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Noel hastily lead everyone to the scene. She was somewhat happy they didn’t take long to move. They had no time to waste if they wanted to gather enough evidence. The clock was ticking and the court of carnage was drawing ever closer. There wasn’t a second to spare. 

The reactions of everyone were heart-breaking. Noel remembered the first time she saw this happen. She stood there paralyzed for a short moment in remembrance, then continued her own investigation. She decided to focus more on the pictures she had taken; there was only that much room for people to look around the scene themselves.

Noel wasn’t certain, but something on the scene didn’t match up to the pictures. What had changed?

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The most Marianne took from the ruckus around her was that an item had been found, possibly hinting more strongly at how Mondatta had died. She heard the voices of Bliss, the newcomer Alice, and an almost estranged Davis, and the herbalist shuddered inwardly as the man left a biting remark into the already tense air before he made his exit from the cave.

A moment of silence was left to linger.
[color=8EE5EE]"...um."[/color] the woman on the ground croaked, her voice only loud enough to be heard by those immediately by her. Luckily, the pair, Bliss and Alice, were in her target range. [color=8EE5EE]"...is there any blood on the handle, by any chance? Maybe...we could discover what the handle's head was, that way..."[/color]

She shook her head. The idea sounded a lot dumber once it had escaped her lips. Still, she felt the need to remark to the room, being the one on the ground with a recovering Krista:
[color=8EE5EE]"The blood is warm, and still wet."[/color] she lifted one of her hands that had been stroking the infinite violinist's hair, and brought it to her face. The liquidy, blotchy stains it left left nothing to the question. The blood was fresh. [color=8EE5EE]"...we discovered the body now, but it would appear that this happened not too long ago. That is, if we believe...the two acts, Krista's attacking and the m-murder..."[/color] she stuttered here noticeably, as if reluctant to believe it really had happened,  [color=8EE5EE]"took place at the exact same time."[/color]

Cyrus's reaction against Mary had been forceful, but that was probably the only way he could've prevented any irreversible damage to the scene. Afterwards, he gladly let Daimyon take care of soothing her with his golden tongue. The politician had a way with words himself, but he was more proficient at tugging different emotions. Not to mention, right now his focus was aimed more at solving the murder of a great man. Why did it have to be Mondatta of all people? The monk had demonstrated himself to be such a great addition to this group. Cyrus wasn't a man of faith, but that didn't mean he couldn't respect the monk's approach to this situation. He hoped his spiritual guidance would continue to guide those of the group that had come to appreciate it in the last few days.

Hearing Marianne, he turned to her in response, pondering the same issue. [color=D1c2bf]"It is very likely. Mondatta was in charge of guarding Krista. It is unlikely the two weren't together at the moment of the crime."[/color] He knew there was a chance the violinist and monk had been separated, but that would mean the murderer would have to have taken Krista out here later. They'd have to hear Krista's report on that once she felt better. Without a doubt this would play a large role in the court.[color=D1c2bf]"Other options aren't impossible, just very unlikely without further evidence."[/color]

[color=8EE5EE]"...I agree-"[/color]
Marianne had hardly finished her statement before she felt a beeping in her lap, under where Krista's head lay. 
'Clue acquired!'
She gently placed the blonde's head onto the floor and gave her a quick, reassuring smile, before picking up the source of the sound - the herbalist's own e-handbook. It had updated with an entry under the Truth Bullets section that read:

[i]The blood on the back of Krista's head is still wet. It takes blood about a half-hour to an hour for blood to dry at room temperature.[/i]

[color=8EE5EE]"Fascinating."[/color] the herbalist sat, her bloodstained dress hardly posing as a problem as she touched the surface of the e-handbook with her red tipped fingers. This piece of machinery was incredible - and the source behind it even moreso.
She carefully took a deep breath, tightening her whole body as she rose to her feet. The stretch at her hips as always made her wince, but the moving was doing much better for her mobility - else she'd really freeze stiff that way. When she faced him, her words were directed half to Cyrus, and half to the group that stood around them:

[color=8EE5EE]"The handbooks we have been issued have updated with the most recent findings! Please look at them."[/color]
She caught her speaking to be disjointed, and repeated her sentence in more conversational  English, [color=8EE5EE]"I think if we find clues, they will...um. Load? Is that the word? Log? They will be registered on our handbooks."[/color]
She appeared satisfied with herself. There were many more clues that needed to be found. And, with Davis' words ringing in her head, there wasn't much time.

[color=8EE5EE]"Cyrus,"[/color] her tone was a mixture of serious and fluttery, her closing the distance between the two of them and looking up into the man's steely grey eyes. This was how the herbalist always felt when looking the politician dead in the eye, like her heart would take off.
...did it not matter that there was a dead body literally feet away? And if not that, the fact that Marianne was almost covered in blood, the front of her white dress housing a kaleidoscopic series of red stains, and her fingers sporting the same. She almost existed as homage to the newly registered clue.
[color=8EE5EE]"...will you accompany me, please?"[/color]
She paused before adding decidedly, almost in a whisper, [color=8EE5EE]"...there is something I need to ask you. Show you, rather. And anyone here could be the murderer. ...it's not safe to go alone."[/color]

Cyrus took a short moment to check his own handbook, confirming what the herbalist said. He didn't pay it much more mind. It would be a great reminder, but finding new clues had priority right now. 
He continued making observations, though there really wasn't much to find. Much like what the monokuma file said, the suit made it very difficult to discern anything what happened to the body of the monk. His concentration was suddenly broken when he was spoken to by the Herbalist. The blood made her look somewhat grizzly, but he knew how it happened.

He gave a solemn nod as he got up and followed her. Cyrus wasn't having much succes here, so maybe whatever she had to show could lead to further insight? He wondered what it was that she couldn't just show everyone else. [color=D1c2bf]"Where are we going?"[/color]

[color=8EE5EE]"Nowhere in particular."[/color] the herbalist added when they were a reasonable distance away. Should the person playing at her mind show up, hopefully they would not overhear their discussion. [color=8EE5EE]"...I need to attend to Krista. I...Bliss is there, but I hope I am not the only one a little bit...suspicious."[/color] her words came out croaked.
[color=8EE5EE]"I don't have much time. I don't know if this will help, if at all-"[/color] her speaking pace increased, the French accent creeping in again, [color=8EE5EE]"but please, take this. Read it. It will find more help with you than with me. Please, come find me at the sick bay. I will be with Krista so long as the bear allows."[/color]

Without another word, the herbalist actually reached (nonchalantly!) into her bra (for her dress had a lack of pockets) and fished out a rolled up newspaper clipping. She handled it gingerly before placing it almost hurriedly into the Politician's hands. 
[color=8EE5EE]"This seemed to be of interest to the late Miss Moffett. It was on her desk, among other things. She may have been looking into it. ...since I now occupy her room, I...found it some days ago when I was settling in. Mondatta was with me at the time, I-I only wish..."[/color] she trailed off, shook her head and bit her bottom lip. Regrets would not help anyone at this point especially.
[color=8EE5EE]"I don't know if it will help at all. ...please, hold onto it. There's someone who would murder for a phone call among us. I don't know if I want to take my chances with...them."[/color]

Cyrus took the article from her hands with a nod, wondering how a newspaper clipping could possibly connect to the case. He unfirmed it and started to read it attentively.

[hider=The Article]

[b]Justiciar Has Joined the Infinity Initiative as the Infinite Vigilante[/b]

[i]It is with great pride that the infinity initiative reports that the elusive Justiciar has agreed to become the infinite vigilante. Justiciar is well known for their great acts of vigilante heroism around the globe. This person alone has dozens of civilian rescues on their name. But Justiciar is best known for their hunting and execution of high profile criminals and remnants of despair. Their death count has recently exceeded five hundred criminals, ranging from lowly bank robbers to notorious drug barons.

Besides continued nondisclosure of their identity, the infinity initiative has agreed to aid Justiciar’s global efforts by providing the vigilante the means for quicker global travel and specially crafted gear. This gear is the one-of-a-kind, custom-made JUSTICE exo-suit. This suit is made from a lightweight, yet highly durable alloy to provide maximal protection while keeping their steps light and stealthy.  It has also been outfitted with a voice muffler to further aid the concealment of our vigilante’s identity. Furthermore, Justiciar has been armed with a .70 caliber handgun crafted by the infinite gunsmith, and a top-of-the-bill blade made by the infinite metalsmith!

Villains around the world be warned! The infinite vigilante Justiciar is now even more effective in bringing justice! [/i]

The article seemed to be a printed news page from the website of the infinity initiative itself. Next to the title, which was written in large lavish letters, was a close-up picture of a figure brandishing a distinct blade and gun.  The person was completely covered in a robotic, dark metal exo suit that had design features similar to Mondatta, but was strikingly different otherwise. Aesthetically, the exo-suit was remarkably featureless, making it impossible to truly find out anything about the person underneath.

[/hider]

Before he could ask her any more questions, the herbalist disappeared again beyond the rocky croppings of the faux cave, back to where Krista lay, and where she intended on helping the blonde to a more stable medical environment as soon as possible.

Cyrus looked at the article in confusion. He had heard of the infinite vigilante before, but he had never seen the picture. Still, he assumed this was unrelated to the case. Marianne had found this several days ago in the room of Shona? Cyrus also noted that the infinite vigilante used bladed weapons and guns, which didn't fit the crime scene. Nevertheless, only one person could know more...

Cyrus would have to pay a visit to Calvin, the infinite metalsmith.