Click! As the door closed, Fors, sprawled on the sofa, slowly turned her head. Seeing that it was Xio, she turned back again. But before she could slip back into that hazy state between sleep and wakefulness, Xio rushed over in a few quick steps and asked solemnly in an imposing voice:
"Fors, tell me quickly, what did you do last night? Did Intis's ambassador's death have anything to do with you?"
"What do you mean, what did I do?" Fors was a little bewildered by the question and shook her head slightly. "Who did you say died?"
"It really wasn't you?" Xio scrutinized Fors carefully and, only after confirming that she did not seem to be lying, let out a sigh of relief. "You suddenly went out last night. I thought this might have had something to do with you. It's best if it didn't..."
"You know what I'm capable of. How could I possibly assassinate an ambassador... Wait, an ambassador?" Fors gave a dry laugh and finally woke up completely. Then her whole body went numb.
"The Intis ambassador?"
"You really know something, don't you?" Realizing that Fors's reaction was highly unusual, Xio handed her the newspaper she had brought back. Seeing the headline—"Intis Ambassador Assassinated, Aurora Society Claims Responsibility"—Fors shook her head vigorously.
"I don't know! How could I know? I only went to the Church of Steam and Machinery last night."
"I see." Xio nodded, seemingly accepting Fors's explanation. But just as Fors relaxed, she suddenly asked, "What did you go to the Machinery Church for?"
"I went to report... Xio!" Fors shot Xio an annoyed look, only to find her gazing back with concern. Her anger immediately vanished, and she could only say helplessly, "I received a commission yesterday to report a con artist to