Eldritch Guidance-Chapter 112 – Finding Jixi

Joe and his team stood behind a hastily constructed barricade outside a convenience store on 455 Takva Street. Unlike their chaotic encounter with the pursuer slimes, this time, Joe had the luxury of preparation. The moment he confirmed Jixi's location, he had called for reinforcements, and the response was swift and overwhelming.

Within minutes, the street was flooded with flashing lights and the sounds of sirens as dozens of police cars arrived, unloading officers and enforcers who quickly secured the area. A massive perimeter was established around the convenience store, ensuring no one could enter or escape unnoticed. The tension in the air was palpable as everyone waited for the next move, their collective focus locked on the building where Jixi was believed to be hiding.

Dan finally caught up with Joe and the team, arriving just in time to get the full rundown of everything that had transpired so far. Joe quickly explained the situation, bringing Dan up to speed while the team remained on high alert.

Their conversation was interrupted by the rumble of an approaching armored transport truck. The vehicle came to a halt nearby, and the back doors swung open, revealing a squad of heavily armored officers spilling out with practiced precision. These were no ordinary police—they were members of the elite Mage Suppression Force, a federal agency tasked with handling the most dangerous magical threats.

Each officer wore a padded tactical vest reinforced with enchanted plating, bristling with holstered firearms and tactical explosive grenades. Their faces were completely obscured by sleek, curved black visors that shimmered faintly with enchantments. In one hand, they carried shields engraved with glowing runes, the marks of powerful protective enchantments, while their other hands gripped swords etched with similar arcane symbols. Despite the advancements of firearms, enchanted swords remained highly effective against mages, cutting through their defenses with brutal efficiency.

Joe watched as the team fanned out with practiced ease, their movements a symphony of discipline and readiness. Each of these officers was not only a seasoned mage in their own right but also trained specifically to neutralize black mages. Their presence radiated an imposing mix of authority and lethal competence, making it clear that no mage, however skilled or dangerous, would stand a chance against them.

Dan: “The Mage Suppression Force?” he asked, his eyebrows shooting up in surprise as he gestured toward the heavily armored squad. “Isn’t that a bit overkill? You usually only call these guys in for seriously dangerous black mages, like the ones from cults.”

Joe shot him a weary look, his expression hardened by the day’s events.

Joe: “Trust me, Dan,” he said, his voice carrying a weight that silenced any further argument. “If you’d been through what we just went through, you wouldn’t be saying that.”

Dan opened his mouth to respond but quickly shut it again, the gravity in Joe’s tone enough to make him reconsider. Whatever horrors the team had faced, it was clear that their experiences had warranted calling in the big guns.

The leader of the Mage Suppression Force, identifiable by his distinct insignia and authoritative demeanor, raised his hand in a sharp, deliberate gesture. Instantly, the armored officers moved past the barricade, shields raised in a tight defensive formation as they cautiously advanced toward the convenience store. Their movements were precise, their vigilance palpable, ready to counter any unexpected resistance.

Alan, observing the imposing unit, turned to Joe with a mix of apprehension and curiosity.

Alan: “Um, are we going in too?”

Joe shook his head firmly.

Joe: “Hold on there. We’re not doing anything like that. Let the suppression force handle the heavy lifting. They’re trained for this, Alan. They’ll restrain Jixi and secure the area. Once they’ve got the situation under control, we’ll sweep the place to tie up any loose ends. Until then, we wait.”

Alan frowned slightly.

Alan: “Oh. I kind of thought we’d be confronting Jixi ourselves.”

Joe gave him a pointed look.

Joe: “You want more action? After everything we’ve just been through?”

Alan: “No, not at all,” raising his hands in defense. “It’s just... I was mentally gearing up to see him again, you know? All that preparation feels wasted now.”

Joe smirked faintly, shaking his head.

Joe: “Don’t worry. Once they drag him out of there, you’ll see him soon enough. So keep that mental energy ready—and when you do see him, try not to lose your cool. You’ve come too far for slip-ups now.”

Alan nodded, though his unease was still evident. The team remained behind the barricade, watching as the elite force made their advance, each step carrying the weight of anticipation.

The armored officers cautiously entered the seemingly deserted convenience store, their shields raised and weapons at the ready. One by one, they disappeared into the building, their black visors gleaming under the harsh exterior lights. The onlookers behind the barricade, including Joe and his team, watched with bated breath, expecting any moment to hear the telltale sounds of battle—explosions, shouting, or the crackling energy of powerful spells.

But as the minutes ticked by, a tense silence hung over the scene. Ten minutes turned into twenty, and still, nothing emerged from the store. Whispers began to ripple through the crowd of officers and enforcers outside, speculation mounting about what was happening inside. At the thirty-minute mark, the armored officers finally began to reappear, filing out of the store in an organized but notably relaxed manner, their posture far less guarded than when they had entered.

Joe, Alan, and the others craned their necks, scanning the group for any sign of Jixi. Eyes darted between the heavily armored figures, but the assistant professor was nowhere to be seen.

Alan frowned, voicing what everyone else was thinking.

Alan: “Where’s Jixi? Did they find him?”

The suppression force members moved with deliberate calm, their lack of urgency making the anticipation even more unbearable for those waiting outside. Joe’s brow furrowed deeply as he exchanged uneasy glances with Mike. Something felt off.

Joe broke away from his team, his boots crunching against the pavement as he made his way toward the leader of the Mage Suppression Force. The imposing figure stood near the store’s entrance, his black visor gleaming under the streetlights. Joe’s expression was a mix of concern and determination as he approached, his body language tense with expectation.

The rest of the team watched from behind the barricade, their eyes fixed on the exchange. Joe gestured as he spoke, his voice too low for them to hear over the ambient noise of murmurs and distant sirens. The leader of the suppression force stood motionless at first, then slowly responded, their discussion punctuated by subtle nods and head shakes.

Suddenly, Joe’s expression shifted. His brow furrowed, his eyes widened briefly in what looked like surprise—or perhaps disbelief. He placed his hands on his hips, looking downward for a moment before nodding at something the suppression leader said.

Alan: “What’s going on?” he asked, leaning slightly toward Mike.

Mike: “Not sure,” he replied, his own gaze locked on Joe. “But whatever it is, it doesn’t look good.”

Joe turned away from the armored officer and began making his way back toward the group, his steps purposeful yet heavy, as if he carried the weight of whatever news he had just received. His face was grim but composed, though the flicker of surprise they had all witnessed still lingered faintly in his eyes.

Mike: “What did they say??”

Joe: “They found Jixi…dead.”

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After the Mage Suppression Force completed their sweep of the premises for any lingering arcane traps or hazards, they departed, leaving the investigation to the remaining officers and local enforcers. Joe relayed the information he had received from the suppression force leader to the team: they had located the bunker Jixi had been hiding in, but the assistant professor was already dead when they found him.

With the scene secured, the police entered the convenience store and descended into its basement, where they discovered yet another concealed tunnel. The passage led them to a hidden underground bunker—a fully equipped living space that bore signs of long-term habitation. Inside, they found a simple yet functional setup: a bed, sturdy furniture, shelves stocked with assorted belongings, and a working refrigerator filled with food. An attached bathroom area completed the bunker, underscoring how well-prepared Jixi had been to remain hidden indefinitely.

Joe, his team, and other members of the Sleuth-Hawks joined the search of the bunker, scouring it for clues that might explain Jixi’s plans and his untimely death. The air was tense as flashlights illuminated the confined space, highlighting every detail of the isolated living quarters. freёnovelkiss-com

Joe stood near the modest bed, his gaze locked on Jixi’s lifeless body sprawled across it. The scene was deeply unsettling: the assistant professor's face was frozen in a grotesque final expression, his mouth hanging unnaturally wide open as though caught gasp. His hands lay limply at his sides, fingers slightly curled, while an empty pill bottle rested on the floor beside him, its label smudged but still faintly readable.

Tony, the meticulous forensic specialist, was bent over Jixi's body, carefully examining it for any clues that might explain the assistant professor's grim demise. Beside him, Crowley, the ex-priest seemingly turned investigator at the moment, murmured a somber prayer, his voice a quiet, rhythmic cadence that seemed to echo off the walls of the underground bunker. The reverence in his tone contrasted sharply with the sterile, methodical precision of Tony's work.

A few feet away, Mike and Joe observed the scene in silence, their expressions a mix of curiosity and unease. They exchanged the occasional glance, but neither spoke, respecting the gravity of the moment and the focus required for Tony’s task. Meanwhile, Dan, Alan and Rell had split off with a group of officers, methodically searching the surrounding areas of the bunker for any additional evidence, their voices faintly audible as they called out discoveries or discussed the layout of the hidden space. The air was thick with tension, every sound amplified in the enclosed space, as the team pieced together the final moments of Jixi’s life.

Joe stepped closer as Tony unfolded himself from his crouched position, brushing off his gloves and turning to face him.

Joe: “So, any idea what caused his death?” Joe asked, his voice carrying an edge of urgency.

Tony straightened and met Joe’s eyes.

Tony: “Jixi overdosed on Xenliexel, a potent muscle relaxant. I found several scattered pills on his bed. Everything points to it being intentional.”

Joe's brow furrowed, frustration flickering in his expression.

Joe: “So, he just... killed himself?”

Tony nodded.

Tony: “That’s what the evidence suggests.”

Mike: “But why? What could push him to this?”

Tony reached into his coat pocket and retrieved a neatly folded piece of paper, the edges worn as if it had been handled many times. He extended it to Joe.

Tony: “I found this tucked into his jacket. It looks like a suicide note. Might give us some answers.”

Joe hesitated before taking the note, unfolding it carefully as if it might disintegrate in his hands. The weight of its contents already seemed to hang in the air between them.

Joe unfolded the note with a heavy hand, the weight of it sinking in before he even read a word. His eyes scanned the handwriting quickly, the words almost seeming to blur together as he read aloud, his voice soft and steady:

“I, Jixi Faalar, am guilty of the greatest of crimes. I have assisted Sorin in the horrific acts of transforming students into undead. After spending time alone here in my isolation, I have concluded that there is no forgiveness for someone as foul as I. As such, by the time anyone finds this note, I will have already expired, as the only form of repentance for the lives I have ruined and the souls I have ripped from their bodies.

I can only hope that as I die, the plan I set in motion for those who helped Sorin with his insane machinations, myself included, shall be dragged down to the burning abyss to repent for the lives lost. I know there is nothing I can say or do to make things right, but I wish to apologize to everyone I have hurt, for being too cowardly to stand up to Sorin and stop him. I hope that the souls of the students who died will rest easier now, with my death."

Joe paused, the note hanging in his hand. For a long moment, he just stared at the words, feeling the weight of Jixi’s confession. The finality in the words felt suffocating, almost as if Jixi had carried a burden too heavy to bear, and in the end, had chosen death over redemption.

Mike: "Looks like he couldn't live with the guilt," he remarked quietly, his tone tinged with frustration, but also understanding.

Crowley had been watching from a distance, his expression unreadable.

Crowley: “A lot of people think death can erase sins,” he said, his voice carrying a hint of bitterness. “But it never does.”

Joe slowly folded the note back up and tucked it into his pocket.

Joe: “Something feels way off here. Tony, could you tell how long he was dead for?”

Tony: “It's hard to tell exactly, but at first glance, weeks at least.”

Joe: “Anything strange you found about the body.”

Tony: “Well, kinda. While examining his body it was too stiff, which is a little strange.

Mike: “Why’s that strange? Isn't that just rigor mortis setting in?”

Tony: “He died from overdosing on muscle relaxant, this stiffness shouldn’t have set in so much. Xenliexel should delay rigor mortis. But, he might just have been dead for longer than I think he was. So, while I can say it is slightly strange, it doesn't necessarily mean anything.”

Alan and Rell returned from their sweep of the perimeter, their footsteps echoing faintly in the quiet bunker. As they approached Joe and Tony, they overheard the last few words of the conversation.

Rell: “Is something wrong?”

Joe then turned to Rell, and handed him Jixi's suicide note.

Joe: “You know Jixi, do you think he is someone likely to kill himself over guilt?”

Rell took the note and looked over the note as he answered Joe’s question.

Rell: “I’m not sure about that. But, like I said, Jixi always came across as a very timid, almost a cowardly individual. And, I’ve heard people say that suicide is the cowards way out. So, maybe?”

Joe: “Hmm. Tony, hypothetically, what if someone forced those muscle relaxants down Jixi's throat. Maybe using magic to paralyze him or something. Would that affect the strange stiffness you’ve noticed?”

Tony: “Maybe? But, paralysis is a rare null magic. Though, I suppose any restraining magic would work. Are you thinking someone killed Jixi? What evidence do you have to suspect that?”

Joe paced the room, his hands clasped tightly behind his back, his brows furrowed in deep thought.

Joe: “I don’t have any hard evidence, but none of it adds up. If Jixi was truly remorseful about everything—about the innocent lives lost and the horrors he helped create—why go through with the slime ritual at all?” He paused, turning to face the group. “That ritual wasn’t just targeting his collaborators; it was designed to kill a lot of innocent people, everyone that Danny felt like had wronged him in the past. That doesn’t sound like someone looking to atone.”

Alan tilted his head, frowning.

Alan: “Maybe he thought the ends justifies the means? Like, he saw it as collateral damage to take down the others working with Sorin?”

Joe shook his head, the skepticism evident in his voice.

Joe: “Even if that were the case, it doesn’t explain why he didn’t just do it himself. The ritual required a willing sacrifice. If Jixi was so consumed with guilt and determined to repent for Sorin’s operation, why not use himself as the sacrifice? Why involve Danny? Why manipulate someone else into doing his dirty work?”

Rell crossed her arms, her expression pensive.

Rell: “You’re saying Jixi’s actions don’t align with his supposed guilt.”

Joe: “Exactly,” he said, his voice firm. “If Jixi truly wanted to make amends, why create a ritual that would harm innocent people? Why drag Danny into it when he could have taken responsibility himself? His note claims he was sorry, but his actions tell a different story.”

Mike chimed in, leaning against the wall.

Mike: “Maybe he was a coward in the end. But, this change of heart could be something he came to after he got Danny to perform the ritual. So, this is all pure speculation without any hard evidence.”

Joe nodded, the weight of the situation heavy in the air.

Joe: “I know. That is why I said I didn’t have any evidence. It's just this gut feeling I have that I’m trying to justify right now.”

The group exchanged uneasy glances, each of them processing Joe’s words.

A sudden beeping broke the tense silence, drawing everyone's attention. Joe reached into his pocket and pulled out his pager. With practiced ease, he flipped open the protective cover over the screen and scanned the incoming message. His expression darkened, his jaw tightening as his eyes darted across the words.

Mike noticed the change immediately.

Mike: “What’s going on, Joe? You’ve got that look I hate.”

Joe hesitated, his tone grave as he responded.

Joe: “The Arcanium Archives… they were attacked.”

Gasps rippled through the group, and Alan’s face immediately fell. Joe turned his gaze toward Alan, his next words landing like a blow.

Joe: “And… your friend Jafar is missing.”

Alan’s heart seemed to stop for a moment, the color draining from his face.

Alan: “What?” he whispered, his voice barely audible.

(Author's Note: Just putting this here for when a bot scrapes and repost without my permission. Hey there! You're reading a story by me, Saberfang. This was likely taken from royal road or scribble hub. If you like my work please read it on those websites or on patreon at /user?u=83747391)

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