Judgment (Part 2) / The Mastermind

I'll just post this now and organize my thoughts tomorrow.

Chapter 364. Conviction (Part 2)

She was referring to -- [Kabbalah]

The moment Hishiri Adashino finished speaking, the carriage fell into a deathly silence once more. The relaxed atmosphere brought about by the escape had been replaced by a chilling tension.

There was no way around it; the deceased's last words were the decisive testimony.

The female Magecraft from the Department of Law, like an executioner facing her death, transformed this testimony into a sharp blade, personally wielding the weapon of murder.

[Conviction]

The Magecraft from the [Department of Law], combined with the heir to the [Lord] title, had absolutely no need to frame a dying old man, even if he came from the [Holy Church].

Unless... there is another reason?

"Please wait a moment."

The sudden sound disrupted the tense atmosphere in the carriage once again. Everyone looked in the direction from which the sound came.

After recognizing the speaker, Hishiri Adashino narrowed her eyes and asked the person in an intrigued tone.

"Oh, does Your Excellency have any further instructions?"

"I wouldn't call it guidance. It's just..."

After adjusting his glasses, the Lord El-Melloi II continued:

"I've long heard that Lord El-Melloi II is skilled in deduction, and it's truly an honor to finally have the opportunity to meet him."

"Miss, Rinri, there are three problems with your reasoning just now."

Unfazed by the flattery, the Lord El-Melloi II stared calmly at Hishiri, holding up three fingers—

"First, does Karabo's Mystic Eyes truly possess that ability? Second, even if he did, there's still the possibility that Miss Trisha died at the hands of another Magecraft. As for the third point..."

After a brief pause, the Lord El-Melloi II continued:

"Lady, you didn't mention any motive in your reasoning just now. In other words, in your reasoning, Karabo Frampton had no reasonable reason to kill Trisha Filhod."

"As you said, I indeed found no motive in Kabbalah, although there is also the possibility that Ms. Trisha was killed by other Magecraft."

Despite the Lord El-Melloi II's rebuttal, Hishiri Adashino remained calm and composed. After adjusting her glasses, she continued:

"But does any of this matter? We have never acted according to the laws of modern society, nor are we public servants governed by the state. We have no need to follow the so-called 'presumption of innocence' principle in law."

"..."

"Furthermore, if we're really going to discuss motives, then every Magecraft present has a motive, don't they? After all, [futuristic Mystic Eyes] is a rather rare thing."

"Are you serious?"

Sensing the disapproving looks directed at him, the Lord El-Melloi II Prince subconsciously frowned.

"If you were serious, would you accept that? We're Magecraft, you know. Isn't there much difference between being serious and joking? Besides..."

After glancing in the direction of the priest, Hishiri Adashino continued:

"Mr. Karabo's Mystic Eyes will be sold at auction, won't it? Then I think the people of Rail Zeppelin [Rail Zeppelin] can explain to us what kind of properties his Mystic Eyes possesses."

"Yes, his Mystic Eyes do indeed possess that ability—to bring [the past into the present]."

Suddenly someone said that.

No, that wasn't saying anything. Strictly speaking, it wasn't even thinking. It was as if the concept itself suddenly seeped into everyone's minds.

At the same time, a [phantom] suddenly appeared in the very center of the carriage.

--This is the train's [acting manager].

The moment the [phantom] appeared, this thought simultaneously crossed everyone's mind.

Therefore, all the Magecraft gathered in the carriage held their breath and watched her intently.

The [acting manager]'s gaze swept across the entire carriage, lingering briefly on Fujino Asagami's face before moving away. Finally, after giving Hishiri Adashino a meaningful look, he continued:

[Time's up. Come and collect the Mystic Eyes now.]

"Time limit...?"

[Staff should have informed us that the Mystic Eyes must be removed half a day before the auction begins.]

The removal of the Mystic Eyes for the auction was something the train conductor had mentioned before boarding, but why now of all times?

"Wait, please wait! At least wait for this..."

Karabo took a few steps back instinctively, his refusal quite evident.

You can't blame him for this reaction. If he had retained his Mystic Eyes Eye, he might have had a chance to find the murderer and clear his name later.

However, if the Mystic Eyes are removed as requested by the train company, then the incident of [killing Trisha] will be branded onto me like a hot iron, impossible to erase.

But the other party clearly wouldn't listen to his explanation.

The acting manager, as if drawn in, invaded the old man's chest as he tried to resist, then poked his finger into Karabo's face.

It went in as naturally as if it were touching the soil. Not a drop of blood was shed during the process, or perhaps it was some kind of supernatural surgical technique. Her index, middle, and thumb fingers were all inserted to the second knuckle, and then slowly pulled out after a few seconds.

As if his consciousness had been stolen as well, Karabo collapsed to the ground the instant the Mystic Eyes left his body.

"Acting Manager."

The host, who had also come along, quickly handed over a glass cylinder filled with solution.

With a wave of his hand, the two eyeballs fell into the cylinder with a "plop".

During the time she performed the spell, people couldn't even blink.

"The removal of the Mystic Eyes is now complete."

"The host announced," she said, her voice trembling as if she had witnessed a miracle.

"While we can perform the transplant, removal is a skill only the acting manager can master. That's why that person has been in a dormant state for so long. After each use, she enters a new slumber."

If she hadn't spoken up, everyone present would probably still be reeling from the [miracle]. Now, thanks to her reminder, they realized that the acting manager had vanished.

Then, the host's voice drew everyone's attention back—

"Although Mr. Karabo himself was unaware of it, these eyes should be at the [Gem] level. They are certainly worthy of being the grand finale item of this auction."

Although Leandro's eyes were covered by layers of blindfolds, everyone could still detect a sense of ecstasy in her tone:

"It causes the shadow of the past, which should have long since ended, to surface in the present like a bubble—"

Let's name these eyes [The Mystic Eyes of Mirage]."

The entire incident ended with Kabbalah being detained.

With the [Department of Law] stepping in and with the assistance of Rail Zeppelin [Rail Zeppelin], there is no room for argument regarding this matter.

In fact, apart from Karabo, the Clock Tower Magecraft might all be hoping these troublesome matters could be resolved as soon as possible.

No, perhaps there are exceptions?

What exactly is your purpose?

After the passengers who had gathered in the carriage dispersed, Lord El-Melloi II, who had deliberately stayed at the back, came up to Hishiri Adashino and asked her a question.

"I've already explained this from the beginning—I just want to help that child find [the real killer]."

After gently adjusting her furisode kimono, Hishiri Adashino turned and left the carriage after saying those words. Only Lord El-Melloi II remained, his brow furrowed, pondering the seemingly ulterior motive in the other's words.

Chapter 365. The Mastermind

In the train's guest rooms--

The luxurious guest rooms, which were originally intended for guests to rest, were now packed to capacity.

Besides the original owners of the room—Lord El-Melloi and his party—the train conductor Rodin and Lord Animusphere also appeared in the room.

However, judging from their serious expressions, it's highly likely that their purpose in visiting this time is not good.

[Crunch--]

The sound of the door being pulled open shattered the tense atmosphere in the room like a sharp blade.

"How about it?"

Train conductor Rodin immediately stood up and asked the person who had come in.

Entering from outside was the auctioneer, Leandro. Hearing Rodin's urgent tone, although her expression was obscured by her blindfold, Leandro could still detect a distinct somberness in Rodin voice...

"He's dead. The cause of death was [petrification]."

"Tsk!"

As soon as Leandro finished speaking, a sneer filled with disdain rang out in the room.

"Mr. Rodin, please forgive my poor math skills. Could you tell me which number this is?"

Before Rodin could react, Kayneth's distinctive deep voice echoed in the room.

Four? Five? Or a sixth?

"..."

"Oh, I'm sorry, Mr. Rodin. I didn't mean to criticize the so-called investigation of [Rail Zeppelin], unless you can call this baseless slander an 'investigation'..."

Ignoring the train conductor's face, which was almost as dark as coal, Kayneth's arrogant yet deliberate voice slowly echoed in the cramped carriage.

I'm so sorry!

After removing his hat and covering his chest, the train conductor Rodin, bowed deeply to Kayneth and Wang Xiaoming, who was standing beside him.

"I apologize again for the unpleasant experience this train journey caused you!"

There was no way around it; whether forced by circumstances or for other reasons, the Rail Zeppelin, having lost its master, would never choose to provoke this powerful Lord.

Not to mention--

"Sir Kayneth, why bother arguing with them? To put it bluntly, they're just a cog in the machine."

Upon hearing Lord Animusphere's obvious bias, Rodin simply lowered his head and remained silent.

Kayneth's gaze was so sharp it seemed he wanted to drill a hole through Rodin. After a long pause, a cold snort escaped his nostrils.

Only then did Rodin stand up with a sigh of relief, wiping the cold sweat from his temples.

Meanwhile, everyone else in the room watched Kayneth make things difficult for Rodin with an air of schadenfreude. Even Rodin's colleague—the auctioneer, Leandro —did not show any resentment.

Actually, Kayneth's difficult behavior wasn't really his fault this time.

After the first [petrification incident], although the train was pressured by Kayneth and the matter was dropped, in order to prevent a similar incident from happening again and causing the auction to be unable to proceed, the train voluntarily increased the number of patrol personnel.

Even so, after only half a day, the petrified victims reappeared. And this time, unlike before, there wasn't just one victim—

Several unidentified passengers, and even some train staff who participated in the patrols, were found turned to stone in their rooms or corridors.

Unable to sit still any longer, Rodin, in order to ensure the success of the upcoming auction, brought Leandro to Kayneth and his group's guest room.

In their view, only Wang Xiaoming's [Mystic Eyes of Petrification] could do something so extensively and silently on this train.

However, news of the passengers being petrified had already spread throughout the train, so Kayneth and his crew had no reason not to know about it.

Kayneth and his group, who understood the purpose of Rodin's visit the moment they arrived, naturally did not show them any kindness.

As the conversation reached a stalemate, Lord Animusphere, who had come upon hearing the news, brought even less good news—

The [stone statue] reappeared on the train.

Since Wang Xiaoming is here, does that mean he wasn't the perpetrator in the previous case?

Therefore, Rodin specifically asked Leandro to go to the crime scene to verify this point. After Leandro returned, the aforementioned scene unfolded.

"Now that the misunderstanding has been cleared up, there's no need to make things difficult for the train conductor any further."

Seeing the atmosphere gradually cooling down, Wang Xiaoming coughed and stepped forward to act as a peacemaker.