Kuro silently returned to Sister Noah's side and reported the assassin's actions.
Upon learning that Maria had nearly suffered the same fate as she did in her childhood, even Sister Noah broke out in a cold sweat. The best way to destroy someone in the shortest amount of time was to make them an Infected. She had experienced it herself, so she knew how malicious such a method was. Who exactly would target the Nearl Family family in this way?
To be honest, she truly felt that the Nearl Family family shouldn't be that disliked, right? And what interests of these people had Maria truly infringed upon? She originally thought at most it would just be to eliminate Maria early, and having Kuro act as a safeguard was just in case, but these people seemed genuinely intent on destroying Maria.
This was a completely different matter. If it were just ordinary business competition, if it were simply that they didn't want to see Maria advance, she wouldn't bother to get to the bottom of it. But if it was malicious to this extent, then it was entirely different.
Kuro had never seen Sister Noah's expression so grave, so she spoke, "I crushed the assassin's hand bones, and then kicked him again. He didn't die, but he probably won't be able to leave... for the rest of his life."
Kuro patted Sister Noah's wheelchair, "Do you need me to bring him over from the hospital?"
..."It's probably too late," Sister Noah knew what kind of treatment these assassins received. A failure of this magnitude likely meant he had already been dealt with. Going to the hospital now would only be to collect the assassin's body. "Don't rush yet. Since they made a move once, they will naturally make a second... And we can't rule out the Shieldless League as suspects."
"It wasn't the Shieldless League," Kuro shook her head. "If it were the Shieldless League... they would definitely choose crossbow bolts over daggers."
"What if it was intentional?" Sister Noah frowned. "Perhaps that's how they're trying to clear themselves?"
"When an assassination occurs in Kazimierz, the Shieldless League will absolutely be suspected first. This level of disguise is too easy to see through," Kuro shook her head. "Sister Noah, you're being a bit emotional."
..."I..." Sister Noah then realized that she had indeed been somewhat emotional just now. If she thought about it carefully, she could indeed realize that in an assassination in Kazimierz, the Shieldless League was undoubtedly the primary suspect. The fact that the assailant used a dagger wouldn't change that. "But... can we not completely rule out the Shieldless League's possibility?"
..."The most important thing is," Kuro said, "that assassin was an Infected."
..." Sister Noah fell silent. Indeed, there were no Infected within the Shieldless League. Perhaps considering that the Shieldless League's operations often targeted the Infected, it was almost impossible for them to recruit Infected, otherwise, a defection would be problematic. She thought for a long time, then shook her head, "Let's leave it at that for now... To be honest, it's unclear whether they're targeting Maria or me, but this assassination failed, so there might be another one immediately... How about this."
Sister Noah said, "Have Maria move in here, along with Zofia and Uncle Manner. There are enough rooms anyway, consider it my treat for them, how about it?"
If there was one place that was safest, it would definitely be where Kuro and Manner were. Sister Noah hadn't ruled out the possibility that these people were targeting Maria because of her relationship with Maria. Since they were willing to attack Maria even when she was separated from Sister Noah, then it was better to just bring Maria over and protect her. "Kuro, is that okay?"
"I have no objections," Kuro shook her head. "But Sister Noah, you need to understand, next time, you'd better not send me out so casually."
..."I have Uncle Manner and Viviana by my side, I'll be fine."
..." Kuro stared at Sister Noah, making Sister Noah inexplicably get goosebumps all over. In the end, she could only raise her hands in surrender, "Alright, alright, I won't do it again next time. Kuro, please stay by my side, okay?"
"Mm," Kuro's lips curved into a slight smile. "That's more like it."
..."Sigh," Sister Noah felt like she had no authority as an employer. She sent Kuro out to do something and then got lectured by Kuro when she returned. She didn't even know who the employer was anymore. "I'll call Maria first, then arrange to have dinner together tonight. I'll cook myself."
"?"
..."What's wrong? Can't I cook!"
"No... I've never seen you cook, Sister Noah," Kuro's words weren't false. Although there was a kitchen in the house, it was covered in dust and had barely been used. Sister Noah's meals were usually specially delivered, meticulously adjusted by a nutritionist. Let alone Sister Noah cooking herself, putting aside the fact that Sister Noah's body was inconvenient and she might easily injure herself in the kitchen, did Sister Noah even know how to cook?
..."Practice makes perfect, you know," Sister Noah's mouth twitched. "I've been listening to a few radio programs recently, and I think cooking seems pretty easy."
..."Newcomers all think that way," Kuro sighed. "I think it's bad to waste food."
"Grumble..." Sister Noah pouted. "Fine, if I don't cook, I don't cook. I'll make a call first, Kuro, you wait outside for a bit."
Sister Noah pushed her wheelchair, leaving Kuro to wait in the office, while she entered the specially prepared restroom. As soon as she entered, she clutched her chest, her entire body hunched over. She hadn't shown any reaction in front of Kuro; it was all an act. As soon as she entered the toilet, she vomited. The terror almost seized her heart. The malice she felt, and the malice she felt during the past kidnapping... it was exactly the same.
She had actually realized that the people targeting Maria were the same ones who had planned to kidnap Margaret and herself that day... including the act of smearing Originium dust on their weapons.
These people... it was definitely these people.
Sister Noah clenched her fists. Turning her into this... wasn't enough... did they want to turn Maria into this too?
Just thinking about the consequences made Sister Noah feel as if she had fallen into an ice cellar. She knew all too well what the result of becoming an Infected was. If these hardships she had endured were to fall upon Maria... she dared not imagine the consequences.
If she hadn't prepared Kuro as a safeguard, if Kuro hadn't stopped them in time... if... if...
She was terrified. Maria was merely a hair's breadth away from tragedy.
The fear and pain she had suppressed earlier now pressed down on her heart. Unsure if it was sensing something, though Sister Noah herself couldn't see it, the phantom behind her now appeared before her. This phantom watched the frightened Sister Noah, watched the girl whose body trembled uncontrollably. The phantom extended its hand; it didn't touch Sister Noah, but its hand hovered over Sister Noah's head.
The hand trembled for a moment, but still didn't fall.
It finally lowered its head, extended both hands, and embraced Sister Noah, though Sister Noah couldn't feel the embrace. This embrace was illusory, imperceptible, but she no longer trembled.
A sense of peace spread through her heart, just like when she was a child, embraced by her mother... though she could no longer remember her mother's face.
..."Mom..."
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