"There's just too much damned work to sort through." Ciel thought as he grimaced at the array of papers before him. There was hardly a spot of the actual desk showing. He propped an arm and placed his head in his hand, contemplating on the next task. There was a knock at the door.
"What is it Sebastian?" The young lord asked, irritated as the butler entered.
"The post, my lord." He approached the desk and placed a few envelopes on top of a stack of papers. "I believe one is of high importance."
"Of course it's important, it's from the Queen." Ciel said, already shifting through the letters and eyeing the seal. He took the opener and sliced the envelope.
"Your tea has gone cold; shall I fetch another?" Sebastian questioned, picking up the tray of uneaten pastries.
"No time. We have an assignment." He handed the letter to him and got up. "I've actually been awaiting for something like this."
"This about the Hunter?" the butler guessed, finishing the letter.
Ciel paced to the window. "Yes." He turned to face his butler. "For the past few weeks, a series of strange and unusual purchases have been made through the black market, all signed off with the title 'The Hunter'. These items vary from exotic spices to specially ordered manufactured goods."
"You believe it has some connection to this murder?" Sebastian inquired, glancing at the letter.
"A string of murders actually. However, it's taken awhile to relate them. None of the victims are connected to each other in any way, not even location. The only exception would be the style in which they were killed and the items left around them."
"All items on the list purchased from 'The Hunter'."
"Exactly." He faced his butler. "I want this sorted out quickly. If my connection to the black market is made known, I do not want murder accessory attached; it would tarnish the Phantomhive name." He rubbed the ring on his thumb.
"Of course, my lord."
Sebastian opened the carriage door for Ciel and they stepped onto the street. They walked almost a block, turning into an alleyway. Even with their features masked from the dark close and the light behind them, Randall could already tell who they were.
"Now why would the Queen send her dog for such a gutter killing?" Randall complained as they approached.
"Even if it did concern you Randall, it would be of no importance anyway," Ciel retorted, barely glancing at him as he walked past him.
"Not concern me? I'm head of Scotland Yard!" he shouted, dashing in front of the young lord, his voice bouncing off the walls.
"Like you said, it's just a petty murder, you should be glad we're taking it off your hands. It'll save you of some annoyance," Ciel mocked. "Now, will you please take us to the body."
"Tch. Fine. But I don't see what's so special about it." With reluctance, he waved the two ahead of him, filling them on the details. "We found him this morning, hole through the gut and his throat slit, practically beheaded. From what it looks like, he got cornered, and whatever was in his stomach held him down while they finished the job."
They approached the body, the man was sprawled on the ground, now dried blood covering most every surface of the area. His head was laid back, his throat agap with a huge chunk missing. Sebastian flinched, though only Ciel took notice, giving a glance back to his butler before asserting his attention back.
"Did he have any valuables on him?" Ciel asked.
"Not much, but it rules out robbery. There was a smashed vial of something nearby, but we don't know what was in it." Randall took a closer inspection of the body.
"This is just the same as those other murders," Ciel whispered back to Sebastian.
"So it is," Sebastian said, his voice distant.
"Is there something wrong with you?" Ciel questioned, a bit louder.
"I'll explain later."