Chapter 19: That Shapeshifter, Catching Cats (2)

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The shopkeeper died with his eyes wide open. The whites of his eyes were blood red with fury and his hands were curled around the hilt of a weapon he might have swung at his attacker—only there was nothing within his grasp anymore.

The ornate pedestals inside the shop were bare, save for the carved brackets made to prop up the weapons on display. Not only did the assassins murder the man, they stole his goods as well.

A quick rummage through the desk in the backroom led Yoka to the identity of the shopkeeper.

His name was Ishibaru Hiroki.

He belonged to a family of renowned swordsmiths who were loyal vassals of the Ryūzōji clan. This shop was his family’s biggest showroom in the city.

Yoka picked up what looked like an accounts book and flipped through it. Hiroki’s most recent sale was a customised katana for Lord Nabeshima’s youngest son who had come of age.

‘How petty,’ she leered.

Yoka woke the young mistress up and reported everything that happened in two sentences, ’Reika and Kii found another bakeneko corpse this morning. The victim was a shopkeeper who sold a sword to Lord Nabeshima’s youngest son.’

Rin covered her head with the silk blanket. ’Did you bring back a cat?’ she asked, voice muffled.

‘Yes,’ the maid replied, pouring a cup of freshly-brewed osmanthus tea. ‘The cat breeder is a gardener from the castle.’

The young mistress opened her ink-black eyes and sat up. Her eyes narrowed.

‘That’s not the culprit. He doesn’t earn enough money to pay mercenaries to do his dirty work. There’s probably someone more powerful behind him.’

[Read the full story at novelconbini.com!]