669 couldn’t sleep well on the night that the Royal Guard and swept in and out of his life like a messed-up puddle of crap. Despite it all, he couldn’t fault Captain Lucas’s strong view of their involvement. The man was just being text-book. But, it was obvious that this murder case was shaping up to be more than textbook: too many players and variables. And there was the need to handle the noble families and underworld business with a deft touch to balance dynamics.
When the toxic concoction of politics, power and profit were combined due to a specific cause, the game of interference with other peoples’ lives become a dangerous pantomime. And there were already four murders involved. Possibly five if Alder Finch should also turn up dead. Although, he would likely be dismissed as unimportant to the overall situation due to his Majestic Will status.
“It probably wouldn’t be so bad if Maud wasn't involved: he’s backed by a Hell-4 tier family of the Shade Realm. Having that influence in the equation makes matters worse.”
He mused over the gossip he had heard of the Shade Realm, all of them disturbing with tales of forbidden practice rituals on a cosmic level: continuous torture, majestic will manipulation and abysmal experiments. How much of that was true, no one could really say since a few demonkind from that realm would confirm facts. But the few hints that were given were so far-fetched they were hard to swallow. They were dismissed as wild fiction, and swiftly quelled into loose rumors. Not enough to take seriously, but enough to be aware of the realm’s existence and a thin level of knowledge on them.
What was agreed by many as a truth was the fact of the realm being controlled by four corporation families. They were aptly nicknamed Hell-1, 2, 3 and 4. The Hell-4 family held the weakest influence being the realm’s top tier power, but they still were a force to be reckoned with. Especially, when their grand demon constantly sent out challenge raids on both the Holy Order and the Shiya House for the Demon Domination rule. But despite their infamy, no one could say the families' actual name: probably due to the Shade Realm rules to make it harder for the Majestic Peace Order to track them down.
A thought slipped into his mind that made him sit up and think more consciously about it. The silver lotus symbol that appeared at each murder, and was able to shatter a memory lock, was steeped in forbidden magic. He held a strong suspicion that it came from the Shade Realm.
“How big is this problem getting? Is that why Shiyan ordered us to pull out?”
He tugged at his hair with frustration: all dots to the case were not connecting well enough. And his memory leak was becoming more vivid and persistent each night. To the point that if he closed his eyes he would see the burning banner fall on his face.
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“I have to find answers to the case to learn about this lotus symbol, and my memory leak. Or I can never sleep well again.”
He tossed off his bed clothes and decided to dress in his stylish suit and head for the night markets. It was better than stressing over his lack of sleep. At least walking the bustling streets during night would distract his mind.
When he stepped out to the stable courtyard, he saw Spartacus in a deep sleep at his stall and decided to leave him be. A waning moon was high in the sky. He nodded feeling more confident that the virya energies were capable to dispel his troubled mood and the negative thoughts in his head.
“Hey, Stinky.” Violet flew over to him.
“Can you call me by my number just once?” He folded his arms.
She sighed. Her first impression of him when he was wearing the all-black henchman leather armor was an overpowering stink of musk and sandalwood. Two smells she disliked. But he wasn’t a bad human, despite his icky pastime. Because he usually came back from his date nights smelling of sandalwood, she kept calling him Stinky. But, recently he rarely carried this stench. Ever since he took on the murder case, his demeanor had become more earnest. It was like his celibate nights were turning him into some boring monk.
“Aw. You’re probably backed up with all this case work. I’m so proud of your restraint, I’ll start calling you monk.”
“Monk?! You wretch. I’m not going to share the name of that fat pheasant,” he passionately answered back.
They paused with stupid looks on their faces, then laughed. After they calmed down, Violet nodded and slapped his back.
“Fine, 669. Your hard work on the case earns you my respect.”
“Really?” He looked pleasantly surprised.
Violet screwed up her face and uncouthly laid out her condition, “Don’t stink like musk and sandalwood, or you’ll go back to being Stinky.”
“Aah!” A realization dawned on him. He smugly nodded his agreement to her condition.
“Where are you going anyway?”
“For a walk at the night markets. Need to clear my head.”
“Let me join you.”
669 agreed. They both casually strolled out of the grounds for the Market District.