Chapter 71 - Collecting Pieces of the Puzzle

As the head doctor of the medical department, Dr. Apollo Onasis has the privilege of choosing his patients. And right from the start, the doctor's attention was already focused on the surviving victim from Claire's mass murder. The victim was identified as Ross Dietricht, he was only a rookie in the special troop when Claire tried to kill him.

Several months have already passed when the victim have fallen into a coma, now the doctor and the others patiently wait for him to wake up.

"...his vital signs have improved significantly! Mr. Dietricht might wake up from his coma soon." He declared.

They were all discussing about Ross Dietricht's circumstances in Dr. Onasis's office, and the medical staff were thrilled by the news. The news have also spread fast like wild fire, getting others delighted knowing that when Ross Dietricht awakens, the imprisoned traitor known as Claire Duvent will finally receive her deserving punishment.

At the head doctor's office, Dr. Onasis talks with his assistant Atsuko Tachibana regarding a case he's been investigating by himself. "The case of corpses with disappearing internal organs have remained unsolved and had been left as a mystery after the war at the eastern coast have began." Dr. Onasis frowns at the fact of the authorities' negligence for the case.

"They can't spare some time solving it when there's war, doc. It's up to us to solve this." Said Atsuko. She sat comfortably on the sofa while checking some documents.

"I know." He nods. "But there's already one obvious thing I can point out that just might solve the mystery behind this case."

"Huh, you mean you know who's culprit behind this!?"

"I couldn't confirm this yet, so I'm not sure. But if I were to pin it on this person without any evidence, it would look like I'm trying to put all the things to blame on that person to get this over with, OR!—" he then raises his right index finger, pointing at Atsuko. "—I could be right with my hunch!"

"Then who can this person be?"

"...Claire Duvent. The case of the corpses with disappearing organs stopped when the war at the easter coast began, and she was even caught murdering E.D.L. soldiers. It might be her... no, I know that it 'is' her. I just need evidence to prove that it's her!"

Atsuko nods to agree with him. "If that's the case, I'll do the best I can to support you doc." She then smiled, clearly putting all her faith and trust on Dr. Onasis because she's his avid supporter on everything he do.

"That's very much appreciated, Ms. Atsuko." The doctor replied.

"If you don't mind me asking, is the reason why you chose Mr. Dietricht as your patient because he's connected to Claire Duvent?"

"Yes, he's my only hope so that I can get access to questioning Claire Duvent. It's difficult getting in the Central District, much more if I try to visit the suspect herself there." Dr. Onasis then recalls the times when he requested to visit Claire Duvent, only to get rejected again and again. "So if Mr. Dietricht wakes up, I can make a request him to bring me along to witness Claire Duvent's trial and possibly, execution."

Atsuko tilts her head. "Execution!? If she's going to die on spot, then how will you get the evidence before they completely kill her?"

"THAT!... I don't know of..." both of their spirits crushed by that instant defeat. "Damn it! If only the authorities would allow me to question Duvent myself, then I might just bring justice to those she killed. We can't let her get away with it even if she's going to die anyway!"

"But how!?" Atsuko exclaimed.

"Err... I'll think of a way... hopefully an idea pops into my head." Dr. Onasis said with crossed fingers.

Even if his hunch were right on spot, the case he was investigating was a lost cause and remained a mystery. Authorities declared it as some sort of mysterious phenomena due to lack of time for investigation when the war at the eastern coast happened.

Still, Dr. Onasis and his assistant clings to hope in bringing justice to the poor victims and the family they left behind. If only there's a way for Dr. Onasis to get in contact with Claire Duvent, maybe then, he'd be able to solve the case.

"Say, maybe there 'is' a way to talk with Claire Duvent. But how will you prove that she did it? The way how the victim's organs disappeared happened on an unimaginable process." Atsuko pointed.

With his hands tapping on his desk, Dr. Onasis explains his hypothesis. "Well, I came up with an idea on how it happened when I've heard the details of the latest report from the battle at the eastern coast. They said I.E.A. created a modified war machine that would endlessly strike at anything and sustains itself by consuming corpses that fell prey to its attacks."

Atsuko felt uncomfortable hearing the news. "S-Sustain itself by eating corpses!? The I.E.A. are freaks!! How can they make such a thing!!... though, how does that connects to Claire Duvent?"

"War machines are actually created from shifter seeds, and those seeds are also the things that they implant on fighters from the special troop. That would mean that the shifter weapon has the ability to transform into anything beyond our imagination! Even tools that can harvest internal organs without leaving a trace!!"

His explanation impressed Atsuko. "Ohh!!"

"And thus! I've thought of the possible conditions to determine and identify our damn perpetrator! First, of course, our perpetrator must belong from the Special Infantry Troop, and that's because they possess shifter weapons!"

Atsuko nods as she listens to the doctor.

"Secondly, the perpetrator must be someone that is caught in the act of murdering fellow E.D.L.. So who can it possibly be!?" Dr. Onasis asked the obvious question.

And Atsuko replied with the obvious answer, completely understanding how Dr. Onasis deduced who the perpetrator of the case is. "...Claire Duvent!"

"Precisely!! Now all that's left is to have that woman confess to her crimes!!"

"But how!?" She exclaimed yet again.

"THAT!... I still don't know." And they were back to the dark corner. "Ughh!! If only there's a way!!" Dr. Onasis muttered, running his hand through his thinning hair.

Suddenly, a soldier barged in. "Excuse me! Dr. Apollo Onasis?"

"O-Oh! Yes, what is it?" The presence of the young man startled the two.

"A presence of a high rate doctor is required! It's said to be an urgent summon."

Dr. Onasis sighs and got up from his seat. "Where to? I'll send one of my men right away."

"The Central District, specifically the Central District Prison." The soldier answered.

Both Dr. Onasis and Atsuko quickly looked at each other, their eyes instantly brimming with hope. "This is it!" They both exclaim in unison.