Vanessa pulled down her hood, hiding herself entirely in shadow.
She did her best to avoid the gazes of passersby, though no one was actually noticing her-she had pushed the [Mother of Concealment]'s ability to its limit, leaving her without the slightest sense of presence.
Vanessa walked faster and faster.
She had brought a pistol. A light weapon like this could do very little damage to Supernatural people above Middle Rank, but damage was not what Vanessa wanted it for.
She only needed to fire a shot. This was the Hearthfire District, after all. The Factory Guard patrolled the streets twenty-four hours a day. Once they heard gunfire, patrol personnel could rush over within half a minute, a Supernatural emergency response squad would arrive in three minutes, and heavy firepower should be in position within ten.
This was the Hearthfire District, the Communion's territory. From the commoners who had long lived here to the Supernatural people, everyone was a potential reinforcement for Vanessa.
That was also what gave her the confidence to follow alone.
Still, Vanessa cautiously kept her distance.
For no other reason than that, if this [Vessel] really had been sent by the enemy, anyone capable of lurking in the Hearthfire District for so long certainly had considerable means at their disposal.
For some reason, Vanessa inexplicably thought of Holly, whom Elsa and the others had gone to investigate.
Holly was Sidney's adjutant. Vanessa's impression of her was roughly that she was quiet and rarely spoke.
Yet this somewhat inconspicuous adjutant had an impressive record.
After being arrested by the Sacred Blood Nobles' private troops, she had successfully escaped prison and killed her pursuers in the street.
To do something like that right under the nose of a prophet with powers of prophecy, she could only have been