Loki’s Successor System

Chapter 194: Two Deaths And Paranoia

Another day had come to past in this cool village where the winds and rays of sun seemed merciful. The village started busy as usual. People started off their my mundane sessions, preparing their machines; cleaning, cooking, and working. However, this was not a normal day of smiles and joy. Two was found dead this morning. They were just innocent siblings. 

Jin walked the village streets upset that it wasn't his clones that were killed. If it had been his clones, he would have figured out the killer: the mole who's been hiding within their quarters like a rat.

Kai always hated rats despite growing up with them since little alongside his sister. He'd never tried getting rid of the rats unless they were stealing from his food. He just didn't bother. But this village ratthis molehad to be dealt with as soon as possible. 

It was only morning. Yet, Kai was yawning and nodding off on himself every now and then. He had not gotten even an hour of sleep last night. He couldn'tnot when the mole was running around killing people. What fool would do such a thingsleep when there is a werewolf in town?

Perhaps Jin was one such fool. He slept like a log last night. Sound sleep, not even a second of discomfort. Kai had even placed an ear upon his door on his way out to the kitchen last night; all he heard were snores. 

"What's wrong?" Jin asked, not bothering to look at Kai. 

Kai sighed. "Nothing. I was just wondering" he hesitated. Should he even ask it? He already knew the answer but ... "how are you able to sleep through the night when there's a killer on the loose?"

"'Cause I know you're awake." Jin looked at him with those green violent eyes that penetrated souls, they weren't malicious this time. He then tittered. "Plus I tend to underestimate my foes. I doubt he'd be fast enough to kill me amid sleep. I kinda want him to try that honestly."

Kai sighed. He expected an answer similar to what just left Jin's throat. He sighed again. Perhaps it was time to change the subject. He looked down at the floor. "Two deaths," he said, "it appears to be the mole's doing."

"I see," Jin said. "So he hasn't lessened down to lay low. I already got the news, mind you."

"The clones didn't work, did they?" Kai realized just how stupid of a question this was. Only after it had slipped his tongue, that is.

"What do you mean by that? Of course they work," Jin grimaced at him. "It's just that the mole didn't show up; is all. I don't have patience but it seems even I am more patient than you, Kai."

Kai frowned then sighed. "I'm sorry. I've just been stressing a lot lately." What did the mole want from

him, what did it want from his people? Why attack them? "I don't have the answers for questions right now." 

Jin scowled at Kai. "I'm not liking your spirit, Kai. Depression is contagious you know. If you think sulking's gonna fix your problems, you're more wrong than a liar. Let's just take it easy for a big change. We have all day to think this through. I'm still learning the mole's patterns. The way he moves. It will be easier once I know how he moves."

[New Task: Defeat three ability users]

[Reward: 15 Exp] 

Kai caught Jin staring at the air again. He didn't like it, but this time he just yielded. He saw this all the time even before Jin had entered the village. But Jin wa right. He needed patience. 

Jin looked at Kai. "Think we've got anyone to fight today?"

"Probably not," Kai said, "the place looks peaceful. It looks like they're behaving themselves today. Even so, it's difficult for beings with supernatural powers to just behave. So probably, probably not."

"I need to fight about three people," Jin said to himself. 

"Why?" Kai asked. "Why do you like to fight this much?"

"Well," Jin said brusquely, "it's not boring, that's one thing for sure. And everything's boring nowadays. On top of that notion, I'm a Hunter here nowfighting is my job."

"I guess you're right about that," Kai muttered. "And I see it's a bit different for me. I just fight to protect myself and my loved ones. I also do it for money. For me, I think fun doesn't matter."

"Couldn't care less about what you think," Jin scoffed at him. "What do you even know about fun anyway?" He was straightforward with his words. 

Kai frowned. "That was mean." But Jin was correct. His life had no funit never had anything to do with fun. He sighed. The truth hurts. But all this young man wanted to do was just live without being paranoid every single day. 

***

Four men carried the bodies of the dead siblings. Each sibling was held by the legs by a man and by the arms by another. These siblings were wrapped in a black bag. Duck tape was used to keep it firm and tight around their obscured bodies. 

Jin and Kai followed the men. 

They wore pitiful looks on their faces as they carried the bodies. The leaderwho wasn't carrying the bodieswalked up to Jin and Kai.

"Good morning," he said, "how can I help you gentlemen? Want ashes for something? That would cost you."

"We're just taking a look at the bodies," Kai said, "scrutinizing it."

"Well," the bald man chuckled, "you gotta hurry up and get that good look 'cause I'm boutta cremate those bodies in a minute."

Kai clicked his tongue. "No thanks. We've already finished having our look. But tell me one thing ... what did their wounds look like?"

"Well," the man said, "can't say for sure, but there were slashes. Cuts. The boy's neck was split and the girl's was cut right off. The work of a melee weapon." The man frowned. "I heard there's another federation up north. I think I might consider moving there. This place is no longer safe for the family, y'know what I mean?" 

"Yeah," Kai sighed, "I understand. I can't even get a minute of sleep anymore."

Jin looked his nose down at Kai, which in turn led to Kai frowning. 

"The previous wounds of the people we cremated days and weeks ago were from a melee weapon as well," the man said, "it makes me wonder if he even possesses an ability. But then there were times miracles happened, like a trail of blood vanishing without a drop further."

"It's likely that he has an ability," Jin remarked, "but he can be normal as well. It would be easier for him to blend in."

Kai sighed. "It's crazy how he can be all around us."

The man placed his hands on his waists and looked at Kai and Jin, up and down. He raised a brow. "You guys are hunters, right?"

"Yeah," Kai replied. 

"It's a pity," he sighed, turning away, "you guys have it harder than us. Soon everything will point at you Hunters. Continue doing your job," he walked off gesturing his hand, "and please find that son of a bitch. He murdered children."

Kai didn't quite understand what the man meant by the former. 'Soon everything will point at you Hunters' the words repeated in his head. He shook his head. It was better he not try to confuse himself with such trivial matters. Finding that mole was too priority. 

Suddenly a man rushed toward Jin and Kai with widened eyes. 

Jin quickly turned around, getting ready to close his hand. Kai also turned around, reaching a blade at his side.

The man stumbled on his feet, and nearly fell to his face. He steadied, panting. Then he looked up at Kai. "Are you a Hunter?"

"Yes," Kai replied, "and I'm alongside my partner, who is also a Hunter himself."

"Great! I need your help! There's a group of people killing each other. They were talking about the mole then a fight happened ... a man attacked them. It happened so fast ... too fast! My wife she's hurt and needs himplease me! Please!"

Kai furrowed his brows, looking at Jin. "Got any pair of eyes on the scene?" He was hoping to hear a firm yes. 

"Two pairs," Jin smirked, "I'm passing my consciousness to one of the clones now. The location is the same street before the Inn, near the house where the two little boys work."

Kai furrowed his brows. "Okay, that's great." He clutched his hands at the blades at his side. Then, he drew them from their scabbards. The blades shrieked as they slid against metal. Then they shined brightly when rays of the sun hit them. Dual blades.

"One last thing before I go," Jin said. He looked Kai in the eyes. "Can I have permission to kill at least three of them?"

Kai scowled. "No, you sick bastard. We'll see once we get there."

Jin's eyes rolled up in his head. "Such a buzzkill!"

Kai started sprinting. "Fun isn't everything, Jin!"