The Axe Murderer!

Almost instantly, Arthur found his predecessor's memories of the "Swordsmanship Tournament" and the "Axe Murderer"-

Every three years, South Los hosted an event called the "Swordsmanship Tournament." Competitors had to fight barehanded or with cold weapons and could be no older than twenty. The champion not only received a substantial cash prize, but also qualified to travel to the Inner Bay and compete in South County's "Swordsmanship Tournament."

If a competitor proved exceptional and won South County's "Swordsmanship Tournament" as well, the Grand Duke of South County would grant them the title of "knight."

A knight rose above the commoners and crossed the threshold into the nobility.

Even if it was the lowest possible rank, even if everyone spoke of "the decline of the old nobility," every "Swordsmanship Tournament" still drew eligible competitors in droves.

Because it meant glory-and with enough luck, a small fief would serve as proof of that "glory," even if it was subject to taxation.

His predecessor had been deeply obsessed with it too, not because he wanted a fief, but simply because he wanted all eyes on him!

Arthur's motives were much simpler.

He was considering whether there was any XP to be had.

As for the "Axe Murderer"?

That was the biggest sensation in South Los lately!

The murderer had appeared in South Los two months earlier. Whenever heavy rain fell, he emerged in the night to hack innocent people to death with a woodcutting axe and steal their valuables.

From what Arthur found in his predecessor's memories, the murderer had already killed eleven people, including an entire family of five.

The police had laid several traps, but not only had they failed to catch him, one officer had been attacked and killed.

A proper police officer, not one of those so-called patrolmen.

This had terrified the people of South Los. The wealthy scrambled to hire bodyguards, sending the rates of the city's security companies soaring.

As for the poor?

With no money to spare, they either stayed behind locked doors or traveled in groups on rainy nights to reduce the danger.

Aside from the rumored "Ripper," the "Axe Murderer" case was the most sensational one South Los had seen in recent years.

A case like this...

If I solved it, I'd definitely get a ton of XP!

Arthur couldn't help thinking it.

For Arthur, who was desperately short of XP at the moment, anything that could earn him some deserved serious consideration.

While Arthur sat there quietly thinking, the sheriff turned his fire on him again. He had spent ages explaining to Malinda that the Credos family were frauds, yet had still failed to persuade her to abandon the idea of seeking Arthur's help.

"Even the most inexperienced youngster under my command is better than this fraud!"

As he spoke, he glared furiously at Arthur, his face so red that he looked ready to devour him.

"No!"

"I believe Mr. Credos is no fraud!"

"He is a genuine medium!"

Malinda shook her head, then took today's supplement from The Horn Newspaper out of her pocket and handed it to the sheriff.

"Just a few cheap tricks!"

The sheriff sneered repeatedly, clearly unconvinced.

To him, getting into the papers to build their reputation was an old trick of the Credos family, hardly worth his attention.

"And there's what just happened!"

Faced with the stubborn sheriff, Malinda began describing what had just happened-how Dokule had been cursed.

Arthur paid little attention to her account.

He understood the lady's intention: to clear herself of all suspicion.

In Arthur's view, both her insistence on believing in a medium and her reasoned argument with Sheriff Lark were merely attempts to rid herself of suspicion.

That had been her plan all along.

The moment she produced the supplement from The Horn Newspaper made it all the more certain.

She had happened to see the article about him in the supplement, guessed that Dokule would come to him next, and set up the scene that had just played out at his door.

But to Arthur's surprise, as the lady continued her account, the disdain in Sheriff Lark's eyes began to fade.

Finally, the sheriff looked at Arthur again.

An icy chill suddenly rose in Arthur's heart!

That unsettling sensation instantly tightened every muscle in his body!

It was...

The shadow of death!

In the talent section, [Death Intuition] began flashing nonstop.

At that moment, Arthur was filled with astonishment.

During their earlier standoff with firearm and sword, the sheriff hadn't intended to kill him, despite his furious demeanor.

He had only been trying to frighten Arthur. But now, after merely hearing Malinda's detailed account of how Arthur had cursed Dokule, he was harboring murderous intent.

Was he connected to Dokule?

No!

It wasn't Dokule!

If this were about Dokule, he couldn't possibly have been so calm and casual when he saw the body!

So...

He'd started to genuinely believe I could curse people, and from that, guessed I possessed something like the ability to communicate with the dead!

If that's the case, things just got interesting!

The Axe Murderer?

Well, well, the Axe Murderer!

Arthur narrowed his eyes, discreetly studying Sheriff Lark as he turned back around.

He was now considering how to maximize his gains... no, maximize his XP!

Sheriff Lark, completely oblivious to all this, shouted-

"Coincidence! It was just a coincidence!"

"Dokule couldn't possibly have died from a curse!"

"He simply failed to see your carriage, and that led to this tragedy!"

Sheriff Lark began arguing with Malinda again, just as he had earlier. Even his expression was exactly the same.

Despite his suspicions, Arthur had to admire the sheriff's acting at that moment.

Anyone watching would merely sigh at the sheriff's stubborn insistence.

Just like the lady before him.

Still, her stubbornness was equally remarkable.

"Thank you very much for your advice, but I still want to try-not just for Anna, but for all the other potential victims.

Since we have a chance, why shouldn't we try?

What if it works?"

Malinda once again looked sincerely at the sheriff. This time, his expression softened a little, as though her argument about "preventing further victims" had persuaded him.

"I'm worried this will all be a waste of time!"

The sheriff muttered, then turned his gaze to Arthur.

"Mrs. Caesar is willing to believe you, but I'm not!

If I discover that you've deceived Mrs. Caesar... hmph!"

The sheriff snorted coldly, bowed to Malinda, then turned to leave.

He did not leave immediately, however. Instead, he joined the patrolmen outside 2 Kirk Street to deal with Dokule's body and question Scott and his two companions, along with Edwin the coachman.

Throughout the process, the sheriff patiently instructed his subordinates and pursued every suspicious detail in his questioning. Coupled with his apparent acceptance of Malinda's argument about "preventing further victims," he looked thoroughly competent.

He fit the role of a sheriff perfectly.

Arthur smiled as he silently watched.

You really do fit the role of a sheriff!

In that case, I hope you keep it up to the very end!

With that thought, Arthur looked at the sheriff, who was now ready to leave, and said with a smile-

"Sheriff Lark, a moment, please."