Chapter 9: The Drifting Butterflies

"Unit One, calling Unit Two."

"Report of a fire and explosion at Mansion Hill."

"Emergency services are on their way to inspect."

"Please provide your statements to the police."

"Understood," Phak responded, and everyone looked at Nick and Night.

The two brothers exchanged glances and turned their faces away...

And both siblings turned their faces back that night... During the fire and explosion incident on the hill near the Mansion estate, a profound fear gripped the community. The police had to step in to investigate and probe the events unfolding on this once tranquil and peaceful island.

At the site of the incident, on the picturesque hillside of Mansion Hill, which had been a beautiful and fascinating place along the coastline, turned into a place of calamity. The fire, explosions, and flooding transformed everything as if a once pristine flower had been mercilessly trampled, leaving nothing good behind.

The beauty was destroyed and rendered valueless. It went from being a beautiful island to a hellish landscape on earth. The demons seemed to have stomped and reiterated until no beauty remained. Everything had to be cleansed with water to wash away the blood from what had occurred.

The pure water reservoirs from the mountains, once bursting with clarity, were now used to cleanse and wash away everything that had happened, sinking it into the depths of the sea.

"Ringtone."

The ringing of the police office mobile phone echoed loudly. Colonel Jirachote, a high-ranking officer, picked up the call: (receiving some information from the caller) Do you have any additional details? I see... um... understood. I will inform the investigation team leader.

Jirachote: Sir, there's been a fire and explosion incident at the hill at the end of the island near Mansion. There are casualties and losses, and the surrounding area has been severely damaged by the explosion!

Pradit: (typing on the computer) Finally, let's go there. Everyone, get ready.

Jirachote: Understood, sir.

The officer hurried out of the room and headed towards the scene. As he arrived at the Mansion hill where the incident occurred, he encountered the task force already at work, trying to control the aftermath.

Operational Officer: Hello, sir. I'm the operational officer sent here to manage the situation. The fire and explosion incident has caused extensive damage, with numerous casualties. Currently, there's no clear answer about what happened. All evidence has been washed away by the flowing water from the high hills down to the sea, making the investigation challenging. Additionally, the previous disasters that were anticipated have made the search and investigation more difficult and complex. We're currently gathering information from other villagers, and we'll keep you updated.

  Jirachote: And the flooding, explosion, and water flow, are they connected?

Operational Officer: We're not sure ourselves. We're still in the process of collecting evidence. It's challenging to explain based on evidence, principles, and hypotheses. However, the explosion is calculated to have the potential to destroy large water reservoirs and generate enough water to wash away various pieces of evidence from the incident site. There might be something intentionally hidden or lost from this place.

  Jirachote: (typing notes on the phone) It seems like the truth remains a mystery. This incident requires us to delve deeper into the investigation. What do we have at the moment?

Operational Officer: From our operations, we have conducted a survey of the incident area and searched for evidence. We found only debris from small explosions and pieces that are currently being reconstructed, making the investigation challenging. The difficulty lies in the fact that various pieces of evidence are lost and submerged in the sea, making it challenging to trace and requiring a reasonable amount of time. Currently, we haven't found crucial clues. We'll keep you informed and provide further reports as the investigation progresses.

Back at the police station,

  Pradit: (typing notes on the computer) Is this kind of event for real?

  Jirachote: Yes, sir. It seems the damage is more severe than anticipated. This could be recorded as a historical event but might be manipulated into a government secret.

Piphat: Correct, sir. The explosion caused flooding, making overland travel difficult. Everything is delayed—storm coming in, explosion happening, evidence disappearing. Moreover, crucially, our investigation unit is linked to that location.

  Jirachote: Let it be. They're still under a curse, aren't they? But what we know now is that the explosion wasn't accidental. The destruction of the water source was planned.

  Jirachote: (looking distressed) I agree. Is it possible that both nature and this incident were planned to occur simultaneously? The storm and the disaster were predicted in advance.

  Piphat: Updating you, sir. We found a charred body, one casualty. We're waiting for confirmation from the forensic team. It will take several days for detailed information, including the time of death. We need more clarity on whether it happened before or after the explosion.

Pradit: We should dig deeper for additional information about the event and individuals involved. This is not an ordinary case, and it relies on our experience.

Piphat: The forensic team sent evidence images, and some pieces resemble animal hides designed to be masks. We found a burned body with traces of nitroglycerin. It's dynamite, sir.

  Pradit: Playing big, just like them. Does having dynamite mean they intend to explode the island?

Piphat: Updating, sir. We found a body that was burned. Nitroglycerin was detected; it's dynamite, sir.

Pradit: We need to check more information. We might have to investigate the history of the masks from the local community.

Jirachote: Yes, sir. We may have to examine the stories and probabilities related to the incident and start investigating the locals who know the most about this island.

Pradit: Correct, we should go search for answers.

Pradit: There might be criminals involved or some underlying motivations related to both incidents. Is there any information about people who might be connected to this case?

Jirachote: If the information from the past records is all gone, we only have government information, which is top-secret. Currently, there's not enough information to conclude if anyone is involved in this incident.

Piphat: (typing information on the computer) Yes, sir. We should start by questioning potential witnesses who might have seen the events or have crucial information. They are a group of young male tourists, one male caretaker, and two grandchildren of the resort owner. One of them reported a missing person to us!!!!

Pradit: (writing on paper) What about the evidence found at the incident site? Does it link back to them?

Piphat: No, sir.

Pradit: (tilting his head) Hmmm. The condition of the burned body, the incident site, natural disasters, and the four witnesses from the beach. Piphat!!!! (referring to Sergeant Piphat) Bring them in. We will question them to gather information. They may not be involved, but we might get crucial information...

Investigation at the police station The investigation room was filled with bright light from the large, slightly open window that allowed a hint of sunlight to enter. The atmosphere was dense and cramped. The room was equipped with gray tables used for checking identification cards and relevant documents for the investigation.

In the middle of the room, a table was prepared as a suitable working area for the detectives. There was a personal computer with a large monitor and a keyboard used for investigation and report writing, facilitating quick access to information, evidence, and other data.

The edge of the table serves as a document filing shelf containing crucial investigation records systematically arranged for easy access and reference. Special telecommunication and computer equipment used to communicate with other agencies and transmit important data is also present in the investigation room. This setup facilitates swift and efficient communication during the investigation. The atmosphere in the investigation room may be tense due to the mysterious and perplexing nature of the incident under scrutiny.

Subject 1: Night

  Jirachot: Hello, Night. Thank you for joining us today for this conversation. We're here to inquire about the incident at the Mansion  Hill. What did you witness on the day of the incident?

Night: Yes, sir. On that day, I saw a fire at Mansion San Hill. It turned into bright light and high smoke from a distance.

Jirachot: Did you see anyone or anything in the area when the incident occurred?

Night: I didn't see anyone in that area because the fire spread rapidly.

Jirachot: (Recording on the computer) Thank you, Night. How close were you to the incident when it happened?

Night: I was far from the incident. When I saw the fire spreading rapidly, I quickly left the area.

Jirachot: (Typing notes) Do you have any additional information about individuals or places near the area that might be related to this incident?

Night: No, sir. I'm here to see the resort that your niece built. I take care of tourists and don't know many people in this area.

Subject 2: Nick

Piphat: After the fire, the explosion occurred. Can you estimate the time gap between them?

Nick: About 2-3 hours, sir. You should have this information. (Nick looks annoyed, having called the police station but received no response)

Piphat: What happened to you before the explosion?

Nick: After the storm subsided, there was a fire in the nearby forest. We had to evacuate from our shelter, thinking it was a forest fire. The fire spread rapidly, so we came out to the beach. We saw a boat being washed ashore. The storm calmed down, allowing us to board the boat. We didn't hesitate to leave the area.

Piphat : How far was your boat from the beach when the incident happened?

Nick: About 2-3 kilometers, sir.

Piphat : Did you hear the explosion from that distance?

Nick: Yes, sir. After boarding the boat and moving to a safe distance, we heard a loud explosion. Yes, at Mansion Hill, there were explosions. We have never seen or experienced anything like this before.

Piphat : What about the flooding around your area?

Nick: Definitely, sir. I saw the forest water flowing in large quantities. People in the community were trying to find a way out, but it seemed unlikely they would escape being swept into the sea. Fortunately, we went out to the higher mountainside to find safety.

Piphat : Do you have any information about people or a group of people who might be involved in these events?

Nick: When the incident hadn't happened yet, I worked as a resort controller. I didn't know many people. Mainly tourists, sir. As I said, we only came out after the storm subsided, and we encountered a forest fire. It was just us, sir, at that time.

Piphat : You were the one who reported the missing person to us, right?

Nick: Uh, yes, sir. But you guys didn't care about us. Now that this incident has happened, we managed to survive. What else do you want from us? Why didn't you help find my brother back then?! We're now sitting here answering these stupid questions.

Piphat : Stay calm, please. I apologize for the officer who took your case that day; he might be missing as well. There might be a connection between him and the incident area.

Oops! (Nick, startled and looking around for a moment)

Piphat : Is everything okay? Nick: Okay, sir. Just a little shocked. (Almost slipped away) Nick, who is in his thoughts.

Subject 3: Park

Piphat : How many hours did it take for you to escape from the forest? Phak: 2-3 hours, sir.

Piphat : We heard from you when the disaster was approaching.

Phak: Yes, sir. It happened because I got lost in the forest, causing Nick and Night to search for me. The storm and rain kept us stuck in the forest.

Piphat : Why did you go outside like that?

Phak : I was trying to build a makeshift trail for jungle trekking in this island without realizing the danger.

Piphat : Hmm. Can you tell us what happened there, at Mansion Hill?

Phak : I don't know, sir. We had to escape from the rushing forest water; there was no time to observe anything.

Piphat : So, where did you all go to hide?

Phak : We hid near the hill, with a forested area. We heard loud noises and saw fires roaring. After that, shortly after we got on the boat and left the beach, there was another loud noise.

Piphat : Do you know the exact location where you all stayed?

Phak: I'm not sure, sir, honestly. Nobody knows for sure. During that time, it was chaotic.

Subject 4: Lilly

Piphat : You're here. Are you a tourist?

Lilly: Yes, I am.

Piphat : How did you meet them?

Lilly: I stayed at the beach, not far from where we met. At that time, I followed a man. Before I saw him go outside, I... followed him. After following him, I encountered the storm that swept in, and the pouring rain trapped me in that forest with him.

Piphat : Hmm, this one won't be recorded, okay?

...When the results of forensics and legal medicine came out.

Legal Medicine Officer: They harmed each other, sir. We found some toxins from them, which we examined. As for the bodies outside the perimeter, they were stabbed with sharp objects in several places. Some parts of the bodies were burned, and we couldn't identify the individuals. Inside, not far from the incident, we found one body. It's a Joseph, stabbed in the heart, with a mysterious devil mask and red flowers. He seems to have been murdered, sir.

Piphat : A devil mask!!!! Thank you so much for the information.

Piphat : (typing on the computer) In the history, Joseph is over 200 years old!!!! A Frenchman who came to this island and went missing. He has been here for a long time, arrived in 1836. Just die already, boss. What kind of madness is this? It's beyond our limits. How could this happen?  Pradit: Hmmm.

Pipat: Can we investigate them?

Pradit: It's okay. These kids are victims. This matter probably has nothing to do with them.

Pipat: But I'm worried about this case... the government is paying a lot of attention to it.

Pradit: Yes, a little more and the case will slip away from us.

[Cut to the investigation room]

Piphat : Okay, no problem. Do you guys know this man?

[Shows a picture of Joseph 1836]

Phak: I don't know him.

Nick: He looks familiar. He goes in and out of the resort often.

Night: He's the guy at the manor, right?

Lilly: I'm not sure.

Piphat : And this is his corpse. (Shows a partial picture of Joseph's corpse)

Phak: What's next?

Nick: What do you want me to see? (Makes a puzzled face)

Night: Gods, who did this to him?

Lilly: What happened to him?

Phak: We shouldn't know this information, guys. It affects our mental state.

While investigating, a butterfly suddenly flies to the window of the investigation room and enters, heading towards Phak's left hand.

Phak: Officers, do you see this butterfly? It's beautiful. It likes flowers, and these flowers are irresistible.

Pradit: There are no flowers here.

Phak: It flew to me. (While the lieutenant is writing notes)

Phak: Can I play with this butterfly?

Pradit: Um, as you wish.

Phak: How much longer until we can go home? We want to go home.

Before the officer's face could express concern about what Phak said...

"Ringtone"

Pradit: Hello. (The caller from the other end shows a worried face before looking at the police officers)

Pradit: Okay... got it.

BANG! The sound of the door from the investigation room.

Pradit: Stand at attention! Major General Jirachot and Detective Pipat.

Pradit: You can let them go.

Piphat and Major General Jirachot: What's going on?

Pradit: Let them go!

Phak: (nodding) If I have more information in the future, I'll contact the police station. (Smiles strangely at his butterfly)

Piphat : This kid is strange.

Nick: Good luck with your investigation.

Piphat  and Major General Jirachot: ...

Piphat : Why did you let them go?

Pradit: A mysterious call from the Ministry of Magic told us to release them. They will be monitored for a year. If there's any trouble, they'll handle it themselves. Understand?

Piphat : Wait a minute, boss!

Pradit: We have no authority now. What evidence do we have? Moreover, those people have been biting and lurking around this island for a long time. Many people have disappeared. Besides, the evidence we have might not be believed.

Piphat : They might have some information.

Pradit : Ignore it. Our reputation and this cursed island are entrusted to us. Confirm it and move on. The government is stepping in. If all four of them become dangerous witnesses, the secret agency will handle them on their own...