'The assassination attempt is not simple. Not only was the assassin able to dodge all types of divination and surveillance, but he could also get his hands on an Angel-level one-time artifact. Meaning he has a high status, and is at least in the Nascent level of the demigod realm." Blake thought.
From the little info the Head of the investigation department delivered, Blake already knew they wouldn't be able to find the assassin.
The only people he knew that had a chance to discover the assassin was either Prince Bryon or him.
After receiving treatment, Blake reported the assassination attempt to Prince Bryon who was livid and was even more adamant about using someone to set an example.
When he reported the matter to Darius, he was asked to return to Calton just in case the assassin decided to carry out another attack. Also, he sent an investigation team from Calton to look into the matter.
Since they had successfully completed 2 difficult missions without a break, Blake and his team were given 2 weeks off to rest properly. Seeing this opportunity, Blake decided to use the break to hunt down the assassin or at least find out about his identity and let Prince Bryon do the rest.
'If you want something to be done properly, do it yourself!' He was one of the best investigators in the empire, if not the best.
"First things first, I have to know if I would return to Calton or remain here." Blake said as he took out a map of the empire.
As a Special ops major and a locator, Blake had no idea which part of the empire he would find himself in, so having all types of maps he could get his hands on was necessary.
"Where was the artifact used to attack me gotten from?" Blake activated the locator spell.
Although the divination artifacts used by the Coastville's ash corps couldn't discover the identity of the assassin, Blake wasn't worried because they were targeted at 2 different things.
The ability of divination artifacts allowed the user to see past events concerning a location or an item; so far as the power difference between the user and target involved was not much. Once the identity of the target was confirmed, then the ash corps would start searching and employing other monitoring devices and strategies.
In the case of the locator spell, its main purpose was to track things in both present and past tense. Also, the interference that would occur due to the difference in power level greatly decreases if it concerned the user.
Since it was a one-time use artifact, Blake knew that what was left of the artifact must have been destroyed in order to get rid of evidence. This meant that it was no longer under protection, thus no interference.
After a few seconds, a white light appeared on the map on the. "Calton… perfect."
Once he confirmed that he had nothing else to do in Coastville, Blake and 5 of the special ops units returned to Calton.
"I planned on using this opportunity to train, but I have to find the assassin before the trail gets cold." Blake let out a helpless sigh. Without rest, he began his investigation.
"Where was the artifact used to attack me gotten from?" Blake activated the locator spell.
The familiar white light appeared on the Sunny Grove market, the largest market in the middle region.
He quickly contacted Jerry to come pick him up, and in less than 45 minutes they were already at the market.
"Wait for me here, while I take a look around." Blake instructed Jerry as he alighted from the carriage and began walking into the market.
'I hate markets.' Blake shook his head in helplessness.
The noise from the screaming merchants calling customers to come over, to the constant dodging of a multitude of people moving to and fro, as well as safe guiding his belonging from the pocket pickers hiding in the crowd. There was nothing Blake liked about the market!
'Thank the heavens that I have made a lot of cash, now I don't even need to come here at all to get things.' Blake said as he navigated through the market using the hot and cold variation of the locator spell.
'Who would have thought it would be here.' Blake finally located the shop but discovered that it was a magic item shop.
'I was here thinking it would be in a dark alley, but who would have thought that it would be in plain sight.' Blake thought.
[This is ingenious! No one would ever suspect that a high-level assassin who tried to kill a Major would buy such a sophisticated one-time use artifact from a magic item shop.] The system was surprised.
'I have a feeling that this isn't as simple as we think. So I have to be careful.' Blake thought before taking his communicator and calling Jerry.
"I need you to come over and buy a magic item for me."
"Alright, Sir." Jerry replied.
Since this was where the assassin procured his weapon, there was a chance that they knew about him. Blake wouldn't even be surprised if the salesman was the assassin. So he decided to play it safe by sending Jerry to do some investigation.
Once Jerry arrived, Blake briefed him on what to do and handed him gold coins and a hidden microphone. After that, Blake sent him into the store.
"Good day sir, how may I be of help today." The salesman said as Jerry walked into the store.
"I am an ash crops driver, and I was just promoted to carrying a Major. So I wanted to get some magic items to ensure my safety and increase my fighting power just in case something is to happen." Jerry explained.
"Congratulations to you sir!" The salesman said with a gleeful smile. "We have all you will possibly need but first I would like to know if you have anything in mind?"
'Excellent customer service!' Both Blake and Jerry screamed in their mind.