mesbooks Chapter 187 Crime Scene
Chapter 187 Crime Scene
Chapter 187 Crime Scene
A group of police officers and hunters rushed to the scene of the explosion, which was a small restaurant in a back alley.
This place is far from the city center and is usually deserted, but thanks to a tip-off call, they rushed in this direction.
A small group of people had already gathered at the scene, their faces filled with worry and curiosity. Some onlookers whispered among themselves, speculating about the cause of the explosion.
"Please move aside."
The officers quickly evacuated the crowd, cordoned off the area, and moved through the area rapidly. Given that this was a crime scene, they needed to proceed with caution. With the arrival of their subordinates, the situation was brought under control in no time.
“Margarita, come with me.”
He gestured to the officer beside him and slowly walked towards the scene.
"Roger that, Captain."
He had told her not to call him that, but given the urgency of the situation, he decided to let it go.
As they approached the scene, thick smoke rose from the damaged building, swirling and twisting in the air. The acrid smell of burning assaulted their senses.
What first caught their attention were the three corpses lying on the ground, their limbs spread out in unnatural positions.
"How is this going?"
The lead officer squinted as he examined the scene. The obvious wounds on the bodies indicated that the deaths were swift and brutal, all fatal with a single blow. His eyes narrowed, and he could sense the flow of magical energy.
"All three demon followers were killed with a single blow."
Margarita interjected, her eyes fixed on the scene.
"Three precise attacks, each one fatal."
A sense of unease settled over him, and his hand unconsciously reached for the weapon at his waist, unsure if there was any danger lurking within the restaurant. If it was one person, the enemy would be formidable. If it was multiple people, their numbers would also make the situation dangerous.
[This is Captain Harlan. We've encountered a situation at a local restaurant. Three demon followers have been confirmed dead. We haven't investigated further yet, but we suspect there may be more demon followers hiding inside. Requesting immediate support from the Demon Bureau. Over.]
A few seconds later, a response came from the communicator.
[Received, Captain Harlan. Your Demon Investigation Team request is being processed. Please continue.]
"Tsk, these guys, always late," he muttered to himself.
Did they refuse?
"No, but they didn't accept it either. It seems we'll have to act alone first."
"The Demon Bureau... those guys, nobody seems to care about them."
"Stay alert," he whispered sternly.
The two cautiously approached the restaurant entrance, stepping over scattered debris. Broken glass and charred walls hinted at the power of the explosion.
Upon entering the restaurant, they found it in complete disarray. Tables and chairs were overturned; the once-thriving restaurant was now nothing but ruins.
The lingering effects of magical energy permeated the air, leaving indelible marks on the surrounding environment.
“The demonic energy is stronger,” Harlan said.
There was clearly a battle here, and one that used demonic energy.
As they cautiously traversed the ruins, the captain, with his enhanced magical eyes, spotted another corpse lying on the ground. The body was spread out, riddled with obvious cuts. These wounds indicated a swift and overwhelming attack, leaving the victim with no chance to defend himself.
“Take a look at this,” Harlan said in a low voice, his tone heavy. “These cuts are extremely precise… not the result of a random attack. The person who did this is clearly very skilled, possibly a high-level Awakened.”
Margarita squinted, surveying the scene; her training and instincts began to kick in. "So, Captain, who do you think did this?"
Captain Harlan paused for a moment, deep in thought. The complexity of the situation was becoming increasingly apparent, and the mysterious atmosphere around them intensified their sense of urgency.
"Whoever did it, the priority is to secure the area until the Demon Investigation Team arrives. We must be prepared for anything," he announced, his fingers gripping the hilt of his weapon tightly.
With his years of work experience, he knew very well that some things were dangerous just by hearing about them.
If he crosses the line and learns things he shouldn't know, the consequences will be unimaginable.
As they continued onward, the tension in the air grew stronger, and the mystery surrounding the event deepened.
Let's continue.
After confirming that the body was dead, the two continued forward.
"There is a basement here."
Harlan's keen eyes detected the flow of magic and noticed another energy source remaining in the basement, suggesting that there were other people underground.
The two cautiously approached the basement entrance, their senses heightened and weapons ready to be used at any moment. The broken door indicated someone had forced their way in, which made them even more alert.
“Someone went in through here, and not discreetly,” Captain Harlan said, his eyes narrowing as he examined the broken door. Margarita nodded silently, her gaze sweeping around, alert for any potential threat.
As they stepped into the dimly lit basement, a stench of blood and an unidentified odor assaulted their senses.
The smell of blood was stronger and more disgusting than usual, which made Margarita uncomfortable; she couldn't quite identify the smell.
For the experienced Harlan, this smell was not unfamiliar.
“It was the Demon Core that exploded,” he said calmly.
He had witnessed a demon follower being tortured in the interrogation room, and he knew the smell came from that disgusting core.
"What?" Margarita asked in confusion.
Harlan simply gestured for her to look to one side.
"Look."
Margarita turned around as he instructed, and the sight before her made her unable to stop vomiting.
"vomit!"
The corpse was ravaged beyond description; its limbs were broken, its face was smashed, and most horrifyingly, there was a terrible hole in its chest—the location of the demon's core.
Captain Harlan remained calm, his face stiffening at the sight before him.
"The demon core has been removed; someone deliberately made this guy suffer," he said coldly, his experienced eyes scrutinizing the scene.
Harlan also had his grievances against the half-demon, but he did not approve of such behavior; such cruelty disgusted him.
"call……"
As Harlan continued analyzing the scene, a barely perceptible breathing sound caught his attention. His instincts immediately put him on alert, and he quickly turned to find the source of the sound.
“Wait a minute,” he whispered to Margarita, signaling her to stay alert. His eyes scanned the dimly lit basement, searching for any sign of movement. The source of the voice had cleverly evaded his senses; something was hidden in the shadows.
A moment later, he discovered the source of the sound. A figure that had been shrouded in darkness gradually came into view.
The girl was handcuffed and lying on the ground, her body bearing signs of abuse. She had bruises on her face, and her long, golden hair was a tangled mess.
Harlan immediately realized that the girl was a prisoner. The handcuffs on her wrists were something he recognized very well; they were tools specifically used to seal the magic of awakened beings.
"What the hell..." he muttered to himself, his senses sharpening as he approached the girl. The girl's empty green eyes were devoid of light, staring at everything before her as if she had long since lost the will to live.
"Miss, can you hear me?"
Captain Harlan asked in a low voice, breaking the heavy silence of the basement.
The girl's empty eyes met Harlan's gaze, but she still did not react. Her eyes revealed a deep emptiness, as if all fear and pain had ripped out her soul.
Harlan continued to try to communicate with her, attempting to learn her name and inquire about what had happened in the basement.
However, the girl remained silent, her eyes revealing the deep trauma she had experienced.
Everything that happened there left not only physical scars on her body, but also emotional wounds.
'This won't get anywhere.'
Harlan realized that he wouldn't get the answer by just asking questions; he needed to calm the girl down first.
“Margarita, let’s go.” Harlan frowned, gesturing for Margarita to prepare to leave.
The priority now was to get the captured girl to safety, away from this nightmarish scene. As they carefully unlocked her handcuffs, Harlan reassured her, "You're safe now. We're here to help you."
They gently helped the girl up and led her out of the basement, away from this place filled with demonic energy.
As they emerged from the dimly lit basement, the outside light shone brightly on them.
"what……"
The moment the light shone on her, the girl collapsed to the ground and fainted.
"Be careful."
Harlan quickly caught the girl, preventing her head from hitting the ground.
An ambulance was parked not far away, its blue and white lights casting an eerie glow in the night.
"Quick, take her to the hospital."
"Understood, leave it to us."
After learning about the situation, the medical staff quickly stepped forward to assist and lifted the girl into the ambulance.
hum!
The ambulance doors closed, and the vehicle sped into the night, heading towards the hospital.
Captain Harlan immediately reported the situation to his superiors, providing a detailed account of everything that had happened in a hidden corner of the city.
Demonic energy, dismembered corpses, and a captured girl—these eerie elements painted a disturbing picture. Headquarters reacted swiftly, recognizing the gravity of the situation.
Shortly after the report, Harlan's equipment received a communication with direct instructions from higher command.
[Captain Harlan, you are responsible for ensuring the safety and well-being of the captured girl until further notice. Hand her over to Margarita and follow the instructions of the Demon Bureau; this is a priority. Over.]
Harlan confirmed the order, realizing the weight of the responsibility on his shoulders. This girl might hold the key to solving the mystery; her safety was of paramount importance.
He turned to Margarita and relayed his instructions: “Your task is to take care of this girl. Following the department’s instructions, we need to find out how much she knows about this incident.”
"clear."
Margarita accepted the task, walked to the car, and drove to the hospital.