Palace Council Side Wing, a section set aside specifically for the Investigation Group’s meetings.
Celes’s seat hadn’t changed; she was still on that silent observer’s bench, unable to get a word in.
After all, she was young, and knew far less than everyone else present.
Which was just as well, she was hiding the True Culprit in her hands, so the lower her profile, the better.
“After a day of investigation, we’ve determined the killer is extremely professional. It’s possible more than one person was involved. Also, we examined Lord Taidin’s body. Judging by the time of death, the plaza was clearly a secondary scene. He was likely killed before leaving home—the voice the Butler heard was the killer’s impersonation.”
This new report sent a chill through the room.
To murder someone and then use the dead man’s voice to order the servants—how cruel, how terrifying, how… professional.
Maken set the report down and looked at his Deputy.
“Did you find the people I asked you to look for?”
People? Who?
On edge and nervous, Celes was sensitive to every word spoken at the meeting, worried they might suspect Zero.
So when she heard this unexpected order, she immediately grew alert.
The Deputy looked troubled.
“Mr. Maken, after the Gregory Trial Case, most of them… Only one person under House Arrest is still mentally stable. I’ve already sent for him—he’s on his way now.”
“By the way, since you like girls, when I did that~ with you yesterday, did your heart race?”
Walking on the road to Church Square, Vina suddenly asked.
Ella blinked.
“Did what?”
Then she saw the Little Witch puff out her chest, pushing her little hills forward.
“Oh, that? Not really, because… it didn’t feel that obvious,” the well-endowed Miss replied tactfully.
Vina choked—she, who usually delighted in teasing others, never expected to be on the receiving end like this.
“Alright, alright, you win.”
But as she spoke, Ella sneaked a glance; the Little Witch’s peach blossom eyes flashed dangerously, her gaze clearly saying anything but “you win.”
It was more like, “I’ll flatten you.”
If it’s not obvious, then it’s just not obvious.
A girl’s… intuition never lies.
Ahead, a squad of guards marched by, maintaining the city lockdown, but paid no attention to the two girls.
Vina cast a small concealment Magic, using some optical trick to hide their figures.
The spell was simple—Ella could see through it in an instant by the flow of Magic.
But ordinary guards obviously didn’t have that ability.
“Compared to Zero’s skill, this is nothing,” Vina commented.
“Her Stealth Technique can even swallow the light shining on her.”
Ella blinked.
“Can your Magic illuminate her?”
“My Magic?”
Vina chuckled.
“Even Leah’s Holy Light can’t shine on her!”
“…That’s really impressive.”
Of course, as someone who’d once been a victim, Ella hadn’t noticed Zero behind her at all before she was stabbed.
Shadow Sprint—truly terrifying.
Hurrying along, they soon reached Church Square.
After yesterday’s incident, the entire square was cordoned off, with two squads of guards taking turns on duty.
The Faithful who usually came here could only go elsewhere for worship.
“There’s nothing to find here,” Vina whispered from within the Magic Barrier.
“Zero set up this fake scene meticulously—she cleaned up everything.”
“Mm.”
Ella nodded instinctively, thinking it made sense, but then frowned.
“Then why did you bring me here?”
“To admire Zero’s handiwork! Look at her artistic flair.”
Vina grinned, pointing toward the Sun Disk in the center of the square.
“See? She chose the most prominent decoration in the square, right in the middle, where the sunlight hits directly. All those early-rising Faithful must’ve been terrified yesterday.”
“…”
Ella wanted to speak, then held back, then tried again, but finally couldn’t help herself.
“Why don’t we get to the main business first?”
“Ella, you’re so impatient! Fine, let’s head to the real first crime scene.”
The Investigation Group didn’t wait long before a disheveled, unshaven man with dark circles under his eyes was brought in.
The neatly dressed officials all frowned.
Celes couldn’t help curling her lip.
So this was the one the Deputy had said was… mentally stable?
“Hi, oh, hi, everyone’s here,” he greeted awkwardly as soon as he entered.
Then, seeing the square-jawed man at the head of the table, his expression changed.
“Mr. Maken, long time, long, long time no see. I heard you wanted to see me.”
“I have a few questions for you.”
Maken said it simply, but the man’s reaction was immediate and extreme—he hugged his head with both hands, his messy hair quivering.
“No, no, no, I-I-I already said, the Silent Sanctuary’s business, I only handled—”
“Wesley! I’m only asking you a few questions, you’re not in trouble!”
Maken barked.
“And don’t mention those things!”
Both men were overreacting, startling the rest of the Investigation Group.
Celes kept her face impassive, but silently noted the name Silent Sanctuary.
She’d never heard of it before.
After taking a few breaths, Wesley calmed down a bit.
“I want to know, are any of those people still in the Royal City? Do you have a list?”
Maken asked.
Wesley thought for a while, hesitating before nodding carefully.
“A few have already retired.”
“Find them at once for questioning. Take them to the crime scene.”
Maken’s orders were fast and forceful, so much so that the rest of the Investigation Group didn’t even follow what was happening.
Someone couldn’t help raising a hand.
“Mr. Maken, may I ask, what is this about?”
“There are a few very professional, retired Assassins in the Royal City,” the square-jawed man said tersely.
“I want professionals to analyze the scene and rule them out as suspects.”
It sounded like an answer, but in truth, he’d said nothing at all.
Professional assassins?
Where did these people suddenly come from?
There were all sorts of questions.
But Maken had already shut his mouth, his gloomy face practically shouting “No questions allowed.”
“In addition, assign more men to search for the little girl who escaped from the carriage. She’s injured, she can’t have gone far—she must be hiding nearby!”
Compared to the trip to the Square, the road to Lord Taidin’s Noble Residence was far more thrilling.
Not only were there more guards, but people were constantly running back and forth in a rush.
Here, Vina couldn’t act recklessly with the Magic Barrier—there were too many high-status people around.
Whenever someone came by, they had to hide at the roadside.
Finally, as they neared the Residence, they saw it was already crowded, with people coming and going on the second floor, the scene of the incident.
Vina hid in the Garden outside the Residence, waving her little hand toward the second floor.
“We’ll have to eavesdrop from here. It’s a bit far, but the wind will carry the sound. You know this Wind Elemental Magic, right?”
“No need,” Ella said, unable to hide her pride as she puffed out her chest.
“The Demon King taught me a better way.”