Constance's Findings
A woman in a golden trench coat, knee-length black boots, and dark trousers and shirt walked out of a customized steam-powered car–that didn't make any sound due to all the modifications done. An insignia of two rolling dice was marked on her golden coat. A man in silver clothing followed closely behind.
A barricade of sorts was formed near the accident site and several figures in navy blue uniforms and caps with stiff visors encircled the area.
Her gaze landed on a middle-aged man with 4 stars on his uniform–indicating his position as the highest-ranking official on-site as he approached her with brisk steps. The man introduced himself,
"Chief Inspector, Ryan."
Constance stretched her hand toward Ryan as they shook hands.
"Inquisitor Constance," She said succinctly, "I hope you can answer some of my questions, After all, West Grovebourne comes under the dominion of Gamblings Den."
"Of course." Inspector Ryan readily agreed.
"Did anyone see something... or someone extraordinary?" Seeing the puzzled look on the chief inspector, she elaborated, "I mean any suspicious individuals, other than the Light remnant–a Rogue perhaps?"
"Not at all, Miss Constance." Ryan paused as he thought for a moment, "The eyewitnesses only mentioned a sudden blast as soon as the bus stopped on the platform. A few of them that survived the blast with serious injuries said the same."
Constance nodded as the trio moved toward the debris. Most of it has already been cleaned by the authorities and only the dead body of the Second was left untouched.
"Oh, I forgot. James, bring me the Fortune Scope from the trunk." Constance scrutinized the body of the Second as she ordered the silver-clothed man, James.
She bent down and carefully eyed the body or–flesh and bones that was left of it. As for how they knew he was the cause of the blast–Authorities of the government that reached this place at the earliest were responsible for the preliminary investigation and they had already confirmed it through their magical means.
Constance rummaged through the inner pockets of her trench coat and soon retracted a deck of cards.
Without looking at it, she pulled a card. It was not the usual card used for playing poker but an all-black one with mysterious runes etched upon it.
Her eyes glowed goldenly as the card in her hand slowly disintegrated into embers. Constance's vision changed to a monochromatic grey. She glanced over the body of Second. A thin golden thread stretched from the body to the sky. It had a faint tinge of blue tainting the infinitely long golden line.
"Luck Infection?" She muttered to herself, and stated calmly, "An external attack killed him. His luck was good enough and under normal circumstances, he could've lived for over a decade easily; unless something much stronger than him influenced his luck."
"By external attack… you mean?" Ryan pondered.
"No. It is not exactly what you are thinking. It does not necessarily mean someone else did it and placed the blame on the Light remnants.
"It might be he who triggered the attack and died along with it, though, the attack must be done under the guidance of a potent force that could affect his luck–resulting in his premature death."
Over the years, Light Remnants have become so notorious that they were known as–The Toilet of Corruption. No matter who committed the crime, they would gladly take the blame on themselves. After a period of time, criminals even used them as the perfect scapegoats.
According to some captured Light remnants; they were brainwashed that something truly dies–when they are forgotten. They were unwilling to let people forget the Light and thus became infamous terrorists–which even led to the creation of the most dreaded event of humanity–The annual celebration of Light.
Constance frowned heavily thinking about the main course that Light will prepare this time around… If just a light snack is so deadly then the main course… She shuddered slightly.
"Nevertheless, we cannot ignore the former possibility!"
By the time they were done sharing their findings, James returned with a wooden box in his hands.
Looking at the wooden box, Ryan asked, "Miss Constance, would you like to see the bodies that we have collected?"
He had a faint idea of what was going on in Inquisitor Constance's head.
"Yes." Inquisitor Constance nodded, as Ryan led them inside the inner circle which was guarded by more sentries.
Several bodies–or what remained of them were covered in white sheets and placed on the sidewalk that was restricted long ago.
Seeing this, Constance's eyes slightly turned red as she sighed. No matter how many times she has seen the dead, the amount of damage it did to her soft heart was always the same.
Regaining her composure, Constance retracted another card from the deck… as it slowly disintegrated into embers. Her eyes glowed as her vision once again became monochromatic grey.
She saw multiple golden threads extending toward the astral realm but there were no signs of 'infection' in any of those.
"Strange… I can clearly feel Luck fluctuating but… I cannot see anything!"
Once her vision returned to normal she placed the deck back in her inner pockets as she signaled James. He came to her and opened the wooden box.
"Inquisitor, the side effects of Order 4–Fortune Scope is not to be taken lightly. I hope you reconsider…"
"I thank you for thoughtfulness but I don't need your advice, James." She interjected with a cold look in her eyes.
She might look extremely dense and had a fierce aura in front of everyone else but Bishop Julius, but then again the looks James gave her were far too obvious to go unnoticed. She already knew James had a crush on her.
Even though priests and nuns of Gamblers Den were not restrained from marrying or even sinking in the throes of pleasure. Her Personality, Disposition, and Goals were miles away from that of a normal girl.
James held his head low and quickly zipped his lips. If he could, he would've used the cursed artifact instead of her, but he knew about her stubborn personality and it was impossible to dissuade her once she made up her mind.
Taking out an ordinary-looking old compass from the wooden box, Constance's hand trembled a little. She bit her lips as a pain that was out of the mortal realm coursed through her body.
Many people believe–It is good to suffer pain as 'what doesn't kill you will only make you stronger' and increase your pain-tolerance levels.
But, in reality, such a thing will only make you–Insensitive and Numb. At one point, you might even lose all the sensations of your body and would feel nothing–Neither pain nor pleasure…
Order 4–Fortune Scope was one such cursed artifact that inflicted pain upon the user. And with every use by the same individual, it would keep increasing the pain… till they lose all sensations of their body and become numb.
Sometimes, authorities rented it to train battle-hardened soldiers, who would not crumble under any form of torture even if the enemies caught them.
It was a boon and… a bane.
Clenching her teeth, she started moving toward the line of bodies. She let it hang freely and grasped it from the chain affixed to it, however, the pain did not lessen in the least. Nevertheless, throughout the ordeal, she didn't let out a single groan of dissatisfaction.
Sometimes, James wondered whether the woman was made of steel. Such firm iron will, was difficult to find and this attracted him even more.
James and Ryan followed closely behind. When Constance halted in front of the deceased, Ryan bent forward and removed the sheet. Ryan was familiar with the workings of Fortune Scope, as such, he helped her without her prompting.
Constance lowered the compass and let some blood smear over it. At the same time, James also bent and analyzed the compass. He noticed the needle was still pointing in one direction with no fluctuations.
"Nothing Inquisitor," he said in a professional tone.
Constance nodded and moved ahead to the other body. At every halt, they would repeat the same set of actions until…
"It's moving!" James exclaimed.
Upon hearing James, Inquisitor Constance also leaned and checked the compass herself. Not only was it moving but it was rotating at a high speed like a rotor of an engine.
"Odd. This person's luck has been changed…" James stated.
"Not changed, but swapped!" Constance's eyes turned strange, "He was not supposed to die. And the Fortune Scope is not even able to pinpoint the position of swapper."
"Swapped? Alternate Aspirations Cult?"
"Perhaps." Constance shrugged. She did not know the answer as she simply placed the compass back inside the wooden box. Once separated from the Fortune Compass, she heaved a sigh of relief as fatigue washed over her body.
The words said by Bishop Julius resounded in her head making her expression turn weird.
Are they the Winner…? Constance frowned as she fell deep in thought.
....
Haa~… Finally here! Cole stood some distance away from a lavish mansion.
Time to free the caged nightingale and let it shine in the night sky… He mused internally.