TL/N: Hey there I uploaded a new Fanfict yesterday it's called The Boy's Perfect Hero.
The young man's name was Jimmy. He had short brown hair, a face full of acne, and appeared to be about eighteen or nineteen years old. He identified the killer as a man named Powell.
Powell was a notorious street thug in the area, and not only Jimmy, but also the neighbors could testify that Powell had repeatedly harassed Casey, even threatening to rape and kill her one day. He had ample motive for the crime.
With a cautious mindset, Al and his team, along with the Enforcers, followed Jimmy to Powell's residence. They didn't request backup, as they were still uncertain if Powell was indeed the killer. Additionally, even if he was, the combined strength of three squads and four Sequence 7 individuals gave them confidence they could handle him.
However, when they cautiously entered Powell's residence and sneaked into his room, they were met with a strong stench of alcohol mixed with the sour odor of vomit. The floor and bed sheets were covered in Powell's vomit. Powell himself, with his vomit-stained beard, was sprawled on the floor, sound asleep, clearly drunk from the previous night.
"Ugh," Al said with disgust. "Borgia, he's all yours."
"Got it." Borgia's eye twitched slightly, but he complied. He grabbed Powell by the collar, dragged him out of the room, and kicked him into the living room.
"Thud!" Powell hit the floor heavily. Even in a deep sleep, the impact woke him up.
In pain, Powell groaned and opened his eyes to see the group surrounding him. "Who are you people?!" He scanned the unfamiliar faces, his gaze finally landing on Jimmy. "What do you think you're doing? Do you know whose crew I'm part of?"
"Bang!" Simon rushed forward and kicked Powell in the face, his expression dark with anger.
Powell cried out in pain but stopped himself when he met Simon's furious gaze. He had seen that look before and knew it meant he would die if he didn't cooperate.
"Simon," Al called out softly, reminding him not to kill Powell. From their first sight of Powell, they had determined he couldn't be the killer. To kill Eve, the murderer must be at least a Sequence 7, but Powell's reaction indicated he was just an ordinary person.
"Police," Simon said coldly. "You're suspected of murdering Casey Summer. Come with us."
"Murder?" Powell's face changed dramatically as he realized his situation. "It wasn't me! I didn't kill her! I never even thought of killing that bitch!"
"Liar!" Jimmy shouted angrily. "I saw you harassing Miss Casey. You even threatened to rape and kill her yesterday, and now she's dead. If you didn't do it, who did?"
"It really wasn't me!" Powell panicked and tried to explain. "I did say I wanted to screw her, but not like that! I did sleep with her, but I didn't kill her!"
"You raped her?" Lorota's eyes turned icy with disgust.
"No, not rape! I paid her, and she agreed. It was completely consensual!"
"What do you mean?" Al Harsen frowned and ordered, "Explain clearly!"
"That bi..." Powell stopped himself and corrected, "Casey, Casey was a prostitute! I used to visit her often. Even though she's a teacher now, I know what she used to be. I didn't kill her. I don't have the guts to kill anyone!"
"And even if I wanted to, I didn't have the time. I was at the bar last night until early morning, then came straight home and passed out. It couldn't have been me! Officers, you have to believe me!"
Jimmy, red with anger, shouted, "Shut up, you bastard! Miss Casey isn't like what you say!"
"She is! She may act like a lady now, but she was wild in bed! She charged a lot more than others because she was pretty. I know plenty of people who've been with her. Without that money, she couldn't afford her house or her teaching job!"
"Officer, if you don't believe me, I can bring people to prove it!"
"Shut up!" Jimmy tried to punch him, but the Enforcers held him back.
Powell's panicked words convinced most of the group. But Simon's expression darkened, as if they had hit another dead end.
"If it wasn't you, then it must have been Carpine!" Jimmy, enraged, shouted, "Carpine is your protector. You're all in it together!"
"Carpine?" Enforcer Captain Garcia's face darkened, and Al and the others had varied expressions.
"Who is Carpine?" Ashes asked Lorota.
Lorota rolled her eyes as if to say, 'How should I know?'
"A rich man, a scumbag," Jimmy said through gritted teeth, full of hatred.
From his description, the others learned of Carpine's notorious deeds. Wealthy and powerful, Carpine was infamous. Many young girls had disappeared in Backlund, later found in brothels. Many rumors pointed to Carpine, but no one had ever caught him.
"Where does he live?" Ashes asked.
Al and Lorota looked at him curiously.
(End of Chapter)
50 Power stones = Extra Chapter