Summoned with an SSS-Rank Portal Skill

The house was indeed massive, like all the others in the district. Two guards stood watch at the main gate, both looking weary, their eyelids drooping. William guessed their shift change was imminent.

He approached the guards, his presence jolting them from their lethargy.

"Who are you?" one demanded.

William's fine attire, courtesy of the king, earned him a more respectful reception than he might have received otherwise. Had he been dressed as a commoner, the guards would likely have been more aggressive, assuming ill intent.

"I'm here to speak with your resident wizard," William stated. "Inform her that James from Snowpeak Academy wishes to see her."

The guards exchanged glances, and after a moment's deliberation, one went to fetch the wizard. "Wait here," he instructed.

William waited patiently. He could have given his real name, but he doubted the wizard would come out for a stranger. This way, she might.

After a few minutes, the guard returned, accompanied by a blonde-haired woman who looked rather sleepy.

Seeing that William wasn't James, she remained silent for a moment, then addressed the guards. "May I have a word with this young man in private? Your shift is almost over, so you can rest. I'll secure the entrance."

"Thank you, ma'am," the guards replied gratefully, leaving William and the wizard alone in the deserted street.

"Who are you? You're not James," she stated, her voice laced with suspicion.

"My apologies," William said, bowing his head. "I am a student at Snowpeak Academy and Professor James's research assistant. We're in the capital on academy business, and he mentioned speaking to a list of contacts. However, he hasn't returned, so I'm here looking for him."

The woman's curiosity was piqued. "Can you explain why he's seeking out his old contacts?"

William, seeing no way around it, explained James's motive: to gather information about the individuals who had murdered the students during the elven expedition.

William was hesitant to share such sensitive information with a stranger, but he reasoned that if James trusted this woman enough to include her as a contact, she must be reliable.

"I understand... Well, I can help you find him, if you wish," she offered. "It can be quite dangerous to wander alone at night, especially dressed in such fine attire."

Every city had its share of dangers. Despite being the most heavily guarded city in the kingdom, Ignis attracted people from all walks of life, including those with ill intentions.

"Would you really do that for me?" William asked, relieved. "Can you leave the mansion this late without repercussions? I wouldn't want you to lose your job."

Beatrice chuckled. "It's alright, I won't. My name is Beatrice, by the way."

"I know," William replied. "It's written here on the note. I'm William."

Beatrice extended her hand. "May I see the note?"

William handed it to her. It contained no sensitive information, just names and locations. Beatrice, one of the names on the list, recognized a few others. "We should speak with this person first," she suggested, pointing to a name. "He's a close friend of James's, and he was likely James's first stop."

They set off to find Leonard, the bookshop owner. Beatrice waited briefly for the next guard rotation before departing.

"I'll be leaving now," she informed the guards. "Ensure no one is concerned about my absence."

"Yes, ma'am," they assured her.

William and Beatrice left the noble district and headed towards a commercial area filled with shops. There, they hoped to find Leonard's bookshop.

"Why does he have his shop here?" William wondered aloud. "The competition is fierce."

As they walked through the district, William couldn't help but agree. Establishing a shop here seemed incredibly difficult. The larger shops had vast resources and connections, allowing them to acquire goods at lower prices for resale or crafting.

William could only envision a scenario where someone exceptionally skilled, surpassing all others, could thrive here. But a bookshop? He doubted it would be successful.

"Just wait until you see how small his bookshop is," Beatrice added with a chuckle. "The shop is just a facade. He's already wealthy and offers other services, though I'm not privy to the specifics."

William's curiosity about Leonard's services would have to wait. They navigated through dimly lit alleys, encountering shady individuals lurking or sleeping on the ground. However, none dared to approach; Beatrice's aura was a powerful deterrent.

"Why do they sleep here, and why don't the guards intervene?" William inquired.

"This area isn't well-patrolled. There aren't many shops here, so the guards focus on the larger establishments. Perhaps that's why Leonard chose this location for his bookshop."

Finally, they arrived at Leonard's bookshop.

"You were right," William remarked, staring at the small, dilapidated building. "This is even smaller than I expected."

The building was grimy, with cracks marring its walls. It was far from appealing.

"I told you," Beatrice said with a smug grin.

She knocked several times, but no one answered. This was not a good sign.

William watched as Beatrice cast a spell to unlock the door. The spell was swift and silent, unlocking the door in seconds.

"That was the easy part," she warned. "Leonard likely has traps and other magical formations inside. Let's hope they're deactivated."

Beatrice led the way, her magical prowess surpassing William's. He wouldn't be able to navigate the traps alone.

"The traps are deactivated," she announced, examining the entrance. "Leonard likely disabled them for James, but would have reactivated them had they left."

However, a thorough search of the bookshop, which also served as Leonard's residence, revealed no sign of either man. Yet, there were indications that Leonard had indeed had a visitor – two teacups instead of one. Beatrice recognized the aroma.

"This is James's favorite tea," she noted. "He was here. But where are they? And why are the traps deactivated if they left?"

Neither of them could understand the situation. William wandered around the bookshop, observing the dusty, neglected books. It was evident that the shop received few visitors.

'She was right about this being a facade,' William thought.

They pondered the situation, but the bookshop offered no further clues.

"If the traps aren't activated, it could mean they haven't left," William proposed. "And if they're not here, there might be another exit. Perhaps Leonard and James used a hidden passage, and Leonard forgot to reactivate the traps in his excitement?"

Beatrice's eyes widened. "You might be right. Leonard is prone to forgetfulness when he's enthusiastic, and reuniting with his best friend after years could certainly cause that. As for another passage, that's also plausible. Leonard has connections to the sewers."

"Sewers?" William echoed, surprised.

"Yes, the Ignis underground. It's where people conduct illicit business. You'll find bandits, assassins, scammers, slave traders – you name it. It's the city's black market."

William couldn't fathom how someone like Leonard had ties to such a place. Was he involved in something illegal?

Their immediate challenge, however, was to locate the hidden passage. Where should they begin their search?

Beatrice and William rose and started their investigation. The bookshop itself was not big enough to pose a threat in finding the passage, but according to Beatrice, Leonard was a smart guy.

"This won't be easy," she said.

"We will find it."