Chapter 56: Familiar Knives

“So, Sister Eve, where exactly are we headed?”

Xiluo’er tilted her small head, her voice brimming with curiosity.

“We’re going to visit Mayor Serol.”

“Mayor Serol must have sustained significant injuries in the forest that day. Moreover, she protected you, so it’s only right that we visit her.”

Eve gently stroked Xiluo’er’s head, continuing, “And we also need to discuss the events that transpired in the forest with her.”

“Oh.”

Xiluo’er responded obediently, her mind already beginning to churn with thoughts.

Serol had been directly flung away by the Alpha Devouring Wolf leader. Although she had vehemently insisted she was fine, it was clear to anyone with eyes that the Mayor had suffered severe injuries.

Later, Serol was taken to the hospital by Rona and others, while Xiluo’er remained at the association, tending to the unconscious Eve. The subsequent events remained a mystery to her.

However, Xiluo’er had often wondered why Serol, a legendary knight who had successfully quelled an internal rebellion, had been pushed to such a desperate state by the Alpha Devouring Wolf.

She recalled Irene’s gossipy chatter about Serol’s strength; despite Irene’s tone, the content suggested Serol was an exceptionally powerful knight.

The Alpha Devouring Wolf leader, with its nascent Tier 5 strength, was a foe Eve could have easily dispatched without even needing to ‘burst’ her power. Serol shouldn’t have struggled against it.

Regardless, Xiluo’er still felt a pang of guilt over Serol’s injuries.

After all, Serol had indeed protected her. If Serol hadn’t arrived when she did, Xiluo’er and Rona would have found it incredibly difficult to hold out until Eve’s reinforcements arrived.

“Xiluo’er, we’ve arrived.”

Eve’s words drew Xiluo’er’s attention. She looked up, recognizing the hospital where Eve had taken her after she was hit by the carriage.

****

When Eve and Xiluo’er entered Serol’s hospital room, they found her conversing with Rona.

“Rona, you don’t need to stay here watching me constantly. I’m perfectly fine on my own.”

“The Mayor’s Manor needs more people, and I’m not there.”

Serol’s voice was tinged with weakness, sounding somewhat resigned.

This was a genuine frailty, unlike Eve’s feigned exhaustion.

Rona seemed reluctant to leave Serol alone in the room, and their conversation briefly ceased as Eve and Xiluo’er stepped inside.

Upon seeing the two enter, Serol propped herself up to sit.

“Eve, and Xiluo’er… *cough, cough*… hello there.”

Rona, seeing Serol cough, looked worried and tried to help her lie back down, but Serol waved her off.

Despite her severe injuries at the time, Serol appeared to be recovering remarkably well, which brought Xiluo’er a measure of relief.

The brief pleasantries didn’t last long. After inquiring about the bedridden Serol’s condition, Eve quickly steered the conversation to the main topic.

“Speaking of which, how has the investigation into that day’s incident progressed?”

Eve’s question caused Xiluo’er to instinctively lower her gaze.

“That day” undoubtedly referred to the unexpected turn of events during the autumn encirclement. Xiluo’er had anticipated an investigation into the rather obvious, man-made ‘accident’ she had orchestrated during the hunt.

However, aside from the sudden appearance of the Alpha Devouring Wolf, the plan had proceeded without major flaws. She also benefited from the ‘darkest under the lamp’ advantage, ensuring the Mayor’s Manor’s investigation wouldn’t trace anything back to her.

Rona sighed and pulled something from her pocket, showing it to Eve.

Xiluo’er secretly glanced at it. It was one of the throwing knives she had used that day to set traps and delay Eve.

“This is the only truly valuable piece of physical evidence left at the scene.”

“Although we also found Firefang Tree sap and Corrosive Glow Grass powder in the forest, it’s incredibly difficult to determine who placed those there.”

Xiluo’er, listening in, showed no discernible change in expression. Rona likely couldn’t have imagined that those items were set by someone right before her eyes.

“Hmm…” Eve took the throwing knife, examining it closely. “Have you found anything based on these two knives?”

Rona shook her head, a hint of frustration on her face.

“While the style of these two throwing knives is quite distinctive, we haven’t been able to trace their origin within the city.”

“However, I can confirm that the two cloaked assassins I encountered during my patrol previously used identical weapons. I clashed with one of them, and both their throwing knives and the daggers they used in close combat bore a striking resemblance to these.”

Xiluo’er sighed inwardly. The unique weapon style was natural; her entire set of equipment was custom-made by the Chaos Cult specifically to ensure the flawless execution of challenging missions, such as infiltrating a hero’s side.

The two throwing knives were also inscribed with enhancement buffs like [Skybreaker] and [Sharpened Edge]. If she had had the chance, Xiluo’er would never have left them behind.

But it didn’t matter now. What did such dangerous throwing knives have to do with her, the harmless Xiluo’er?

“So, it’s highly probable that the autumn encirclement incident was orchestrated by those two individuals you encountered, Rona?”

“Yes,” Rona nodded. “That’s what we currently believe.”

Well, Xiluo’er conceded, the Mayor’s Manor’s investigation had, at least, reached a conclusion that wasn’t entirely wrong.

Eve continued to scrutinize the two throwing knives. There weren’t any details that warranted such prolonged observation, yet as she looked, her brow furrowed.

“I can’t shake the feeling that the style of these throwing knives is familiar.”

“It feels… like I’ve seen a similar design somewhere before.”

Eve’s words sent a small jolt of alarm through Xiluo’er.

‘No way, right? I’ve always hidden those things very discreetly in my room. Eve couldn’t possibly have accidentally seen them, could she?’

‘Besides, Eve wouldn’t idly sneak into my room… or would she?’

Xiluo’er relaxed, allowing Eve to ponder over the throwing knives.

“Xiluo’er?”

But to her surprise, after a moment, Eve suddenly called her name.

Xiluo’er, who had just managed to calm her racing heart, nearly had it leap out of her mouth at Eve’s sudden address.

She looked up, meeting Eve’s thoughtful gaze fixed directly on her.

‘Oh no, this isn’t good. Why is she calling me? These throwing knives aren’t mine. No familiarity, truly none.’

However, Eve’s next words shattered Xiluo’er’s illusion.

“Xiluo’er, don’t you think the style of these two throwing knives looks a little familiar?”

At that, Xiluo’er felt her heart plummet.

‘No, Sister, please stop testing me. Just get it over with, why don’t you?’