"Joshua Ambrose had already started his business by then, right?" Aeron asked, his tone even as he glanced toward Malvin.
Malvin's jaw tightened, and he gave a curt nod. "Yeah, he had. And as much as I loathe that piece of shit, I can't deny his intelligence. While we were all wrapped up in the murder case, he managed to slip right under our noses with his operations." His voice was bitter, every word laced with frustration.
Tores rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "I wonder… do you think Joshua Ambrose ordered Philip Crude to commit the murders as a cover for his drug operation?"
Malvin shook his head firmly. "No. From what we've pieced together, Philip Crude acted on his own, driven by some deluded sense of revenge against us."
Clare, ever curious, tilted her head. "What exactly did his drug do?" she asked, her lack of knowledge in Ambrose's activities evident.
Loreen stepped in, her voice calm and matter-of-fact. "If I'm remembering right, the drug induces a state of pure bliss. 'It makes all your worries wisp away'—that's the tagline Ambrose's dealers use to lure in their customers."
Jos nodded in agreement, arms crossed as he leaned back slightly. "And starting his operation in the slums? Smart move, considering how bad their lives already are. A lot of people there would give anything for an escape."
Malvin let out a derisive scoff, shaking his head. "If only that piece of garbage had used his brains for something worthwhile instead of spreading chaos. The world could've been better for it." His voice dripped with venom as he spoke, fists clenching before he exhaled sharply. "Anyway," he continued, "after Xain gave us that little info, we told him to scram..."
---
"Thanks for the information," Malvin said curtly, snapping his notebook shut after jotting down what Xain told them. He slid it back into his coat with practiced efficiency before meeting the boy's gaze. "Now get out of here."
Xain blinked, caught off guard. "That's it? You're just letting me leave?" he asked, his voice laced with genuine surprise.
Malvin's eyes narrowed. "What did you expect us to do?"
"It's not like we can solve this mess on the spot," Silas chimed in, his voice heavy with resignation. "Especially not while we're still up to our necks in... you-know-what." He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck as if the weight of their current cases was physically bearing down on him.
Xain shifted uncomfortably, glancing between them. "I just figured you'd try to arrest me again, you know, after our chat."
Malvin gave him a cold, unamused look. "Keep talking, and I will."
Xain's eyes widened, and he raised his hands in mock surrender, his movements quick and exaggerated. "Alright, alright, I'm going!" he exclaimed, taking a cautious step back. Muttering under his breath, he added, "Goddess, you'd think he'd be a little more thankful."
Malvin's eyes followed him like a hawk tracking prey as Xain turned and made a hasty retreat, his feet scuffing against the pavement in his eagerness to put distance between them. Silas watched the boy disappear into the crowd before glancing at his partner.
"Do you think it was a good idea to let him go?" He asked as Malvin let out a heavy sigh, his shoulders rising and falling with the weight of it. "As much as I find that brat grating, he's harmless at the end of the day. Besides,"—he patted the pocket of his coat where his notebook rested—"he gave us useful information."
Silas nodded slowly, his gaze drifting toward the ground as he processed the response. After a pause, he murmured, "Do… do you think this is connected to the murder somehow?"
Malvin turned to his partner, his expression shifting into one of thoughtful consideration. He rested his hands on his hips, staring off into the distance for a moment before replying, "Maybe. If that kid's hunch about a drug problem is correct, and if the drug provides some sort of temporary boost in strength… it could explain how the killer managed to do that to Riley."
Silas's face contorted with a mix of confusion and unease. "A drug that makes someone strong enough to rip someone's head off? That sounds ridiculous."
Malvin's eyes narrowed, his tone turning grim. "Well, the alternative is that a magic user's lurking in the city. So tell me, which would you rather deal with?"
Silas paled slightly at the implication and stammered, "Th-the drug."
"Exactly." Malvin crossed his arms, his gaze hardening. "Now, if there really is a drug problem, we need to figure out when this all started and whether these drugs tie into the rise in crime or the murder itself."
"That… makes sense," Silas admitted, though his voice lacked confidence. He had no counterargument, so he simply nodded.
"Alright then," Malvin said abruptly, his tone decisive. He turned on his heel. "Let's go."
Silas raised an eyebrow, caught off guard. "Go where?"
Malvin shot him a glance over his shoulder. "The slums."
Silas's face went slack with shock before he practically leaped in front of Malvin, throwing his arms out as a barrier. "No! Absolutely not!"
Malvin scowled, his annoyance plain. "What do you mean, no?"
"This is breaking the creed again, Malvin!" Silas exclaimed, his voice unusually forceful. "Last time you went down there, you almost got yourself killed. I'm not letting you do this a second time!"
Malvin's scowl deepened, anger flashing in his eyes. "Just because I nearly died once doesn't mean it'll happen again!" His voice rose, his frustration bubbling over. "And besides, I've got you with me this time, don't I?"
Silas bristled at the manipulation attempt and shook his head firmly. "Don't you dare try that. Don't you dare say that when you don't mean it. You're just trying to drag me into agreeing with you." His tone sharpened, an edge of anger creeping in for the first time. "We're going to do this by the book. We'll report to the Captain and let him handle it. Do you understand, 'greatest Ironguard of our generation'?"
Malvin's jaw tightened, his fists clenching at his sides. His teeth ground together audibly before he spat, "Fine." His voice was a low growl. "We'll do it your way."
Without another word, he shoved past Silas, his shoulder colliding with his partner's as he stormed ahead. Silas winced, instinctively grabbing his injured shoulder, still tender from the debris that had fallen on it when he saved Malvin. He bit back the sting and muttered under his breath, "Asshole," before begrudgingly following after Malvin.