A few hours later.
Kael and Dave had pretty much interviewed those on their list. Of course, the director was the last to be interviewed. However, despite gathering all the intel, they didn't feel any closer to having a solid lead.
The two detectives only ended up with a long list of individuals they had to question, in addition to the training facility personnel. And as Dave guessed earlier, Kael was of the same mind.
"We might be going down a rabbit hole at this point," Kael commented once they stepped out of the interrogation rooms. He looked at the seated personnel and couldn't help but sigh. "Your partners had better make some progress on their side."
"Hehe, that remains to be seen." Dave chuckled softly.
With their job here done, it was time for them to leave. Interrogating their new list of potential aiders to the murder of the kids, Dave had no intention of doing any of it. That was what his subordinates were there for.
After giving a few instructions to his Warden on what to tell the facility personnel, Dave and Kael left the scene.
***
The women on the same team as Kael and Dave explored other avenues. Elara and Aria led their subordinates to investigate outside connections to the fallen chosen heroes. But the first on their list were the parents of the children.
As one would expect, they weren't very helpful during their questioning. The parents were invited to the ARISA grand building, where they shared their side of the story, detailing what they knew, what they potentially saw, or what they heard.
The mothers, especially, were unable to be consoled. While a few maintained composed demeanours, they were all going through something. Some swore to find the killers and teach them a lesson personally.
Regardless, they were just as clueless.
But this was what Elara and Aria found strange. Despite some of them being nearby while the murder took place, they neither heard, sensed, nor saw anything. The two women didn't want to go down that path, but it was becoming increasingly plausible.
'Were their minds messed with in any way?' Aria silently thought as one of the parents continued their rumbling. 'I find it hard to believe, but is anything impossible in this world?'
With the advent of the divine, humanity had irrefutable proof of its existence. Even then, they weren't anywhere near understanding how divinity worked. 'Mr. Neren mentioned sacrifice... That could mean supernatural dealings.'
As someone who saw things for what they were, she was sceptical of buying into supernatural or mystical magic. What they had in their world was physical enhancement magic plus divinity via the divine artefacts.
"Mrs. Banny, I appreciate your taking the time to come down here." Aria swiftly interrupted, cutting the woman's rumbling. "However, I'd advise that you do nothing. My team and I are working around the clock to bring the murderer(s) to justice."
"B-but I'm telling you, those people surely have a hand in this!" The mother of Ethan Banny, the fallen hero who was assigned to Aria, stated loudly. "This is not the first time a current hero wished to continue having their powers!"
Beside the woman was the husband, who remained quiet most of the time. But the man was in support of his wife's words.
"My wife has a point, detective." The husband chimed in. "I don't know why you're wasting time interviewing us when the obvious suspects are running around. Those people, and even some of our leaders, despise the kind of power the chosens have. This is no secret!"
The parents were not accepting Aria's words. They were livid, and rightly so. What parent would want to see their children die before them? What they were feeling wasn't something you could understand without experiencing it yourself.
"I know what you mean, Mr. Banny." Aria agreed to the couple's words. "However, you should also know what those people are capable of."
The woman felt the need to point this out in the hopes that they don't do anything stupid. "Also, my colleagues and I are already investigating anyone with any form of connection with your child, so you need not worry."
It took some time, but the parents became calm enough to heed Aria's words. After getting a list of anyone who had approached them in the hopes of forming connections, Aria sent them their way.
Left inside the interrogation room, Aria furrowed her brows as she pondered her earlier thoughts. 'If we're going to explore every avenue, there's no reason not to explore this one as well. The question is where to start...'
With a sigh of resignation, Aria stepped out of the interrogation room, heading towards Elara, who should also be done with her interrogation. However, before she could get far, her assistant rushed towards her with a tablet in her hand.
"Aria, you need to see this," the assistant said, passing the tablet to a slightly confused Aria.
"What is it?" she questioned as she looked at the tab, finding the answer herself. "So they've decided to say something about the murders, huh?"
"Mm," the assistant nodded. "This much was expected. I'm only surprised they're doing this now."
The two women did not stop walking, soon reaching the other side of the hall that led towards the workspace. Elara was already there, standing before one of the televisions that showed what Aria saw on her tablet.
The parents of the children they had just interviewed could also be seen around, staring at the television with complicated expressions, unsure of how to feel about what they were watching.
Most of the workers had stopped what they were doing as they focused on the television, where thirteen individuals, each of them with an air of superiority and authority, could be seen standing on a broad stage.
Even from the screen on which they watched the heroes, the commanders could feel the powerful presence about them. Their clothes, which were synonymous with divine armaments given a modern touch, exuded a quiet brilliance of gold that could not be missed.
"So the heroes decided to say something after all," Aria came to stand beside Elara as she commented, her gaze focused on the screen.
"Can't say it's a surprise." Elara scoffed, not taking her eyes off the screen. "At the very least, they had to say something to the people."