Chapter 92

Chapter 2 Assassins at the Sleepover! The capital’s main street is in an uproar. “Ch-check out the corpses!” “What happened?” “They say two nobles got murdered!” “Stay back!! We’re conducting an investigation!” There are two corpses strung up from the fountain in the middle of the street, and a crowd is gathering around them. “Are those playing cards lodged in their heads?” “I heard that a noble got murdered yesterday, too.” “Oh, I heard that, too. Apparently, it was Earl Shoddi Goodz who got killed. My friend Horako works for him as a maid.” “F-for real?!” “For real! And she saw the killer, too! She said he was dressed in a clown outfit!” “I dunno, that sounds like a load of crap…” “We said stay back! Go on, get out of here!!” The Knight Order forces back the swarming crowd. It’s an oddly large gathering for the main street that early in the morning, and a beautiful red-haired girl weaves her way through it. That girl is Christina. “Please step aside. I need to get through!” she urges. “Do I know you…?” “I’m Christina Hope, daughter of Duke Hope. I’m here to see the scene of the crime.” “Right, you’re from the Hope family. You can go on in.” A look of disdain crosses the knight’s face as he pushes back the crowd, but he lets Christina pass nonetheless. “What the…?” Upon seeing the fountain, Christina gasps. There’s a pair of men dangling from the fountain’s main column, and Christina recognizes those pallid figures. “That’s Earl Azukay and Baron Stergang…” Expressions of fear and shock are plastered across the dead men’s faces. “Heh.” Christina’s mouth curls into a smirk. Another two parasites exterminated. Then she hears a voice from behind her. “Three of the Thirteen Nightblades have been murdered in rapid succession. Hard to imagine that’s a coincidence.” Christina hides her sneer with her hand and turns around. There, she finds Gray, chief of the Knight Order’s criminal investigation department. “Chief Gray… What do you mean by that?” “I was just sharing my honest thoughts, Miss Christina.” Gray grins cheerily, but he has his gaze fixed on her like a hawk. “Three nobles just got murdered in a row, and what’s more, they all belonged to the same group. I find it difficult to write that off as random happenstance.” “Well, I don’t disagree there.” “I even hear there’s a noble house that was picking a fight with that group.” “You sound awfully well informed on the matter.” “It’s my job to be.” “Wow, I’m jealous of what a dedicated chief the Knight Order has. I’m sure you’ll round up that killer in no time.” “You’d better believe it. Now, I need to get back to work.” Gray turns to go, then stops in his tracks. “Was there something else?” Christina asks him. On hearing the question, Gray turns his pointed gaze back Christina’s way. “Just one more thing, Miss Christina. Did you get any good news recently?” “Huh?” “Oh, it just looked like you were smiling back there.” “…You must have been imagining things,” Christina replies, lowering her hand from her mouth. “Was I? I guess I must have been.” With that, Gray walks away for real. Christina lets out a foggy exhale, then looks at the two corpses again. “Hello there, Christina.” She turns upon hearing her name and sees a familiar face. “Princess Alexia…” “I just got back from Earl Azukay’s house.” “Why his house?” “This isn’t where the murders were committed. The killer snuck into a hidden room in the Azukay estate, killed the two men, and carried their bodies all the way out here. See how the Knight Order is checking out those tracks?” “You’re right…” Sure enough, the knights are down on all fours and following the set of red footprints leading away from the fountain. “Azukay’s estate is in the same condition as Goodz’s was,” Alexia says. “All the guards are either dead or hurt too bad to fight, and all the maids just got knocked out and are otherwise fine.” “That couldn’t have been easy to do.” “It couldn’t. We’re dealing with an expert here. They keep pulling off one incredibly difficult assassination after another. Earl Azukay and Baron Stergang were no fools. They were cautious enough to stay in a hidden chamber, and it didn’t do them any good.” Christina takes yet another look at the two bodies on the fountain. One of them has a playing card embedded in his throat; the other has one in the back of his head. As far as she can tell, those are their only injuries. “They each died of a single blow from a playing card,” she remarks. “It’s the exact same as last time.” “The earl’s maids say they saw a clown drenched in blood, too,” Alexia replies. “It has to be the same killer.” “What are they hoping to achieve? The playing cards, the clown outfit, bringing the bodies all the way to this fountain… None of it makes any sense.” “I don’t know. There aren’t many people who would have the skills to pull something like this off. I imagine they’re going to start investigating all the most powerful people in the capital.” “I hope that’s enough to find the culprit, but I wouldn’t put money on it…” “Anyhow, we should leave. We don’t want to be seen lingering here.” “That’s a good point. Oh, by the way, I had something I wanted to tell you—” Right as Christina tries to leave, she gets interrupted by a listless voice: “Oh, wow, gosh, that’s weird.” The speaker is an unassuming boy with dark hair and dark eyes—Cid Kagenou. “What are you doing here, Cid?” Christina asks. “I told you to wait for me at the villa!” It’s kind of alarming how fast Alexia responds. “What do you mean, ‘wait for me at the villa’?” “I, um…” Unsure of how best to answer the question, Christina finds herself tripping over her words. She was planning on filling Alexia in on the Jack the Ripper situation another time. “There have been some developments.” “Elaborate.” “Look, I was going to tell you everything, just later.” “Well, later had better come soon.” Christina nods, surprised at how oddly tense things have gotten all of a sudden. “Oh, wow, gosh, that’s weird.” Cid repeats himself, impatiently waiting for a reaction. “Why’d you come here, Cid?” Christina asks. “It’s dangerous. That’s why I told you to stay behind.” “Uhh, I was worried about you, so now I’m here,” Cid says as though reading from a script. Alexia smiles sweetly. “You two seem awfully close. When did that happen, I wonder?” “What’s so weird, Cid?” Christina asks. “The playing cards.” “I mean, you’re not wrong…” “Anyone with two eyes could tell you the playing cards are weird,” Alexia grumbles from off to the side. “Why are you always like this, Fido?” “If I remember correctly,” Cid continues, “the first victim was killed with an ace of spades.” “That’s right, he was.” “This time, it was a two and three of spades.” “So you’re saying the numbers are going up?” “Anyone with eyes could’ve told you that, too,” Alexia snaps. “It’s not just the numbers,” says Cid. “It’s that they’re all spades. The killer must have chosen spades for a reason.” “Sure, they’re all spades, but what meaning could that possibly have?” “Each suit represents different things. Hearts symbolize love, for example, whereas diamonds symbolize merchants and clubs symbolize knowledge.” “I never knew that. What about spades, then?” “Well, the first thing they symbolize is winter.” “Oh, wow, the killer is using spades because it’s winter right now,” Alexia says in exasperation. “Brilliant deduction there, Fido.” “But that’s not the only thing spades can mean. There’s others, too. Like night, and blades, and death.” “Night and blades?!” Christina cries. “And that, alongside death… It can’t be!” Alexia gasps. The two girls exchange a look. “A deck of cards has thirteen spades in it,” Cid says. “That’s exactly enough for thirteen people.” “So the killer is planning on taking down every member of the Thirteen Nightblades?!” “That can’t possibly be true…” If that’s the case, then this isn’t just a taunt aimed at the Nightblades. It’s an out-and-out declaration of war. “What is this guy thinking?” Alexia wonders aloud. “Only a complete lunatic would go out of his way to warn his victims like that.” Christina’s thoughts race. “But the fact of the matter is, he did kill three of his targets like the cards say. A regular old madman wouldn’t be able to do that.” “I don’t know what the killer might be thinking, either, but he did leave us one more massive clue.” Cid smiles knowingly. “What massive clue is that?” “Where even is it…?” Alexia and Christina survey the area. “Over there.” Gazing in the direction Cid’s pointing sends a stir through the onlookers. He’s observing the two corpses. The Knight Order is lowering them off the fountain, leaving its bloody central pillar exposed. “Don’t you think the blood on the pillar kinda looks like letters?” Cid says. “What?!” “No way!” Realization dawns on Alexia and Christina in unison. A bit later, the onlookers come to the same conclusion. “Hey, there’s something written there in the blood!” “What does it say? I can’t see too good from here. ‘Jack…something something’?” “It says ‘Jack the Ripper.’” Cid’s words have an ominous ring to them, and they spread through the crowd in a heartbeat. “Apparently, it says ‘Jack the Ripper’!” “Is that the killer’s name?!” “It’s gotta be! Jack the Ripper is the serial killer!!” “He’s killing aristocrats throughout the capital!! This is him calling them out!!” The crowd races through the streets, shouting all the while. Alexia grimaces. “By midday, everyone in the capital will know about what’s happened.” “The news was always going to get out eventually,” Cid says with a sigh. “Jack the Ripper…,” Christina mutters under her breath. “What’s up, Christina?” Alexia asks. “Did you figure something out?” Christina frowns. “No, it’s just…there’s something I need to tell you.” Alexia scowls at the copies of the incriminating documents. “So that’s what you meant. Jack the Ripper already made contact with you…” There are three people in the unused academy classroom: Alexia, Christina, and Cid. Christina’s expression is equally grave. “Using this evidence carefully could allow us to really corner the Despohts, but we can’t afford to act rashly, not when we don’t know what Jack the Ripper is hoping to achieve.” “We have no idea if he’s a friend or a foe,” Alexia agrees. “We know he wants us to use the evidence, but there’s no telling what he stands to get out of it.” “And we can’t tell anyone where we got the evidence from, either. That limits the ways we can use it.” “As far as that goes, I actually have an idea. Would you mind letting me hold on to those for a bit?” “They’re just copies, but you’re welcome to them. What are you thinking?” “I’m going to ask my father for advice.” “Oh, that would be a huge help.” Alexia smiles sadly as she stows the bloodstained documents in her bag. “I wouldn’t be so sure about that…” “Whatever do you mean?” “Oh, nothing. Now, the real question here…is why you and this thing were staying together.” Alexia grabs Cid by the collar and thrusts him in front of Christina. “Um, for his protection?” Christina says like it’s obvious. “He caught a glimpse of the documents, and I knew things could get ugly if the Despohts found out.” “It sounded like you were sleeping in the same room.” “Because it’s more efficient to only have to guard one location, yes.” “I mean, I guess you’re not wrong…” “Actually, that reminds me. Didn’t you pretend to be dating Cid that one time, Princess Alexia?” “Wh-what about it?” “Oh, I was just worried that you two might be dating for real. If you are, then I apologize for my thoughtlessness.” “W-we weren’t. We definitely, absolutely weren’t.” “Yeah, I’d rather die than date Alexia,” Cid chimes in. “You can just be quiet, Fido!” Alexia violently shakes Cid by the scruff of his neck. “I see,” Christina says. “Then I guess you weren’t dating after all.” “Of course not. If I went out with Fido, it’d be a black mark on the Midgar family name.” “Ah, then there’s no problem.” “Huh?” “If the two of you aren’t dating, then I don’t see any problem with the two of us sleeping in the same room.” “I…I’m just worried about you, Christina. He might try something sketchy.” “I won’t,” Cid says. “Worried? About me? I do appreciate the concern, but I assure you, there’s nothing to worry about. I’m a much stronger dark knight than Cid.” “You have a point, but Fido has these rare moments when his sword work gets incredibly refined. I know it’s unlikely, but you can never be too careful.” “You’re too kind, Princess Alexia. I had no idea you were so concerned for me. In that case, why not come join us yourself?” “Huh?” Alexia blinks in bewilderment. “If you came and stayed over as well, then surely nothing could possibly go wrong,” Christina suggests. “Please no,” Cid says. “I’m getting chills just thinking about having to sleep in the same room as Alexia.” “Shut up, you.” Alexia clamps her hand over Cid’s mouth. “That might not be a bad idea.” “Father will be thrilled.” “Mmrnf!” says Cid. “I’ll go ahead and shift my plans around.” “Sounds perfect. I’ll go ahead and make the preparations.” “Mmrf! Mrrrnf!!” “See you later, then.” With that, Alexia jogs away. “Oh, geez, how’d things end up with Alexia staying with us?” Cid moans, his expression that of a hero knowing he’s going to die in battle. “Isn’t it exciting?” says Christina. “I’m going back to my dorm.” “That’s not an option.” “Sorry, but I can’t see this through with you. I have some business I need to—” “WHAT EXACTLY IS THE MEANING OF THIS?!” Before Cid can finish his sentence, there’s a feminine scream from out in the hallway. “I know that voice!” says Christina. “Huh?” “That was Eliza just now. Something must have happened.” Christina and Cid head out to see what’s going on. Out in the hallway, Eliza and her lackey are kicking up a fuss. “How dare she. Does she think I’m just going to roll over and take this?” Eliza gives the onlookers a scathing glare, and they scatter like flies. Then her gaze lands on Christina. “Goodness gracious me, Christina. You have a lot of nerve, walking around here after what you did.” “What I did? What are you talking about, Eliza?” “I’m talking about this! You’re the only person who would ever have given this to me!” Eliza holds up a piece of paper with a message written in blood: “Thirteen fat little piggies. The first piggie died fleeing. The second died filled with pathetic contempt. The third died with a fool’s pride. How will the next one die? —Jack the Ripper” “Is that…a death threat? Where’d you find that?” Christina asks. “It was stuffed in my bag. You think you’re real funny, don’t you?” Eliza stares daggers at her. “I take it the ‘thirteen fat little piggies’ are supposed to be my family and our friends?” “Oh, I couldn’t possibly say.” “Playing dumb, are we? As if Jack the Ripper wasn’t the assassin you hired.” “He really isn’t.” “And now you go and pull this stunt. If you think I’m going to let you get away with this, you’re dead wrong.” “Like I said, it wasn’t me.” A sharp crack echoes through the hallway. Eliza just slapped Christina across the face. “Enjoy this confidence of yours while it lasts. You’ve managed to enrage my father, and you have no one to blame for what’s coming next but yourself.”