Minute by minute, the unapparent tension thickened as I felt the particle content of the wind increase. I could tell the Returner was going up and down the train cars and was presently only one away from ours, but I still didn’t act.
’If the jig is up, then it’s up; I will burn my identity and head back to Manchester on foot to destroy the video footage of my face. Not to mention, I’ll have to retire Cal and only use him as a figurehead for the books.’ Careful to hide my actions from sight, I placed my dagger into the backpack, causing it to immediately sag from the weight before setting the pack down on the chair to my right, slightly open enough where I’d be able to reach in quickly to grab my weapon, and waited.
The Returner still hadn’t entered my ring of perception, so that meant I couldn’t identify any of their physical characteristics. Still, with the increase of particles in the air, I could roughly estimate that it would only be a few more minutes until they were on our train car, scanning the room we had occupied.
With the impending collision drawing near, I took out a bottle full of particle water and began chugging it; since he would feel my PC anyway, it didn’t matter anymore if I increased the count and temporarily increased my stats to their maximum.
With my reserves topped off, I leaned over and did something I should have done the moment we got on the train; I swiftly chopped the back of Vincent’s neck, rendering him unconscious, and laid his body down in such a way that he appeared to be using my backpack as a pillow, further hiding its contents from plain sight.
Swoom Thunk….tap…tap…tap…tap
’There’s the door, and damn, they’ve got some heavy footsteps.’ Looking straight ahead, I picked up movement in my perception ring and was able to recognize that the Returner, a man in his late 20s, had a fairly bulky build, kind of like a weight lifter or Heavy Weight MMA fighter, which was ironic because he was clearly a Mage Type and not a Warrior.
Tap…tap…tap…knock knock knock.
’Heh, here we go; he locked in on me the moment he entered the Train Car, a little strange that he opted to knock instead of entering unannounced.’ Rolling my eyes, I continued looking straight ahead and then spoke.
"Enter; there is no point hiding anymore as you’ve already located me with your Skill."
Click…shooom,
Hearing my response, the man turned the handle of the Business class train cabin door and opened it without haste before stepping into our cabin.
"Heh, well, that’s interesting. To what do I owe the pleasure, Inspector Desmond Slater." Turning my head in the man’s direction, I didn’t show any outward reaction to the man I had recognized and instead acted as if nothing was out of the ordinary.
My use of not only his title but also his name caused the bulky man’s footfall to cease as his body tensed for only a fraction of a second before finishing his step and scanning me from top to bottom with his skill.
"Not gonna bother with keeping up the façade?" He asked in a gruff voice before motioning toward the seats opposite of me and facing my direction.
"May I?" he asked.
"What’s the point of me saying no? It’s not like I could stop you either way; after all, you’re what, four times my size?" With a slight smirk, I nodded, allowing Inspector Slater to sit facing me.
"Come now, we both know that isn’t true; size matters little when stats are factored into the equation, and from the feedback my Aero-Scan is giving me, you are more than formidable for your age and size." Crossing one leg over the other, Inspector Slater leaned back in the velvety plush chair while speaking as if he were in complete control of the situation.
"Be that as it may, what has brought you to me today, Inspector, I doubt someone of your former standing would come hunting me down so willy-nilly out of the blue." Feeling my left eye twitch ever so slightly, I, too, leaned back and confronted the man.
I knew that I had to play my cards right, or else the result would be chaotic and annoying to deal with, so I decided to play…
"Playing dumb won’t get you anywhere, Kid," as if reading my mind, Inspector Slater chuckled and shook his head.
"I know you were in Hyde, and I know you had a hand in the death of Harlow Sheffield, neither of which I care about. The question I want answers to is whether you killed the innocent security guards, stole the drugs, mainframes, and archive files, then lit the fires." The laughter faded from the Inspectors face in an instant and was replaced with a serious expression.
"Hold up…what fires, what drugs, what are you talking about?? I thought you were only coming after me because I am another returner like yourself or something…" Twisting my face into one of shock and confusion, I monitored the tone of my voice to sound as confused as possible so I could cast a shadow of doubt in the Inspector’s mind.
"Didn’t I just finish telling you not to play dumb; you know damn well how my Skill works; I already have plenty of evidence that puts you at the scene of the crime." Narrowing his eyes, Inspector Slater uncrossed his leg and leaned forward menacingly.
"That simply isn’t possible, Inspector Slater; I haven’t been to Hyde, a fact that is easily proven. My Butler and I were only in Manchester for two days, of which I stayed at the Midland Hotel. I frequented a few shops to purchase some items I needed for my studies, and that is all. I even have the receipts to prove it, along with the places I dined and such." Waving my hand, a stack of different receipts appeared on the seat beside me.
"Your little act won’t work with me, kid; you know full well that traveling less than 10 miles is a simple task for any Returner with stats above 5 points, of which I am 100% certain yours are."