Bizarre Realm-Chapter 84 - 18: Death in the Line of Duty

Park District, Seaside Road, No. 173.

Shawn saw the body of the Elf, her face gnawed beyond recognition by rats. The scar on her neck identified her; it was a mark left when she battled a Ghoul.

Daisy’s slender figure stood beside the Elf’s corpse. As she looked up, Shawn saw a pair of blood-red eyes.

"It’s all my fault, I should have stayed with her..."

When Shawn approached to comfort her, Daisy spoke with a hint of a sob in her voice, choking up, "I thought the last incident had been resolved."

Shawn patted Daisy’s back, soothing her sorrowful emotions.

"The Elf was ambushed, killed instantly."

The speaker was Investigator Keville, around twenty-five or twenty-six years old, with deep facial features and sunken eyes. He wore a gray coat, looking weary, presumably having just arrived. He had been investigating the disappearance of an archaeologist for some time.

He used to be a forensic doctor before becoming an investigator.

Shawn squatted down and lifted the white cloth covering the Elf’s body. What he saw before him was unbearable—a fatal wound at her back, a single strike piercing her heart, the wound too blurred to determine what weapon had been used.

"The Elf was a Transcendent following the Ranger Path."

"Ordinary people would find it very difficult to silently ambush her." Shawn analyzed the wound, his expression grave, "It might be an Assassin!"

Thinking of assassins, Shawn immediately recalled the Dark Elf known as ’Lady of the House.’

At that time, Benjamin was also ambushed and killed by her. If Shawn hadn’t triggered the Death Retrospect to foresee her actions, no one would have survived the battle in the Old Town District.

Only an Assassin of that caliber could silently kill an experienced investigator.

The Ranger Path is known as ’Forest Wanderer’ in the Del Region, translated from ancient Elf language. Their first Talent Ability is ’Tracking,’ although it varies by region, with Dorne Region Rangers being more modernized. In the Del Region, Forest Wanderers still use bows and arrows, which are quieter than firearms, suited for dense forest combat.

Forest Wanderers excel in wilderness terrain, while Rangers are adept in urban settings.

The Elf was a close-combat Ranger, specializing in combat skills like point-blank shooting, rapid shooting, and mobile shooting. As an investigator, her strength was no weaker than ordinary Night Watchers, making it hard to ambush or assassinate her.

"Could it be that Ghost-faced Assassin?!"

Shawn glanced at William beside him, speaking firmly, "Lighting, I need to examine the crime scene."

The time was around four thirty in the morning.

According to Keville’s estimation, the Elf was probably murdered around eight o’clock last night. By that time, she should have been off work. Her residence was far from here, unless there was a special circumstance, she wouldn’t have come this way.

"I remember the Cannibalistic Rats incident had already ended."

"Hadn’t they burned that group of polluted mutated rats? Why did the Elf enter the sewer at this time?"

"What did she discover?"

Shawn signaled Keville, and the two investigators walked into the pitch-black sewer. Behind them, William and Daisy quickly followed. A previously unseen Night Watcher spoke, "The enemy might still be hiding in the sewer."

"Be careful."

On hearing this, Daisy’s pupils instantly changed, revealing eerie cold vertical pupils like a deadly predator in the dark. Her eyes were filled with primal wildness and killing intent. She sniffed silently, positioning herself slightly ahead of Shawn.

This position was just right to protect the two investigators.

Daisy was very angry at this moment.

The Elf was murdered at the sewer exit. Keville tracked some marks on the ground, finding only the Elf’s footprints. Unlike other investigators, Shawn directly witnessed things and wasn’t adept at tracking marks.

At this moment, heavy footsteps sounded from outside.

It was Jason Tangel.

He glanced at Shawn with a solemn expression, nodding slightly to indicate that his presence assured the investigators to comfortably examine the scene.

"Turn the light to the maximum."

Shawn made a gesture to stop Keville, then began inspecting the surrounding traces. When the Elf was ambushed, she had no chance to resist. Within a hundred meters of the scene, there were only her footprints and no other marks.

"It’s impossible for someone to approach completely undetected. Even if the Assassin uses Invisibility or Shadow transit, it’s impossible to leave no trace at such a distance."

The sewer in Dorne City is very large. Logically, there’s no need for such a large sewer since Dorne doesn’t have numerous storms during the rainy season. It seems designed to handle specific extreme weather; according to Shawn’s calculations, it might be related to ancient mysteries.

After all, Dagon is right next to Dorne, where natural disasters are frequent.

"Look here!"

Shawn looked up at the top of the sewer, feeling a slight tremor of Spirituality. Concentrating, he seemed to have found something, alerting Keville.

There were shallow pits scattered across the top of the sewer, showing no other abnormal marks.