The Case of Shadows
It seemed like the Chat Group was more excited about the concept of multiple worlds than I was. Peter and Rose were geeking out about Hinata being a real ninja, while Bruce was, unsurprisingly, silent and calculating. Hinata, on the other hand, was answering their questions with her typical politeness, even though I could sense that she wasn't used to the attention.
My thoughts, though, were elsewhere. I was snapped back into reality by a call from Naomasa.
I swiped my phone and answered, "What's up, Naomasa?"
"There's been another one. A murder. This time, though, it's messier," Naomasa's voice was low, serious. "I need you down here."
The timing couldn't have been worse. I had just unlocked Aizen's powers and wanted to experiment more, but Naomasa wouldn't call unless it was important.
"I'll be there in 20," I replied before hanging up and grabbing my coat. I glanced at the group chat. I'd explain my absence later.
The streets of Musutafu were busy as usual, people bustling about with their normal lives, unaware of the darker undercurrents that ran beneath the city. I, on the other hand, was driving straight for the shady part of town where the murder had taken place. My gun, rested in their holsters under my coat, and my senses were heightened, thanks to Aizen's abilities flowing through me. Even tho I have not fully mastered It.
---
Naomasa was waiting for me at the crime scene. The alley was cordoned off with yellow tape, and a couple of patrol officers stood nearby, looking uneasy.
"What do we have?" I asked as I approached.
Naomasa handed me a tablet with the preliminary report. "Victim is a male, early 30s, unknown identity. No ID found. Cause of death—multiple stab wounds. But here's the catch." He pointed to the body lying in a pool of its own blood. "There's no sign of struggle, and the way the body is positioned… it's like he didn't even resist."
I crouched down, examining the scene. "Either he was too terrified to move, or…" I glanced at Naomasa, "...he was under some sort of illusion or control."
"Exactly," Naomasa said. "We need answers, fast."
"Alright. I'll start asking around," I said, standing up. My mind was already spinning, trying to connect dots that weren't even there yet. With Aizen's powers at my disposal, I could push the interrogation process to a whole new level.
---
My first stop was a run-down bar known for being a hangout spot for low-level thugs and criminals. The kind of place that always had ears to the ground.
I stepped inside, the smell of cheap alcohol and smoke hitting me instantly. A few heads turned my way, but most people ignored me, too engrossed in their own conversations.
I walked up to the bartender, a large man with a scar running down his cheek. "I'm looking for information," I said, sliding a few bills across the counter. "About a murder that happened nearby."
The bartender looked at the money, then at me. "What makes you think I know anything?"
I leaned in closer, my eyes flashing as I tapped into Aizen's power. "Because you do. And you're going to tell me," I whispered, letting my spiritual pressure leak out ever so slightly.
The bartender's face went pale, and his hands shook as he took the money. "I—I don't know much," he stammered. "But I heard some guys talking about a hit. Said it was meant to look like a random murder, but it was for a specific target."
"Who was the target?" I asked, my voice calm but firm.
"I—I don't know. But there's a guy named Kazu. He deals with this kind of stuff. He might know more," the bartender said, nervously glancing around.
"Kazu, huh?" I nodded, pulling back my pressure. "Thanks."
---
Finding Kazu wasn't hard. He was holed up in an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of town, a place that had seen better days. I approached the building quietly, slipping into the shadows, my silent footsteps making no sound.
There were guards outside, but they were no match for me. I summoned a small quantum blade, flicking it with precision. The guards dropped without a sound, their bodies crumpling to the ground. I stepped over them and entered the warehouse.
Inside, Kazu was sitting at a makeshift table, counting money. He didn't even notice me until I was standing right in front of him.
"Who the hell are you?!" he shouted, scrambling to his feet.
I didn't answer. Instead, I released just a bit of my spiritual pressure, enough to freeze him in place. His eyes widened in fear as he struggled to breathe.
"Tell me about the hit," I said calmly, watching him squirm.
"I—I don't know anything!" he gasped, his voice barely a whisper.
I smiled slightly, tapping deeper into Aizen's power. Kazu's surroundings blurred as I trapped him in an illusion, bending reality around him. He was now standing in a field of endless blades, each one pointing at him.
"You do know something," I said, my voice echoing through the illusion. "Tell me, or this will be the last thing you see."
Kazu's face twisted in terror, and he broke. "Alright! Alright! The hit wasn't random!" he screamed. "The guy who got killed—he was a broker for someone big. I don't know who, but they wanted him dead before he could make a deal!"
"What kind of deal?" I asked, maintaining the illusion.
"I don't know the details! All I know is that it involved something huge—money, power, something dangerous. They wanted him out of the way!"
I pulled Kazu out of the illusion, letting reality snap back into place. He collapsed to the floor, panting and shaking.
"Who ordered the hit?" I asked, my voice cold.
"I—I don't know his name. But there's a place… a club. It's where they meet to discuss business. That's all I know, I swear!"
I turned to leave, but before I stepped out, I glanced back at Kazu. "If you're lying, I'll know."
Kazu nodded frantically, too terrified to speak.
---
The club Kazu mentioned was in a more upscale part of town. From the outside, it looked like any normal, high-end establishment, but I knew better. The real business happened behind closed doors.
I entered the club, the dim lighting and soft music creating a relaxed atmosphere. But I wasn't here to relax. I scanned the room, spotting a few shady-looking individuals scattered among the patrons, a perfecrt place for cheap drinks and even cheaper people. This place was a front, a meeting ground for those who operated in the shadows.
I made my way to the back, where a private room was guarded by two burly men. They stepped forward to stop me, but I was faster. With a flick of my wrist, I summoned a quantum blade, and within seconds, both men were down, unconscious.
I entered the room, where a group of men were seated around a table, discussing something in hushed tones. They looked up, startled by my sudden appearance.
"Gentlemen," I said, closing the door behind me. "We need to talk."
---
After a series of intense interrogations, dead ends, and false leads, I finally pieced together the truth. The murder had been ordered by a powerful figure in the underworld, someone who didn't want their secrets exposed. The broker had been silenced before he could reveal critical information, but thanks to Aizen's powers and a little pressure on the right people, I now had a name—a name that would lead me to the person behind it all.
As I walked out of the club, I couldn't help but think about how much easier this case had been with Aizen's powers. His ability to manipulate and deceive had given me an edge I never had before. But it was more than that—I had become a force that no one in this world could ever reckon with.
And this was just the beginning.