Work of a Detective (3)

"Seems like the idea of 'karma' does exist, as she seems to have gotten you for what you did," Licht said, smiling while drinking a cup of coffee while the coroner transporters brought the two corpses away. Licht was happy, even if she was a bit too happy to be here on the sidewalk while Aiden was smoking his 6th cigarette out of frustration. He dropped the cigar and stomped on it, lightning the next one.

"You will die from lung cancer if you smoke that many out of frustration, chief." Licht acted concerned, but the way she smiled showed she didn't care at all. Technology is advanced enough to heal the toughest of cancer if you have the money to treat it. It isn't that expensive nowadays to treat common cancers with how prevalent cancer has become for the common folk, thus being treated daily.

"I get it. You feel oh so great that this happened to me because I tried ditching all the paperwork of mine to you in the morning." The cigarette didn't last long, falling apart as he inhaled it quickly to make the nicotine calm his nerves, which hadn't been successful so far. "So what does the local data say about him?" He asked as Licht had opened the Holograph network after having scanned Jack's blood.

"There is nothing about him." She said, exhausted, she had tried digging for half an hour. Aiden looked at her as if he heard wrong, "Repeat what you just said, please." He thought he heard it wrong at the moment, a play on his mind because of all the stress that built up in such a short time. "As I said, chief, the results from the blood exam gave nothing back. The central holograph system didn't give back anybody with the name of 'Jack Reaper' or show any match with his DNA. "

Aiden took off his hat and scratched the back of his neck, slightly frustrated from this. "Fine, let's say there is nothing that somehow a person has not a single record in the central system." He calmed his nerves down a bit so he could think more clearly. "Then do your eyes see something that we can't see? I did hear that fairies are capable of seeing certain things with some other races, too." As a Fairy who can use magic, her biology allowed her to see what humans would have called in the past the supernatural.

Perception of reality was never the same; what a human saw wasn't the same as what a fairy or a different species would see. Their bodies only allowed certain parts of reality to be understood by them, and to be seen as too much would drive one insane.

"Except a handsome fellow, there is nothing that I see." However, their personalities tend to be weird, to say the least, because of their life and the way their brains function. Aiden wanted to ask if she was serious in what she just said, when he remembered a characteristic of fairies, their practice of necrophilia.

"You will not be close to the corpse, Licht, as we cannot have it being contaminated by your fluids." Licht looked offended at Aiden, even if her ears were slightly red from his comment. The wind hit Aiden's head, causing the cigarette to fall out of his mouth. >>I should have just shut up<< Aiden grumbled as he stood up from the ground. That was the last cigarette of his, which was now wasted.

"So we have a man whose identity isn't known in the central database. No usage of magic is here, so this leaves him being either a half-blood or of another species or a half-blooded Übermensch." He let out a deep sigh. His eyes moved around, and amidst all this, he saw a red-haired man coming. Flame came holding pieces of paper in his hand.

"I was told that someone admitted it might be an unregistered Übermensch." Flame's face was practically sparkling. It wasn't a sense of superiority but refreshment that he felt from having his hypothesis correct, even if it was only half correct.

>>Annoying bastard<< It was understandable why he felt a sense of refreshment, but it didn't help that it felt as annoying as ever when he had that smile of his. "Fine, divisional inspector, with how confident you came and even holding 'papers' in your hand I'm sure you have evidence that will give us a better idea of what we are dealing with right?" Aiden stepped right into work.

"I did some digging and consulted with the information broker of ours, even if I was tricked into it." The expression of Flame showed anger when he spoke about it. It was obvious how it happened, as there was only one broker who could make someone spill their beans without one noticing. "It was a hassle, but thanks to you having sent the image, I could ask if the broker knew anything, and it was from a cult that is quite new. They were made around 5 years ago."

"As we already know, his name is Jack Reaper, and he was a member of theirs, as I was given some papers about that guy." He gave Aiden and Licht one paper. Taking a look at the paper, they saw the information there was about the man.

"No wonder there was nothing about him; he was born in the deepest part of the slums. Damn, that guy should have just stayed there" Licht clicked her tongue. The only ones who are not on the radar of the government are the people who live in the part of the slum where death himself stays, taking the life of everyone eventually. Some would call it proof that a god exists if one were to get out of that part.

"So much for god existing. That guy died as the trash he was." God or whatever, Aiden didn't care for either as the world was as terrible of a place as it could be, and if God existed, it would just show that God enjoys the suffering of humans.

"That isn't all. As I said, the cult is quite new, but they have a name and even a place where they meet up regularly." He took the papers back from the two after they finished reading it through.

"They call themselves 'Abandoned Blood' and are a rag-tag group of dirty blood traitors." Flame's face changed, showing the clear disgust he has towards the members of that cult. He didn't seem to care what they did, but just who made up the group. 

Dirty blood, a term used for anybody who isn't pure-blooded, is used by both humans and other species that weren't human, and they had contact with. They are the hybrids of a mix between humans and, as called by humans, 'monsters' hated by both and desired to be slaughtered. They are seen as a disgrace that shouldn't exist, but some animals are allowed to live. That was the more common way of referring to them than the word 'half-blood' that existed.

No one views them favorably, the public perception is that they are not beautiful like some of the species who live amongst humans easily because of their beauty and power. Nor do they look much human, sharing too many characteristics with the monster part of them, with some human characteristics existing but making them look disfigured in most cases.

Licht also showed slight disgust, even though fairies are seen as one of the kinder species that exist. Aiden seemed indifferent to the information. 

"He said he will call me if he finds a lead to where some of them are hiding, so it will likely take some days for him to find it, or he is just stalling time with how his personality is…" The two nodded to Flame's words.

The broker-no- no one bothered calling him by his name, as he was someone who would use that as an excuse to say one was close to him. Being close to him is the last thing one would want to be with a guy who is on the bad side of the governments across the world. There were rumors that the Austrian government tried to arrest and execute him but failed when the people who were sent all died with their heads having been sent to the government official who proposed the idea.

That caused the broker to become infamous and a rumor to circulate that anybody associated with him that seem to be good would be on the bad side of the higher-ups, which would be like signing their own death. "Even then I had no choice as he has gotten me with that silver tongue of his" As infamous and bad it might be he was the most reliable broker even if he had no loyalty towards his fellow men.

"Even then, we may not know anything about that guy called Jack, but we know that the cult is part of the cause of this murder. You said there was an eye on the victim's back, right, Aiden?" Flame questioned if what he had sent in the holograph was true.

Any information of a case needed to be put up in the holograph data system, allowing easier access to information for any on-site officer to be aware of the details that are known. Without having to ask for details when on the scene. Instead, focus on gathering any other information. There were a total of 5 officers at the scene, two reassuring that no one entered the scene and that the barrier didn't malfunction.

Aiden nodded to Flame. "Yeah, it is obvious as he had that weird eye branded on his back, the same one that was at the scene of that girl and someone found at the three other cases that had come.e" Aiden let three hologram screens appear, showing the other 3 murder cases that had happened. "Licht thankfully uploaded them when I asked her to do it. 

"Even then, for a cult member, he acted too crazy." He mentioned, his face showing that he wasn't sure how exactly to speak about it. "I gave you only the important things, but the encounter with the perpetrator was…odd, to say the least. The way he talked wasn't someone believing in a God, but rather, the feeling he gave off was that of a puppeteer."

"A puppeteer? Do you mean in the way that he played you and ended himself, or was there more? As I'm sure you are aware, hiding information is forbidden and has to be disclosed, chief inspector." Licht used the title of Aiden to remind him of the importance of the rules and that he should follow them.

"The papers you have shown did mention that he was part of the cult, but that was much more obvious with how he was likely the one who branded the victim with the eye symbol even if we don't know how exactly he has done it, but there is something in his speech that he gave that I have noticed" Aiden put back his hat on.

"He wasn't afraid of death? Rather than being afraid, the closer he came to the edge, the more excited he felt. I thought it was simply because he had a few screws loose and felt excited to have outwitted me and my obvious plan that anyone could tell was my goal, but the more I think about it, the less it makes sense." He stood up from the ground and looked at Licht.

"He was aware of your existence and that you were of a different species. He knew that you guys were close by, and he threw himself down right when they were mere seconds away. That is what I mean; it was too coordinated and too precise, and what I find most important is that who he sought out was me and me specifically, and he told me that he felt disappointed that I do not remember him".

Aiden decided to hide a few of the facts like Jack had talked about the whole fate and death of criminals that didn't die from his hand when he tried to defend himself. He also tried to stop them from committing any further crimes.

"That is indeed out of the ordinary…" That changed everything now. A criminal that sought out not only an officer but one of a high rank and showing to have a wide network giving them access to information. This allowed them to know information that would be blocked by the government, usually to ensure anonymity for their dogs. That allows them to limit the leakage of information from the dogs to be minimized.

"Whatever be it, out of the ordinary or not, it will become troublesome as he spoke of some grand plan and that he was the maestro of some sort and that everything will be a tune for the goddess of whom that cult seems to believe in."

"The corpse of the criminal should be at the morgue already, they will be able to tell us more about him and specifically what species he is. That would give us a clue where to look at, and we might be able to find out more than if he is also a dirty-blooded person or a full blood. The idea was on the right track, at least Aiden thought it was.

Every land where humans do not live in was occupied by one of the many species of monsters that exist. Be it the ground, the sky, or water, everywhere where humans don't have their foot set is occupied by a clan of monsters. This is why humans are wary of anyone not like them, not wanting to lose more land than the already scarce land that they have.

They would hear some noise, it was coming from their colleague. He was a tall man, slightly tanned, who had only been working in their department for a couple of years. His name was John Down, originally from America, but after a crime was given to the Austrian government in exchange for some cash. The crime of his?

"I think I made it quite clear already that you should piss off, didn't I?" He grabbed the collar of a man while his eyes were glowing a light bluish collar. The ground around John was cracking slightly, but the man seemed unfazed by the increase in gravity around John.

Repetitive damage to governmental properties and unneeded death of workers. That was the reason John was sent from the US, as the Austrian government believed that he was a useful individual they could exploit.

"Come on, Johnny boy, don't be like that." The man was quite short, with messy hair, and wearing glasses that were too big for his face. He wore a brown-sleeved shirt and rugged pants with shoes that were too expensive and thus stood out compared to his other clothes. 

"Hey, is that…" Flame asked as he wasn't sure if he was seeing right at the moment. "Dammit, it is him" Flame cursed when he saw the glasses of the man. That was the information broker they had talked about. "I thought I made it clear to him last time that he should stop breaking through our barrier."

"Why bother? You know that there is no real way for us to stop him, and even then, stopping him from entering through the barrier is the harder part." Licht said it as she touched her head, feeling blood raging through it, causing her to have a headache. The broker was troublesome through and through, stepping in places no broker had business in and ignoring any consequences that would come with it.

"You damn beggar!" John was ready to smash the guy to the ground when Aiden grabbed his shoulder. "Stop it now John, if you go through it, you will be the one filling all those papers, and knowing you that will take you a couple of days as I will make sure you are not going home until all the papers are filled" Aiden threatened John who angrily and reluctantly let go of the man. He glared at the man.

"You are lucky that the chief inspector stopped me, beggar." John spit on the ground as he walked to the other side of the barrier, seeing the reporters trying to cause trouble to his colleague there.

Aiden let out a sigh as he turned to the broker. "Is it fun for you to give us trouble with how you always break into the barrier of ours?" Aiden looked down at the one and only infamous broker of theirs, Friedrich Schwarz. Friedrich simply laughed at Aiden's words as he looked around Aiden, seeing Flame and Licht there. "What, you didn't expect them to be here?" Aiden wondered curiously.

"I knew that they were here, but what I was more curious about was the reactions they would have to me being here." Of course, he should have expected it. Friedrich was someone who cared more about the reaction of people towards his presence, seeing it as a simple form of entertainment. He seemed to always know ahead of things. It was sometimes even terrifying how accurate his information could be, even for things that had not occurred yet.

"Flame, Licht, why such a boring reaction? I expected more shocked faces. Are you two already used to my sudden appearances?" As if he tried to provoke, he asked it boldly to the two. Even if one had no ability, it was obvious that the two were trying their best not to fall to his provocation.

Licht especially didn't try, but the way she looked at Friedrich was still the same. Aiden had been wondering why she stared at Friedrich that intensely; it was as if she tried to see something but failed to do so. If one didn't know better, one would misunderstand that she was interested in Friedrich romantically. Aiden could see, however, the way her eyes twitched or the change of her color becoming slightly pale compared to usual. 

>>I should ask her when we are alone the reason for her staring at Friedrich like that. It is suspicious, just as there has to be a reason for that intense stare." Aiden would make a mental note to ask about it and that he should ask that after the meeting scheduled this week.

"So tell me, why did you come? Just to annoy us or to bring information…that you likely already had." Flame mumbled the last words under his breath, annoyed by the presence of Friedrich. Friedrich smirked at Flame as he took out a rolled-up paper from the sleeve of his outfit. The three wondered how it stood within there without falling, as the shirt of his was a normal cotton shirt, nothing special to it.

"You can complain as you want, Flame, but you won't get to know whether I had the information beforehand or only now, as that is a business secret I will have to keep to myself." Friedrich was casual with the two, not using any honorific or their titles. It was quite disrespectful, especially his casual tone, showing not a single care with whom he was talking. Arrogance that goes up to the sky, one could say.

He handed the paper to Flame. "Flame, here's all the information that you three will need for the case. I did take the first payment from you already, but I'll take the second one from Aiden." He stared at Aiden and grinned. Aiden backed away, "Why would you want the payment from me when it wasn't me who wanted the information?" He spoke against the idea of having to pay for someone else.

"Don't think like that, my friend. If you pay this one, next time you come to me, I will hand you the information for free." He made a money sign with his fingers. "How about it? For the cheap price of 5 credits, you will get the next information for free."

"Why don't you go make us such offers, hm? As I'm sure others who go more to you would need this more than someone like our chief inspector who rarely requires your service," Flame questioned the deal, especially the blatant favoritism that Friedrich was showing toward Aiden.

"What, jealous? Play hard to get, too, and I might give you and the others also a deal." Friedrich made a smug smile. Licht moved her finger, causing the wind to grab Flame, who was going to hit Friedrich, not able to hold his anger anymore.

Aiden took the paper from Flame and read what stood inside the paper. He read the info on the paper reading. Aiden smiled as he read the info, making Flame look surprised at him. "Did you just smile" He turned to Licht who also seemed surprise seeing the chief inspector having a real smiling expression? Aiden gave a mean look at Flame shaking his head disappointedly "What smiling? Are you already seeing things out of anger?"

"Don't shake it off like that, I'm sure I didn't see wrong. I bet even that broker saw it." Flame looked at Friedrich, who simply looked away, whistling and acting as if he didn't know anything about the situation. "Forget it." Flame gave up; a stubborn superior and an annoying broker wanting to verify something like that would be impossible.

"What does the paper hold even?" Flame reached his hand out, and Aiden handed the paper to him. He looked at what it said and was quite surprised at how detailed it was. >>Exact details about the cult, the nearest location of a headquarters of theirs, and even the inner workings of things<< 

Flame stared at Friedrich. "Do you like it? I'm sure this was worth the pay now, wasn't it?" If Flame hadn't seen the papers confirming Friedrich to have been a normal human, he would have bet his entire salary that Friedrich was, in reality, a devil wearing the skin of a human. 

"PAH, that is what something should expect. That is the bare minimum what you should be able to do" Flame acted a bit arrogant, not wanting to admit how good the paper was. He pulled Aiden over to him. "Hey, about him asking you to pay 5 credits, do it." He whispered it to Aiden, who grumbled as he didn't want to pay even a single credit to Friedrich.

"Now don't be like that you yourself saw it he favors you so abuse that favoritism for us who knows this may also allow you to work at home instead at that small office if you use that well enough" That part made Aiden consider the offer. He took a look at Friedrich who started bothering Licht by asking her questions about her. 

It was obvious that Aiden didn't want to do it, even if 5 credits were extremely cheap for someone of his rank. It was something that he was sure Friedrich would use as an excuse to force him as a way to become friends. "Fine, I'll do it, but you owe me one for this." Flame gave a thumbs-up and let go of Aiden.

Aiden put his hands into his coat. "Hey, Friedrich, about that proposal of yours with the payment." He pushed him slightly away from Licht before she used her power on him, as the higher-ups would use it to nitpick about her when they found out about this. "I do it, I pay it, but you better keep this promise of yours."

Friedrich couldn't hide the excitement in his eyes. His eyes were like an abyss; when one stares at them, it then feels like one is staring into the soul of a person. "That is good to hear, my dear friend. I hope that the information, especially the location of one of the headquarters, will be useful for the bunch of you, but I do recommend that you be prepared to go there, my friend." That confused not only Aiden but all three of them.

"Why so confused? You three don't think that this will be done by someone else, right? Or my God that the people at München would bust that place, right?" He said it, but seeing their expression made Friedrich feel disappointed in them.

"Forget it at the meeting that you have with Takimi Rimerd you will understand it" Friedrich wanted to walk off, but his right foot was grabbed by the wind stopping him from his movement. "That isn't something where you can just go broker."

"Oh, and why would that be? Are you interested in me? I will have to apologize, but I don't plan to be in a relationship." He was joking, but the wind would pull Friedrich, pulling him to Licht, who grabbed his throat. 

"Licht, stop it now. You should be aware that the higher-ups will use this as an excuse to get rid of you, don't you know?" Aiden gave her a stern warning. Everyone close to Licht was also aware that the higher-ups wanted to get rid of Licht from law enforcement. Even if, officially speaking, other species who promise not to be a threat to humans can join law enforcement, unofficially, there is still favoritism towards humans.

"However, Friedrich, the way you speak is a good reason for us to put you in detention. The way you speak is only possible if you have temporal-related abilities, but with you having no abilities, we can assume that you are housing an unregistered Übermensch." His words were sharp towards Friedrich.

"The work of a broker is always in a gray line, isn't it so? Even if you try to arrest me or put me in detention, I would come out in a matter of an hour without any issue as there is no secret that I'm not aware of my friends. Should I start telling you some secrets that you are hiding from the others?" He wasn't bluffing. Those eyes weren't that of a liar. Aiden felt a slight fear, but he wasn't showing it on his face. He remained calm, but a thought came to his mind.

>>Should I kill him<< Murder was a simple thing. There were enough excuses and reasons why he shouldn't get punished just for killing a single broker. No matter how useful someone is, if they can't be put on a leash, their death will be seen as an accident, even if it was a planned murder. Aiden did consider doing it. What was one death when it kept the secret? The dead do not talk.

"Just go off if you have nothing else to tell." He decided to let it go. What use was it killing him when that would make it just more suspicious? Friedrich grinned like a fool. "Smart move. Ah, before I forget." He got the attention of all three once again.

"You guys should go to the morgue as the corpse has gone missing." He ran off after he said those words. Right out of the barrier and past any reporter that tried to get information from Friedrich.

"Dammit don't tell me" Licht was going to call the morgue where the two corpses were sent, before she could call the place a message was sent to everyone on the scene.

>>Gaia, why are you putting me through such challenges…<<

"All personnel who were at the crime scene on David Street are to 

Appear at the morgue in Stephansplatz. The two corpses

Taken from the crime scene have disappeared and

Require personnel who had been on the scene to come there."