While Shirou was cleaning up the gruesome scene above, Hoshiguma carrying her shield arrived with her squad.
"You did this?"
Looking at the battered surroundings and the numerous slash marks, Hoshiguma naturally listed Chen as the primary suspect.
Mainly because whenever Chen used Chi Xiao, the scene tended to end up just as messy.
"It was Shirou. But there is no time to discuss that."
Facing Hoshiguma's question, Chen did not elaborate and instead began directing personnel to arrest all the suspects.
"Tsk tsk… this is really brutal."
Hearing that this was Shirou's doing, Hoshiguma could not help but comment.
Looking closely, it was indeed clear that these were not Chen's cuts. The marks were far too clean.
It was not that Chen's swordsmanship was inferior to Shirou's, but rather a difference in their methods of attack.
Of course, their weapons were different as well.
While Hoshiguma examined the scene, Chen had already begun directing others to clean it up.
Meanwhile, Shirou had also finished tidying up the rooftop to a less horrifying state.
"Y-you… you monster…"
Nearby, an Infected clutched his right hand, which had been pierced by Shirou's arrow, and spoke in a trembling voice.
"…Who told you to commit such acts? I understand the hardships faced by the Infected, but that does not justify attacking civilians or planning an assault on the Guard Department."
Hearing those words, Shirou paused briefly, then continued his actions. He dispersed the arrow still lodged in the man's hand into magical energy before bandaging the wound.
This avoided the secondary damage of pulling it out, though it made little difference. That hand would never function again for the rest of his life.
Shirou felt no regret.
From the moment these people chose to act, they should have accepted the consequences.
"A protector of the Infected… now working for Lungmen? Ah… just as that person said…"
The Infected's gaze became unfocused as he muttered to himself.
"…?"
Shirou was briefly puzzled, but quickly understood.
Considering that the man was Ursus, he was likely an Infected who had come from Ursus.
Still, something felt off to Shirou.
The man's condition seemed to be deteriorating rapidly, even though he had not been in such a bad state moments ago. Shirou had even treated him.
Why was this happening…?
No, wait!
Suddenly realizing something, Shirou began analyzing the man's body with magecraft.
But he did not even need the analysis to see the symptoms.
Rapid breathing, pale complexion, even foam at the mouth…
This was clearly the result of ingesting some kind of special drug. The feedback from his analysis confirmed it.
"Officer Chen! Check their mouths. They have drugs!"
Upon discovering this, Shirou immediately contacted Chen through the communicator. As for the man in front of him, he was beyond saving.
It had been noticed too late. If it had been caught earlier, there might have been a chance.
Watching the man stare at him with wide-open eyes, Shirou recalled what he had said earlier.
Who was "that person"? The one who provided Wei Yenwu with information about his projected Noble Phantasms?
From what Yith and the Emperor had revealed, it seemed someone had deliberately fed Wei Yenwu information linking him to the Deathless Black Snake.
Fortunately, that attempt to sow discord had failed. It only resulted in Wei Yenwu becoming somewhat suspicious of him, but the timely arrival of his boss prevented the situation from escalating into something worse.
"…For the survival of the Infected… you… traitor…"
Seemingly noticing the hesitation on Shirou's face, the Infected used his last bit of strength to speak.
"I am not the person you think I am. You—"
Seeing that the man still mistook him for someone else, Shirou sighed, wanting at least to let him die without regrets.
Unfortunately, before he could finish, the light in the man's eyes had already faded.
Shirou's words caught in his throat for a moment, before he continued:
"…you have the wrong person."
Looking into the man's wide-open eyes, Shirou finished what he had intended to say.
Because of the dense Originium crystals covering the body, Shirou did not touch the corpse casually.
He did not fear the crystals but after death, an Infected could become a new source of infection. If possible, it was safest to handle things with proper protection.
"Shirou, how is your side?"
After staring at the corpse for a while, Chen's voice brought Shirou back to his senses.
Shaking his head slightly, Shirou did not take his eyes off the body as he stepped back and picked up the communicator.
"Send someone up to handle this."
Shirou spoke into the communicator.
"Understood. We have stopped some of them from taking the drugs. Shirou, come down and get some proper rest."
Even though Shirou did not say it outright, Chen had already understood.
After his warning, she had ordered the Guard Department to force open their mouths and remove the drugs.
However, they were still too late for some of them. A few had already swallowed them, and since they had arrived in a hurry without medical personnel, there was little they could do.
Because the communicator had remained on, Chen had clearly heard everything on Shirou's side. That was why she firmly told him to come down and rest.
Watching someone die right in front of you was never easy, even if that person was a criminal.
When Chen experienced it for the first time, she had truly struggled with it. But she forced herself to get used to it.
"…Alright."
This time, Shirou did not refuse. With more specialized personnel present, his help was no longer needed.
Standing there, watching the busy Guard Department members, Shirou felt a brief sense of disorientation.
Everything had happened too quickly. Now that it was over, he felt tired.
The intense concentration and high-intensity combat in such a short time had left him exhausted.
As for the Infected's final words and actions, they had still affected him to some extent.
Aside from seeing how Reunion members struggled to survive on the snowy plains, this was the first time Shirou had witnessed an Infected fighting so desperately.
He had heard about it long ago, but seeing it with his own eyes made it clear just how harsh life for the Infected was on this land.
But that still did not justify venting their hatred on ordinary people.
Shirou separated these feelings clearly. He sympathized with their suffering, but still believed they should face the consequences of their actions.
He silently prayed that they might one day reach a world without Originium.
Standing atop the rooftop, Shirou gazed up at the dim sky, thinking this.
For Shirou, this incident was already over.
But for the Guard Department, this event was a sign, a warning that someone was preparing to extend their claws toward Lungmen.
Although they did not know exactly who, most of those aware had a likely suspect in mind.
Kashchey of Ursus, the Deathless Black Snake.
Even though that black serpent was said to be dead on the surface, Wei Yenwu believed it would not be so easily gone.
He had thought he was prepared, yet the serpent had still found a gap to exploit.
Moreover, the informants he had placed around Shirou had successfully captured several of the escapees, who were now being interrogated by the Black Raincoats to uncover the mastermind behind it all.
The information extracted through interrogation was mostly insignificant. These people were likely just advance pawns who were sent to probe and cause some trouble.
The only thing that could be confirmed was that they all harbored resentment toward Shirou.
Or rather, it was not truly Shirou they hated, but someone else who resembled him.
The Infected… no, humans in general were like this—creatures capable of such pettiness. They took the benefits given to them by others for granted, yet once those benefits were taken away, they began to resent the giver.
Shirou had simply been fortunate not to encounter such people. Most of those around him were willing to understand him or even help him.
As for the extraordinary combat ability Shirou displayed in that recent battle…
"Shirayuki, would you say his ability is something like… replication?"
Wei Yenwu, with nothing in his hands, looked at the white-haired woman dressed in black before him and asked.
"Yes."
Shirayuki, wearing a mask, nodded with a calm expression and even tone.
She had been assigned by Wei Yenwu to follow Shirou for some time now. From the moment Shirou left the Penguin Logistics dorm in the morning until he returned after work, she kept watch over him.
This was also under Wei Yenwu's instructions. After all, that was the Penguin's territory, and he did not intend to make things difficult for her.
Gathering intelligence outside was sufficient.
Every few days, Shirayuki would report Shirou's actions to Wei Yenwu.
Although she had been discovered within a few days. Shirou had even started placing tea and rice balls in a corner for her every day.
Out of a desire not to waste food, she reluctantly accepted them, and before Shirou returned from work, she would clean everything and place it back on his table.
Through this back-and-forth, her vigilance toward him gradually lessened.
He was simply the type of person who would step in to help whenever he saw someone in trouble.
A very straightforward good person.
And a very good cook.
"Set aside the ability for now, lest that Penguin come kick our doors in again. Tell me, what exactly was 'strange' about his behavior in that battle?"
After a brief glance at the report, Wei Yenwu showed little interest in Shirou's ability.
Shirou was not his subordinate. As long as he knew what Shirou was capable of, that was enough. The underlying principles were not something he needed to understand.
Only enemies required that level of scrutiny.
"First, the target remained exceptionally calm during combat. Even when faced with sudden attacks, he was able to defend effectively and counterattack. He also showed no reaction to blood or screams."
Hearing Wei Yenwu's question, Shirayuki reported everything truthfully.
At that time, Shirou had been extremely calm, swift, and highly skilled in his methods. Shirayuki estimated that if he had not been concerned about the civilians behind him, he could have eliminated all the enemies more efficiently.
Moreover, Shirou's mindset was unusually steady. Even she felt a slight discomfort witnessing such a scene, yet Shirou was able to clean up the bloody battlefield expressionlessly and continue conversing with others.
After that, she had not observed further, as she went to pursue the escaping Infected and handed him over to the Black Raincoats.
"…I see. You no longer need to gather information on him. Return to your previous duties."
After thinking for a moment, Wei Yenwu spoke.
Most of the reports had been similar anyway, Shirou helping others or worrying about them.
Combined with the evaluation given to him by a certain man with a dragon-headed cane, Wei Yenwu was now confident that Shirou did not harbor hostility toward Lungmen.
At least, not unless he himself made some extreme decision.
If Shirou's acting was truly good enough to deceive both the Rat King and the Emperor, then there would be nothing left to say.
Furthermore, Chen, Swire, and Hoshiguma all held Shirou in high regard.
At present, Wei Yenwu had no reason to push such a powerful individual to the opposing side.
Although Shirou belonged to that Penguin, if handled properly, he could still become a great asset to Lungmen.
This would also help fill the manpower gap when Chen eventually took over his position.
"Understood. Also, Lady Wei asked me to inform you that she has found and disposed of the tobacco you hid. She requests that you hand over your pipe as well."
Shirayuki made no comment on Wei Yenwu's orders.
She simply carried out whatever tasks were assigned to her.
This was also Lady Wen's intention. She seemed quite interested in the person who had been working with Officer Chen in the slums.
Lady Wen was the one Shirayuki had pledged her loyalty to and also Wei Yenwu's wife.
She usually did not interfere in political matters, but she did keep a firm hand over the Governor of Lungmen.
For example, regarding tobacco and alcohol.
Perhaps this was just a small dynamic between the two of them. As someone who often acted as the messenger between them, Shirayuki occasionally thought so.
"Tch… here."
Letting out a sharp breath, Wei Yenwu handed the pipe from his pocket to Shirayuki.
Although his eyes showed a trace of reluctance, he was inwardly calm.
That pipe was merely a decoy. His true favorite was safely hidden in a drawer.
"Excuse me."
After taking the pipe, Shirayuki made no further moves.
She knew there was another one in the drawer, and two more in the cabinet nearby.
But she had no intention of exposing it. As long as he did not overindulge and incur Lady Wen's displeasure, she would turn a blind eye.
This time, Lady Wen's action was merely a mild punishment for the hostility Wei Yenwu had shown toward Officer Chen earlier.
As for Lady Wen's interest in Shirou's Higashi-style cooking…
It was better not to mention that for now. Otherwise, Wei Yenwu might end up causing Shirou even more trouble.