The Detective Jr.

After finishing up at the station and meeting Nicholas, I returned to the base. It was an ordinary building, nothing special. I checked the news only to find out that the news about the Baphomet Clan was already spreading like wildfire. As I was about to enter the building, someone suddenly called out to me.

"Yo, Linxi! How's your new partner?" Dylan greeted me, his usual cheerful self. With blonde hair like sunshine and wine-red eyes, he was a fire magic user who always had a grin on his face.

I let out a small sigh. "He's... decent, I guess. Anyway, when is the leader coming back?"

Dylan followed me inside and sighed. "She's off to Sky Valley, chasing rumors about dragons. You know how she is."

"Dragons, huh? Well, she'll manage. For now, gather the others. We need to hold a meeting," I said, heading toward the meeting room.

"Yes, Vice-Captain," he chuckled before disappearing to round up the team.

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A few minutes later, the team assembled. Raven, a wind magic user with long black hair and piercing brown eyes, entered alongside Jarvis, the water magic user with messy blue hair and matching eyes. Dylan arrived shortly after.

"So, what's the issue?" Raven asked, her cold tone straight to the point.

I placed a picture of a dead body on the table, pointing to the symbol carved into the victim's skin. "This is the mark of the Baphomet Clan—masters of advanced magic and strategy."

Dylan frowned. "I've seen this symbol before. It was on the victims in our investigation too."

Everyone exchanged uneasy glances.

Jarvis leaned forward to inspect the photo. "So, what's the plan? How do we stop them?"

"For now, we stick with your partners and investigate quietly. If anything happens, report immediately. Meeting dismissed," I said firmly.

"Yes, Vice-Captain!" they echoed before leaving.

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I retreated to my room, mulling over the case. "The Baphomet Clan... what's their goal? The victims are all men, around the same age. There must be a connection." I opened my laptop and began researching their backgrounds. Suddenly, I found something that made me pause.

"That's it!" I quickly saved my findings and grabbed my phone. But as I prepared to share it, I groaned, realizing I didn't have Nicholas's number. "Of course…"

Jumping out of the window, I sprinted back to the station. Nicholas was there, sipping tea, as calm as ever.

"You really came back for me, huh, Detective Junior?" he teased with a smirk.

"Detective Linxi!" I corrected before shaking my head. "Never mind. I found a link between the victims."

His teasing vanished as he leaned forward. "What is it?"

"They all came from the same orphanage—the Sunrise Orphanage. Same age, same gender," I explained, showing him my findings.

Nicholas's expression turned serious. "The Sunrise Orphanage? Didn't it shut down after a fire ten years ago?"

"Of course it did, but there were some survivors too..." And one of them was me... But I don't need to say that to him.

Nicholas leaned back in his chair, a contemplative look crossing his face. "So, you're suggesting that whoever is behind these murders might have a connection to the orphanage? That's a solid lead."

I nodded, feeling a mix of excitement and apprehension. "Exactly. If we can find out more about the survivors, we might uncover a motive or even a suspect. The Baphomet Clan might be targeting these individuals for a reason."

Nicholas set his tea down, his eyes narrowing in thought. "We need to dig deeper into the orphanage's history. There could be records or even people who might still be willing to talk. Do you have any names of the survivors?"

I pulled out my laptop and began typing furiously, pulling up any data I could find on the orphanage. "There were a few names that stood out during my initial search. One of them is a guy named Leo. He was known for his exceptional skills in healing magic. There's also Mia, who was rumored to have a connection with dark magic."

Nicholas raised an eyebrow. "Dark magic? That's a dangerous path. If they're involved with the Baphomet Clan, we might be dealing with something far more sinister than we anticipated."

I felt a chill run down my spine at the thought. "We should start with Leo. If he's still around, he might have some insight into what happened back then—or why these murders are happening now."

Nicholas nodded in agreement. "Let's pay him a visit. Do you have an address?"

I quickly searched through my notes. "Yes! He was last reported living in a small town just outside the city. We can head there now."

As we prepared to leave, I couldn't shake the feeling that we were stepping into something much larger than ourselves. The Baphomet Clan wasn't just a group of powerful mages; they were playing a game that involved lives—lives that were intertwined with my own past.

Once outside the station, we hopped into Nicholas's car. The drive was filled with silence, each of us lost in our thoughts. I glanced at Nicholas, wondering what he was thinking. He seemed focused, but there was a flicker of concern in his eyes that I couldn't ignore.

"Hey," I said, breaking the silence. "You okay? You seem a bit tense."

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "It's just... the orphanage fire. It was a tragedy that shook the entire community. If there's a connection to these murders, it could bring up a lot of painful memories for those involved."

I nodded, understanding the weight of his words. "I get it. But we have to find the truth, no matter how difficult it may be."

Nicholas shot me a sideways glance, a small smile breaking through his serious demeanor. "You're right. Let's uncover whatever secrets the past holds."

As we drove towards the town, I felt a surge of determination. I was ready to face whatever lay ahead, even if it meant confronting my own history. The Baphomet Clan had their motives, and I was going to make sure they didn't get away with their crimes.

We arrived at a modest house with a "For Sale" sign out front. A tall, weary man answered the door. His dark hair was tousled, and his eyes looked tired.

"Can I help you?" he asked cautiously.

"I'm Nicholas, and this is Detective Linxi. We're investigating the Sunrise Orphanage, Are you Mr.Leo?" Nicholas said.

The man hesitated, his expression shifting. "Yes... Come in. Let's talk."

Inside, the weight of the past felt heavy. As the man spoke, I realized that uncovering the truth about the Baphomet Clan wasn't just about solving a case. It was about facing my own past—and the secrets I'd long tried to forget.

_To Be Continue_