After what happened last night, Jack ignores anything out of the ordinary inside the apartment. Jack went to work and lost himself in his work while waiting for time to pass him by.
Jack had completed his work for the day shortly after three o'clock. He gets ready to go out to see the detective. He pulls out the card from his pocket to look up his address.
'Detective Favian Wynfir_ Floor 3 Hantes Apt, East Village, VALERIAN.'
'He actually lives in such an environment, to think he wants me to come here.'
Jack simply walks to the stated location because it is close to where he works. When he arrives in front of the building, he fixes his coat and goes to where the guards are.
"Hello, is this the residence of Detective Wynfir? He told me to come here and meet him."
Before speaking, the man examines Jack from head to toe.
"Are you Jack?"
"Yes."
"He lives on the third floor."
"Alright."
As soon as Jack reaches the door after climbing the stairs, he knocks on the door.
"Hello, Jack. Please come in."
Favian remarked this after opening the door for Jack. Favian was smoking tobacco, so the fragrance of it mingled with Jack's.
"You can take a sit."
"Are we going right away?"
"Not right now; I invited you here to inform you of what you need to do and how much money you will receive from me."
"Okay, Detective Wynfir."
"Just call me Favian."
"Huh, no. I can't do that."
"From now on, Jack, we'll be partners. As a result, it's preferable if you become accustomed to addressing me by my given name. That's how I prefer it."
"Alright, Detective Wynfir."
Favian is staring at me without saying anything.
"Ahem, Favian. I'm sorry."
When I realize my mistake, I pretend to cough.
"Wait a minute, I'll grab us a glass of wine."
"Alright."
Jack simply sat motionless whilst he looked around the room. It is large, but it is devoid of furnishings. It's plain; I'm guessing he lives alone.
"I apologize for keeping you waiting. please enjoy some wine while we discuss our matter."
Favian poured a glass of red wine for Jack.
"Alright, Thank you."
"Now, let's talk about how you'll help me. It's really simple. All you have to do is accompany me whenever I have to investigate a crime scene or other things that demand my investigation. Of course, you do not have to accompany me all of the time. Also, if I need something that requires your assistance, I will ask you to assist me."
"As for your pay, it will not be less than 20 mora per day that you assist me."
He said this while smiling warmly at me. I was completely taken aback.
'I believed my role was only to show him around town. Why do I suddenly feel like I've turned into a detective?'
I think about it for a while. If I become his assistant, I may be able to learn more about what happened to Amelie. It's been about a month and there hasn't been any news concerning her.
"Are you okay with it?"
"It's fine with me."
"Alright, I'll pick you up at the tavern after tomorrow because I have something to do before then."
"Since it's getting late, I'll take my leave then."
"But first, take this. This is 20 mora."
"Thank you, Favian"
"Okay, be careful on your way home."
I exited the building and walked back to my apartment. I almost jump up while walking because I'm nervous. Desmond appeared from across the street at that point.
Pa! The card's sound reverberated throughout the darkest section of the street, and Jack quickly swapped places with the card.
'This is a small town. Is that why I'm seeing Desmond here?'
'I'm hoping he didn't notice me.'
Jack quickly left the building and returned home.
I have 200 mora stored up, but I need to find a human eye before the full moon. Just thinking about how difficult it is to get one makes me sigh.
'Before anything else, I had a matter to deal with. I'll take care of it tonight.'
When I get home, I talk to my mother before going to my room. Max was seated on the corner of the room, reading a book, when I came in.
"Hey, Jack, did you just get here?"
"Uh-huh, but I have to go back because Favian, the detective I'm working with, has asked me to bring him something for tomorrow."
"Would you like to accompany me? I'm going to need some help with it."
I said, As I changed my coat and shoes into something more comfortable.
"Sure, where shall we go?"
"Oh, it's not far. it's just here in Mitrol town. It's only by the lower slums. It's fine if you don't want to come along because it's getting late."
"No, no, no. I'll come. You said you needed my assistance, didn't you?"
He grins as soon as Max says he will assist him. They left the upper slums and proceeded to the lower slums. It is referred to as a slum since it is a dirty and overcrowded urban street in the Dumont city. However, the lower slums are distinct because there are only trees when passing past a large number of apartment complexes.
"Is it far away, Brother?"
"Hmm? It's not far away, and we'll be there shortly."
Jack was walking quietly, but his mind and heart were racing. Since he was guiding his brother, he was walking ahead of him.
Jack comes to a halt when he reaches the darkest part of town.
"Now, let's put a stop to this act."
He said this with his back to his brother. Max becomes confused and comes to a halt.
"Is this it, brother? But there aren't any houses around here."
Fwoosh! Swish! Three cards flew over, each stabbing into the tree trunks in a different spot. It was supposed to be buried deep inside Max's body, but he successfully dodged it, demonstrating his flexibility and agility.
Scarlet flames burst from the cards that landed on the tree trunks. Amidst the flames, Jack stares at his brother with a cold expression, a card between his fingers, while hiding his left hand and revealing just the card on his right hand.
"Stop pretending to be my brother. I'm sure you already know why I've brought you here."
After evading those lethal cards, 'Max' landed on the ground. He looks at Jack innocently at first, but his demeanor changes after a time. His face is now adorned with a diabolical grin. His eyes turned bright red, and his body structure grew larger.
"Kekekekekekeke"
"HAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHA"
"It was fun messing around with you, Jack."
His body is wriggling, as if something is squirming inside Max's body. The sound of bones snapping resonated through the night, despite the silence. Max gradually transforms into Hansel, Jack's father.
Jack's heart was racing as he was horrified by the scene in front of him, but he didn't show it and he kept his expression the same.
'What is going on, Knave? What exactly is he?'
'I believe it is a shapeshifter, and I think I recognize him, but I am not certain.'
"Who are you?"
The figure in front of him smiled evilly and tilted his head, as if surprised by the question.
"You're asking the wrong question. it should be 'what I am.' Let's do the talking later and let me see what you're capable of now that you've got that irritating card."
'Is he talking about you'
'My Lord, it seems that the artifact I'm telling you about came earlier than expected.'
Jacks' uneasiness is gradually dissipating as his fear of the unknown fades. He grins slowly, as if he's discovered a treasure.
"Alright"
Jack leaps to a tree branch and fires the cards as quickly as he can. The cards that flew towards 'Hansel' and the card was buried in the ground burst into flames. Jack's physical prowess improve beyond that of a human after he becomes a Beyonder.
'Hansel's' shadow approached Jack, seeking to seize him. Jack was able to detect it and immediately jump to another tree branch.
Waft! The crashing of the branches echoed throughout the forest. Jack jumps from one branch to the next.
Fwoosh! Swish! Bang!
Jack shoots cards at Hansen while avoiding the shadows moving from the ground. Some of the cards that were spread over the forest were not detonated by Jack.
When Jack continues to dodge the shadows, Hansel appears in front of him.
"Got you."
Hansel punched Jack, and the air creaked as a result of the powerful punch that was ready to impact on Jack.
But before it can reach him, jack cracks a grin.
Swoosh! Hansel's punch missed because Jack vanishes in front of him and is replaced with a card in mid-air. Then Hansel spotted a card fall in front of him.
Bang! The card immediately burst in flames, knocking Hansel to the ground.
Sqwelp! Hansel lies on the ground.
"Not bad."
Hansel looked around, looking for any sign of Jack.
"Huff, huff."
'Three cards left, huh?'
'I should make a big blow before I use up all of my cards.'
Hansel spotted Jack emerge from the deepest section of the forest.
"Have you already given up?"
Jack just shrugged while giving Hansel his unpleasant smile.
"You know how strange it feels to fight my father, right?"
"That's what makes it amusing."
"I thought you were amazing, but after battling with you, you're just so-so." Jack says, smiling.
Hansel's veins on his head were apparent, as if they were about to burst. His brow furrowed in displeasure.
"Wow, I had no idea my father's face would look like that when he became angry. It's extremely frightening, but thankfully, Father is quite gentle."
Jack muttered this while covering his mouth, as if he was watching something hilarious.
"Alright, I just wanted to see what you were capable of, but it appears you wanted to be beaten."
'He is becoming dangerous, my Lord. His aura grew more ferocious and powerful.'
His body was covered with dark shadows. Jack gulps as the monster in front of him grows scarier.
'From behind.'
Jack's mind is incredibly calm and quick to think, but it is still useless.
'So fast.'
He sensed something from behind him after seeing Hansel vanish in front of him. Jack was unable to respond in time.
"Schloook"
Jack was launched into the air, and he feels as though a boulder slammed into his body. Jack spit blood into his mouth. He is on his knees, his hands on the ground while gasping for air and feels as if some of his bones in his chest have broken.
'Oh, my heavens! OH, MY LORD! This cretin! How dare he inflict harm on my Lord.'
Knave's voice was frantic inside Jack's head. Despite the pain, Jack's mind is functioning normally.
"Ho! I think I went a little overboard."
'Hansel' approaches Jack, but he comes to a halt when lethal cards fly towards him. Hansel leaps into midair to evade the cards. He smiles when he realizes Jack is skilled. Despite the harm he has sustained, he is still capable of attacking.
'Not bad! Really!'
Hansel smiles proudly in mid-air. But the assault did not end there. One of the cards that Hansel passes through bursts into flames.
"Ahh!"
'How cunning.' Hansel thought.
Then he assumed the attack would end there. One of the cards in the air that passes him transforms into a jack himself.
Swoosh! After shooting the cards at 'Hansel,' he transforms himself into one of the cards and makes one of it to detonate as a smokescreen.
'Amazing! ' Hansel thought as he saw Jack transform from the card, which he didn't detect due to the sudden explosion of flame.
He noticed Jack grab the last card that was flying and swiftly swipe it towards him. Hansel then realized he was aiming for his throat. With his fists, he immediately guards his neck.
Swish! The card easily cut into Hansel's skin like a blade, and blood splashed in the air. When Jack landed on the ground, he turned to face Hansel.
'Tsk! How disappointing.'