“Phew...”

  Merik wiped off the remains of warm, heavy sweats from his forehead with a towel.

  He had just finished his training just moments ago and he felt that his endurance got stronger, once again, which put a satisfied smile on his face.

  After cleaning himself, he went back into his bed room and on the table beside his bed, he couldn’t help but notice it again.

  The Dream gem.

  He picked it up again in hope of venturing into the mysterious domain of a certain “lonely” Goddess but as he already expected, nothing happened.

  He had been trying to get in contact with the Goddess, wanting to ask mountains of questions but it seemed that it wasn’t going to happen anytime soon.

  Did I get dumped?

  He shook his head in amused dejection and put the gem into the drawer again. He wasn’t worried about where he could get more information since he could get it from the Head Captain’s office!

  The real problem was that how was he going to get into the office, pull the hidden book as instructed and go into whatever Albert told him to.

  I mean, “not to”, right?

  He had been trying one way or another – lurking around the office for Landon to leave but to no avail. The guy wouldn’t just leave his office.

  Merik stared at the mirror, especially at the blackish flames on his body. The pestering flames didn’t die down – not even a bit, but Merik felt that the pain lessened to the point that he was able to do his own duties without them being hindered.

  Still, it was far from a pleasant sight – looking at your body and seeing something was constantly biting away your beloved flesh.

  Funny thing was, despite being getting eaten alive, Merik did try to use his blackish flames imbued bullet, just a few days ago. Maybe it was a desperate attempt of a madman or an arrogant, stubborn man who didn't know when to give up.

  Surely enough, the pain was unbearable and after the first shot, he saw the blackish flames on his body spread out a little bit more than before.

  Which meant that if he kept using this power, he would completely be devoured one day and out of all the people, he quite knew the consequences and the very fate of ones consumed alive.

  Merik’s gaze sharpened and his eyes shone with fierce determination.

  Because he had already decided that he would solve the past, the hurdles – everything that was thrown at him, even at the cost of his life.

  He left home with a smile on his face.

  As soon as he left the door, he heard some faint sounds of people arguing. He realized at once what was happening and decided to turn a blind eye, for the sake of his neighbors.

  Seemed that Richard and Stella were intensely arguing – usually they argued a lot but not to this extent. But who was him to judge?

  Unfortunately, Stella who stormed out of her house met Merik in his leave.

  Merik faintly smiled at the distressed woman and with a nod, he went on his way.

  Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

  ________________________________________________________________________

  Their garrison was the same as usual – a building big enough for dozens of staffs to properly work, each having their own desks.

  The building itself had been here for a long time, so, while the brick wall maintained their sturdy nature, the colors of the paint were no longer as polished as new. Same went for the rest of the building.

  With time, both life and lifeless changed.

  As soon as Merik arrived back with Cora from their usual strolling, he instantly went to see if Landon was in the office. After seeing that the Head Captain was living and striving on his own, Merik left with a snort and went to his own desk.

  He didn’t have a lot to do – most of the paperwork were done by lads like Lenny so if there weren’t any cases, he was free to do whatever.

  However, past these days, Merik had been staying till late, acting as a dutiful professional, on which he had been weirdly showered with compliments.

  Sadly, he had his own reasons.

  Merik had been more than persistent but the guy in the office was just unbelievably in love with his own office. However, no matter how desperate he was, he wasn’t going to sneak into the office and jeopardize his own career.

  Merik let out a long, deep breath. While in deep thoughts, an image of a certain flamboyant man appeared.

  Should I go visit “him” today?

  He decided to pay a visit to an “old friend” and all of a sudden, Landon came out from eternal hibernating.

  He paid a glance at Merik before turning to Cora.

  “Cora, accompany for a moment, please.”

  “Umm, yes. May I ask why?”

  “It’s not a big deal but I just want to investigate a case personally. After all, we have a rule now, to not go alone on cases even at initial investigation after the recent case and also, I believe you haven’t been to Eastern Squares, too, am I right?”

  “Yes. I haven’t, since I got here. I will come with you, Head Captain!”

  The girl’s face lightened up after the conversation with Landon and started to prepare.

  Merik noticed how Cora has been wanting to go for such a stroll outside their usual region, but he admitted that it was more than expected.

  The tone at which Landon was asking Cora, wasn’t as loud as to announce for the whole garrison to hear but he wasn’t hiding it, as well.

  Merik had a certain thought or two on why Landon decided to ask Cora and Cora alone, but he didn’t indulge further.

  The opportunity had presented itself, after all.

  On their way out, both of them gave him a nod, to which, Merik similarly replied.

  Once they left the building, Merik calmly headed towards the office.

  Of course, the final obstacle came and blocked his way. It was none other than his beloved Davies, in the flesh.

  “Man, I have been wanting to go with you for a few rounds but now, what, aren’t just a cute little, harmless porcelain doll now, considering you only have your looks to offer.”

  He wanted to shrug the obvious provocation off but Davies, the persistent guy, didn’t relent.

  “How’s your life now that you have to rely on your little junior, in what... every single case? My, my, how the tables have turned for the once mighty Merik?”

  Filled with boiling frustration, Merik gritted his teeth and shoot out a cold glare towards this despicable man.

  Hating his guts was one thing but this, right now, was just more than Merik could tolerate.

  Without any warning, Merik shot out his right fist, straight towards Davies’ chin. Getting caught off guard, Davies’ face was slightly flustered before instantly reacted to the punch coming at his face.

  However, to his shock, even when he tried to parry the fist – even when he managed to react, the powerful fist still landed on his nose and that forcibly staggered him onto his butt. Bloods splattered out from his nose and streamed down to his mouth.

  Noises of a conflict attracted the whole garrison’s eyes but in the absence of their Head Captain, no one dared to intervene between the most notorious guys around.

  “You...”

  He looked up at Merik in anger and saw two imposing eyes, staring straight at him as if he was a speck of dust on his boot. It was unusually different from how Merik acted normally but, being tightly wrapped in countless layers of shame, anger and frustration, Davies felt himself getting smaller and smaller.

  Still, he swallowed all of them in a spite.

  He also swallowed his own blood from his nose and got up on his own.

  The guy was indifferently staring at him but nonetheless, Davies met his gaze.

  Then, through a sarcastic smile, he said in a suppressed voice,

  “I don’t know what’s up in your little head, pretty boy, but, please, I beg you, remember this, know this, keep this in your mind. This isn’t going to end well.”

  After fixing his collar with a grunt, he put his hands into his own pockets and left the building. He didn’t put any effort in wiping his own blood – he was just letting them flow, creepily.

  Merik slightly sighed and glanced at Davies’ back. Then, he slid the doorknob before entering the office.