Chapter 154 35.1 - Short Break
Dr. Emily Carter, a dedicated researcher at the forefront of her field, found herself immersed in a late-night working session at the laboratory.
WROOM!
The hum of machinery, the soft glow of computer screens, and the scent of chemicals filled the air as she delved into her research. Time seemed to slip away as her passion for discovery fueled her commitment.
"Yaaawnnn….I am so tired…."
Hours passed, and as the clock neared midnight, Dr. Carter reluctantly decided to call it a night.
"I guess I should leave."
The deserted corridors of the research facility echoed with each step as she made her way toward the exit. The usual silence of the building took on an eerie quality at this late hour.
This was what she felt most of the time. Being a researcher from a young age, where she needed to abandon her career as a hunter, she was trying much harder than her peers.
After all, her bosses and the big shots in the field didn't have any trust in her at all.
HOWL!
"It is really cold."
Upon stepping outside, the cool night air greeted her, and she took a moment to stretch and yawn.
"Hmm?"
However, her brief moment of relaxation was shattered when she noticed an unusual sight – a thin trail of smoke rising into the night sky.
Her curiosity piqued, and Dr. Carter narrowed her eyes, trying to discern the source of the smoke.
"Wasn't that place abandoned?"
The smoke seemed to originate from the direction of an abandoned building nearby. A building that, to her knowledge, had been vacant for years and seldom used.
"I should check it out."
Even though one wouldn't normally advise her to go to such a place at night, since she was in the facility of one of the supposed 'safest' locations in the world, she wasn't worried at all.
Also, if something alarming, possibly a machinery misconduct, occurred, that meant her research might also be affected somehow.
Concern crept into her thoughts as she considered the possibility of a fire or some unforeseen incident.
Without hesitation, Dr. Carter quickened her pace toward the abandoned structure.
"What is this sensation?"
As she approached, the smell of burning material grew stronger, but at the same time, something suffocating entered inside her, confirming her fears. ,
It was as if her body was repulsing whatever was there, and she knew what it was.
'Demonic Energy.'
Being a former Hunter and a researcher focusing on demonic energy detection abilities, she was familiar with this energy. But the amount she was feeling right now was something she had encountered for the first time in her life.
'A demonic human….No, at least two.'
Panic and adrenaline surged through her veins as she reached for her phone to dial the emergency services of the academy.
It wasn't something she could handle after all.
*******
"There really were demon contractors here."
One of the men said with his hands in the pockets of his coat as he approached the smoke-rising building.
"To think they were right in front of our noses."
'Guardians,' a special division tasked with investigating supernatural occurrences within the academy.
As they approached the now-burning building, the atmosphere was thick with otherworldly energy, and the acrid scent of burning demonic energy lingered in the air.
Detective Michael Harris, a seasoned detective with years of experience and now a Guardian, surveyed the gruesome sight before him. The abandoned building bore the scars of a fierce battle, with remnants of demonic energy lingering in the aftermath.
Lying amidst the wreckage were the motionless bodies of three young people seemingly. It was very hard to recognize the lying bodies.
One of them seemingly had their upper half missing, possibly from an explosion. The other ones didn't seem to share a different fate, as their skin was slowly deteriorating.
Detective Harris, with a stern expression, signaled to his partner, Detective Emma Rodriguez, to begin their investigation.
"Tch…Disgusting…."
The two moved cautiously through the debris, their keen eyes scanning the surroundings for any clues.
"Looks like they weren't able to unleash their demonic forms," Detective Rodriguez observed, examining the demonic residue on the walls. "They weren't high-ranking demon contractors, it seems."
Looking at the form of the bodies, he mumbled. Normally, whenever a demon contractor revealed their true form, their body would change inside, and it would take a lot of time and resources to return it to normal. That is also the reason why most demon contractors refrained from doing so until it was the last chance they had.
"This wasn't just a simple confrontation."
However, the traces of the demonic energy in the air were signaling something different. From the mana left as the aftermath, the detective could easily say two demonic energies clashed in this place.
Detective Harris nodded in agreement. "It seems like a conflict between demon contractors. But what brought them here?"
"I assume they had been using this place for a while. There are traces of repeated demonic energy usage as well as a bunch of artifacts to use for surveillance. This wasn't a one-time occurrence. They chose this location deliberately."
"Then, that means…."
"Yes….There is still an insider here."
As they continued talking, one other detective was different. He was looking around without engaging in conversations with his coworkers.
"These marks?"
He was one of the newly hired detectives in the office. Since he was a new recruit, his presence didn't hold much value in the office.
"Bullets?"
He wanted to touch the marks, but he knew he couldn't, as that would possibly damage the crime scene.
However, the marks really looked like a bullet.
At that moment, Detective Harris and Detective Rodriguez approached.
"Yo, newbie. Found something?"
They had sneers on their faces. After all, this kid was always overly excited and wanted to participate in the investigations, and this was a threat to their positions.
Jim nodded his head, affirming his suspicion about the marks resembling bullets. "Yeah, these look like bullet marks to me."
Detective Harris and Detective Rodriguez exchanged amused glances, their sneers turning into outright laughter. "Bullet marks? Come on, Jim, this isn't some action movie," Harris jeered.
Rodriguez chimed in, "You watch too many detective dramas, kid. Look around. Do you see any bullet shells? Anyone dumb enough to use bullets in a demon clash would leave evidence behind. Also, do you think a bullet can damage the skins of a demon contractor?"
Jim felt a flush of embarrassment, their mockery hitting a nerve. He also knew what he said was out of the norm, but his intuition as a detective was telling him that he was on the right track.
"I know it sounds strange, but these marks, they're too precise for a demon fight. Just keep an open mind."
The veteran detectives continued to chuckle dismissively.
"Yeah, yeah... Open mind..." Detective Rodriguez repeated mockingly, his tone condescending. "Listen, kid, this isn't some rookie case. We've been on this job longer than you've been out of school. You'll learn a lot if you keep your eyes and ears open and your theories in check."
Detective Harris added, "We've seen all sorts of weird stuff in our time, and it's always been demons or their artifacts. No bullets, no guns. It's just classic demon business. You'll understand when you've got more experience under your belt."
Jim sighed inwardly, realizing that convincing these old colleagues wouldn't be easy.
'You boomers, what do you even know?'
However, a determined spark gleamed in his eyes as he looked at the marks.
He wasn't ready to discard his instincts just yet, even in the face of their skepticism. The investigation had just begun, and he was resolved to explore every possibility, no matter how unconventional it seemed.
He ventured around the location, ignoring the two old dogs talking as he looked for traces that supported his theory.
"Hmm?"
Continuing his walk, he noticed some different traces on the ground, which many missed.
"These are arrow marks. Explosive arrows?"
While the other two seemed to think this was a confrontation between the demons, Jim seemed different.
'There are no bows here?'
None of the demon contractors seemed to have used arrows.
'And what is with this mana?'
It was as if the mana itself was plasmatic. Even the raw energy that was left as an aftermath seemed unstable enough to destroy a metal.
'This is definitely not a demonic energy?'
The demonic energy was also unstable and hard to control, but rather than having plasmatic effects, it had the effect of corroding the mind and the user.
'There was someone else in this place, something else. A possible third party.'
His deduction led him to a compelling theory: a possible third party.
Someone or something had been present during the altercation, utilizing unconventional weapons and a distinct type of energy.
'The air around is also not usual demonic energy….'
Sniffing the air, he felt a different substance existed.
'I will need to wait for the autopsy and the analysis from the forensic chemistry department.'
Jim noted down his observations, marking the potential involvement of this mysterious third entity.
'Let's check.'
As he delved further into the investigation, Jim began considering the abilities of this unknown assailant.
'First, they definitely have a stealth ability.'
Stealth seemed evident, given the lack of detection by the demon contractors.
'And, they also have a high proficiency at ranged combat.'
He wrote on his notepad, putting ticks on every keyword.
'Bullets(?)'
The use of explosive arrows and possibly bullets hinted at proficiency in ranged combat. Top of Form But even then, one thing remained unknown.
'What was their goal?'
It was the goal of the possible third party.
In the end, he was left with more and more questions as the chilly night ventured.
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