"Anger, huh..." Zack nodded slowly. He opened his jacket, pulled out a pair of fingerless gloves, and put them on before carefully taking the staff.
Without wasting time, Nancy and Zack quickly prepared. As soon as Redrick sent the news, they both set off to the military base to find Brin.
...
...
...
Meanwhile...
Lance sneaked into France for one reason: to play games with Vivi.
Dawn broke, and Vivi, with childlike enthusiasm, dragged Lance around Paris. They wandered through cobblestone streets, enjoying the aroma of fresh bread from a bakery, passing street painters who were painting the Eiffel Tower in pastel colors.
Time passed unnoticed. As the sun began to set on the western horizon, Lance opened a small dimensional door and jumped to the next destination—Los Angeles Convention Center.
That day marked the opening of a grand exhibition. A large number of cultural relics from China, brought directly by Consul Han, would be displayed for the next few days.
The opening party was on the verge of starting.
Celebrities from Los Angeles were arriving, dressed as if they were attending the Oscars. Camera flashes swept across familiar faces from the big screen. The shadows of Hollywood stars flickered among the chandelier lights and the red carpet.
At the entrance stood two very recognizable figures—Lee and Carter. Both were dressed in sharp suits, their bow ties perfectly fastened at their necks, standing casually while chatting and scanning the crowd.
Lance looked at himself. Wrinkled gray t-shirt, thin black jacket, and loose jeans. Lance could only sigh.
Not intending to change clothes, Lance walked straight towards them. "Inspector Lee, Officer Carter."
Lee breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing him. "Mr. Lance, you finally made it. You were almost late and would have missed the opening moment."
Lance chuckled lightly. "That means my timing is... perfect."
Lance glanced at Carter with a slight smile. "Officer Carter, where are the colleagues you invited? None of them seem to be here—could it be that no one accepted your invitation?"
Carter crossed his arms at his hips like an annoyed old teapot and snorted loudly. "Hey, I'm the most popular guy at the police station! There's no way my invitation was ignored!"
Lee raised an eyebrow, pursed his lips as if holding back laughter, and then slipped between them with a light step. "Carter, many of your colleagues did come… but unfortunately, not because of you."
Lance raised an eyebrow, his expression shifting from light to suspicious. "What's going on? Don't tell me there's another problem."
Just then, a group of police officers entered the hall, their steps synchronized, their faces looking alert. They couldn't have come just to enjoy the antiques.
Lee's face tensed for a moment, then he lowered his voice, barely audible to Lance and Carter. "It's not about Consul Han. Soo Yung is safe—under the protection of the FBI and personal guards. They won't let anyone get close. But... there's been an incident at the exhibition center. Two nights in a row, several security officers have gone missing. Without a trace. Now everyone is in a panic. If the invitations haven't been sent and the date hasn't been set, Consul Han might cancel the entire event."
Carter, still confident as ever, patted his chest. "Don't worry, Lee. The FBI and LAPD are on it now. We'll catch the troublemakers before the sun rises tomorrow!"
Lee merely glanced at him. "I hope so," Lee murmured quietly, clearly not as optimistic as Carter.
The three of them entered the main hall. The light from the crystal chandeliers sparkled on the high ceiling, reflecting golden hues on the marble walls. The opening party was about to begin.
Celebrities and important figures were scattered in small groups, their outfits elegant, wine glasses gleaming in their hands. Laughter and light chatter flowed in the air, creating a grand yet fragile atmosphere.
Lance didn't pay attention to any of them. His eyes were fixed on the row of antiques displayed behind glass. Lance's gaze traced the old carvings, the scent of aged iron and faint incense wafting into his nose—but there was something else.
Lance's nose twitched.
Suddenly, Lance's expression changed. Sharp. Tense.
Lee, unaware of the change, took two wine glasses from a passing waiter and handed one to Lance. "The opening party is about to start," Lee said, nodding towards the podium in the center of the hall.
There, Consul Han sat with two foreign men. Consul Han's gaze swept over the crowd, a faint unease lurking behind his polite smile.
Lance pointed to the two men. "Who are they?"
Lee answered without hesitation. "The one on the left is the FBI agent responsible for Consul Han's personal security. The one on the right is an old friend of Consul Han—a former diplomat from Hong Kong, recently transferred to Los Angeles. He's the one who pushed for this exhibition to take place."
Lance nodded slowly.
Lance's mind began to piece together the fragments.
The man. He is the mastermind who deceived Consul Han.
But that is not the issue tonight.
There is a smell.
The smell of blood.
Subtle, yet sharp—wafting from the upper floor, from the direction of the control room. And behind that smell of blood, there is something darker, deeper... an invisible presence that pierces Lance's senses.
The trace was left not long ago.
Unfortunately, at the time of the incident, Lance was still in Paris. Too far away. His magical compass could not penetrate such a distance. If it could, he would have caught the culprit before they had a chance to disappear.
But something is strange.
The breath of darkness... is not from hell.
Lance furrowed his brow. Another possibility: a demon from another dimension. They can indeed infiltrate, especially in the form of clones or weak incarnations. Those creatures go undetected by the temple's magical network.
Mephisto, Satannish, Marduk Kurios—all have done it. Their clones sneak into Earth, forming sects, luring foolish contracts, disguising themselves as gods or false prophets.
------------------------------
[Announcement: A New Novel Has Been Added!
The Puppet Maker in the World of Naruto
A man who is a scientist, researcher, and expert mechanic in robotics dies in a massive explosion that occurs in his laboratory while developing an advanced robot project. However, instead of experiencing death as he thought, the man awakens in another world—a strange place with vast stretches of desert.
There, the man is surrounded by people who can jump high, calling themselves ninjas. The confusion he initially felt grows as he realizes that this world is not unfamiliar to him. This is the world of Naruto! However, there is one thing that surprises him.
"Isn't this Sunagakure? Why am I not in Konoha? This poorest village... Oh my God, this is serious!"
Now, in the midst of a new life filled with danger and uncertainty, the scientist must find a way to survive in Sunagakure, a harsh place full of limitations. With his robotic knowledge, can the man change his fate in this ninja world, or will he fall along with the village?]
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