Chapter 33: Butterfly

[Chapter 33: Butterfly]

In the office, Ian struggled to keep his emotions in check. Inside, he was excited, while his exterior appeared calm. His hands rested confidently on his 'gun', showing no signs of turmoil.

Bang!

Katherine slammed her hand onto the desk, sending a few photographs flying. Her hands were pale and delicate, paired with a pretty face that managed to captivate. Of course, you can fire, but feelings were another matter.

Realizing he was getting sidetracked, Ian shifted his gaze from her hand to the photos. They depicted a dark alley, splattered with a few drops of blood.

"What is this?" he asked.

"This is the first crime scene!" Katherine retorted coldly. "Danny Koskri wasn't held captive in a cabin; he was found in an alley and then moved to another location. Someone heard the gunshots."

Ian furrowed his brow. He understood that serious detectives posed real problems! He needed to find a way to resolve this situation -- perhaps the senator could help him.

Katherine continued her furious glare at him. "Your reporter saw it all, didn't he? He watched someone kill Danny Koskri! Those photos are his!"

"I like your explanation." Ian smiled.

Katherine shot back, "Who is that reporter?"

After a moment of thought, Ian replied, "I only know him as Butterfly."

"Butterfly?" Katherine asked, confused.

"Yeah, Butterfly. The butterfly effect -- when you flap your wings, it can cause a great storm. He's a mysterious guy. After he got the news, he contacted me to sell it to me. The condition was that I wouldn't ask for his identity," Ian said, a grin forming on his face as a thought crossed his mind.

Butterfly! That settled it. Not all news could be reported on directly -- someone had to take the fall. In the near future, a legendary reporter would shine like a star in the sky.

Katherine was glaring at Ian with hostility. She knew Ian was speaking nonsense, but she had no leverage against him. Now, Ian was no longer the Ian Carr of old; he had gained significant fame and, without evidence, she couldn't simply arrest him. This was a special warning from the chief before she came here.

Taking a deep breath, Katherine demanded, "You need to hand him over to me!"

Ian casually waved his hand. "Sorry, I don't know where he is. He's as elusive as a spy and never told me his identity. We have a cash-for-news relationship... that's not illegal."

Leaning closer to Katherine, he continued, "Why waste your energy on matters that already have answers? Every day, there are various murders happening in this country and the police have limited resources. Instead of being adversaries, why not cooperate? Good reporters can help you accomplish a lot, like the Blazer case."

Katherine inhaled deeply, which made her chest swing wildly. Ah, it was so unpredictable!

Ian's gaze drifted lower. He quickly withdrew his perspective feeling more and more that using it for this was a huge waste and self-torture.

In a furious whisper, she said, "Your reports have gotten us into a lot of trouble. The case hasn't even been solved, and you've essentially given the public a pre-determined answer."

Ian shrugged, "I just told them the facts we know. The public has a right to know the truth."

"Enough!" Katherine shouted, banging the table. "You guys do nothing but create trouble for us!"

You're more flexible when you're excited! One can tell that without perspective.

Unabashedly, Ian reacted, "We can do a lot. We inform the public, shedding light on this world. We are the un-crowned kings; we disclose truths and act as watchdogs. Media is the best supervisor of power, the executor of morality and law!"

Katherine fought the urge to slap him across the face.

Seeing the anger on her face made Ian chuckle softly.

Suddenly, he asked, "How about having sex with me?"

The abrupt change in subject left Katherine stunned.

"What did you say?"

Ian gazed at her beautiful face and smiled, "Seize the opportunity. At least now you have a chance with me. In the future, I might be very busy. I'll soon transition from pursuing girls to constantly rejecting them... it will be a fast evolution, and by then, you might find yourself begging at my feet just for a chance."

"You damn bastard!" Katherine furiously shouted, grabbing her teacup and splashing its contents all over his face.

The water poured down Ian's face, but he simply smiled joyfully.

Katherine yelled, "Put your dick away, I'll never give you a chance! And you'd better hope Bloods doesn't come after you!"

Never had she despised Ian Carr more than at that moment.

Fuming, she stormed out of Ian's office.

...

Ian stepped out of his office, watching her leave. Leaning against the door frame, he chuckled, "She's a fiery one, isn't she, Ron?"

The main editor was seated close to the office.

Roy looked back at him. "You like her?"

Ian shook his head. "No, a little spice is great as a condiment, but it doesn't work as a main course. The real main course usually lacks strong flavor, but you never get tired of it! I only made that proposition to her because making her angry could lead to mistakes in judgment on her part... well, there was certainly that need. I've been living on one dish lately, and it's a little monotonous."

Kate Beckinsale: Is that getting tiresome already?

Roy was exasperated by the "proposition."

Ian laughed heartily.

"Do you know why I love media? Because the public only hears what you want them to hear. They're like your puppets; they listen to everything you say. The true value of journalism has never been about money, but its unparalleled influence... you can even decide who becomes president or whether a war should be declared."

If a journalist could determine the fate of a president, how much easier would it be to get a date with just a spicy girl?

Officer Brown, the only reason you haven't ended up in my hands is that I'm currently focused on my work... it's a stage of career development; it's not wise to waste too much energy on dating now.

With wealth and status, beautiful women would come rushing toward him!

He stepped outside. "I'm going out for a drink; it's all yours now."

Roy gave him an OK sign.

---

After leaving the newsroom, Ian strolled down the street, casually looking around while using his insights to scan various places.

News of dismemberment was a classic case of violent sensationalism, but the controversy surrounding this piece was enormous, bringing in high "experience" points, and Ian's right eye leveled up quickly.

This also made Ian's talent even more powerful, and he grew less fatigued.

So Ian enjoyed himself, absorbing all the secrets hidden in every corner of Los Angeles.

The vibrant streets were lit with bright lights, yet behind those high walls lay an endless number of secrets.

Not far in a small building, a man and a woman were engaged in an act... intertwined, with the male figure doing push-ups on top.

Turning to look again, another small building showed three individuals latched together.

In the middle was a ponytail girl in a doggy style position, with two others standing at each end.

Scenes like this were everywhere; the world appeared transparent in Ian's eyes!

*****

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