"Is this the first time you've seen a scene like this?" Reyn asked with concern, "Go outside and get some fresh air."

"No... no," Asha saw Nightingale already squatting beside the corpse, examining the wounds with a calm expression. Facing such a bloody scene, she could still be so nonchalant... She had to persevere, at least not embarrass her. "I... blech... I'm much better."

"When was he discovered?" Nightingale asked, looking back.

"At dawn today, the residents nearby went out early to fetch water before daybreak and discovered his body—the door was open like that, as if intentionally displayed for others to see." Reyn recounted, "If it were before, we probably would have had to wait two or three days to receive the news, but recently the City Hall has been offering rewards for reporting, so someone immediately reported it to the City Hall."

"What about the victim's identity?"

"Tieqiao, a freeman," Reyn surveyed the furnishings of the house. "Without anything... well, he probably used to be a Rat."

"Did anyone see him last night?"

"I asked, no one did."

"What about noise?"

"No one... heard anything either."

"Killing such a big person, there must have been some noise," Nightingale frowned, "Even if his throat was cut, he wouldn't die immediately. Thumping on the floor or struggling in agony should have caused a lot of commotion. Are you sure they're not lying?"

"This... I don't think so," Reyn hesitated, "After a murder case, the residents here are all in a panic. Besides, assisting the police in capturing the murderer can also get an extra reward. They have no reason to lie."

"In that case, call everyone nearby over, and I'll ask them myself. Also... Asha." Nightingale looked at her assistant.

"Yes!" The latter shuddered.

"Go to the castle and call Soraya over."

"Ah... okay."

Asha hurriedly went out the door and ran towards the castle.

For some reason, she felt that Nightingale giving orders was simply beautiful. Every gesture revealed a strong confidence. No wonder His Highness would entrust her with such important security responsibilities.

...

When she returned to the street, Asha was accompanied by Soraya and two other people.

"How could you not call me for something like this?" Lightning flew into the house, shouting loudly, "His Highness is really biased!"

"Coo!" Maggie followed closely behind.

"They... insisted on coming," Asha said timidly.

"When I'm not around, shouldn't you be protecting His Royal Highness Roland?" Nightingale raised an eyebrow. "This isn't an adventure game!"

"Don't worry, Sylvie is here, no one can easily get close to him," Lightning winked, "Besides, His Highness is about to hold a noble conference, what danger could he encounter in the castle hall?"

Unbelievable... Asha thought, why can these two face such bloody and terrible murder scenes so calmly? Especially Lightning, who is clearly a few years younger than herself, even has a hint of excitement in her eyes... God above, what have they been through after becoming witches?

"This is..." Reyn and the police officers stared at the person and bird floating in the air, their eyes wide.

"They are also witches," Nightingale said irritably, "Anyway, you must go back before the meeting ends, understand?"

"Oh..." Lightning pouted.

"Uh, you called me here just to draw this corpse?" Soraya was the last to enter the room. Asha noticed that her face wasn't much better than her own, and she felt a little relieved.

"No, to draw the murderer," Nightingale closed the door and explained the capture plan to everyone, "With a portrait of the perpetrator, and posting it in the square's notice area with a reward, that should be the fastest way to find him."

Earl Elkhound gasped, "Are you saying that this witch... Ms. Asha can recreate the murder process?"

"It may not necessarily work. Due to the limited duration of the illusion, we still need some luck, you'll see in a moment." Nightingale nodded to Asha, "Begin."

"Mm," The latter closed her eyes, and as instructed, placed the first flashback between midnight and dawn. In the darkness, magic surged from her fingertips, intertwined together, gradually forming a clear image—wooden planks, a bed, a table, a room... In her mind, a new house was shaped. The deceased lay on the ground, blood flowing along the uneven mud floor, and the door that should have been locked was pushed open.

"This... is this the power of a witch?"

"Simply unbelievable!"

"Oh god, these illusions are so realistic, I would even say it's the power of a devil--"

"Shh! Shut up!"

The surrounding police whispered.

"It seems he was already dead at this time," Asha felt someone patting her shoulder, it was Nightingale, "Don't waste magic, change to the next time."

The second flashback approached midnight, the figure on the floor suddenly disappeared, and the deceased appeared in the bed, seemingly sleeping soundly.

"Does this mean... he died within the time shown in the two illusions?" Reyn asked doubtfully.

"That's right, from midnight to three o'clock—within this one and a half hours, is when the murderer struck."

"I understand! Ms. Asha's ability cannot last too long, and she is likely to miss the murder process, so you said we need a little bit of luck!"

"That's exactly right," Nightingale replied, "Considering that it takes a long time to leave a mark after killing someone, let's recreate the scene from the time closer to three o'clock."

Asha nodded, exhaled a breath of turbid air, and used her ability again, controlling the flashback point between two and three o'clock. Magic surged towards the empty wall, creating a standing stranger. He was using a blood-stained sheet to draw something on the wall.

"It seems we found him," Nightingale raised the corner of her mouth, "My luck is really good."

"This person is the murderer, coo?"

"His appearance is ordinary... I thought he would at least be a burly man." Lightning said disappointedly.

"This can only draw a side view," Soraya looked at the wall panel, "Is there any way to make him turn around?"

"Asha, it's up to you." Nightingale instructed.

"Yes," Without the other party saying it in detail, she knew what to do. The last illusion was advanced a quarter of an hour. This time, everyone clearly saw the murderer's true face—he first strangled Tieqiao with a rope, then dragged him to the floor, and took out a bishou to cut his throat. Throughout the process, Tieqiao did not resist at all, as if he had died in his sleep.

Reyn seemed to realize something, turned to look at the water tank in the corner of the room, "He was injected with dream water?"

"That should be right," Nightingale nodded, "That's why the victim didn't make any noise. Cutting his throat was just to collect blood; he had already died before that."

"M-My Lord... I've seen this person!" A police officer suddenly said.

"What?" Both their gazes instantly moved to him.

The man swallowed, "His name is Mans, he used to be a patrolman. I used to deal with him..."

"Do you know where he lives?" Reyn asked.

"It seems to be in the inner city... West Street, near the Sheep Tavern."

"Very good, it even saves the process of finding him. It seems luck is on our side," Nightingale sneered, "He can't escape. Let's go!"

"Yes, my Lord!" The police officers responded in unison.