Chapter 424

"Congratulations on your safe return to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland."

Albert stood in front of the Chaldeans who had just stepped off the plane, and gave them an impeccable business smile.

"Thank you for your welcome, Count Moriarty." Marinesbury skillfully took over the greetings with Albert while rushing everyone to the airport exit. "But the airport is not a suitable place for conversation. No matter what, how about we wait until we leave the airport to discuss it?"

After entering the empty passage, Lansemello skillfully cast a spell of suggestion to reduce the presence of everyone except Marisbury and Albert.

"Then, how about we separate here?" Lansemero asked Albert, "Even if we have to deal with those journalists, it should be enough to have Maris and you two here - I'm going to Durham to find Velvet next, Fujimaru said she wants to meet with Mash... As for the others..."

"If you have nothing to do, how about going to your house in London and resting for a while?" Marinesberry laughed. "I have a house in London after all."

"Let me take the newcomer shopping." Roman smiled and spread his arms, shaking his head at everyone, "Director Marisbili may need Director Olgamari and Kirshtalia to accompany him - then, the task of replenishing Chaldea's material inventory will have to be handed over to me."

"It just so happens that Leonardo sent me a shopping list a while ago - there are a lot of things to buy, and it would be great if someone could come and help move the things."

"...I understand, but I need to inform Captain McCovey - you guys should have no objection, right?" Albert turned his head to look at Lansermello and confirmed with her, "Also, as for Mash, they seem to be busy with a case recently - I'm not sure if they can solve it before you return to Chaldea."

"I will ask McCollum if I can let Ritsuka contact them as a mission assistant."

"...I thought Merlin was joking." Roman raised his eyebrows in surprise. "I only knew they went to MI5. I didn't expect they were actually working for McCoff's 'British Government' - but MI5 is different from MI6 or the FBI in the United States, right? MI5 needs to cooperate with the police to complete the task of arresting criminals."

"We suggested that they go to a department that has less contact with normal people, such as MI6," Albert sighed, "but they rejected this proposal - so in the end, it was of their own will that they were arranged to MI5. If they really went to Scotland Yard, it would only be more troublesome."

"I agree with that." Fujimaru Ritsuka nodded to Albert. "So, I remember that MI5 is the department responsible for the domestic security of the United Kingdom, right? I don't count on their talents in economics and counterintelligence - so, is the trouble they encountered this time similar to the serial murder case that Ms. Okita encountered during the winter vacation?"

"It's a little more complicated than that." Albert winked at Fujimaru Ritsuka, "But they are indeed dealing with a serial murder case - by the way, I remember that you, Ritsuka, worked as a detective assistant for Miss Lenise, right? Then maybe we can meet with Marsh without consulting McCollum."

"Huh?"

"This case has reached a dead end, so Merlin has sent invitations to all the famous detectives - inviting them to come to the UK to solve this case." Albert replied to Fujimaru Ritsuka, "The meeting date written on the invitation letter is the period of time you stay in the UK - of course, if you find the murder case too annoying, you can also find another opportunity to meet with Marsh..."

"I will go." Fujimaru Ritsuka smiled and turned to Lancermello. "Then please ask the deputy director to take me to Mr. El-Melloi II."

"Then Fujimaru and I will leave first." Lansermello looked at everyone, pulled Fujimaru Ritsuka along, and drew the rune of transfer in the air, "Goodbye."

A few days later, in a corner of a party, Fujimaru Ritsuka said to Lenis: "...This is why I asked Miss Lenis to bring me here."

"You could have come here with Brother." Leness shook the red wine glass in her hand and looked at Merlin who was standing in the center of everyone's sight. "However, if only Merlin came forward... I have a bad feeling about this case that has gathered so many detectives - it might be difficult to handle, Ritsuka."

"But I think this case might be solved quickly - and no one will die." Fujimaru Ritsuka looked around at the guests at the party with a subtle expression, and whispered to Lenis, "There are a lot of familiar faces here - detectives and thieves, all the party members tonight are familiar faces."

"I've heard about the saying that the Phantom Thief is the God of Survival Rate." Lenis tilted her head and whispered to Fujimaru Ritsuka, "The invitation list was decided by the round table, right? What kind of case is it that requires all the protagonists to be dragged to the UK at once?"

"I don't know - although Albert said it was a serial murder case..." Fujimaru Ritsuka shook his head, "but they didn't post anything about themselves in the chat room - that's why I wanted to meet with Mash before returning to Chaldea. I never expected that they would also be involved in a very troublesome matter."

"The gem used to attract the thief this time is also related to this case." The silver-haired waiter brought a tray and joined the conversation with a smile, "Long time no see, Master."

"It's been a long time, Sir Bedivere." Fujimaru Ritsuka smiled and replied to Bedivere after Lenis set up a barrier to isolate others, "Can you tell me what kind of trouble you encountered this time?"

"Although Merlin said he would announce it directly later..." Bedivere blinked and stroked his chin in thought, "But if Master wants to know, I can tell you in advance - However, although we haven't openly sought help in the chat room, we have indeed harassed everyone who can ask."

"Like Ms. Okita's case, are the serial murders here also related to the stories of famous 'heroes' in the past?" Fujimaru Ritsuka raised his eyebrows and looked at Ruler and Avenger sitting in another corner. "So in order to prevent more deaths, all the thieves that can be attracted are attracted here?"

"Merlin said we're still short of a pair of Phantom Thieves and Detectives," Bedivere replied to Fujimaru Ritsuka, "But he said two Phantom Thieves should be enough - even if something unexpected happens, our hidden Knights of the Round Table are there to save people in times like this. Speaking of this case, it's more about the concept of 'story' than 'Heroic Spirits'."

"What do you mean?" Fujimaru Ritsuka looked at Bedivere seriously.

"We can't even determine whether this case was committed by a single person or a group of people. The only thing that can be confirmed is that the murderer regarded each of the victims as the 'main characters' in the 'story'." Bedivere paused and explained the situation to Fujimaru Ritsuka, "The types of 'stories' are quite wide, almost covering all the types of works by the writer-based heroes..."

"Is there a Cock Robin among the dead?" asked Fujimaru Ritsuka.

"Eh?" Bedivere was stunned and looked at Fujimaru Ritsuka, "You and the king said the same thing, Master."

"After all, when it comes to the 'story' related to the case, the nursery rhyme most often quoted in mystery works - 'Who killed Cock Robin' - is it impossible not to think of it?" Fujimaru Ritsuka crossed his arms and frowned as he thought, "Is there a 'Cock Robin' among the known dead that was chosen by the murderer?"

"No, there is no 'Cock Robin' among the dead." Bedivere answered Fujimaru Ritsuka, "However, it is certain that the dead are the 'protagonists' in the 'story' - the known dead are 'Snow White', 'Christine', 'Count of Monte Cristo', 'King Arthur'..."

"...I know why you didn't post it directly in the chat room." Fujimaru Ritsuka curled his lips. "So many dead, but no news leaked out - it's really worthy of the British Empire. Although it's no longer their era, it's amazing that they can still do this."

"Please forgive our behavior, Master." Bedivere smiled helplessly, "Ah, it's almost time - Merlin is going to announce the truth about inviting them to the banquet."

After Bedivere finished speaking, the scene was locked with a heavy sound. The half-dream demon standing in the center of the venue showed a wicked smile to the people whose expressions suddenly changed, and then uttered a soft and psychedelic voice like a dream, telling the details of the case that had never been made public.

"You've been harassed by the Round Table, haven't you?" Standing by the railing on the second floor, Lancer-Melloi looked up at El-Melloi II. "After all, you are in Britain. Among the members invited by the Round Table this time, except for a pair of thieves and detectives, all other detectives and thieves are here."

"Do you know all the detectives in Japan?" El-Melloi II raised an eyebrow.

"Holmes has already figured out everything about that place." Lancer-Melloi curled his lips and motioned El-Melloi II to look down. "Three high school detectives, a confused detective and his apprentice. Although I guess McCovey and the others would have wanted to keep this person outside the venue, they had no choice but to let him in because they couldn't expose the existence of MI5 and MI6."

"I remember the FBI was there?" El-Melloi II looked confused. "It's not a problem for the Japanese public security to show up in a place like this."

"…Velvet, that FBI guy is one of our own—although the guy he brought here is not."