Imperial Detective. The Case of the Secret Cult

Fantasy detective with magic, duels, and secret cults, set in an alternative Russian Empire. This is a story that combines the sharpness of investigation, the spirit of adventure, charismatic heroes, and a meticulously built fantastical world.
The disgraced nobleman Vitold Merkulov returns from exile to the capital. After winning a duel, he gains a magical ability and, by chance, becomes the investigator for special assignments. He is assigned an assistant, the half-orc Mikhail Burdyukov, or simply Mikh. Together, they will investigate the mysterious murder of a delegate from the goat-legged people. However, soon Merkulov and Mikh realize that the case is much more complicated and dangerous than they had anticipated. All threads lead to a secret cult, and the crime could threaten the entire Empire.