"So... here we are, then," Tobey said while looking at the entrance door of the CEO's particular room.
In front of him, Phill had his hands raised above his head and was looking at the ground. Tobey was still pointing his gun at him with a very calm expression, even indifferent.
[Well, you did it. I am not meant to help you in any way, but I must admit that you hit the jackpot.]
'Yeah. I knew it without you saying it. Anyway, thanks for the confirmation. I know that you, bastard, can feel paladins around.'
[Just some. It is not hard to find these of a higher grade when they are not trying to hide.]
'Not trying to hide? Do you mean that this guy is emanating Divine Energy carefreely right now? What the hell...'
[Yes. It's quite strange, I must say. Maybe we should change places here. If something happens and we need to fight, I doubt that you will have what it takes to kill this guy...] Mask pointed out in a condescending tone of voice.
Tobey snorted.
'And what would you do? Act cruelly and straightforwardly isn't enough to kill the bigger fishes, right?'
[Nope. But now I have something more that you don't have, Tobey. And that's the main reason why I can afford to blackmail you right now.] Having Mask's tone suddenly changing to that of a mischievous and malicious being was something that always disturbed Tobey. He could see his demonic face inside his mind, smiling devilishly as he talked with him.
'And what's it?' Tobey thought, gulping.
[Right now, I know how to use our Soul Mirror to its full potential. I know how to unlock our power. You know, when you don't have a physical body you can rely on, you get too much absorbed by your own consciousness and end up connecting with your spirit. It's a very curious thing, like meditating. This way, I could discover a lot about us; how our body works, how our soul reacts to different actions and feelings...]
'You are kidding, right?' Tobey said, lowering his head slightly.
[No, I am serious. You don't have any other choice instead of relying on me again] he chuckled.
Then, his chuckle got stopped once he noticed the smile on Tobey's face.
'Not today, Mask. Not today... Indeed, I don't have many things you have right now, but it doesn't mean that I am on a level to be stepped on by you. While you are far stronger than me, I am far more prepared than you think. So much that, even if this paladin is willing to kill me, it won't be a problem. I anticipated this course of action.'
With no more, Tobey ignored Mask and forced Phill to open the door of the room. The latter was quite nervous and hesitant about doing that. No... not just hesitant, but scared as well.
"You will regret doing this, Tobey Foster. I warn you in advance since I am your childhood friend and saw you growing up," he said through his gritted teeth.
Tobey put his pistol's barrel on his neck, his eyes getting colder.
"You aren't my friend. You never were. Stop lying to me," his voice was burning with anger, which got very emphasized due to his nonchalant and indifferent expression.
Phill finally opened the door, revealing a wide room with bookshelves on each side, a huge windowpane at the opposite side of the entrance, various pictures of historical figures, and a table made of oak. A man was standing in front of that table, leaning his hips against it slightly, his hands placed on its surface.
He was a man wearing a very elegant and well-made suit with an outstanding light blue necktie. Tobey noticed that there was a familiar suitcase on top of that table, which made him narrow his eyes.
The man was clearly way older than Tobey or even Phill. He was probably reaching his sixties. His face had some wrinkles on it, but they weren't too perceptible because the man had a passive and calm expression, though slightly disappointed. He was taller than Paul, and the suit hid his physique, though he seemed to be quite athletic.
The man in suit had his eyes closed when Tobey and Phill entered and he remained like that for a while. However, once he heard their footsteps, he opened them slowly while breathing a sigh.
His eyes flashed in a furious golden color, looking like golden flames. His black hair wavered slightly, although there was no air circulating in that room.
"I remember seeing you when I was a kid. You always came to greet Han and were quite cheerful when doing so, but for some reason, you greeted me in the same way you did with grandma; a serious countenance, though very passive. A strong handshake, though friendly. Finally, a wary, yet relaxed tone of voice.
"I was just a little boy, but I could perceive all these details and kept them in my heart. I always wondered what was wrong with me, and why the man in suit never was so cheerful with me. I was perceptive and cunning, but not malicious enough to pay attention to what it really implied," Tobey narrowed his eyes and closed his left fist tightly while pushing Phill with the gun.
Phill walked forward with his legs trembling from fear, standing a few meters away from the man in suit.
Tobey, then, pointed his gun at both.
"I remember you, little Tobey. Even today, you have those foxy and cold eyes that I was so wary about. Also, you are still as perfectionist and thoughtful as always. These are precise all the traits that would drive you to become a detective in the very end, but I thought that you would be smart enough not to involve yourself in trouble," the man in suit said, stepping in front casually.
Tobey coldly shot at him, targeting his leg. The man in suit stopped walking right away, letting out a little grunt, though he didn't seem to mind that wound too much.
"Wow... that's very bold of you," he said with surprised eyes.
"Aren't you afraid of going to prison?'
Tobey shrugged, not changing his expression at all as he looked at the man's pants get soaked with blood from the wound caused on his thigh.
"Don't move again or else the other shoot will be right at your face," he coldly claimed.
"Now, answer me: what's your name?"
"Ariel Terzic," he answered without hesitation. "Most demons that knew my name are currently dead, much more those who once saw myself as a paladin without my helmet. So, how could you discover that it was me?"
"It was quite simple, but I won't lose my time explaining this again, so I will let things like this. You surely will come to know one day. I bet that you will have a lot of time in prison to think about it."
Ariel raised one brow, nearly laughing at Tobey and breaking his calm and passive behavior.
"People like you... People like you make me want to laugh, you know? Maybe that's why I like demons, despite their ominous nature! You are always so greedy, and ambitious, doing anything you can to achieve your goals. I think that all these years living among humans taught you one thing or two, but it could never get rid of your instincts, right? That's kind of pathetic in my opinion, but also impressive in its own way."
The man didn't have a trace of pain in his voice, even though he just got shot in his thigh.
"You don't think that you will be able to kill me, right? I mean, not with this weapon...", Ariel said, pointing at Tobey's pistol as he giggled.
Suddenly, his dark-brown eyes began to get in a different color. Tobey felt a huge pressure on his body suddenly, but he endured it. He knew that one time or another he would need to face another strong paladin, so he had prepared himself for such pressure.
'It's not much different from what I felt back when that paladin approached me from behind and tried to make me give up. This one seems slightly weaker, though. Anyway, I have everything prepared...'
"Hmm? No, I didn't come here to point a gun at you and get beaten, you know? First of all, I knew you wouldn't be a coward and prevent yourself from transforming into your real form. That's why I didn't come alone..."
Just after Tobey said it, someone else broke into the run. Ariel raised one brow as he saw, at least, ten cops entering his room, guns in hand, and serious faces.
"I wouldn't dare to attack you alone, you know?" Tobey said. "I am a detective, after all. I am not the person who goes on the frontline."
Ariel smiled, his calm eyes flashing with sarcasm and disdain.
"Are you sure you aren't alone, Tobey Foster?" he said, then chuckled.
Right after, the cops raised and cocked their guns... but they were pointing them at Tobey.