After getting confirmation from Coco and remembering the extent of her ability, I decided we didn’t need to go to the actual crime scene to investigate.

  We left the store after I bought some bribes… I meant some snacks for Coco to get her help. We moved to the dark alleyway behind the store where dumpsters lay. Pungent smell filled the area, causing the senior to pinch her nose and grumble in displeasure.

  “Why are we here?”

  “This place is the closest to the underground area where the crime scene happened. Can you try to communicate with the vengeful spirits and get some information? I will forgive you for using my money to buy beef if you do that.”

  “And one yakiniku.” She added, “You promised to take me eating.”

  “... Isn’t that snack enough?”

  “Meals and snacks are different, though?” Coco tilted her head.

  Cute, but annoying. I spent enough money to buy a decent meal for her snacks, thinking that she would be satisfied with it. To think she wouldn’t even consider that a meal…

  “Fine. Help me and I will have Sibyl treat you to something tasty. Her family is rich, so she will probably treat you to something similar to the wagyu you ate before.”

  “Deal.”

  With that, we began to work. Coco actively spread her imaginary field and sat on the box on the side, closing her eyes to activate her ability. I stood by to handle something unexpected.

  Purplish black Psion rose like smoke from Coco’s body as a halo with similar color hovered behind her head. Her Psion moved very slowly unlike mine, gathering in a space and forming a shape resembling humans with no distinguishable parts like eyes, ears, and mouth.

  A ghost made from smoke appeared. And it crept into Coco’s body through her nose, ears, and mouth after its body was complete, Her body trembled and her head shook uncontrollably like a person having a seizure.

  After a few seconds, she stopped and opened her eyes, which turned strange. Her left eye had changed. The white sclera belonging to normal humans had turned dark and the black iris turned white.

  This happened when she used her ability willingly, trying to contain the spirit possessing her without losing control. She only gave up a little bit of freedom, allowing the spirit to access part of its memory and her mouth.

  “A-A-Aaah!”

  As a result, we could use it as an interrogation method for corpses. Their memories were retained due to Coco’s strange ability, but that came with the problem.

  “N-No no no no no! I am sorry. I am sorry! Please don’t kill me!”

  Tears dropped from Coco’s left eye, and half of her face was distorted in fear. She laughed maniacally with her left mouth while the right side remained calm.

  “Shut up.” A calm voice, different from the distorted one, rang as she grabbed her left face with her hand. “Answer my question and I will allow you to move on. We will also exact your revenge if you cooperate with us nicely.”

  Wow… This is so bizarre. This was my first time watching it directly. I knew she could do this because she told me, but seeing it directly gave a different feeling altogether.

  “Answer all his questions honestly. Only then will I help you forget everything.”

  Sweet honeyed words were given to the vengeful spirit. I didn’t fully understand how her ability works, so I just watched without saying anything.

  Her left-side expression seemed to ease slightly upon hearing that.

  “C-C-Can you do that?”

  “I promise.” Coco said with a resolute tone.

  Even I would trust her if she went this far. Of course I would leave a part of myself to doubt her, but just answering questions was something I would do for her. After all, the spirit had already died and couldn’t do anything himself.

  Gripping the last straw, the white iris turned to me and widened. The pupil dilated, dyed in a color of fear. Similar to earlier, the left side’s expression twisted. This time, cold sweat poured out like a waterfall.

  “Aa-aaah! N-No no no no! Forgive me! I-I-I didn’t say anything. Forgive me. Please kill me! Aaaah–”

  The spirit’s reaction was worse than before after seeing my face. It even tried to escape by leaving Coco’s body. The dark smoke disappeared like a morning fog. Coco’s face returned to normal just right after.

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  “He’s gone.” She muttered, “Strange. My instinct told me that it was going to be dangerous and released the possession automatically. It had never happened before even when the spirit got scared. There must be something that triggered his trauma.”

  Wasn’t it clear that the spirit got scared shitless after seeing my face?

  Am I that scary? I didn’t think so. I stroked my chin and hummed, Then the only explanation to this is that the spirit’s trauma is related to me, or my face. The moment the spirit saw me, he sweated bucked. That’s an exaggerated reaction even from a trauma.

  Which meant the spirit must’ve suffered a lot that he would react that strongly. I clicked my tongue at the lack of information.

  “Can you ask another spirit?” I asked Coco and she shook her head.

  “If I do it again, and the spirit reacts similarly, I think I would be affected by it. Besides, I called the spirit with its most memories intact. The rest are just a bunch of normal vengeful spirits without mind.” She explained.

  “Is that so?”

  I couldn’t force her to take the risk too.

  “Then let’s return. We shouldn’t stay in this place for too long.”

  Coco’s mind condition worried me. She would need a check up spoon to ensure nothing happened after earlier.

  “Yes, let’s return.” She agreed and stood up, flashing a bright smile at me, “I wonder if I can request sushi. I wanted to eat the authentic one, hehehe.”

  “...”

  I guessed I was too worried about nothing.

  ***

  Slowly but surely, the blue sky turned orange, then purple took over before darkness shrouded everything.

  Fluorescein light flickered in a room with round tables. No windows or doors could be seen, only glass panels floating above each seat, totalling 15, present in this yet eerie room.

  After all the glass panels glowed brightly, a monotonous mechanic's voice rang from each speaker.

  “How’s the situation of project Z-281?” The A panel spoke, the letter on the glass changed to blue.

  Following that, the D panel replied.

  “The first stage was a failure due to the Delusional Angel, but we have gone and used plan C, releasing that to silence everyone.”

  “That? Is that already completed?”

  Even when only a mechanical voice rang in the room, the shock contained in that question was apparent.

  “It’s not completed yet. However, it’s enough to imitate the former strongest. Only the top 7, the known Psion Masters could hope of stopping that.” D panel explained and chuckled, “Right now, Delusional Angel is bringing the Shaman to investigate the case behind Fairy’s back.”

  “That irregular is doing something as he pleases again.”

  “It would be good if he followed our instructions and cleaned up the evidence in that underground mall. Maybe he can clean those Resistances while he’s at it.”

  “Truly troublesomes.”

  Many voices expressed their discontent at the current situation and Ciel’s unexpected action. Their discussion continued, circling about project Z-281 and something they called by that without mentioning its name.

  Nothing concrete was produced in the meeting. However, the purpose of this meeting had always been to check each other and confirm the ongoing plans concocted by one of the members.

  “Very well. Then tonight’s board director meeting will end here.” A panel, acting as the leader of the meeting, ended the discussion. “Let’s meet again at the next opportunity.”

  One by one, the panel stopped glowing. They lowered to the table and disappeared underneath. After all panels disappeared, the ground swallowed the table and everything disappeared, leaving an empty room without any way to enter or leave.

  However, just a few seconds later, the D panel rose once again and glowed. Its only light flickered in the dark room, illuminating its surrounding.

  “Come out.” A mechanical, monotonous voice rang from the speaker.

  Following that, footsteps echoed. The sound was light, almost impossible to hear even in the quiet room. It continued, approaching the D panel.

  Slowly, a silhouette appeared. Pure white, almost pale, feet stopped. The hospital gown he wore stopped below his ankle, reaching the ground. The handsome boy, looking pretty young and short, hummed and played with his white hair.

  “Hmm~ I finished what you asked me, father.” He said in an excited voice.

  “Good job.” The speaker rang, “I am proud of you, Angel.”

  “Hehehe.”

  A naive laughter escaped the boy’s lips. He looked genuinely happy, his lips curled upward and his eyes narrowed in pleasure.

  “So, father.” His upbeat tone made him look like a child, not just a young boy. Curiosity glinted in his golden eyes as he continued, “When will I be able to meet my older brother? You said I would be able to meet him this afternoon, but I waited for a long time and no one was there!”

  “A strange cat suddenly bit your brother’s hand, so he can’t come to the designated place. But, don’t worry. Next, you will be able to meet him. You just need to follow what I say.”

  “Really?” The boy called Angel exclaimed in excitement. Black wings sprouted behind his back alongside pure white halo, “I-I can meet with brother?”

  “Yes. Just follow this map and deliver something for me in a month. There, you will definitely meet your brother.”

  The glass panel’s display changed, showing a map of District 20 where some small academies and residential areas were located.

  This area was also close to the factory area, making it pretty noisy and having some trucks passing by.

  One part of the map was given a red pinpoint, right at the center of a certain academy located at the outskirts of District 20. That academy, looking small compared to others in the same area, stood out due to its name.

  “Rakuen Academy!” Angel shouted loudly and laughed, his wings flapped uncontrollably and sent feathers flying everywhere. They were solid and sharp, embedded everywhere all over the room. “I will be able to meet him in a month. I am so excited!”

  “Huff…”

  A sigh rang from the speaker before the panel disappeared and darkness conquered the room.