Chapter 13: Thought Transmission

The afternoon sun cast long shadows across Pinecrest's bustling streets as Erwin, now in Erwin's form, walked through the doors of Café Leblanc.

The rich aroma of brewed coffee and sizzling meat filled the air. The café was alive with chatter, customers enjoying their meals while Soma worked behind the counter.

The moment Soma spotted Erwin, his expression lit up with surprise—an act, of course.

"Well, I'll be damned!" Soma grinned, wiping his hands on a towel as he stepped around the counter.

Erwin raised an eyebrow, already catching on to what he was doing.

"It's been ages!" Soma laughed loudly, stepping forward and pulling Erwin into a tight hug.

Erwin's body tensed for a second, but he quickly played along, chuckling as he patted Soma's back.

"Hah, you always were a dramatic one."

Soma pulled back, grinning widely. "How the hell are you? Why are you in Pinecrest? Didn't think I'd ever see you here!"

Some of the nearby customers turned toward them, their interest piqued.

A few of them whispered among themselves.

"Who's that?"

"Never seen him before. He knows Soma?"

Soma sensed the curiosity and turned toward the crowd with a smile. "Oh, where are my manners? This guy here is an old friend."

One of the older customers, a human man in his fifties, leaned forward. "And what do you do, young man?"

Erwin, still in Erwin's form, gave a polite nod before answering in a calm, commanding voice.

"I was a private investigator."

A few customers reacted with interest.

"Ooohhh."

"That explains the look. He's got that detective vibe."

Erwin smirked slightly. "Not anymore, though. Now that I'm in the Kaldarion Kingdom, I'm trying to become a cop."

Soma clapped a hand on his shoulder. "Well, I'm running a café now, so if you ever need a place to crash, you know where to find me. But for now, I got customers to serve. You can wait for me upstairs."

Erwin nodded. "Appreciate it. I'll see you later."

As he headed up the wooden staircase, Soma went back to work, fielding more questions from customers.

Upstairs, Zero sat cross-legged on the floor, eyes closed, his focus on gathering magical energy.

A faint humming noise filled the room as wisps of mana drifted toward him, absorbing into his core.

His concentration broke when he sensed another presence.

He cracked an eye open and saw Erwin Smith standing before him.

Zero blinked. "So, I take it the investigation went well?"

Erwin sighed, stepping forward and sitting down across from him. "It's better if we just touch foreheads."

Zero smirked. "Thought transmission, huh?"

Erwin rolled his eyes. "Yeah, whatever."

They leaned forward, their foreheads gently pressing together—a method they had figured out to instantly share memories and knowledge.

In an instant—Zero saw everything.

The library's shelves, the lack of records, the blatant propaganda. It wasn't just a lack of information—it was deliberate erasure.

Zero pulled back, his expression grim.

"It's gone."

Erwin nodded. "Completely. The only books left are either demon-bashing propaganda or historical texts that glorify other races. It's not just negligence—it's an intentional rewrite of history."

Zero exhaled. "No surprise there, but still. That means any real information is either hidden… or destroyed."

He leaned back, rubbing his temples. "What else?"

Erwin adjusted his glasses before continuing.

"As for the world itself—Aetherion is massive. But only about 60% of it is habitable land."

Zero raised an eyebrow. "And the rest?"

Erwin smirked. "Wilderness. Uncharted forests. Ruins of civilizations we know nothing about. But the official records call them 'Sacred Mana Supplies.'"

Zero frowned. "Sacred mana? Sounds like a load of crap."

"It is." Erwin's voice was sharp. "But it's also convenient. Think about it—entire regions of land, untouched and unexplored, because the world believes they must be left alone. The kingdoms and nations surrounding these places? Always struggling for resources, always on the brink of conflict."

Zero rubbed his chin. "And who decides what land is 'sacred'?"

Erwin's expression darkened.

"The Mage Towers."

Zero let out a low whistle. "So they're the ones calling the shots behind the scenes."

Erwin nodded. "It all makes sense. The world isn't naturally divided—it's engineered to stay this way. Power is controlled, land is restricted, and knowledge is erased. And Kaldarion?"

Zero tilted his head.

Erwin smirked. "If you compare Aetherion to Earth, Kaldarion is the equivalent of the USA. A kingdom, yes, but still one of the biggest power players in the world."

Zero's smirk matched his. "And the United Federation? The one with the elected president?"

"That'd be the like UK. Newly formed, still trying to prove itself, but making waves."

Zero exhaled, processing the information.

A world shaped by invisible hands. Knowledge hidden. Borders intentionally tense.

And demons?

Erased.

Zero leaned back, a slow grin spreading across his face.

"Well, damn. We walked into a hell of a mess, didn't we?"

Erwin adjusted his tie.

"We didn't walk into it. We were born into it."

A brief silence.

Then—

Zero chuckled. "Guess that means we should start causing problems, huh?"

Erwin's smirk was pure mischief.

"Absolutely."

…

Soma stretched his arms as he stepped into the upstairs room, the scent of coffee and grilled food still clinging to his clothes. He had just finished dealing with the café's afternoon rush, and as usual, Zero and Erwin were already deep in conversation.

He leaned against the doorframe, raising an eyebrow.

"What are you two whispering about? Hopefully, it's not about me."

Zero smirked. "Actually—"

Soma immediately waved his hands. "Attatata! Never mind. I don't wanna know. Just tell me the important part—what's the next plan?"

Zero leaned back, glancing at Erwin before casually responding, "Erwin's going to become a cop."

Soma froze, then blinked.

"Huh? You do know that takes years, right? Academy training, crawling up the ranks, all that bureaucratic bullshit. You're seriously gonna go through all of that?"

Erwin adjusted his glasses, his expression calm and unreadable.

"Not exactly."

Soma frowned, crossing his arms. "Alright, explain it to me like I'm five."

Erwin leaned forward slightly, resting his elbows on his knees. His voice was calm, precise—tactical.

"The police department is in shambles right now."

Soma's frown deepened. "What do you mean?"

"I asked around while I was in my child form. People talk a lot when they think they're just chatting with a kid. And from what I've gathered, the department is falling apart."

"Because of Elara" Zero say.

Erwin nodded.

"Yes. Ever since she took over, there's been an ongoing purge. She's arresting corrupt officers, shutting down bribe networks, cutting ties between the force and the nobles. In doing so, she's created a huge power vacuum."

Soma tilted his head. "Meaning…?"

"Meaning the department is bleeding personnel. They don't have enough officers to handle cases, let alone keep the city in order. Right now, they're surviving purely on patchwork solutions and temporary assignments."

Soma's expression brightened with realization. "Ahh, I get it! So you're gonna join now while they're desperate, right? Just breeze through the ranks?"

Zero and Erwin exchanged a look.

Then—

They both shook their heads.

"Nope."

Soma blinked. "...Then what the hell are you doing?"

Erwin smiled slightly, his tone confident and composed.

"I'm going to become a private detective."

Soma raised an eyebrow. "Why? If they need people, you could just walk in and they'd probably take you immediately."

Erwin adjusted his tie, his voice dropping slightly.

"Because that's exactly what they'd expect someone desperate to do."

Soma furrowed his brows, confused. "What?"

Zero smirked, already know where this was going.

"He wants to slither through the cracks, not bulldoze his way in."

Erwin nodded. "This world is full of holes, Soma. Laws, bureaucracy, crime—the entire system is full of gaps that people slip through. I don't just want to join the police—I want to position myself as someone irreplaceable before I even step through the door."

Soma scratched his head. "Alright, you lost me. What exactly is the plan?"

Erwin's eyes gleamed.

"I won't make it a business. I won't put up signs or hand out flyers. But when people—your customers—need investigative work, they'll hear about me."

Soma snorted. "So you want me to be your informant?"

Erwin smiled. "You are the best source of city gossip. Why waste that?"

Soma leaned back, processing it. "So you're gonna take on cases from regular people. Missing persons, stolen goods, cheating spouses—things the police don't take seriously. And once you start solving enough of them…"

Zero finished the thought.

"The cases will start getting bigger. And when they start interfering with the police force, the department will have no choice but to take notice."

Erwin nodded. "Exactly. When I start solving crimes that they can't, I'll become a liability—a name too loud for them to ignore. They'll get frustrated, and sooner or later, they'll offer me a position just to stop me from making them look incompetent."

Soma let out a low whistle. "And with your perfectly clean background…"

Erwin smirked. "They'll think they're recruiting an unknown rookie, someone desperate for a career. Someone who just wants to help."

A brief silence settled between them.

Then—

Soma laughed.

"Damn. You're actually playing the long game."

Erwin adjusted his glasses. "I intend to make my rise look as natural as possible. No sudden leaps, no suspicious favors, no shortcuts. Just a slow, realistic climb from a struggling private investigator to a respected officer."

Zero grinned. "And once you're inside?"

Erwin's expression turned calm and unreadable.

"Then we see how high I can go."

Soma chuckled, shaking his head. "Man, you're patient as hell. That's gonna take a while."

Erwin stood up, brushing off his coat.

"Exactly."

He turned toward the window, gazing out at the city.

"Forget about me. It's gonna take time. And that's the point. I want them to believe I got here because I was desperate, because I struggled and eventually chose to serve the community."

His voice was smooth, measured—as if he were reading from a script already written in the minds of those who would eventually welcome him into their ranks.

"The police will see a man who rose from failure to rebuild himself into something better. A man they can trust."

He turned back to them, smiling faintly.

"And by the time they realize it was all planned... it'll be far too late."

Zero chuckled. "That's some next-level manipulation, detective."

Soma let out a deep sigh. "I'd call it crazy, but honestly? It's genius."

Erwin smirked. "I try."

As they sat back, the room fell into a comfortable silence.

Outside, the city continued moving—completely unaware that one of its future top officers was already playing the game.

…

The morning rush at Café Leblanc was in full swing.

The scent of freshly brewed coffee and buttered toast filled the air as Soma moved between tables, taking orders, delivering plates, and exchanging quick banter with the regulars.

The café had become a staple for breakfast-goers, and despite the lingering prejudice against demons, more and more people were willing to set aside their biases for a good meal.

Everything was going smoothly—until the front door creaked open.

A tall, blonde man in a wrinkled suit stumbled in, his hair messy, his posture slouched, and his movements sluggish.

It was Erwin acting completely and utterly drunk.

The café fell silent.

Several customers paused mid-bite, their eyes following him as he staggered toward the counter.

Soma's eyes widened slightly, but then he sighed, shaking his head.

You really wanna start this act already, huh?

He quickly stepped out from behind the counter, putting on an exasperated expression as he reached Erwin's side.

"Alright, alright, that's enough—" he muttered, grabbing Erwin's arm.

Erwin mumbled something incoherent, dramatically leaning against Soma for support.

Soma forced a chuckle, shaking his head before addressing the watchful audience.

"Sorry about this, folks. He had a rough night."

A few customers murmured among themselves, exchanging looks of curiosity and mild disapproval.

Soma didn't give them time to dwell on it.

With one firm tug, he guided Erwin toward the staircase, practically dragging him up.

The moment they reached the top floor, Erwin immediately dropped the act, standing up straight and adjusting his tie.

Soma glared at him.

"You could've warned me, asshole."

Erwin smirked. "Where's the fun in that? Besides, I trust you to improvise."

Soma rubbed his temples, muttering under his breath before heading back downstairs.

As expected—the café was still silent, all eyes on him.

Soma let out a long sigh, adopting a look of defeat and sadness.

"I'm sorry if he made anyone uncomfortable." His voice was low, almost apologetic.

A few customers exchanged glances, still waiting for an explanation.

Soma hesitated, then spoke.

"He's from the United Federation."

The moment those words left his lips, the entire café tensed.

Mutterings broke out among the guests. Several customers frowned, some even scowled, and a few immediately pushed back their chairs as if considering leaving.

The Kaldarion Kingdom and the United Federation were not on good terms.

Soma saw their hostility and quickly continued, his voice layered with quiet sorrow.

"I know, I know… but please—just listen."

Silence.

A few guests hesitated, but they remained seated, their expressions still wary.

Soma took a deep breath before he spoke.

"Back in the Federation, he was one of the best private investigators."

That got some people's attention.

"His sense of justice was far stronger than the UF police force… and that was his mistake." Soma lowered his eyes, shaking his head.

"At first, he refused to play their game. He rejected their bribes. He solved cases they didn't want solved. He tried to fight corruption the right way."

Some of the guests leaned in slightly, their curiosity overtaking their initial prejudice.

Soma continued.

"But the UF cops… they don't tolerate outsiders who don't play along. They started demanding him for money, telling him to pay up if he wanted to keep working."

A few guests murmured among themselves.

"I've heard about that. The UF's police aren't like ours… they're practically a private gang."

Soma sighed. "At first, he resisted. He thought he could fight back. But the pressure got worse. They started making sure he lost clients. They made cases disappear. The system was rigged against him from the start."

He looked down, shaking his head.

"In the end, he gave up. He ran. He left everything behind and came here. Now he's with me… but I still don't know how to help him."

For a few seconds—silence.

Then, a customer in the back spoke up.

"Hey, I think my sister needs a private investigator."

Soma turned toward him, mildly surprised.

The man shrugged. "She's been dealing with some… shady stuff. If your friend is as good as you say, maybe he's the right man for the job."

Another customer nodded.

"I don't need an investigator right now, but if I hear anything, I'll pass the word along."

Soma held back a smirk.

And just like that… Phase One is complete.

…

Back upstairs, Erwin was already relaxing on the couch, flipping through one of the books he had taken from the library.

The door creaked open, and Soma stepped in, shaking his head.

"Well, congratulations, detective. Your sob story worked."

Erwin smirked, not looking up. "How many bites?"

Soma leaned against the doorframe. "One confirmed client. A few others willing to spread your name around."

Erwin closed the book, nodding thoughtfully.

"Not bad for day one."

Soma scoffed. "Yeah, yeah, you're a genius, I get it. So what now?"

Erwin smirked, adjusting his glasses.

"Now? We let the rumors grow. The more cases I solve, the bigger the cases will become. Eventually, they'll get so big… the police will start paying attention."

Soma frowned. "Wouldn't it be easier to just join the police now and move up from there?"

Erwin shook his head.

"Too direct. Too obvious. If I climbed the ranks quickly, they'd suspect something was off. But if they believe I'm a struggling detective, a man who has nowhere else to go… then when they finally invite me in, they'll think it's because I'm desperate."

Zero, who had been sitting silently by the window, grinned.

"And people love a redemption story."

Erwin's smirk widened.

"Exactly. They'll think they're giving me a second chance—lifting me from rock bottom into something greater."

Soma let out a low whistle. "Damn, you really planned this out."

Erwin leaned back against the couch, completely at ease.

"Forget about me for now. This is a long-term game."

His blue eyes gleamed behind his glasses.

"By the time they realize it was all planned... it'll be far too late."

A/N: : Let's go Chapter 13, Spooky number.👻.👻