Tap, tap, tap…
As soon as Elisa stepped out of the house, her sharp ears caught the sound of rapid footsteps approaching. She immediately vaulted onto the rooftop, hiding in the shadows, nocking an arrow and aiming toward the source of the noise.
Two minutes later, six figures emerged from the darkness. Elisa instantly recognized the leader: Andrew, the patrol squad captain, followed by five other patrol officers. Her heart tightened, and she didn't dare move.
If she were exposed, the patrols would likely arrest her and throw her in prison. Right now, she couldn't afford to be locked up—she had to save her kin.
"…" Andrew scanned the area, gesturing to assign positions and sequence of actions.
"Move," Andrew barked, kicking the door open. He stumbled, nearly doing the splits, his face darkening as he took in the scene inside.
"Dead!" One of the patrol officers reported after checking. "Captain, they've only been dead a short while. The blood hasn't coagulated."
"Damn it, we're too late," Andrew growled. "Take men and pursue. The killer can't have gone far."
"Yes, sir." Several patrol officers rushed into the night.
"Who could've done this?" Andrew muttered, stroking his chin as he examined the wounds. The more he looked, the more something felt off.
The first man had been killed with a single, precise strike—a sign of a highly skilled killer. But the second had five wounds: both thighs, throat, chin, and mouth.
"Captain, could this be an interrogation?" One patrol officer whispered.
"Exactly. An interrogation," Andrew nodded decisively. He scanned the surroundings, then looked down at the footprints on the ground, his voice cold. "And the killer's a woman."
"Huh? Captain, how can you tell?" Another officer asked curiously.
"The footprints. They're small. Eighty percent chance they belong to a woman," Andrew said calmly, a trick he'd learned from the War Wolves.
"I see," The remaining two officers nodded thoughtfully.
"Could their deaths be tied to the rumors floating around today?" Andrew mused, thinking aloud. "Silencing them? But why interrogate them?"
"Captain, should we join the chase?" One officer asked.
"Let's go. The killer can't have gotten far," Andrew said coldly, his eyes glinting.
"Yes, sir," The officers responded.
Tap, tap, tap…
Andrew led two patrol officers away, pursuing in a different direction.
On the rooftop, Elisa remained motionless, her eyes fixed on the darkness. She stayed like that, silent, for over ten minutes.
Tap, tap, tap…
Andrew and his two officers reappeared from the shadows, scanning the area as if they knew someone was hiding nearby.
"Phew… looks like they're really gone," Andrew sighed, turning to his men. "Take the bodies."
"Yes, sir," The two officers replied.
A few minutes later, the three left with the two corpses, sealing the house. Andrew planned to report the incident to the city lord's castle.
Tap, tap, tap…
Five or six minutes later, Elisa finally descended from the rooftop. She cautiously scanned her surroundings before slipping into the darkness.
…
Half an hour later, a detailed report landed in the castle's study. Annie read Andrew's report, the handwriting barely legible.
"It seems Sedona City is indeed hiding an elf," Annie said, setting the file down and crossing her arms. "Otherwise, the moment elf rumors surfaced, two suspects wouldn't have been interrogated and killed. There's a seventy percent chance an elf did this, and they used a bow."
"Your Highness, should I step in?" Freya's eyes glinted with eagerness. The killer intrigued her—she used to kill like this, though her methods were bloodier.
"No need. They're likely heading to Moth City soon," Annie said, shaking her head as she stared at the letter, lost in thought. Who was this hidden elf?
"When the lord returns tomorrow, you can ask him," Helen said softly, setting down the last of her work. "Rest early, or you'll have dark circles tomorrow."
"Fine…" Annie nodded reluctantly, closing the file and stretching. She headed out, planning to soak in the hot springs.
She wanted to look her best to welcome the young master's return. Dark circles? Absolutely unacceptable.
…
On the other side, it took Elisa half an hour to sneak back to her room. The streets were under lockdown, with patrols swarming everywhere. She nearly got caught several times.
Once safely inside, Elisa sat at the dining table, staring blankly at the stove, lost in thought about the situation.
Over a hundred members in Moth City—a daunting challenge. Taking on a hundred people single-handedly was impossible. This was a dangerous mission, one that required cunning rather than brute force. The specifics would depend on what she found in Moth City.
"After tomorrow, I'll have to leave this place, won't I?" Elisa murmured, her gaze sweeping over the room.
If she succeeded in rescuing her kin in Moth City, her identity would likely be exposed, and she could no longer stay in Sedona City. If she failed, she'd either be captured as a slave or choose death—perhaps death would be better.
"Catherine, Dahlia, you were right after all," Elisa whispered bitterly, a wry smile on her face. "Looks like a peaceful life is impossible."
Shaking her head, Elisa pulled out a few sheets of paper from a cabinet and began writing. She needed to leave a letter for Miss Nicole, explaining the situation with the pizza shop and thanking her for her care.
Another letter for Ayesha, one of her friends who had looked after her a lot lately, thanks to her "horned girl" kindness.
One for the city lord, too, to thank him for creating Sedona City, a place where she'd enjoyed a few months of happiness, and for his willingness to shelter elves, even though she'd never revealed her identity.
And for Catherine and Dahlia, a letter each, expressing her regrets and more.
By around one in the morning, Elisa finished writing all the letters, her eyes red and brimming, though she fought back the urge to cry.
"Phew… done," Elisa exhaled softly. Climbing into bed, she muttered to herself, "Elisa, you're pathetic. It's not like you're guaranteed to fail, yet here you are, writing like it's your last will."
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