strictlysupreme Chapter 192 The Disappearance Case (3)
Chapter 192 The Disappearance Case (3)
Chapter 192 The Disappearance Case (3)
"how is the situation?"
"Not bad."
In the security bureau's office, two officers sat at their desks, each holding a cup of coffee.
"Really?" Harlan asked, looking at Margarita.
Since Margarita returned from the hospital and interrogated the two students involved in the accident, she has been busy reporting to her superiors.
For some reason, higher-ups are pressuring the local security agency for more information and want the case transferred to the central branch.
"Yes. Although the children were frightened, they provided a lot of useful clues."
"Yes, that makes sense. After all, they are students of the Arcadia Hunter Academy."
“That’s right, it seems this is more than just a title.”
"So, what is your conclusion?"
“I’m not sure. Although all the clues point to an internal dispute, my gut feeling tells me that things are far more complicated than they seem.”
"Hmm...why do you think that?"
Margarita leaned back in her chair, deep in thought. "I'm not quite sure either. It's just... it all happened so fast, so cleanly, it doesn't feel like a typical dispute between two organizations."
Harlan raised an eyebrow, intrigued by Margarita's intuition. "To draw conclusions based on that alone? Even among gangsters, there are many skilled fighters."
Margarita nodded, acknowledging Harlan's point. "Indeed, but it's not just about strength. Although we can't investigate the scene in detail, based on what Sylvie and I have seen, I think it's far more brutal than a simple dispute; it's as if the murderer is venting his anger on other demons."
Harlan leaned forward, listening intently to Margarita's analysis. "Hmm, that makes sense. But we can't draw conclusions based on that alone."
"I know, it's just my feeling."
"What about the other child who was attacked?"
“Oh, that… Morse Scott.”
"Hmm, how is he?"
"He had almost fully recovered when I was in the hospital."
"That's good."
Margarita couldn't help but smile as she recalled the scene of Sylvie embracing Morse. "He's quite special. He fought a group of attackers all by himself and lasted so long. And the girl with him, Sylvie, is unexpectedly capable."
Harlan raised an eyebrow, looking somewhat curious. "Sylvie? When we found her, she looked like she was already dying."
"Yes, I think she thought Morse was dead."
“Ah…” Harlan suddenly realized and smiled slightly. “That makes sense then.”
“They seem to have some unique abilities. Especially Sylvie, she has a very special healing ability, and it is because of her that Morse is alive.”
"Really?"
“Really. Morse said it was she who healed her own fatal wounds.”
Harlan's expression turned serious; Sylvie's healing abilities made him think deeply.
"If that's the case, then it's no wonder that the higher-ups are so interested in it."
Margarita nodded. “That’s right. The Academy is probably trying to protect information about their students and these special abilities. This isn’t the first time they’ve concealed something like this.”
"really."
“But that kid, Morse… he has the potential to become a police officer.”
"why?"
"He gives me a very keen sense of things."
"So you mean?"
Margarita leaned back in her chair, her gaze distant, recalling her impression of Morse. "He had a natural intuition, the kind that can't be taught. His performance in that situation, and the conclusions he drew, were like those of a seasoned police officer. What's more, his quick thinking and assessment abilities were exceptional."
Harlan raised an eyebrow, intrigued by Margarita's assessment. "You mean he did all that without any training or experience?"
“That’s right, he seems born for this profession. If he had chosen to become a detective, he would have climbed to the top very quickly.”
Harlan laughed. "Alright, alright. Looks like we have a genius on our side. The higher-ups will definitely be happy to hear this."
Ring ring ring!
Just as they were talking, the phone suddenly rang. They were still using old-fashioned communication equipment; it was a tradition.
"Here we go again." Harlan rolled his eyes and picked up the phone.
Ring ring ring!
Harlan answered the phone, expecting a routine announcement. However, as the voice on the other end of the line came through, his expression shifted from casual annoyance to sudden surprise; his eyes widened and his face turned pale.
"What?!" Harlan shouted into the phone, unable to believe what he was hearing. He quickly exchanged a glance with Margarita, who had already leaned forward, sensing that something was wrong.
"Two incidents in one day? Are you kidding me? What are the odds?" Harlan shouted angrily, slamming the phone back down.
Margarita raised an eyebrow, a worried look on her face. "What's wrong?"
“Maya Evergreen, a second-year student from the Arcadia Hunter Academy, is also missing,” Harlan complained, running his fingers through his hair. “First their students were mysteriously attacked, and now an upperclassman is missing. What’s going on?”
Margarita sighed, realizing the situation was escalating. "Looks like we're in for a long night."
"Tsk... I really regret applying for overtime now."
Harlan mumbled his agreement, and the heavy pressure weighed on the two unfortunate shoulders. The two officers then left the room and headed to the students who had seen Maya for the last time.
......
"This is it."
The first place I went to was the spot where we had clashed with the demon followers. It was a small alley, not many people walked around during the day, let alone at night.
Some of the houses are abandoned and deserted.
The lighting here is also poor, and the nostalgic atmosphere of Siux makes the place seem even darker.
"Um……"
As I walked into the alley, the image of the battle flashed through my mind again, showing how the demonic followers moved swiftly across the rooftops.
Whoosh!
I jumped onto the roof and began searching for traces left by the demon's followers.
"They didn't leave many traces."
This was expected; the group was focused on tracking and kidnapping. But my focus wasn't on the route taken by the demon followers.
I activated [Shadow], moving lightly across the rooftops without making a sound. My presence became extremely faint; unless I encountered a very powerful enemy, no one would notice me.
"These……"
Walking on the rooftop was rewarding.
On one of the rooftops, I found a tiny mark. Scattered fragments of tiles indicated that someone had been there.
I crouched down and examined the broken tiles in the dim moonlight. The cracks suggested that someone wasn't particularly adept at maneuvering on rooftops.
'It might be Senior Maya.'
She is a mage who specializes in ranged attacks; mages like her are generally not very agile.
I activated [Perception & Insight] to enhance my senses, allowing me to capture the smallest details.
Moving dust, misaligned tile fragments—these are all traces left by people who aren't good at landing silently.
[Magic Power Observation]
I infused my eyes with magic, allowing them to resonate with their surroundings and search for any remaining traces of magic.
I traced these marks with my eyes, imagining the process of that person falling. Soon, a faint trace guided me.
The landing looked a little awkward; it might have stumbled during the descent.
"But she quickly regained her balance."
Then, there weren't many signs of footsteps. It seemed that Senior Maya paused for a second after landing, checking her surroundings.
Is she looking for demon followers?
That's quite possible. If I were her, I would have done the same. However, since I didn't meet her, it means she was too late.
“In this situation, she would go to where the battle took place.” Since Mason and the other half-demons used magic, the traces should still be there.
The rooftops guided me through the abandoned buildings until I reached the heart of our battle against the demonic followers.
"This is it."
This is a courtyard, and I chose this place to avoid being fatally attacked.
"but……"
Upon arriving at the small courtyard, I noticed something unusual.
“These traces…”
There were many collision marks on the ground, most of which were from us.
When I recall the battle, I can recognize these marks as ours.
"But there are others."
Besides the traces we left behind, there are more here. Especially the cracks in the ground.
"Isn't this the place where I fell?"
The ground was exactly where I fell, but there was no blood. If it had been cleaned up, that would make sense, but this was a desolate alley, and it didn't seem to have been cleaned up.
Something's not right.
I continued my search while pondering the matter.
"Ok?"
A tiny, sparkling object caught my attention, and I pressed my finger to the ground.
"saliva?"
The liquid on the ground reminded me of saliva, and that uneasy feeling welled up inside me.
I cautiously touched the liquid with my finger and felt a strange sensation. It was unlike any saliva I had ever encountered before; it was unusual and sent chills down my spine.
"Why?" I wondered, examining the glistening liquid on my fingers, when I suddenly realized something.
"My blood is here, this feeling... is demonic."
Every time something related to demons happens, [The Blade of Vengeance] reminds me. This feeling, combined with this…
"Did a demon lick my blood...?"
A wave of nausea washed over me... If it really was a demon, then it was possible. Those demons, especially ogres, would do such things.
"Tsk."
This courtyard was not only the battlefield where we clashed with the demon followers, but it also became an unseen battlefield afterward.
The cracked ground signifies intense force.
"Judging from this damage alone, this demon is far more powerful than an ordinary demon."
The enemy was very powerful. In my mind, I imagined how the rift had formed and which direction the demon had fled.
My gaze shifted to the roof.
"That's right..."
Whoosh!
I immediately climbed onto the roof and channeled my magic into my eyes.
'this……'
I saw faint traces of demonic energy and various elemental magic.
"This battle ended in an instant," I muttered to myself, imagining the traces left by that overwhelming power. A demon capable of generating such power must be incredibly strong.
As I continued my investigation of the roof, my Perceptive Insight caught a glimmer of demonic energy. I cautiously approached, and there I found a piece of cloth.
“This is…” I carefully removed the fabric and immediately recognized it. It was a corner of Maya’s clothes, the intricate pattern and design exactly the same as her style.
“She’s been here.” This piece of fabric confirmed all my guesses. From here, I continued searching the scene, looking for any details I might have missed.