Something Fishy

The victim's body had been discovered in his home.

The moment the body was found, Minister Honest immediately sealed off the scene and questioned the servants in the household.

However, no suspicious individuals were found.

It was preliminarily ruled out that a servant had committed the crime.

The victim had died in the middle of the night, with only one wound: a needle mark on the back of his head. The most suspicious person was the concubine who had slept beside him.

But after a series of interrogations, the concubine was proven innocent.

Ozneth's subordinate had maintained considerable defenses within his residence, yet he had still been assassinated without anyone noticing.

In the Imperial Capital, those capable of doing such a thing...

"Only Night Raid!"

Esdeath said with certainty.

Lilith had reached the same conclusion.

Lilith followed Esdeath to the home of Ozneth's subordinate.

Before they arrived, Ozneth's men had already searched the place several times, yet they had found no valuable clues.

"Though I was prepared for it, we really found nothing of value."

After saying that, Esdeath turned to Lilith. "Did your pets pick up any scents?"

Lilith shook her head.

She was also guessing who the murderer could be.

The current situation reminded her of a Teigu user.

A Teigu user whose Teigu was particularly unusual.

That Teigu possessed no offensive power whatsoever, but it was exceptionally useful for reconnaissance and assassination.

Shape-Shifting: Gaia Foundation!

Once mastered, it was a special Teigu that could transform its user into all sorts of forms—not merely other people, but even animals.

She just did not know whether Gaia Foundation could turn someone into a plant or a stone.

If it could, that would be utterly absurd!

Lilith only knew that Gaia Foundation could change its user's shape. As for just how far those transformations could go, she had no idea.

Still, Lilith had already ordered Big Wolf and the others to memorize every scent within the residence.

As long as a familiar scent appeared, Big Wolf and the others would alert Lilith.

She did not know whether Gaia Foundation could conceal its user's scent, but it was still better than doing nothing.

Esdeath and Lilith then left, waiting for the next incident to occur.

Over the following days, several people were found dead in their own homes.

Without exception, all of them had died silently.

It was clear that their killer was an extraordinarily skilled assassin.

However, Minister Honest would not allow that assassin to run rampant. It was not as though he had no people within the Rebel Army.

Compared to the Rebel Army planting spies in the Imperial Capital, it was far easier for the minister to plant spies within the Rebel Army.

All it took was money and official positions.

Thus, although Ozneth had not learned who had killed his subordinates and did not even know what she looked like,

he had learned Night Raid's next target.

After all, Night Raid's targets were mostly assigned by the Rebel Army.

Thus, Lilith brought Seryu to the residence of Night Raid's target this time.

Even though the two had moved quickly enough, the person had still died.

"Lady Lilith, the police immediately surrounded the entire area around the residence. Not even a fly will be able to get out!"

Seryu held Koro and saluted Lilith.

"Good work."

"As long as we're striking down criminals, it's never hard!"

Seryu said energetically.

Lilith looked at the dead man lying in a chair, his eyes still wide open.

The corpse had not yet gone cold. Or rather, he had only just died.

Before they arrived, they had already ordered people to surround the residence. Lilith could guarantee that no one could easily escape this inescapable net.

Unless... she was not human!

"Awooo~"

Bright moonlight streamed down through the enormous windows, and Lilith's shadow flickered.

Suddenly, the huge head of a wolf... no, a dog emerged from Lilith's shadow, then clamped its jaws around a kitten inside the cat bed beside the chair.

When the enormous dog fully emerged from Lilith's shadow, Seryu's mouth fell open in surprise.

She looked at Big Wolf, then at Koro in her arms. After comparing them, she realized that even after Koro grew larger, he was still not as big as Big Wolf.

"Koro, you need to work harder!"

"Woof~"

Seryu and Koro encouraged each other off to the side.

Meanwhile, Lilith watched the bewildered, innocent-looking kitten turn its sparkling eyes toward her and blink adorably.

"What a cute kitty. It's only a little less cute than my Koro. Lady Lilith, do you want to adopt it?"

Seeing Lilith's interest in the kitten, Seryu asked curiously.

"Adopt it?" Lilith narrowed her eyes and answered Seryu's question. "If it really were a cat, that wouldn't be impossible. But she isn't."

"???"

Seryu tilted her head, her eyes full of confusion.

If it was not a cat, what else could it be?

"Gaia... Foundation. That's its name, right?"

Compared to Teigu like Essence of the Demon, Murasame, and Incursio, which had shone brilliantly in the original story, the reason Lilith remembered Gaia Foundation at all

was because its name contained the word "Gaia."

Otherwise, even if Lilith remembered what the Teigu could do, she would forget its name the moment it was changed!

Oh no, oh no, oh no!

Chelsea was panicking—really panicking.

When Big Wolf picked her up in its jaws, her heart had nearly leaped out of her chest. She was terrified that the giant wolf would swallow her whole the next second.

If that really happened, she would definitely become the Teigu user with the most humiliating death in history!

The thought that her disguise had been seen through had never even crossed Chelsea's mind.

She had immense confidence in her Teigu and believed that no one could see through her disguise.

But when Lilith spoke the name of her Teigu, Chelsea truly panicked.

Before, she had been afraid of being eaten. Now, she was afraid of being recognized.

Though she might... probably... perhaps really have been recognized already.

But at least let her struggle a little.

Maybe she could still bluff her way through?

"Meow, meow, meow~"

Chelsea let out an adorably sweet meow that would make anyone who saw her cry out at how cute she was.

But Lilith was not among them, and besides...

Killing intent!

A massive murderous aura erupted from the girl beside Lilith, whose arms had been modified.

Seryu's face gradually twisted.

She was not stupid. From just those few simple words, she had guessed that there was something fishy about this cat!