Chapter 24 - Ruin

Noticing their arrival, the crowd immediately erupted into chatter amongst themselves. They called a few people, and men in uniform came out of the house. They talked for a bit, and the police were pointed in their direction. A police officer came up to them. He knocked at the window thrice.

"Sir, are you the owner of this place?" He asked Tao. "The residents here recognized this car to belong in that house."

"Something like that." Tao replied.

"I'm gonna have to ask you some questions, sir. Can you step out of the vehicle?"

"Well, sure…" Tao answered.

Tao looked at the third Elder, fearing that he might be discovered. His state wasn't exactly something one would find usual. Before he exited the car, he glanced at Raizel.

"Sir, when did you leave that house?" The cop asked.

"The other day."

"Do you know what happened last night?"

"I would assume— that." He pointed at the ruins.

"After what you saw, you don't seem to be surprised by what happened to your house. Don't you have any questions, at least?"

"Aha, well… " said Tao, flustered.

At this moment, Raizel stepped out of the Car. His closing the door attracted the attention of the officer towards him. As the cop looked at Raizel, Raizel's eyes turned bright red.

"Leave, never investigate this again." Raizel ordered.

Subjected to the Noblesse's mind control, the cop nodded. He turned around and walked towards his company.

Raizel turned his attention towards the Crowd. The glow of his eyes went brighter and clearer, and in less than a few moments, everyone in the crowd started leaving. One by one they go; cops leaving, and the neighbors returning to their own houses. A minute later, everyone was gone, and the place was deserted.

"I'll check if the Lab is still functional." Said Tao. He jumped over the rubbles, and entered the house, or what's left of it.

Raizel locked the doors of the car with his mind. There was a clicking sound of the car door lock buttons as he did so.

Raizel levitated from the ground, and slowly ascended into the air. He flew above the roofs of the neighbors houses, and even above it, where he could see the whole city. He looked down from there, and looked at the city. Maybe he could see something which might help them with this mystery.

After a few moments, he slowly descended from the skies, and onto the front of the car. At that second, Tao also came out of the house.

"The lab's destroyed." Said Tao. "Not completely though. There's a few pieces of equipment left intact. We can use it to temporarily aid the 3rd Elder."

Raizel unlocked the doors as Tao approached the backseat. Tao carefully carried the 3rd Elder out of the vehicle, and into the house. Raizel followed behind them.

Tao went ahead to aid the Elder, but Raizel paused, and took a short moment to look around. He looked around the living room, where he saw the chair he always sat on cleaved in two, and the pot Frankenstein used to boil tea.

He drew closer to the walls, and touched it. Raizel inhaled deeply, and exhaled profusely in return. A shadow of anxiety broke into his face.

"This aura," said He. "Frankenstein… what's going on?"