Crime Investigation
When the heavy rain finally slowed down to a drizzle, two figures landed on the front lawn of the baron's manor in Bradford. As they descended on the ground, they were welcomed by a bunch of guards in both full metal armor and leather armor. Archers were atop the manor looking at the surrounding cautiously while several groups of soldiers patrolled the manor around.
There was red tape surrounding the manor with commoners staring at the manor from behind the tape. The soldiers were struggling to keep the commoners from crossing the line. Regardless of the dark clouds hovering in the sky above them, the people didn't seem like they would leave the manor.
The soldiers didn't dare to stop the two figures because they all knew who they were; Guardians. The two figures who came were other than Peyton and Xanali.
"What's going on here?" Xanali asked Peyton, looking at the tensed faces of the soldiers.
Xanali expected the people of Bradford to be in shock but they looked more terrified than shocked.
"You will know soon" Peyton simply said instead of explaining. The two of them walked towards the manor's main door. Some of the soldiers who saw the Guardian crest on Peyton and Xanali's clothes heaved a sigh of relief.
Along the way, the soldiers who were patrolling the manor halted their steps to bow. Giving them a simple nod, Peyton and Xanali made their way towards the manor.
The two soldiers standing near the door quickly opened up the door without a question when they saw the Guardian crest on their chests. As the door slowly opened, they saw a couple of holy guards talking to a young man.
Peyton had seen the dark-haired young man before at the arena. He dressed in full black like Ghost but he was far cry from Ghost.
Peyton knew who he was. He was one of the Ghost's lackeys, Ricky Cruise.
Born and raised in a poor family, joined the military of Bredia when he was sixteen years old after his father retired from the post of gate guard. His life turned upside down when he met Ghost. At the moment, Ricky's monthly wage was far greater than any soldier on the continent. Within a year, Ricky brought his family from a small village in Bredia to the residential area of the Sunrise sect.
Ghost was transforming the Sunrise sect mountain range into his own mini kingdom. They were creating several zones in the mountain range. The main mountain had constructions related to the sect and academic purposes. According to Peyton's new dawn team, the second zone was supposed to be a residential area. Another rumor she heard about Ghost as he was searching for elven architects to work with dwarves to transform the mountain range without destroying the forests and wildlife in the mountain range. His love for nature always made Peyton really wonder about his personality. He never seemed like a person who would care for mother nature.
However, he was an Alchemist and the owner of the largest herbal garden in Bredia. Hence, his love for nature somewhat made sense. Taking her glance away from Ricky, Peyton saw several horribly mutilated bodies lay on the ground. The entire hall reeked of blood and Arch energy.
"Miss Peyton" suddenly Peyton heard a calming voice from behind. She turned back to see Ghost walking towards her with a welcoming smile on his face.
"I wish we had met under a different circumstance" She nodded as he turned his gaze towards Xanali,
"Miss" Xanali gave him a cold nod but he didn't seem like he cared.
"What happened here, Ghost? Or should I call you King Ghost"
Xanali noticed the smile on Peyton's face. It was peculiar as she thought Peyton hated Ghost to the core.
"Nah. I prefer you call me Ghost as long as I don't have to call you Guardian Peyton. Too tongue twisty" Ghost chuckled as Peyton nodded,
"What happened here?"
The smile on Ghost's face disappeared as he sighed after hearing Peyton's question.
"Follow me, it's better if I showed you" Peyton and DXanali followed him behind to the east side of the throne hall. The shadows of pillars and the curtains darkened the floor beneath. The closer they got, they saw a body lying on the ground. Compared to the rest of the bodies, the body before them was intact.
"That's Baron Totonk" Xanali was stunned. She looked at the deep cut around his neck before turning her gaze back at Peyton. Peyton however didn't look as shocked as her. She just adjusted her square spectacles, taking a closer look at the dagger in the baron's hand.
"The holy guards are still doing the investigation but it seems like the baron took his life with that dagger after going mad on the poor soldiers"
Based on the cut and the baron's body position, Peyton agreed with Ghost on the fact he took his own life.
"The holy guards took the baron's Warhammer. Some soldiers were beaten to death with the hammer, at least it looks that way. Sigh" Ghost sighed as he continued,
"The soldiers' family have to conduct a closed casket funeral. I will make sure their families get what they deserve and more"
Peyton nodded, "I saw two piles of ashes with skulls. I don't think the Baron was powerful enough to cast a spell that powerful. I heard the personal guards of the baron were at Core Formation level 6. The baron was weaker than them and not a mage"
"Follow me" yet again, Xanali followed Ghost behind. They were walking towards the throne where Xanali saw a holy guard in full white metal armor standing beside. Noticing the guardians approaching, the holy guard walked away from the body.
As the holy guard moved away from the body, Xanali saw the complete body or what was left of it. In the place where the head should have been, Xanali saw brain matter, skull pieces, and blood. She felt nauseous just by looking at it. She thought Gaya's killing was brutal but what happened inside the throne hall was on another level compared to the killings of Gaya.
Xanali couldn't believe it was done by a normal being. It seemed like something much worse stormed into the hall and massacred them without a shred of mercy. Their bodies were mutilated. She doubted even Ghost was capable of such violence.
"Oooohhh" Peyton whistled as she took a look at the staff in the mage's hands.
"If i'm a gambling man, I would say this is Yenob, the baron's court mage and he has something to do with that spell"
"Maybe" Peyton squatted near the body. She studied the body for a few moments before turning her gaze to look at the two piles of ashes. Meanwhile, Xanali and Ghost patiently stared at Peyton.
"It depends on how powerful the spell was but the distance makes sense"
"Of course it does," Michael thought. He was not a hitman in this world as he used to be but that didn't mean, he forgot how to erase the evidence and create new ones to throw the authorities off.
It took him half an hour to rearrange the bodies and set up a new crime scene. As far as Michael was concerned, unless someone like Sherlock Holmes comes to see the crime scene, no one could find any evidence that ties him to the killings. As for Ricky and Claire, he didn't worry about them. He made Ricky his subordinate to see the loyalty level. The youngster was 95% loyal to him. In addition to being loyal, Ricky promised he won't tell a soul what happened in the throne hall. Of course, Michael didn't believe his words alone. Yet, Ricky was too valuable and loyal to just kill him. Hence, Michael placed a Spycam on him and ordered Azazel to monitor him all day every day.
If Ricky kept his mouth shut, he would live. Claire's situation was somewhat complicated thanks to his stupid outburst. His instincts told Michael not to harm Claire but only place a Spycam on her too. In truth, Michael didnt think Claire would ever rat him out to the Guardians. Just like Ricky, she would not be harmed as long as she kept her mouth shut. Although he didn't want to kill Claire, if she ratted him out, he would have to kill her. Too much was at stake.
He was mad at himself for not being able to control his bloodthirstiness. He felt like he was caged inside his own body and someone else took over his body to kill them all. The moment he finished dealing with the guardians and the holy guards, he wanted to have a long chat with the system to find what was wrong with him. The urge to kill was under control unlike before but he wanted to fix himself before he was being taken over.
"Ghost, did you inform the baron's family?" Peyton asked,
"Yes, I sent the men to let his sons know what happened here. Giving the answers of what really happened here depends on holy guards and you guys. I urge you to do a complete investigation. My men and I will help in any way we can"
"Your majesty, the nobles are here" Peyton saw Ricky call for Ghost.
"Excuse me Miss Peyton, I have kingly duties to take care of now"
"Ofcourse, we will be in touch," Peyton said.
Xanali stared at Ghost's figure slowly disappearing from her sight. Then she asked Peyton,
"What do you think that happened here, Peyton? You buy his story?"
"I don't" Peyton adjusted her spectacles,
"But I also don't think he has something to do with the killings. He is a Core Formation level 10. Although he is very powerful, he couldn't have killed all those Core Formation warriors and a Core Strengthening stage mage. I knew mage Yenob, he couldn't have been killed by Ghost"
Peyton was not wrong though. What killed them all was not indeed Ghost. It was something much more powerful…The sprout of the true dark lord.
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