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Chapter 191: Hiberrian's Fourth Death Omen
Chapter 191: Hiberrian's Fourth Death Omen
On the other side of Icerite, thick clouds loomed over the skyline of the royal capital.
In a cafe along the street, people gathered by the window, holding cups of hot coffee, their gazes transfixed by the rain outside. The pitter-patter of raindrops mingled with the soft jazz playing inside the cafe, creating a cozy ambiance within the rain-veiled room.
The sudden downpour washed over the streets, tapping on the lampposts with a rhythmic beat. Trees drooped under the weight of the rain, their leaves heavy and glistening. Passersby scurried into nearby shops or hurried under their umbrellas, seeking shelter from the unexpected deluge.
At the Cat Master's Restaurant, located just two streets away from Icerite College, the wind chimes hanging from the eaves dripped with rainwater, swaying gently in the wind and emitting a deeper, more somber tone than usual.
The restaurant's door opened and closed intermittently, and everything seemed calm. Only a few customers sat leisurely enjoying their breakfast in a corner.
A staff member polished glassware at the counter, head bowed in concentration. The ancient chandelier cast a warm yellow glow, adding a touch of coziness to the small space.
"I wonder where the Cat Master has gone off to..."
The staff member, a young woman, glanced up at the clock in the restaurant and murmured to herself.
Although they didn't specialize in breakfast, the rainy weather had brought in a few more customers than usual.
If the Cat Master didn't return soon, she might have to manage both taking orders and serving meals by herself. She'd have to ask Miss Tata for help again, but it seemed like she was still asleep upstairs.
The staff member glanced out the window, understanding why Tata might be reluctant to get up.
Raindrops pattered on the eaves, creating a steady rhythm like a continuous background melody. Water trickled down from the roof, forming a miniature waterfall that dripped from the edge.
In such weather, anyone would prefer to stay indoors and indulge in a lazy day.
If given the choice, the staff member wouldn't want to bother Tata either. She just hoped that the drenched black ball of fur that was the Cat Master would return soon.
"Order number 17 is ready."
The voice from the kitchen snapped the staff member back to attention, and she quickly made her way to the kitchen window.
She carefully picked up a white porcelain plate, on which lay a delicate dish: a golden fried chicken cutlet accompanied by a colorful fruit salad, with a few drops of pale yellow lemon juice adding a tangy touch. The dish was served with a variety of sauces, allowing customers to customize the flavors to their taste.
With light, graceful steps, the staff member made her way to a table near the passage on the side of the restaurant. A young man sat there, quietly sipping his coffee and admiring the view outside, as if waiting for something or someone.
Although he had a handsome face, there was an unassuming quality to his demeanor that kept him from standing out.
As the staff member approached, the young man finally looked up, a smile of anticipation on his face.
"Your chicken salad, sir," she said gently, placing the plate on the table.
"Thank you," he replied with a nod of gratitude, his eyes now fixed on the exquisite dish before him.
Once again at the counter, the staff member observed that this customer was not a regular at the restaurant. Like many of the other patrons today, he was simply a passerby who had taken shelter from the rain and decided to have a meal. His shoulders and the corners of his clothes were still damp from the downpour.
The restaurant fell quiet once more, the only sounds the soft patter of rain outside and the gentle music playing in the background. The atmosphere was peaceful, as it always was.
The young man slowly unfolded a cloth napkin from the table and took out a set of exquisite silver cutlery—a fork and a knife.
Although he appeared no different from the regular Icerite College students who frequented the restaurant, the way he approached his breakfast spoke of an unusual attention to detail and refinement. He handled his meal with the precision of a surgeon.
He placed the napkin on his lap and then proceeded to cut the chicken cutlet into small pieces with his knife and fork. He picked up each piece carefully and savored it, chewing slowly until it was completely crushed.
Next, he gently cut a slice of fresh croissant, spread a thin layer of pale yellow cream on it, and carefully placed it in his mouth.
Even when he drank his coffee, he did so with the same care.
Instead of gulping it down, he first savored the aroma and then took small sips, relishing the flavor.
Each of his movements was unhurried, precise, and utterly immersed in the moment, as if he were fully absorbed in the experience of this meal that straddled breakfast and lunch.
About ten minutes had passed, and yet the young man had only managed to finish a third of his meal, an observation that didn't strike anyone as odd.
He was indeed waiting for a young lady.
However, she was not someone he was expecting to meet; she was his target.
He was certain that Hiberrian, the Duchess, was upstairs in this very establishment.
It seemed that after the second Shadow World incident, she had reaped substantial benefits and finally moved out of the school dorms.
This wasn't unusual; some Icerite College students didn't reside in the school dormitories and often lived in their own residences.
Initially, the only thing he wondered about was why the Duchess had chosen this place.
But now, as he personally savored the cuisine of the Cat Master's Restaurant, he understood why she had made this choice.
"Sir, are you enjoying your meal?"
The waitress, after serving another customer, passed by the young man again and noticed the subtle smile of satisfaction on his face. She paused to ask him this question.
Because of his seat near the passage, anyone walking towards the entrance, such as going to the counter, would pass by him.
"Yes, very much so. If I have the chance, I will definitely come back," he replied with a gentle nod.
Though he said this, he knew that...
Unfortunately, there likely wouldn't be another opportunity to visit.
Today was probably the last day this restaurant would be open.
His identity was Phoenix, a second-year student at the Royal Academy of Aloran, who lived with his sister, Phyllis.
However, his true self was a covert follower of the Destruction Bishop, an elite believer who would usually never be deployed. He often remained in a state of deep self-hypnosis, even forgetting that he was a member of the Reborn Church.
Only when he received orders or encountered an opportunity to execute them would he awaken himself.
To kill Duchess Hiberrian, or at least put her in a situation where she would be as good as dead, stirring up conflict between the two countries, he was the most suitable person for the job.
Hiberrian was in the light, and he was in the dark. Phoenix was confident that at such close range, his sneak attack would force Hiberrian to use her life-saving card.
And this time, he not only had a terrain-blocking barrier and invisibility-piercing equipment but also possessed two spells granted by the Destruction Bishop.
Puppet Theater
Type: Spell Card
Grade: Pink Holy
Attribute: Mental/Scouting
Class: 4
Effect: Can only be used on first-tier targets and below. Controls the actions of all targets within a 100-meter range. The more targets, the longer the duration, and the more complex the behavior, the greater the mental strain and magical power consumption. Cooldown time: 24 hours.
Note: A quiet death, devoid of dramatic tension.
In the context of a restaurant, this spell, usually useless in direct combat, could easily frame Hiberrian for the massacre of civilians.
And Hiberrian, who would never indiscriminately kill civilians, would find her actions hampered and constrained by the sudden, frenzied attacks and interference from the civilians.
This was the kind of petty game the Destruction Bishop enjoyed playing. Even when he could easily defeat his opponent, he preferred to involve civilians, making the righteous heroes inadvertently kill one civilian after another, watching their expressions of despair and furious rage.
As for the second spell...
Destruction Spark
Type: Spell Card
Grade: Pink Holy
Attribute: Fire
Class: 5
Passive Effect: Upon the carrier's death, it triggers an extremely violent and destructive fire explosion.
Note: A grand spectacle of consecutive kills, starring me.
This spell would ensure that today's mission to kill Hiberrian would be foolproof.
Similarly, it was also the Destruction Bishop's way of granting him a death sentence.
Today, this restaurant and the innocent customers within, unless something unexpected happened, would accompany the Duchess in her demise.
They couldn't be considered innocent, though.
Phoenix smiled, his calm gaze carrying a hint of sarcasm.
Just like how natural disasters struck without discrimination, these civilians had simply been chosen by the Grim Reaper, and that was that.
If blame had to be assigned, it could only be attributed to the Duchess for choosing this place.
For a jinx like her, it was her fault for continuing to live.
If she had just died earlier, she wouldn't have caused the deaths of these unrelated people.
(End of Chapter)
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