Chapter 798: Overwhelmed [3]

Of course, I should’ve seen this coming.

I stared at the man sitting opposite me. Slowly, my mind cooled down, the thoughts that had been piling up inside it growing quiet as I watched the smile on his face.

At least this was someone I could see.

“…If you guys are really curious to see how I’ll handle this, how about helping me a little? This is quite troublesome, you know? You could have me released so I can get back to work.”

“Hahaha.”

The investigator laughed.

He leaned back, one hand resting against his stomach as though I had said something genuinely amusing.

I watched him for a moment.

Then I joined in.

“Hahaha.”

“Hahaha.”

We both laughed.

I didn’t know why, but him laughing by himself rubbed me the wrong way.

Eventually, he stopped.

I continued for a little longer before stopping too.

I needed to make sure I got the last laugh.

“You’re quite crazy.”

“…I’m perfectly healthy.”

“Well, you’re not the craziest I’ve dealt with.”

His hand left his stomach and returned to the table. The smile remained, although it had thinned a little.

“We’ve been observing you for quite some time. In all honesty, I can see why some are worried about you.”

I remained seated, my good hand resting beside the sunglasses.

“The power you’ve shown time and time again is nothing to scoff at. However, you’re reckless.”

“…?”

“You don’t think before you do anything. You just act on impulse.”

Yes, yes.

Pretty much.

“That’s not good.”

“Should I start thinking now?”

“You should listen.”

His voice hadn’t grown louder.

I stopped moving my fingers.

“This world is far deeper than you’re aware. You’re a small fry with a little power. Enough to make us cautious, but…”

His eyes narrowed.

“Don’t mistake our caution for fear.”

My heart suddenly skipped a beat. Something about his voice…

I took a breath, only to find that it wasn’t quite enough. The next one wasn’t much better. Across the table, the investigator remained perfectly still.

I kept my hand where it was.

“We wanted to see the extent of your skill. Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem like you have much time left.”

He lifted a finger and pointed at me.

“You’re infected. I know that you know that much.”

“…..”

“This isn’t a disease you can simply get rid of. We’ve been investigating this anomaly ourselves for quite some time.”

His finger lowered.

“And do you know what we found?”

I waited.

“There’s nothing you can do about it.”

The room remained quiet.

“Once VILE-1048 has targeted you, it’ll keep looking for you. Keep hunting you. Until it finally gets you. This is not an anomaly that you can run away from.”

I watched his face.

He seemed to be waiting for something. A question, perhaps. Some sort of reaction.

I didn’t give him one.

“Ha.”

He smiled.

“You’re running out of time. Not just with the anomaly, but with us as well.”

“…?”

My brow rose.

Before I could say anything, he took out his phone, tapped the screen a few times, and slid it across the table.

My gaze lowered.

[Breaking — Malovia Aftermath: Unanswered Questions Surround the Jester Incident]

My expression changed.

Several photographs appeared beneath the headline. The streets of Malovia, damaged buildings, and the traces left behind by the Jester incident.

I read the first few lines before looking up.

The investigator was watching me.

“There it is.”

His smile widened a little.

“It won’t be long before the world starts finding out the truth. When that happens, I’m curious to see exactly what you’ll do.”

“…..”

I looked at the phone again.

He let me read for another moment before reaching over and taking it back. The screen went dark beneath his thumb.

I opened my mouth.

At the same time, the door opened.

“I’m back. Sorry about that.”

Hale stepped inside, closing the door behind him as the investigator picked up his pen again.

“Where were we?”

***

“How long will he be there?”

The Section Chief sat behind his desk, his phone pressed against his ear. He had only just learned of the situation a couple of minutes ago.

There was a brief pause before the answer came.

⎯We haven’t been given an estimate. The BUA is still assessing the situation.

“And the Guild?”

⎯They may send agents here to check everyone who has been in contact with him. There’s a possibility that others have been affected.

The Section Chief slowly rubbed his forehead.

“Just a possibility.”

⎯Yes. Nothing has been confirmed yet.

That wasn’t particularly reassuring.

“Let me know the moment you hear anything else.”

He ended the call just as the door opened.

Soran stepped inside, her gaze briefly moving towards the phone in his hand.

“Something happened?”

“Seth has been placed under BUA supervision. The hospital is in lockdown.”

Her brows rose.

“Wow…”

She whistled softly.

“…And here I thought he went to the doctor.”

“This is no laughing matter.”

“I haven’t laughed.”

The Section Chief looked at her.

Soran closed the door behind her.

“How bad is it?”

“I don’t know yet. That’s what I’m trying to find out.”

He picked up his phone again.

Over the next several minutes, he made a series of calls. Soran remained near his desk, occasionally glancing at the reports while whistling to herself from time to time.

Rowan arrived first.

Kyle and Zoey came shortly afterwards, followed by Joanna and the rest of the squad. They gathered around the office, looking at one another as though someone else might know why they had been called.

“Did we do something wrong? What’s going on…?”

Joanna asked as the Section Chief closed the door.

“No. It’s about Seth.”

Several heads turned.

“He’s being held at the hospital. There’s an ongoing investigation involving VILE-1048, and they suspect that he may have been affected.”

The room went quiet.

Jordan, who had been about to sit, remained standing.

“The BUA may also come here to question everyone who has been around him. Until we hear from them, I need all of you available.”

Rowan looked towards Joanna.

“He’s in trouble again?”

“…What? Again?”

Zoey turned towards him.

Mia tilted her head.

“Isn’t this normal?”

The Section Chief stopped speaking.

There were a few thoughtful expressions around the room. Nora even gave a small nod, while Kyle folded his arms without saying anything.

This wasn’t quite the reaction he had expected.

He looked towards Soran.

She considered the matter for a moment before nodding.

“They do have a point.”

“…..”

A long sigh escaped his lips.

“This isn’t about him arguing with another Guild. He may be out of commission for a very long time. We’re talking months. And I’m afraid that the other Chiefs will take advantage of this situation to make sure he stays quarantined for as long as possible.”

That finally changed a few expressions.

Joanna straightened.

“Have you spoken with him?”

“Not yet.”

“Then we don’t know how he is?”

“We know he was able to speak with the investigators. Beyond that, I haven’t been told much.”

The Section Chief turned towards Kyle and Zoey.

“I want you two to go there and find out what’s happening.”

Zoey glanced at Kyle before looking back at him.

“You just said the hospital is in lockdown.”

“I’ll request permission for you to speak with him. Don’t enter any restricted areas unless you’re cleared to do so.”

“And if they refuse?”

“Call me.”

He rested a hand against the desk.

“Find out how he is, what they’ve told him, and whether he needs anything. Don’t leave with another one of his jokes instead of an answer. He’s been… very strange lately.”

“I know, right?”

Zoey blurted out in front of everyone.

Instantly, all heads turned to her as she cleared her throat and continued.

“He’s been… saying that I am flirting with him. I mean, like, that’s crazy and stuff. Me of all people, right? I like… am.”

“Wow.”

Soran interrupted Zoey mid-sentence as she looked at the others.

“She’s head over heels, huh?”

“Ah? What?”

The others looked at Zoey before looking away.

“Huh…? What? Why is nobody saying anything?”

Kyle nodded.

“Zoey’s crush aside, we will try.”

“…?!”