Back at the Mystery & Fun House, chaos broke loose like a storm tearing through silence.
"CIVIL PROTECTION! HANDS WHERE WE CAN SEE THEM!"
The hallway filled with flashing lights as witches in plain robes revealed their badges. Kolzz Village Civil Officers flooded in from hidden corners, their boots echoing against the velvet floors.
The brothel’s elegant charm shattered in an instant.
The owner barely had time to turn her head when two officers pinned her arms, dragging her out from the back corridor. Her eyes were wide with fury and disbelief.
"W-What is the meaning of this—!"
"You’re under arrest for illegal trafficking, forced containment, and conspiracy to harm civilians," the lead officer snapped, tightening handcuffs around her wrists.
Screams and gasps rang through the building as wealthy witches and ghosts stumbled over each other, trying to escape. But they couldn’t. More officers were already flooding in through every hallway.
Outside, the sky was suddenly filled with glowing lights from Civil Protection vehicles, floating down from above like thunderclouds.
Cars hovered in rows black, silver, and red official emblems glowing across their sides.
From rooftops and balconies, villagers peeked out in confusion and awe.
"It’s a raid!" someone shouted.
There was a sharp knock on the door of the private room Ruby had been led to.
She opened the door, and one of the civil officers stood there, her expression grim.
"He isn’t Karl," she said before she could speak, her voice low and tight. Her hands were trembling, but her eyes burned with anger. "They tricked me."
The officer blinked in shock, then immediately stepped inside, scanning the room.
The figure on the bed wasn’t even conscious. Another ghost. Drugged.
"That means..." the officer muttered, jaw tightening.
Ruby stepped forward, her voice cold and steady now.
"They never brought Karl here. This whole thing was just to stall me."
The officer nodded solemnly.
"The owner is in custody now, and so is Jepsi—we’re already preparing to interrogate them. They’ll talk. Trust me, they always do." Then She looked at Ruby with more respect this time.
"You can look around the premises. If there’s even the smallest chance he’s still here... we’ll find him."
Ruby gave a stiff nod, her heart hammering again this time with urgency.
She pulled her robe tighter, stepped out of the room, and strode down the corridor.
Ruby had checked every room from the lavish suites to the smallest back corridors, her voice echoing as she called out again and again:
She even looked under tables, behind curtains, through hidden doors the officers pointed out but not a single clue.
Her chest felt tight with frustration. Where was he?
She stepped outside, the cool air hitting her face. The chaos had died down, but officers still moved around the building, speaking in hushed tones, investigating, scribbling reports.
Ruby walked toward one of the officers. "Any leads?" she asked, her voice calm, but her fists were clenched.
The officer shook his head slowly. "We’re still looking. No sign of him inside the premises."
With a quiet sigh, she turned and headed toward her car. Her throat was dry, her head heavy. She reached for the flask in the car seat, unscrewing the cap, when—
The smell hit her first sweaty, unwashed, earthy and she instinctively stepped away.
A familiar voice. A frantic one.
She looked up and her eyes widened.
The old neighbor. The one who had run off with some witch Weeks ago and was presumed gone for good.
His clothes were torn, face pale, and eyes tired but his expression lit up like a lost puppy seeing home again.
"Jo?" Ruby asked, confused.
"What are you doing here?"
He practically stumbled forward, panting. "I-I know where Karl is!" he said, tears already forming in his eyes.
"He tried to run away, but he couldn’t—he helped me escape instead! I’ve been running all night trying to find someone, anyone, who’d help!"
Ruby’s eyes widened, the water bottle slipping from her hand.
Without wasting a second, she called the civil officers from her village.
"I found someone who knows where Karl is. Bring a transport immediately."
Within minutes, Jo was seated in the back of a civil car, wrapped in a blanket, still shaking as he gave directions with trembling fingers.
Ruby didn’t waste a breath.
She got in her own car, pulled her robe tighter, and followed them alone.
"Oh no... everyone was caught..." Jiri muttered, her voice tight with panic as she paced the old wooden floor of her old building. Her sharp nails scratched against her arm as her nerves spiked.
A messenger ghost had just slipped her the news—the brothel was raided, the owner was in custody, Jepsi was arrested, and Ruby was there.
That name made her curse under her breath.
She stormed into the back room where Karl and the other captured ghost were bound again, weaker than ever, their faces pale from hunger and fear.
"Change of plans," Jiri snapped, her eyes gleaming with desperation. "Get them into the wagon. Now."
Two of her assistants rushed in, shoving Karl and the other ghost onto their feet. Karl stumbled, his legs weak from being kept in that dark room for day, but he glared at her the entire time.
"Where do you think you’re taking us now?" he growled.
Outside, the black wagon with red velvet curtains was already prepared, its hood pulled low to avoid drawing attention. She pushed both prisoners inside and climbed in after them, slamming the door shut.
"Drive!" she barked at her ghost driver. "Head toward the north forest. Take the back trail—we’re changing location. Now!"
The wheels rattled to life, and the wagon lurched forward, racing away from Kolzz Village.
Jiri clenched her fists, sweat beading on her forehead.
"I’m not going down with the rest of them," she muttered. "I just need to sell them and vanish. Before that witch and officers catches up..."
—To be continued...🪄