The Wielder of Death Magic

Chapter 423: Investigation

Following the interview, the uncut version of what Emi retold of her experiences added to the downfall of the association.

“VICE DIRECTOR,” stood lifelessly in the middle of the conference room, the man who had planned to do much more fell in disarray. What he had built over the years crumbled. The walls felt as if straw and the destruction outside was of a starving tempest. Out of the Six executives, only two remained. Lady Six and the leader, Mr. Zero. The other associates cut their losses and severed any links to the shady organization.

“Yes, Lady Six,” said he with no ambition.

“The AHA is done for. Mr. Zero, I only came to give my sincere regards as to what is to come. The Emperor’s message is clear, this association was doomed the moment the Dynasty got involved. I’ve said it countless times, being rich doesn’t mean one is almighty.”

“LADY SIX, YOU BETTER SHUT UP,” yelled a differing voice from screen ‘Zero’.

“The bratty heir is here,” laughed she, “-tell thy grandfather that the Patek’s will fall one day or the other. Thee have brought about too much suffering.”

“Vice-director, cut her connection this instant, I order you!”

.....

“Shut up,” screamed the man in disbelief, “-it’s because of you we’re in this mess. I said this so many time before, DON’T MESS WITH WHAT ISN’T IN THY CONTROL. You’re nothing but a spoiled brat.”

“Vice Director,” the screen ‘zero’ changed in tone, “-you best keep thy tongue quiet.”

“...” facially tense, he felt nothing more than the pure anger of wanting to punch the one at the top.

“Lady Six,” said Zero.

“...” silence, the connection cut.

“She’s gone to hide like the coward she is. Vice-Director, I realize there’s no way to save the AHA. We need to cut our losses and disband. This whole thing reeks of a conspiracy. As from this moment, thee are fired, go, and never turn back. The Patek will take care of the rest.”

“What do you mean?” the silent hall whispered a coming tragedy. Countless footsteps stomped their way around the hall -it encircled one by one. “Mr. Zero, please don’t tell me...”

“Yes, it is,” he laughed, “-those who are weak and undeserving of our grace must pay with their lives.” The curtain parted for the last act had come. The stomping came as people with guns barged into the room. No mercy, no chance to react, not a say, nothing, what he saw was the smiling face of Zero. “-Kill him,” echoed loud and clear, a massacre was ordered.

Date: 12th of May. *Breaking News: The AHA’s downfall.*

“Early morning of today, Public safety got a distress call from an employee of the association. Those who worked at the AHA were killed in cold blood. We haven’t the exact numbers of how many died, but we know one thing for sure – its cruelty.”

Inside the building, after the entrance and into the inner-building; corpses laid atop one another.

“This is awful,” said Chad holding his nose.

“Yeah,” added Larson emptily, the rest of the force moved to recover the deceased. “What brought about this carnage?”

“I know not sir,” voiced Chad making his walk across the bloodied floor.

“Why would someone kill the employees who were most definitely clueless to the happenings of the AHA. The more this event plays out, the more confusing it becomes.”

“Sir.”

“What is it?” asked Larson coming to a squatting Chad.

“Look here,” he pointed to a lady desperately clenching onto an object.

“Go on then,” nodded he with arms crossed.

Cold and murky to the touch, the assistant tried hard to not have the sight of blood bring fear. “Here, I got it.”

“Is that tape?”

“I presume so,” frowned Chad, “-it’s possible she was trying to run away from the security room.”

“And what brings you to that conclusion?” asked Larson with an attentive face.

“Look at how she died and the injuries. It’s most likely she was shot in the back. It explains why she fell face first. As for where she came, the tape is specially made for cameras,” to which he pointed up, “-the whole building has surveillance.”

“Let’s check the security room then,” smiled Larson, “-the deduction was primitive but accurate. Congratulation on using thy brain, Chad, here I thought you only knew how to preach about idealisms.”

“Please, sir, there’s no need to strain thyself in being kind.”

“As expected,” broken screens, trashed interfaces; guards shot with their blood on the various buttons. “Its reason enough,” said Larson, “-it was intentional. Someone ordered people to attack the AHA. The culprit took advantage of the riot to wipe out any evidence.”

“Yeah, there’s no tapes available,” said Chad head deep into where the data would be kept.

“Obviously,” said he holding the bloodied tape, “-she knew of the coming bloodshed. A guard who saw the death on the other floors tried to flee with the proof. She would have gotten away if not for the physical altercation.”

“What do you mean?”

“Look at the door,” besides being made of metal, nothing stood out. “Look at the impact, the scratch marks.”

“Scratch marks, really sir?” the stance slumped.

“Yeah I know,” breathing deep, “-you can argue the scratches are from previous wear and tear,” to the corner, in a dark area where light didn’t penetrate, a rod faintly glimmered. “Look at it,” held into better light, “-a defensive baton used by guards. Why would this be on the floor if not for someone trying to fight.”

“I mean, they could have heard the men coming and tried to fight back.”

“Then, why is there only one baton and not the other guards. Reason says a squad would have allied to fend off the enemies. The door is heavy, I’m sure they could have locked it in case of danger, then why did they not do so.”

“Ok, then what about the altercation, how did you come to that conclusion?”

“Simple,” returned to the door, “-the assailant missed the lady and hit the shelf here.” And indeed, to the right of the door, rose a bent metal shelf used for storing items. “He missed, hit the shelf, lost grip of the baton that flew to the other side, and gave chase after the lady.”

“Where’s the man then?”

“Don’t you get it?” he laughed; “-he was an inside man.”

“Wouldn’t he have the tape?”

“Yes, that is if he was alive...”

“Are you just inventing stories now?”

“No, the man is dead. I’m sure you’ll find the body amidst the others.”

“Y-yeahhh.” Unconvinced, the duo continued to walk around the office. They discussed further and further until the server room.

“Our last piece of evidence,” smiled he.

“What a mess,” holding his nose, the stench of burning rubber and metal had turned the clean hall into a mess of molten trash. Skipping over rubbles here and there, nothing could be recovered.

“It spells it out. It’s an inside job – people from the top ordered for the slaughter of their employees. It’s a good move since many of them were in on the affair.”

“The server-room is destroyed; we can’t find damning evidence against the AHA. Whatever, as if it matters, the damage is done, the Association is a thing of the past.”

“Who are we going to hold culprit?” asked Chad angered by what he pieced together. The action, the process, and the repercussion.

“No one,” sighed Larson, “-it’s the same as before. The people responsible are the mighty of high-society. Even if we had evidence, there’s nothing we could do.” Backtracking their steps to the reception – as Larson told, a guard without a baton was found dead not too far from the security room.

“Mr. Larson, Mr. Chad, there’s someone on the phone,” came an officer wearing gloves.

“Alright,” said he over the whole ordeal. “Chad, go help in recovering the bodies, we’re done here. Who knows, you might find some jewelry as a freebie.”

“I’m not stealing from the dead.”

“Yeah, yeah, whatever,” pushing the door open, countless people stood shy of the entrance. A barricade with officers as overwatch held any reporters from getting close. ‘Look at them,’ glared in disgust, ‘-people died and they think nothing more than to get the first interview.’ Down the side of the building into the empty parking lot, “Hello, Larson speaking.”

“Officer Larson,” said a deep menacing voice.

“Yes, it’s me, what do you need?”

“Have you had a good look at the damage caused?”

“Is this a prank call, I’m hanging up.”

“Wait,” said it adamantly, “-does thee not want to know what the servers held? Does thee not want to see footage of the shooting?”

“Who is this?”

“An acquaintance.”

“I don’t recognize your voice.”

“Of course, you won’t for we met at Tale. The slaying of 200 men, does that jog thy memory?”

“Mr. Crow.”

“Crow?”

“Yes, since you’re not going to reveal your identity...”

“Mr. Crow sounds good enough.”

“Why now, I did as I was told, I’m staying away from what we found. Is there something else you want to threaten me for?”

“No, rather, I’d like to recompense thee with a gift. Mr. Larson, I’m neither friend nor foe, consider me a man who wishes to break the upper echelon. To do that, I’ll require assistance from you and your men. Unit 08; I have information that may prove detrimental to a certain party. Do with it as you wish. I’m sure the people who died were killed without ever having a chance to prove themselves. Do what is right, I trust you know what is best.” The phone hung with countless files, videos, and audio snippets being uploaded.

‘T-this is...’ he fell to the ground shocked by what was showed. ‘It all points to the Patek Dynasty. They are responsible for the slaughter. The video says it all – Mr. Zero aka Rowley Aldis Patek, the former head of the Dynasty. Father of the current head; Mishline Guiz Patek. This information alone is enough to have me killed. There’re even the videos of the heir indulging into the unconsented bonding of flesh,’ he shook in fright, ‘-I can’t! if this gets out the Patek’s will be after my family. I can’t, I can’t show anyone this proof.’ Larson sat with knees to his head. There was nothing he could do.

“Majesty,” spoke éclair, “-was it wise to give the detective such condemning evidence?”

“Yeah, whatever he does with it doesn’t affect us. The Patek was behind the AHA and their actions can be revealed to the public. The question now is how Cimier is involved. The shooting, éclair, can you scan each of their faces and trace their background?”

.....

“Yes, it will take a few hours.”

“Then get to it, track their location, family, people relating to them. I want to know where they gather. They were dressed like Cimier, but I doubt it’s them. Decoys or the Patek’s private militia group.”

“Master, their weapons, the shooters were using Magnic-S variant.”

“The silenced pistol,” thought he behind a desk, “-they’re customers of Phantom. Run a search on who ordered that particular model in the past year. They bought from us, should have the search lessened.”

“Will it not go against our neutrality?”

“éclair, I only asked for who we sold it to. Besides, they would never buy directly – the buyer is most likely a mediator.”

“It’s a possibility, alright master, I shall get to work.”

Out towards the Sultria’s estate, “-look what you did brother,” said a less than impressed Amber. “The speech you made killed those who worked at that building. How are you going to take responsibility?” Stood she as big as a mountain. Her stance close, the distance between his desk and her felt as if the earth and moon.

“Big sister Amber,” stared he coldly, “-I did what I had to do. If they died, there’s no arguing said fact.”

“So, is the emperor going to sit on his laurels and do naught?” asked she vengefully throwing her arms in unison.

“Let me ask this, where were you during the incident?”

“N-nowhere,” her eyes twitched, the stance broke a little.

“And where is nowhere supposed to be? I need answers sister,” he pressed onto the matter.

“At the capital working towards making the company grow. Do you have a problem with that?”

“No,” said he sternly, “-thing is, sister, I heard from one of my informants that a man referred to you as Lady Six. Is there maybe something your hiding?”

“This discussion is over,” the door slammed.

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