New York — S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Specialized Corpse Storage Facility
Natasha Romanoff opened one of the cold storage freezers, her expression serious as she turned to Linen beside her.
"You'd better brace yourself," she warned. "This body is... pretty gruesome."
With that, she unzipped the body bag.
Inside lay a mutilated male corpse — pale, mangled, and cut in half at the waist. The skin from his face had been completely peeled off, and on his stitched stomach was a blood-red pentagram drawn in what looked like human blood.
The moment Linen saw it, his brows furrowed deeply.
"I told you it was horrible," Natasha said grimly. "Even the police officers who found him couldn't keep from vomiting."
"The forensics team concluded that he was skinned alive, his limbs cut off, and his waist severed while he was still conscious—"
"His internal organs are missing," Linen interrupted calmly.
Natasha blinked, then gave a small, resigned shrug. "That's right. During the autopsy, the doctors found that all his organs were gone. It reminded me of something out of Hannibal."
"It's a sacrifice," Linen said, pointing at the pentagram etched across the corpse's abdomen. "This is a summoning ritual — one used to call upon the demon Sarato, in exchange for power."
He crouched closer to examine the markings. "But this particular ritual requires nine corpses, all offered on the same day each month at specific locations. How many have been found so far?"
Natasha stared at him, clearly impressed. "This is the fourth body we've received from the NYPD. But how did you know all that… just from the pattern?"
Linen straightened, his tone even. "Aside from my degree in mechanical engineering, I also study a bit of mysticism. Different sacrificial and summoning rituals have their own unique symbols. Those familiar with the craft can tell which entity is being summoned from the design's color and structure."
He traced the faint gaps in the pentagram's outline. "See here — this break in the circle? It means the summoned entity isn't of a very high rank."
Ever since gaining his system and the ability to summon the undead, Linen had studied countless dark and ancient rituals through the Book of the Dead that the system had provided.
Unlike the Darkhold, the Book of the Dead merely described techniques and incantations — it didn't teach corrupting magic or poison the mind of its reader.
Natasha nodded thoughtfully. "Hiring outside help was the right call. S.H.I.E.L.D. has been on this case for nearly three months, and we still haven't found a lead. You figured out more in five minutes."
She turned to him. "What should we do next?"
"Take me to the site where the body was found," Linen said simply.
"No problem."
Natasha gestured to a nearby agent, who quickly opened the car door for them.
The S.H.I.E.L.D. agent driving them to the crime scene was surprisingly chatty, eagerly explaining the details of the investigation along the way.
Linen, however, remained silent — lost in thought.
This job might have started with Natasha's approach, but the commission's real enough, he mused. Besides, I could use the cash. Time to upgrade my car anyway.
As he was thinking, a voice from the car radio broke his focus.
"Good afternoon, everyone. Today marks the final verdict in the Victor Langdon case. The court has ruled Victor Langdon not guilty of molesting a young girl due to insufficient evidence.
A large crowd has gathered outside the courthouse in protest, angered by the decision…"
Linen's gaze shifted from the window to the radio.
And just as the news ended, a familiar system chime rang in his mind.
[Side Quest Activated: Victor Langdon]
[Name: Victor Langdon]
[Crimes: 7 counts of assault and abuse]
[Punishment: Force him to plead guilty and be imprisoned for life!]
[Reward: 1. Instantly enhance one ability. 2. Unlock a deeply hidden secret.]
[Failure Penalty: None.]
Linen frowned.
"System," he asked silently, "shouldn't scum like him be executed? Why only life imprisonment?"
He knew who Victor Langdon was — a serial predator who preyed on minors. The entire city had been disgusted by him when the case broke.
And now he was walking free because of 'insufficient evidence'?
In response, the system displayed the man's full profile.
According to the data, Victor Langdon was an outdoor enthusiast who loved hiking and "communing with nature."
Linen's expression darkened.
"So, for someone who loves freedom more than anything… being locked in prison for life — that's the cruelest punishment of all."
Beside him, Natasha, who had also been listening to the broadcast, glanced at Linen "accidentally."
She knew what that look meant.
She knew who Linen really was — the Judge.
And judging by the serious expression that suddenly settled on his face, she understood instantly: this so-called "innocent" man, Victor Langdon, was about to receive a judgment far beyond human law.
Her fingers hovered over her phone as she drafted a message to Nick Fury, but halfway through typing, she hesitated… then quietly deleted it.
Because deep down, Natasha also wanted that monster to face justice — real justice.
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