Eren sighed, internally and out in the open as well. It was time to talk with the bastard.
"We were just practising, Jason. What's up?"
Eren assumed his casual form soon after. If avoiding Jason was impossible, he might as well use this meeting to gain intel on him. He just needed to make sure that no detail regarding Reen or Osan Woods' Butcher got slipped by him.
"Um… it's about our talk the other day. I wonder if you have time now that you are over with your practice for the day?"
Jason asked again as a formality. But it was clear from his stance that he wasn't willing to take no for an answer.
Jason was accompanied by Ivor and Veronica who stood behind either side. If stares could stab, Ivor's gaze would have poked holes all over Eren's body many times over. The butcher guessed that the guy hadn't forgotten about his epic defeat by his hands even now.
Veronica was eyeing him too. But Eren could tell her gaze was different from Ivor. She was embarrassed to make eye contact with him because of how the fight between them had ended.
"Yeah. Let's go grab our supper while we are at it."
Eren agreed and shifted the venue of their talk to one of the LA's canteens. He told his team to continue practicing. But for some reason, Renita decided to follow him.
*********
"Eren, you are from the city of Osan. Tell me what you think about Osan Woods' Butcher?"
Jason began shooting rapid-fire right off the bat. Eren was expecting a question like this. So he didn't panic. He took his time before replying:
"Frankly, I had forgotten about the wanted criminal until you mentioned him. I am too distant from the whole affair to offer an opinion.
Um… I suppose he should be apprehended for the crimes he has committed. Other than that, I don't have any strong points to make."
Eren said this and took another bite of his bread dipped in Pork Sorpotel.
There had been a lot of Earth Suidae subjugation missions in the Besanc. LA would take all the necessary ingredients from the beasts' bodies and supply the rest to its canteens. That's why the canteens had a lot of pork-centric dishes these days.
"That's fair. But what do you think about the whole case retrospectively? Is it a cultist activity like everybody thinks it is? Or are they using the cultists as an excuse to wash their hands off the case?
I'm asking this because I know that your aunt Nina was part of the investigation that was conducted by the city administration. You must have picked up a pointer or two from that investigation."
Jason was having a hard time watching Eren eat like he was starving for days. But that didn't deter him from asking his questions. The questions that he had been meaning to ask from the first time they had met.
"In case you weren't aware, Jason, I didn't assist aunt Nina much in her investigation. And her involvement in the case was pretty brief too if you ask me.
However I feel about Osan Woods' Butcher, it will not affect what he did or will do. So why should I make an opinion in the first place?"
Eren took a short pause after he finished the loaf of bread he was eating. He quickly grabbed one from Renita's plate and looked at Jason before continuing:
But it seems that you want me to go the extra mile to entertain you, hehe. Fine then.
Here's what I think. Osan Woods' Butcher was a smart ranker. He or she got into the woods, did what they had been intending to do with surgical precision, and got away from the crime scene just as cleanly.
We can debate the identity of the butcher all we want. But that won't erase what he had done. Neither will it affect him. Do you know what I think? The butcher will be more harmful to society when their identity is revealed."
'Tooting your own horn, I see.'
Reen spoke in Eren's mind and laughed when she heard Eren speak about himself in the third person.
Jason listened to Eren talk and he had to admit he was right on point. He had thought that Eren knew something about the case because of the way he had provoked Ivor into spilling beans. But the royal bastard thought maybe he had judged the guy too soon.
One had to admit that Eren's poker face was impeccable. It did not betray the facade he was trying to maintain. Therefore, nobody could see through him. But it seemed that it still wasn't enough for a certain someone:
"Why do you think OWB was a smart ranker, you punk? If he had been smarter, he wouldn't have killed so many LA students in the woods.
This paints a bull's eye on his back that he can't get rid of. You remember who was among the people he killed, right? My stupid brother. If they were half as smart as you claim the butcher to be, they would have let those students go instead of leaving the trail of death behind them."
'Blame it on your brother, dude. He left me no choice.'
Ivor was trying to pick an argument with Eren, thinking he was opposing his opinion. But this time, Eren completely agreed with him.
"Look, Ivor, if you want a rematch, just say that out loud. We don't need to have a personal reason to fight. I'm ready anytime as long as the amount of Merps you place as a wager is tempting enough.
Brrrrrrrrgh!"
Eren finished his speech and his meal at the same time and burped carelessly. His plate was the only one that had gotten empty before everyone else, whereas others had only just started eating.
Eren narrowed his eyes on Jason as he asked in a patient tone that was laced with seriousness:
"It's my turn to ask questions now, Jason. You are so fixated on Osan Woods' Butcher. Even more so than Ivor who had gotten his brother killed by him no less. How are you related to the case?
And what's that got to do with why are you trying to talk to me today?"
==================
AN: Thanks to SereneOcean for placing so many Golden Tickets on VEH all at once.