1 RFS Detective Agency

WARNING: If you are not at least 15+, I'd highly recommend against reading this book! Not because it contains sexual content, but because there will be some very gruesome scenes in the future and perhaps even in the future with vivid depictions of blood and more.

If you can't handle such things, please leave now. For those who will stay, I hope you enjoy.

One final thing, the story is set prior to the Traveler's arrival in Fontaine. By how long specifically, I'm not entirely sure, didn't put too much thought into that.

✦----------------✦

Fontaine was known as the Nation of Justice, and despite its name, its justice system was honestly perhaps one of the most ridiculous out of the seven nations. On top of some ridiculous laws, the conclusions in court cases were decided by a machine of all things.

Ever since having come to this world over a month ago, Xander had many complaints in regard to the judicial system here in Fontaine. Of course, he was merely one person, his own words couldn't possibly change an entire nation's functions.

Like any number of court cases back in his original home, there would always be some that have had a wrong conclusion drawn, whether or not the people knew it. Evidence doesn't always guarantee the truth, and the truth doesn't always get accepted.

In any case, Xander had gotten himself involved in the judicial world here in Fontaine all because of the system he had received. Much like how most protagonists from anime and such always received some form of a system to help guide them through their lives, he was no different.

His system didn't provide him with game-like characteristics though, it was a system aimed specifically towards solving criminal cases and more. Quite fitting considering the kind of nation he now resided within, is it not?

It took some time, but he eventually managed to secure a base of operations within the Court of Fontaine to start his work. Since he had received a crime-solving-related system, it was only natural for him to use it appropriately.

The RFS Detective Agency, otherwise known as the Revealed From Shadows Detective Agency.

This was the name he decided to call his business, and you couldn't imagine just how prosperous such a business actually was here in Fontaine. True, most of his clients submitted rather mediocre cases, mainly that of simple theft.

With the sheer number of crimes that actually happen in Fontaine, with most of them being petty crimes, only a select few find themselves as the main topic of a trial within the Opera Epiclese. After all, the people of Fontaine only want to watch 'interesting' cases.

For the crimes that he himself had solved over his time here, he'd solve them and would then simply have the criminals he finds arrested by the Gardes. Overall, he had come to learn that his line of business was quite lucrative indeed.

All that aside, the RFS building wasn't too unique compared to the other buildings within the Court of Fontaine. The only main difference was the large fancy plaque at the front of the entrance that spelled out 'RFS' in bold letters.

Within this building, Xander himself could currently be seen sitting inside what looked to be an office space within the building. His eyes unblinking as he seemed to be focused on a strange floating holographic screen in front of him.

Xander appeared to be no older than twenty, with slightly pale skin and smooth straight dark-brown hair that borderlined black. As for his clothing, it really wasn't anything special right now, albeit a bit on the formal side.

He was wearing a pair of sleek black formal pants, along with a pair of black leather shoes and a white button-up dress shirt with short sleeves. Both his hands had on black gloves, and what looked to be a black formal jacket was resting on the headrest of the chair he was sitting on.

『Supreme Sleuth System』

➢ Critical Case - [LOCKED - 00mths:02days:20hrs:52mins:34secs]

➢ Weekly Cases - [AUTO REFRESH - 6days:16hrs:14mins:22secs]

➢ Inventory

➢ Abilities

The system he obtained was very simple, it provided him with numerous cases to solve, all with varying elements and factors that differ from one another. 'Weekly Cases' were cases that were refreshed at the start of each week.

These cases were no different from the normal cases he got through simple client submissions instead of the system, the only difference being that if he solved the 'Weekly Cases', the system would provide additional rewards outside of the client's regular payment.

Basically, if he solves a case that happens to appear on the 'Weekly Cases' screen for that week, the system would give him additional rewards based on how difficult the case was as well as taking into consideration his performance.

'Critical Case' was something he had yet to participate in, not because he didn't want to, but because he couldn't. As seen above, the 'Critical Case' was currently locked and would continue to be so for the next three days or so.

From what he understood from the rather vague explanations he received at the start when he first got the system, 'Critical Cases' were cases that may bring great change to the world, good or bad.

Unlike 'Weekly Cases', these cases would directly be added by the system instead of being naturally assigned based on real-time crimes in the nation. Meaning that 'Critical Cases' were cases that shouldn't have existed in the first place, and were instead forced into the world by a higher power.

Naturally, these cases far exceeded the 'Weekly Cases' in difficulty.

'Three days, huh?' Xander thought to himself as he narrowed his eyes at the timer next to the first labeled section. 'I can't help but be worried about what it'll entail. Not only can I not decline it, it also won't disappear if I just leave it alone. Either I solve it, or have multiple Critical Cases stacked on top of each other...'

The normal cases were simple enough, and he was making some good cash from them, enough for him to live comfortably. Although most things he got as additional rewards from the system for some of the cases were regular items, he could sell a number of them for some good extra cash for him to indulge himself with.

However, he was certain that the Critical Cases, while they would give rewards far greater than what he's gotten so far, the danger would be just as much increased. He didn't like it, but there wasn't much he could do aside from trying his best.

"I've been constantly worrying over this for the past month, it's giving me a headache..." Xander sighed while holding his forehead. Closing down the menu, he slowly stood up from his chair. "Hmm... it's almost time for breakfast. Might as well go out for a bite to help clear my head a bit."

Nodding to himself, Xander picked up his jacket from the chair before swinging it over his shoulder. As he walked out from behind the desk, he swiftly grabbed a black fedora that was calming resting on a wooden hat stand in the corner of the room.

Aside from being purely black in colour, the fedora had a deep blue ribbon wrapped around the base of the hat's crown. After placing the hat over his head, he swung his jacket over both of his shoulders instead of sliding his hands into the sleeves, revealing the inside of the jacket to also share the same blue colour as the ribbon on his fedora.

After patting his clothes a few times, Xander calmly exited his office.

✦----------------✦

If Xander had to pick a time of day he loved the most, it would certainly be the mornings, with the night coming in a close second.

The reason for this was that he loved the peaceful and quiet atmosphere that came with these sections of the day. Being able to walk around the city in serene peace was one of his favorite things to do, it just felt so relaxing to do so.

He was now currently sitting down at one of his favourite, and no doubt one of Fontaine's most popular, cafes. Café Lucerne was well-known across Fontaine, and even possibly in other nations, for its exquisite coffee and snacks.

Xander was a regular customer here at the cafe, so he had gotten quite well acquainted with the owner here and a few of the other customers who he would sometimes usually see enjoying themselves here.

"Oh, Xander!"

"Hm?" Xander opened his eyes slightly as he glanced to the side, and when he did, he saw a familiar figure rushing over toward him. Seeing the familiar pink hair, Xander showed a slightly helpless look on his face. "What can I do for you, Charlotte? I've already said before that I won't be doing any of those interviews."

The female that had just called out to him was Charlotte, an individual he came to know quite well after his reputation as a detective here started to pick up. She would frequently ask him for interviews in regard to the cases he's solved, which he obviously declined.

Even if the cases may not be the most serious, every case has its own sensitive information that he'd keep quiet about. Let it be sensitive to the client, other involved individuals, and more. Unless Charlotte got permission directly from all involved parties, he himself would keep silent.

"Ehehe~, rejected before I could even ask..." Charlotte gave a small nervous laugh as she stopped next to the table where Xander was sitting. Placing both her hands on the table, Charlotte spoke again. "Come on, please! If I manage to write an exclusive article about all those cases, I'm sure the papers will sell well!"

Xander's reputation had been growing quite quickly since the number of cases he's solved over the past month were quite impressive indeed, so people have naturally started calling him a future ace detective in the making.

"Sorry, but no." Xander responded indifferently. "While I cannot share any in-depth information about the cases. I can at least agree to an interview as long as it is information that doesn't invade the personal privacy of the involved parties, unless you have their permission that is."

"Ah... oh, then how about a top exclusive interview about yourself!" Charlotte seemed to click into another idea as Xander merely blinked. "Others have already published papers similar, but what I have in mind is a special paper with in-depth details specifically towards you and your views on your experiences as a budding detective!"

"Hmm... I guess that's fine." Xander thought for a second before nodding his head. Since people were calling him a future ace detective, then naturally they'd be curious to know more about him. "As long as you don't ask for anything too personal, then I don't see why not. Start whenever you wish."

"Perfect!"

Just like that, Xander answered any questions that Charlotte threw at him for the next few minutes, remaining silent on any questions that he obviously didn't want to answer. Charlotte's words from before were true, any of the published papers about him never went into any detail.

All they talked about was how Xander was a new detective and how he had solved numerous cases, though none of them had any true details about who Xander was or why he did what he did. That's the information that Charlotte was trying to collect right now, and of course, Xander had to make a few things up here and there.

"Alright, this is my final question, Xander! Personally, what do you see a crime as?"

"Crime? That's an interesting question. Most people would just say the basic definition of how it's an action constituting an offense that's punishable by the law. However, I like to view it in a more... abstract perspective."

Charlotte seemed very interested as she leaned in while holding her notebook and pen, ready to write as fast as she could. "Oh? What exactly do you mean?"

"A crime to me is like clockwork, where all the gears that are turning represent the truths and lies within the crime. With so many parts, it's hard to grasp. So many gears turning at once, it's difficult to seek out the ones you need. A complex machination, where the truths are hidden amongst countless lies and the answer is nowhere to be found."

"I... don't think I understand."

"Well, what should you do if the gears you're looking for are too deep in the device amongst the others?" Xander smiled slightly as Charlotte blinked in confusion at his words. "Simple, you remove the other gears until you can easily reach them..."

After processing those words, Charlotte seemed to widen her eyes in understanding.

"Crime... it's nothing more than a puzzle of truths and lies. Strip away the lies, and all that remains are truths. Put the truths together, and you get the answer."