Novel Full Chapter 379: set up
Chapter 379: set up
"What... what is Night Owl?" MaryRuth stammered. Her face had turned deathly pale, and she rambled incoherently in a desperate attempt to suppress the terror rising inside her. "Why... why would they kill people?"
"It’s an assassin organization, a group made up of Divine Chosen and other superhuman individuals. They’re nothing but fanatics who target nobles. They could have lived peaceful, wonderful lives, yet they take pleasure in slaughter."
Sherry had not left the capital for quite some time, but she paid close attention to the Empire’s affairs.
"Reports of Night Owl killings have been coming in from all over the Empire lately. The organization has become increasingly active. We have to find a way to stop them."
"But... but why..."
"MaryRuth, I’m afraid I can’t go shopping with you today." Sherry apologized sincerely. "I have to investigate Night Owl. Otherwise, even more people will die."
"I’ll come with you!" MaryRuth hesitated for a moment before her expression gradually became resolute. "Every time I see how hard you work for everyone in the Empire, I wish I could help somehow."
"Very well. Just stay behind me."
Sherry smiled and nodded.
The group entered the estate.
The moment they stepped through the gate, they saw a corpse hacked cleanly into four pieces. Not far away lay two guards whose bodies had been shattered into mangled remains.
"What an incredibly fast blade. Even the armor of these heavily armored guards was sliced apart as though it were paper."
"This wound is different. It was probably caused by a warrior type Divine Chosen. The attack was incredibly powerful. Would it really take two Divine Chosen just to assault a merchant’s estate? That’s absurd."
The instant Sherry saw the bloody crime scene, she immediately slipped back into her role as a member of the Investigation Corps. She professionally examined every detail, constantly gesturing as she reconstructed the events that had taken place.
"Urgh..."
MaryRuth forced herself to look for only a couple of seconds before she could no longer endure the horrific sight. Nausea overwhelmed her, and she vomited.
"Don’t force yourself. Go outside and get some rest."
Sherry quickly supported her and smiled helplessly.
"You’re a noble young lady. This kind of dirty work isn’t meant for someone like you."
After escorting MaryRuth back to the carriage, Sherry continued deeper into the estate.
Meanwhile, members of the patrol unit brought over several witnesses.
"My lady, Miss Yaly’s household had just purchased a shipment of jewelry from our shop when Night Owl broke into the estate."
The silk dressed merchant was escorted forward by the patrolmen.
"I swear on my life it was Night Owl’s Divine Chosen. They must have been after the family’s wealth, or perhaps they intended something even worse."
"Jewelry?" Valtteri pondered for a moment. "As far as I know, Night Owl only kills those they consider guilty. I’ve never heard of them harming innocent people. Could there be some mistake? Perhaps they were just ordinary bandits."
Sherry considered the possibility before speaking.
"Record everything for now. And let me make one thing perfectly clear. Night Owl is nothing more than a criminal organization. They have no authority to judge anyone. No matter what crimes a person has committed, only the Empire’s impartial laws and Her Majesty the Empress have the right to pass judgment."
Valtteri scratched the back of his head awkwardly.
"Ah... right. My apologies."
It wasn’t long before Sherry discovered Yaly’s body.
Her beautiful face had become horribly twisted, frozen in an expression of overwhelming terror and despair.
Most strangely of all, both of Yaly’s hands were missing.
"The wounds are extremely unusual. Whoever did this tore off her hands while she was still alive."
After carefully examining the injuries, Sherry frowned in confusion.
"Why would Night Owl cut off a young woman’s hands? Were they planning to cook them into stew?"
"I’ve only ever heard that Night Owl steals from the rich to help the poor. I’ve never heard of them chopping off people’s hands or feet. That’s something only criminal gangs would do. Could someone be impersonating them to frame them?"
Valtteri cautiously found herself speaking in Night Owl’s defense.
She had grown up in poverty herself and had always held some admiration for the organization because of its reputation for robbing the rich to aid the poor.
"We know far too little about this organization."
Sherry shook her head.
"But one thing is beyond question. They are our enemies."
The nobility could forgive rivals, corruption, or even blood feuds.
But they would never forgive anyone who sought to overthrow them.
"My lady."
A member of the city security force hurried over to report.
"All of the money and valuables inside the estate are still here. Robbery doesn’t appear to have been the motive. We also found the enormous symbol left behind by Night Owl. They’re openly provoking us."
Sherry cursed through clenched teeth.
"I’m going to request an audience with Her Majesty immediately. This case must be investigated to the very end."
When Sherry arrived at the Royal Gardens, the Empress was leisurely enjoying afternoon tea in the palace garden.
More than a dozen breathtakingly beautiful maids stood nearby, pouring tea and attending to her every need.
The Chief Minister, a heavily built man dressed in extravagant jewels and luxurious clothing, remained bent over in an awkward half bow, doing everything he could to display his utmost respect.
"It seems everyone performed rather well in this campaign against the Shadow World Sect. They crushed the rebels much faster than expected."
The Empress flipped through the battle reports and lists of submitted achievements.
A soft laugh escaped her lips, blooming as beautifully as a night flower.
The Chief Minister stared in a daze.
He instinctively bent even lower, desperately trying to prevent the unruly bulge beneath his robes from embarrassing him in the Empress’s presence.
"I’ve already reviewed everything carefully and considered each person’s abilities."
The Empress took out a prepared scroll.
"These are the names of the newly appointed nobles, along with the territories they will receive."
In truth, she had received the military reports less than half an hour earlier.
Most of that time had been spent leisurely drinking tea.
The list had been prepared long before the reports ever arrived.
The Chief Minister respectfully accepted the scroll.
After reading only a few lines, he revealed an expression that said he had expected nothing less.
Most of the newly promoted nobles had been personally selected by the Empress herself or were members of her own family.
Another portion had paid enormous sums to secure favorable recommendations, usually powerful noble families seeking honorary achievements for their descendants.
Naturally, the Chief Minister’s own son was among them.
Although they had never even left the capital, the record showing they had slain two thousand enemies was already guaranteed.
Only a tiny handful had truly risen through genuine merit to become nobles or imperial officials.
There were very few such cases.
After all, the Empress still needed a few exemplary figures to inspire the Empire’s young people to devote themselves to her rule.
"Oh, by the way, the Ross family participated in this campaign? They’ve finally stopped pretending to be dead."
"The official report barely mentions them, but in reality they annihilated countless enemies and killed several Divine Chosen. It seems the Ross family still has some strength left."
The Empress casually flicked the battle report between her fingers.
"Their former Sixth Tier Divine Chosen was the Divine Chosen of Slaughter, and she was one of my elder sister’s most loyal supporters."
Fortunately, that Sixth Tier woman had died early.
Otherwise, whether the throne belonged to her today would have been far from certain.
There were only a handful of Sixth Tier Divine Chosen throughout the Empire.
Every single one of them possessed enough influence to alter the Empire’s future.
"So... does this mean they’re declaring their loyalty to Your Majesty?" the Chief Minister asked with a flattering smile. "Congratulations, Your Majesty. Even the nobility has been completely captivated by your unmatched charisma."
"Something like that."
The Empress reclined lazily against her chaise lounge, her long, flawless legs gleaming brilliantly beneath the afternoon light.
"They’re also trying to unite with the other noble families to pave the way for their descendants."
"Count Ross is smarter than I gave him credit for. He knows he doesn’t have much time left, so naturally he has no choice but to wag his tail and beg for my favor."