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墨書 Inktalez
In the Northern region, there was another advantage: the houses of the residents were built high on cliffs, allowing them to gaze far into the desert. After three murders, the messenger and Sadin were on duty on the fifteenth day. That night, another attack occurred, but no Force Creature was found near the residential area, indicating that the murderer was likely one of the residents. Because of this, Sadin invoked the authority of the Grand Elder and requested that the four Elders investigate the case together.
Cui Ming asked, "An invisible assassin?"
Sadin replied, "Generally speaking, practitioners or creatures with invisibility abilities are usually not very large. The largest creature I have seen with such an ability weighed only thirty kilograms more than me. Now, let’s assume there is a two-hundred-kilogram invisible assassin, which is equivalent to three times my weight. The lightest of the victims weighed forty kilograms; if we exclude the legs, that leaves thirty kilograms—equivalent to me needing to consume ten kilograms of flesh and bone."
Cui Ming inquired, "No bodies were found?"
"None," Sadin said. "Moreover, we have verified that the blood left behind corresponds to that of a severed leg. Among the five attacked individuals were several skilled fighters, yet there was no resistance."
"Can a leg prove it belonged to a missing person?"
"It can."
What kind of situation is this? Sadin was correct; based on current records, there has not been an invisible practitioner or Force Creature weighing over one hundred kilograms. Even if there were, based on food calculations, their weight would have to exceed four hundred kilograms. That would be a colossal being, one that would shake the ground as it walked. Unless they quietly transported the body away after killing someone, but with such skill and plenty of food around, would they need to do that? Nevertheless, Cui Ming still offered his perspective.
Sadin took some charcoal and drew a square on the ground. "This is the Meditation Spot of the fourth missing person. The area surrounding this Stone House is arranged with a Spell Magic Circle; one leg was left behind, yet the magic circle was not triggered." A Meditation Spot is another term for a retreat; generally, there are several situations requiring deep focus: one is severe injury requiring days of quiet healing; another is when inspiration leads to breakthroughs at varying lengths of time. There’s also a type often practiced by madmen in Silent City—researching spells, incantations, magic circles, and so forth. These madmen are not foolish; on the contrary, their knowledge of magic is terrifyingly vast. They are called mad because their behavior lacks any predictability.
There are quite a few Meditation Spots in Silent City. For safety reasons, messengers pay close attention to whether the Spell Magic Circle at these spots has been activated; if it has been triggered, it indicates someone has intruded and disrupted it. However, in this murder case, there was none—people simply vanished.
Sadin said, "I cannot tell them that only Northern residents have been attacked; otherwise, they will all move south. Not only will there be disputes over housing choices then, but the southern people will also be unwelcoming to so many Northern newcomers suddenly appearing. Coordinating resources would also be a massive undertaking. Therefore, I hope to find the murderer and put this matter to rest."
Cui Ming asked, "If it were an acquaintance entering a Meditation Spot, would it activate the magic circle?"
"No," Sadin replied. "The person inside can deactivate the magic circle to allow entry." He continued, "What you suggested crossed my mind as well; however, this time the individual at the Meditation Spot was a solitary person without friends."
"There are only two days left until the fifteenth deadline?"
"Yes."
"If you don’t mind, I could act as a messenger and follow you; perhaps I might discover something."
Sadin smiled, "Every resident is bound by rules, and there are places we cannot go. The messengers are not constrained, as their lives and deaths are controlled by the four elders. Cui Ming, are you here to scout Silent City for the Alliance?"
"What if I am? Only a fool would be interested in Silent City. Given that you experience earthquakes three times every ten years, it's only a matter of time before destruction comes. The Alliance is just looking for trouble. And if they want to attack Silent City, they must... Sadin, you're overthinking this."
Sadin found this reasoning quite valid and took out an amulet from his chest pocket. "Alright, this is only for you. You must not leave my side by more than twenty meters."
"Of course." Cui Ming accepted the amulet, which was a chain with a cloud-shaped pendant.
"Tie it around your left wrist."
Cui Ming complied and said, "I know the Prophet and have some grievances with Toad. If I encounter..."
"Toad and the Sword Demon have no interest in this matter. The Prophet is busy training his pet Giant Bug, including participating in the Alliance Competition; he needs to understand Giant Bug thoroughly. I was puzzled by his emphasis on it until I realized it was meant as a sacrifice; the main summoner of the magic circle must be familiar with it." Sadin said, "Don't worry; I am the Grand Elder in Silent City. No one would dare to attack you."
Cui Ming asked with a smile, "Aren't you worried that the three of them might join forces to kill you and take over Silent City?"
"They have no ambition to dominate the world. Besides..." Sadin smiled mysteriously, "Don't think that Silent City truly lacks a city lord."
...
They agreed that tomorrow around nine in the morning, Cui Ming would head directly to the Northern Supply Station to meet Sadin. Cui Ming knew this was Sadin's little trick. If he had ulterior motives and obtained the identity of a messenger, then he would take action today. Sadin would rather sacrifice some now than risk being betrayed by Cui Ming later. Taking some small risks could prove authenticity; Sadin believed it was worth it.
Cui Ming also speculated that there were some conflicts between Sadin and the Prophet. It seemed that Sadin had a decent relationship with the Prophet, but due to issues regarding the Mage and differing stances, there had been some disputes. According to Miss Fortune's intel, Sadin was different from the Prophet; he was purely from Silent City and had almost no record of appearing in the Three Continents.
Miss Fortune and Cui Ming studied together. As they approached the fire pit with water in hand, her legs weakened, and she quickly steadied herself, placing the water on the fire. Seeing Cui Ming's concerned gaze on her, she cursed under her breath, "That damn thing can't even fill me up." She had overestimated herself.
"Shut up," Miss Fortune said before continuing, "Cui Ming, you're putting all your bets on Sadin now. You have an escape plan; I think the danger is minimal. Since you've become a messenger... how about taking care of some matters while you're at it?"
Cui Ming certainly knew what she meant; Silent City was difficult to enter. The Alliance wasn't looking for madmen but rather how many fugitives were hiding within Silent City. Unlike madmen or natives, fugitives could leave Silent City at any time; they were only there out of necessity.
"I'm not Ding Ze with an eidetic memory," Cui Ming replied, "but I'll try to remember as much as I can."
The discussion about the Murderer continued as Feng leaned against a large tree, sipping tea. Suddenly, he added, "If that's the case, then the Murderer can only come from above or below. If he comes from above and the roof is intact, then he must come from below. Cui Ming, have you forgotten about Toad's Earth Escape Technique?"
"I haven't forgotten, but it can't be him because Toad's Earth Escape Technique has a long distance; it can only be used once a month. Moreover, he swallows people but doesn't eat them. That leg was bitten off," Cui Ming pondered for a moment. "However, you make a good point, Feng. It seems that Earth Escape Technique is the only explanation. Only ninjas from Eternal Sphere can use Earth Escape Technique, but not only is the distance short, it would also cause damage to the ground and leave traces. Toad wouldn’t damage the ground; it's like opening two doors—one to enter and one to exit—without affecting the surface."
Miss Fortune interjected, "But Toad is special; he is not a resident of Eternal Sphere. He is also an Otherworldly Creature, having defeated all competitors in the Elder Selection Competition to become an Elder himself, adapting to life in Eternal Sphere. In other words, could the Murderer be a creature from another world that possesses a similar Earth Escape Technique as Toad?"
Cui Ming nodded. "That's quite possible. It's even more likely that this creature was summoned by Toad. But what can we do to break the Earth Escape Technique?"
Miss Fortune, knowledgeable as ever, replied, "Ninjas have their own version of Earth Escape Technique, known as Earth Release in the Five Elemental Ninjutsu. However, it differs greatly from Toad's technique; while Toad can reach five hundred kilometers instantly, Ninjutsu's Earth Escape Technique requires time to tunnel underground, making it easier to detect."
"But for Toad's Earth Escape Technique, which covers five hundred kilometers, it must involve a Wraith as a catalyst... If we assume that the Murderer and Toad are from the same planet and that he needs to use the Earth Escape Technique to reach a specific location, wouldn't he need to manipulate either the location or the people?" Cui Ming suggested.
Miss Fortune agreed. "Exactly! But it wouldn't be obvious on the surface. I think manipulating people would be more difficult; it should involve setting up traps at certain locations, like surveillance. Once he senses prey entering his trap, he can instantly burrow underground and devour them. The victims wouldn’t have had a chance to resist; let’s simulate this..."
Cui Ming and Miss Fortune began their simulation while Feng closed his eyes to rest. He had been exhausted these past few days and wanted to enjoy some peace. He recalled the story Spider had told him—why did he have to kill those people? The reason was simple: after their encounters with Spider, they would all tell him not to mention their past interactions with anyone else. Every time they said that phrase, Spider felt an unnamed fury rising within him. So… what happened next wasn’t important; Feng knew Spider was lying but chose not to confront him. On the morning when Sadin appeared, he sensed something had changed in Spider; he began talking to himself and caressing his own body—not in a loving way but as if he were touching food—which made Feng feel uneasy. Fortunately, everything seemed to be progressing normally...
"Traps." They reached a conclusion in their simulation: "Leopard Woman's traps and Evelyn's snares operate on the same principle. Setting up at specific locations means that once someone enters the trap, they might experience some form of control like paralysis or unconsciousness. The Murderer could then utilize the trap's position to instantly arrive and consume his prey."
"I don't quite agree with your ideas about paralysis and such," said Miss Fortune. "There are many extraordinary individuals here..."
Cui Ming thought for a moment. "While there are indeed many extraordinary individuals, they still belong to the Magic System. Once someone gets close in a confined space, there's almost no escape left for them. I'll ask Sadin tomorrow if all victims were killed in relatively enclosed spaces." In other words, it didn’t mean that the victims didn’t resist; rather, their resistance was limited and completely suppressed by their assailant. (To be continued.)
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