Oh?
I have been abandoned—at least, abandoned for the time being.
The man's attitude was somewhat nonchalant: "That human named.. Roger.. staying lucid until the final moment was no accident, but my deliberate design—just as you place various barriers, seals, tracking methods on that guy you currently love most to alleviate the boredom of a long life, I also long to plunge into a death game that can make my long-stagnant life feel a sting of pain."
The result—
I am sorry that this happened.
The Man bowed his head, his attitude exceptionally humble.
Oh.. Let Roger survive, allow him to tell others about this, then tear him to shreds after he has finished doing those things you hinted at him to do?
Master let out a near-mocking snort, then—
The bandages, wrapped around an arm and covered in flames, slowly loosened within the mirror world, revealing—
It wasn't me who tore Roger apart! It was an accident!
The Man shouted nervously, "I swear, I absolutely did not kill Roger!"
“Swear?”
Yes! I swear!
Prove it—
I..
The Man said in a nearly pleading tone, "I will find the real culprit and execute them by the most cruel means! Please accept my apologies, let this whole matter end here."
End?
Master smiled slightly. "It is absolutely impossible to end."
—What do you want me to do?
The Man suddenly spoke harshly.
Where is Lilith!
You—
Don't misunderstand, I just simply want to know where Lilith is, and—to settle an old score with Lilith.
..
..
Wood opened his eyes and looked out the window, which was bathed in sunlight, feeling a strange headache.
(Because last night..)
(Or..)
Wood glanced guiltily beside him, only to find that the Boss had long since departed. The Jormungand Cat and Anubis Dog were lying upright on either side of the foot of the bed, looking like bodyguards, or perhaps—
[Papa!]
Jormungand Cat spoke first.
Why be with That Guy! You deserve better!
I agree! I think Papa should find a more suitable partner!
The Anubis Dog wagged his tail, his mouth slightly agape, huffing incessantly.
[That Guy is too dangerous; he will bring Papa into great misfortune!]
But—
(I am not your Papa at all!)
Wood grumbled inwardly.
Perhaps there was room for explanation regarding Jormungand mistaking him for the Norse Evil God Loki, but why was Anubis also calling him Papa?
Anubis's Papa is actually..
The most important thing is—
(Jormungand belongs to the Norse Mythology system, while Anubis belongs to the Ancient Egypt mythology system, yet they both call me Papa—won't they really get into a fight over these titles during their daily chats?)
Wood gave a bitter smile.
Papa needs to get up and go to work, you guys—
[What is going to work?]
I want to go to work with Papa!
The two furry creatures scrambled forward one after another. Had Wood not been quick enough to cover them with the bedsheet, he would surely have been tackled onto the bed and licked from face to face with saliva.
..
(.. So why on earth do these two guys think I'm their Papa?)
Wood swiped his card to enter the office area with doubts in his mind, seeing Louis walk out of Boss Jason's private office looking distressed.
What happened?
Wood asked curiously.
Louis let out a heavy sigh: "Last night, when the New York Police conducted a raid on a party scene, thirteen young men and women were found, all suspected of having died at the hands of a Vampire.
“Vampire?”
Wood instinctively thought of what the Boss had told him yesterday about Vampires and Cannibals—
Are you sure it's a Vampire?
Without a doubt.
Louis explained, "The blood remaining in all the deceased was less than ten percent of a normal person's, there were clear fang bite marks on the carotid arteries of their necks, every deceased person had a hallucinatory, intoxicated smile on his face.."
At this point, Louis paused. "The police at the scene were also nearly killed by the Vampire's accomplices."
Wood was shocked: "The Vampire's accomplices are actually this arrogant?!"
They are just a group of young people obsessed with fantasies and chasing thrills.
Louis said helplessly, "These young people are influenced by novels, paintings, movies, TV shows, games where Vampires are the protagonists, causing them to develop unrealistic feelings of affection for Vampires, they take it upon themselves to imagine them as elegant, beautiful, pale aristocrats, willingly becoming their Accomplice."
What do we do next?
The capture of the Vampire cannot be delayed, but what should be done with the teenagers who serve the Vampire voluntarily?
At this point, Louis took the initiative to change the subject: "I heard that you and Peterson took a statement regarding an 'Ogre' yesterday?"
His name is Roger, a vagrant. He was lucid when he told us that a few days ago, he unexpectedly—
Wood!
Peterson's voice suddenly rang out, interrupting Wood's narration.
What happened?
Several people simultaneously looked toward Peterson.
Wood looked even more bewildered: "What happened?"
Roger is dead!
Peterson shouted, "He died in the safehouse we prepared for him. His body.. his body was torn into five pieces by a terrifying power. His chest was ripped open, his heart and parts of his liver were taken by the killer—the most bizarre thing is, there wasn't a single drop of blood left in his body!"
What!
Wood gasped, "This kind of thing—"
Yeah, things like this..
Peterson said with a bitter smile, "Once these kinds of things—which are even more brutal and inconceivable than a Vampire murder—are publicized by the Media, they will certainly attract widespread attention from all sectors of society, triggering the twisted worship of restless teenagers, such collective worship will most likely grant the killer, who is likely a non-natural lifeform, even more power! Of course, the more direct consequence is the emergence of Copycats, which interferes with the investigation of the murder cases."
Like Jack the Ripper and his cultish imitators?
Wood asked curiously.
Peterson nodded, "In fact, due to the public's obsession with Jack the Ripper, an evil spirit of Jack the Ripper created by that cult-like worship still wanders the streets of London to this day, killing homeless wanderers."
Then what are we waiting for! Let's go to the scene and investigate immediately!
Wood shouted.
The others were also tidying up their belongings, preparing to depart.
..
..
The moment he stepped into the crime scene, Wood felt a strange anomaly lingering in the air: even though there wasn't a single drop of blood in sight, he smelled a thick, nauseating scent of blood.
What made Wood feel even more uneasy was—
As he walked toward the shattered remains of Roger lying on the ground, a drifting, sweet, Eerie voice sounded in his ears.
Child who has forgotten the way home, do you still long for Mother's warm embrace?
(Who! Who is talking to me!)
Wood subconsciously retorted in his mind—after experiencing so many inconceivable events, he had gradually grown accustomed to the abnormal, he quickly realized from the words and actions of those around him that he was the only one at the scene who could hear that sweet, seductive voice that sounded like an Eerie.
[My poor child.. Even after having your past and memories forcibly stripped away, you can still sense my presence through your instincts..]
[Come to me, follow your instincts, walk toward me~]
Come back to my side~ I will always be your mother~
I love you, no strings attached~
(Don't believe this voice! I don't need a so-called Mother who doesn't even dare to admit who she is!)
Wood told himself to hurry, pushing his way through the crowd to listen to the forensic pathologist explain the wounds on the deceased, Roger.
-----------------------
Author's Note: Thanks to readers "Suisui Wei Jun Ge", "Qing Yun", "Yeren Xinzhisu", "A Bai", "Ruo Yue Liang Mei Lai", "Qian Duo", "Gu De Mao Nai", "Ye Yuan", "Qing Tang", "_Lan Wu_", "Xiao Mao Diao Da Yu", "Nai Pi Nai Pi Wo Shi Cha Pian", "Courage is Lifelong Reliance", "Lan Mei Xiao Yang", "kiki", "Shi Yi", "Liu Nainai Mai Niunai", "Riyue Taosan Huan", "Li Yu", "Lei Zhuang", "Half City of Sand", "Meng Li Jian", "Min", "Gu Lu Gu Lu", "Yi Tuo Da Yan", "moonlit", "Xing Ye", "Irrigation Nutrient Solution".