10.2 Confusion

He arrived in the middle of the police officers all focused on the crime scene inspection.

"Inspector Jok-Ma!" he greeted the well-known inspector.

The latter responded to his greeting with a warm tap on the shoulder. He also waved to Jin who was watching the state agents do their work on the landing of their friend's flat. He moved closer as Yomo arrived to hear what the inspector had to say.

"We'll analyze the evidence. I think establishing a direct link to Inja won't be difficult."

Yomo nodded without saying anything. Around him, the room was in chaos with police officers, plastics, and cameras all over the floor. All the forensic equipment was out to inspect the doorway of his friend's flat.

"We're going to build as strong a case as possible, the whole crime squad is on it! The government supports us, the Gyriad has become too dangerous for them. They are even talking about Europol's intervention and the creation of a European brigade especially dedicated to dismantling the Gyriad."

Inspector Jok-Ma explained calmly. Jin looked at him impassively. His cold eyes were two unfathomable mirrors that seemed to plunge into the depths of the policeman's soul to ensure the truth of his words.

"We're going to set up surveillance for Nils. The aim is to ensure that she has no way of contacting him," he continued.

"Will he have to move out?" Yomo asked, concerned about the impact of all this activity on his friend's health.

"No, on the contrary. It's better if he stays in a place known to Inja and the police, it will be easier to monitor."

The student nodded. He ran his hand through his hair and sighed. This evening was most chaotic. He also had to deal with Rau, whom he had left home alone... A headache began to pound in his head at the thought of all the commotion he had to deal with.

"Look after your friend, for now, he needs you," the inspector glanced in the direction of the door that led to Nils' room. "We won't need to interview him, he can make his statement later this week, when he feels up to it. Let him rest here, we'll take care of everything!"

The two youngsters thanked the officer and headed for the tiger's den, angry at being restricted in his movements while everyone else was busy outside. Knowing Nils, he was pretty sure he was going to be unmanageable once they opened the door to his room. He must have been ranting in his corner waiting impatiently to be let out.

With a tap on Jin's shoulder, who had stopped at the door, Yomo wordlessly told him it was time for them to confront the demon. Jin nodded and turned the handle after unlocking it without saying anything, preparing himself for a situation he knew was inevitable.

He opened the door slowly, anticipating the events to follow with long experience. It didn't take a second longer for the first projectile to crash into the door, forcing the two friends to retreat. A series of five objects crashed against the wooden door before a lull in the action made Jin and Yomo make a tentative entrance.

To their astonishment, nothing else flew at them. They opened the door wide and found Nils sitting against his bed with his back to them. A heap of stuffed animals and books lay on the floor behind the door, the result of the locked young man's tantrum.

"Nils..." finished Jin as he finally entered the room.

They approached their friend who had curled up, his knees against his chest held up by his arms. He was staring blankly ahead of him, the exact opposite of what the two friends had expected. After a quick glance, they crouched down beside their friend without saying anything.

"The cops are here, they're handling the situation," Yomo said, unsure of what to do about Nils, who was not reacting as usual.

Seeing the brown-haired boy sitting so calmly caught him completely off guard. Their friend was used to letting his emotions explode, especially when he was feeling bad. He had expected an impatient tornado to unleash itself on everything around him and a stream of insults of its own. But nothing. Nils's calmness made him feel insidiously anxious. It did not bode well.

"Nils, everything's going to be fine. I spoke to the inspector and he explained that the government is taking the matter seriously. They're putting a special European team on it, you'll be closely monitored, and nothing will happen to you again," added Jin, who didn't seem to mind much more than Yomo.

Also unsettled by his friend's reaction, Jin tried to reassure him. But he could see that none of their words reached him. Together with Yomo, they exchanged an anxious look. Not knowing what to do, they waited for Nils to decide to speak.