Death Leveling Chapter 37

[ … words ]

Perspective of Boro:

Got to the bureau of investigation—typical routine, clocking in to work.

Entered the building and immediately my skin began tingling—so, Smile is present today?—I thought in mild annoyance.

The yellow crystals suppress rogue MANA, eject them back to their rightful owners, yet his aura was still overwhelmingly intrusive—invading every cranny of this place.

Went into the elevator—selected the third floor and went up.

“Morning, Zuri.”

“Halou,” he raised his hand for me—waved, briefly.

“Anything new with the investigation?” I sarcastically inquired; tilted his head as he spun on his office chair, then replied, “there is!—you surprised?”

I froze in my tracks; expectations were low, expectedly.

“New victim?”

“Nah, man, it was some woman— as in, this woman came in earlier and claimed she saw someone getting butchered in an alley,” the last word of this line was faintly playful—knew him, he wasn’t being facetious or anything.

“That’s… something?—right?”

“Hmmmmm…”

He pulled his chair back while remaining seated, then spun around with closed eyes and an eccentric smile.

“Well, it somewhat restarts our investigation,” he added.

“How come?”

“All we did was ask around like clowns—we didn’t take pictures of our suspects, and as you know, they don’t keep these things around because of their reliance on Systems.”

“Ah…”

Then abruptly, Zuri’s expression changed as he stopped himself from spinning on the chair.

I turned my head in the direction he was facing—the elevator door opened.

Instantly, I asked whilst glancing at him, “is the woman still here?”

He let out a quick chuckle.

“Why else would Kross show up?”

Yes—Kross came out of the elevator—his MANA was dark, uncomfortable, and coercing, even in a building designed to alleviate MANA-pressure.

Neither of us said anything as he walked past us—we did raise our hands as a greeting, but that was the extent of our interaction.

Afterwards, Zuri looked at me yet again and rolled his eyes with a goofy grin—pointed a finger at his head and began spinning it in a mocking way.

“Careful, dude, he might just use his license to kill at his own discretion if he sees this,” I jokingly remarked.

Then proceeded to follow up, “who’s the woman anyway?—did she just happen to see it or…”

“Some girl named Bonnie—level 4, she’s an assassin type to answer your question.”

“Nah, what do you mean?—that doesn’t answer it!”

Zuri immediately frowned—why is he annoyed?—what I do?

“She saw him in the act and ran away,” then with irritation, “tsk! Sometimes you’re so slow, Boro, I swear.”

I sighed.

“You just speak in riddles all the time—don’t blame me.”

“Now listen, man, how are you going to investigate shit— let alone the Black Death case, if you can’t solve riddles?”

Without so much as a pause, a MANA shift took place in the office…

“Oops— my bad everyone, didn’t mean to mention that name,” he started tittering upon saying that, in tangible awkwardness.

“Can you guys stop yapping and get to work?—you can continue later when you’re on a break or whatever,” voiced Jessey, the Lead Director of Investigations; he was always present in the office, unlike the Noctem Squad—they were rarely seen.

Subsequently, Kross came out—it hadn’t even been a minute—did he finish already?

He was smiling.

“Listen up, everyone!” he shouted with his overly deep voice.

“Das you if you keep smoking, Zuri,” I swiftly and playfully whispered; he glimpsed at me for just a moment, then turned his attention back to Kross.

Kross proceeded to explain the blurb…

“More work for us… less for others…” Zuri let out in tiredness.

As anticipated… we will need to re-investigate all the irregulars by taking their pictures and showing them to the woman.

“Kross, we need to have a talk,” firmly exclaimed Jessey—it wasn’t any of our business, but I’d be lying if I claimed this wasn’t provoking my curiosity.

Meanwhile the perspective of Angelo:

“Sir Angelo, the Squad that was dispatched to assist Ariel has returned,” Scar stated while holding his hand up—palm outward—suggesting deepseated respect.

“And…?”

No snark—insinuating a continuation.

“No sign of Ariel or any lifeforms that raised the alleged status of the mission; the location of his System prior to the collapse was also empty—which was deeply abnormal—and, consequently, we didn’t manage to retrieve any data from it.”

Immediately, I let an exhausted and irritated huff slip.

“How could there be no remains of his System?!—what the flip is that?!” I yelled in frustration and tender confusion.

He paused for a second… then…

“However, they did return with some rather interesting information…”

After a quick exchange of words…

“You idiot!! What Black Death?!” I snapped at him, then gave him a light slap on the head.

“Uhh… sir, all I said it looked like—”

“Black Death leaves children behind—did we see that there?!”

Cast my eyes away, turned towards the monitors, and muttered, “we know it was Ariel—he massacred the infected town, don’t go starting rumors for no reason.”

Reprimanded, he replied tightly, “of course, I would never—I merely wanted to mention it, that’s all, sir.”

Sighed and shook my head in slight resignation.

“In any case, promptly have Deat come to me—you can tell others they’re dismissed for now.”

“On it.”

Deat came in—insanity-screaming white hair, corpse-pale robes and an arm that still brings back unpleasant memories for me.

“Okay, buddy—spill everything that happened,” I said in familiarity—we were truly acquainted, unpleasantly so.

“Not even going to greet me?—you’re so cold, Angelo.”

“Aaah…” I let out and looked away… “have you— well, have you been feeling well?—still frying your brain with Clarity?”

He wiggled his head playfully… “I’m great! Ever since you forced those antidepressants on me, couldn’t be better!”

Without delay, my eyes bolted towards him.

“Yeahhhhhh— wait, you’ve been taking them?!”

“Fucking dumbass, of course not— who do you take me for?!” his reply was calmly mischievous, yet simultaneously displeased.

My hand was forced—immediately giggled and scratched my hair.

“Right…”

Without letting silence rain for long, I continued, “in any case, what happened there?—explain in detail and don’t skip over anything.”

“How could I skip anything? You’re the boss-man, I’m but a measly Player— eh, a Guardian, I guess, but I’m at your command, o’ great Lord Angelito!”

“Hey!! Don’t call me that—how many times do I need to tell you?!”

“No one’s here—why the frown?” then chuckled at himself.

I was beginning to reach the end of my patience…

“Just tell me the damn story!!”