Chapter 89: Interrogation
Alex reached into his bag. Pulled something out.
Silver can. Familiar label.
Surströmming.
Wilson’s eyes widened.
"No."
Alex’s smile grew.
"Yes."
He walked to the bathroom. Sounds from inside. Scraping. Scooping.
Came back with:
Toilet brush. Brown streaks.
A plunger. Cup filled with... water. Brown water.
A plastic bag. Contents unclear. But the smell—
Wilson’s face went pale.
"Alex, is that—"
"Yep."
JB’s eyes darted. Left. Right. Fear creeping in.
"What... what are you—"
Alex cracked open the can.
HISSSSS.
The smell hit. Instant. Overwhelming.
Wilson gagged. Stepped back. Hand over nose.
"Jesus Christ, Alex."
Alex opened the plastic bag.
The smell doubled. Tripled.
Fresh. From the toilet.
Wilson stumbled further back.
"I’m... I’m gonna wait outside."
"Suit yourself."
Alex scooped fermented fish. Mixed it with the bag’s contents. Held it over JB’s face.
"Open wide."
"NO! NO NO NO—"
Dropped it in.
JB’s scream muffled. Choking. Gagging. Retching.
Eyes bulging. Face turning purple.
Alex waited. Three seconds.
"Ready to talk?"
JB spat. Vomiting. Coughing. Eyes streaming tears.
"NEVER!"
Alex nodded.
"Okay."
Picked up the toilet brush.
Dipped it in the mixture.
Brown and silver chunks dripping.
"Let’s try again."
Swirled it around JB’s face. Ears. Nose. Forced bristles into his mouth.
JB thrashing. Head jerking. Can’t escape.
"Stop! STOP!"
Muffled screams.
Alex paused.
"Names."
"I don’t—AHHH!"
Brush in the nostril.
Twisted.
Brown paste smeared.
JB screaming. Convulsing. Dry heaving.
"The temple! East district!"
Alex stopped. Looked toward the door.
Wilson’s voice from outside.
"I heard that!"
Taking notes. From a safe distance.
"How many?"
JB’s eyes locked on the plunger. Pure horror.
Words spilled out. Fast. Desperate.
"EIGHTEEN! There’s eighteen!" "Warehouse 7, Pier 23!" "34 Harbor Road!" "89 West End!" "Old church on Fifth!"
Gasping.
"Master Veil’s the leader!" "6-grade!" "Temple headquarters downtown!"
Sobbing.
"That’s everything!" "I swear!"
Pause.
"Please..."
Voice breaking.
"Can you... let me go?"
Alex looked at him.
"Of course."
JB’s face lit up. Relief flooding.
"Thank you, thank—"
Alex dumped the plunger cup.
SPLASH.
All of it. Brown water. Chunks.
Into the container.
Then the fish. Then the bag contents.
Everything.
JB screaming.
"WAIT! YOU SAID—"
Alex sealed the lid.
CLICK.
Handed it to Wilson.
"Start the blender."
Wilson took it. Grinned.
"You’re something else."
Pressed the rune.
BZZZZZZZ.
The container vibrated. Violently.
Muffled screams inside. Wet sounds. Grinding.
Alex shrugged.
"You flatter me."
Smiled.
Alex frowned. Stopped walking.
[TASK INCOMPLETE]
Still there. Glowing. Mocking.
He turned.
"Wilson."
Wilson looked back.
"Yeah?"
"There’s still a problem."
Wilson’s brow furrowed.
"What do you mean?"
Gestured around.
"We swept everything." "Top to bottom." "Even underground."
Pause.
"Nothing suspicious left."
Alex thought.
"What about JB’s office?"
Wilson’s face darkened.
Pause.
"Shit."
Grabbed Alex’s arm.
"I forgot."
They ran back inside.
Behind them.
Pie bouncing.
THUD. THUD. THUD.
Each landing. Cracks spread. Floor splitting wider.
"Gulu~"
Far away.
Black hall. Massive. Oppressive.
Throne in center. Shadow sitting.
Two figures draped over him. Fox tail swaying. Cat ears twitching.
Bare skin. Curves.
The shadow’s hands roamed. Possessive. Rough.
Soft sounds echoed.
Footsteps approached.
Doors opened.
"Master!"
Voice urgent.
"We found the Fated One!"
The shadow paused. One hand still moving.
"Alive."
"Yes, Master."
Hesitation.
"But... Wilson is with him."
The shadow’s laugh. Low. Cold.
"That annoying insect?"
Fingers traced skin.
"I’ve let him jump around long enough."
Pause.
"Send Soul Elder."
"Kill Wilson with one strike." "Bring the Fated One back."
"Yes, Master!"
Footsteps retreating.
The fox woman shifted. Looked up.
Voice breathy.
"Is Soul Elder... strong?"
The shadow pulled her closer. Sudden. Forceful.
Her eyes went wide. Back arched. Lips parted.
"Not as strong as me."
Started moving.
She gasped. Head tilting back. Expression hazy.
"But he’s useful."
Continued.
"Soul Elder specializes in mental attacks."
Breathing harder.
"Every Beast Master’s weakness."
The fox woman trembled. Can’t focus. Face flushed.
"He has a god-tier skill."
Rhythm increasing.
"Mental Duel."
The cat woman knelt beside. Massaging shoulders.
"Pulls victims into a one-on-one illusion."
Voice steady. Despite movement.
"No escape until someone dies."
The fox woman’s sounds grew louder. Incoherent.
"Combat based purely on mental strength."
Faster.
"No contracted beasts allowed."
The cat woman leaned in.
The shadow turned.
Something emerged. From shadows. From his mouth.
His second cock.
The cat woman’s eyes widened.
Then glazed over.
Both women lost in sensation.
The shadow smiled.
"Against officials..."
Pause.
"He’s nearly invincible."
The hall filled with echoes.
...
On the otherside.
Zhi~
Wilson pushed open the office door.
Darkness. Thick. Unnatural.
Not just absence of light. Something more.
Energy pooled. Heavy. Oppressive.
Wilson’s body tensed. Every muscle.
He raised his hand.
Light flashed.
Three beasts materialized.
First— Massive wolf. Silver fur. Eyes like ice.
Second— Black panther. Sleek. Silent.
Third— Eagle. Wings spread. Talons gleaming.
They circled Wilson. Protective. Majestic.
Alex’s eyes lit up.
"Three contracted beasts..."
Whispered.
"That’s incredible."
Wilson pulled out his phone. Dialed.
"Headquarters."
Voice low. Urgent.
"I need backup." "There’s a formation here." "Purpose unknown."
Pause.
"But it’s dangerous." "I can feel it."
The darkness rippled.
Eyes opened within. Malicious. Locked onto Wilson.
Movement.
Arrow formed. Pure black. Impossibly thin.
Shot through the gaps. Between the beasts. Straight for Wilson’s heart.
Voice echoed from the void.
"You will lose."
Cold.
"You will serve."
Wilson’s eyes widened. Instinct screaming.
Too close. Too fast.
Can’t dodge.
Then—
"Gulu?!"
Pie bounced. Can’t see in the dark.
WHAM.
Hit Alex.
Alex stumbled forward.
"OW—"
Right into the arrow’s path.
THUNK.
It pierced his chest.
Small. Barely visible.
But the sensation—
INSTANT.
World spinning. Colors bleeding. Ground vanishing.
Everything went black.
...
The darkness vanished.
Instant.
Like smoke blown away.
Wilson blinked.
Floor clear.
Black formation. Circular. Intricate runes.
He recognized it.
Teleportation array. Their symbol.
Someone came through. From headquarters. The cult’s headquarters.
But who?
He spun around.
"Alex!"
Empty space.
Gone.
Pie lay on the ground. Dazed.
"Gulu..."
Slowly rising.
Wilson lunged forward. Grabbed Pie. Shook.
"Where is he?!"
"Alex! Where’s Alex?!"
Pie’s eyes squinted. Sensing. Searching.
Long moment.
Nothing.
Eyes opened. Confused.
Looked left. Looked right.
"Gulu?"
No connection.
Wilson’s face went pale.
White as paper.
"Instantly taking the Master..." "Leaving the beast behind..."
His hand trembled.
Only one person could do that.
He raised the phone. Screamed into it.
"CODE RED!" "LEVEL TWO ALERT!"
Breathing hard.
"SEND EVERYONE!"
Pause.
Voice cracking.
"The enemy is Soul Elder!"