The next day...
When the day was finally dawning, Lothur and Elke's carriage had already traveled almost all the way to Lewerenz.
At this moment, they were descending a valley, where a green area with a low density of trees spread out over the surroundings to the edge of the horizon.
From there, they could see a tiny urban area in the distance, on one side of this immense valley, where their destination was, the small city of Lewerenz.
Lewerenz had about 70,000 inhabitants and was economically focused on agricultural activity and livestock farming for human consumption. Because of this, such a place was not poor, but it was simple compared to the largest city in the province, Peters City.
Seeing their destination was near, Lothur and Elke straightened their crumpled clothes as they talked about what to do next.
"Where do we start? I don't know much about this place." Elke commented to him as she buttoned part of his shirt.
Hearing this, Lothur continued to look out the window on his side as he put his hair back in place. "Let's go to the property of that family who posted this mission about that strange phenomenon. From there, we will start investigating this matter."
"What do you think it might be?" She asked.
According to the mission information they picked up at the academy, such a strange phenomenon appeared in a particular area of Lewerenz. That was like an energy pulse damaging nearby buildings' structures.
The family behind the mission was a local bourgeoisie, who owned several buildings in the area most affected by this. Because of this, they had already lost a lot of furniture and were even in danger of losing their buildings if this continued.
The cracks in these buildings were increasing weekly. Because of this, they had paid for the mission in question.
"I don't know. Maybe some natural treasure is being born nearby?" He said as strange effects were released when a natural treasure appeared.
But that was extremely unlikely to happen, so Lothur could only imagine that there was a chance that this was the case.
"Anyway, this mission was posted only three days ago, so we have no trace of other groups. We'll be the first to check it, which means we'll have to do all the investigative work..." He saw the local buildings getting closer and closer to their carriage.
Elke understood that point and made up her mind. "All right. Once we get to that place, we'll get a room for the night, find something to eat, and then move on to this family estate."
...
Minutes passed, and the couple left the Becker family carriage after arriving in the center of Lewerenz.
Elke ordered the coachman of her carriage to wait for her and Lothur at that place, then they checked into a local inn and had their breakfast.
They asked some people on the streets they passed about directions to get to the estate of the Herrmann family, the contractor for this mission.
The Herrmann House was an emerging power of Lewerenz, so it was not difficult for the couple to find their way to the mansion they had just arrived at.
"Young people, what do you want here?" A guard asked as he observed the very well-dressed couple looking with interest at the interior of that mansion.
"We are students of the Morning Star Academy. We are here for a mission. Can you take us to someone who can talk about it?" Lothur said as he watched a group of teenagers inside that estate.
"Oh?" That guard opened his mouth in surprise, not expecting that these two were actually from this renowned institution. 'You really can't judge a book by its cover! He only looks like a mortal, but he is a student of that institution!'
The guard then proceeded to open the gate for Lothur and Elke, politely showing them the way.
"Friend, do you know anything about this phenomenon in question?" Lothur asked the guard.
"No," He shook his head negatively. "I know there is a problem with the family's properties at the city's southern end, but I am not sure about the details."
"I'm sorry."
"I see..."
They then entered a large waiting room of that mansion, a nicely decorated place with room for many people to sit and talk.
The teenagers Lothur had seen through the glass windows were gathered there.
"Jacob, so you are here to annoy me again? Haven't I already told you to stay away from Miss Herrmann?" A red-haired boy with eyes of the same color said this to a young man with brown hair and a round face.
"Tsk!"
"The Herrmann family has not yet decided who she will get engaged to, Harry. So, until then, I will continue with my own approach." The childish-cheeked young man said, confident in himself. "If you're afraid of the competition, you can get out of here!"
"Brat, you don't know who you're messing with!" The young red-headed boy's subordinate said as Jacob's friend, who was there to support him, moved to stand in front of the young man with childish cheeks.
Seeing this, Lothur and Elke looked momentarily at the brown-haired young man and recognized him. "Jacob?" She exclaimed, remembering the customer she and her lover had attended to days ago.
Hearing Elke's soft voice, the four young men looked in the direction where a beautiful red-haired woman stood next to the man who had the most annoying appearance in the world to other men.
'Who is this goddess?' Harry swallowed his saliva.
He had just seen the most beautiful woman in his entire life!
On the other hand, Jacob frowned his eyebrows and then smiled. "Elke, Lothur!"
"Jacob, I didn't expect to find you here. Are you by any chance part of this family?" Lothur asked as he ignored the other three teenagers in that place.
"No, I came here to see Miss Herrmann. What about you?"
Before either of them could answer, the red-haired young man walked over until he stood between Jacob and Elke, greeting this beautiful woman. "My name is Harry Wehrle. May I ask what the lady's name is?"
Elke frowned her eyebrows and replied dryly. "My name is Elke. This one next to me is Lothur, my boyfriend."
'This mortal?' The young man looked at Lothur with anger that such trash could be with a goddess like Elke.
Elke looked at Jacob and answered him, while Lothur looked at Harry. "We are here to solve the mystery behind the phenomenon afflicting the Herrmann family."
"Oh?" Jacob understood what this was all about since he had already seen the results of such a thing.
While they were talking, the guard from earlier had already brought someone to talk to Lothur.
"Are you from the Morning Star Academy?" A beautiful young woman with black hair, who appeared to be around 15 but already had a posture that showed her feminine gifts, asked the two.
Gulp!
'What a beautiful man!' She silently watched Lothur, surprised that someone like that had attended her family's mission.
"Yes, that's us." Elke turned to that newcomer. "You are the one who will talk to us about it?"
"Hmm. It should be my older brother, but he is now solving a problem in one of our buildings. So, I will accompany you." She looked at Elke and then at Lothur's silver eyes.
"Miss Herrmann, can we talk for a moment?" Jacob asked.
"I'm sorry, I have to deal with that other matter now..." She said, still looking at Lothur.
"So, that's it..." Jacob commented in a gloomy tone.
But then Lothur suggested. "If you want to come with us, I don't mind, Jacob."
"Oh?" The brown-haired young man smiled at that. 'Lothur is truly a good person! He's trying to help me!'
"Hmm, I'll go too..." Harry was saying, but then he heard Lothur's voice.
"I don't remember inviting you," Lothur coldly said. "I don't know who you are, but be careful about looking too much into the 'sun.' Don't regret when you lose your eyes."
The seven people in that room made a momentary silence after Lothur's words, with the young level 3 redhead looking particularly ugly at him. 'Are you threatening me, mortal?' He clenched his fists but said nothing.
Miss Herrmann then said, noticing the contrasting mood in the waiting room of her family mansion. "Well, will you accompany me? I will take you to the place where it all began."
"Hmmm." Lothur nodded before he felt Elke take one of his hands, and then they followed in the footsteps of that young black-haired woman.
Jacob and his follower did the same while the two remaining young men remained in that room, staring in Lothur's direction.
After they disappeared from that mansion, Harry listened. "Young master, I didn't like that fellow at all. We must do something to teach him the difference between cultivators and mortals!"
The red-haired young man agreed. "I know. Let's put someone to chase them. Then, depending on what happens, I'll show that idiot what a real man is!"