Unwritten Mythos

IV

Beiling City, Police Station

In the dimly lit room, the flickering glow of the surveillance screen cast eerie shadows on the faces of the police officers gathered around it, the scene unfolding on the screen left them all stunned.

"What is this? A Fish-Man? Is this from a fairy tale?" One police officer exclaimed.

"Fish-Man killed someone?" Another officer questioned, skeptical in his voice.

"Probably not. It's just someone in a costume," Another police officer suggested, trying to rationalize the bizarre sight.

The director turned to his team, his expression grave "There's also a murder case that happened at the same time as this Fish-Man sighting. Two people were killed..."

"I took a look at that case. A preliminary estimate suggests the murderer might be Han Verte."

"But... director," Another police officer interjected, "The surveillance didn't detect anyone entering or leaving Verte's house. During the entire timeframe, there was no one in or out of the house."

"Are you sure?" the director asked, frowning.

"That's right. Also the autopsy showed that the two of them had been dead for 3 hours before being discovered, but at the time Han Verte was in a cafe."

The director's eyes widened in disbelief "What?!"

He sobbed heavily, rubbing his temples "Difficult cases keep appearing one after another..."

At that moment, a young man entered the police station. The director quickly walked over to him.

"Avee, you're not in a hurry, are you?" The director asked urgently.

Avee looked surprised for a moment "Not in a hurry."

"Good. Then go form a squad," The director said, tossing a part of the case files to him.

Avee's eyes broadened as he caught the files "No, I'm in a hurry, director!" He said hastily, realizing the gravity of the situation.

"In a hurry? That's one more squad," The director said, looking pointedly at Avee.

"So should I be in a hurry or not in a hurry?" Avee's mouth twitched in confusion.

The director turned his head and said, "If you don't know, then create a squad."

Avee sobbed. "...."

A bearded police officer threw a photo at him. "Look at the photo. It turns out there's something big going on."

Avee took the photo and was stunned for a moment. "Is this... a Fish-Man?"

"Yes," the bearded officer replied. "Based on the information the inspection team brought back, the footprints in the hallway were similar to webbed feet, and there was a fishy smell left behind."

"And the victim on the bed had scattered fish scales," Another police officer added.

"The team has a preliminary guess that the criminal is likely trying to disguise himself. What he was wearing was probably a prop costume, fish scales, etc. He was probably prepared in advance, the purpose was to create a fake crime scene," The bearded police officer continued.

Avee raised an eyebrow "To be fair, in this world, how can there be a Fish-Man?"

The room fell silent as they all contemplated the bizarre nature of the case.

...

In a Bar.

Han and Chino sat at the bar with two cocktail glasses in front of them, neither taking a sip.