It had been quite a profitable harvest. Like a farmer gazing upon a wagon filled with wheat, Leo contentedly covered Koliver's corpse with the two manhole covers.
He even carefully found several stones and wooden blocks, arranging them around the two uncovered manholes so that no one would accidentally fall into them on this dark and windy night. As a fine young man of Blackport City, Leo possessed civic responsibility, and he was proud of it.
Before long, the men from the two neighboring households finally returned from the festivities in the city center and began looking for ways to control the fire.
Of course, by “controlling the fire,” they merely meant preventing it from spreading to their own homes.
After a great deal of work, everyone joined Mr. Landord's family and watched his house slowly burn to the ground.
This truly was a sorrowful night...
Before long, a small group approached at a brisk pace.
The sound of their footsteps included the unmistakable thud of many pairs of standard-issue leather boots. They were clearly members of the Unicorn Legion.
Sure enough, Brad Baker was the first to shout:
“Oh! Leo! Thank heavens you're still alive!”
Leo turned and saw a group hurrying toward him under the leadership of Major Willy Belloc.
Behind him were soldiers from the Legion, Church Knights, and even several of Leo's classmates from the Military Academy.
Major Willy said with a grave expression:
“Leo! Brad said that the two of you witnessed Oliver Enwey murder Bishop Notte Bonet. I am formally asking you, is that true?”
The Church Knights beside him all wore dark expressions, unwilling to accept that this could be true.
After the incident, Leo had sent Brad to inform Major Willy. Given Brad's booming voice, there had been an excellent chance that the matter would become widely known.
Once the incident became public, the Church would be unable to employ certain methods of silencing Leo that would have been extremely dangerous to him.
Leo replied seriously:
“Yes, Major Willy. We both witnessed it with our own eyes! Acolyte Koliver Enwey's weapon is still inside the church. It is a strange tubular weapon that can spit fire!”
Several Church Knights began whispering among themselves, but Major Willy sternly suppressed their objections.
“Good! As your instructor, I believe your testimony! You are outstanding Cadet Officers of Cavendish Military Academy!”
Major Willy glanced at the Church Knights and firmly established the official conclusion of the matter. Once they reluctantly accepted the result, Major Willy continued:
“Now! Our first priority is to find the wicked murderer and vile blasphemer, Koliver Enwey!”
Major Willy grew increasingly impassioned as he spoke. Just as everyone prepared to continue the operation, they saw Leo raise his hand.
Leo said softly:
“Forgive me for interrupting for just a moment... Major Willy, would finding the deceased Koliver Enwey count?”
Major Willy looked puzzled.
“The deceased?”
Leo pointed toward the two manhole covers. Beneath them, the outline of a person could clearly be seen lying on the ground.
Major Willy quickly stepped forward and lifted the upper manhole cover. He examined what lay beneath for a moment: a black robe, a head resembling a shriveled leather bag, and a puddle of red and white matter.
Major Willy lowered the manhole cover and asked uncertainly:
“Is this Koliver Enwey?”
Leo coughed. This had been his first time using a D-grade Cipher spell at full strength, and he had failed to control his power properly. He had smashed Koliver so badly that he no longer looked human.
Leo said:
“I am certain it is him, Major Willy.”
One of the Church Knights also lifted the manhole cover and examined the corpse carefully before lowering it again.
“It might be him... We need to bring the body back and see whether anyone can identify any distinctive features on Koliver's body.”
Unfortunately, Bishop Notte Bonet, the man most familiar with Koliver's body, was already dead...
One of Leo's classmates stepped forward. Her long chestnut hair was tied behind her head.
“Major Willy, I have met Koliver Enwey before. I request permission to identify his corpse.”
Thinking of the head resembling a shriveled leather bag and all the red and white matter, Leo said:
“Miss Catherine, I suggest abandoning that idea. The sight beneath the manhole cover is unsuitable for a noble lady of your standing.”
Catherine looked at Leo and replied firmly:
“Mr. Leo, please do not compare me to the noble ladies found in poetry. That would be an insult to my many years of knightly training.”
Leo was momentarily speechless. Her eternally courteous manner, the counterattack hidden within her words, and the faint distance she maintained from everyone around her all revealed Catherine's pride.
Catherine Cavendish was Count Leopold Cavendish's second-in-line heir and the younger sister of Major General Stuart, Dean of the Military Academy.
Yes, the Military Academy also recruited female officers. Awakening as a mage made no distinction between men and women.
Major Willy wanted to refuse Miss Catherine, but he knew doing so would certainly anger her.
At that moment, Brad Baker volunteered, resolving the awkward situation.
“Major, I have also met Koliver Enwey. Let me identify him first!”
Brad hurried over and lifted the manhole cover.
He froze.
A black robe, a head resembling a shriveled leather bag, and a puddle of red and white matter...
Then Leo heard a long, drawn-out sound.
“Yue...”
Fortunately, Major Willy was highly experienced. At precisely the right moment, he kicked Brad Baker away, preventing Brad's vomit from contaminating the puddle of red and white matter.
Brad's vomit traced a beautiful rainbow through the air before scattering elsewhere.
It truly was a rainbow. Brad had apparently eaten quite a varied dinner.
Major Willy was extremely satisfied with his decision to kick him. He then looked at Leo and asked:
“Leo, how did Koliver Enwey die?”
Leo thought for only a brief moment before replying:
“Reporting to the Major, I killed him!”
Everyone immediately stared at Leo in astonishment.
Even Catherine's eyes revealed surprise.
Leo greatly enjoyed everyone's amazement. He quickly walked over to Major Willy Belloc and said:
“Reporting to the Major! There is actually something I have never mentioned.
“My roommate, Kozmo Enwey, discovered that his older brother, Koliver Enwey, had become a Fallen Mage.
“Kozmo found it difficult to choose between his brother and justice. That was why he was always listless and never took his training seriously.
“Before Kozmo died, he designated me as his Final Entrustee.
“Kozmo's dying request was for me to continue watching Koliver Enwey on his behalf.
“Therefore, when the fires began, I immediately found a way to follow Koliver. Brad and I then witnessed Koliver's crime of murdering Bishop Bonet.
“Later, I discovered Koliver Enwey's accomplices. They were setting fires throughout the northern part of the city.”
When she heard that Koliver had been committing arson, Catherine Cavendish said angrily:
“Arson? How dare they deliberately set fires in Blackport City!
“Mr. Leo East, since you already knew that Koliver Enwey was a Fallen Mage, why did you not report it?”
Leo looked awkwardly toward Major Willy. That morning, he had indirectly warned Major Willy that there was a Fallen Mage within the Church of Radiant Prayer.
Major Willy coughed awkwardly to conceal his guilty conscience.
“Miss Catherine, no one could have casually made such an accusation, even if they suspected that Koliver Enwey might be a Fallen Mage.
“It would have been the gravest possible slander and accusation against the Church of Radiant Prayer.
“Without Bishop Bonet's death, who could possibly have imagined that an Acolyte was actually one of the Disciples of Desire?”
The previously silent Church Knights repeatedly traced the sign of the gallows across their chests, further supporting Major Willy's words.
Catherine Cavendish looked at the fires surrounding them. Whether it was the firelight, her anger, or both, her face had turned red with fury.
Major Willy gestured for Leo to continue.
Leo continued:
“They appeared to have arranged their route beforehand. I did not follow Koliver's other accomplices. I continued following Koliver himself.
“After they separated, Koliver happened to come and set fire to my home, the apartment building I rented from Mr. Landord.
“I admit that seeing my home burning made me extremely angry.
“I had no weapon, so I picked up two manhole covers from the ground.
“During the fight, I failed to control my strength and ended up beating Koliver into his current condition.”
At that moment, a Church Knight said:
“Squad Leader, I found Koliver's personal effects.”
The knight handed a copy of the Passion Scriptures to the Church Knights' Squad Leader.
The Squad Leader accepted the scripture and quickly flipped through several pages.
“This is indeed Koliver's scripture. His handwriting is inside. There can be no mistake.”
At that point, the entire chain of evidence was complete. Major Willy and the Church Knights could now give the important figures above them a satisfactory report.
Major Willy added:
“Leo, you have done well. Koliver deserved his death.
“Right, I forgot to tell you something. Leo, we have now formed an investigation team under Count Leopold's orders to investigate the cause of Bishop Notte Bonet's death.
“The Bishop of the Church of Radiant Prayer in Blackport City was murdered, and inside a church at that. Such a heinous incident has not occurred in many years.
“Official business is now concluded. Leo East, as your instructor and as a fellow mage, I would like to ask you a personal question...”
Everyone looked at Major Willy, wondering what kind of personal question could justify taking up their valuable time.
Major Willy asked:
“Have you completed Kozmo's Final Entrustment ritual?”
Leo did not answer.
Instead, he took out a copper penny.
The copper penny rested quietly in Leo's palm. Then, without Leo moving his hand, the coin suddenly leapt into the air.
In the darkness, the copper penny seemed to disappear into the night sky. Only the faint whistle unique to a metal coin cutting through the air could be heard.
Before long, the copper penny landed steadily back in Leo's palm.
Major Willy nodded.
“I want to congratulate you, but I also envy you.
“You completed Kozmo's Final Entrustment ritual. Not only have you become a D-grade Cipher Mage, but you have also become an E-grade Haste Mage.”
Even someone as proud as Catherine Cavendish had disbelief shining in her eyes.
On this night, disaster belonged to Blackport City, but fortune belonged to Leo East...
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