TIGERESS EMERALD

How and when did this happen ? " The captain yelled, his sharp eyes glaring down at the kneeling guards.

He still couldn't believe what the guards had told him this early morning.

How could two guards be killed so easily and the murderer was no where to be found.

The guards were Mages, although low level mages they still couldn't be killed so easily.

" forgive us Sire, " one of the soldiers pleaded, they were all shaking in their boots. The captain was two levels higher than them in power, why wouldn't they shake . He could kill them all with just one move.

The captain chuckled, one that didn't reach his eyes.

" Don't tell me you don't know what happened. " he squated to meet their eyes.

" Isn't it your duty to make sure the village is safe , then how were two guards killed without your knowledge ? " The captain yelled again, his vein almost Poppin.

He paced about, his head already aching from worry.

The people mustn't catch wind of these else there would be panic and disruption, not to mention his competence as the head would be questioned.

what kind of mystery was this, two guards hanging from a roof, dangling without the murderer in sight.

Another guard barged in, panting before bowing

" Captain, bad news " At this he tensed, his eyes narrowing in worry and anger.

" A villager has been murdered " Everyone in the room whipped their head towards the speaker in shock, including the kneeling soldiers.

The matter had just escalated and now the higher ups would involve themselves, this obviously meant they were in trouble..

Their lord Paramount had issues with other officials more like bad blood and now they have found an opportunity to drag him down, in his absence as he was still locked up in the palace.

Nothing could save them now....

" Guards file out " The captain ordered, and everyone obeyed very quickly.

putting his hat on they immediately left the office.

On getting to the crime scene, a huge crowd had already gathered outside, much to the Captain's frustration.

' why couldn't they just make things easier for him by just minding their business ' He almost cursed in his mind quickly making his way into the small house where the murder had taken place, the guards clearing way for him as he walked through the crowd.

The sight he came across was just the same as the two dead guards, the pugent stench crawled into his nose.

He didn't even flinch already used to such gory sight and foul smell.

" Good day, captain " The cold voice of a man greeted him, he knew who exactly it was—he didn't even have to turn around.

" Good day inspector Nathan " He locked eyes with the inspector, as soon as he turned. He could see the smug yet vicious smile on the inspectors face.

He felt like smacking the man, but he was in no position to, he had bigger problems for now.

" Are you sure it is a good day ? " Inspector Nathan squinted, testing him, his eyes sizing the captain up.

" Your incompetence has resulted in the death of not one but three individuals, captain. How do you explain this ? " His smile finally dropped with the captain clenching his fist anger and humiliation, wrapping around him like a cloak.

The loud voice of the inspector had been heard by the crowd outside and the murmuring of the crowds intensified, many stupified at the news of three dead bodies.

The captain glared at Nathan for revealing such sensitive information to the crowd, stiring unrest.

The inspector wasn't fazed by the Captain's glare and just went to inspect the body. it dangled unnaturally from the roof without rope to explain it's position. The lady had been forcefully hurled upwards to remain stuck there with her head crushed and Peirced through the uneven wooden beams, leaving her body hanging grotesquely.

His men had now brought her body down to lay on the mat, cleaning and preparing it for autopsy and further inspection.

His sharp eyes scanning every detail, from the tangled strands of hair to her blood soaked feet. There were no scratches, no signs of struggle, no bruises—nothing except dried blood streaking her now decaying form.

" This reeks of something darker " He muttered under his breath, before jeering loudly.

" I wonder what the lord Paramount even does for this village anyways, apart from forcing maidens into becoming slaves. " clicking his tongue in distaste.

Captain Shaw just exhaled sharply, swallowing his growing anger. He knew better than to rise to Nathan's bait. Still his mind churned with worry , he couldn't believe the inspector got here before him, now the case was automatically his. He knew for sure the Inspector wouldn't waste this opportunity to throw mud at their lord Paramount and bring him down, this also meant he too would go down.

The man did have too many enemies who wanted him dead or down.

" Sire, I've collected the people's statements and everyone all said the same thing about seeing a lady in here , her scream had alerted the whole village " A guard reported to the inspector, with the captain keeping a kin eye on the those who were cleaning the body—he couldn't afford to slack else they might be framed for something they didn't do.

" Bring her here immediately " Captain shaw barked.

" Captain, we have gone to her house in search of the lady, she lives next door, but it seems the lady has fled "

" SEEMS ????!!! " Their captain scoffed, rage dancing in his now icy eyes.

" Take the others with you, spread out and search within and outside the village, if you don't find her your heads would roll " He threatened, the guard didn't understand why their captain was so worked up.

He quickly dashed out to complete the task given to him.

The inspector just smiled seeing the restless captain, a skin crawling smile. He could tell what exactly the cunning captain was thinking.

He beckoned on a guard and whispered to him to disperse the crowd. Captain shaw turned to face him, he suspected something was wrong with the way the inspector was behaving.

The inspector refused to fill him in on the actual details of the case, and he couldn't dare to ask as a case was confidential unless the inspector opened up of his own will.

" you must be wondering what I'm up to, isn't it ?, well I'll tell you this time.

" We are preparing to receive the high court " He smiled, feeling satisfied. He had finally managed to involve the higher ups, now he could kick out the lord Paramount very easily.

After the royal court, the high court were the most powerful and most influential, involving them is just the same as dethroning the officials who were not in favor of the case.

" W—w—w—we ?" ! The Captain's face was now pale, now he knew he was doomed for sure.

" Yes, we " The inspector lightly patted him on the shoulder, his face smug, until he saw a man standing outside admist the already dispersing crowd, his black clothes not drawing any sort of attention. Yet it had made him turn his head.

' A stranger ' ... There was just something disturbing or sinister, with the way he carried himself.

The inspector's eyes narrowed...

A bonus for my loyal readers◉‿◉

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