciphers are mysterious forces related to the secrets of the universe in Norse mythology.

However, this was not reflected in reality.

Ronald had several times witnessed Nicole using spells, and she employed those runes composed of horizontal and vertical lines—which should be Ogham script.

This alphabet is suggested to have origins in Rune script.

But from a mystical standpoint, these symbols are more commonly associated with Celtic use.

"..."

Ronald raised a question from his relatively shallow understanding.

Yet, for Nicole, these few sentences of explanation were enough to cause great astonishment.

"Hiss—" Walking down the streets of Waterfall City, Nicole took a deep breath of the surrounding cold air and then shook her head vigorously:

"Ronald, could it be that you are a hidden branch left by the founder of Secret of Aogen among us?"

"To know even such things!"

Before Ronald could respond, Costate uncharacteristically interjected quickly:

"Miss Nicole, sir is not a descendant of the Aogen Secret's founder."

Ronald glanced at the maid, who was hastily defending his lineage, then denied Nicole's conjecture with a composed demeanor:

"Nicole, if I knew everything as you suggest, I wouldn't be here asking about these things."

"Alright, alright..." Confirming their stance, Nicole shrugged and continued, "Anyway, the Secret of Aogen is like this now, there's no need to keep such secrets anymore."

"In reality, our school's studied spell system originates from two original texts. One of these you saw in the runes I use, and this knowledge is taught to all members joining the school."

"But only upon becoming a core member through the school's ceremony does one qualify to master the other book's magical power. The strength I gained in exchange for a single eye fundamentally comes from the second book's abilities."

"So that's how it is..."

Ronald immediately understood everything.

The Secret of Aogen possibly held the original texts of both Runic and Ogham scripts, forming the heart and peripheral lineage of the school's structure. Hence, Nicole could activate Norse mythology's ritual while routinely using the Celtic System Magic.

The two continued to discuss such knowledge as they journeyed further.

Unknowingly.

The dusk painted the ground from the sky.

And they, too, arrived beside a small alley by a lakeside just before nightfall.

Nicole slowed her steps here, then pointed ahead and said:

"Here we are, this is the place."

Next chapter will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.