The Extra's Rise - Chapter 443

Chapter 443: Investigation (1)
The morning after the banquet, the air felt different—heavier somehow, like the weight of what we’d seen and what we suspected had crystallized overnight. I rubbed my temples, trying to clear the fog that had settled over my thoughts since last night. Something about Alyssara’s dance kept nagging at me, a phantom sense of familiarity I couldn’t quite place.

We gathered in the palace’s grand assembly hall, where two hundred students from Starcrest and Mythos Academies filled the tiered seats. The scale of our investigation force was impressive—a small army of talented young mages and warriors, backed by some of the most powerful figures in the world.

Li Zenith stood at the center of the room, his silver-threaded robes catching the early light that streamed through the high windows. Beside him, Professor Nero’s darker silhouette created a striking contrast—light and shadow, both equally formidable in their own way.

“We face a considerable task,” Li announced, his voice carrying effortlessly across the hall. “Therefore, we will divide into twenty teams of approximately ten students each, with supervising professors assigned accordingly.”

A holographic map of the palace and its grounds materialized in the air above him, sections lighting up in different colors as he spoke.

“Each team will focus on specific areas. Teams One through Five will investigate the eastern sections,” Li continued, gesturing to the glowing red portions of the map. “Teams Six through Ten will cover the western wing and underground levels. Teams Eleven through Fifteen will focus on the central palace, administrative buildings, and courtyards. The remaining teams will investigate the outer grounds, servant quarters, and peripheral structures.”

I caught Jin’s eye across the hall. His face remained impassive, but I could read the calculation in his gaze. We both knew what was at stake here. This wasn’t just an academic exercise or diplomatic formality. Something was wrong within these gilded walls, and we needed to find it before it found us.

“Team Three will include Arthur Nightingale, Jin Ashbluff, Ava Peng, Hiro Yamada, and Lyra Chen.” Li’s voice pulled me back from my thoughts.

I nodded, though my mind briefly drifted to last night’s banquet. Alyssara’s cyan-green eyes as they had locked with mine during her performance, a gesture that had sent an inexplicable chill through me. The way her pink hair had cascaded as she moved… something about it tugged at memories I didn’t know I had.

“Arthur?” Jin’s voice pulled me back to the present. He had made his way over and stood beside me, eyebrow raised in question.

“Sorry,” I muttered, forcing my focus back to the meeting. Jin’s presence was a reminder of the mana oath that bound us. Not that he needed the reminder—Jin was sharp enough to recognize the importance of this investigation without magical compulsion.

The assignments continued, with the three princesses placed in separate teams to maximize their influence. Rachel would join Team Eleven in the central palace. Cecilia was assigned to Team Seven in the western wing, while Seraphina would work with Team Sixteen on the outer grounds. Lucifer, Ren, and Seol-ah were scattered similarly, ensuring our strongest students covered key locations.

All around us, students were organizing into their assigned groups, their expressions ranging from excitement to nervous determination. For many, this was their first real mission—a chance to prove themselves on a stage that mattered.

As the assignments concluded, a contingent of palace officials entered the hall. Tall, stern-faced men and women in crimson robes, each bearing the Red Sun emblem. Their expressions ranged from barely concealed hostility to diplomatic blankness.

“Each investigation team will be assigned a palace representative,” announced one of them, a woman with silver-streaked hair pulled into a severe bun. “They will guide you through your assigned areas and answer appropriate questions.”

The palace representatives moved through the crowd, finding their designated teams. Our guide was Advisor Koren, a man whose face seemed permanently set in lines of disapproval. His eyes, dark and watchful, swept over us with thinly veiled suspicion.

“I will show you the northeastern section of the east wing,” he said, his voice as dry as old parchment. “There are, of course, certain restricted areas that remain off-limits even to… investigators.” The pause before the last word made his feelings about our presence perfectly clear.

Jin and I exchanged glances. This would complicate things.

“We understand the need for discretion,” I replied, keeping my tone respectfully neutral. “But our investigation must be thorough to be meaningful.”

Koren’s lips thinned almost imperceptibly. “Of course. Follow me.”

The northeastern section of the Southern Sea Sun Palace was a study in contrasts. Grand halls opened into intimate courtyards, opulent galleries gave way to austere meditation chambers. We documented everything meticulously—the flow of mana through ancient ward stones, the architectural peculiarities, the placement of guards and servants.

While Ava engaged our guide with questions about the palace’s defensive enchantments, Jin lingered near the ornately carved walls, his fingers tracing inscriptions that predated the palace’s isolation. To anyone watching, he appeared to be studying historical markings. I knew better.

Jin was extending his necromantic senses, feeling for the telltale signatures of death magic or unnatural preservation—anything that might suggest vampire activity. His expression remained studiously neutral, but when our paths crossed near a massive tapestry depicting the palace’s founding, he muttered under his breath:

“Something’s not right in the north corner.”

I followed his gaze to an unassuming door, sealed with both physical locks and magical wards. Unlike the other doors in the corridor, this one bore no markings or decorations—its plainness made it stand out among the ornate surroundings.

‘Yes Master, I picked up something as well,’ Erebus commented in my mind.

For a moment, I froze. The door’s simple design triggered another flash of memory—not from this world, but from… somewhere else. A plain white door leading to a small apartment. A key in my hand. Someone waiting inside.

“Arthur?” Jin’s voice cut through the fog. “Are you listening?”

I blinked, the phantom memory fading. “Yes. The door. Let’s check it out.”

“Advisor Koren,” I called, approaching the door with measured steps. “What lies beyond this entrance?”

Koren materialized at my side with surprising speed. “Old storage. Nothing of interest to investigators.”

“Then you wouldn’t mind if we took a look?” I kept my tone light, curious rather than challenging.

“I’m afraid that’s not possible.” His refusal was immediate, brooking no argument. “This area is restricted due to palace tradition. Some spaces are reserved for ceremonial purposes only.”

“What ceremonies?” Jin asked, his voice neutral but his eyes sharp.

“Private matters,” Koren replied stiffly. “Family traditions of the Solaryn line.”

I studied the door again, noting the freshness of the ward sigils. Whatever lay beyond had been sealed recently, not by ancient tradition. I reached out, my fingertips hovering just above the ward. A faint resonance hummed through the air—blood magic. Not strong enough to be vampire magic, but adjacent to it.

“I understand tradition,” I said carefully, “but our investigation requires access to all areas of the palace. Exceptions create blind spots.”

“Nevertheless,” Koren said, his tone hardening, “this area remains restricted.”

I exchanged a glance with Jin before making a decision. “I’ll need to discuss this with Professor Li.”

Koren’s expression tightened, but he nodded curtly. “As you wish.”

While Jin went to fetch Li, I remained by the door, studying its wards. The symbols seemed to blur before my eyes, rearranging themselves into a pattern that made my head throb. A sense of déjà vu washed over me, so powerful I had to steady myself against the wall.

Why does this feel familiar?

When Li arrived, the ensuing discussion was a masterclass in diplomatic pressure. Li never raised his voice, never made explicit threats, but the weight of his position and power hung in the air like an unsheathed blade.

“The Eastern continent has extended every courtesy,” Li said, his calm voice underscored with steel. “We’ve respected the palace’s sovereignty while conducting our investigation. But selective restrictions undermine the very purpose of our presence here.”

I tried to follow the negotiation, but my thoughts kept drifting to Alyssara. Her movements during the dance—they hadn’t just been elegant, they’d been familiar. The way she had turned her wrist, the tilt of her head… it was as if I’d seen them before, somewhere beyond this life.

“Arthur?” Li’s voice pulled me back. “Do you have something to add?”

I struggled to reorient myself. “The wards are fresh,” I managed. “Whatever they’re protecting, it’s not ancient tradition.”

Li nodded, turning back to Koren. The palace advisor held firm for several minutes, citing tradition and protocol, but eventually conceded under the steady pressure of Li’s presence.

“You may return tomorrow,” he said finally, his voice strained. “With proper authorization from Lord Daedric himself. Until then, this area remains sealed.”

Li inclined his head slightly. “Fair enough. We’ll continue our investigation elsewhere for now.”

As Koren led us away, I couldn’t help but wonder what lay behind that unassuming door that warranted such protection. Whatever it was, the palace was determined to keep it hidden—which only made me more determined to find it.

At the end of the day, representatives from each of the forty investigation teams gathered in one of the palace’s larger meeting rooms. The air buzzed with suppressed excitement and frustration as team leaders shared their findings. The pattern was unmistakable—each team had encountered similar resistance, with certain areas deemed off-limits despite the supposed openness of the investigation.

“Team Eight found a sealed chamber beneath the western observatory,” reported a senior student from Starcrest. “When we requested access, we were told it contained ‘delicate astronomical equipment’ too sensitive for visitors.”

“Team Fourteen was denied access to the central archives,” added another. “Apparently, some records are too ‘historically significant’ to be viewed by outsiders.”

“They’re hiding something,” Lucifer said bluntly, voicing what we were all thinking. “It’s not just one area or one excuse—it’s systematic.”

Magnus Draykar, who had spent the day in high-level discussions with palace officials, stood at the head of the table.

“Almost certainly,” he agreed. “But direct confrontation may not serve us best. For now, follow protocol. Document everything—the restrictions themselves tell us something valuable about what they might be hiding. Push boundaries where strategically appropriate, but don’t antagonize unnecessarily.”

“And if they continue to obstruct us?” Ren asked, his usual calm tinged with frustration.

“Then we’ll reconsider our approach,” Magnus replied. His gaze swept across our faces, settling briefly on mine. “Patience, for now. We have two hundred investigators covering every inch of this palace. Something will slip through their guard.”

I nodded, though my mind was already elsewhere. Through the meeting room’s windows, I caught a glimpse of movement in the garden beyond—a flash of pink that drew my eye like a beacon. Alyssara walked slowly along a stone path, pausing by a fountain to trail her fingers through the water.

As the meeting dispersed, with team representatives heading back to brief their full groups, I felt a prickling sensation at the base of my neck—the unmistakable feeling of being watched. I turned slowly, scanning the shadowed gallery that overlooked our meeting space.

I needed to pull myself together. Too many lives depended on it.