亚洲综合中美

*Raphael, Archangel of Restoration; thee who sits uninhibited by the flow of time, reach down and extend a helping hand to the miserable,* Igna held an open palm above the wounded guard – the pain and shock knocked him unconscious. A rift of unknown origin, per the onlooker’s point of view, opened and puffed a cloud of greenish-purple. The maimed limb regenerated; wounds ate themselves into health.

“No attacking the guard,” chastised Igna, “-Laurance, Seiran, and Rile,” up from tending to the wounded, “-do you realize what happened?” he walked – an air of complete control followed, Elvira, and her very imposing team seemed naught in comparison. Laurance’s anger, Seiran’s frustration, and Rile’s confusion all dissolved in a thick layer of judgment.

Said emotions locked their feet; illusionary chains wrapped and tied the retainers. Any shift of unnecessary movement begot a disturbingly angry growl – not from Igna, rather, the air around him, a malignant fluid shadow. The expression remained cavalier to the point of uneasiness. Lizzie gathered her courage and walked to shield the trio, “-what?” she said with chest, “-is something the matter here?”

“Princess Lizzie,” he returned, “-I’d advise stepping away from them. Tis a shame,” he said, “-an embarrassing situation. Laura lies in a puddle of her own blood. Instead of finding a solution, they allowed emotions to take toll and risk,” he leaned with the intent on headbutting the princess, “-Lady Elvira’s life. I don’t have to remind where the hierarchy falls. Her hair is worth more than their lives combined,” the palm opened to spawn countless orbs of white-flame, “-endangering my aunt’s life is the same as terrorism against the state.”

“So?” she stood fiercely, “-I’ll protect my comrades,” the envelop of shifting hues expanded into wings and a halo, “-I’m a daughter to Staxius Haggard, I will fight my own kin if people to me are at risk.”

“Sorry to say, cousin, my decision isn’t to be argued against,” *snap,* an anvil of uncontrolled power dropped those present, the guards passed out, Lizzie’s entourage felt on their knees as did she. Lady Elvira stood nonchalant to the outburst.

.....

“Is that it?” she refuted, “-you’ll kill them?”

“No,” the aura vanished, the tone swapped, “-never, what am I, a monster?” he chuckled, “-I only implied what would happen,” a look on the trio showed them cowering before Igna, “-tis the price paid for standing against the current. Someone has clarify where you and they stand.”

“Is that it?”

“Why, is the princess feeling a little helpless?” he asked rhetorically, “-if they’ve understood the possible consequences – I humbly ask for the room to be emptied,” he threw a cautionary stare over the shoulder. Elvira’s tight lips motioned a timid, ‘-okay.’

“Really, cousin?” back to her feet, “-you think intimidation is going to best my protectors?” her posturing ended on deaf ears – Igna was long gone, examining the uncanny circumstances of Laura’s death. She shuffled her pouted lips and turned to check on the trio, “-my cousin’s-” expectation of unfazed attendants crumbled. Each had their hands covering the ears, the face pale white – any semblance of personality or character was lost, in said instant, what returned the princess were withered plants torn by gusts. With help from Phantom’s on-duty guards, the room emptied, Lizzie and her entourage were taken to a separate room on the upper floors. Lady Elvira joined the sudden quarantine.

‘Now,’ left alone, ‘-Laura,’ he leaned and observed, ‘-you weren’t killed by trauma to the head, were you?’ he reached in and carefully examined her nose and mouth, features barely hung on her visage, ‘-right,’ notes added on the interface, “-Yui?”

“Hello master,” replied through the interface, “-I was wondering when you’d call.”

“Where the additional information I was promised?”

“I forgot,” a clumsy picture passed the interface, “-Laura was found earlier this morning by one of the workers. Security footage hasn’t spotted anything – no blood leading in and out of the room. Seems the body magically appeared. Lady Elvira had asked Laura to carry many under the table deals with the Musical Academy. Since the debacle a few years ago, the relation’s returned to normalcy.”

“Let me guess, we sell narcotics directly to idols?”

“Yes, money comes in and we move the product out safely without middlemen. Snow’s influence on the street’s hampered business, some dealers sell subpar substances under our name and try to tarnish the reputation. The outlying district’s no stranger to unknown bodies being discovered in abandoned houses.”

“How does it tie with Laura?”

“No idea, ask the lady directly.”

“Fair point. Have medics take her to an autopsy. There are a few things I need sorting,” he took a glance at her fingers and clothes, ‘-no tags?’ the thought ended suddenly by Yui’s interjection, “-On the mention of Snow; there’s a gang who’ve made themselves at home a train stop away at the village of Emcure.”

“And?”

“They’re distributing on our turf...”

“Your point?”

“Whatever,” the call ended.

‘The body was arranged to look like an assault. Why, what’s the reason for leading the investigation in a certain direction. From what was said, she was delivering packages for Elvira – aunt seemed blanc when they rose accusations at her. What did she do?’ he escaped the room and stumbled on Vanesa eating an apple.

“Pops, teleportation was used,” *crunch,* “-a scroll.”

“...”

“What?” she messily ate the fruit, the juices dribbled, “-they used teleportation...” said her dead-expression.”

“Of course, they did.” Between Vanesa’s constant mention of teleportation and the elevator being locked – a climb to Elvira’s holding space carried onto vexingly immaculate tiled stairs.

“If not for the forced trips, my sister would still be alive.”

“Oh shut it, who do you think pays for the living expenses. Let me add, boy, money doesn’t come easy.”

“Whatever, we live to protect and serve the princess, not be messenger...”

“Right, blame me, blame the supplier. Listen, she died on her own watch, if Laura was taken off guard by simple hoodlums, I greatly overestimate the princess’s protection. Say, what if this incident truly shines a light on your incompetency.”

“Oh shut up woman, don’t speak about my dead friend. She was strong, stronger th-”

“ENOUGH!” thundered the hall, “-it’s unbefitting to see the same side argue. My cousin said it best earlier, petty screaming fight won’t and will not resolve the situation.”

“Since when are you on my nephew’s side?” narrowed Elvira, “-Princess Lizzie.”

“Aunt Elvira. I look at you and I feel bad. The mighty businesswoman took down by a few accusations. Did you really have a hand in Laura’s death?”

“That’s it!” Laurance pounced, “-she’s dead.”

A flash of black took Laurance face by the hand and held it against the carpeted floor, “-no fighting,” the grip eased, Igna teleported in the middle of the argument, “-it’s not been fifteen minutes.” Vanesa skipped to Lizzie’s side, “-hello.”

“Who are you?”

“That’s my daughter,” said Igna raising from holding Laurance, “-Cousin, do take care of her, yes?”

“Fine.”

“Seiran, Laurance, and Rile, keep an eye on them.”

“Why would we? Lady Elvira said we’re not much better than her guards, ask them for protection.”

“Can the persecution complex end, this is getting tiring,” he motioned the door, “-aunt, we need to have a tête-à-tête, for the love of what’s holy, Seiran, put on your big girl pants, don’t you dare,” he glared, “-sully the prestige of being a nightwalker.”

The room locked – each went their different ways. Elvira breathed a relieved sigh, “-I was getting tired. Igna, I’ve done this for a long while – never before have I felt this way. I know I didn’t kill Laura; I certainly know the job I sent on yesterday wasn’t harmful. Her death’s surprising, Laura’s strong, it’s the reason why I chose her.”

“Why me?” feet kicked onto another chair, “-solving murders isn’t my profession of interest.” The large vacant space felt very unnerving – chairs laid in a somewhat orderly arrangement. In retrospect, orderly if the arrangement was made by drunken workers, the carpet and curtains held the scent of cigarette. A glimpse of white in the corner told most of what happened.

“Who else should I have called?”

“I don’t know, a private investigator?”

“Like?”

“Odgar’s Agency. Don’t forget, I own them and their business. Far as I’m concerned, they’re very competent.”

“Not wrong,” her emotions tightened, “-what if I said I missed you?”

“Doubtful,” he smiled, “-I appreciate the thought, aunt.”

“Appreciate the thought. Damn, I must be rusty.”

“Aunt, be honest. Going in circles will only prolong the discussion. What job did Laura have?”

“Mule.”

“Pardon?”

“Mule... why the surprise?”

“Didn’t expect an answer.”

“Oh right, deflection. Listen, Igna, I’m not responsible for her death, I’d never want her to die. Look at us, look what the death entails, doubt sparked the fuel of cacophony and mistrust. Granted, my outburst didn’t help the situation... whatever,” she shook her head, “-don’t sit there and judge, I need answers.”

“Clearly my point. Laura’s a mule, she delivers narcotics to high-profile individuals, names if mentioned may subject Phantom to scrutiny. Am I correct?”

“Yes, which is why I can’t.”

“Auntie, Laura wasn’t just a mule, was she?” her dark pupils enhanced with makeup flickered suspicion, “-she’s a spy.”

“Hah!”

“Before anything is said, aunt, let me say, her clothes were without tags and nails unnaturally clean. Vanesa said the body was teleported, and I have to agree. Still, the blood splatter on the lockers must have come after her death – that much explains the irregular pattern. Whoever teleported her must have set the scene and left. I’ve stored a thread of the used mana. It’ll take time to examine, considering I’m the only person able to manipulate the matter freely.”

“-Can we find the culprit?”

“No idea, the cause of death is yet to be determined. I don’t care for the previous targets, give me the name of who she visited this time.”

“...”

“Aunt?”

“Promise to keep composed?”

“Right, go on.”

“The Patek Dynasty...”

“ARE YOU INSANE?!”

“I have my reasons, Igna, listen. Cimier came to us with a proposal of an alliance to share the market. Seeing the Alrosia alliance, I couldn’t help think the underworld would be joined in some weird fashion. I accepted negotiation, to parle and clear differences, the talk was scheduled later down the week. I sent Laura to showcase our product, I didn’t expect.”

“AUNT!” he facepalmed, “-how could you be so careless? Patek’s really...”

“Igna?”

“Auntie, I’m...” he exhaled, “-speechless. Didn’t it once strike as a trap?”

“No, why would I be worried,” she returned confidently, “-we control everything, their channels were monitored and checked by Yui. If they made calls overseas, I’d have the reports in written form on my desk the next minute.”

.....

“Didn’t it cross that there are several ways save the Arcanum to communicate? How about face to face, or a fucking letter?” next thing, the chair toppled. “-Igna,” fired Elvira, “-don’t you dare!”

“Dare what, not show respect?”

She centered, “-I’m the leader of Phantom, I’m due my respect.”

“Right you do, lady Elvira, forgive me, a nobody, I clearly don’t deserve to smell the same air,” the door locked loudly, ‘-worthless.’