My Seatmate is a Master (8) - Saving the Villain Once

[Milady, we're here.]

Shira slowly opened her eyes, feeling a little dizzy from the teleportation. She held the clothes on her chest tightly. She thought, 'I am usually never afraid of rides. How come my heart is hurting? Is it because this body hasn't experienced this activity before?'

[Milady, are you okay?]

"Yeah. Turn on the light."

With the assistance of Lemolemo's teleportation, Shira found herself in the victim's bedroom. The room was clean and well-organized, contrasting the chaotic events that had transpired at the school.

'It seems too clean...'

"Lemolemo, don't you think this place is odd? Can you scan for any recording devices like a camera or a voice recorder?"

[I found no recorders or hidden cameras, Milady.]

Seraphyne adjusted her black veil and made sure nothing leaked, like her hair. She thought, 'If it's not for safety reasons, I would never like to dress up looking like an assassin in ancient times. My dress feels suffocating and very hot at the same time!'

Shira carefully examined the room, taking note of its oddness. Every item had its place, and the atmosphere in the house was too cold and quiet. It was as though the room held the secrets of the dead student waiting to be opened.

While scanning the room, Shira's sharp eyes landed on a letter resting on the table. Her curiosity piqued, she put on disposable gloves to avoid contaminating any potential evidence. She carefully picked up the letter and observed it closely, making a mental note to capture a photograph of it.

Lemolemo, who had accompanied Shira to the victim's bedroom, communicated with her telepathically, ensuring their stealth in this late-afternoon investigation. [Be cautious, Milady, and take your time. Gather any evidence you can find. I'll watch vigil for potential intruders and alert you.]

Shira nodded, her focus undeterred as she continued to take pictures of the room's arrangement. "I will, Lemolemo. Every detail counts in seeking the truth. But with the room's intentional arrangement, collecting any may be hard."

It was not till half an hour later that she finished rummaging through the victim's things and putting them back to their original form with Lemolemo's help. As she completed her documentation of the room's contents, Shira's thoughts raced with the possibilities and questions that the letter might hold.

Shira carefully unfolded the letter she had found in the victim's pristine room. Her eyes scanned the cryptic message, and her heart sank as she read the chilling words:

"You got me, but her body is already cold. I have more surprises for you."

The sinister message sent a shiver down her spine. It was clear that the murderer intended for someone to find him and stop the unfolding chain of events. Shira, however, had every intention of being the one to decipher the message and unveil the truth.

'The murderer might have known the victim well. And he might be looking out for the movement of the law enforcement team. But time is running out for them.'

As her mind raced to decipher the meaning of the message, Shira devised a plan. She couldn't ignore the urgency and the looming threat, but she knew she needed more information.

She turned to Lemolemo, sharing her thoughts. "Lemolemo, search for similar cases of death in other schools. Look for patterns or connections that could help us understand the message's intent and prevent further harm. The murderer might have other victims. We need to find them before he victimizes someone else!"

Lemolemo diligently obeyed Shira's instructions, delving into the task as quickly as possible. As he scoured the databases, he soon discovered several cases from different schools with similar mysterious deaths. And the dates all coincide, ending with 2. 

[Milady, there are indeed similar cases in various schools. The deaths all seem to share the same suicidal death characteristics. And every date ends with 2, so in a month, the murderer will kill thrice in 2, 12, and 22.]

Shira felt a sense of haste but also fear. She knew that the investigation was only beginning and that she needed to act swiftly to protect those at risk and uncover the identity of the evil force behind these tragedies.

"Is it possible for him to have other accomplices?"

[We cannot guess, Milady. The places where these deaths were committed seemed too far apart.]

"Let's leave this place."

Armed with information about similar cases, Shira knew she had to return to the school to gather more details about the victim and the affairs leading up to her tragic end. With Lemolemo's teleportation ability, she instantly found herself back on the school campus.

Shira meticulously combed through various sources of information, collecting details about the victim's life. She sought to understand her circle of friends, her likes and dislikes, and her basic identification information that she hadn't been able to find in her home.

By connecting the things they collected, Shira was able to conclude that the victim would always see her anonymous boyfriend every day. Yet, despite her thorough investigation, Shira could not uncover the identity of the victim's mysterious boyfriend. The last person the student had seen before her death remained a puzzle, shrouded in darkness.

As Shira and Lemolemo delved deeper into their search, their telepathic conversations grew more frequent.

[We're making progress, Milady. We know more about the victim's life now.]

Shira nodded, her perseverance inexhaustible. "But there are still crucial pieces missing, especially the identity of her boyfriend and the last person she saw."

[It won't be easy, Milady, but we'll keep searching.]

"Should we look for her family too?"

[But Milady, the victim's parents, are living abroad. It was only her alone who stayed here to continue her studies.]

"Can you also do a background check on those murder cases from different schools?"

[I can, Milady. But it will take a lot of time.]

"It doesn't matter as long as our investigation moves forward."

As Shira and Lemolemo delved into their investigation, an unexpected situation pierced through their telepathic conversations. Lemolemo's voice sounded alarmed.

[Milady, the Villain is in danger! He's gone outside looking for you.]

Shira's heart raced. "What's happening, Lemolemo?" She checked the time on her watch. "Damn it! We've been out for too long."

Lemolemo shared the ominous details. [Kiba encountered a drunk man with a knife outside the house. It's a dangerous situation.]

Shira didn't waste a moment. She summoned Lemolemo and teleported back to her mother's house.

Shira was met with a tense and alarming scene as she materialized outside. Kiba stood his ground, facing a belligerent, intoxicated man who brandished a menacing knife.

"Lemolemo, don't forget to record a video of this man! And look for his face in the news or police station records! See if this face is a repeat offender."

[Okay, Milady. Please take care!]

Shira's voice was filled with urgency and concern as she called out to Kiba, "Kiba, stay back!"

Kiba's eyes widened as he saw Shira appear behind him, but his instinct to protect her did not falter. "Shira, get away from here! This man is dangerous."

The drunk man, fueled by anger and alcohol, slurred his words menacingly. "This girl came out of nowhere. I'm gonna teach her a lesson. She looks pretty. Too bad she needs a lesson never to interrupt people doing business!"

Shira locked eyes with Kiba, conveying a silent message. She could see that he was willing to protect her, but they needed to defuse the situation together. She spoke to Kiba, her voice determined and reassuring. "Kiba, let me handle this. Step back slowly and call the authorities."

"You..."

"I can fight him better than you!"

Kiba hesitated for a moment but ultimately complied, taking a step back to dial for help.

Shira, her focus unwavering, addressed the drunk man with a firm tone. "Listen to me. We don't want any trouble. Put the knife down."

"Heh! Why would I listen to a little girl!" 

"You gave me no choice..." Shira entered a close combat situation with the drunk man, her training evident in every calculated move she made. She skillfully disarmed him and pinned him into a deadlock, ensuring he couldn't pose any further threat.

In a swift and surprising maneuver, Shira conjured a pair of handcuffs into her hands, ready to apprehend the man. She managed to secure the handcuffs around his wrists, effectively restraining him. As Shira finished restraining the unknown drunkard, the wailing sirens of police cars grew louder, and a team of officers arrived at the scene, ready to handle the situation.

Still in shock at witnessing Shira's extraordinary combat skills, Kiba could only stare in amazement. He couldn't believe his eyes, watching Shira successfully subdue a grown man who had posed a clear danger just moments ago.

Kiba's voice was filled with astonishment as he spoke to Shira. "Shira, how did you...? I mean, I had no idea you could handle a situation like this."

Shira gave Kiba a reassuring smile, understanding the shock he was experiencing. "I've had some training, Kiba. It's important to stay prepared. But we'll talk about it later. Right now, let's focus on getting to the bottom of this man's sudden appearance here and ensuring our safety."