Mystery Detective of the Steam World

Chapter 31: Dark Night Chase
"———————!"

The girl suddenly opened her eyes and let out a silent scream. She curled up, trembling uncontrollably, and clenched her right hand tightly. After a while, the girl stopped convulsing. She opened her hand, and in her fair palm, a charred black mark, like a burn, was clearly visible.

He wasn't fooled? Why?
The young woman was utterly baffled. She couldn't understand why the other man hadn't been captivated by her. All the other men before, no matter how talented, handsome, charming, or alluring they were, would become completely mesmerized and fall at her feet the moment they saw her.

But he didn't...

Thinking of that handsome, dashing face, always carrying a gentle smile, the girl's heart pounded. Before, she would never have imagined she'd have the chance to be close to such an outstanding and handsome man. But now it was different; she had been reborn…! She possessed an irresistible charm; no man could ignore her. They would treat her like a queen, fawning over her.

But why is this man different?
At that moment, she could clearly see the infatuation and ecstasy in his eyes, and she was certain that he was just as infatuated with her as any other man.

But why...?

"Waaah..."

A sharp, stinging pain shot through her, and the girl looked down to see a scene that horrified her—her once fair hands were now gradually becoming withered and shriveled. The once white, delicate skin had sunken away, transforming into an ugly shape resembling the withered lines of an old tree.

No, no, no... Don't do this, it can't be like this!

The girl sat up abruptly from the bed and rushed out of her room. She didn't even put on shoes, leaving the house in her nightgown and wandering the dark, dimly lit streets. She could feel her throat becoming thirsty and parched. The burning sensation from her right palm seemed to spread throughout her body, making her desperately want to drink some ice water to dispel the heat.

However, the girl knew that what she needed now was not cold water, but... blood.

Warm, fresh blood—when you drink it, you can even feel the pulse of your heart and the vitality of life. Only it can quench your thirst and restore you!

Soon, the girl saw a figure walking towards her in the distance, and she ran towards him without hesitation. She believed that a delicate girl like herself would easily win a man's sympathy.

"Sir, kind sir, please help me..."

The girl ran over, but soon she stopped, staring in disbelief at the figure—the latter emerging from the shadows and standing in front of her.

"What a wonderful night."

Under the bright moonlight, the incessant roar of steam from afar seemed like background music as the protagonist entered. The white mist, condensed with water vapor, was drawn back like a stage curtain, and Li Wei stepped out. He took off his top hat and bowed to the girl.

Good evening, Miss Maggie.

"……………………"

Maggie stared blankly at Li Wei, her face pale, whether from nervousness or some other reason was unknown.

"Why………"

"You want to ask, how did I know it was you?"

Li Wei twirled his top hat.

"To be honest, I don't know either. I guess you must have some kind of magical power that makes those men see you as an absolute beauty. But I'm sorry, in my eyes you have always been you, Miss Maggie. From beginning to end, you haven't changed."

"So, that means..."

Upon hearing Li Wei's answer, Maggie's body began to tremble.

“That’s right, I watched you invite me, lead me to the room, and then try to seduce me…”

Li Wei stared at Maggie. Perhaps because he had been running around putting out fires in his dreams every night, he knew he was dreaming the moment he saw Maggie. It was at that moment that Li Wei truly saw Maggie's true face—before, in Li Wei's eyes, Maggie was just a blurry image, like someone with severe myopia looking at someone without glasses, only able to vaguely see an outline, but not clearly make out the specific features.

"This, this is impossible!"

Maggie shook her head frantically, trying to deny what Levi had said. At that moment, the young girl trembled as if she had been confronted offline by someone trying to open a box online.

"Back then, you were clearly already in love with me! You looked at me so affectionately! You were no different from those other men!"

“It’s not just women who can act, Miss Maggie.”

Li Wei fiddled with his top hat and spoke casually.

"Many times, men can act too. Perhaps you've overlooked this, or maybe it's because you're too confident in your abilities."

At this point, Li Wei chuckled.

"Moreover, I am very familiar with dreams."

The badge Levi was referring to was, of course, the All-Seeing Eye emblem. They had already tested it when facing Rogers; the All-Seeing Eye simply didn't possess that ability. It wouldn't emit holy light like the cross in movies and novels, shining upon vampires and turning them to ashes.

But it's different in dreams.

As everyone knows, vampires are purified by the All-Seeing Eye, so it's only natural that it would have an effect.

The truth is not important; what matters is the group's perception—just as if everyone believes that the socialite killer is a masked psychopath, then he is a masked psychopath.

Similarly, if everyone believes that Li Wei can eliminate the socialite killer, then he can eliminate the socialite killer.

After all, anything can happen in dreams.

“I didn’t do anything wrong!” Maggie shouted again, as if that would stop the other person.

“I just want attention from other people, like Betty! We’re such good friends, but every single one of those men only cares about Betty! Even Edwards! They’re always so concerned about Betty, and nobody ever looks at me! It’s like I’m just an appendage to her, an accessory! I just want to change all that! I want to be as popular as her!”

"That's really not wrong."

Li Wei nodded and put his hat back on.

"The premise is that you will not hurt others."

"I, I..."

Li Wei's voice was like an invisible blade piercing Maggie's chest; her face turned pale and her body trembled.

“I didn’t mean to, I really didn’t mean to. At that moment, Mr. Edwards turned his gaze to me, and I was so happy. I was no longer just an unknown little woman in his eyes, but someone who had truly won his favor. But, but…”

Maggie stretched out her left hand and gripped her arm tightly.

“I grew thirstier and thirstier, and that man told me that it was the price I had to pay. I had to drink his blood to maintain my strength… And Mr. Edwards agreed; he told me that he was willing to give me his soul! I didn’t force him! He offered it to me voluntarily!”

"who's that person?"

"…………………"

Maggie was suddenly stunned when Li Wei asked her question.

“I, I don’t know… No, I know? I don’t know… I, I remember… That person was mine… My…”

At this point, Maggie seemed to realize something; her eyes widened in terror, and her lips trembled. Just then, a dark shadow descended from the sky, aiming for Maggie's back!
Maggie didn't react at all, but Levi suddenly looked up and pulled the trigger.

"boom!"

As the gunshot rang out, the dark figure was completely shattered.

At the same time, a sweet voice rang out.

"Really, Maggie, I told you to be careful and cautious."

Li Wei gripped his revolver, aiming at a streetlamp in the distance. As the steam dissipated, a petite figure appeared atop it. She had blonde hair, and her chubby cheeks were both adorable and exuded an innocent charm. The only difference was that her eyes were no longer azure, but a deep crimson.

“Betty…”

Maggie stared blankly at the figure standing on the streetlight, trembling, while the latter looked at her with a pure and innocent smile, just as always.

“You see, Maggie, I told you, you’re not good enough. I gave you power, but in the end, you still can’t become me. Poor Maggie, incompetent Maggie, cowardly Maggie. In the end, the ugly duckling can never become a swan.”

"Ah... Ahh..."

Hearing her friend's malicious mockery, Maggie clutched her head, curled up on the floor, and trembled. It was unclear what she was remembering, but judging from her painful groans, it was obvious she was recalling some unpleasant memory.

However, Betty paid no attention to her friend. She merely glanced at her before looking away and turning to Levi.

"You don't seem very surprised, Mr. Li Wei? Did you already guess my true identity?"

"More or less."

Levi gripped the gun handle tightly, staring intently at Betty. In fact, from the very beginning, Levi had harbored some suspicions about Betty.

After all, it was all too coincidental, especially the first dream, Betty, the socialite killer, and him.

The day after having this dream, Levi met Betty.

To call it fate would be somewhat romantic, but unfortunately, Li Wei didn't believe in fate.

Levi had already become suspicious when he saw Betty. After that, he didn't let his guard down around her. The reason Levi hired Betty as his investigator at the school was to see if she would take advantage of the opportunity to do anything.

However, it was unexpected that Betty was the mastermind behind this series of cases. Of course, Levi had already guessed that Maggie didn't seem like the murderer. Because she was too naive and too straightforward, she didn't seem like the kind of killer who would commit such a seamless murder.

"This really disappoints me."

Betty sighed.

“You know what? Mr. Levi? I think the title of ‘Detective’s Assistant’ is quite good, and I’d like to continue like this. Solving exciting and thrilling cases together, growing closer to each other, and maybe our relationship will take it a step further. More than just detective and assistant… Wouldn’t that be a wonderful development? Unfortunately, your paranoia has ruined all of this.”

"I'm sorry, I'm just not romantic."

As he spoke, Levi aimed at Betty and slowly turned the hammer.

"Ugh... Ahhhhhh!"

Just as Li Wei was about to pull the trigger, Maggie, who had been curled up on the ground, suddenly screamed and lunged at Li Wei.

At the same time, Betty leaped down from the street lamp like a swooping eagle, heading straight for Levi!
(End of this chapter)