Li Zeyang stopped his motorcycle in front of the gate leading to Lu Shen's residence. The white iron gate stood out against the dark green of the tall hedges, which blocked any view of the interior. When he pressed the doorbell, a man with a composed demeanor and an attentive gaze came to open it. Brown eyes studied him from beneath graying brows.
"Detective Li Zeyang, Unified Police," he said, showing his badge. "I'd like to speak with Lu Shen."
"Do you have an appointment?"
"No."
The man weighed him for a moment. "Please wait. I'll see if he can receive you," he said, closing the gate in his face.
Leaning against his motorcycle, Zeyang checked his messages and emails until the gate opened again.
"Mr. Lu will see you."
"Thank you," the detective replied, following him inside.
Beyond the gate, an English-style lawn bordered a well-kept path leading to a modern white villa with large glass windows. Several shady trees framed the entrance.
The man led him inside to a pristine white door and knocked softly.
When a quiet "Come in" sounded from within, the servant gestured for him to enter and then left.
Li Zeyang was surprised to find a young, attractive man approaching him. He had expected an elderly mage with a stern expression and a long gray beard. Instead, the man in front of him appeared to be around his own age, with black hair and sharp, alert eyes.
He held out his hand. "Lu Shen."
The detective returned the firm, confident handshake. "Detective Li Zeyang."
"Please, have a seat and tell me how I can be of assistance."
Lu Shen then sat down in the armchair behind the desk, which was also white.
Zeyang had barely taken his seat when the servant returned, carrying tea and serving it in silence.
"I wanted to ask," Zeyang began, "whether it's possible to disable a magical protective shield for a short period of time."
"The one who created it can do so."
"No one else?"
The mage shook his head and took a sip of tea. "It would require inside cooperation anyway. If you give me more details, I may be able to suggest alternatives. Don't worry—I am bound to confidentiality."
Zeyang told him about the theft at the museum, and the mage leaned back in his chair, thoughtful.
"The magical flow was interrupted. To do that, someone must have created a magical network inside the museum, acting as a temporary barrier. Only a mage would know where to place the necessary artifacts—and they would have to be fairly powerful."
"Wouldn't an operation like that leave traces?"
"That depends on how much time passed before you saw the barrier restored, seeker," Lu Shen replied, the corner of his lips curving slightly.
Zeyang smiled back.
"If you had arrived immediately after the interruption, you would have found the weave of the shield thinned out. But from what you've told me, I assume you saw it fully restored and compact. Was anything stolen from the museum?" the mage continued.
"The Rune Cube."
"And what is it used for?"
"Its function isn't well defined. Generally, spellcasting." Zeyang set his cup down on the table. "How could they have created the network?"
"Someone must have placed enchanted artifacts inside the museum. The last one would have been positioned at the heart of the shield—activating it would interrupt the barrier," the mage replied, folding his hands over his legs.
"How many artifacts would be required?"
"Four, plus the final one, for a shield meant to protect a place like the museum. The artifacts themselves could even be ordinary objects turned into magical vessels."
Li Zeyang nodded. "Can you tell me the timeframe as well?"
"For the cycle to function properly, it would have had to be completed within three days."
"Thank you," Zeyang said, standing.
"You're welcome," Lu Shen replied, escorting him to the door.
"The Unified Police will arrange payment for your consultation."
"That won't be necessary." Then, turning to the servant, he added, "Mr. Ling, please see the detective out."
Zeyang hadn't noticed the man reappear behind him. He gave the mage a brief nod and stepped outside.
Back at the office, the detective headed to Matt's desk—an agent shifter, tall, with brown hair and bright green eyes.
"Go to the Museum of Magical Artifacts and get the surveillance recordings from the past three days. Then take Liam and review them carefully. I want to know if anyone returned multiple times or left anything behind—no matter how insignificant."
Matt nodded, grabbed his jacket from the back of his chair, and left at a brisk pace.
Zeyang went to his own office. He dropped into his chair and stared at the computer with a pained expression. Eventually, he reached out, pressed the power button, and mentally prepared himself for the ordeal of writing the preliminary report—something he found deeply boring.