I Became Robin?! (Honkai Star Rail)

Robin speculated that the reason she hadn't been attacked was due to her perceived status as an "official staff member" and the fear of her combat capabilities.

Everyone knew that the Bureau of Anomalous Investigations was staffed entirely by Evolvers and Transformers; no ordinary humans were employed there. Though Robin herself was inwardly panicked and terrified, to others, she appeared calm and reliable.

Moreover, Robin had never introduced herself. Among the hundred-plus people present, only a handful of fans who had seen her videos recognized her. The rest were completely unfamiliar with her, unaware of her abilities, and didn't even know her name.

The unknown naturally breeds caution. Putting herself in the enemy's shoes, Robin reasoned that if she were a "bad guy" hiding in the crowd, she would undoubtedly keep a close eye on "official staff members," as they would be the greatest obstacle to her plans.

Eliminating the "official staff members" would grant free rein within this confined space. But that was precisely the problem: a premature strike, if failed, would mean certain doom.

In other words, the more mysterious Robin appeared, the greater her deterrent effect on any potential enemies.

Of course, all of this hinged on the assumption that the enemy was truly human. This was precisely what puzzled Robin. Why would they be slaughtering each other for no apparent reason? And how could the victims vanish into thin air? How was the killer accomplishing this?

Robin didn't have the answers yet, but she now had a clear objective and direction: to boldly hypothesize, cautiously verify, and try to unmask the "enemy" lurking among them.

In fact, as she considered this, the image of the male student from before involuntarily surfaced in her mind. Without exaggeration, he had instantly become her prime suspect.

The coincidence was simply too convenient. Why would he happen to run out of the restroom just as she was heading there, then immediately claim he was looking for her? Viewed from another angle, didn't it seem like he had just committed a murder and, spotting the police approaching, hastily concocted an alibi?

As everyone knew, the person who discovered a body was usually under intense suspicion.

However, Robin had no concrete evidence. All of this was merely speculation. Even if she managed to pinpoint the killer and gather proof, she wouldn't reveal their identity.

The unknown terrified her opponent, and Robin was equally afraid. She had no idea of the enemy's combat prowess; she only knew she was weak. Revealing their identity would only provoke a desperate, all-out attack, potentially dragging everyone down with them.

Robin quickly returned to the hot pot restaurant. She clapped her hands to get everyone's attention, then announced, "I regret to inform you that despite the apparent calm around us, at least three people have already died."

The crowd visibly stirred, but she continued, "My investigation reveals that the enemy isn't some monster, but a human. The killer is hiding among us, waiting for the right moment to strike!"

As she spoke, her gaze swept across everyone present, as if trying to identify the so-called "killer."

In normal circumstances, Robin's words would have sparked mistrust and hostility among the group. But thanks to her ability, everyone remained remarkably calm.

"From now on, I'll divide everyone into groups of five. Regardless of what you're doing or where you're going, you must stay within a reasonable distance of your group. If anyone notices anything suspicious, report it to me immediately."

Although Robin couldn't be entirely certain the culprit was human, she declared it anyway. If the killer was indeed human, hearing her words would naturally prompt them to lie low. If it was a monster, her statement would have no effect. It was a calculated gamble with guaranteed returns.

Next came the tedious task of gathering data and forming groups. Using Cheng Hui's portable charger, Robin randomly called out five names at a time, recording each group in the notepad app on her phone.

She could have simply instructed everyone to "always move in groups of five." Fixed grouping was exhausting and time-consuming, but Robin feared the possibility of multiple killers.

It was like playing Werewolf. What if two "wolves" acted together to eliminate someone? Fixed grouping eliminated that risk entirely. With everyone's names listed on her phone, any missing member from a group would instantly alert her to the killer's movements.

The process of taking attendance and forming groups took a considerable amount of time. Notably, when the male student approached, Robin proactively struck up a conversation with him, offering words of comfort and urging him not to be too disheartened. Throughout this exchange, she meticulously observed his facial expressions and maintained steady eye contact. However, the student simply met her gaze without betraying any unusual reactions.

No, Robin realized, her approach itself was fundamentally flawed. Her Ability kept everyone in an unnaturally calm state, including the murderer. This meant that no matter how subtly she probed, she wouldn't uncover anything.

Soon after finishing the grouping at the Hot Pot Restaurant, Robin moved to the adjacent supermarket and repeated the process. With the bald man excluded, the total number of participants was now 181, meaning the final group would consist of six individuals. Robin placed herself, Cheng Hui, and four randomly selected students—two men and two women—into this last group.

Throughout the entire process, everyone remained remarkably cooperative. Beyond Robin's Ability, another crucial factor was the clarity and reassuring nature of her instructions.

Everyone's tasks and how to perform them were clearly defined. If someone indecisive had been in charge at that critical moment, stammering endlessly without a clear course of action, the situation would have quickly deteriorated.

By the time Robin returned to her original seat to rest, it was past noon. Cheng Hui had already woken up, rubbing her eyes and yawning. "Haah~ How's it going?"

"Not bad," Robin replied, habitually tucking a strand of hair behind her wing. Instead of retracting her hand, she twirled the azure lock around her fingertip. "If I'm right, and if the 'culprit' is timid, we might not see any more victims."

In truth, now that any murder would inevitably expose the perpetrator, Robin herself was the most vulnerable target. But there was no avoiding this—it was currently the best possible solution.