Harker cursed internally. So this is what B in Effectiveness meant….
He never really paid much attention to his birthmark on his neck. To him, it's just the same as his moles and other small imperfections that barely anyone would notice. Who knew it would somehow get him in trouble?
But it's not game over yet.
So what? Roland would never think that he was pretending to be an Asian chick, not as realistic at this.
Because it's impossible for humans.
And as far as Roland was concerned, Harker was still human.
"That's such a funny coincidence! Do you think that makes us a perfect match?" 'Xi Hua' chuckled. "I'm just joking. Harker gained my interest, but he doesn't seem that interested in me. He's a good-looking guy though, don't you think?"
"Yes…." Roland's left eyebrow was raised slightly, and Harker knows that meant he was still confused with something.
But he shook his head. "Well, I doubt Harker would be willing to run away with you. That guy could never leave his family behind even for just a few months. It doesn't matter that he's smart, or good-looking, or has a great personality. Being a family guy is a good thing, but everything good in excess is bad."
Harker frowned at this. "What do you mean by that?"
"I just mean that his family is like a shackle around his neck that hinders him from living his life. I understand being grateful to your parents and caring for them. But of course, if his home is where his heart is, how can he have any space left for someone else?"
Harker opened his mouth, and closed it. He shouldn't get carried away by emotions and say something Xi Hua wouldn't.
"I see. Oh, look at the time!" He checked Xi Hua's watch. "I should really get going. Take care, Roland!"
"Take care." Roland nodded. "I could have one of our drivers take you to the airport, if you want?"
Harker waved his hand. "No need, no need. I'll just have them drop me off at the bus station."
"That would do. Be safe out there." Roland reminded him."You're a woman after all. There's a lot of dangers for women your age nowadays."
Harker chuckled. "Serial killers, I know. Looks like America's currently in its golden age of serial killers, huh? But then again, all places are just harder to stay safe in for women like me."
Harker smiled to himself a little when he went out. Roland just gave him an idea.
Because serial killers like Ed Bundie and Nocturne Stalker were brought into the media presence, everyone became cautious of them. Your neighbor, your classmate, your co-worker…. They could have been psychopathic murders. It could be anyone.
So this gives Harker an advantage in making Xi Hua's disappearance not linked to him. A girl that suddenly vanished would be speculated as another serial killer victim.
When he got out of one of the Faust's car, he asked the cab driver to take him into a mall.
The CCTV in the mall caught this red-haired Chinese girl just shopping around. Afterwards, she left with a long-haired tatooed man by her side.
The punk-looking man brought her to his car. The best that could be tracked about the two's whereabouts was that they had left for a much more secluded area of the city where crime was prevalent. No cameras to protect the civilians.
And then…. the girl was never seen again.
Days later, the police brought in the man for questioning. The man's name was Richie Drews, a drug dealer, who claimed that the girl asked him to bring him to his place. Then, he suddenly passed out and couldn't remember where she was or what happened to her.
The police didn't buy it, and he was still the primary suspect.
Meanwhile, Harker was doing fine in his school days later. Catching up to his lectures and preparing for his research paper on the genetic composition of chameleons.
There was a sweet peach blossom scent that lingered on him on the day Xi Hua disappeared. His father noticed it during dinner.
"Did you go anywhere, son? You smell kinda funny…" He said.
"Nope. Probably this new stationary paper I borrowed from a friend. She's a girl, so she likes scented stuff."
"Oh, that's why."
And his normal life just continued like that.
On a Wednesday night full of cramming for schoolwork, he passed by his best friend Roland again in their school's library. The Stoker Medical School and Stoker Law School were separated, so these meetings were not that often.
"Oh, Harker. Busy night?" Roland asked.
Harker yawned. "As always. Doesn't look like it to you, though. You're always even more dashing at night, haha!"
They went to pick books at shelves facing each other.
Roland sighed as he replied. "Ah, believe me. It's always a busy night for us on the law side of Stoker. It's a shame they don't have the resources that I want, it's mostly Vine League schools that have them."
"Hah, I've always told you to go to Vine League schools like Harward." Harker said. "You didn't have to stay in the same school as I did."
"Well, I just prefer it here. Harward's 3 hours from home. My family's never left Scarsdale for centuries now." Roland said. "Speaking of…. Have you ever received a call from Xi Hua lately?"
Harker shook his head. "No. I didn't really get in contact with her after we canceled our tutoring session because Chloe's rashes got worse again."
"I see. Because Xi Hua visited my house on Sunday, and then…."
He went on to explain, and Harker listened, wearing a look of concern on his face.
When he's done recounting the events, Harker rubbed his chin. "That's really terrible…. I wonder what happened to her. I hope she's okay. Maybe she managed to escape that druggie and ran off to her flight like she said."
Roland sighed. "I hope so…. But I'm not so optimistic with the times we have now. Her body's not found in the Hudson River or anything like that. But that could also just mean that she's kidnapped and hidden somewhere. Hopefully that's not the case and she's really in Switzerland or something."
Harker nodded. Xi Hua's body really was hidden.
In his stomach, that is.
He doesn't feel guilty about killing her or eating her at all. She deserved it. He needed to save himself both from the demoness and imprisonment. But….
He does feel kind of guilty about lying to his best friend like this.
And right on time as he thought this, his bad luck had decided that this was the perfect moment for him to eject the pellet. The pellet contained Xi Hua's hair, some bones and other nondigestible material.
"BLERGH!"
Harker tried to hold it in. But he stumbled, and his body would not let him. 'Shit! This would look really weird', he thought.
He kneeled on the ground, holding his stomach with his back turned to Roland so he wouldn't see.
But Roland still walked towards him. "Are you alright? What—"
Like a cat, Harker retched it all out before he could stop himself. Roland stopped on his tracks, blinking at this large 20 inches long hairy pellet that appeared out of nowhere.
Luck really wasn't on Harker's side despite being a 'powerful Demon Lord'.