Meanwhile, Kosu, Riku, and Miko continued their exploration of the guest rooms, carefully checking each one for clues. The atmosphere was thick with an eerie stillness, and every window they approached was firmly shut, seemingly fixed to the walls as if sealed by some unseen force.

As they moved through the corridor, Kosu stopped in front of one particular door. "Let's check this room," he suggested, pushing it open. The hinges creaked, revealing a space that was both elegant and unsettling. The furnishings were impeccably arranged, but a thick layer of dust covered everything, a testament to years of neglect.

Scanning the room, Kosu's eyes were drawn to a small table in the corner. He approached it and noticed an old newspaper tucked beneath a decorative cloth. Curiosity piqued, he carefully lifted the paper, revealing the faded headline: The Valet Family: A Legacy of Prosperity and Charity.

"Look at this," Kosu said, holding it up for Riku and Miko to see. The article detailed the Valet family's history—how they had amassed wealth through various enterprises and devoted much of their fortune to charitable causes, even reaching out to neighboring villages in need.

Riku frowned as she read the date at the top. "This is decades old," she said, her voice tinged with disbelief. "How can this still be here? The last issue must have been printed long before we arrived."

Miko leaned in closer, examining the newspaper. "Wait a second," she said, her brow furrowing. "This doesn't look that old. The print quality is too clear, and the ink doesn't seem faded. It's almost as if it was printed recently."

Kosu exchanged glances with Riku, their expressions mirroring confusion. "But how could that be?" Riku asked, shaking her head. "We've been in this manor long enough to know it feels abandoned."

Miko turned the newspaper over in her hands, studying it intently. "What if this is part of whatever phenomenon is happening here? It's like the manor is preserving remnants of the past but keeping them just out of reach. It's all so... strange."

Kosu felt a knot tighten in his stomach. "We need to keep looking for more clues. There has to be a connection between this newspaper and what's happening in the manor."

The team moved on to the study room, its heavy door creaking as they pushed it open. Inside, the space was lined with dark wood shelves overflowing with books, their spines neatly arranged yet oddly inviting. A large desk sat in the center, cluttered with papers, an inkpot, and a quill, hinting at a scholar's retreat.

As they stepped inside, Miko immediately noticed something amiss. "Look at the bookshelves," she said, pointing. "They don't seem to be in the correct order. It's almost as if someone has taken a book out and put it back carelessly."

Kosu and Riku approached the shelves, examining the titles. "You're right," Riku said, running her fingers along the spines. "They're supposed to be organized by genre or author, but there's a definite disruption here."

Kosu squinted at the titles. "Let's see what we have." He pulled out a few books, revealing a mix of topics: histories, novels, and even some volumes on local folklore. "Maybe there's a pattern we're missing."

As Kosu, Riku, and Miko continued to explore the study room, they noticed that several books stood out from the rest. Unlike the meticulously arranged volumes that lined the shelves, these particular books were slightly misaligned, as if they had been hastily pulled out and replaced. The team gathered around them, intrigued.

"Look at these," Kosu said, pointing to the disordered books. "They're not like the others. This might be exactly what we're looking for."

Riku examined the titles closely. "Let's see what we have here," she said, pulling out the first book. It was titled Mysteries of the Dark (2002).

"Interesting title," Miko remarked, taking the next book from the shelf: Revelations of the Past (1988). "These seem to have a darker theme."

Kosu continued to pull out the remaining titles, each one adding to the sense of intrigue. Once they had gathered all seven books, they laid them out on the desk in front of them:

Mysteries of the Dark (2002)Revelations of the Past (1988)Powers Unleashed (1990)Awakening Shadows (1995)Vows of the Night (1987)In the Moonlight (1999)Eclipsed Hearts (2005)

"Let's see if there's a hidden message here," Kosu suggested. "What if we take the first letter of each title?"

They quickly noted the first letters:

M from Mysteries of the DarkR from Revelations of the PastP from Powers UnleashedA from Awakening ShadowsV from Vows of the NightI from In the MoonlightE from Eclipsed Hearts

"M, R, P, A, V, I, E...?" Miko said, her eyes widening as she looks at the note. "What could it be? Mr. Pavie? Or should we reorganize it by the public date?"

Riku thinks for a moment, and then, a word let out of her lips, "Vampire. It's spelled VAMPIRE!".

Kosu felt a rush of excitement. "This must be significant. It connects to the legends and lore surrounding this manor. There might be more to the Valet family than we initially thought."

"Right," Riku replied, her mind racing. "If the message is 'VAMPIRE,' we should investigate further. There might be hidden truths or dangers lurking in this place."

Miko looked at the letters they had just uncovered, her brow furrowing in concern. "Are we really talking about vampires? You know, the blood-sucking monsters from the stories?"

Riku nodded, her expression a mix of curiosity and unease. "Kosu, have you ever encountered anything like that during your adventures? Any signs of real monsters?"

Kosu shook his head, a serious look crossing his face. "No, I've never seen anything like that before. I've heard tales from travelers, but they've always seemed like folklore—just stories to scare children."

"Exactly," Riku added, her voice low. "But if what we're dealing with is a creature from myth, this could complicate things significantly. We're not just up against a mere ghost or spirit; we might be facing a real monster."

Miko shifted uneasily. "The legends say that vampires can be incredibly powerful. If that's true, then we need to be extremely cautious. They're known for their cunning and strength."

Kosu felt a knot tighten in his stomach. "If we're truly dealing with a vampire, we need to prepare ourselves for a very hard mission. We can't underestimate what we might be up against."

As they searched through the room, Riku glanced at Kosu and couldn't help but think about his leadership qualities. "You know, it's strange," she said, rummaging through a drawer. "Kosu really should be the leader of this team. He's got an instinct for survival that's impressive."

Miko smiled, pulling out an old map from under a pile of linens. "I agree. Even though he's from the Adventurer's Guild and we're officers from City Hall, he's the one keeping us focused. It's refreshing."

"Right?" Riku replied, her admiration evident. "He's calm under pressure and thinks on his feet. I think we'd be lost without him."

Kosu overheard their comments and felt a swell of confidence. "Let's keep moving," he encouraged, pushing the door open wider. "We don't have much time."

Just as Kosu, Riku, and Miko were about to leave the study, a loud noise echoed from above them, reverberating through the walls of the manor. Kosu froze, his heart racing as he recognized the sound. "That's Thorn's team!" he exclaimed, his instincts kicking in.

Riku's eyes widened. "What do you think happened? Do you think they're in trouble?"

Kosu didn't hesitate. "We need to move. If they're in danger, we can't leave them behind." He quickly gathered the disordered books, shoving them into his bag. "We'll come back for more information later, but right now, we need to support them."

"Let's go!" Miko urged, her voice steady despite the rising tension. She followed Kosu toward the door, glancing back at Riku, who was already moving to catch up.

As they stepped into the corridor, another boom echoed from above, followed by the sound of frantic movement. Kosu felt a surge of urgency. "Stay close! We don't know what we might encounter."

They raced down the hall, their footsteps quick and purposeful. The manor felt alive with energy, the shadows shifting and deepening around them. Kosu's mind raced with possibilities: Were Thorn and Jenna under attack? Were the shadows they had encountered earlier back to cause more chaos?

As they approached the staircase leading up, Riku glanced at Kosu. "Do you think we should be cautious? We don't know what's going on up there."

Kosu nodded, his expression serious. "We have to be careful, but we can't let fear slow us down. If Thorn's team needs us, we have to act fast."

Riku took the lead, her determination evident as she climbed the stairs first. "I'll scout ahead. Let's see what we're dealing with."

Kosu and Miko followed closely, their senses heightened. As they reached the top of the stairs, the noise above them intensified—a cacophony of shouts and the sound of something heavy being dragged across the floor.

"Thorn!" Kosu called out, hoping his voice would reach his friend. "Are you up there?"

The noise abruptly ceased, and a tense silence filled the air. Kosu exchanged worried glances with Riku and Miko. "Something's not right," he murmured.

Miko stepped cautiously toward the door leading to the attic, her heart pounding. "We need to be ready for anything. Whatever is happening, it could involve the vampire we just learned about."

With that, Kosu pushed the door open, revealing the dimly lit attic beyond. The sight that greeted them sent chills down their spines. Shadows twisted and swirled, and in the center of the chaos stood Thorn and Jenna, surrounded by dark, writhing figures.

"Get back!" Kosu shouted, rushing forward as he prepared to confront whatever danger lay ahead. The time for hesitation was over; they were united in their mission to fight against the darkness that threatened to consume them all.