Shirou and Kairi Sisigou

Room 16 was the person Mr. Frederick was thinking about, and also Shirou's fellow townsman, Daxiong Shishido —it didn't seem like his real name at all.

"Didn't I tell you, it's nothing?" the US Colonel said apologetically. "But you know, at two in the morning, when everything was quiet, having a guy like that sneaking around peeking outside would be suspicious to anyone."

He stood up.

"If you have no other questions..."

"Thank you, US Colonel. It's nothing. By the way, do you smoke?" Shirou took out a pack of cigarettes he had gotten from the train conductor earlier and handed it over.

"I only smoke cigars..." the colonel refused.

Shirou then went to Waver, took a cigar from his coat, cut off the end, and handed it to him.

"I don't want to smoke right now," the colonel said coldly.

"Ah, this is what I'm going to smoke. Excuse me, could you lend me a light?" Shirou handed over the cigar.

The colonel impatiently rummaged in his pocket, then turned to Frederick beside him and said, "I don't have a lighter."

Mr. Frederick, standing to the side, gave Shirou a strange look. "Didn't you light someone else's cigarette earlier?" But he took out a fine lighter and lit Shirou's cigar.

White smoke immediately filled the room, along with a refreshing aroma.

"Thank you, alright, it's nothing, Colonel." Shirou said with a smile, a cigar between his fingers. "Is there anything else you want to say?"

The soldier hesitated for a moment. The initial aversion he felt to being interrogated had vanished.

"As for Miss England," he hesitated, but finally said, "You can believe me, she is innocent, she is a well-mannered lady."

The colonel finished speaking and left, his face flushed.

"What did he mean by that?!" Waver couldn't help but interject.

"It means that Red-haired Miss is a good match for him," Shirou and Mr. Frederick said in unison.

"Ah!" Waver said disappointedly, "This has absolutely nothing to do with the case."

"Exactly," Frederick said with a laugh, "But you'll be destined to be single forever."

Waver turned his head away, showing absolutely no interest in it.

Shirou continued to ponder, tapping his fingers lightly on the table, before looking up again.

"The US Colonel smokes cigarettes," he said. "I found a cigarette butt in Old John's private room. Old John only smokes cigars."

"You think...?"

"He's the only one who admits to smoking cigarettes. He definitely knows Kaineth, maybe even well, he just won't admit it."

"So you think he might be seeking revenge for Kaineth?"

Shirou shook his head.

"That's impossible, absolutely impossible. Even if it's revenge, do you think a strong-willed, upright soldier who's been on the battlefield would stab someone thirteen times randomly, one on the left, one on the right, some of them just scratching the skin? Do you think that's possible?"

"Now we should grant Mr. Frederick's wish," Shirou winked and said. "It's time to meet that Japanese man."

"It should have been done a long time ago!"

Mr. Frederick readily agreed, saying that although he no longer mentioned the Japanese, he still thought about them.

The last person the first-class passengers were to meet was this Japanese man, Daxiong Shishido, a middle-aged man with spiky black hair and a punk-style appearance. He often dined at the same table with Italians and male servants, and promoted his Magecraft props to the passengers around him.

He was dressed entirely in black—a black leather jacket and pants, sunglasses, and a thick beard. He looked like a dangerous man. As he stepped into the dining car, he was chewing on something. His broad face gave him a coarse appearance.

"Good morning, gentlemen," he said. "What can I do for you?"

"Have you heard about the murder case, Mr. Nobita?"

"I've heard about it," he said, chewing on something.

"We feel it's necessary to get a sense of the situation from all the passengers on the train."

"I'm fine with this. This is an essential step in handling things like this." The man casually shrugged.

Shirou checked the information he had registered.

"You're Daxiong Shishido, the Magecraft prop salesman, aren't you?"

"Indeed, it is I."

"Are you traveling from Istanbul to London?"

You're right.

What brings you here?

"Doing business."

Do you often travel in first class, sir?

"Yes, sir. Doing business requires conserving energy; these are necessary expenses. That's how it is in Japan—company-funded meals and drinks are reimbursed, isn't that right, brother? Where are you from? Tokyo?"

He winked at Shirou, clearly noticing Shirou's nationality and trying to get closer to him.

"Sir, let's talk about last night's case."

Nobita nodded.

What can you say about this case?

To be precise, we know nothing.

"Oh, what a pity. Sir, perhaps you could tell us what you were doing after dinner last night?"

It seems this was the first time the American couldn't think of a reply immediately, but he still spoke up:

"Excuse me, gentlemen, may I ask who you are? So that I may know who you are?"

"This is Mr. Frederick, the director of the Mystic Train, and this is Waver Velvet."

"And you?"

"Shirou Emiya. I'm handling this case on behalf of the company. Could you tell me your name?"

"You already know, don't you?"

"I mean your real name, otherwise I really can't help but suspect you."

"Oh, as expected of you... I've heard so much about you." After pondering for a minute or two, Mr. Lion Kagari said, "Alright, I'll be frank with you too..."

"It would be best if you told us everything you know," Shirou said dryly.

"I know nothing about the things you just asked me about, as I've already said. But actually, I should know something. That's what's bothering me. I should know something."

"Sir, could you explain this?"

Kairi Shishigou sighed, spat out his chewing gum, reached into his pocket, pulled out a cigarette, lit it, and held it to his lips.

.

At that moment, he seemed like a completely different person. He was no longer a character in a play, but a real person. His thick, nasal Japanese accent had diminished considerably.

"That passport is a bit fake," he said. "Look at this, and you'll know who I am." The man in sunglasses tossed a small rectangular piece of paper onto Shirou's desk. It landed on the desk, spun a few times, and finally came to rest right in front of Shirou, with the printed words on it facing him.

Shirou carefully examined the business card that was tossed to him, and Mr. Frederick also quickly craned his neck to look. It read, "The Yorozuya, providing thoughtful service to the whole world; professional mercenaries— Kairi Shishigou."

Chapter 1241 Shirou and the Kairi Shishigou

Shirou recognized the name; he was a Magus was quite famous in Europe.

It is said that his family's Magecraft system encountered problems and gradually declined, eventually forcing him to leave his hometown.

Then, through some unknown means, they obtained power from a certain being, and he no longer used his original Magecraft, but instead became Magus who wielded Magecraft.

"Then, Mr. Lion Kagari," he said, "Let's hear the true meaning behind your business card."

"Okay. Here's the thing. I came to Europe and took on a few jobs that had nothing to do with this. Some were completed, some fell through. I lost contact in Istanbul, and I was planning to go back. If it weren't for running into Old John, I would have gone back home long ago."

He handed over a letter.

It reads: Hotel - Phoenix, Dear Sir:

I understand you are a capable mercenary. Please come to my private room at 4 PM today for a chat.

The letter was signed: John.

"Is that so?"

"I went to meet Old John at the appointed time. He told me about his situation and showed me several letters he had received."

Did he appear flustered at the time?

"He pretended to be calm, but he was completely distraught the whole night. He suggested that I take the same train as him to Pylos to protect him from harm, so, gentlemen, that's how I ended up on the train with him."

Are you secretly protecting him?

"Yes, but even with me, he was still killed. It's heartbreaking, absolutely terrible for me. I've botched another job, and if this continues, my reputation in the industry will plummet."

"Don't be discouraged. First, tell us what he said to you."

"Of course, he arranged everything. It was all his idea. He told me to stay in the private room next to his, but when I got here, it was already packed. The whole plan fell through."

I had to find a way to pay extra to buy berth number sixteen. It took quite a bit of effort. I suspect the train conductor had his own ulterior motives regarding this berth."

"Ah, these are stalls assigned to us by our internal staff. They're not usually sold," Mr. Frederick said.

"But let's get to the important points. I observed the surroundings and thought, this berth number sixteen is quite an ideal strategic location. In Istanbul, there's only a dining car at the front of the sleeper car. The front doors for boarding and alighting are bolted at night. The only way the murderer could get through is the back door. He could only come in from the carriage behind us along the aisle. No matter how he came in, he would have to pass by my compartment door."

"I doubt you could possibly know the killer's characteristics either," Frederick said with a sarcastic tone.

"No, I do know a little about what the murderer looks like. Old John told me about him," Kairi Shishigou said with a smile.

"What?!"

All three of them leaned forward.

Kairi Shishigou continued:

"He was a short man, with deathly pale skin, handsome features, and a high-pitched voice, like a woman's. That's what the old man told me. He also said that he thought the assassin probably wouldn't come on the first night, but more likely on the second or third night."

"It seems Darnic does know something," said Mr. Frederick. "Then why is he keeping it from the German secretary? Generally speaking, wouldn't it be better to have an extra helper in this situation?"

"Perhaps it's because he thinks that young man is too green and unreliable. Of course, he's the type who only believes in self-interest; otherwise, he wouldn't trust anyone," Kairi Shishigou said with a smile, his expression suggesting that he was completely different.

"Darnic is cautious by nature and doesn't like to talk much, so naturally he wouldn't tell his secretary everything," Shirou said thoughtfully. "What else did he tell you about his enemies? For example, why was his life threatened?"

"No, this person didn't mention a word about that. He only said that the person came to take his life and was determined to get it."

"A short man, pale and bloodless, handsome, with a high-pitched voice, like a woman." Shirou muttered this information to himself as he pondered, then looked up and stared sharply at Kairi Shishigou, saying, "Do you know who Old John really is?"

"Oh? Who is he, young man?"

"Old John, you really didn't recognize him?"

"I don't understand you."

"Old John is Darnic, the madman who has repeatedly instigated Sub-species Holy Grail War."

Mr. Lion Kagari let out a long whistle.

"This is quite unexpected. He's a big shot," he said. "What a coincidence, Shirou! I don't know him. But there's no denying that many people really hate Darnic, and it's precisely because of this hatred that I have a job."

"It sounds like you'd really like to go see it."

"Haha, of course I'm on Mr. Old John this time. Don't misunderstand, I've always championed professionalism. Have you heard of that? Doing one thing at a time and doing it to the best of your ability—that's the living treasure of Japan. I really like that, so I won't try to have it both ways."

"It seems you don't have any ill feelings towards Darnic?"

"This has nothing to do with me. You have to understand, I just want his money. You know, Old John is very generous. He paid me to work for him. For me, that money is the best reason."

My family's demonic lineage is destined to end. Now I'm just doing some business, trying to make a quick buck before I die."

Frederick snorted and said, "Magus, you are not yet cleared of suspicion."

The Shishigou raised his hands, indicating that he would cooperate obediently.

Shirou offered him a cigarette, indicating that he wanted to borrow a light.

Shishigou took out his lighter and lit it for Shirou.

Shirou held a cigarette Kairi Shishigou's lighter was an American-style flip lighter that matched his outfit.

"Think again, are there any people who participated in the Holy Grail War who resemble the assassin described here?"

Kairi Shishigou pondered for a moment.

"That's hard to say. As far as I know, almost everyone involved in the Holy Grail War is dead; most of the survivors are just a bunch of kids who don't know the inside story."