HBWnovel Chapter 194 The Disappearance Case (5)
Chapter 194 The Disappearance Case (5)
Chapter 194 The Disappearance Case (5)
Morse, are you there?
"exist."
This was a pointless question, but Emilia seemed somewhat uneasy.
Two officers from the local security department just came to see us; Sylvie recognized them.
"Margarita?"
Yes, one of them was named Margarita, and the other Harlan. According to Sylvie, they were the ones who brought her out of the basement.
"Really? What did they say?"
They asked me many questions about the whereabouts of the Maya and their last known location.
"I understand……"
I nodded. If Senior Maya were missing, the academy would definitely take action. After all, she was one of the academy's top students and one of its most important future forces.
Moreover, this was clearly not an ordinary case; Sylvie had been kidnapped, and Maya had disappeared.
'I guess the college put pressure on them.'
Have you found any clues?
"Not many, I'm still looking around. Have you mentioned me to them?"
【Um……】
Hearing this, I couldn't help but sigh. If they knew I was wandering around alone, they might stop me for overstepping my authority.
'Well, maybe it's not that bad.'
In any case, the Awakened Police and the Federation will get involved sooner or later, and if I'm not mistaken, this demon is quite powerful.
'I need to proceed with the investigation as independently as possible.'
Isn't this better?
"No, it's okay. You did what you were supposed to do."
【We're also planning to look around. Is there anything you need our help finding?】
When she mentioned this, an idea suddenly popped into my head.
"some."
Please tell us, and we will do our best to help you.
“I need you to conduct an in-depth investigation into the local folklore and legends of Siuks. Dig into the history of this city and see if there are any unusual events, supernatural phenomena, or information that might reveal the origins of these events.”
Actually, I don't really need this information. Most of the time, these stories don't offer much clue. What I need are Emilia and Sylvie to distract me; Sylvie has just gone through a traumatic experience, and Emilia seems a bit anxious.
[Local folk tales and legends? What's the use of that?]
"This doesn't feel like an ordinary case."
【I see……】
She didn't sound very convincing, so I played my last card.
"I think it's related to Maya's disappearance."
"...Understood. We'll begin the investigation immediately. Is there anything you specifically looking for?"
"Nothing special, I just wanted to learn about the history of this city."
Okay, we'll contact you as soon as we find any valuable information. Be careful out there.
"Thank you, Emilia-senpai. Please let me know if there's any news."
After hanging up the phone, I refocused my attention on the task at hand.
I flagged down a passing taxi, got into the back seat, and took out my smartwatch to check the information compiled by [Blog].
"Sir, where are you going?"
"Elm Tree Avenue".
"The old library?"
"Yes."
"understood."
The vehicle drove smoothly down the street, and I began to delve deeper into the information about the missing persons.
Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.
[Clan Report: Missing Person - Siuks]
米丽
Age: 28
Health condition: Good
Awakening Test Results: Meets Hunter Qualification
Potential: Medium
Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.
Daniel Johnson
Age: 24
Health condition: Excellent
Awakening Test Results: Meets Hunter Qualification
Potential: Medium to High
Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.
Olivia Harris
Age: 26
Health condition: General
Awakening Test Results: Meets Hunter Qualification
Potential: Medium to High
Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.
Benjamin Rodriguez
Age: 34
Health condition: Good
Awakening Test Results: Meets Hunter Qualification
Potential: High
Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.
Sofia Carter
Age: 27
Health condition: Excellent
Awakening Test Results: Meets Hunter Qualification
Potential: Medium
Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.
'this......'
As I browsed the new information, new questions arose. All the missing persons not only met the hunter's qualifications but also possessed at least intermediate to advanced potential, suggesting that the demons weren't targeting ordinary people at all.
This is also the sad reality of this world: not all humans have the ability to become awakened hunters, and not all awakened individuals will become hunters.
This is why hunters are so precious.
Things are becoming clearer now.
I memorized all of this.
Squeak!
"Sir, we have arrived."
Just then, the taxi stopped.
"for you."
After paying the fare, I got off the bus and headed to my next destination.
Elm Avenue is a narrow street lined with ancient trees whose intertwined branches form a dense canopy that blocks out the sun. Dim streetlights cast long shadows, adding a touch of mystery to the surroundings. At the end of the street stands an old library.
The lights were still on.
"Should we come back later?"
"Hmm~"
"Kiss..."
The streets here are quite lively, with many couples and pedestrians walking around.
I walked across the bustling elm-lined avenue, blending into the crowd and using [Shadow] to conceal my presence. The conversations of couples, the laughter of friends, and the occasional footsteps mingled together, drowning out any slight movement I made.
I glanced around casually, keeping my senses alert while remaining unnoticed. The old library at the end of the street stood silently, a testament to the passage of time, its alluring exterior contrasting sharply with the ominous atmosphere brought on by the recent disappearances.
As I approached the old library, I instinctively activated Perception, enhancing my senses to detect anything unusual.
The library appears undisturbed, but I cannot rely solely on appearances.
My eyes scanned every corner, searching for any signs of struggle or anomalies that might unravel the mystery. In the stillness of the night, even the slightest detail could be a crucial clue.
Whoosh! A sudden gust of wind rustled the leaves, and my attention turned to a corner where a faint light shone. It was so quiet that few people noticed it.
I moved carefully and found faint traces of magic remaining in the air.
'Um……'
There, on the ground, I found a small earring. It was a magical artifact, constantly radiating magical power.
'This is……'
Upon closer inspection, I discovered it was an inexpensive magical accessory that could brighten the wearer's skin.
'Is this Olivia's?'
I carefully put the earring into my pocket, intending to examine it later.
Looking around, there weren't many signs of a struggle, but there were some marks on the ground.
'This is blood.'
A drop of congealed blood caught my attention.
The lack of obvious signs of fighting indicates that the demon is moving more swiftly, which means it has become more powerful.
'I even doubt I'll be able to find any trace next time.'
After taking one last look around, I decided to explore the interior of the old library.
Squeak!
Pushing open the creaking door, I stepped into the dimly lit space, greeted by the smell of old books and the soft sound of turning pages.
An elderly man wearing glasses looked up at the counter, squinting at the unexpected visitor.
Good evening, young man. How can I help you?
His voice carried a warm, hospitable tone, and the dim lighting in the library created a quiet, contemplative atmosphere.
“I’m looking for some information, especially about a woman named Olivia Harris. Does she come to this library often?”
The atmosphere seemed to change when I asked the question. The old man's expression changed, and a hint of sadness flashed in his eyes.
“Olivia… she used to come often, immersed in the world of books. I haven’t seen her for a while.”
His answer carried a hint of melancholy, prompting me to ask further questions.
Do you know where she was recently seen? Or was she here before she disappeared?
The old man's gaze turned suspicious.
Why are you asking about Olivia? Are you her friend?
I thought for a moment and replied, “I am her cousin. Her sudden disappearance has greatly distressed our family, and I am doing my best to gather any information that may help us find her.”
When I mentioned that I was her cousin, the old woman's expression softened, and her suspicion was replaced by sympathy.
“I understand. This is sad news. Olivia is a smart woman. Please don’t hesitate to ask if there’s anything I can do to help.”
"Thank you, this is very important to our family. Do you remember when Olivia last came to the library?"
The elderly librarian leaned back in his chair, squinted, and tried hard to remember.
"Let me think... It was probably about a week before she disappeared. She borrowed a few books and mentioned some things about classical literature. She really liked those books."
"I understand... Did she mention seeing anyone or anything?"
"No, she never mentioned it. She's always been a quiet girl who likes to read in a corner."
"So, did you notice anything unusual around the library during that time? Any strange people or things?" I asked, hoping the librarian might have noticed some clues that could help with the investigation.
The old man tapped the counter with his finger, his brow furrowed as he concentrated on recalling. "Hmm... there's something strange. A few nights before she disappeared, I heard some strange noises outside."
The mention of strange sounds piqued my interest. "Strange sounds?"
“Yes, it felt like it was coming from underground, like something was moving down there, but when I checked, I didn’t see anything.”
This unexpected detail made me even more curious. "It's coming from underground? That's very unusual. Have you noticed anything unusual or strange about the soil?"
He shook his head, looking somewhat troubled. "No, there's nothing wrong on the surface. It's more of a feeling than something I can see, and it gives me the creeps."
I thanked the librarian for providing the information.
'underground……'
The mention of underground places, in particular, reminded me of some things.
"It's time to go back; it's getting late."