Free Web NovelChapter 203: Chapter 202 - Investigation(Part 1)
Point-of-View: Aurora Pretorius
———————————————————————————
"I don’t see why I have to be a part of this," I sighed apprehensively.
"Because it’s not just any ordinary incident caused by a new Meta-Human. Based on the reports we’ve gotten, it’s clear that whoever’s behind this, is highly adept at using the Dark Skill. That’s why we’re sending our best Dark Skill users to investigate, since Dark Skill users are resistant to the Dark Skill techniques of others," Pointed out Neo objectively.
Today’s the 1st of October, and things had finally begun to settle down, the Deities having gone quiet now that the Monsters had been dealt with.
Unfortunately, crime rates across the world were on the uptick, ballooning to an extent where it was hard to bring it under control. However, Harmony were staying out of it, letting the governments and law enforcements of the world deal with it.
But today, Neo had showed up with the Category 0 Leonardo Fournier, whom I was supposed to pair up with, plus Inoka, to go investigate a string of recent incidents in Egypt.
Leonardo’s the only Category 0 with the Dark Skill, and he’s supposed to be highly proficient with it. And Inoka was included since he can undo any negative effects inflicted by Dark Skill techniques. So, yeah, the two of them and I were supposed to go to Egypt and look around to see who’s causing the reported incidents.
In most of the cases, all the victims had been killed, but some had been spared, and all of them reported either being forced to kill, torture or abuse their loved ones, or had no memory of what happened, simply finding themselves with blood on their hands.
"Did you have to spring this on me at the last minute? It’s so annoying," I grumbled irritably.
"I second that notion, I was right in the middle of making some solid progress with Kiyana’s training," Added Inoka with a frown.
I bet he’s more annoyed that his spending time with her was interrupted.
"Yeah, yeah, my bad, I’ll make it up to you two afterwards," Replied Neo with a wry smile.
"Fine, after this is done, I’ll give you a long list of things I want, and you’re gonna get everything on the list right away," I decided, after mulling it over.
"I’d like to make the same request," Added Inoka in agreement.
"Alright, you’ve got yourself a deal. I’ll drop you off at the police station where the surviving victims are being held, talk to them, and then go visit the crime scenes. Aurora, hopefully with your senses, you’ll be able to pick up the scents of whoever’s behind this," Advised Neo, as he opened a portal.
"Hey, uh, mind if I tag along?" Suddenly spoke up Fenris.
"Huh? Why do you want to go?" Responded Neo in surprise.
"Isn’t it obvious? I don’t want Aurora to be alone with this objectively good-looking guy!" He exclaimed incredulously.
Idiot.
"Heh, I suppose I’ll take that as a compliment. And no need to worry, I’m in a relationship, Werewolf dude," Grinned Leonardo in response.
"Oh, really? In that case, it’s fine," Fenris sighed in relief, before adding, "But I’d still like to tag along, just in case."
"Hey, what am I, chopped liver? I’m going too, remember? So she’s not alone with him in the first place," Remarked Inoka dryly.
"Eh, you don’t really count," Shrugged Fenris in response.
"Huh? What’s that supposed to mean, you mutt?" Replied Inoka indignantly.
"Come on, let’s go already," Neo prompted us impatiently.
Leonardo, Inoka, Fenris and I then headed into the portal, before emerging outside a police station, where a man was standing, seeming to be waiting for us.
"Ah, welcome, you must be from Harmony, yes? We are much grateful for your help," He greeted up in a friendly tone, with a strong accent.
He looks super stressed and worn out, with dark circles under his eyes and clammy skin.
"We’ll do our best to help solve this. We were planning to start by questioning the survivors of the incidents, could you take them to us?" Responded Leonardo with a smile.
"Yes, of course. Please, this way," He replied, before leading the way as he showed us into the building.
"Um, I don’t really know how this works, exactly, but isn’t it unusual to keep victims in custody? Some of these incidents happened days ago, right?" I inquired curiously.
"Actually, they are staying here willingly, in fact, they insisted on it...they are all quite terrified of going outside and are heavily traumatized, you see, as is to be expected," He explained with a grimace.
"I’m sorry to hear that...whoever’s behind this must be a real monster," Frowned Leonardo in disgust.
"Yes, very much so. I shall first show you to the more recent of the two survivors of these incidents. She is of slightly sounder mind than the other one," He informed us, as he led us to a room and opened the door.
A woman was inside, hunched down in the corner of the room on a bed, with blonde hair in a messy tangle, and a worn out, drained look on her face. She looked up weakly as we entered, shrinking further into the corner.
"Hi, ma’am, we’re sorry to disturb you. We’re here investigating the recent string of incidents in the hope that we can apprehend the monster responsible. So, if it’s okay, we’d like to ask you some questions about what happened," Said Leonardo in a gentle voice, a soft smile on his face.
Wow, his social skills are amazing. I don’t think I’d be able to pull of this kind of approach.
"Hm...? Apprehend? No...no, I want...I want them dead! They’re evil...pure evil!" She snapped, trembling with rage.
Them? So, then, there’s more than one person involved in these incidents.
"Woah, crazy eyes alert," Muttered Fenris quietly.
"She’s in a bad mental state...I can help ease that using my Light Skill," Suggested Inoka in a whisper.
"Hm...okay, that’ll probably be very helpful," Nodded Leonardo in response, before turning to the woman with a smile, "Excuse me, ma’am, may we come closer? With your help, our chances of making sure that these vile bastards get what they deserve."
Nice, he avoided saying apprehend again, but he also avoided telling her that we’ll kill them. He’s good at this. And based on Inoka’s expression, he’s noticed it too.
"O...okay. If I can help at all, I will...they have to pay for what they did...!" She growled, her eyes bulging with fury.
We then slowly approached her, before Inoka stepped towards her.
"Pardon me," He remarked, as he gently placed his hand on her shoulder, his palm glowing.
As he did, her expression eased up a fair bit, the light in her eyes returning.
"Oh...I feel...what did you do?" She inquired, wide-eyed.
"Don’t worry, I just did away with the accumulated stress in you," He replied, before stepping back.
"If you’re ready, we’ll begin with the questions. Is that okay?" Leonardo asked her.
"Yes...I’ll tell you everything about that night."
"To start with...could you give us a rundown of what happened?" He prompted her.
"Alright...that day, my family and I had spend all day out, we visited a lot of places. When we got back to the hotel, we were pretty worn out, so my husband went out to buy some food so that we could eat in. And when he came back, he was with two people in clown masks...," She began, a grimace on her face as she continued to relay the events that followed. freёwebnoѵel.com
We could only listen in horror and disbelief as she told us what happened, what the two in the clown masks forced her husband to do.
He beat up their son, and then raped their daughter, while she was forced to watch it all play out. It only ended when the ceiling suddenly collapsed, likely due to a Monster showing up, after which she was knocked out and woke up to find the hotel in shambles.
We were silent as she finished, unable to say a word. How...how could anyone be so horrible? How can people like that really exist?
"I’m...I’m so sorry you had to go through all that," Leonardo broke the silence with a grimace, before looking her in the eye and asking, "I hate to ask you to think about it anymore, but...do you remember anything about them? Appearance, speech patterns, height, anything?"
"Let me think...one was a man and the other was a woman, she’s the one who restrained me and then knocked me out. They both had black hair, but...I think it was hair dye, the color didn’t quite look natural. And...her voice. It sounded...familiar," She frowned uncertainly.
"Do you remember if they used any powers?" He inquired in response.
"No, they-...wait, actually, yes. When the ceiling collapsed, the woman used fire," She recalled with a nod.
"Fire, huh? Think it could’ve been that Eden Outlier that got away?" Suggested Fenris with a frown.
"You said her voice was familiar...tell me, do you know the pop star Astra?" Inoka asked her.
My eyes widened with realization, they might be on to something...she’s the only Outlier who was unaccounted for after the raid on the Eden hideout here in Egypt. What’s more, the Dark Skill user with the Condition technique was also unaccounted for...
"Hm? Yes, I am, but what does-...," She began, before trailing off as she let out a gasp, "That voice...how did I not realize? Yes...yes, it sounded just like her!"
_____________________________________________
Thank you for reading, I hope you enjoyed this Chapter! Don’t forget to vote, and feel free to leave a comment, I appreciate any and all feedback and criticism!
Also, check out my Instagram account @aimdaqs for posts relating to this book.
Join the Discord server, I plan to tease upcoming Chapters and future story arcs here, and you can also discuss or ask me any questions about the story and characters. Use the invite link to join:
https://discord.gg/sRbx9VbTVP
