The door almost exploded as he was wallowing in self pity but he didn't flinch. He already knew who it was.
Susan barged in holding even more folders, more frantic eyes, and more conspiracy glucose than Naruto's boredom-meditating neurons could handle for breakfast.
He just got back from an awful date and unfortunately right now he doesn't have the strength to deal with Susan.
"Naruto!"
Naruto cracked open a single eye lid. Sounding unconcerned. "You guys don't respect doors."
"You don't respect investigations!" Susan instantly shot back. She dropped the folders on the table before continuing. "I've tracked Damien's connections and…"
She froze when she saw Purgatory strapped to his back nonetheless, even while lounging. "Why is the murder sword on your back while you're in sweatpants?"
He grinned lazily. "It respects the investigation more than doors do."
Ah he forgot to mention that he took this bad boy with him on the date. She thought it was a cosmetic which looked cool. However, she did said that it creeped her out.
Susan just stared. No matter how many times she's e had seen it that sword also made her skin crawl. It was a blasphemy to the word sword.
"Anyway! I've traced his cult network to Vie de Marli. We're not talking about just soul residue anymore. The pattern is spreading and I believe his final words hinted toward something larger tied to that city."
Naruto finally sat up, eyes both calm and suddenly serious. Mid-twenties maturity kicked like steel grate locking his nerves into place.
"Vie de Marli?" Naruto murmured. Repeating the name in his head. What is it with demons and islands?
Susan nodded vigorously. "Yes. I don't know how deep, but…"
Kurama whispered low in his mind, not interrupting, but sharp and grounded "Sounds like trouble. Finally something for your lazy ass to do"
"What else did you find out?" Naruto questioned, ignoring the entity in his head. This was starting to remind him of mallet island. Unfortunately there is no Dante to assist him this time.
"Not much." Susan shrugged. She opened one of the folders and started taking out pictures for Naruto to see. All I know is that the cult is located on an island. A lot of shady activities have been reported happening on the island"
The city was a coastal kingdom-state known for ancient art, fragile infrastructure, and citizens who could feel earthquakes through their bones and guilt through myth. It was the very city that would later become central to major demonic outbreaks in the looming events Naruto didn't know were weeks away.
Naruto blinked. "The same place you traced for demonic spikes?"
Susan nodded. "I've read reports of a cult-like gathering there. Strange aristocratic funding. Ritual residue. And missing innocents. Damien was just the mouthpiece of a bigger ambition, Naruto. Whoever is running that network is preparing to pull a move that could shift the entire world balance." She leaned forward and tapped one particular line in the file. "One international informant claims the cult refers to itself as… 'The Order of Ascension.' They worship a demon-king ideal. They believe sacrifice is currency and souls are bricks for their empire."
Naruto exhaled, rubbing the back of his head. "Of course they do."
Naruto nodded and stood, pacing to the window to stare at the people passing by then turned around to look at her with genuine jackal-grade calm. "Anyone who calls sacrifice 'innovation' has political ambitions with demonic funding."
Susan groaned. "Sometimes I think I'm funding the private detective equivalent of apocalypse prevention."
Naruto grinned wryly. "You're funding the apartment equivalent of demon eviction."
Susan flipped open the first folder: photographs of underground training tunnels beneath stadium foundations like labyrinth veins. The symbols were apparently carved in chalk circles then scorched in demonic pressure. No bodies, but ash piles organized too neatly. Something was being trained, not just summoned.
"Do demons train recruits in secrecy?" Susan asked.
Naruto nodded. "Only recruits meant to outlive expendability."
Next folder came with missing persons reports marked "night training" or "fitness club membership" and redlined meeting times after midnight. Always midnight, always the witching hour where souls were cheapest. People walked in groups. People never walked out. Susan had testified at least eight survivors claimed there were "red porta, I mean lights in the sky" before vanishing.
Naruto frowned. He only felt the pattern:
Human victims selected. Demon residue polished.
Final folder showed foreign finance documents; shell companies routing funding through aristocratic bloodlines. One single document showing suspicious shipping manifests to an offshore port near Vie de Marli. The goods listed weren't weapons, but "ceremonial goods, sacred artifacts, candles, decorative skulls for holiday festivities" Curtained language. The same kind of curtain the city used to mask demonic reality.
"Politicians love curtains," Naruto said.
"And demons use them like capes," Susan added.
"Well then I better get going then" Naruto said as he got up to prepare. Susan saw this as her cue to leave so she threw a "be careful" at him before walking out the door.
It only took Naruto half an hour to get everything ready. He strapped Purgatory to his back and put limbo in the holster inside his black coat and passport in his breast pocket. Although he was a devil hunter, in front of others he could only play the role of a cosplayer.
He walked out the door only to stumble upon Henry.
"Oh Mr. Naruto, good afternoon. I didn't see you there"
"Henry you are back from school already" Naruto asked with a raised eyebrow.
Henry shook his head and said. "It's the weekend. I don't have school. Where are you going? Henry asked glancing at the sword on Naruto's back. Naruto won't leave the house with it unless he was and he quote going to a comic event.
"I've got an event to attend and I won't back for at least a week, so take care of the place" Naruto lightly tap on Henry's shoulder before walking off. It wasn't he first time Henry was acting as an house keeper for him. And honestly speaking the kid was good at it.
Henry stared at Naruto as he board a taxi and left.
"Mr. Naruto can be weird sometimes"
Henry shook his head and was about to enter the apartment when a voice called out to him.
"Excuse me"
He halted, then slowly turned around to see a beautiful lady that left him speechless.
"…I am looking for one private investigator, his name is Naruto. Have you heard of him?"
If Naruto was present right now he probably wouldn't believe his eyes, because the person standing there right now was completely different from the one in his memories.