Haida's tone was quite certain.
While it might be a copycat, this method of leaving absolutely no traces... others might want to imitate it, but they likely don't have the capability.
"Sigh, looks like I'll be working overtime during this period."
Silver Wing Locust patted her left shoulder, and a large raven flapped its wings and landed on it.
[Calling Bird] typically uses smaller crows, while Raven Transformation requires the use of larger and more intelligent ravens.
Actually, some species of parrot can also serve as substitutes... but most Confidential Division agents prefer corvids.
"I'll go issue instructions for increased surveillance and pursuit. I'll leave this place to you for now."
As she spoke, she gently stroked Vivian's head, very trustingly leaving the agent who used to work under her at the scene. After all, Vivian currently belonged to the Burial Court and had Haida's protection, making her even safer than being by Silver Wing Locust's side.
As Silver Wing Locust walked out of the Mandala Tavern room, this beautiful figure with flowing crimson hair quickly disappeared without a trace, leaving only a glimpse of a black raven flapping its wings into the distance, the sound of beating wings fading away.
Generally, a case of this level wouldn't be handled jointly by multiple supervisors.
The reason multiple supervisors came together this time was more of a precautionary measure, to more deeply assess the nature of this incident.
Once it was confirmed there wouldn't be an immediate malicious event, the task could be fully handed over to one of them.
Black Banyan was still pursuing the Nightmare Guest's trail, Silver Wing Locust went to avoid work... The burden of handling the aftermath naturally fell on Haida's shoulders. However, she had anticipated this and was already prepared to take full responsibility.
"How are the two survivors in the early stages of Cistanche parasitism?"
Haida asked the accompanying young Secrets-Hunter about the survivors' condition. He immediately straightened up and answered briskly.
"The Cistanche hadn't yet penetrated the brain; the Medical Department has already removed them. Both are currently in a deep coma and are expected to wake up within a week."
There were five people at the Star Chart Research Society gathering that day. Besides the three senior attendees who became corpses, there were also two newcomers who stumbled into the trap.
If Fran hadn't happened to bring Elsa along to the venue that day, those two would likely have either become sacrificial offerings placed on the banquet table or become incubators for cultivating Cistanche.
Haida didn't hold much hope for the survivors' testimonies.
Since the perpetrator left them alive, it should mean these two also didn't know anything valuable.
"We'll wrap up once the Confidential Division agents finish collecting evidence. That's all for today."
Finding no leads after consideration, Haida finally gave the order to wrap up.
"Yes."
Several Secrets-Hunters obediently agreed and began preparing the concluding work.
"As for the autopsy report... I'll still trouble Dr. Fran."
"This is what I should do. One who eats the ruler's salary bears the ruler's worries, no?"
Fran tilted her head slightly, revealing a faint smile, then handed three reports filled with detailed information on the deceased to Haida.
Since she was doing this part-time medical examiner job, she should do her assigned duties well. It was the basic professional ethics of a medical professional.
Haida took the three autopsy reports, read them in detail, after which she temporarily designated the perpetrator as the "Nightmare Guest," and concluded this investigation. She then instructed the logistics team to begin cleaning the scene and performing related concluding work.
The reappearance of the same type of case, regardless of the perpetrator's true intentions, undeniably carried a provocative undertone.
Although the Secrets-Hunter cult's direct interests weren't directly harmed, the Burial Court still increased the Nightmare Guest's pursuit level.
...
Under the morning mist, even the dawn light piercing the cloud veil carried a hint of coolness.
There were only a few pedestrians on Sunderland Street, mostly rushing to early shifts, so they were in a hurry.
Usually, Fran would directly return to the Fog Street Clinic after completing a commission. But for some reason today, she followed Haida and Vivian for a while in a strolling manner.
This investigation still hadn't yielded clues sufficient to locate the criminal. Therefore, on the return journey, Haida remained silent the whole way, seeming downcast... yet also as if deep in thought.
Although she might simply be deep in thought about something, the prolonged silence also inadvertently created a somewhat low-pressure atmosphere around them.
Vivian followed cautiously behind her the whole way, occasionally soothing the small crow in her arms, which seemed uneasy.
Is Sister Haida angry because she couldn't find valuable clues?
She looked at Haida, whose gaze was focused and serious, then at the relaxed-looking Fran beside her, feeling her own pressure inexplicably begin to rise. These two hadn't spoken a word the whole way, why...
"Dr. Fran."
After a long while, Haida finally spoke, breaking the prolonged silence.
"This case... was your doing, correct?"
Hearing this, Fran merely tilted her head slightly, the smile on her moist, red lips deepening a fraction.
Beside them, Vivian, along with the crow in her hand, opened her eyes in surprise, anxiously awaiting the doctor's response.
Although Dr. Fran's style of action was consistently bizarre and cunning, and often accompanied by bloody scenes that could give people nightmares for five or six days straight... she herself seemed to have strong principles, never excessively involving herself.
Fran didn't answer the question immediately. Instead, she first approached Vivian and raised her hand to gently stroke the eyes of the crow in her hand.
After a few strokes, this pitch-black, glossy little bird rolled onto its back, exposing its belly, clearly having fallen into an infant-like sleep...
"Let the little one sleep for a bit first. No matter what I say next, I hope it remains a secret between us."
Fran's posture almost admitted she was the one who did it.
However, she showed no panic of a culprit being caught red-handed; instead, it seemed she had been waiting for this development.
Like a qualified phantom thief, one must inevitably experience a few instances of having their true identity revealed by a famous detective... Ahem, it's unavoidable.
Moreover, the reason she didn't clean the scene too thoroughly was precisely to leave clues for Haida. Sometimes, a flawless performance is simple; trying to give just the right amount of information, allowing a specific person to solve the puzzle... that's actually quite difficult.
"Sister Haida, tell me the process of how you reached your conclusion?"
Fran lightly clasped her hands, like a young professor waiting for a student to answer a question.
Haida's expression showed slight hesitation. After a moment, she began to explain to Fran why she suspected her.
"The molten marks, the penetrating wounds, and the method of organ removal."
"The molten cuts on Schmidt's body are very similar to the wounds caused when Sigrid transforms into a sword. The penetrating wounds on Nikolas's body bear a highly similar resemblance to the cross-shaped ruptures caused by the Chimera Spine 'Sphinx.'"
"And his missing brain..."
She didn't continue, but both understood that for Fran, stealing Schmidt's brain without a craniotomy would indeed be as easy as lifting a hand.
After all, this person once even stole the crown from a divine incarnation...
Although that stealing ability had been reset to zero after being lost and regained, taking someone's brain was clearly just a trivial matter.
"Since you've already determined the perpetrator's identity, why hesitate? Why not apprehend the suspect first?"
Fran slowly approached Haida, extending her slender wrist with black sutures as if surrendering, seemingly waiting for her to put on handcuffs.
Haida merely shook her head.
"Because a sufficient chain of evidence doesn't exist. Everything mentioned above is merely my speculation. Or perhaps... imagination."
"Dr. Fran, if my thinking is flawed, I will apologize to you."
Hearing this, Fran merely let out a low laugh and waved her hand.
"Your speculation is correct."
"The person who did the deed at the Mandala Tavern was indeed me."
Hearing her admit it without any psychological burden, Vivian couldn't help but nervously bite her lip slightly, her breathing also becoming somewhat short.
Would the two of them start fighting here? This is South District's main street...
Contrary to Vivian's expectations, after getting the answer, Sister Haida didn't seem to have any intention of taking action. Instead, she approached Fran even closer and solemnly inquired about the event's specific details.
"Please tell me the detailed account of last night, Dr. Fran. Did they attack you?"
"Mhm~ something like that."
Fran raised an eyebrow slightly, as if recalling last night's unpleasant experience.
"Originally thought I was just attending an ordinary secret gathering, but it turned out everyone inside were empty meat shells with their brains eaten out... So I had no choice but to exercise the justifiable infinite right of self-defense of a Norlington citizen."
"I understand."
Haida indicated she was aware and offered no additional rebuttal.
Two acolyte bodies hollowed out by Cistanche, and a White Cup teaching assistant who had made a pact with the Red Cup. It was fortunate it was Fran who came... Anyone else would likely have just added to the victim count.
Vivian, who had been observing the whole process, saw the atmosphere between the two remained harmonious, first breathed a sigh of relief, then squinted her eyes, her expression somewhat subtle.
She realized the relationship between Sister Haida and Dr. Fran wasn't purely one of mutual pretense. Beyond that, there seemed to be understanding and trust...
When did it develop like this? Did she miss something?
"Haida, why didn't you suspect that I am the Nightmare Guest?"
Fran raised her finger, pinching her thumb and index finger together in the air, miming the action of taking an eyeball from her own eye socket.
Of course, she didn't actually take the thing out.
"Whether it's the technique of taking Dorothy's eyeball or the method of shaping Thorne's spirit, I have mastered them. What do you think the possibility is that I and that so-called Nightmare Guest are the same person?"
Facing her question, Haida had already considered it and quickly gave an answer.
"If judging solely based on known clues, Dr. Fran, you indeed have considerable suspicion. But... the feeling the Nightmare Guest gives me is completely different from yours."
"And moreover, from a motivational standpoint, you have absolutely no reason to do this."
On this point, her tone was quite firm.
If Fran truly needed a Lamp Priestess's eye, she would have likely taken it from Dorothy back in Future Norlington. Why wait until now?
And the most important point...
If it were Fran who acted, Dorothy would have had no chance to resist. Or rather, she might not have even realized her eyeball had been replaced.
Precisely because of this, after developing suspicions about the Mandala Tavern incident, Haida quickly closed the case, seeking an opportunity for a private conversation with Fran.
"That's true as well."
Fran lightly tapped her thin lips with her index finger, as if thinking of something interesting.
"Speaking of which, I got some interesting information from Schmidt yesterday. I think you might be interested."
Coincidentally, she had just obtained information about the Nightmare Guest from Schmidt's brain. Since Haida figured out she was last night's real culprit, telling her first was no problem.
Consider it Sister Haida's year-end bonus for last year at the clinic...
Haida's expression remained normal, while Vivian, thinking of Schmidt's empty skull, her expression became somewhat subtle.
Clearly, Dr. Fran's method of obtaining information might be slightly rough... But remembering Schmidt had already become a fanatic, Vivian soon felt a sense of relief.
If that fellow were truly alive and fell into the Burial Court's hands, the outcome would probably be even more miserable.
"Is the information about the fall of the Star Chart Research Society, or related to that White Cup teaching assistant's corruption?"
Haida wasn't familiar with this secret gathering and could only try to guess towards case-related aspects.
Fran wagged her index finger.
However, she didn't intend to keep anyone in suspense at the moment, so she soon began to narrate in detail the gains she obtained from Schmidt's brain last night.
"There are unimportant parts. For example, Mr. Schmidt was quite lucky; he surrendered and turned traitor when the dancer High Priestess used her seduction tactic. This caused him to luckily avoid the subsequent torture interrogation... The others weren't so fortunate."
"And of course, there are important parts... For instance, the Star Chart Research Society's host, Nikolas, was an old acquaintance of the Nightmare Guest."
This was unexpected news.
Since Fran was the mastermind of the Mandala Tavern case, this meant the matter should only involve the Star Chart Research Society and the Red Cup cult. But who would have thought the Nightmare Guest was actually involved...
Originally unrelated events were now linked by many coincidences.
Vivian couldn't help but narrow her eyes again, quietly awaiting her next words.
"The Star Chart Research Society had completely fallen several months ago. And after that... the Nightmare Guest once attended a gathering and was ambushed. But he was experienced and possessed superb escape methods. Schmidt and the parasitized individuals couldn't kill him, and he couldn't escape immediately either."
"Both sides were deadlocked, unable to overcome the other. Therefore, they ultimately established a non-interference pact."
"According to the information Schmidt provided, the Nightmare Guest should have already returned to the Abyssal Nation of Gormouth."
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T/N: Hey readers~! New Translator here! Before I say anything, I'd first like to thank the original author for creating this wonderful story. Without them, I wouldn't have the chance to share this adventure with you. I hope my translation does justice to their work, and that together, we can enjoy this story.
With that said, I'm happy to let you know I'll be uploading daily chapters. And for those who wish to support my work and gain early access, I've set up a Patreon where advanced chapters will be available.
[email protected]/PeakTL