Chapter 146

"Master, I found some clues that might help identify the Master of one of the unknown Servants. Can I...?"

Hearing this, the magnanimous Kayneth pondered for a moment, then generously agreed: As long as it means you won't be a third wheel here, just get lost! Such a good opportunity tonight with gifts and a candlelight dinner—get lost anywhere, just don't let me see you.

"Yes, Master!"

Lancer felt a bit of joy, thinking that his Master finally trusted him.

...

The clue Lancer mentioned was actually Shinji. Lancer had secretly followed Shinji and found out his room number. Sneaking into Shinji's room, he discovered a vast collection of case records and analyses from Japan over the past five years.

Based on the detective's mutterings and analyses, Lancer deduced that despite the varied methods, the same person was responsible for the murders, including those in Fuyuki.

When Lancer sneaked back into Shinji's room as a spirit, he found neither Shinji nor the wooden box there.

Feeling disappointed at not knowing when Shinji had left, Lancer prepared to leave, but then he saw Shinji sitting in the hotel lobby, frowning, scratching his head, and sketching on paper with a pencil.

The thick, yellowish paper showed numerous erasures and modifications to the sketch of the suspect's physique.

The physique had been refined countless times and was now confirmed by the detective, with notes indicating the suspect's height, weight, and other details.

Height around 175 cm, weight around 65 kg, male, about 22 years old, arrived in Fuyuki a week ago, a freelancer...

"Master, the serial killer, who is also the unknown Servant's Master, seems to have been identified. He arrived in this city a week ago..."

Lancer reported these details to Kayneth, who immediately exploded in anger.

"Do you want me to personally check every person in Fuyuki to find this Master?! Do you know how many people that includes?! Idiot! Don't bother me until you have a confirmed identity!"

Kayneth, holding a bottle of red wine and two glasses, prepared to enjoy a romantic moment with his fiancée, was infuriated by Lancer. This clue wasn't even a clue and yet Lancer bothered him with it, proving his Servant had a screw loose.

Likewise, after being scolded by his Master, Lancer decided to only report back once he had a confirmed identity for the unknown Servant's Master.

Refocusing on Shinji, Lancer could hear the young detective's frustrated murmurs.

"Ah... so close, just a bit more... clues, clues..."

Sensing the young detective's frustration, Lancer couldn't help but feel anxious for him.

Come on, young man! Keep going!

My trust from my Master depends on you!

"Ah, I can't do this anymore~"

Shinji suddenly gave up, leaning back in his chair and sighing, "Maybe I should just give up. I've been chasing this for so long with no results..."

Don't give up so easily, young man!

I've already bragged to my Master about this!

This is really embarrassing for me!

Lancer kept silently encouraging the detective, hoping he'd push through with his sharp mind.

"Maybe I should just go back home~"

Hearing this, Lancer panicked. You can't give up halfway! My Master's trust in me will hit rock bottom!

In moments of crisis, human potential is limitless, and the brain works at lightning speed.

At this moment, Lancer had a flash of inspiration! He suddenly remembered the set of modern clothes he received from his Master's fiancée tonight!

Young man, stay here and don't move!

In five minutes, Diarmuid Ua Duibhne will come to cheer you up!

...

Seeing Lancer in a grey-green casual suit, Shinji, though showing no emotion on his face, was inwardly delighted—he'd finally lured the bull out after playing dumb all day.

Two minutes later, engrossed in his documents, Shinji finally noticed the newcomer and politely asked, "Who are you..."

"No, sir, I was just passing by and saw you deep in thought, so I stopped out of curiosity." Lancer's attitude was very polite as he glanced at the scattered documents on the table. "If I'm not mistaken, you must be a detective?"

"Mm..." Shinji nodded slightly, then politely handed over his business card. "Miyafuji Shinji, a detective."

"Forgive my rudeness for not introducing myself first..." Lancer smiled and nodded slightly. "My name is Lancer..."

"Lanc... sir?"

Shinji seemed to realize something and exclaimed, "Oh, you're a police officer! Nice to meet you!"

The misunderstanding was perfect! Lancer silently praised his luck and didn't correct him.

Seeing Shinji's intense focus on the documents, Lancer spoke again, "The Fuyuki police seem to be troubled by recent cases."

Lancer didn't correct the misunderstanding, picking up some of the files and asking, "Why are you pursuing this killer, Mr. Miyafuji?"

"Isn't it obvious?" Shinji looked slightly surprised, then crossed his legs and snapped his fingers. "Because I'm a detective, pursuing truth and justice."

Seeing Shinji's righteous expression, Lancer genuinely smiled—he felt he'd made the right decision in getting to know this person.

"By the way, as the police, you must have other clues, right?" Shinji slyly smiled, leaning in to whisper, "I know there's a certain degree of confidentiality, but could you share a little?"

"No..." Lancer shook his head, smiling bitterly. "The police don't have any extra clues. But I'm curious, why do you connect these past cases with the ones happening in this city? They seem unrelated, don't they?"

"No, they only seem unrelated to the naked eye." Shinji shook his head, looking seriously at the cases spread on the table again. "From the time and method, they don't look like the work of the same person. But if you analyze deeply, it's possible they're done by the same person."

"Why do you say that, Mr. Miyafuji?"

Lancer frowned. The methods were too different, and the times varied. How could they be the work of one person?

"What if the person isn't fixated on the methods?"

...

For an hour, Lancer listened to Shinji's detailed reasoning and analysis. Even the killer's personality was deduced by Shinji.

Not fixated on methods or times, but rather an obsessive pursuit of a certain "perfection."

Lancer kept nodding, resting his chin on his hand. "...So, the serial killer's purpose is merely to understand the essence of death."

"Though it sounds unbelievable, and it's hard to believe such a person exists..."

"No, I believe it." Lancer interrupted Shinji. "Every era has its fanatical extremists. If there were such people in the past, there could be in this era too."

"But recently, the cases in Fuyuki have become bizarre. Though the methods are consistent with this guy's personality..."

Looking at a clipped newspaper image of a magic circle, Shinji was puzzled, and Lancer knew what he was thinking but couldn't reveal he recognized the circle.

"Maybe the person saw this magic circle somewhere and got inspired."

"Mm," Shinji nodded, holding his chin. "I think so too, but now the clues are cut off. After completing the magic circle in the last case, the person vanished..."

"Is that so..."

"So, the investigation is at a standstill..."

Before Shinji finished speaking, he noticed the news on a monitor in the hotel lobby—a child had been kidnapped in their sleep last night, currently missing.

Lancer also realized something, connecting Shinji's analysis about the suspect liking young women and children.

Without words, they understood each other's thoughts—this might be related!

Seeing Shinji quickly pack his documents into his wooden box and rush out, Lancer wanted to warn him about the danger, but Sola's voice came from the elevator.

"Lancer, I've been looking for you..."

"Miss Sola, where is Lord Kayneth?"

Lancer turned to ask, not showing any panic because of the presence of ordinary people.

Seeing Lancer in casual clothes made Sola happy, but she hid it, replying, "He fell asleep drunk."

Hearing this, Shinji was startled:

What the heck!

Did you get your fiancé drunk?

Amazing, sis! How did you come up with that?

"Sir Lancer, we'll chat later, goodbye!"

Leaving that, Shinji hurried out with his wooden box.

"Wait, Mr. Miyafuji, it could be dan..."

"What are you saying? I'm a detective! See you!"

Watching Shinji rush out, Lancer shook his head. Meanwhile, Sola asked, "Lancer, who was that..."