"Hmm…" Kael thought for a moment and then turned to Dave, squinting his eyes. "I don't think this will lead us anywhere. Obviously, the mind tampering is something, but I don't think it's enough of a lead."
"Why is that?" Aria asked curiously, glancing at the researcher. "Joseph said 'not erased' but blocked or suppressed. That means there's a possibility of reversing it, right?"
Joseph lowered his gaze slightly, taking a moment to consider Aria's words. "Theoretically, it's possible. However, I don't think this is a simple hypnosis or trick. I can't make any guarantees, but my team and I will see what we can do."
"That's fine."
Aria nodded, knowing her question was a bit out of the water. The world was technologically advanced with creations that defied common sense. However, tampering with something as fragile as human memory was not one of them.
Perhaps it was possible to mess with someone's memory, but reversing whatever that was done…?
"So what now?" Kael asked the two commanders as the researcher stepped away from the group. He looked at the readings projected on the screen and added. "This only tells us that the murderer or murderers covered their tracks. It might even extend to the people from whom they extracted their intel. Getting to the bottom of this will not be easy…"
Although he also agreed with what Dave muttered earlier, things were becoming more intriguing. It's been some time since he last did something like this, and he had nearly forgotten the thrill that came with pursuing the mystery and connecting the clues — even if this particular case had too many clues to know where to begin.
"We'll have to get back to investigating the people in power and organisations," Aria replied with a sigh. "Riley should have a list by now and should be sharing it with everyone soon enough."
"So our best bet is still those with potential motives and means." Dave expressed. "But my point still stands: we should be looking into anyone who claims to have any skills in the arcane arts."
The young detective looked at Kael, who understood the gaze and gave a curt nod. Kael's hypothesis of the murders being some kind of sacrifice gained more ground from their discovery. Where there was something sacrificial, it usually involved mysticism.
"Well, you boys look into that one." Aria was not interested in that area.
"I'll be looking into the people with some kind of authority. See you guys later. Also, arrange to send the guardians back." The woman did not wait around, promptly moving towards the door.
"Tsk, so typical of you to leave a heavy burden on others." Dave said after her, scoffing in the process. Unfortunately for him, Aria did not bother giving a response.
"Hah… These women."
Dave shook his head, turning to look at Kael, whose attention was on the screen and the work the researchers were doing. Despite how nonchalant Kael looked, Dave could see the curious light in his eyes.
"Do you want to have a look around?" Dave proposed, prompting Kael to look at him. However, instead of agreeing like Dave thought, Kael shook his head.
"No, it's alright."
"You sure?" Daave furrowed his brows and looked at the screen and the researchers. "I thought you were curious about what goes on here."
"I am curious," Kael nodded, confirming Dave's thought. Turning to face the young detective with both hands in his coat pockets, he added. "However, just because I am doesn't mean I should look around. In case you forgot, I am only accompanying you to solve this mystery. You shouldn't be too trusting."
"..."
Kael's words slightly took Dave aback. Naturally, he knew why Kael would say this and understood his point of view. However, he decided to invite Kael into the fold. Kael might not have believed him, but he was serious about his words.
'He doesn't want me to give him too much leverage…' Dave thought silently, a small smile gracing his features. 'For someone who was once stabbed in the back, he sure is going out of his way to make sure I don't fall victim to the same fate.'
"I understand, Mr. Neren." Dave accepted Kael's words with a grateful nod.
"Mm… Let's go."
Kael gave a last glance at the researchers and turned to the door, making his way out. The young detective didn't linger and quickly followed Kael after bidding farewell to the researchers. On their way to the helipad, Dave passed Aria's instructions to the facility's forces.
"Do you actually have a lead you'll follow?" Kael asked Dave once they were back in the sky.
"Not really," Dave admitted with a shake of his head, staring out the window. "But don't worry. With the systems we have in place, we can narrow down a few suspects."
While 'a few' was used here, Dave knew it could potentially be hundreds if not more. They weren't naive enough to think everything would be localised in Westmere City. Whatever they found was going to send them travelling the world.
The good news was that ARISA was everywhere, so reaching out to the others would solve that issue.
"This could be a wild goose chase." Kael pointed out. "Mysticism has been around long before we were even born, kid. Most people who practised back then were not really taken seriously."
"That won't be a problem now, Mr. Neren." Dave chuckled softly. "We live in a world where divine artefacts fell from the sky. I'm sure mysticism should hold some believable grounds. Our magic system may be physical enhancement-based, but at this point, anything is possible. Also, this is the only thing we have so far."
"What about the strange symbols found on some of the victims?" Kael nodded and asked another question. "If anything, those markings are the first clues we have."
"Well, so far nothing has turned up." Dave replied.
"The other research centres investigating the markings haven't found anything remotely matching those markings. Maybe it's because the symbols themselves may be missing some things, but what they sent back to us is that the markings match nothing in existence — past or present."
"So we're just grasping at straws."
"Unfortunately, yes." Dave closed his eyes at this point, leaning back in his seat. "We've done enough for today, Mr. Neren. Life can't be all about our work, and this case could go on for a long time."
"..."
Kael did not respond to that, turning his gaze from the detective to the window, taking in the breathtaking view of the city. He knew Dave was right, but whenever he slowed down, he recalled the faces of those bastards.
'I should begin looking for them too,' Kael thought as he clenched his hands tightly. 'They couldn't have simply disappeared.'