Immortality

"Stop it? Don't fuck with me. I don't know when to stop. Not until I know the truth behind the innocent men and women you murdered-"

Sir Rigor threw himself on the floor and started banging his head on the ground. While having a breakdown, he yelled, "Arghh! Stop it! I don't want to remember!"

|...|

A thud reverberated throughout the room. And then another... and another... and yet another.

It turned to a rhythm, a decelerating cadence becoming more silent for every thump.

"..."

A few seconds passed, now the thud turned to a splat. It's like the sound of footsteps on water.

'How did the noise change?' You ask... Well, if I were to say that a man continuously pounded his head against the ground until a pool of blood gushed out from his face, will you believe me?

I'm currently witnessing it now... from the man the least I anticipated to do so. Never in a million years would I have expected to see Sir Rigor in such a pathetic state.

Zoro would have to gather all the dragon balls and become the Hokage before that happens.

"D-Don't make me remember..." Sir Rigor whispered as he raises his head from the ground.

In what seems to be a scene straight out of a horror movie, Sir Rigor's face was painted red, with his uniform stained by his own blood. His flesh near the forehead appears to be cut open as if he was struck by a tiger's claw.

His face was already permeated by scars, but it looks like another one will be added.

"..."

As I witness this horrific scene, I can't help but gag. Only my iron will is preventing me from vomiting out my stomach.

"Sir Rigor! Please calm down!" I yelled out as my hands cover my mouth.

As he kneels on the floor, seemingly lifeless, he silently asked, "Miles... How did you... know?"

"Don't mind what I said! Right now, we need to get you to a medic!" I complained as I looked away.

With all casualty, as if nothing happened, Sir Rigor asked, "Give me an empty glass."

I glanced at Sir Rigor and exclaimed, "E-Excuse me?"

"How pathetic of me... It seems like no matter how much I grow, I can't leave behind the past!"

Oi! What the hell am I seeing?!

The wound on his forehead is... disappearing?! And the blood on the floor... it's gathering in one place in a shape of a sphere.

It's like regeneration! The cut in between his eyebrows is closing off... is he generating flesh?! Impossible!

"Get me an empty cup, Miles." Sir Rigor commanded as he regenerates.

I raced towards the door and said, "S-Sure!"

|...|

What on earth is he going to use a cup for?! Shouldn't Sir Rigor ask me for bandages, or like what a regular human being does, call the ambulance?!

Sir Rigor looked determined, though, so he must know what he's doing.

With that said, that reaction just now disproves my previous assumptions. I thought Sir Rigor would become a twist-villain and become the main antagonist of this arc.

"I'm back! Here's your empty cup?" I said as I entered the room.

Sir Rigor took the cup and replied, "Thank you, Miles."

"So uh... do you want me to call an ambulance or?"

"I advise you to look away. You won't be able to stomach what you're about to witness."

"W-Well, I did kind of see you have a mental breakdown... certainly, nothing else would top that- oh fuck..."

The orb of blood from earlier appears to have been poured into the cup. I don't know how the fuck that happened, but right now, Sir Rigor is drinking his blood.

Once again, I gagged. I felt like something was coming up my throat! Even though I'm doing the best I can to not vomit, but the puke is inches away from my mouth!

Ahh! Fuck it! I'll just leave a tip to the janitor in charge of this area!

"Sir Rigor... I don't feel so good."

"Oi! Miles! Stay away from me! What the hell are you doing?! Don't come near m-"

|...|

Oh god... It feels like I puked out my intestines. Whoever is in charge of cleaning this place has my condolences. I'll even pay for your child's education if you have one.

"Sh-Shall we head somewhere else, Miles?" Sir Rigor asked.

"It's fine here... Luckily, I threw up in a trash can."

Sir Rigor sat and responded, "W-Well, let's sit. Drink some water if you want."

I took the cup and didn't reply. Just nodded my head.

This confrontation sure took a turn for the worse, but it's a load off my chest knowing that the man I've been following isn't some murder-addicted, racist scumbag.

Sir Rigor looked down at the ground, and in an apologetic tone, he requested, "Before I answer your question about that forsaken night, I'd like to explain what you just saw now."

Again, I didn't reply. Just nodded my head.

"My enhancement is... Immortality-"

My eyes widened, and I spat out my drink.

"Immo-what?! Ain't that too convenient for an enhancement?!" I yelled.

"Calm down... it isn't what you think. My enhancement allows me to regenerate any part of my body. The only exception being my lungs, heart, and brain."

Now I see why Sir Rigor is the chief of police. It's not just his tact and presence! He also possesses an enhancement that could rival mine!

With all confidence, Sir Rigor exclaimed, "Well then, let me start off by saying... I'm not the mass-murderer you think I am."

So he knew, huh? As expected from you, Sir Rigor.

"When mayor Eisenhart first came into power a decade ago, Midway was a cesspool of corrupt scumbags, and the chief of police back then was one of them."

I took a sip from my cup, and with worried eyes, I asked, "I thought you were the-... Reyna said you were in charge a decade ago."

"That was after the massacre. Former chief Genkei Hachirou is the one you're looking for."

Hachi...rou? That name sounds familiar. If my memory doesn't fail me, I've heard that name in one of Uncle Jerry's lessons.

The House of Hachirou is one of Midway's eight vessel clans. A family of seven known to be a bunch of ruthless motherfuckers. Thus, the nickname 'Midway's seven deadly sins.'

Now I know why...

"I'm surprised you found out about that tragedy, Miles. But what's even more shocking is you didn't even bother to check who was in charge of that operation."

After hearing that, I straightened my posture and slowly got the cup from the table. I took a nice, long sip and...

"I sincerely apologize for suspecting you, Sir Rigor!" I yelled as I threw myself on the floor.

"..."

"It's alright... I'm equally responsible for what happened on that night."

I got up and sat in my seat. "Uhh... how so?"

Sir Rigor bit his lips so hard, it's started bleeding. Once again, he faced the ground and silently muttered, "I had the highest kill count on that night."

"..."

"C-Can we change the topic, please! M-More importantly... how's the preparations going?"

This conversation about the night of the noble snakes has to end here. Throughout the conversation, Sir Rigor's eyes were teary. He even tried to hide his trembling fist.

Never question God and his authority, and never ask a traumatized old man his biggest regret.

"The deck of cards is complete. All that's missing is the wildcard, Miles." Sir Rigor replied as he stood up.

His all-so familiar intimidating aura is back. In fact, I've never seen it this terrorizing before.

The tables are shaking, windows shattering, and the walls are starting to crack. It's not an exaggeration when I say the atmosphere feels like the one on Jupiter.

But!

Even with this hell-like presence, I can't help but smile. It's not just Pheromones rushing in my veins, the adrenaline too.

"Brace yourself, Miles! The assault starts... now."