Alex was deep in thought as he considered the strange energy that had killed Baron Albert. He knew that if he were to somehow obtain this energy, he would be able to fully open the cemetery. However, the idea was quickly dismissed as Alex knew he was no match for the strangeness that was able to defeat an adventure group and brutally kill a noble baron.
As he stayed behind in the study, he noticed a mark on the door that he could feel but not see with the naked eye. This sensation caused him to use the ring of undead magic, necro vision, which he had studied but never actually used.
Sadly, the spell backfired, and Alex's eyes began to hurt and get bloodshot. Fortunately, Alex's body was already transforming into a lich; otherwise, the magic's backlash may have caused his eyeballs to burst. Alex kept silent despite the discomfort and finally felt better.
As Alex examined the crime scene, he couldn't help but be struck by the strange nature of the baron's death. The vision he had experienced had only lasted for a second, but it had been enough to reveal a few invisible drops of blood that were invisible to the naked eye.
Alex had a nagging suspicion that the situation wasn't as straightforward as it seemed. Would it be possible for the person who killed the baron to be invisible or to have used magic to obscure their vision? It seemed possible that the baron himself had some sort of magical item or talent that had injured the assailant in the peculiar way he was murdered. Alex was aware that unusual powers were not uncommon among the nobles in their culture.
Alex had been intrigued by the finding of the indistinct bloodstains and had a nagging suspicion that the baron's death was not as simple as first believed. He concluded that the magic accessories found on the body of the baron had either been removed by the murderer or were hidden somewhere. The ability to block vision was an extremely strong and constricting magic that could only be employed on oneself, thus Alex thought the latter was more plausible.
Alex was aware that remarkable abilities, like the one he thought the murderer possessed, often only had an impact on the user. It would be challenging for the murderer to exert such influence over other items or individuals. They would probably have been discovered as it drifted through the air if they had managed to get away with a mystical item. But nobody was likely to have noticed anything odd since the baron's residence was well secured.
The mayor suggested leaving some employees behind to assist with the baron's burial, and the smart baroness, who understood the underlying purpose behind the suggestion, was forced to accept. Baron Albert's siblings and other family members were anxious to acquire some of his wealth after his untimely death, and a power struggle was about to start.
The baroness, who was first in line for succession, understood that she needed supporters to maintain her position. She was prepared to make any sacrifices necessary to win over those who had arrived at the baron's estate. She understood that she couldn't afford to create any enemies if she couldn't win their cooperation.
The powerful giants of Parslov City were unwilling to allow the chance to claim a portion of the Baron's heritage escape their grasp, despite the perils that awaited them in the city.
On Alex's side, there are four people. Alvis and Viscount Ashby will undoubtedly depart. Edger can't stay because he is Goldert Castle's chief butler. The circumstances are complex and irreplaceable. Clearly, Alex is in charge of this task.
Alex immediately acted once Viscount Ashby and the others had left, starting to look in the direction of the Death Vision-seen bloodstains. At this time, it was already dark outside, and the gas lamps in the Baron's mansion were lit.
The mansion became even more dreary in the dull yellow light. In the previous instant, Alex could only vaguely make out the direction in which the blood was pouring. He initially checked the utility area, but there was nothing there. As a result, he was forced to employ Necro Vision once more to look for the traces of undetectable blood flowing.
Alex plainly felt a weak energy in his body converge to his eyes along with his thoughts after the last experience and employing magic again. He had never intentionally utilised magic before. It was a pity that he failed. Probably because of his nervousness, the magic power did not condense into a magic circle after it gathered in his eyes, and then the magic power collapsed.
If Alex intended to unravel the mystery behind the baron's death, he realised he had to become an expert in the [Death Vision] magic. He had obstacles, but he didn't give up. He closed his eyes, concentrated mentally, and carefully recalled how to create the magic circle.
Even though it briefly made him queasy, he was able to effectively condense the magic force into the circle when he tried again. Alex tried again, and after much perseverance, he eventually mastered the magic. His eyesight changed to black and white as he cast the [Death Vision] magic, yet the blood drops on the ground gleamed brightly red.
He looked about for the trail and ultimately discovered it descending down the steps despite the agony in his eyes. He assumed the cut was not severe based on how the blood had spread. He stopped to relax for a bit at the utility room's doorway before climbing to the second story.
He descended the stairs three at a time, seeing the blood streaks vanish at the door of a guest room. Finally, Alex rubbed his eyes fiercely until his image of death faded and he gave up. He couldn't keep utilising his particular power since it was too taxing on his body. He needed to find another approach to carrying out his enquiry.
As he neared the door, Alex felt tense. He didn't know what he would discover on the other side, but he was aware that he needed to exercise caution. He cautiously pushed the door open while glancing left and right, hoping it wasn't locked. He was relieved to see that the door opened smoothly to show a compact space that was more than 10 square metres in size.
Alex carefully entered while keeping an ear out for any sounds that would suggest someone was there. The only sound he could make was the door creaking slightly as it opened. After taking a deep breath, he started looking around the room for any hints that may shed light on the circumstances behind the baron's passing.