Ⅷ
The bolt was a crossbow bolt.
It had been fired from a crossbow.
After a sharp, loud whistle through the air, it struck its target dead-on.
Thunk!
Lady Dingle of St. Joan's Girls' Academy collapsed.
"Headmistress Dingle!"
Anna cried out and gathered Lady Dingle into her arms.
Lady Dingle raised a hand and seized Anna's upper arm, squeezing hard, as though demanding an explanation. Hadn't Anna promised she wouldn't have to be the scapegoat?
Why was she the first to be killed?
Anna's eyes remained calm, but her cries came one after another.
"Hold on, Headmistress.
The doctor will be here any moment.
Doctor! Doctor!"
Her cries rang out, and everyone heard them.
Everyone also saw Lady Dingle, her chest pierced by the bolt.
That scarlet sight seared itself into everyone.
Feeling her body grow cold, Lady Dingle understood perfectly what awaited her. She stared at Anna, her lips slightly parted. No sound came out, but Anna could still read her lips: she was asking about her son and grandson-a woman who had driven others to their deaths had no right, of course, to such concerns on her deathbed.
Still, Anna was willing to grant her one last shred of mercy.
Without drawing attention, Anna nodded.
Seeing Anna's expression, Lady Dingle relaxed a little.
Then she stopped breathing.
"You murderers!
You killed the headmistress!"
After laying Lady Dingle flat on the ground, Anna rose and roared.
Then she drew her sword and charged at the police, guards, and Secret Police closing in around them.
The police, guards, and Secret Police exchanged glances.
They were trying to establish who had fired the bolt.
But their attempts were futile.
They belonged to entirely different powers-
The shield-bearing police were the Inner Bay's most basic law enforcement personnel.
The guards came from