Code Collector

Chapter 178: Investigation of Clowns

A flash of blazing anger and fury escaped from Allen. Just like what he did to Bryant and Fantasia, bit this one was much more menacing and it had a shorter range due to the fact that the market had a lot of people around them.

"You know," Allen said as he stared at the old man who was now on the ground, shaking in fear. "Get to know who you're messing with before you actually do something, yea? Not everyone is nice like me."

"W-Who are you?" the man who was sprawled on the floor as he shook asked.

"I'm Vince McMahon, a local busybody," Allen introduced then turned to Edith. "I'll go now, miss. I have to gossip more."

Allen didn't notice, but a crowd has already formed around them. It wasn't a big crowd that he couldn't move around, but it was enough to intimidate him. He didn't want Vince, or any of his Bodies to have as much attention or catch a lot of people's eyes since he was going to use them in his scouting job.

"He's the one who made the old man fall," Allen heard a woman whisper. He walked up to them and smiled. 

"I didn't," Allen said. "He fell down on his own. I merely talked to him and he just did that."

Allen pointed at the old man who was still shaking in fear. "Oh, see?"

He wanted to punch himself after this. He wanted to have less attention on him, he should've just walked away, but no. He had to talk to the people in the crowd.

Allen made Vince turn to a corner and was about to recall the Body when he felt a gaze beside him. He turned around and saw Lin there, crossed arms and shaking her head.

"You should be as low-key as you could," Lin said. "It's not like it's only me who's relying on you, everyone is. You should keep your Bodies to combat and not gossiping."

Allen wanted to scoff, but he stopped himself. "No, I'm collecting information here. The market has the hottest gossip and the most accurate ones, you just didn't know."

Lin glanced at the busy street outside of the alley. "Really? Bur they're merely gossips. How come they're accurate?"

"The people in this market aren't just people who's randomly gossiping," Allen explained. "There are a lot of people here who do so much research before they go spread the word. Although there are a lot of these gossipers who alter the words, that is why you have to at least get to ten sources and find the common information, that's probably the most accurate one."

"I have never thought about that," Lin said as she stared at the people talking in the streets. "I don't see myself interacting with these people. I feel like it doesn't suit me."

"These people?" Allen couldn't stop himself from raising his voice. "These are Hunters who are neglected by the ones at the top you. You and your people are the ones who labeled us this way, at the bottom and has less chances in life."

"I didn't mean that"

"What did you mean, then?" Allen asked. "How did you know that I'm me? I never told anyone about the Bodies except for myself."

Lin was speechless this time. She cleared her throat and sighed before giving up, "I can see the strings that attached to this body and you. I think this is only a Level 1 feature because I can't see Lewis Nixon's Bodies anywhere."

Allen froze at her words. He could remember, Lin was the one who helped Lewis and others in their fight agains the Fire Dragon. This woman must've been someone who's involved in Lewis on getting the Code.

He wanted to ask her, but opted not to. Lewis was a man who's not as famous as the others. It would be too suspicious if he asks about him. He was still unsure if the others underwent the same process as him, back when he was only a mute and transformed into this body he has right now.

If he asks her about him, she would wonder what his relationship with him was. Then she'll try to investigate. Huge cases are given to Primordial Beast Bearers for one thing, they have high Intelligence attribute. They could investigate and complete the investigation in a fraction of time it takes most investigators.

"I heard there are other people who has this Code," Allen said. "Lewis Nixon was one of them, who's the other one?"

"I do not know," Lin replied. "Only if I could give you everything you want, I would. I want to help you as much as I can, but giving you Codes and giving you common information is all I can do at the moment."

"At the moment?" Allen's interest piqued at her statement. "You mean you can do more in the future?"

"I'm currently the one leading the investigation about Drake Nelson's case," Lin said. "My hands are full right now and we're getting nowhere at all. We just arrived to the same conclusion over and over again, and I know it's not true."

"And the conclusion is?" Allen asked.

This made Lin sigh and looked like she must've a lot of courage before replying, "That the Snake is Roger Huntsman and Drake Nelson's case is connected to what happened to Kenneth, Remy, Bernard, and Louis. All three cases between these people."

"Your logic is too flawed for this," Allen couldn't help but scoff. "You actually think the Snake has the capabilities to do all that? It's not even a year since the stone glowed. How am I able to match up to your power?"

Lin sighed again. She raised her hand to the side and created a portal like what Winston usually creates. This time, instead of creating it on a wall, she manifested one right in the air. Her arm went pasta through the portal and she took a folder from inside.

"Read this," Lin said. "This is the copy of the latest investigation. I know the others will hate me for this, but you have to know everything especially since it revolves heavily around you."

Allen took the folder and his trust in Lin increased significantly. While the others were suspecting him for doing elicit activities, his instincts did not kicked in when it comes to her. She looked, sounded, and even felt honest. It was hard to suspect her of doing something horrendous.

But even so, he still needed to raise his guard. He couldn't trust anyone but himself. Even his closest friends might betray him, so he had to be as self reliant as possuble.

Allen received the folder and placed it in his inventory. This was shared between him and his Bodies so he could place something inside using his Bodies and get it in his original body.

"Wait," Lin called out before Allen could recall back Vince. "Once you get to read this, please do not hate on anyone. This is based on what we found and what information is available to us. They don't know anything."

Allen just nodded before recalling back Vince. He sighed after he refocuses on his original body. He then took the folder out and read its contents, every piece of paper would make his heart drop and continue to drop.

The contents of the folder was indeed the results of the Bearers' investigation. These were the proofs, receipts, even recordings of the events that would eventually lead to the conclusion on why the Snake did it.

It all started when the stone slate that contained the Primordial Beast signs glowed. The Snake whom everyone thought would be lost forever glowed, making it a huge feat for humanity. Finally, there was another of these super humans who could become the world's power.

Then they connected this to the Snake Society which was first founded way before Allen found the Snake, about a decade ago. They created the society to worship the Snake which was thought to be the most special among the Primordial Beasts because it was the final one to be found.

There was a list of suspected members of the Snake Society and the list wad quite accurate. There were pictures of these people and these contained the faces of the ones Allen saw when he was interviewed by Genesis.

The investigation stated that the Snake Society provided Allen the Codes he needed to burn so he could ascend. They also changed his name and identity, hacking the database and installing the Snake's new identity there.

The investigation continued until they arrived at the conclusion that in just under a year, the Snake would become a force that could fight and defeat the Bearers. This part seemed to be too random but it was stated there.

Allen wanted to laugh and scoff at this. The Bearers indeed used the Snake as the scapegoat. There were a lot of holes in their report, but they still continued.

"Clowns," Allen chuckled. "What a bunch of clowns."