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Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: Clash of Wits
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"...Explain. Now."
"Right, right."
I could feel my subordinate trying to gauge my mood.
Was my displeasure that obvious? No matter. This wasn't the time to dwell on it.
Something's definitely off.
That face. That smile.
It was a smile that oozed confidence, as if she knew she'd never be caught.
Most innocent suspects aren't so audacious in situations like that.
Those who haven't experienced it might scoff, asking why anyone would be flustered, but that's just the bravado of the uninitiated.
In reality, if you're implicated in a crime you didn't commit and treated as a suspect, you'd be utterly bewildered.
It's easy to display all sorts of anxious symptoms.
…But how was *she*?
No anxiety, just a self-assured smile.
A voice brimming with the certainty that she wouldn't be caught, no matter what.
Of course, as I told my subordinate yesterday, she might not be the culprit.
But it was suspicious. Incredibly so.
That look, as if she *knew* the culprit would be apprehended, kept replaying in my mind.
"The suspect is a 38-year-old male, Erio Orland. His ability is 'Duplication.' He can reportedly use the ability of anyone he's seen for a day."
"He duplicated her ability with that?"
"Yes. It's quite an effective ability for framing others."
If that man is indeed the culprit, as my subordinate said.
Then everything falls into place.
Because it means everything wasn't a coincidence, but a necessity.
It means the crime didn't happen by chance at the location she visited, but that the man orchestrated it precisely for that to happen.
One could even assume the spider drawing was intentionally included to make identifying the culprit easier.
The detailed motive would only be known after further investigation, but that's unlikely to happen now. He's already been caught, after all.
It's logical. It makes sense.
But a sense of unease swept over me. Even though I clearly understood that was the correct answer.
"…Why didn't he inform *us*?"
"Excuse me?"
"This was *our* case. Why did I have to learn the culprit was apprehended through the news?"
"…Uh, well. He… *confessed*."
"Confessed?"
"Yes. He stated he became afraid of retaliation. He'd rather survive in prison than disappear without a trace at the hands of the Ubermensch."
"Ha. Ridiculous."
Utter nonsense.
After cutting down so many villains, a death sentence is a given.
Since public opinion somewhat influences the execution of the death penalty, it's possible the sentence won't actually be carried out, considering he killed villains.
Because public opinion might lean towards him having killed those who deserved it.
…But would the organizations he wronged truly take no action?
There are countless cases of individuals who picked fights with villain organizations, ended up in prison, and died there.
Prison guards are supposed to prevent it, but it's a den of criminals after all.
Even if one or two die, it's just criminals killing criminals, and their sentences increasing; it's an environment where such things aren't given much thought.
"He cut down so many, yet he expects to survive in prison? Absurd."
"…Indeed."
A blood-for-blood revenge will surely unfold.
They're criminals anyway. There are plenty of individuals who wouldn't bat an eye at a slightly longer sentence.
Such individuals would kill and then some, if sufficiently compensated.
Before long, he'll be a cold corpse.
Does he not know that? No, he couldn't possibly be unaware.
If the organization is that large, its villains would be incarcerated in any prison. Survival would be impossible.
And that's not all.
Even if he somehow managed to survive in prison, if he had simply kept quiet, Arte Isis would still be the primary suspect.
Why did he confess?
"Why are you like this? Usually, you'd just move on to the next case without a second thought."
"…Because it's far too suspicious. There's definitely something more to it."
It's a case of a villain killing a villain.
If the culprit was caught, I should just accept it and move on.
Her face kept flashing in my mind.
"Did I ever tell you that villains who enjoy self-aggrandizement like to sow confusion in investigations and revel in it?"
"Yes, you did."
"Right, that's it. Those types tend to enjoy that."
There wasn't just one or two odd points.
Her tone, her expression—as if she *knew* the culprit would be apprehended.
Her actions were so utterly suspicious they were counter-intuitively confusing.
A case that concluded without ever being brought to us, despite us being in charge of the investigation.
And on top of that, the culprit framed Arte Isis as the suspect, only to suddenly confess out of nowhere?
…It was all too suspicious.
"Get me more information on Arte Isis."
"What? But the culprit already confessed… Do you believe *she* is the culprit?"
"Yes. So get me more, *now*!"
"B-but we've already been stripped of our authority. The investigation is over, so we can't investigate her."
-CRASH!
My irritation surged, and I slammed my hand down on the desk.
I felt a flicker of apology for my subordinate, who flinched at the sound. Did I hit it too hard?
"Then I'll investigate her personally."
"Y-yes…?! But…!"
"I know it's dangerous. But what choice do I have when something smells this fishy?"
Someone was made to confess to throw the investigation off.
That thought kept swirling in my mind.
***
"How troublesome."
"Hm? What is?"
"That person from yesterday. You heard it too, didn't you, Author? The teacher's words."
"Oh, right! That cool person!"
…So that's the impression she left, 'cool person,' huh?
Regardless of her looks, right now she's just an annoying hindrance to me.
After school, the teacher quietly approached and informed me.
She'd suggested meeting me the following afternoon.
It's obvious she still suspects me, seeing as she wants to talk even after the culprit has been apprehended.
It was obvious I'd be suspected if I refused, so I accepted, but…
Why? Why the suspicion?
I definitely caught someone and made them confess. Is there anything left to suspect when the culprit has already been revealed?
…Is it my image again? I feel like I'm always the only one being painted as suspicious.
"Haa. I had something I wanted to take care of when I had some free time."
"Something you want to take care of?"
"Because I need to reduce the numbers in Ubermensch."
"Ah. I-is that so…?"
Their numbers were too high.
Currently, 11 executives, roughly 2,200 members.
If it continues like this, the power inflation will become unmanageable.
So I wanted to reduce them before Yu Si-woo and Ubermensch directly clashed, but if strange people get involved, it becomes a headache.
"Hmm, should I just kill her…?"
"No! An academy professor and a pretty detective who's an old friend—we can't let go of someone like that!"
"Ugh…"
The problem is, she's someone the Author is fond of.
She seemed to have taken a liking to her. She was vehemently against killing her.
Even if I wanted to prevent her interference by inserting some kind of setting, she'd still be against it.
It seems the fact that she's investigating the case really appealed to the Author.
"Haa. Well, I suppose I have no choice."
-*Clap, clap*.
I clapped twice, in a manner perfectly suited to the Author's tastes.
Pulling on the leash isn't 'cool,' or so she says.
Only Lyra had to suffer, having to come over after hearing this small sound. Well, she seems to have good ears, so does it matter?
After a brief moment, Lyra arrived, her purple hair fluttering.
"…What do you want?"
"I have a small favor to ask this time too."
"...?"
"By any chance, are you good at drawing? No, it doesn't matter if you're not. You *will* become good at it."
I offered her a sweet smile.
If she won't drop her suspicion even after I've thrown one person under the bus, then I'll just use another method.
***
"Hmm, do you have another matter with me? I heard the culprit was apprehended."
"No, I just came to apologize."
"Apologize?"
Apology, my foot.
It's just an excuse, pure and simple. If I apologized to every person under investigation, it would take far longer than it already does, wouldn't it?
It was merely to gauge her reaction. I didn't feel a shred of remorse.
"Yes. Since the culprit was apprehended. I think I was a bit too aggressive back then, so I came to apologize. I'm sorry."
"No, it's fine. At that time, the culprit hadn't been apprehended, so it couldn't be helped that I was suspected."
"Because suspecting is your job, after all," she said, offering a sweet smile.
"Arte… She's such a considerate child…! Truly as kind as she looks."
Are you blind?
I suppressed the urge to say that.
Even if she's a friend, that remark is a bit…
If *this* woman looks kind, then everyone in the world must look like a lamb.
Typical of her, strangely soft on students.
She's completely infatuated.
"Right. I just came to tell you that today. Thank you for understanding."
"Don't mention it. I'm not the culprit, so it's fine."
With that, the conversation concluded.
…No particular harvest. As expected, suspicion alone had its limits.
A wasted trip, then.
As I let out a small sigh, my subordinate's call came through.
"Ah, my apologies. Just a moment, I have a call."
"No, please take your time."
What is it? I distinctly told him I'd be here.
Did something urgent come up?
As I brought my phone to my ear, my subordinate's urgent voice crackled through.
"H-Hayul-nim! It's an emergency!"
"What is it? Quick, tell me. What happened?"
"A-Arachne! Arachne has appeared! Ten minutes ago, a report came in that a villain in the alleyway was dismembered! It's exactly like last time! A spider drawing made of blood! And silk has been left behind!"
"What?!"
"As expected of Hayul-nim! You knew the culprit hadn't truly been caught!"
"…"
"The higher-ups are in an uproar right now! W-what should we do?"
My gaze instantly snapped to her.
Her faint smile, with her red eyes revealed, felt as if she were mocking me.
She clearly couldn't be hearing what I was saying.
…And yet, that smile, as if everything had gone exactly according to plan, gnawed at me.
"Hold on. I'll be there shortly."
"Right, right!"
Ten minutes ago, Arte Isis had just begun our conversation here.
…Could it be?
"It seems something serious has happened. Perhaps you should go quickly?"
"…Yes, I should go quickly. Thanks for your understanding."
"Don't mention it."
No, first, I need to go back.
There was no point in continuing this clash of wits any further.