Chapter 40

"Why?"

Cattleya's breath grew steady as she turned to me.

"Well, those symbols embody the characteristics of the Luma and Nova Routes, and those were born of the Moon Identity back in the previous era."

"What's that gotta do with anything?"

"Those are the Routes the Nightshades use."

Aaron stood up, cracking his back before approaching us and looking at the scroll.

"They only work during the night because night affiliated Routes only harbor the energy of the moon and are probably completely during the day."

I inquired Aaron further about this strange revelation.

"So I guess during the day they just...hide like vampires?"

He let out a low laugh at my statement, clearly amused by my reaction.

"No, they study for the night. They carry out all their operations during the nightly hours, why do you think they're called the nightshades?"

I turned to Cattleya.

"Why do we need to find them to begin with, are you sure anyone else in this large kingdom can harbor the Nova or Luna routes?"

She paused for a few moments, but before she could speak Officer Palau spoke in.

"I've studied a little mysticism myself in my free time while I'm not running around during the day, and I can excerpt this exact quote from some dusty old book."

"One's Routeway must be affiliated with a certain organization, clan, ideology, etc."

I rolled my eyes.

"Well, that's stupid."

I grumbled, letting out a little huff.

"But what organization do you think the shooter works for? If they had nullifying bullets it might be a terrorist organization or one that specializes in assassinating targets."

Shinso pressed as he turned around in his chair, leaning back to look at us.

"But who would ever want Oboro dead?"

The room fell silent, as if we all collectively searched our minds for an answer. But one of the members that haven't said anything since I saw them, a young man with icy white eyes and dirty blonde hair. His name tag read: Carter Shrine.

"Maybe one of his business partners, maybe I'll visit him on the job and bring him here."

Aizawa turned my head to him.

"Do you work where he works, you can't just barge in and take someone to a supposedly secret organization."

Carter laughed self deprecatingly before standing up and bowing his head, tipping his long top hat.

"I do, but today's my day off."

He stated as he headed out the door and up the long staircase leading into the streets, gas lights dimly illuminated the tiny corridor and the sound of leaking pipes sounded, casting tiny droplets of water onto the stairs, one hitting him on the head.

"I assume Carter's on his way to pick up his supposed business partner?"

Aaron chuckled.

"He probably is, but I have him a grocery list for us, sometimes when we must remain hidden to decipher a really tough case, we're gonna need food."

I chuckled softly, sitting back down at my seat, then my expression faltered slightly, turning to one which was a mix of curiosity and slight concern.

"Any updates on my blood testing?"

Aaron's expression remained that slightly cheerful way after I asked him that, then he nodded.

"Yes, I borrowed some tools from the sample society in my research, and the molecule's in your blood state that your Routeway awakening would be held soon."

I paused.

"Actually..."

I let out a forced grin as I turned to Cattleya.

"We already awakened it."

I could feel Aaron's blood run cold.

"You what?! Kid, first you drank a potion without any knowledge about what it was, now you have awakened it?"

I sagged slightly in my chair, looking down at the ground in a blushed embarrassment.

"I assume Cattleya helped you?"

I nodded slowly, letting out a little vocal sound similar to a whimper.

"Well...I'll need to take you to my office so we can practice controlling it without the help of some stupid potions or whatever."

He walked over to a door and opened it, it led into his office, which didn't have any furniture for some reason, no tables, chairs, etc. It just had a multicolored rug, a bookshelf and lots of candles.

"Come in please."