Why it never ends

Chapter 1091 Conversation

How can I avoid boiling?

Although the self-portrait at the signature is almost completely different from what Hesta remembered, its brushstrokes, its style, its starting and ending positions... all profoundly point to a solid existence.

Ms. Chiba...

Hesta immediately turned the photo back to the front so that he wouldn't lose control of his breathing.

The secretary was still chattering, "We can't even be sure when this envelope appeared. The governor never came to this office before, but he just arrived today and opened the drawer of the desk--"

His eyes casually swept across Hesta's face.

"…Inspector?"

At this moment, the secretary took a half step back almost imperceptibly. This was almost a biological instinct, because Hesta's expression at the moment was so subtle. She was like a volcano that had not erupted for a long time, with a thin layer of gray crust covering the surface, and the hot magma underneath was boiling...

"Indeed, it was... the assassin." Hesta's voice trembled slightly. "How many people have you shown this photo to?"

"It's just me and the Governor," the secretary replied, "and you."

"There are so many people in the corridor outside--"

"They don't even know what happened. They just know that the Governor suddenly became ill. I wonder..."

"Very good." Hesta said briskly as he put the photo away. "Don't show this photo to anyone. Keep it secret as it is now - don't give the public any details."

"I see." The secretary nodded in agreement. "We think so too. The public's attention is bloodthirsty. What the assassin wants is the effect of arousing public opinion..."

Hesta wasn't listening at all.

Her fingers gently twisted the edge of the photo - if this was the clue that Ms. Chiba gave herself, then this self-portrait would be very dangerous. In the past, how many people had received letters or postcards with her self-portrait? Among those who received those letters or postcards, how many people could recognize the deliberately modified version of this photo at a glance?

Stella had already noticed that Hesta was absent-minded. She moved slightly and continued the secretary's words. After naturally putting herself at the center of the conversation, she revealed her identity - the ordinary person who took the only frontal photo of the assassin during the Tan Yi siege two years ago.

Arevalo was a little surprised. He couldn't think of any value that ordinary people could play in this hunt for assassins. He tentatively asked Hesta a few questions, but Hesta replied calmly, "Zubi, you answer the Governor's questions."

Stella walked to the old man with a smile. She pulled a low stool so that her line of sight was level with Arevalo who was lying flat on his back.

"You don't know my identity yet, and I don't have the authority to explain it to you in full, but there is one fact that is very clear and understandable." Stella's voice was gentle and steady. She stopped smiling to make sure that she was indeed talking about a grand and specific security incident at the moment.

Obviously, Arevalo was completely caught by this sentence - Stella implied that her identity carried some kind of self-evident specialness, and at the same time, Hesta did not refute it.

"The reason why the hunt for Tan Yi failed two years ago was because AHgAs abandoned the perspective of ordinary people," Stella said with some certainty, "The assassin is of course a user of the Mercury Needle ability, but it is obvious that she does not belong to the Mercury Needle, she does not belong to those combat weapons mass-produced from the base... She came among us with strong hatred and wanted to take some lives, so the one who can capture her in the end must be a net that condenses the same hatred. Otherwise, we can't really predict her..."

Arevalo's gaze became profound. He was indeed considering the possibility raised by Stella, but soon, he realized something and came back to his senses: "'She'?"

"Of course it's her," Stella said, "Have you forgotten that the people call this assassin 'Alecto'?" Arevalo sighed.

"So, Inspector," he looked at Hesta, "tell me how I can cooperate with you next... I know that there is a complete Mercury Needle Operation Team living in your manor now-"

"Let's not talk about such a distant matter for now," Hesta said, "Please ask the Governor to come downstairs and have a meal first."

The room suddenly became quiet.

"...Uh," the secretary spoke first, "The Governor's health tonight--"

"I accepted your invitation because you said there were some guests here that I should know," Hesta looked at him, "or did the Governor want to tell me that you were too weak to stand up or speak because you received a photo."

Arevalo's eyes suddenly became sharp. He coughed heavily a few times and sat up holding the handle of the chair. Just as he was about to say something, Hesta had already extended his hand to him.

"That's good, Governor," Hesta whispered, "I always believe that a man who has been on the battlefield for a long time will not fall down because of the threat of death from a photo - our courage in dangerous or even desperate situations can often reflect our true side."

Hesta paused.

"You are certainly a brave man."

Arevalo suddenly laughed and grabbed the hand that Hesta handed him: "...Of course."

……

On the first floor, the toasts had already been made and everyone was seated at the long table. The seat belonging to Arevalo was vacant, and the air was filled with clinking glasses and laughter.

Suddenly, a gust of wind that brought silence swept by gently, and everyone's eyes turned to the stairs leading to the second floor - first, the guests who did not go downstairs in order to guard the Governor came down one after another, and then the secretary who almost represented the Governor himself.

When Arevalo himself appeared, people immediately stopped eating, and the guests kept standing up and spreading away like a wave.

People saw the young inspector standing beside the governor, helping him down as a matter of course. The old man frowned, and although he was still wearing a military uniform and medals, his face did show a rare weakness and hesitation.

As the Governor approached, the guest originally sitting on his left immediately realized something. He stood up and took his plate away. The waiter next to him immediately understood and quickly replaced all the tableware before Hesta sat down.

Hesta glanced at the man who was still standing next to him.

The man greeted Hesta nervously, and then realized that there was another friend beside the Inspector. He held his breath in panic and stood up and retreated: "I'm sorry..."

Stella sat down, smiled slightly, tilted her head slightly, and pushed her long hair that fell on her chest to her shoulders.