Halkegenia Online v2.0 - Chapter 3 - Part 3
With a loud thunk, Kirito set down a wooden crate and spilled the contents over the Library table. Adventures in Paperwork , Kirito was beginning to understand, hadn't been an exaggeration. Just look at all of this, he felt like he needed hiking equipment.
After talking with everyone who had known Novair, and the few Faeries who might have witnessed something on the night of the murder, they had next turned their attention to reconstructing just what exactly Novair had been doing prior to his demise, thinking that his work might shed light on why anyone would want to kill him. Unfortunately, that was easier said than done.
The table was covered in files and ledgers, the contents of Novair's office, their indecipherable hand written titles the only hint to what they contained. It was like a puzzle of a perfectly blue sky. Kirito felt his eye twitching, not for the first time that day. He wanted to put this off, but Lady Sakuya needed these documents back as soon as possible. The smooth running of Arrun depended on it.
"You would have thought the guy would have been more organized." The latest addition to their team said.
Caramella picked up a thick manilla envelope, hefting the document as if to weigh its contents, and only then read the title. "First month, food consumption report, Northern Region . . . City of Tau Tona . . . City of Goubniu . . ." She shook her head as she dropped the document into a sorted pile before moving to the next.
Kirito sighed softly. He still had mixed feelings about this, but Asuna trusted her, so that should have been good enough.
He had been right to worry about Asuna finding out about his involvement in the murder investigation. When he had told her, his wife had been more than just furious, she hadn't even raised her voice, instead, she'd gotten quieter.
Kirito swallowed as he recalled. Asuna could be terrifying when she wanted, but the other day had been on a whole new plane of existence. He'd felt like she could have scared off the Skull Reaper with that look.
And she was right to feel that way. As much as he wanted to keep her safe, he'd kept something from her. They'd argued about it well out of earshot of Yui. Things had gotten more than a little heated, and naturally Kirito had lost. But he had held his ground about Asuna remaining uninvolved.
After all they'd been through, he wanted her to have at least a taste of the normal life she'd missed out on for the past two years, if only for a little while. That had been enough to cause her to relent, mostly.
In the end they had settled on this. If Asuna wasn't going to get involved personally, then someone that she trusted would just have to go in her place. Caramella had barely even needed to be asked. The former Aincrad Liberation Army member seemed all too happy to accept Asuna's request. Kirito's eyes narrowed, annoyingly too happy.
"Tis probably an eccentricity." Argo decided as she looked over the documents. "He had his own system and didn't think to teach it to anyone else."
"Lucky us." Caramella observed as she flipped through a ledger. "This one is an expense report. Looks like . . . everything we've been buying from Tristain to keep people fed."
"Yeah, I think Novair was keeping a master ledger to be sure we didn't get cheated. That could be important. Put it on Kii-bou's pile for now." Argo instructed, burying her nose in another folder. "And if you find anything else on security or intel gathering, toss it to me."
Seeing to the autopsy had just been the start. A real life murder, as opposed to the murders perpetrated against the trapped players in the death game of SAO, left behind a lot of physical evidence. Blood trails, paper trails, and hundred of connecting threads. But unraveling them took time and work.
It wasn't an exaggeration to say that these papers documented Novair's life. The saying that 'Behind Every Great Man, there is a Great Woman', came to mind, and it seemed that the reverse could also be true. Every business dealing, meeting, and transaction that Novair had performed on behalf of Lady Sakuya was recorded here. And that was the problem.
Information Overload. There was just too much here to find a common thread, because in the end, everything was so tightly connected. The trail started at Novair, but Novair was connected to everything. If there had been a motive behind his murder, than it would be easier to find out who didn't have a reason to kill him.
"Just what was Novair's job title anyways." Kirito wondered. Did Secretary really do all of this justice?
"I don't think he really had an official title." Argo said as she read on. "He just did a little bit of everything. Briefed Sakuya-san, kept her appointment books, took notes, managed her guard rotations, that sort of stuff."
Kirito grimaced, he'd thought it was something like that, but hearing it out loud just reinforced his suspicions. "Then, what's the chance that the real target of this murder was Sakuya-san?"
Argo sat back in her chair. The possibility had obviously occurred to the information broker. It was just an extremely unpleasant thing to consider, and not one they would want to raise with Lady Sakuya without solid evidence. "You're thinking about that tasteless banner from the other day?"
"We can't rule out the possibility." Kirito warned. "Especially right now. Novair was Sakuya-san's friend. It seems really petty, and the vandals might have just been Trolls, but the timing is too convenient. This looks like it was designed to hurt her."
"So a political opponent?" Caramella thought out loud. "Uhm, okay, does Sakuya-san have any of those? I mean, it's only been, what, six weeks? I mean is that really enough time for that sort of stuff to start up? Unless, it's something she brought with her."
Argo tilted her head, puffball ears pivoting as she thought. "As a matter of fact," Fishing around in the pocket of her cloak, she extracted a small, leather bound notebook no larger than the strategy guides she had created in Aincrad, "Here."
She turned the book over for Kirito to read. "There's really only two people that could be called serious opposition. One of them is a person name Ryo, he ran against Sakuya-san in the last elections, but he didn't get very far. He's been making some noise over the last couple of weeks about how Sakuya-san tisn't qualified to be a real leader. But it just sounds like he's a soar loser."
Kirito scanned the page. Argo had been as thorough and concise as always. A Sylph resident of Sylvain, previously a raid party leader, now head of the Sylvain City Council. Mage build, wind magic specialty, claimed management experience IRL. He needed to be checked out, if only because he probably knew other people who held similar sentiments.
"Has anyone been paying attention to him?" Caramella rested her head against her hand.
A thoughtful look briefly flashed in Argo's golden eyes before she came to a decision. "Some. Mostly former Trolls and Gankers that didn't get along well with Sakuya-san to begin with. One of them, might have been capable of this. Maybe."
"And the other one?" Kirito asked.
Argo asked for her book back and quickly flipped the pages the end. Held between the last two pages, a thin scrap of paper fell to the table. At first glance it appeared to be a handwritten letter.
"There's also this guy. A Puca named Regin. He and his friends have been posting letters like this on the message boards in Sylvain, Arrun, and Freelia for the last week." Argo said.
"And this guy wants Sakuya to resign too?" Caramella frowned.
"Actually, he's been pretty generous towards Sakuya in his letters. He thinks she's done a good job." Argo tapped a fingernail impatiently against the table top. "But he does say the Faction Leaders are acting as dictators and that it needs to stop. He wants an election date to be selected and for the Faerie Lords to stick to it."
Could they really afford to do something like that at a time like this? Kirito wondered. There was a war looming on the horizon, and even beyond that was the difficulty of integrating into Tristain, and looking for a way home. Did they really have the luxury of bickering among themselves just now?
It would be different if the Faction Leaders were abusing their authority, but that really wasn't the case. Even Lord Mortimer had been abiding by the self imposed limitations that he and the other Leaders had agreed to.
"It seems very optimistic." Kirito decided.
"You mean naive." Argo corrected, voice almost dripping with contempt. "But unlike Ryo, it doesn't sound unreasonable, and that tis winning Regin a lot of support, even with the people who like Sakuya-san and the other leaders. Tis nothing big right now, but lots of people are starting to feel like they don't have a voice with the Faerie Lords."
"So you don't agree?" Kirito was actually a little surprised.
Argo shrugged her shoulders, a motion that was replicated by her ears. "I just think we have bigger fish to fry right now, Kii-bou." She looked over her shoulder to where a doll like figure sat atop a nearby bookshelf. "Hey, Suisen, you're sure we have everything that was in Novair's office, right?"
Suisen stopped nibbling on her snack, a crumb from a fruit tart, and gave a small nod. "Yes, Argo-san." She enunciated the name awkwardly. "I watched them just like you instructed. Jensen and Vakarian-san didn't remove anything during their investigation."
Not 'Mistress' like when they'd first met, Kirito noted. But that was to be expected. The discovery of the sentient Pixie Mobs in Tarbes had simply confirmed what many players had already begun to suspect about their tiny partners. The former player support AIs had, like the rest of ALfheim, become fully realized in this world, possessing intelligence and wills of their own. Although, judging by Suisen, the generally submissive personality and attachment to their masters turned caretakers had remained mostly unchanged.
Ethical treatment of the Navigation Pixies, and what was to be done with them had become a hotly debated issue since the Wild Pixies had arrived in Arrum. Almost as discussed as the murder. Through Yui, Kirito had learned that the Garden Pixies were evenly divided on the matter, half wanted the Nav Pixies to be taken back to the Gardens to be integrated into their fledgling society, while the other half thought the Nav Pixies should be allowed to make the decision for themselves so long as they were treated well.
Kirito didn't think he really had the right to weigh in on the matter, but he favored the latter option. Just watching the way that Argo fussed over the tiny girl had decided it for him.
In the mean time, the Nav Pixies had found their way into almost every endeavor, volunteered by their caretakers to help around Arrun and the other cities as living calculators and databases. The Arrun Library alone was home to over a hundred of them, constantly flitting about on slender wings in their ongoing efforts to index and organize the entire repository.
"What about his desk, did they move anything?" Argo patted a crate marked Desktop, filled with the open reports and letters that had been left scattered across Novair's desk the day before his murder. With the help of Suisen's photographic memory, it was possible to exactly arrange the contents of Novair's office as they had been left.
"No. Vakarian-san and Jensen-san only read over what was already opened." Suisen answered and then tilted her head. "They were more interested in questioning the people who worked with Novair-san and checking his apartment." Something that Kirito and Argo had already done as well. But the questioning hadn't led to much. The Sylph had seemingly lived for his work and that was all anybody really knew.
"What are the chances that this was a crime of passion?" Caramella got both Kirito and Argo's attention.
Argo snorted faintly. "Yeah right. I didn't know Novair very well, but off the job, he was about as exciting to be around as a block of raw Tofu."
"One of those guys?" Kirito thought out loud.
Some people played MMOs to pretend that they were more interesting than they really were IRL, but doing so required a fair amount of talent in a full dive game. Some succeeded spectacularly while others did not. Novair appeared to have been the latter.
"Tis the sad truth." Argo sighed. "He didn't drink, and I'd be very surprised if he had anyone he was seeing."
"Okay, then bare with me." Caramella insisted. "Sakuya-san is pretty popular in a lot of circles. Maybe one of her fans didn't like Novair being so close to her."
The table fell silent, each of the investigators digesting what had just been said. Could someone really do something like that? Kirito didn't need to wonder, he knew the answer first hand. In fact, he was surprised it hadn't occurred to him sooner. Why hadn't it?
Because . . . Because he didn't want to think that way. He didn't want to think that sort of idea had followed them here.
"I guess that's another thing we'll have to look into." Kirito closed his eyes and stretched back in his seat until the chair was balanced only on its back legs, feeling the tension fading from his arms and shoulders. Super human strength made muscle cramps an all new type of hell.
"Please refrain from misusing Library furniture." A whispered voice got his attention.
Kirito looked up, and almost fell out of his chair as a pair of severe, hazel eyes regarded him authoritatively. Wobbling, a hand caught the back of his chair just as it began to tip, pushing him back from the brink.
The eyes belonged to a Faery Girl, short, wavy brown hair pulled back in a small bun, a pair of spectacles balanced on the bridge of her nose. They had to be a prop, Kirito didn't know of any Faeries who had anything but perfect vision. That might change as time went by, but not in just six weeks.
The girl was dressed in scholarly robes and cap, a book tucked into the crook of her arm. A trio of Nav Pixies flitted about, settling on her shoulders and forearms, watching silently with identical calm expressions.
"Oh, Bishop-chan." Argo said. "Good timing."
The girl looked over at the Cait, a small frown appearing on her lips. "Miss Argo. If you are going to reserve a table in the Library, I do ask that you respect the rules." The girl looked back to Kirito, glaring balefully from behind her glasses.
Kirito swallowed, there was something almost instinctively frightening about her, like he was looking right into the eyes of a truly terrifying Boss Mob that had appeared as if from nowhere. How had she even been able to do that? With his Perception Skill she would had to have had her Hiding and Sneak skills both mastered to move up on him like that. What sort of Ninja build character was she?
"You two know each other?" Kirito quickly attempted to shift the attention away from himself, and more importantly, escape the murderous Killing Intent that should have been impossible to sense in this real world.
"Un." Argo nodded. "Bishop-chan is the head Librarian. Bishop-chan, this is Kii-bou and Caramel-chan."
"That's Ca-ra- . . ." The Swordswoman began to lean back in her own chair, and then thought better of it as the small Librarian gazed menacingly at her. Slowly, the dangerous look vanished as Bishop adjusted her glasses.
"It's is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Kirito-san, Caramella-san." Bishop nodded to both of them.
"Sorry to bother you with this, I'll keep Kii-bou in line from now on." Kirito felt a foot kicking him beneath the table.
"Sorry. I'll keep the Library rules in mind for now on."
"I ask that you do. Rule breakers can be most disruptive." Bishop answered with a small, satisfied nod before turning back to Argo. "Rule breaking aside, I came to give you this. I believe you said you were looking for a copy."
"Oh, excellent!" Argo cheered as she took the offered book. "Tis this the whole thing?"
The Librarian nodded. "It was cataloged just this morning. You'll be the first to check it out."
Argo opened the book and began to thumb through the pages, grin widening all the while. "Thanks, I owe the Library big time for this."
"There is a collection box for donations on my desk." Bishop said.
"Right, right, I'll toss something in the next time I have some spare cash." Argo tilted her head. "So, tis that all?"
"You're investigating the murder of Mister Novair, are you not?" Bishop asked.
The three Faeries exchanged glances, again it was Argo that acted as spokesman. "Tis what we hope to sort out." She said softly. "We owe it to Novair-san to find his killer at least."
Tilting her head oddly, Bishop blinked. "I see." She gave a small nod. "Please do. I suppose you will be staying until closing time."
"Until we have this solved, tis our top concern." Argo laced her fingers atop the table. "I was actually going to ask if we could stay late. I know it tis a rule, but . . . "
"As long as a Librarian is on duty, it isn't a problem." Bishop bowed. "Very well. I'll bring some tea later." As she turned to leave, the Librarian stopped and stared at Kirito once more.
Kirito couldn't help it, he fidgeted, it was like he was being put under observation. "Uhm, yes?"
"Please try to obey the rules from here on, Kirito-san." The Librarian's words were quiet, but surprisingly forceful, and he had a menacing feeling that she had ways to make that into a threat.
"Y-yes Ma'am." He scratched nervously at his cheek.
Satisfied, Bishop turned and vanished down one of the rows of bookshelves, muted footsteps vanishing almost as soon as she disappeared from sight.
"Where the hell did they find her?" Caramella wondered out loud.
"Here apparently." Argo rested a hand on the book she had been gifted. "I'm surprised Kii-bou hasn't met her before."
"Well, I guess it takes all kinds." Kirito finally looked back from the hall down which Bishop had vanished. Whatever that strange impression had been, it could wait.
They'd set back to work, burying themselves in reports and letters. That this much material could be generated in just six weeks was insane, it seemed Novair had been very thorough if nothing else. The spots of sky visible through the small, high set Library windows slowly turned from blue to orange, and then finally pale violet, the fading daylight being replaced by the soft yellow glow of ore lamps hung by wires from the ceiling.
They'd worked through it all, catching only a brief break to eat when Bishop returned with the promised tea and a platter of triangular cut sandwiches. They weren't Asuna's masterpieces, but hunger was its own spice.
Stretching slowly, the three investigators set the last crate aside, rubbing tired eyes.
"So, what do we know?" Argo asked as she pawed at her face.
"Novair was a bureaucrat, first class?" Caramella chided and then shook her head. "And that he wasn't doing anything special just prior to his murder. Just expense ledgers and diplomatic reports."
"He also wasn't spotted by anyone after he left the Governor's Mansion." Kirito added. Which meant they had no way to tell where he had been ambushed.
"Novair probably wasn't carrying anything of value, so motives to kill are either political, or a crime of passion." Argo rose and began to pace back and forth like a prowling cat. "Either that or a serial killer."
"H-hey! Don't even joke about that!" Kirito felt himself stutter.
"Tis no joke." Argo grimaced. "We can't close our eyes, especially if that tis the case sa! There's no ethics code or safe zones in place to protect people here. So tis up to us nya!" She took a breath, composing herself. Her Cait Syth verbal ticks had become painfully evident. "I really hope this tis a crime of passion like Caramel-chan said. Because otherwise . . . "
Because otherwise, they had a potential mass murderer wandering the streets of Arrun, someone who was well equipped to kill Faeries, and no way to tell when or where he or she would murder again.
"We can't quit until we've got a lead." Argo decided, tail waving slowly about. "But we're not going to figure anything out while we're exhausted. It's almost ten o'clock now and we have a meeting with those two watch detectives tomorrow morning. You guys should go grab some shut eye."
"What about you." Caramella poked Argo on the shoulder. "You look ready to fall over. Shouldn't you get some sleep too?"
The Cait waved a hand dismissively. "I'll catch a catnap later. There's some notes I want to check before I finish up for the night."
"Right, right." Kirito patted Caramella on the back. He knew when he wasn't wanted, and Argo was almost as much as a solo player as he was. Besides, she invariably did her best work while alone. "Lets go. I bet Kino's worried about you." And hopefully Asuna had kept some leftovers waiting for him at home.
The Swordswoman let out a short barking laugh as she followed. "You know when he heard about the murder, he insisted on locking all the windows and doors, and wouldn't let me go out at night alone? What a worrier!" Her grin softened into something much more sincere. "But you know, Asuna feels the same way."
Kirito remained silent as they climbed the wide stairway to the Library entrance. He stopped on the last step. "Yeah, I know."
"You want to keep her safe, huh?" Caramella reasoned. "Yeah, I get it, but remember she needs you safe too."
"Is this your way of telling me something." Kirito stuffed his hand in his coat pockets. Jeez, as if he didn't feel guilty enough as it was. "What about you and Kino?"
Caramella gave him a solid smack on the back, grinning. "Ah, that? I wouldn't worry too much about me. I'm invincible after all!"
'If only', Kirito thought, but he shared in the good mood as they reached the doors and were met by an Undine and Salamander pair just reaching to open the door. The four stared blankly at each other for a moment. And then . . .
"Kirito-san." One of them, the Undine, said quickly, looking all about as he spoke.
"Uh, oh, Jensen-san?" Kirito felt like this was a hint that the other shoe was about to drop. "Is there something about the investigation you needed to talk about."
"Yes. Something like that." The Undine breathed, pushing past Kirito and rushing down the hall following his Salamander Partner. "Is Miss Argo still in?"
Kirito took this as a cue to run after him. "She hasn't left yet. I think she was going to sleep here. It must be important if it can't wait until morning." Kirito watched the Undine's stride quicken until it wasn't quite a run, but he definitely wasn't walking anymore either. Kirito was on high alert immediately. "Jensen-san, what's happening?"
"Hey, answer up!" Caramella demanded at his side.
Reaching out, Jensen grabbed the shoulder of his partner, bringing him to a stop. "We need to tell them."
Vakarian bit off a curse in their general direction. When he spoke, he didn't look at Kirito or Caramella. "The report just came in. We have two more murders in Freelia, a Sylph and a Cait Syth, same MO as Novair."