"So you are saying… you saw Emris's dad?"
Czar circled his glass of whiskey while his position remained fixed on the chair. Being a corrupt police superintendent —high in rank, yet the most feared—he was always called when "The Blood Sucker" had done something.
But the night before last, he wasn't called, and those who were called were murdered on the spot by Emris.
Czar cut the call while his hands crushed the piece of glass. A smirk played on his lips as he texted, "Location."
Within a second, the location was served.
Not wasting a single second, he picked up his officer's coat and the cigarette packet lying on his table.
"You will see what I'm about to do, Emris."
The door opened, and the vice inspectors stood up upon seeing Czar step out of his room.
All of them were assigned to their positions. Czar lit up his joint, inhaling deeply as he looked at each of them, one by one.
"Follow up. We need to catch Mr. Kang."
"Yes, sir."
The officers quickly moved out, and the police jeep was ready. Czar threw the cigarette on the ground and quickly sat in the front seat beside the driver.
"Fast," he said in a cold tone, and the engine started.
Upon reaching the location, Czar and the other inspectors stepped out and began searching. Czar worked alone while the others searched in pairs.
The area was seized, and officers were spread out. Point-to-point searching began, but there was no trace—as if he already knew they were about to chase him.
The night grew darker. It was 10 p.m., and they were still searching, holding onto the thought, "InshaAllah, we will catch him today."
The clock struck 12 a.m.
Czar and the others gathered in one place. He looked at each of them.
"Go home. Tomorrow, same place, 9 a.m."
Czar lit another cigarette as the others left in the same jeep, while he stood there leaning against a pole.
A manhole was beneath his feet. When he saw no one roaming around the street, he opened the manhole and went inside.
Yes—Mr. Kang was there.
Czar smiled slightly and quickly caught Mr. Kang under his arm before he could move.
"Poor you. You always sent a puppet to help Emris, and today you yourself became the puppet."
Czar continued, "The whole area was seized under operation. Only three manholes are in this area. Poor you—I never ignore manholes."
Czar laughed and took out a gun from his pocket. He let go of Mr. Kang.
"Run."
Mr. Kang was about to run when Czar shot four times in one leg and four times in the other.
"Bingo."
Mr. Kang stood frozen, never imagining this could happen. He fell instantly and began to beg.
"Leave me, please."
Czar was blinded with rage. He took out a knife from his pant pocket and grabbed Mr. Kang's hand, staring darkly into his eyes. He cut off one of his hands.
Mr. Kang screamed as blood dripped from the severed limb.
"Where is Emris? His location," Czar asked once.
Mr. Kang, tears soaking his eyes, shook his head and mouthed, "No."
Czar smirked, ruffled his hair, bent on one knee, and looked into Kang's eyes.
"Fool."
He took out his phone and texted someone: "Pay the price now."
Czar stood up, looking at the manhole.
"Ten minutes, thirty seconds. Twenty-five steps will take them to come down here."
Soon, some men arrived, carrying a hammer. They were masked.
"Boss, your hammer."
One stepped forward and handed the hammer to Czar. Czar took it, his lips forming a pout.
"Kang… what's this?"
Mr. Kang's heart raced as he tried to move backward.
"No… no… Czar, NO!"
The first strike landed on Mr. Kang's head. Blood oozed out like a fountain.
"Good shot, sir," they laughed.
Mr. Kang was dead.
A total of one hundred and thirty-two hammer strikes crushed his body. Czar and the others laughed—only laughter. Czar's face was now covered in blood, blood everywhere—on his body, around him.
Mr. Kang's body was disfigured to the extent that no one would even say that it was a human body—
"This hole is linked to another hole," Czar said, his breath unsteady. He looked at one of the men.
"Let's go. Have you prepared another jeep there?"
"Done, sir," one of them bowed.
They all left.
"Next one is you, Emris," Czar laughed maniacally.
"Elaya."
Ava knocked twice. Elaya was checking her laptop when her ears focused on the door.
"Yes, ava." Elaya smiled, stood up, and opened the door. "You're awake? It's 2 a.m."
Ava leaned against the door with one hand.
Elaya smiled to one side, the dimples at the corners of her mouth becoming visible.
"Eh… um, I was just checking about that Blood Sucker," Elaya said as ava came inside and sat on the bed beside her.
"Don't forget to wear those brown lenses every day."
Ava eyed Elaya, then looked at the laptop on the table near the bed.
"Yes, darling," Elaya smiled, and ava sighed.
"You think we're going to crack this case? We nearly have no suspects until now, except that Louboutin guy."
Ava looked at Elaya, who was fiddling with her fingers. Ava held Elaya's hands in hers.
"Relax," she said. "It's been years—we've solved every criminal case. You forgot our title?"
Ava laughed, and Elaya closed her eyes, mumbling in laughter.
"Which one do you mean, potato girlie?" Elaya laughed softly.
"Yeah, because in that case we caught the criminal while wearing that potato suit."
Ava stood up, sat on the chair, and looked at Elaya's laptop.
"Φθορεύς (Phthoreús) — Destroyer / Corrupter… and Blood Sucker."