Chapter 129: Obsidian Fang Pendant
The sun was climbing higher as the team wrapped up their short rest in the apartment. Andrey stood up from the couch and checked his watch.
"Alright, no point delaying. Lisa, Sein, we’re heading to Horizon Guild medical wing to meet Helena Flint. Sarah, you stay here and recover."
Sarah waved a lazy hand from the couch without lifting her head. "Yeah, yeah..."
Lisa gave Sarah a gentle pat on the head. "Rest well."
Sein pushed herself up from the armchair. "Let’s go."
Andrey nodded as the three of them took the elevator down to the underground parking. The black van roared to life smoothly when Andrey slid into the driver’s seat. Lisa took the front passenger side while Sein climbed into the back row.
Sein leaned forward between the front seats, resting her arms on the console. "So, what’s our plan when we meet Elena? We need to be precise."
Andrey kept his eyes on the road as the van merged into the city traffic, heading toward the central guild district.
"First, confirm the exact timeline, when was the last time she or Carla actually saw Miguel alive? Second, ask if Miguel ever showed them the Obsidian Fang Pendant or mentioned anything unusual about it. Third, any strange people or suspicious activity around him in the days before he disappeared. And most important, did he ever talk about feeling watched or receiving weird messages?"
Sein nodded. "Yeah... and if she knows anything about poison demons or dark mana corruption. Since she has poison resistance, she might have noticed something the rest of the party missed."
Lisa pulled out a small notebook and started scribbling notes. "We should also ask if Miguel had any secret hiding spots or lockboxes in the house that we might have missed because of the poison."
The van cruised steadily through the bustling streets. The traffic was moderate, and the tinted windows kept the inside cool. Sein eventually leaned back, stretching her legs.
"Twenty minutes to the guild, right?" she asked.
Andrey nodded. "Fifteen if the lights are good. Stay sharp. If the demons are targeting artifact holders this aggressively, they might already be watching Helena."
Sein cracked her knuckles, a small smirk on her lips. "Let them watch. If they try anything while we’re there, I’ll burn them to ash."
The black van pulled into the spacious parking lot of Horizon Guild headquarters. The medical wing loomed ahead, a tall modern building with glowing green accents along its walls and the familiar healing crest displayed prominently above the entrance.
Andrey parked in the reserved hero section and killed the engine. "We’re here."
The three of them stepped out. Lisa carried a small pouch of freshly prepared purification potions, while Sein walked beside her with her usual confident stride. Andrey led the way through the automatic glass doors of the medical wing.
The lobby was calm and sterile, filled with soft mana lighting and the faint scent of healing herbs. Andrey approached the reception desk and showed his official Hero Association ID.
"We’re here to see Helena Flint of the Venom Edge party. It’s an investigation regarding Miguel Pestrine’s disappearance and possible demon involvement."
The receptionist quickly checked her screen, then nodded. "Room 312, third floor. She’s stable and awake, but please keep the visit short."
They took the elevator up in silence. When the doors opened on the third floor, Andrey knocked twice on Room 312 before gently pushing the door open.
Inside, a young woman with short brown hair and sharp, wary eyes was sitting up in the hospital bed, a tablet resting on her lap. She looked to be in her early twenties, with faint dark circles under her eyes and a tired but alert expression.
Helena Flint looked up, surprised. "Yes? Who are you?"
Andrey stepped forward calmly. "Helena Flint? I’m Andrey Thompson, This is Lisa Sadine and Sein Alphis. We’re investigating Miguel Pestrine’s disappearance and the possible demon activity connected to it. We were hoping you could answer a few questions."
Helena studied them for a long moment, then sighed and set her tablet aside. She sat up straighter, her expression turning serious.
"I figured someone would come eventually. Carla and I already tried visiting his house yesterday, but the door was locked and no one answered. The Guild only declared him missing this morning." She paused, eyes narrowing. "If you’re really looking into this... then yes, I’ll talk. But I’m warning you, whatever took Miguel, it’s not some random monster. This feels deliberate. Targeted. And that artifact he found... the Obsidian Fang Pendant... I think it’s the reason he’s gone."
Andrey nodded, absorbing the information. "We understand he found the Obsidian Fang Pendant. Did he ever show it to the rest of your party?"
"Yes," Helena answered without hesitation. "He showed it to all of us the same day he brought it back from the sub-gate, about two weeks ago. The moment we saw it, we knew something was wrong. It felt... dangerous. Like it was radiating dark mana. So the whole party helped him purify it right there in our training room."
Lisa leaned in slightly, her voice gentle. "Did the purification work?"
Helena let out a short, bitter laugh. "That’s the thing... we thought it did. But even after the purification... Miguel started acting really strange." Her expression darkened. "He became paranoid, kept the pendant with him at all times, refused to let anyone else touch it again, and often talked to himself when he thought no one was listening. He looked exhausted all the time, like he wasn’t sleeping properly. We tried to check on him multiple times, but he kept pushing us away, saying he was fine. It was like the corruption never fully left him."
Andrey’s eyes sharpened behind his glasses. "And about two weeks ago, right after you purified the pendant... did you notice anyone suspicious around him? Anyone who might have approached him?"
Helena paused, then leaned forward slightly, her voice dropping even lower.
"There’s something else. Right after we purified the pendant, I saw a man talking to Miguel near the guild entrance. The man had striking golden eyes and a very cold presence. I only caught a glimpse, but those eyes... they weren’t normal. I’m almost certain he’s involved somehow. He’s the one who did this to Miguel."
