Alex sprang up from the chair, the legs scraping loudly against the cold floor.
"Help! Someone! Someone! Guards! Someone's broken in—!"
He shouted hoarsely at the closed door, his trembling finger pointing at the two figures who had suddenly appeared.
Yet neither of them so much as flinched.
Diluc calmly pulled out the chair opposite Alex and sat down, his movements as elegant as if he were in a fine restaurant rather than an interrogation room.
Xiao stood a short distance away, arms crossed, his golden eyes fixed calmly on the panicked boy.
"Help! Can't anyone hear me?!"
After a long while, Alex's shouts grew hoarse with despair.
But not a sound came from beyond the door—as if the entire world had been shut out of the room.
Minutes passed. His cries weakened until, panting heavily, Alex slid back into his chair, his back pressed against the wall. He lowered his head in resignation.
"Fine… I give up. Do whatever you want."
Seeing that he'd finally calmed, Diluc leaned forward. His deep voice echoed in the confined space:
"We're going to ask you a few questions. Answer truthfully—leave nothing out."
"This concerns your life, your safety, and the lives of your classmates and teachers. Think carefully."
An invisible pressure radiated from the two men—more unsettling than the FBI agents' earlier aggression.
Alex nodded nervously, his fingers digging into the edge of the table.
Xiao took a step forward, the faint blue glow of his tattoos visible beneath his sleeve.
"Tell me more about your dream."
His voice was cool and distant, yet carried an eerie, penetrating weight.
Alex looked up abruptly, disbelief flashing across his face. "You… you actually believe me?"
His eyes lingered on Xiao's youthful features and tattooed arms, then darted back with desperate urgency, as if grasping at a lifeline:
"It was so vivid! Right after takeoff, sparks shot out of the left engine—and then the whole wing tore off! The explosion… it turned into a fireball that engulfed everything…"
He spoke faster and faster, terrified that if he paused, they'd dismiss his story like everyone else had.
Two or three minutes later, Alex fell silent.
The room plunged into stillness. The hum of the fluorescent lights buzzed unnaturally loud, underscoring the strangeness of his tale.
Diluc tapped his long, slender fingers lightly on the table, his crimson eyes locked onto the boy.
"Do you have any clues about this precognitive dream? Or… has anything like this happened to you before?"
Alex shook his head quickly, twisting his fingers together. "No—absolutely not! I don't know why I had it, or why this… ability showed up in me."
His voice cracked with helplessness. "Before this, I was just an ordinary high school student. I've never experienced anything this strange!"
Xiao exchanged a glance with Diluc, then stepped closer.
Beneath the lamplight, his golden eyes shimmered with depth as he asked:
"Do you often study history? Or do you collect antiques… minerals, perhaps?"
Alex hesitated, thinking carefully before answering:
"I'm not really into history, but I do read books about the occult. And if I find interesting antiques, I'll pick them up…"
His voice trailed off. His face paled slightly as realization struck. "You… you think my hobby might be the cause?"
Xiao gave a small, emotionless shake of his head. His dark green hair swayed faintly with the motion.
"It's not certain yet. But it's a direction worth exploring."
Diluc rose, the hem of his crimson coat tracing an elegant arc through the air.
"Next, we'll need to search your house—your books, your collections. You—"
"Absolutely! No problem!" Alex cut in, eyes brightening with renewed hope. "I'll cooperate fully—anything that helps figure this out."
The fear in his gaze had vanished, replaced by something like relief—almost dependence—as if he'd found an anchor in the storm.
He opened his mouth to thank them—then froze.
He didn't even know who they were.
His eyes flicked to Diluc's striking red hair and coat… and suddenly widened.
"Wait—red hair… that coat…"
As if struck by lightning, Alex pointed at Diluc, voice trembling with awe:
"You… you're Night Owl—the hero of the night?!"
Though phrased as a question, his tone was certain. His eyes sparkled like those of a fan meeting an idol.
Lately, all of New York had been whispering about the elusive vigilante in red who hunted criminals under cover of darkness—and Alex was one of his most ardent admirers.
Diluc's brow furrowed slightly, clearly disliking the childish nickname. He opened his mouth to correct him—then stopped.
Instead, he said quickly, "Remember this: when the FBI agents return, don't tell them we were here."
No sooner had the words left his lips than the iron door creaked open.
The two agents strode back in, faces grim, and slammed their folder onto the table with a sharp crack.
Alex glanced up instinctively—then stared in shock.
Diluc and Xiao were gone.
Completely vanished. As if they'd never been there.
Only Alex and the two agents remained. No trace of the other two lingered—not a footprint, not a whisper.
"What's wrong?" the younger agent asked, frowning at Alex's pale, stunned expression. "You look like you've seen a ghost."
Alex snapped back to himself, recalling Diluc's warning. He ducked his head quickly.
"N-nothing. Just… tired."
The a
gents exchanged a skeptical glance—but didn't press further. They simply sat and reopened their interrogation files.
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