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Join the ServerWhy the sudden proposal to live together?
Live together? Was this progression not a little too swift? Shouldn’t there be many things to attend to before that?
Utterly unable to comprehend the situation, Alice found herself spiraling into confusion.
“Forgive me, I suppose that explanation makes little sense to you,” Jeanne said, offering an apologetic smile. Her expression then turned grave. “The truth is, late last night, an entire family on Wisteria Road was murdered during a home invasion. I’ve received news that it has been confirmed to be the work of the Ripper.”
“A home invasion?” Alice’s eyes widened. “Didn’t that Killer always abduct people individually before?”
“Indeed, it sounds utterly unbelievable, but my source is quite reliable. The news has already spread, causing widespread panic,” Jeanne sighed inadvertently. “The Killer’s targets still seem to be primarily nobles and the wealthy. Miss Liddell, your residence is quite close to that area, isn’t it?”
“Yes…” Alice nodded.
“One might even say it’s the same block.”
It appeared the Killer had come ashore not long after leaping into the water, then immediately selected a luxurious-looking residence nearby and stormed it, commencing a massacre.
‘Was it to replenish the souls they had consumed?’
“The Killer operating there suggests they might be active in that district. Miss Liddell, you are a noble and a young woman. Judging by their previous choice of targets, you are very likely to be targeted.”
“The Killer now has a precedent for home invasions, and you live alone… I’m a little worried about you.” Jeanne looked at Alice with a face full of concern.
Jeanne had concealed the fact that she herself had been ambushed by the Killer. However, Alice, privy to the inner workings, quickly understood Jeanne’s true intentions.
Yesterday evening, before Jeanne encountered the Killer, she had been escorting Alice home.
According to logical deduction, if Jeanne was targeted by the Killer, the likelihood of her being followed before the assassination attempt was very high.
During this period of surveillance, the Killer might have seen Alice.
Jeanne, too, must have realized that the Killer likely emerged from the river and immediately chose a new target nearby. Therefore, if they couldn’t find the Saintess, the probability of Alice becoming their new target was extremely high.
Out of concern for Alice, Jeanne had specifically come to persuade her to change residences, even proactively inviting Alice to live with her.
Calming herself, Alice couldn’t help but seriously consider the proposal.
At present, she felt she should actually try to avoid excessive contact with Jeanne. After all, from Jeanne’s behavior yesterday, it seemed she had already formed a distinct impression of her. If Jeanne had recognized yesterday’s witch as someone she had met, then if Alice inadvertently revealed too many suspicious details, the chances of her being identified would significantly increase.
Moreover, if the Killer were to come for her, she should be able to sense it through her premonition.
Having received the red soul from the Mad Hatter, she was no longer particularly afraid of that Killer.
Yet, refusing here would appear unnatural.
A family in a nearby neighborhood had just been brutally annihilated by the Killer, and she herself was a noblewoman easily targeted by them. No matter how bold one’s heart, it was impossible to remain indifferent to matters of life and death.
If she continued to evade, acting too deliberately, it might even lead Jeanne to suspicion. Furthermore, while Jeanne worried for her safety, Alice was actually more concerned for Jeanne’s. Staying by Jeanne’s side would allow her to keep a more timely grasp on Jeanne’s situation. The Killer might not have given up on hunting the Church’s Saintess.
Upon this realization, Alice’s internal scales tipped slightly towards agreement.
“Sister Jeanne, hearing you say that has made me a little scared too.” Alice feigned a frightened expression. “So, if I understand you correctly, you want me to move into your home?”
If Jeanne meant for her to move into Duke Alençon’s residence, she would need to consider it carefully, as she wasn’t familiar with the specific conditions of the Alençon estate.
“No, I have a training program assigned by the Church at the academy recently, so I’m temporarily living there. My dorm room can accommodate one more person,” Jeanne replied with a smile.
A training program? Alice pondered for a moment, quickly realizing this must be an instruction from the Church.
Staying at the academy was acceptable. Spending a longer time there would also help her continue to find opportunities to observe and inquire about the Grand Cathedral.
“Are you sure?” Alice’s eyes lit up, feigning enthusiasm.
“I’ve invited you myself, so why wouldn’t it be possible?” Jeanne smiled. “If it’s convenient, perhaps you could stay here starting today?”
“Alright, then I’ll go home later to pick up some things, if that’s okay?” Alice asked.
“Good, try to go as early as possible,” Jeanne nodded. “But you don’t need to bring too many things besides clothes; many daily necessities can be acquired at the academy.”
‘No matter what, the Killer surely wouldn’t commit a home invasion in broad daylight, under everyone’s gaze. Simply going home during the day to fetch a nightgown or something was nothing to worry about,’ Alice mused.
“I understand. Thank you, Sister Jeanne.” Alice expressed her sincere gratitude.
‘Sure enough, Jeanne was still Jeanne,’ she thought, a nostalgic fondness in her heart.
Just as Jeanne had once proactively helped and protected Levi, today she was again proactively protecting Alice.
“After school this evening, could you wait for me here at five? I’ll show you to the room,” Jeanne said. “I should probably be going now.”
“Alright, then I’ll see you then.” Alice nodded, waving to Jeanne.
****
After Jeanne departed, Alice let out a long breath.
‘That scared me, I thought I’d been exposed…’
For now, it seemed Jeanne had at least not yet suspected Alice Liddell, the Duchess.
The real issue lay with the Killer.
A home invasion and the extermination of an entire family—this was almost the definition of madness.
Alice’s heart sank.
The Mad Hatter had mentioned yesterday that the Inquisitor might be playing a long game, hoping to uncover the source of the Killer’s power, and thus wasn’t fully pursuing the Ripper. Alice felt this hypothesis was quite plausible.
Now that things had escalated to this degree, surely the Inquisitor would take it seriously. With the clues Jeanne provided, they should be able to apprehend the Killer quickly.
No, not necessarily. Alice quickly dismissed that thought.
No matter how many souls the Killer hunted, they were still only a Seventh-tier being, separated from Middle-tier by a significant threshold. The Duchess had once taught her that once the difference exceeded two tiers, the gap in power became almost insurmountable. The Inquisitor wasn’t afraid of the Killer growing stronger with souls; they had countless ways to eliminate them. Rather, they were likely more concerned about a higher-tier entity behind the Killer.
The Inquisitor held an extremely high position in law enforcement. Besides the Conclave and the Imperial Family, this organization feared almost no one. They simply didn’t care about ordinary nobles who might be targeted by the Killer, let alone what the common people might think. As for the truly powerful figures who held real authority, as long as they implemented protective measures, they wouldn’t concern themselves with whether the Killer was a lone wolf.
The Inquisitor wouldn’t fear being held accountable for delaying an investigation, because they *were* the most formidable accountability body. Therefore, they could absolutely drag this out further!
You’ve got to see this next! Not Me, The Fans will keep you on the edge of your seat. Start reading today!
Read : Not Me, The Fans
