Chapter 373

Kayneth: "No, the biggest problem is not this."

Tokiomi Tohsaka: "That's right. What we should be concerned about is why Karger wasn't kidnapped, but was instead cruelly killed here."

Waver: "Hmm... Indeed, how did Heartless's actions change?"】

Caules: "Could it be that there wasn't enough time?"

Shishigou Kairi: "Look at the scene like this, are you sure he wouldn't have had time to kidnap someone?"

Caules: "Uh, indeed."

Kayneth: "It seems there must be some problem with Karger that makes him different from the others."

【"Do you think it was Brother who did it?"】

【Hishiri Adashino, standing at the door, asked softly.】

【"There is no one else but him."】

【The Second said in a deep voice: "No matter how powerful a Jewel Jewel Mage is, it is impossible to face this many monsters alone. However, if it were that Faker, it would be another matter."】

【"Yes. If it were her, she could do it without using a Noble Phantasm."】

【Hishiri Adashino murmured: "Does this mean Dr. Heartless is killing his disciples?"】

【The Second: "... es."】

【"Ah!!!"】

【At this moment, Gray also understood what Reines hadn't said last night.】

Rin Tohsaka: "So that's it..."

Mrs. Emiya: "A master killing his disciples; this topic is indeed not suitable for Gray to hear."

Kiritsugu Emiya: "She will experience all of this sooner or later."

【"... owever, why, unlike this time, did he use this method to kill Karger?"】

【The Second was very puzzled; previously, Heartless's disciples had all gone missing, so why, when it came to Karger, did he have to kill the other party so high-profilely?】

【Even Hishiri Adashino was confused about this point and couldn't figure it out at all.】

【The Second checked the corpse and said slowly: "... his question cannot be solved for the time being, but I have understood a few things."】

【"Yesterday, the Albion monster escaped here and attacked us; it was not an accident."】

【Gray: "What! How is that possible?"】

【The Second: "He was testing us. Because he knew we had fought Faker, he used that monster and us as a benchmark for combat judgment."】

【"Clearly, he self-righteously believed that if that monster could deal with us, it should also be able to counter Faker."】

【"No wonder he readily approved Yvette's entry into the Department of Sealing Designation yesterday; by doing so, he could obtain data closer to the time of the Rail Zeppelin. What a naive idea."】

【It was indeed too naive; how can combat power be judged like this? Does he think he's playing a game?】

Gilgamesh: "Hahaha, it's hilarious; this Reverse Reverse Reverse Reverse Side show is not bad, let's call it 'a frog in a well'."

Kayneth: "This is a disgrace to mages."

Rin Tohsaka: "... ow can there be such a naive person?"

Waver: "There's no help for it; they have never come into contact with Heroic Spirits and simply don't know the power of Heroic Spirits, so they can only speculate wildly."】

【Gray: "In that case, Mr. Karger..."】

【"Should have fully grasped the possibility that he would be attacked by Heartless and Faker."】

【The Second squatted down to continue examining the corpse and continued: "And the abnormal state of the crime scene as well."】

【Gray: "Abnormal state?"】

【The Second: "Yes, a sealed room was formed here, right?"】

【Hishiri Adashino: "This is the 45th underground floor; the only way to get back and forth is the elevator we just used. The access card we used when we came in proves that it is extremely difficult for anyone other than staff to enter or leave here. Even Heartless and Faker would find it difficult to invade here without being noticed, right?"】

【Gray: "Since they are mages, can't they teleport or something? For example, walking through walls?"】

【The Second: "Spatial transfer is almost in the realm of magic; Faker, as a Jewel Jewel Mage from the age of myth, might be able to do it. Even so, this place has a solid barrier set up, so even for her, it's impossible to invade by magecraft without breaking the barrier. Walking through walls is for the same reason; it would break the barrier."】

【Gray: "Then how was it done?"】

Shishigou Kairi: "Leaving no traces at all, that's interesting."

Waver: "Does Faker have the ability to pass through magecraft barriers?"】

Iskandar: "I don't know, I don't think so."】

Waver: "You're a pretty incompetent leader."】

【The Second did not answer, but turned to look at several staff members and said: "I would like to ask a few questions, is that alright?"】

【Staff: "Of course."】

【The Second: "... hy did you call me over?"】

【"The Department of Sealing Designation belongs to the Clock Tower but is not the Clock Tower. Even if someone dies... no, rather, precisely because such a serious situation occurred, one would usually try to solve the problem only within the organization. Not to mention Miss Adashino from the Department of Law, there was no need for you to call me, a Lord, over."】

【Staff: "... his was Lord Karger's order."】

【The Second: "Mr. Karger?"】

【Staff: "Yes. He had instructed us from a long time ago that if he met with an accident, we should find Lord El-Melloi II."】

【The Second raised an eyebrow: "Wait, when did he start giving such instructions?"】

【Staff: "Probably starting two months ago."】

【The Second: "..."】

Rin Tohsaka: "What's the situation? Two months ago!"】

Shishigou Kairi: "It seems he had long anticipated this day."】

Waver: "But why look for me? I didn't even know him two months ago, right?"】

Kayneth: "I'm afraid he heard about the Rail Zeppelin."】

Caules: "Things are getting more and more bizarre."】

【Gray: "This, Teacher—"】

【"Hmm, this doesn't make sense. He and I only met for the first time yesterday."】

【The Second looked around and asked in a deep voice: "Where is Miss Ashira Mistras?"】

【Staff: "We cannot contact her at the moment."】

【The Second: "... s there a possibility of her going missing?"】

【Staff: "There is that possibility. We are currently confirming it."】

【The Second looked at Hishiri Adashino and asked: "Has a spirit invocation been performed?"】

【Hishiri Adashino: "Of course it has been performed. Unfortunately, the post-mortem message has been blocked. Since he is an important figure in the Department of Sealing Designation, that is only natural. Otherwise, outsiders might obtain important confidential information from the corpse."】

【The Second said in a low voice: "... id the other disciples not block the spirit invocation magecraft?"】

【Hishiri Adashino: "Why do you think so?"】

【The Second: "As long as they don't hold a certain important position, the survivors of the labyrinth don't really have a high necessity to set up such defensive measures. After all, many of those who challenge Albion are Jewel Jewel Mage-users rather than mages. Their goal is to use magecraft to achieve success, not to challenge the Root with magecraft."】

【"In other words, if the corpse is discovered, is there a possibility that information will be leaked?"】

Caules: "So, what exactly makes Karger different from the others?"】

Waver: "Could it be that he knows something others don't?"】

【The Second, regardless of getting his clothes dirty, reached out to touch the mangled corpse, and the next moment he was stunned.】

【Hishiri Adashino: "What's wrong, El-Melloi II?"】

【"No, it's nothing."】

【The Second withdrew his hand, picked up a handkerchief to wipe it clean, and asked: "To you, what kind of person is your brother—Heartless?"】

【Hishiri Adashino frowned: "I didn't have much contact with him. Although we are foster siblings, Norwich originally adopted many children like us. However, as the department head, I feel he often talked to many students."】

【The Second: "Miss Adashino, I want to ask a very stupid and rude question... Dr. Heartless is not a Magician, right?"】

【Hishiri Adashino: "Yes, of course not. There is no reason for a Magician to be chosen as a department head."】

Waver: "It seems he discovered something on Karger, but didn't say it clearly."】

Shishigou Kairi: "It seems this case is quite tricky, making even the Second suspect whether Heartless can use magic."】

Kayneth: "Heartless, this man indeed has too many mysteries."】

【The Second: "... see. If it were an ancient family, it would be possible depending on the Grand Order, but Heartless doesn't fit that direction either."】

【Hishiri Adashino: "Did you discover something?"】

【The Second: "No, I asked just to confirm. If I can establish some hypotheses, I will report to you later. Let's withdraw for now—let's go, Gray."】

【After saying this, the Second turned and walked away quickly; Gray could only hurriedly bow to Hishiri Adashino and the staff to say goodbye, then quickly followed.】