Chapter 22: A Life Torn Apart, Who Loves, Who Fears, Who Bears the Burden...
"......"
My son was killed?
Was it that boy?
Nina was somewhat dazed, staring blankly at the blonde girl in front of her.
"Madam, Madam, are you alright?"
Seeing her sitting there like a wooden statue, little Navia couldn't help but show a worried and self-reproachful expression:
"Please don't be too sad. As long as you're willing to tell us what the killer looks like, Rose will avenge you..."
No, don't do that!
"I don't understand what you're saying."
The human clenched his jaw, and an extraordinary courage and determination appeared on his tired face.
"My son, Marlowe."
Nina immediately picked up the child beside her, the little boy who had been kidnapped, sold, and rescued along with her, a child with whom she had no blood relation—
"Right here."
!?
All her worries and sorrows vanished, and little Navia looked up in astonishment at her mother who had just lost her son.
Why would anyone cover up a murderer to this extent?
*
Clarind first examined the body at the first scene.
The two corpses, their bellies swollen like drums, swayed slightly, and dark black sewage still oozed out from the tubes in their throats.
"The stomach was rapidly ruptured by a large amount of lepsy, and water, acid, and residue flooded into the abdominal cavity, burning the liver and intestines... What an unpleasant way to die, no wonder he died with his eyes wide open."
Clarin sighed and covered the eyes of one of the corpses.
"May you find peace in the ley lines... and Mr. Marlowe as well."
After examining the body, it's time to look at the physical evidence.
"The murderer carefully cleaned up the shoe prints, but didn't clean up other traces much. Why?"
Clarin searched both indoors and outdoors.
Also, where did the Less come from? Seriously, fifteen liters of Less, that's a rather extravagant way to die...!
A dense array of Les storage jars suddenly came into Clarinde's view.
"......"
The little shadow hunter found the buying and selling records, which included many familiar names.
"Total sales... provided by client Marlowe... provided by White..."
Clarinde picked up the ledger expressionlessly, then turned around and yanked the eyelids off the Les vendor.
"You'd better not die too peacefully."
At the second scene, behind a body with its jaw, cheekbone, nose, tear, and palate completely shattered, Clarinde discovered cages used to imprison people and an even more gruesome bill.
A woman of clear provenance and full fertility is worth approximately fifteen liters of las.
"......"
Claurind rushed back to the scene without expression and pried Marlowe's eyelids open again.
I retract my previous statement.
"You better never have peace, you scum."
*
The truth is now clear.
"How could a mother prefer to kiss another man's son's cheek rather than shed a tear for the death of her own child?"
"Knocking on the door of the Rose Society in the dead of night with cries, yet greeting those who come to seek help with a bewildered expression?"
The blonde girl clenched her fists, a sense of unease creeping into her heart.
"Put the gruesome corpses and horrifying deaths aside for now, use reason to dispel the fog of blood and poison, and use reality to open the hidden doors."
“Every scar is just right; a peaceful face should not belong to a sinner.”
Claude shared all her gains with her friend, and the two girls fell silent together.
Nina and 'Marlow' were never survivors.
"On the contrary, they were saved by the extremely evil 'lynx' and could have been sold as commodities at any time."
"Commodity humans".
*
The truth that was pieced together was hard for Navia to accept.
"How could this happen..."
It's more heartbreaking to know that the perpetrator might be a good person than a completely bad one.
Ten lives lost, a horrific scene, and an undeniable crime of murder—
The bewildered child, the woman unable to hide her joy, and the unwavering protection—
"Clolind!"
"We must take control of the 'Lynx' into the hands of the Rose Society before the Court of Justice does!"
"Are you going to protect him, Navia?"
The Shadow Hunter's eyes sharpened.
"No, no, that would only make his situation worse."
The crime of murder has already been committed, and the lynx will forever be subject to endless capture and restless life. What use is temporary protection? It's just a temporary measure.
If he were truly a good person, he shouldn't have stained his hands with blood and succumbed to darkness because of the sins of others!
But he really was a kind person.
“He’s a dangerous fellow, so I’m going to lock the lynx in Rose’s boat to observe him first.”
Little Navia smiled, her eyes unwavering:
"From daily life to interpersonal communication, speech patterns, conduct, and even eating habits, everything must be done under the watchful eye of the Rose."
From the many details, I will surely be able to determine what this cruel murderer was doing all the killing.
"If our deduction is wrong, and he's simply a bloodthirsty villain, I'll break his spine, take him to the opera house, and never speak to him again. If our judgment is correct..."
The girl placed her hand on her chest and made a declaration to the lynx from afar.
"I will gather the strength of the entire Grey River and White Frost Town, and in the name of the Rose Society, I will plead for the lightest possible sentence, or even an acquittal, for him!"
After that, just live your life peacefully like an ordinary person.
"...That's too idealistic."
Claurind frowned disapprovingly:
"The possibility of achieving this is slim."
Hey! Don't dampen my enthusiasm!
"I'm not just trying to discourage you; there's a reason behind it."
Clarin looked up, watching warily at the entrance to the Grey River.
“I remember when you first went to report the crime, there weren’t many police officers here to investigate.”
"Huh? Yes, it seems a noble count in Fontaine was murdered, and all police resources have been concentrated on them, so they can't take care of Grey River for the time being."
"That's the problem. Look at what those are."
"Special Patrol Team? Why are they here so quickly this time?"
"......"
The Grey River case has been ignored for a long time, so why was the response so swift this time?
Claudia could only think of one possibility regarding this.
"This is not the first time the lynx has committed a crime."
"......"
"Navia, so what if he really is a good person?"
"Even if you gather the strength of the entire Grey River and White Frost Town, you still can't protect a guy who keeps killing people."
*
The cat lay listlessly on its side on the floor, letting little Femini chatter on beside it.
"The cat that saved my life—"
Little Femini, eager to repay her mother's kindness, picked up her mother's comb and began to gently comb Maine's long, silver-grey hair.
Little Femini felt a great sense of accomplishment as she watched her slightly messy long hair gradually become tame through her efforts.
"Emma, Emma, why is there a bald patch on your paw?"
Kid, because of the injection.
"It looks awful."
Little Femini thought for a moment, then started tugging at her blonde hair.
"Let's use my hair to fix it! I'll cut off a little bit and stick it on. Mom says my hair color is the best! I'll give this beautiful color to Enmao~"
No, no, no, please don't.
The big cat quickly patted his paw on his hand.
Don't make me stick it up so it won't grow back.
"Don't you want the cat?"
Little Femini thought for a moment, then went to the bed, pulled off her own blanket, and covered Maine with it.
!?
The familiar yet unfamiliar touch of the bedding startled the cat; the last time it had been covered with a blanket was at the fireplace house.
"Don't be afraid, Cat. This isn't a net, this isn't a cage, this is my blanket."
But when you turn around, all you can see are the innocent smiling faces of children.
"......"
There are no children in the fireplace house.
“I felt like Enmao was very tired, so Fimini brought over a blanket so Enmao could get a good night’s sleep.”
Huh? Don't joke around, kid, I can't sleep next to strangers...
"I pat Enmao's back, I sing Enmao a nursery rhyme."
Little Femini couldn't understand anything, but with a sincere and innocent heart, she lay down next to the cat and gently patted Maine's body with her little hand.
"Sleep well~ Sleep well~ Forget all your fatigue, tomorrow will be even better~"
The child soothes his cat in the same way his mother soothes him to sleep.
"......"
The last time my brother sang to lull me to sleep was when he did.
Maine stomped on the soft blanket with her claws, then opened her blood-red mouth and yawned.
I really miss those days.
This child, too, grew up surrounded by love.
Amidst children's lullabies and gentle patting, inside the faded but clean cotton quilt.
The beast quietly closed his golden vertical pupils and fell peacefully asleep.
*
When he woke up again, there was another long-haired woman in front of him.
Ah, the kid's mother is back.
Mainkuhn narrowed his eyes, waiting for the woman to throw him out.
There's no way they won't throw it out. This family doesn't even have a complete set of furniture; how can they afford to keep a cat?
Mainkuhn knew he would be more presentable to go out, but he had slept very well.
If you don't want to get up, please move your finger and throw me out.
But to Mainkuhn's surprise, the woman looked at him for a long time without making a move.
Well, she seemed a little... embarrassed?
"Mom, Enmao is waiting for you to say hello."
"Ah, oh... Mr. Encat."
At the child's prompting, the mother knelt down and looked Mainkuen in the eye solemnly.
No one told her whether staring directly at a cat was considered a provocation.
Mainkun flicked his short tail with a hint of anxiety, suppressing his urge to attack.
"Hello, I'm Amélie."
Introducing yourself before chasing away a cat? That's quite something.
"Thank you so much for saving Fimini. It was really rude of me not to thank you last time."
? ? ? ?
Maine's cat-like eyes widened instantly, and Amélie became even more nervous under his gaze:
"Um, um! Would you like some fish soup? QAQ"
What a big cat! It's scary!
*
When the steaming hot fish soup was placed in front of him, Mainkuen was truly stunned.
The house was dilapidated, without even a table. The mother and son, along with their cat, sat on the floor to eat.
Is it too hot?
Amélie had no experience raising cats and was even quite afraid of them. She tentatively took the plate back from Maine and said, "I'll blow on it for you, but please, please don't bite me."
call.
"alright."
A moment later, the fish soup, at the perfect temperature, was placed back in front of the cat.
"......"
"??????"
No! Humans!
The cat suddenly turned its head and looked at Fimini's plate:
A small amount of fish soup and a piece of black bread.
"What's wrong, Eun-Cat? Not enough to eat? Here, have mine!"
The cat suddenly turned its head and looked at Amélie's plate:
A smaller portion of fish soup, and a piece of black bread.
"Fimini, you're still growing, Mom can have this for him..."
No! A person!
"Mimi—"
If you and your child are already struggling to get enough to eat, then stop thinking about repaying kindness or anything like that!
I am a wild beast! A cat! I don't care if you repay kindness with enmity!
"What's wrong? Mr. Hmm Cat?"
Amélie panicked immediately upon hearing the cat's meow:
"Please, please don't be so polite. You saved Fimini, which is like saving my life—and if you don't like fish, please don't get angry, don't bite me, don't scratch me, I'll figure something out—"
"Woof!"
If you're afraid of cats, just kick them out, you idiot!
Enraged, Mainkun barked once, stood up, and like a human, used its front paws to open the window and jumped out of the mother and child's house.
“...Oh, Mom.”
Little Fimi was a little frustrated.
"Mr. Enmao really doesn't like fish soup."
"Fimini!"
His mother's focus wasn't on that:
"Did you see that? That cat is taller than you when it stands up—woof!"
"And it even opens the window! So scary...no, so powerful! Waaaaah!"
Amidst Amélie's still-shaken voice, the windowpane was soon struck again.
"Smack!"
A large pink paw print was imprinted on the glass. A majestic cat, carrying two bloodied and mangled small animals in its mouth, shook its head at them, dropped one of them, and walked away.
Amélie: "......"
Fimini: "......"
"Mom, does this mean you're inviting us to eat?"
Little Femini smiled innocently:
"Meat!"
"No! No! What's going on?!"
It's one thing for a child to lack experience and knowledge, but Amélie is not!
How could there possibly be a cat in this world that, after glancing at the food and feeling it's not good enough, gets angry and meows twice before opening the window to go hunting, then runs back the same way to slap its prey in your face, leaving behind a dashing and cool silhouette?
"Terrifying! Oh no, I mean it's really amazing, waaaaah!"
This is ridiculous—what's the difference between this and your pet suddenly barging into the kitchen and cooking three dishes and a soup for you!
*
The cat still had prey in its mouth.
That wasn't prepared for myself.
Instead, it was a pair of lively brother and sister.
I haven't seen Linnie and Lynette for two days. I wonder if they're still studying that 'touch technique'...
Mainkun was walking down the street as usual when suddenly everything went black.
"Smack."
!?
"Finally, we caught them."
Villette gripped the enormous net with both hands and successfully trapped the cat under it.
"Furina has made a rare good suggestion."
!?
"Mimi—"
"Don't be afraid, it's me."
Navelette, expressionless, reached one hand under the net and felt for the back of Mainkuen's neck, while forcefully tearing the prey from his mouth with the other.
"I'm sorry I have to take away your precious prey—you haven't eaten it yet, have you?"
Looking at the lifeless object in his hand, Villette sighed deeply:
"You are not allowed to eat or drink for 48 hours after the surgery. I really hope you have strictly followed this rule."
"Mimi—"
No! That Violet!
Mainkuhn pounced on him, baring his teeth and claws.
That's what I prepared for the children!
Put me down, waah!
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