The detective is dead, I did it.

Chapter 34 An Interlude at the Dining Table

"You should remember Elena, right? She's a summoner, just like you."

Li Ang nodded. He still vividly remembered the scene of the blond, twin-tailed armed detective descending from the sky carrying a rocket launcher.

"There's also the enhancement type, which involves enhancing one's physical abilities, making one's speed and strength far exceed those of ordinary people. You saw this yesterday; Hughes's physical enhancement is this type."

If Li Ang hadn't been close enough, and if his black knife hadn't had a special effect against criminals and cultists, he might not have been able to kill his opponent with a single blow.

"Anything else?"

"And then there are manipulation-type, magic-type..." Charlotte counted on her fingers, one by one, then suddenly stopped.

"However, these things are not very relevant to you right now. All you need to know right now is that the Word Magic category is a branch within the Reasoning category, and it is extremely rare."

"The manifestation of their abilities is related to language. The specific forms of expression vary from person to person, but the core is the same: to influence reality through spoken language."

"Impact on reality?" Li Ang asked tentatively. "For example, if I say it's going to rain today, and then it actually rains today?"

"It's not that exaggerated." Charlotte shook her head. "Word-based abilities usually have strict conditions and restrictions."

"For example, it must be said at a specific time, must be directed at a specific audience, must use a specific sentence structure... and the effect is often not to directly change reality, but to change the probability."

"Probability?"

"For example, there is a user with the ability of word magic. His ability is that once he knows and says the name of a murderer, the probability of the murderer being caught increases significantly."

"It's not that the moment he mentions the name, the murderer will be teleported to prison. Rather, there will always be various coincidences that cause the murderer to slip up or be discovered."

"I see."

At this moment, Li Ang had a general understanding of Helena's criminal declaration ability, which should belong to the word-based ability that Charlotte mentioned.

By announcing their criminal acts in advance, individuals can significantly increase the probability of their plans succeeding.

As for the specifics of how to improve, he had no idea. Surely it couldn't be some divine intervention?

Just then, a soft knock came from the door, and the maid's voice came through the door.

"Miss Holmes, the Viscount has sent me to inform you and your assistant that lunch is ready."

Charlotte glanced at the grandfather clock in the corner; the hands were pointing exactly to twelve.

"understood."

The maid's footsteps gradually faded into the distance.

The two walked down the corridor to the first floor, passed through the foyer with a huge oil painting hanging on it, and entered the restaurant.

A long dining table occupies most of the central space of the room, with a snow-white tablecloth on the table, and silver cutlery paired with fine porcelain.

Viscount Cavendish was already seated in the main seat.

Several appetizers were laid out in front of him, but he didn't seem to touch them at all. He just held a glass of red wine and sipped it slowly.

Upon seeing Charlotte walk in, he immediately put down his wine glass, his fleshy face contorting into a fawning smile.

"Miss Holmes! Come, come, sit here." He patted the chair to his right, then glanced at Leon, who was following Charlotte, and his smile faded slightly. "Your assistant is here too, sit over there."

He was referring to the other side of the table, the position furthest from the head seat.

Charlotte did not sit to his right, but went straight to the other end of the long table and sat down directly opposite the head of the table.

Thus, she and the Viscount were now separated by a whole table's distance.

"I like sitting here," she said casually. "The lighting is good here."

The viscount's smile became somewhat unnatural, but he quickly recovered.

"Very well, very well. You can sit anywhere, as long as Miss Holmes enjoys her meal."

Leon sat down next to Charlotte, and the Viscount said nothing more.

One sumptuous dish after another was served.

Each dish was something Li Ang had only ever seen in restaurants before. He silently counted them; there were six appetizers alone, and he couldn't even count the number of main courses.

When they lived in the slums, a single black bread loaf was their daily meal. The cost of this meal, however, could probably feed a hundred families in the slums for a whole week.

Compared to the Viscount, Charlotte's life was quite frugal.

As the Viscount ate, he would occasionally glance at Charlotte, looking as if he wanted to say something but hesitated.

Finally, while sipping his soup, he casually asked, "Miss Holmes, I heard your assistant made a round of the mansion this morning. Did he find anything new?"

Charlotte was cutting a small lamb chop and, without even looking up, replied, "Not at the moment."

"So... are there any clues in the collection room?"

"Still investigating." Charlotte still didn't look up.

The viscount picked up his wine glass and took a sip, trying to hide the anxiety in his eyes.

"Is there anything I can help with? Whether it's people or supplies, just let me know."

"Not for now." Charlotte put the cut lamb chop into her mouth, chewed slowly, and swallowed before adding, "If I do, I'll let you know."

The viscount seemed to want to ask something, but in the end he said nothing.

Li Ang kept his head down and did not participate in the conversation, but he kept observing the viscount's expression out of the corner of his eye.

The way he saw her wanting to ask more questions but not daring to, afraid of revealing the truth if she asked too many questions but also feeling uncertain if she didn't ask, made him find it somewhat amusing.

People with a guilty conscience usually act like this.

A little while later, for some unknown reason, the Viscount suddenly slammed his fork on the table with such force that the maid pouring wine next to him trembled and almost spilled the red wine.

"Damn it!!!"

Everyone was stunned and stared at him, including Li Ang and Charlotte.

The viscount pointed to the plate of grilled fish that had just been placed in the center of the table, his round face contorted with fat, his eyes bulging as if they were about to pop out of their sockets.

"Didn't I tell you?! It had to be top-grade sea bass from Brittany! What the hell is this?!"

Li Ang glanced at the golden-brown grilled fish, which was drizzled with an enticing sauce and looked very appealing.

He took a bite, and it tasted pretty good. He really couldn't think of how it could be bad.

The maid beside her suddenly knelt down on the ground with a thud, her forehead pressed against the floor, her shoulders trembling violently.

Li Ang had some impression of her; she seemed to be one of the four assistants, and her name was something like Lily.

"I'm...I'm sorry, sir," Lily stammered, explaining, "When I went there today...they were already sold out. But this fish is very delicious, the chef said..."

"What did the cook say? What did the cook say?!" The Viscount's voice suddenly rose several octaves. "What the hell do I care what the cook says?!"

He grabbed the plate of grilled fish and hurled it at Lily.