Chapter 733: Dark Hand

Hishiri Adashinoi was cautious and clever enough. She kept a close eye on Shinji, watching every muscle in his body. As a magus capable of faking her corpse, she could predict body movements by observing muscle conditions.

She was prepared the instant before Shinji took a step. The sleeve wave was just the first move, aimed at buying time to activate her spell. The real killing technique was the spell pre-inscribed on her kimono.

Unfortunately, she made one mistake. Her analysis of Shinji was based on his battle with Luvia two days ago. Although she had increased the data by 50%, Shinji had suppressed his speed and strength to less than half that day to demonstrate for Gray. In other words—she underestimated Shinji.

The sleeve failed to block him. Just as the spell was about to form, Shinji was already in front of her. He grabbed her neck and slammed her against the wall behind her, his fierce magical energy completely dispersing the spell on the kimono and the mana Hishiri Adashino had gathered.

"Sorry, but I'm more confident than you. I'll give you 30 seconds to rephrase."

Saying this, Shinji released his hand and instead held a dagger to her heart.

Magi from the Department oF Policies were hard to kill, but that didn't mean they could survive having their hearts shattered or skulls pierced.

Hishiri Adashino didn't rush to speak. She first covered her neck with her hand, coughed twice, and then took several deep breaths, seemingly unconcerned that her chest movements might touch the dagger.

Even restrained, her expression remained calm.

"This isn't necessary."

"Oh? Aren't you afraid I'll kill you and dispose of your body? After all, everyone in town knows you're already dead, with your corpse lying right behind us."

"You won't kill me."

"Why do you say that?"

"Because I'm from the Department of Policies."

"That reason doesn't work on me—if I attack you, I'm confident I can prevent the Department of Policies from tracing it back to me."

As if fearing she wouldn't believe him, Shinji pushed the dagger forward a few centimeters, its sharp tip piercing through the kimono's surface to reach her skin.

Surprisingly, Hishiri Adashino not only remained calm but nodded seriously.

"I believe you have that ability."

"Then why are you so composed?"

"Because I also have a guess."

"Let's hear it."

"The Department of Policies aims to perpetuate magecraft and the Clock Tower, using any means necessary. But the current Lord, Lord Barthomeloi, the reigning Queen of the Clock Tower, has a different view. She acknowledges the department's ideals but disagrees with some of their methods. Since taking office, she's been seeking reforms and has gained much support and following. Among her supporters, one person is the most mysterious. He has never publicly appeared in the department, yet has helped the Lord solve many thorny problems and has even dealt with members who secretly disobey the Lord's orders on her behalf. No one knows his identity or appearance. Everyone calls him the Queen's Dark Hand."

At this point, Hishiri Adashino paused deliberately and reached out her hand toward Shinji.

"Now, this Dark Hand stands before me."

"..."

This time, it was Shinji's turn to fall silent.

"Why isn't Mr. Smith speaking? Did I guess correctly? Or perhaps your name isn't Johnny Smith, and both your current name and appearance are disguises."

"Uh, I was thinking about how best to answer—after consideration, I'll use Miss Adashino's own words: do you have any evidence?"

"No," Hishiri Adashino shook her head as well.

So—

"Thank you for telling me such an interesting story, but without evidence, it's just speculation. Whether as a detective or puzzle solver, it's not up to par."

"Mr. Smith is truly an interesting person. Then I'll also use your words: often, a guess is enough. Humans are inherently subjective creatures, and women tend to be more subjective than men. Isn't there a saying? Women's intuition is more accurate than men's."

Hearing this, Shinji was truly impressed. His own seemingly profound and eloquent words were due to the advantage of foreknowledge, deducing the process from the result. Hishiri Adashino was different.

Shinji had the highest level of confidentiality on Lorelei's side. Even when the assassination of Night of Wallachia caused worldwide attention, she managed to cover it up without a hitch. Over the years, Shinji had traveled around the world under various identities without ever being suspected, and his hometown of Fuyuki City remained peaceful, demonstrating Lorelei's masterful information manipulation skills.

The fact that Lorelei sent him here proved that the person in charge here, Hishiri Adashino, wasn't one of her people, at least not her direct subordinate, and couldn't possibly know his identity. In other words, Hishiri Adashino had completely guessed his identity through intuition and a few clues. No wonder she was the woman who impressed Waver in The Case Files of Lord El-Melloi II. Her thinking ability was truly formidable.

Faced with such a woman, words were useless. Whether he admitted it or not, it wouldn't change Hishiri Adashino's thoughts. It was better to replay the previous conversation and create a smokescreen.

"Yet many tragedies stem from subjective guesses. If I remember correctly, in various art forms, such tragic female characters outnumber male ones—hmm, I'm already threatening you."

At these last words, Hishiri Adashino's lips curved slightly upward: "So I can only take a gamble."

The gamble here wasn't simply about right or wrong, guessing correctly and living, guessing wrong and dying, but a more complex psychological control.

Whether Shinji was the Dark Hand or not didn't matter. Because Hishiri Adashino wouldn't dare to voice this guess. Given how much importance the Lord placed on the Dark Hand, even the slightest hint could potentially be nipped in the bud by the Lord.

So, today's events wouldn't leak out. Hishiri Adashino posed no threat to Shinji, and without a threat, why kill? From Shinji's previous behavior, he wasn't simple-minded, easily agitated, or fond of senseless killing. Moreover, Hishiri Adashino still had something Shinji wanted.

Shinji didn't rush to lower the dagger, asking with interest:

"How do you know I'm not sent by the Lord to deal with you? You said yourself that the Dark Hand has handled many tasks."

"Then I can only wait for death. But I think this possibility is very low because although I'm not a follower of Lord Barthomeloi, I do agree with her reforms and have never gone against her wishes. I don't think she would punish me, let alone send the Dark Hand specifically."

"Then what is this Dark Hand here for?"

"Internal rules of the Department of Policies: don't casually inquire about others' missions. Don't ask what shouldn't be asked."

What a meaningful answer.