Chapter 63: An Unsettling Encounter in the Mist

“How about we talk, Miss Rona?”

Looking at Shadow before her, Rona nodded, her expression devoid of emotion. Moments later, her knight’s sword cleaved heavily towards the spot where Shadow had been standing.

The attack failed to connect. Shadow’s form, much like the pervasive mist, dispersed just before the blow could land. The iron-colored blade merely sliced through a layer of fog.

“Don’t be so impatient, Miss Rona. Don’t you even wish to hear what I have to say?”

“You’re from the Chaos Cult, aren’t you?”

“I have nothing to discuss with members of the Chaos Cult.”

Rona’s voice was stern. She turned, once again directing her sword towards Shadow’s current position.

Watching Rona, poised to strike, Shadow frowned. ‘How did she know I was from the Chaos Cult?’

‘During my time lurking in Kana City, I’ve done virtually nothing. There shouldn’t be anything in the city that could link me to the cult.’

“My identity isn’t important, Miss Rona. What’s crucial is that I know what you desire.”

“The truth behind the disappearances – Miss Rona, do you still refuse to speak with me after hearing those words?”

Shadow did not directly answer Rona’s question, choosing instead to bypass it. They were well aware that the cult’s reputation was hardly favorable.

‘At a time like this, it’s best not to reveal my affiliation.’

The sword’s edge once again swung towards Shadow, but Rona seemed entirely disinclined to converse.

“As I said, I have nothing to discuss with you Chaos Cult members.”

“First, let’s settle the score for all the trouble your Chaos Cult has caused in Kana City.”

The incidents of their infiltration into the city and their machinations during the autumn encirclement had yet to be accounted for. Now, a member of the Chaos Cult had brazenly revealed themselves.

Rona raised her knight’s sword anew, noticing that Shadow had fallen silent.

‘Heh, did they not expect me to uncover the Chaos Cult’s traces in Kana City so quickly?’

In reality, Shadow was pondering an entirely different matter.

‘What was she just saying?’

‘When have I ever done anything in the city that needs to be ‘settled’?’

Seeing Rona about to attack again with her knight’s sword, Shadow realized they could no longer delay. They needed to quickly persuade this unyielding knight.

“The City Lord’s Manor – Miss Rona.”

“You’re already suspicious of the City Lord’s Manor, aren’t you?”

Indeed, upon hearing the words “City Lord’s Manor,” Rona’s movements noticeably paused.

“Miss Rona, are you perhaps conflicted about whether Lord Serol is truly involved?”

Finally, Rona ceased her attack, and the expression on her face became unpredictable, shifting between light and shadow.

“So, that anonymous letter was also written by you?”

Shadow fell silent once more.

They had a strange feeling that they and Rona were not on the same wavelength. ‘This isn’t how it should be.’

Shadow had carefully calculated the timing, believing it ripe, before appearing before Rona. Yet, the knight’s attitude made Shadow wonder if they had approached the wrong person.

‘What is this ‘anonymous letter’ she’s talking about?’

Watching Shadow fall silent, Rona’s brow furrowed even deeper.

‘As expected, it seems my suspicions weren’t wrong.’

Having pursued the disappearance cases for so long, Rona had recently begun to suspect the City Lord’s Manor, however much she disliked admitting it.

Ever since her friend went missing, Rona had been unable to rest. Yet, the scattered clues always led in a grand circle, pointing towards a colossal entity.

That entity was the City Lord’s Manor.

More precisely, it was the most esteemed individual within the City Lord’s Manor – City Lord Serol.

Initially, Rona naturally couldn’t believe this conclusion. She was a member of the Cross family, and she had grown up hearing tales of Serol’s knighthood. Moreover, having lived alongside him in Kana City for so long, she believed she knew Serol’s true character very well.

‘Perhaps… too well.’

The deeper she investigated, the more Rona’s resolve wavered.

Some time ago, she had finally apprehended the highly suspicious ‘Scar’ Red, but before Rona could extract any meaningful information, Red was released by Serol.

Just a few days prior, she had inexplicably received an anonymous letter, simply instructing her to visit a specific location during her patrol three days later.

That night, she deliberately left her patrol group to investigate alone, only to discover two figures dressed as assassins. Reflecting on it now, they were likely Chaos Cult infiltrators within Kana City.

Of course, there were also other, additional clues.

What truly unsettled Rona were the things she had accidentally discovered in the City Lord’s Manor two days ago.

Had she not gone to the utility room that day to look for Xiluo’er, Rona would never have realized there was a hidden door beneath a large iron cabinet.

Though the iron cabinet was only slightly ajar, revealing just a sliver of the door beneath, she had never noticed it before.

Rona hadn’t told anyone about this. She had inspected the hidden door, but without a key, she couldn’t enter. This had left her feeling somewhat uneasy and distracted recently.

Seeing that Rona had stopped attacking, Shadow understood they had achieved half their goal.

“Miss Rona, don’t worry too much about my position.”

The sharp voice, one that made it impossible to discern their gender, now carried a hint of seduction.

“I can help you; there’s no doubt about that. Instead of rushing to attack me, why don’t you hear me out first?”

“I…”

Halfway through their sentence, Shadow was once again forced to retreat a few steps, dodging Rona’s attack.

‘This isn’t right. I’ve presented so much compelling information, why isn’t Rona listening?’

“I personally prefer to let facts speak for themselves.”

“Before we discuss the so-called disappearance cases, shouldn’t we settle some outstanding accounts?”

Rona was referring to the events of the autumn encirclement. Fortunately, with Xiluo’er’s help, it was now almost certain that the Chaos Cult was behind it.

Without that incident, Rona might have actually listened to Shadow’s proposals.

The City Lord’s Manor… Serol… Although Rona didn’t know why this nefarious Chaos Cult member was so well-informed about these matters, she admitted that these issues had quietly troubled her for a long time.

And so, the Chaos Cult’s hidden operative, Shadow, diligently executing their mission, fell silent once again that night.

They racked their brain, utterly baffled as to what ‘accounts’ they supposedly needed to settle with Rona.

‘Even if, even if I am a cultist, for argument’s sake, during my time as a covert operative in Kana City, for the sake of this crucial final plan, I’ve been perfectly hidden, not revealing a single trace!’

For Rona to immediately identify them as a Chaos Cult member was already preposterous enough.

‘Tsk, no, this endless bickering will lead nowhere. I need a more direct approach.’

Shadow made up their mind, reaching into their robe to grasp something within.