Chapter 197: Unasnwered Thoughts
The Lieutenant's question about the hair color of the assailant seemed to stem from a theory he was forming. However, Yun Jin's response, "No, he had a hood on, and it all happened so quickly," indicated that the assailant had taken measures to conceal his identity, adding to the mystery of the situation.
Her attention then shifted to the unusual sword in the Lieutenant's hand. "What is that in your hand? I haven't seen a sword like that before. Why is the middle empty like that?" she inquired, her curiosity piqued by the unique weapon.
The Lieutenant, momentarily diverting his attention from the conversation, walked over to inspect Ty's wound. "That is a great question," he mused, observing the wound's rapid healing. "It seems the injection the nurse gave you is having a strong effect. It usually doesn't heal this fast," he noted as the hole in Ty's shoulder burned closed, albeit slowly.
Ty, feeling the pain despite the healing, groaned, "Well, it still hurts like hell." His discomfort was evident, but the remarkable healing process was a point of interest, hinting at the advanced medical technologies or magical interventions at their disposal.
The Lieutenant, with a sense of urgency, handed the sword to Ty. "This is yours. You left it at the hotel when you heard the screaming and rushed out, forgetting your sword. Don't let it happen again, okay young man?" he said, giving Ty a slight nudge. Ty, caught off guard, could only muster a surprised, "Huh, uhh, sure."
Yun Jin, feeling sidelined in the conversation, interjected with a mix of frustration and authority. "Well, what is with the sword anyway?" she demanded, placing her hands on her hips. "I don't like to be ignored!" she added, her tone reflecting her irritation.
The Lieutenant, acknowledging her frustration but prioritizing the situation at hand, responded, "For another time, young lady. For now, let's get these body parts cleaned up and collect the dead. I'll get my cousin back to his resting quarters, and from there, we can devise a plan of action moving forward."
The Lieutenant's assessment of the situation carried a sense of gravity. "Whatever that man did before he died wasn't human in nature, and it will require a higher council meeting. But for now," he said with a stern expression, "keep tonight's events under wraps. We can't allow panic to spread."
Yun Jin, her curiosity evident, inquired about the mysterious bag. "And what of the bag?"
The Lieutenant advised caution. "Don't open it right now, as it's not our immediate priority. Just have it kept in the investigation department. If that man was willing to blow himself up, who's to say the bag isn't a trap?" He paused, deep in thought, before adding, "I was thinking about his pathing.
It seemed random at first, but then I realized it's the most direct route to the Castle Sect, where the King and his Royal Guard are located."
Yun Jin, contemplating the situation, acknowledged the gravity of the Lieutenant's observations. "I see, well, that does complicate matters, but we must avoid jumping to conclusions. Rest assured, I'll ensure everything here is properly managed, and the full report will be sent to Police Headquarters. The General will have a copy waiting in his office," she assured them, her professionalism evident.
The Lieutenant nodded in approval. "Sounds good. We'll be on our way then, Young Yun Jin," he said, preparing to leave.
Yun Jin, slightly irked by his choice of words, quickly corrected him. "I'm not young, you know. I'm already 22 years old! Just call me Lady Jin or the Great Yun Jin, Old Man Lt.," she retorted with a playful edge to her voice.
The Lieutenant couldn't help but respond in kind, a hint of humor in his tone. "Hey, I'm not that old yet. I was just blessed with nice silver hair," he quipped back.
The playful exchange between Yun Jin and the Lieutenant continued, with her teasing him about his age. "Yeah right, you'll be like 35 by the end of the Blue Sun year," she joked, then quickly added, "We'll jest later, and who knew you'd have a cute cousin?" With that, she hurried off to attend to her duties.
Ty, who had been quietly observing their interaction, was taken aback. "For a tragic disaster that just unfolded, you all seem rather relaxed about it. And did she really just call me cute? She literally put an arrow through my hand and tried to kill me like four times," he remarked, still processing the recent events and their seemingly casual aftermath.
The Lieutenant, bursting into laughter, offered his perspective. "Well, death is just to be expected, even when it's someone you love and care about. You just have to accept it and move forward," he said philosophically. "People don't really die when they leave this world. They die when the influence they left fades away."
The Lieutenant nodded at Ty's reflection, offering a bit of wisdom. "So even the men and women lost tonight are to be celebrated in us being in high spirits, if that makes sense, Demon Boy."
Ty, pondering this new perspective, placed a finger under his chin. "That makes sense, I suppose. I never saw it from that angle. I think I almost lost my mind when I saw that stranger die earlier. It's not something I'm used to seeing," he admitted. His thoughts then shifted to the fairy, "But, huh, how is the fairy doing, by the way?
She seems to always lay low."
"Good question," the Lieutenant replied, reaching into his shirt pocket to carefully pull out the fairy. "Hey, how are you doing, fairy girl?"
Blinking her eyes open, the fairy let out a small yawn. "Good, what did I miss?" she asked, seemingly unaware of the events that had just unfolded.
As they made their way back, the streets were eerily quiet, a stark contrast to the earlier chaos. Ty noticed small faces peering down at them from the windows of the buildings towering above. The sight of children and adults watching from high up sparked his curiosity.
"These aren't the normal housing areas for people, are they?" Ty asked, his eyes scanning the buildings.
The Lieutenant shook his head. "No, these are mostly business establishments that drive the economy of the inner kingdom," he explained, his tone indicating a deep familiarity with the area.
Ty, still looking up at the windows, wondered aloud, "Oh, I just saw some kids looking down from some of the buildings and was a bit curious about why they would be above the stores?"