Ch.366366 – Investigation of the Truth

# 366 – Investigation of the Truth

A mask is convenient.

Because it allows you to hide your expressions.

It prevents others from reading your mind through small muscle movements or stealing your attack timing.

A tool advantageous for both offense and defense.

To Zhang, masks were such entities.

‘It’s been quite a while. Wearing a mask again in front of people around Oknodie.’

From the moment she received Giselle’s call, she felt an inexplicable sensation.

Like the calm before a storm or a picture frame falling on an unlucky day, the branch she usually climbed on her way to school snapped with a crack.

‘I didn’t expect Giselle would be the one I needed to be wary of.’

Giselle was a good person.

She saved students from Senior Valocassio’s exploitative contracts and purchased many items at much more generous prices.

She didn’t monopolize ingredients to exploit others, and she helped first-years navigate academy life by announcing changes to lecture times or locations that imperial professors and instructors failed to communicate.

Her support within the grade was at the highest level!

If Ishtar was the strongest in their year, Massgakki the most powerful, and Oknodie the top student, even imperial students would point to Giselle as the next student council president.

-How did you become friends with those from the Three Great Noble Families?

-Doesn’t everyone miss food from home during difficult times? I procured ingredients and cooking utensils they needed.

-Hmm~ Is that so? You’re clever.

She doesn’t easily make enemies and lowers her guard to create good impressions.

Even realizing her hidden agenda to narrow the communication channel between the frontier and the empire to herself alone and profit from it, Zhang didn’t point this out.

Whatever her intentions, many students including herself were having an easier academy life thanks to Giselle’s help.

“Investigation request. Target: Jona Wiheomhae. You know how unprofitable this job is, don’t you?”

When people benefit each other, they can be comfortable together.

But can that relationship continue when one side demands one-sided sacrifice?

Zhang’s mask already knew the answer.

“It’s a difficult request, but you’re the only one I can rely on, Zhang.”

“That’s your problem.”

“It’s related to Oknodie’s butler. Isn’t that enough?”

“No, it’s not. Whatever that person does or however they’ve lived has nothing to do with me.”

“This isn’t about the past. It’s about investigating the truth behind a disappearance that just happened.”

“That makes it even more dangerous. Because I’d be digging into something orchestrated by that formidable expert.”

Zhang contemplated something briefly.

Gift Academy.

Her reason for coming to this remarkable educational facility wasn’t just to grow further as an assassin.

It certainly wasn’t to make friends like Oknodie or Titosoga.

“The numbering ticket from the entrance exam. Did you get it?”

“Numbering…? If you mean the advanced class preferential ticket, I’m afraid I failed to obtain it.”

Giselle felt something odd.

The numbering ticket was a kind of guarantee.

It was like an extra chance for advanced class candidates to take the lower class exam if they happened to fail the entrance exam.

Obtaining a numbering ticket could leave a strong first impression.

It would be evidence that you showed promising qualities different from others from the beginning.

But more than half a year had already passed since admission.

Asking about possession of a long-expired ticket now seemed rather strange.

“Seems you don’t have it. Then our conversation is over.”

“I can locate someone who possesses a numbering ticket. As you know, the Dark Association’s intelligence network is the best among first-years.”

“Better than Oknodie’s personal intelligence?”

“…She’s outside standard specifications.”

“Hehe. I know. I was just being a little mischievous. It’s nothing compared to the mischief you’ve caused, right?”

Her laughter was cold.

Giselle could feel her distance from Zhang rapidly increasing in real time.

Showing agitation here would be third-rate.

Giselle mentally pictured a cold lake.

She submerged all her distorted expressions trying to surface into that cold lake.

Imagining them sinking to the bottom, completely chilled and never rising again.

That was Giselle’s own mask, different from Zhang’s.

“Since my credibility is in question, let me share some information to earn your trust. Our Dark Association is attempting to make contact with one of the current student council members. We’re providing points and labor in exchange for information about the council’s power structure, revenue model, and key rights.”

“And?”

“It means I can find out anytime if the numbering ticket holds some secret different from common perception.”

If you want to receive what you desire, this is your only chance to negotiate right here.

Zhang smiled crookedly under her mask at Giselle’s negotiation.

“Fine. I’ll state my terms. Find the numbering ticket owner. And have them transfer the ticket to me. With these conditions, I’ll investigate the missing person. Of course, you decide right now. There won’t be another chance.”

Transferring a numbering ticket whose value is unknown.

It might be an absurdly valuable price to pay.

“I’ll do it.”

“!”

Zhang was honestly surprised.

“Don’t merchants consider profit?”

“If I only thought about profit, I wouldn’t have entered this academy.”

His enrollment was solely for the sake of one child’s well-being.

This decision was no different.

Behind the mask, some of the coldness left Zhang’s face.

“You’d better not change your mind. Unless you want to meet a dangerous woman like me alone at night.”

* * *

In a world where all non-objective assassins are dead, it might be obvious, but Zhang objectively understood her own abilities.

In assassination, she could kill silver-badge level experts, and in concealment, she could deceive even gold-badge level experts.

Silver badge. Top 1%. Regional evacuation order.

Gold badge. Top 0.1%. National disaster.

Even by monster risk classification standards, there were extremely few experts in the world who could detect her concealment and prevent her assassinations.

However, as the only disciple of the Life Thief, one of the Ten Great Thieves of the Continent, her targets had to be those rare masters.

Professor-level experts were all at least gold-badge level.

Professors like the retired former hero Destroyer were counted among platinum-badge level experts.

Was Jona Wiheomhae that level of master?

What she witnessed on the cruise ship during summer vacation was certainly extraordinary.

He fought single-handedly on equal terms against the demon contractor Low, who had swept away countless students helplessly.

The enormous total mana deployed.

The sturdy body and mind to withstand it.

With the right environment, his maximum potential might rival platinum-badge level.

However, objectively, Jona Wiheomhae’s ability could never reach platinum-badge level.

His strength stemmed from environments where he could freely use <Metal Manipulation>.

‘How much metal could he possibly carry around the academy?’

During lectures, instructors might bring plenty of metal for practice, but they wouldn’t normally escort him with metal boxes full of iron blocks.

As she stealthily entered the gap, evading detection, her confidence grew.

‘As expected, he doesn’t know.’

This wasn’t the first time Zhang had spied on Jona.

The first time was when Destroyer deployed his boundary transformation domain to block Jona, who was visiting the academy to meet Oknodie.

She had infiltrated from the exit, working backward through the harsh barrier where immense gravity pressed down in double and triple boundaries, and observed.

<Mana Cultivation Method>

<Iron Armor Technique>

<Self-Defense Technique – Silver Mountain Iron Wall>

Jona’s metal manipulation was sturdy enough to defy the oppressive gravity constraints originating from the gaze.

He had built his own domain so thoroughly that his existence remained firm and maintained its properties no matter which domain he invaded.

A man with mana and domain like tempered metal.

He eventually broke through Destroyer’s domain and succeeded in meeting Oknodie.

‘The second time was on the cruise ship and uninhabited island.’

She continued observing Oknodie’s butler, Jona Wiheomhae, while concealing her presence.

And she realized several facts.

Jona Wiheomhae had gained insight during the process of overcoming Destroyer’s domain.

Unlike before, his domain wasn’t singular.

Countless domains were compressed like springs, layered upon each other.

So they could withstand even under strong pressure.

So that after enduring and persevering, an explosive release would be possible.

‘If that man enters a suspicious place, he’ll surely use that domain for detection.’

Even Oknodie, before getting her backpack, would always look around nervously when hiding food in tree hollows or burying spoils from attacking wild students in the sand.

The butler’s vigilance was just on a different scale compared to Oknodie’s.

<Mana Cultivation Method>

<Iron Armor Technique>

<Detection Technique – Striking Tuning Fork>

A domain that spreads like the sound of struck metal.

The layered, radiating domain forcibly pushes away the surrounding space and all magical influences, revealing every form to its master.

There was only one way to avoid detection in this domain.

To thoroughly conceal one’s magical reaction, disguise oneself as another object, and deceive the senses by showing only the minimal vibrations that an inanimate object would display.

<Advanced Concealment Technique>

<Boundary Deception – Object-Self Unity>

Zhang, who mimicked the vibration frequency of a box full of assignment papers that could be found anywhere in the academy.

Jona, completely fooled by her perfect disguise, put his hand into the wall.

Creak.

The metal wall opened wide through metal manipulation.

Jona disappeared down the stairs inside.

Zhang was certain.

He definitely had secrets he wanted to hide through such ingenious means.

As she contemplated entering through the closing wall, someone bumped into her shoulder as she approached the door.

“Ouch.”

“!?”

“Eek! How dangerous to pull out a dagger first!”

Zhang had taken a stance with a dagger at the throat, ready to cut off breathing with one strike by shifting her weight.

The person who met her eyes was another stalker approaching the wall stealthily with an upside-down wooden box with its bottom removed—Oknodie with her blonde hair and ribbon headband.

“What are you doing here?”

“Exploring a new event!”

…with a box over her head?

“This week’s assignments?”

“All done!”

Looking closely, the box was full of assignments.

The assignment box that could be found anywhere turned out to be the one Oknodie was wearing over her head.

“You’re so strange no matter when I see you.”

“What are you doing here, Zhang?”

“Investigating your butler.”

Seeing her still making nonsensical statements or bluntly saying rude things with an innocent face, it was clear she wasn’t someone disguised as Oknodie.

So… how would Oknodie react?

Would she get angry that Zhang tried to spy on her friend’s butler? Maybe she’d say they’re no longer friends and draw a line. That would honestly hurt a bit.

‘If she really says that, I’ll stab Giselle out of spite.’

As Zhang fingered the knife in her pocket, Oknodie suggested with a bright face:

“Want to go in together?”

“Sure.”

Jona’s surveillance team expanded to a two-person party.