Reincarnated Into A Dead Woman's Body In Another World-Chapter 469: Arc 6, - 85: Old Soul

Footfalls upon marble were softened by the carpet they newly stepped on. Once they were in the room the GAS agent promptly shut the door to leave them to their privacy.

It was odd—this office. Because it was so normal. No extravagant statue or marble pillars sat here, trying to impress all those who entered, no it was simple.

Some fluffy carpeting of faded whites and greys, a sizeable desk with neatly sorted documents in filing trays and bookshelves lined with books in alphabetic order; a Burntish flag hung in the corner of the room, illuminated from the light coming from the massive window behind her desk.

Rain still tapped on the glass restlessly while cloud cover seemed to show no sign of rolling away soon. Lady Pinberry walked ahead, taking her shoes off by the desk’s side whilst gesturing for the other two to talk a seat.

"Excuse the mess, however do make yourselves comfortable," the grand alderman said as she took a seat with the grace of a royal.

"If this is a mess, I worry what is tidy to you madam," Hotaru glanced around and pulled an upholstered chair back for the blonde to sit.

Jotou took a seat, "It’s quaint." ’And smaller than I expected. What’s the mayor of Kria need that big an office for if she can manage in this?’

Lady Pinberry undid the button of her coat and pulled out a tray from beneath her desk to present to them, "Chocolate? Quite the Cravoltan delicacy these are."

The wolf-girl sat down as well and crossed her hands atop her lap, "Thank you, but I’ll refrain for now..." Her eyes were averted from the table at all costs.

The blonde took a piece for herself and savoured the small treat; the chocolate shell cracked to melt into a delightful taste of creamy coffee and caramel as she gave a hum of satisfaction.

The grand alderman did the same right after and covered her lips with her palm before she spoke, "Delectable—human ingenuity at its finest."

"So," Hotaru cleared her throat. "What did you wish to speak in private about Lady Pinberry."

The pleasant smile she wore faded while she cleared away any trace of the treat from her mouth, "Indeed. On the day of your victory we were relieved, perhaps even a bit celebratory of the news.

Yesterday we mourned the losses of lives cut too short and dealt with the diplomacies of war—of which, I must thank you Ms Azure Firefly, your documentation was quite resourceful and insightful, befitting of a woman of your stature."

"Thank you madam," Hotaru tipped her head in an attempt to shy her face away.

"However, mistake me not, for today is no day for revelry. I invite you all out of respect and appreciation. As such no photographs, no rumour-mongers and no hecklers.

The Deuctus Cult is still at large and we have no further inclinations of what will occur next. Unless of course my account is mistaken?" she asked with a little hope.

"No, we don’t have any new information," Jotou shook her head. "Other than everything we found out in Palais Celneir.

We know why the columns full of spirits are for, we know more about the new gods, their goal with bringing some essence of the old gods back; I doubt the cult’s gonna deviate from a plan like that, they’re bound to try again."

"And in theatrical fashion; they need historical artefacts, so items that old are what they’re going to be targeting," Hotaru added.

The blonde knitted her brows, "Is there anything like that here? In this place?" 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

"Old and historical? Bountifully so," she uttered with a light chuckle. "Renovations may occur every decade or so, though the foundations remain the same.

Although, if you are explicitly searching for artefacts relating to the old gods, then none lie here to my recollection. As a matter of fact, most if not all surviving traces, evidence or even record of the old gods are lost to time.

They existed before the first war; not many were keen to seek preservation, especially in times of anarchy. All that remains are the passed down words from one tongue to another.

Scriptures were written and churches were erected in the hopes of sanctuaries—places one could use to fool themselves about the truth around them.

When no fruit bore from their faith, their establishments fell. Those who acted as heralds for the old gods, were ousted as liars and false prophets, thus, further throwing religion into obscurity.

No true artefact of the old gods have been identified. Even the ode catalogued in Palais Celneir was only found in between the pages of a tattered book three hundred and twenty-six years ago.

It was the only recoverable piece and anthropological data interpreted it as the poems of a priest or a believer long ago to their chosen deity, nothing more."

"Then how did Beauregard know what it was and explain it so eloquently right in front of me?" Jotou interjected.

Lady Pinberry shook her head and started pouring herself and her guests glasses of water, "I do not know. Perhaps Beauregard existed in the same era when it was written."

"Beauregard didn’t strike me as someone that old," Jotou raised a brow. "I know she’s old, but over a millennium doesn’t seem right to me."

"Is that so? Do tell Ms Howllett, do you possess the ability to discern the age of a creature such as that with but a glance?" the grand alderman handed her a glass of water.

Jotou felt the coldness of the glass she wrapped her fingers around, "I’d expect someone that old to be wise, mindful, maybe even intelligent. Beauregard was like a college student with arrested development."

Lady Pinberry’s lips curled as she handed the wolf-woman a glass as well, "Age is not mutually exclusive to maturity and wisdom. They tend to coincide, however is no merit of measurement."

"Well, yeah... I suppose," the blonde took a sip of water.

"If one can learn a thousand lessons in a life long-lived, then so to can one forget a thousand lessons. Even so, I would gamble on your claim that she is not older than a millennium."

"Speaking of Palais Celneir," Hotaru set her glass down. "Has there been any report on how they got that giant pillar onto a stage in a theatre?"

"Much of my council has agreed upon teleportation magics being the culprit."

"Can’t the government detect magic that large in scale? I know the Maleficos Ordinate usually does," Jotou questioned.

"The Ordinate," Lady Pinberry said with a hint of disdain and a squint of her eyes. "Yes, I am aware they are capable of doing such things, which the Department of Arcana is also capable of.

The intricacies of magic and mana are not my area of expertise. From my understanding, it is not a passive activity to detect such things and it also limitations such as range.

However more importantly, I am told that there are magics that exist to simply cloak the usage of large-scale spells such as that. Which of course, would be used by the Deuctus Cult to mask their activities.

If it were so simple to track such magic, they would not be such a scourge on these shores I promise you that. Sir Melcer Vogel would be able to go into further detail—the man currently being visited by the detectives."

’Maybe Meko will think of something to ask along those lines.’ "Is, that everything you wanted to talk to me about? No reward?" the blonde smirked.

Lady Pinberry tilted her head, "Arrogance will not get you far."

"It got me this far~"

"You are free to keep the chocolates," the grand alderman mused.

"I may not exactly agree with her sentiments of a reward, but I’m hoping there’ll be some form of compromise?" Hotaru spoke up.

"If you are referring to any authority I can grant, you are sorely mistaken. While you have my upmost gratitude, you were adventurers who volunteered for a cause.

However," she uttered before the other two could interrupt, "I, and by extension Burnetrout, acknowledge the authority of the Thundering Blade and the Azure Firefly—and their party by extension.

As such, while you are not entitled to any new authority or compensation, you will no longer be impeded by anyone under the service of Burnetrout’s government.

To clarify, they will not act under your order and still be keeping an eye to do as they see fit in the case you may attempt something untoward, you may simply state your name and title to be able to act freely without restriction and go about your business.

This is the same act that allows the detectives of Investigations Cooperated to move freely on any scene. However, this is not in effect effective immediately, I still have yet to complete the paperwork.

Grant me a week’s time; I will need some information and the identifications of those of your current party as well.

I shall also have you proofread every draft personally if you wish before signing anything Ms Kinoshita," she pronounced carefully towards the wolf-girl.

"Very well," a delighted Hotaru replied. "Thank you."

"Do not make me regret this decision."

"Does this mean we’ll be working together more often?" Jotou asked.

"More often?" she gave a passing thought in response. "Why not?" the oranges of her eyes glowed ever-so faintly—just a trick of the light. "Beyond that, the Deuctus Cult continues to move.

We cannot rest easy till every new god is no longer in commission and the organization is disseminated—lest they gather again under a new banner.

Detective Namora sent a missive from Ms Namora while you were returning from your journeys in South End. It informed me and my council much of what went on.

Despite our first encounter, you all managed to continue ahead to search for the truth which led you to victory in Belle-Ventrialis—I find it all hard not to commend and admire."

"Well," Jotou reminisced. "It wasn’t all a success. For whatever it’s worth, Beauregard destroyed the Malecise Regime’s naval force.

I got to her before she could do any more damage, but it’s hard to call it a complete victory when the cult did in some part achieve their goal," she admitted. "A lot of people didn’t have to die... I know it’s not failure on my part, but still."

As sincerity poured past the blonde’s lips, Lady Pinberry watched her eyes for a moment. She hummed in a bittersweet tone, "I understand. In my dealings with the regime in past seventy-two hours, much was said.

Their navy may take years to repair and reemerge. However, while I would have preferred a treaty of peace to be signed to end this war, I fear our two nations would only find peace if we were to clash.

Many lives would have been lost regardless when the time arrived. Your actions still prevented a genocide of a people, and now have prevented that clash from happening anytime this decade. If I am not mistaken, you even found an ally in an enemy."

"Uh, I assure you, I’m not in cahoots with the Frosting Wind. We just had a common goal," the blonde clarified.

"Hm. I am aware of rumours. I am also aware of your conviction in wanting to end this war; the Undying Princess writes highly of you whenever she can.

I assure you dear bard, your song of thunder will one day be the soothing heartbeat to lead us to salvation."

"I..." Jotou smiled while her cheeks blushed. "Thank you ma’am. Although, you should be thanking Fumeko. She’s the one who’s been persistently going after the cult, even leading us to go to South End in the first place."

"With nothing more than vague threads to follow," Lady Pinberry smiled. "Ms Namora has proven to be quite the detective herself. Her tenacity and intelligence will be rewarded in due time, perhaps when this case is finally put to rest.

I preferred the round number of the best detectives for some time now, however, I suppose I will have to make do with having an eleventh. You speak of her fondly," she pointed out.

"Well that’s my detective," Jotou softly replied. "She’s been with me since the beginning."

Hotaru side-eyed for a moment, but recognized her envy creeping up and buried it away with a roll of her eyes.

"I will rely on her then to find evidence out of thin air," Lady Pinberry jested. "In any case, that is all I wished to convey. Thank you for humouring my request."

"I have to say, this meeting’s been pleasant. I’m glad Burnetrout has you," Hotaru remarked as she got up.

"Why, thank you. Are you... taking the entire box?" Lady Pinberry noticed the tray of chocolates Hotaru that had suddenly appeared in her hands as she stood up.

Her crimson brows furrowed, "You offered the box, correct?"

"By all means. Do also enjoy the feast prepared."

Jotou stood up.

"Shall we?" Hotaru beckoned.

Jotou smiled at her then turned back to look at the grand alderman. "I’m sorry—for how we first met. You were just trying to do what’s best and I can’t fault you for that."

Lady Pinberry cocked her head to one side, "You need it not, however, you are forgiven Ms Howllett. May your song never end."

With a curtsy, Jotou left with Hotaru who held the blonde in arm. They walked out the doors, away from the GAS agents’ hearing, "She was really keen on talking to you. I felt more like a third wheel," the redhead muttered.

"You’re the one who wanted to come," Jotou replied.

"She was a bit too nice," Hotaru stuck closer to the blonde whilst they walked. "Worried she was going to pull a Countess Keya on you."

"Oh come on," Jotou dismissed with a giggle.

"I would’ve let it happen~"

"Excuse you?" the blonde’s voice deepened as she raised a brow.

"I’m teasing; it would’ve been fun to see you squirm for an answer, that’s all~"

"I’m gonna make you regret saying that tonight."

"We’ll see about that~"