Erik quickly left the room where the meeting between him and Hais took place and moved swiftly through the corridors of the Red Palace, his heart pounding in his chest for what he was going to do.
<System, send a loop video to all the cameras I will walk into.>
[UNDERSTOOD. CONNECTING TO THE CAMERAS. SENDING LOOP VIDEO. PROCEDURE COMPLETE.]
He carefully avoided the people walking through the halls, ducking into shadows and staying out of sight. He knew that being caught by someone would foil his plans, and he couldn't risk it. If The investigator was going to be left alone, he would, for sure, find evidence about him killing Nathaniel and the others.
As he reached the main entrance, he saw Hais leave the palace and exit the main door. Erik's managed to analyze him before he got out of the building and was overjoyed at the sight of the men's estimated stats. Killing him wouldn't be impossible.
The young man knew he had to follow him without being seen, and time was of the essence. The young man quickly searched for Amanda Smith, the receptionist, but apparently, she was nowhere to be seen. Probably trying to understand why there was a power outage earlier.
Erik waited for Hais to walk ahead and followed suit; however, he knew that there were two guards at the door, so he had to take action now.
<System, connect to the guards' smartphones and send a notification through the Red Palace's system. Tell them to go to the first floor. Then I want you to make the security system show Hais leaving the Red Palace and send the loop again after he leaves.>
[UNDERSTOOD. NOTIFICATION SENT. CAMERA DOOR WORKING NORMALLY FOR 30 SECONDS.]
Like that, Erik observed the guards entering the building with their smartphones in hand, and the two quickly went toward the elevator with a puzzled look. Hais noticed them walking in and was immediately startled, but he didn't give it much thought. After the loop video was sent again, he got out of the main door undetected.
Erik saw Hais ahead, walking briskly out the door and towards the city's bustling streets. Then the awakener quickly walked through the Red Palace's garden until he was out of the gates. He kept a safe distance from his target, trailing behind him and making sure to stay out of the private investigator's line of sight. He had to be careful not to attract any attention from Hais and anyone else who might recognize him.
The older man then waited for a cab to arrive, Erik overheard him calling for one, and he did the same through one of the two guards' phones.
<System, shut down any camera from now on.> He had to do that since the cabs had cameras inside. They could expose him following the older man.
Hais jumped onto the vehicle as soon as it arrived, and Erik had to do the same once he arrived shortly after. Erik hailed a cab and quickly jumped in, his mind racing with determination.
<System, connect to Hais's cab, and find out where he is going.>
[UNDERSTOOD. TASK COMPLETE. HAIS'S CAB'S DESTINATION IS MILL STREET.>
Erik then instructed the driver to go to Mill Street, and the driver sped. The car immediately started floating in the sky and began its march.
As the vehicle weaved through the bustling city streets, Erik closely watched Hais's cab ahead. He could see Hais's silhouette through the window, talking animatedly on the phone. After a short while, both the vehicles arrived at their destination, and the two men jumped off the car.
Mill Street was abuzz with activity as Erik and Hais arrived. The street was lined with various shops, cafes, and vendors, each vying for the attention of passersby. The air was filled with the tantalizing scents of freshly brewed coffee, sizzling street food, and the chatter of people going about their daily routines.
There were also pedestrians at every corner, ranging from businesspeople in sharp suits to tourists with cameras slung over their shoulders, capturing the sights and sounds of the bustling city. There were street performers, musicians, and artists, adding to the lively atmosphere with their performances and creations.
The buildings on Mill Street were a mix of old and new, with their facades displaying a blend of architectural styles. Some were adorned with colorful murals, while others boasted ornate detailing and intricate designs. The street was lined with tall trees that provided welcome shade, their leaves rustling gently in the summer breeze.
Erik observed Hais disappear into the crowd of people. Without hesitation, he sprinted after him, weaving through the throngs of people on the bustling city streets, determination in his eyes.
Hais was a seasoned investigator who moved with purpose, expertly maneuvering through the crowd. Erik struggled to keep up, dodging past pedestrians and avoiding collisions as he pursued the man.
<I just hope the Crystal Cross Gang doesn't find out I'm not at the Red Palace anymore...>
Erik's mind raced as he tried to anticipate Hais's next move and pay attention to gang members. He knew he couldn't afford to lose him; his life and his freedom depended on it. Erik squeezed through narrow gaps in the crowd, observing the investigator from a distance.
Hais glanced over his shoulder, and Erik caught a glimpse of his expression. The awakener's adrenaline surged as the man almost caught him, but he luckily dove in time to not be seen. For now, it seemed like he didn't find out he was being followed. Then, the young man saw some Crystal Cross gang members ahead, so he quickly lowered his gaze and hid from them. At the same time, Hais hastened his pace.
At a certain point, the crowd seemed to thicken, and Erik took his chance to go undetected by the gang members; he pushed through, his eyes locked on Hais's back. But as Erik went ahead, he was met with an unexpected obstacle. A group of street performers had set up their act, blocking the way.
Erik's heart sank as he saw Hais disappear into the distance, taking advantage of the distraction. Without hesitation, the young man went past the performers, lowering his gaze and blending with the crowd.
Then, he saw the investigator going inside an alley and Crystal Cross gang members looking at the crowd, probably looking for people to rob or watching the street performers act.
Erik's mind raced, calculating Hais's and the gang member's movements, until finally, he got the opportunity to follow Hais into the alley. Erik was trying to anticipate where he might be headed, but no place aside from Hais's home came to his mind.
The chase continued through the alley, with Erik closely following the man, who apparently noticed nothing; his eyes were fixed on Hais's figure in the distance until the man went back into the busy streets.
Erik quickly arrived at the end of the alley, but he could hear the sounds of the city, the shouts of merchants, the laughter of children, and the clatter of hooves on cobblestones from a distance. The awakener immediately spotted the man from a distance as soon as he got out of there and saw him walking toward a crowd.
Hais seemed to be in a hurry, constantly looking over his shoulder as if he suspected someone was following him. Erik's heart pounded in his chest; did he find out he was following him? However, he didn't desist and remained focused, keeping his distance and hidden from the investigator's eyes.
They reached a narrow alleyway again, and Erik watched as Hais disappeared around the corner. Erik followed cautiously but quickly arrived there. He could hear Hais's footsteps echoing in the alley, and he kept his eyes on him, ready to react to any unexpected turn of events.
As they reached the end of the alley, Hais turned abruptly, and Erik had to quickly hide behind a stack of abandoned crates to avoid being seen. He held his breath, praying that he hadn't been discovered.
Hais glanced around, seemingly satisfied that he was alone, and then he disappeared into the building he had in front of him. Erik waited a few moments, ensuring the coast was clear, before cautiously emerging from his hiding spot.
He quickly scanned the area, making sure no one had spotted him. Satisfied that he was still unnoticed, he approached the building Hais had entered, carefully avoiding stepping onto something that could make too much noise.
In the middle of the alley stood a single metallic black door covered in graffiti paintings. The door was a canvas for all sorts of strange symbols, most of which were associated with occultism. Erik couldn't make out their meaning, but the mysterious aura they exuded intrigued him more. He then heard the sound of a door closing; it was probably Hais arriving at his place.
Erik hesitated, his gaze darting around to ensure he was still unnoticed. Still, despite his apprehension, the awakener knew he had no choice and had to get rid of the private investigator quickly, so he cautiously followed Hais up the stairs, careful not to make any sound.
<System, did you turn off all the cameras?> Erik asked.
[ANSWER: YES. THROUGH ALL YOUR JOURNEY HERE.]
<Well done.> With that settled, there was no chance someone would link him to this place.
Erik arrived at the top of the stairs and stood in front of a black wooden door with a small metallic door plate that read "Martin Hais, Private Investigator." Now the young man had to decide: attack Hais now or leave knowing where he could find him?
However, after a couple of moments of thinking about it, the awakener decided now was the time to take action; after all, he was already outside, undetected by the Crystal Cross Gang, undetected by Hais, and unnoticed by the Red Palace. It was the best opportunity he could get.
(A.N: Remember to vote with power stones if you like the novel! It is really important as it helps me give the book visibility! If you think my work deserves it, please vote so that more people will be able to read the book! Thank you very much in advance!)
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