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"Where did you get this info?"
The words that escape the young lady's lips makes the culprit sitting in front of her tremble in fear. The cold glare from the all renowned Lady Yanyi, daughter of the chief justice of the empire could make anyone, even the imperial blood starts to waver in their words.
Riqa didn't open her mouth and continued to shake in silence. Kazuto is not a patient man himself. After 5 minutes of nothing but the sound of outside vendors, he finally gave his two shots. "The more time you waste, the more trouble you'll get yourself in."
Hearing the threat, Riqa didn't wish to waste much more time. Albeit stuttering, she still braves herself to get the words out of her mouth. "I got this info while I was on my way home."
Yanyi — "How?"
Riqa — "I was on my way back from work a couple of days ago and the road to my house is under construction. So I have to make a detour and have to go through the alleyway. While I was there, there were some individuals who were out of their minds, seemingly drowning in substances."
Kazuto — "..."
Riqa — "I didn't want to bother them at first. That is when one of them starts to throw stuff around and a packet of something falls before my feet. I saw the words Venium and immediately rushed away, afraid that they might hurt me."
Yanyi — "..."
Riqa — "I only start to think about it after getting home. I did some research and made my own assumption. All those interviews I got, those are from the words coming from the newspaper years ago. I made it all up."
Yanyi didn't pry much into her story and pressure her to give more detail of her wrongdoings. She can handle that when this case is over. Instead, she is more interested in what she saw in the alleyway. "What did you see in the alleyway, exactly?"
Riqa didn't waste much time and tried her best to wreck her brain to find all of the relevant stuff she can remember. "I didn't remember any particular stuff because it was dark. Although I did get a glimpse of the few men inside that alleyway. I have my flashlight on to see the way."
"And?"
"All of the men seem like the typical alley rat. That is except for one. He seems … like he's already died."
"What do you mean by that?" Yanyi wanted a more clear clue to their case. Whatever this young lady saw, even if it was just a man, it could prove useful for investigation. Riqa also wishes to not withhold any information as well.
"His skin is like a corpse, and not just the pale colour. The texture as well. Like he is rotting."
"Are you sure he's not dead?" Kazuto didn't seem to believe in her story. Some people who have these types of problems do sometimes die on the spot. Also to clarify, these people have been given the chance to rehabilitate but escape from the facility.
Not wanting to be associated with the force, the authorities decided to instead confine them into an area that won't allow them to bother the public and not able to gather their ingredients.
How did they get more, I don't know.
Anyway back here again, Riqa shakes her head with confidence and determination. She stared right in front of him, wanting to prove that she didn't lie. "I knew he was alive at that time. I saw his hands moving, reaching out to the packet by my feet and I swear to Aurilia, he speaks."
Yanyi didn't question her story and instead asked her more. "Where exactly is this alleyway you are talking about?" Riqa tries to remember her route back home and gives them the direction she took.
Stating that it was a rather long walk and stated that she had smelled the whiff from the sewer nearby. "So near the sewer backthroat. Got it." Kazuto then moved up from his seat where Yanyi also followed.
Trying to be good and turning her leaf, Riqa stood up from her seat and bowed deeply to show her gratitude. Also hoping that Yanyi wouldn't give her a big punishment. For instance that life oath penalty.
Before closing the door, Yanyi stopped and started without turning her head. "If such an instance happened again, I will not spare your life, lady Riqa. Remember your life oath."
"..."
Slam!
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Kazuto and Yanyi have a small talk in a cafe nearby. It provides a service for the vip room which they gladly pay and discuss the further matter.
Yanyi stirs the tea in front of her while pondering about the words that Riqa had stated. 'Rotting skin yet alive? Could it be the work of Umbras?'
Tap! Tap!
The sound right across from her causes her to tilt her head back up. Kazuto is playing with his cup of coffee while nonchalantly looking outside of the window into the streets below. "You've been in the cloud for 10 minutes, Young Marquess. Care to share what you have in mind?"
"Just thinking about what Riqa just said."
Kazuto — "You mean about Venium or the rotting man?"
Yanyi — "Both. The statement that the man is reaching out towards the packet right before her feet shows that he also used the so-called Venium drug."
Kazuto — "You believe it to be a drug?"
Yanyi — "One that has clearly been misused. But I don't think it has anything to do with the lack of security."
Kazuto — "Can confirm that much. The vault to the supplies are heavily guarded by either the members of the military or the guards of Ryuichi. Besides, if anything were to be stolen, the system would inform us immediately."
Yanyi then proceeded to also look out the window, particularly her eyes set sight into the alleyway. It was a normal alleyway, nothing of concern like what Riqa had stated. But she just felt that something needed to be changed. But first.
"Are you working for this case as well?" She asks without changing her view. Sensing that the words are meant for him, Kazuto nodded. He then took a sip of his cup before starting.
"It has now involved the life oath we all bear to protect. If I don't work on it, I'll be a traitor, right?"
"Not as much as that woman."
Kazuto — "Besides, having only you working on the case on the side of the police could be heavy. So I figured that I could act as your temporary inspector partner for a while."
Yanyi — "You make it sound weird."
Kazuto — "Good. I don't want it to sound weird."
They both kept the silence going for about another 10 minutes before Kazuto, yet again, spoke. "So what's your plan?"
"You search the alleyway she took and find this man. When you find him, bring him to the police station. The rest is up to you. Do as you see fit."
"What about you?"
"I'll go to the central library and search more about Venium. I don't believe that a person can simultaneously be alive and die at the same time."
"You believe that something is in the mix?"
"Just a hunch. Won't hurt to search."
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Yanyi is currently sitting in a corner of the library. Books piled up around her. Most of which are about herbs and medical ingredients. She has been flipping through book after book after book that it was now the closing time for the library.
Reluctantly she departs from her cozy corner, of course after putting everything back to their designated location. She already noted all the possible ingredients used and is planning on experimenting on them.
That ace in chemistry in the academy got to do something.
Pharmacy in the city is open 24/7 which makes it easier for her to grab certain stuff. Thus she decided to go to the police station first to handle her clock.
Upon arriving at the station, she had thought that Luyao had at least gone back home but he didn't. He was sitting on the couch in the office, both him and Eker were reading a book.
Seeing Yanyi coming inside he expressed his surprise and cheekyness. "You come back early? Did you complete all that is needed?" Yanyi didn't pay him much attention and went over to her table after hanging her coat.
Yanyi — "Very funny. No, I was in the library collecting possible information."
Luyao — "Information for the case?"
Yanyi — "Yup! I guess you've read the newspaper I crumbled up?"
Luyao — "Can't help it. Hardly I ever see you that angry."
Yanyi — "Some things can make me go beyond my composure."
Luyao closes his book and moves over to her table. Thinking that it was not appropriate for Eker to hear anything more specific about it. "Do you know what happened?" Yanyi nodded and explained the whole Riqa situation.
Luyao gave his two shades and commented. "It's not my place to comment, but shouldn't you punish her. It's a life oath for a reason." Yanyi gave out a deep sigh, seemingly still figuring things out.
"I am planning to deal with her, after the case that is. If I tell the Phenorr family about her wrong deeds right now, many unwanted situations could escalate."
"You wanted to keep her for her usefulness?"
"Yup! Though I doubt that we can still get more."
Luyao roll his eyes before moving to his table which is empty aside from the already seated stationary. "Well if there's nothing else, I'll leave first. Eker will continue his training here I'm afraid."
"Wait!" Yanyi stopped him mid track from taking his coat off the rack. He turned to look at the young lady, raising one eyebrow indicating what favour she going to ask.
Yanyi — "I'll be doing some experiments in the apartment, specifically my room. It's uhh… not a good one for kids."
Luyao — "And?"
Yanyi — "Could you take Eker to the manor for a couple of days? It'll keep him safe for a while until the dangerous stuff is over."
Luyao — "You're not planning on making a replica of those things right?"
Yanyi — "..."
"Auril." Luyao wiped his face with nothing but the thought of 'This girl is beyond my control.' He didn't bother around the bush to scold her.
He patted Eker's soft light gray hair before saying stuff along the lines of 'we'll go back, pack your clothes for a few days of sleepover at the manor.' Eker looked confused and looked back at his sister who replied with a gentle smile.
Seeing that she has no retaliation, he listens to Luyao and follows him back home to pack for a couple of days.
This leaves Yanyi in the office alone. She let out yet another big sigh of relief. Now that the vulnerability is out of the way, she starts to make a mental list of what she ought to buy from the pharmacy.
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At the apartment.
Luyao is waiting in the living room with Irene. He had told her all about Yanyi's plan and figured that since she is her friend from long before their encounter, she wouldn't be surprised by such activity.
After 15 minutes, Eker came out of his and Yanyi's room with a bag of clothes. Luyao didn't waste much time, bidding farewell to Irene before taking the bag from Eker and walking over to the outside.
While on the way to the car, an old man accidentally bumps into a lamp pose in front of them. Still holding a title of the figure of authority, he went over to help the poor man.
"Are you okay sir?"
"Ouh ouh, I'm fine, young man. Thank you. Thank you."
"Please be careful next time. You can walk on the center of the sidewalk to avoid any unwanted obstacles."
"Ouh… I didn't even think of that. Thank you young man."
"If there's nothing, I'll take my leave first." He took Eker's hand and both went and got in the car. They both then drive off into the direction of the manor.
The old man.
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He is smiling.
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A creepy smile.
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Irene opens the front door of their apartment to only be greeted with a loud voice.
BOOM!
Fearing that her family vacation home caught on fire, she rushed to the kitchen to discover nothing. Then she notices that a heavy stench smell is coming from one of their bedrooms. Thankfully not hers.
Slowly peeking through the doorframe, she saw Yanyi frantically running around the room trying to settle down the small fire that she had created.
After things died down, Irene can finally see what she has been up to. "Your lab experiments? Are you fucking kidding me, Yanyi?"
"What?" Not realizing her mistake yet, Yanyi didn't pay Irene much attention and continued from where she had stopped.
Before she could even take a hold of the flask on her desk, someone had already grabbed her wrist first. "You nearly blew up our house! My FAMILY HOUSE!" Snatching back her hands, Yanyi profusely apologised to Irene.
She still wanted to reprimand her friend but decided against it. Instead she asks why she is suddenly bringing out her lab experiments. "I just got a few of the ingredients from the pharmacy and wanted to make a recreation of what that drug is."
Irene — "So you're making this house into a drug den?"
Yanyi — "Wha-! Hell fucking no! I'm doing this to get a reading okay. Sure, technically I am creating drugs, but Luyao is already aware of it."
Irene — "Kazuto?"
Yanyi — "Either I will tell him when he calls, tomorrow morning or Luyao will inform him."
Irene — "Fine. Where's Eker?"
"At the manor. This whole thing is never good for children so I sent him away with Luyao." Yanyi still continues to work on her stuff while responding to Irene.
Enough with her shenanigans, Irene went over to her room. While crossing the living room balcony, she heard the house telephone ringing. She went over to answer it before hearing Kazuto's voice on the other end.
Kazuto — "Hey Irene. Is Yanyi home by any chance?"
Irene — "Yeah she is. Wait, I'll call for her." "YANYI! KAZUTO CALLED!"
Yanyi — "HOLD UP!!!"
The boy on the other end can't help but laugh from hearing the way Irene called Yanyi. Without thinking he starts to have a small talk with the girl. "Did you have dinner already?"
Irene didn't see the point nor harm of the question and just answered casually. After all, Kazuto has been sending him to work a lot lately. "Already did. What about you, what did the chef cook today?"
"Just some simple dishes. Eker is staying over here so we can't have anything strong for a while. What about you?" Kazuto spins around his study chair, seemingly quite enjoying their small talk session.
"Came back a bit late so I just had to eat out. Already brought some for Yanyi though. Heard you guys are handling a case related to drugs?" Irene takes the phone and sets it close to her couch. Might as well get comfy while waiting for her friend to come over.
"Yup. Not sure what would be our lead but trying our best."
"Well, I'm rooting for you to clear it! These types of cases are heavy, aren't they?"
Kazuto — "Yeah. I do wonder though, does your family take a life oath like us?"
Irene — "Considering that my third brother is the chief inspector of Ashrin Police Forces, my second brother contributing in Volenix medical research and my close relation to both Yanyi and Devian, yes. We all have to take the life oath."
Kazuto — "No wonder you never worried if you ended up listening to rather secretive affairs."
Irene — "I have my fair share of info too."
"Ehem!" The sound from the doorframe instinctively caused Irene to turn her head. There stood Yanyi leaning against the doorframe and her arms crossing against her torso. Her lips etched with a teasing smirk.
Her mouth. "Need a moment?" To which Irene gestures to her with a middle finger. She then turns to the phone and makes a final talk with Kazuto. "Yanyi is here. We can talk later, okay?"
"Okay. Goodnight."
"Uhm. Goodnight."
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"Found anything on your end?" Yanyi didn't bother with formality or try to tease the man on the other side. She went straight to the matter at hand. He had his fair share of sweet moments, he can wait.
"None. Searching for a specific description of a man is hard. We might need a new approach. Your end?"
"Still trying. The room has turned into an experimental drug den."
"I'll take it that you'll destroy everything afterwards?"
"Fucking hell yes! I'm not keeping any of that destructive shit!"
"We might need to discuss more tomorrow." Yanyi affirmed his request. Kazuto also added a few of his own request before ending the line. He was contemplating on asking Luyao, but he is currently off duty.
After ending the call, Yanyi gave a call to the police headquarters and requested for more patrol over the dark streets of where the incident happened. She didn't say for how long but stated that the command will be withdrawn after everything is settled down.
She also has to go down to the office tomorrow to give a brief information to all the attending inspectors. Thus she requested that a meeting with all the inspectors in Kinsel be held at around noon tomorrow.
For now, that is where this case is on.
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-~*~-