Demon's Reborn

Chap 3

Morning came but Luigi doesn't feel like waking up from his bed. He just let the soft warm sunshine caress his blue painted face. Behind a man's success is a woman, but in front of a man's fall is a woman. She has played both roles perfectly. She's the reason why I became the man I am today, but she's also the reason why I don't feel like going on anymore. He chuckled bitterly and closed his eyes again.

His phone suddenly rang for an incoming call. Blindly he searched for it at the bedside table, hit the answer button and held it a little distance from his left ear. "Luigi..." from the voice itself, he knew it was Hale who called him. Daggers of guilt started torturing his heart. "I'm sorry Hale" he sighed. "It's okay. Things don't always go the way we wanted them to go. There's no such a thing that makes hoping bad" Luigi's brows wrinkled feeling fake emotion from the man's voice which he always used when tricking someone. "What is it?" he asked trying to sound casual. "Would you come at the office today?" Luigi thought for a while before answering "I guess... no... I won't be coming..." then the call ended.

Luigi sat on his bed for a while before deciding to get up and go somewhere. Wearing some casual clothes, he strode into the police station and went to the information desk. He then asked for the leader of the investigation team of the Hasfia massacre. The officer-in-charge was about to scold him when the officer looked at him and realized he's facing the Tiger of the Hasfias. Though he may be working in Hale's office but his service is under the clan. The officer fetched for the telephone and called the team leader. "You're badly needed here sir, it's the Ti-I mean colonel... no not him, it's Colonel Ardeur" the officer said trying to sound as casual and formal as he could be. Putting the phone down, the officer ushered Luigi into a private room and left. Am I that terrifying? he asked himself as he sit down then remembered how Venice reacted on his nickname.

"Tiger of the Hasfias? Not bad. What are you upset about it?" she asked as if the topic at hand is a usual thing. "It makes me look like I'm terrifying" he complained. "Well you are terrifying when you're in your uniform, commanding, and on work." "They even call me by that name when I'm not on uniform or in command" he again complained. "Oh don't be so upset about it Luigi. It only means that they're afraid of you, well you're the devil himself sometimes, just take advantage of it" she explained. "But I don't want to look cruel." "Then you might just get replaced on your position if my family heard that. Take it as a compliment as the clan take pride of you. We don't need angels here" she made it clear. He don't want to be replaced, never, ever. "And besides, no one died living his life with kindness."

How about Jesus then? He asked inside his head.

The knock on the door at the room took the attention of Luigi. The man he's expecting headed to him carrying a specimen bag containing the locket and the ring. "Good day sir, I was about to notify you about this" the team leader said and carefully placed the bag on the table and sat at the chair across Luigi. "I guess I'm on time then" Luigi sighed "so where are the papers I'm supposed to sign for taking these in my custody?" he asked and looked questioningly at the team leader. "That was already ar—'' the team leader stopped midway as if he just remembered something he shouldn't do "...I mean... I'll just go and get them" the team leader stood up and strode out of the door.

The team leader came in and spread the papers on the table and had provided the pen clipped at the pocket of the man's chest pocket. Luigi, starting to feel wary, glanced at the team leader who's starting to have a cold sweat on his forehead as he read the documents one by one before signing them. "Would you mind doing something for me?" Luigi asked. "Of course sir. How can I help you sir?" the team leader tried to sound calm and formal as the searching eyes of Luigi penetrates into his nervous eyes.

"I need you to make this confidential" Luigi said pertaining to what took place in the room and his voice is so soft enough for the two of them to hear. "If they ask what happened here, tell them that I only came to have an update on the investigation. If they ask about these" Luigi paused and pointed the locket and the ring "tell them your head has taken it to his care. And as to these papers, make the best of it that no one would ever set their eyes on it. May it be your head or other senior and never to General Collins" the team leader blinked twice as if he misheard what Luigi just said.

"Yes, even the General. Burn it if necessary. Do I make myself clear?" there's a warning in his tone that the team leader immediately understood. "Yes sir, I understand" the team leader answered too quickly for Luigi to confirm that the threat attached on his title is working perfectly well. He then stood up and hid the bag into the inside pocket of his jacket. "Thank you" Luigi said as he tap the team leader's shoulder and strode out of the room. The team leader wiped the body of the pen on his handkerchief and replaced it on his chest pocket then wiped the beads of sweat on his face. Not taking the risk to be found out, the team leader burnt the papers into ashes and dumped it in the smelly drainage at the back of the office.

I wish I never handled this case, the team leader thought as he sits on his swivel chair. But this kind of case comes only once that if I was able to solve this, I'd be promoted to a higher position. The team leader grimaced when he remembered the message sent to him last night on his fax machine at home.

He was relaxing in his office at home after a physically and mind draining investigation they had as they review their findings. His relaxation was interrupted by the beeping of his fax machine and the noise made by printing whatever was sent to him. Lazily, he reached for the printed message. At first he thought it was just some random message but when he reached the bottom, he bolted up and read the message over and over again, his eyes not leaving the seal and the name below it. "Mother of Christ" escaped from his mouth when it sunk into him.

Another message came now talking about the two of the most influential and feared people in the world of SEAL. He did not ask anything for he was told not to and just obey orders. Ignoring these would mean more than being thrown out of his work but death and infinite misfortune would fall on his family. And now is the threat imposed by the Tiger. These maniacs' threats are putting more and more restrictions on my work. This time, I should be more wary and careful of what I say and do. It may cost me a lot but the fortune it brings can be more than what I expect of, but of course, failing these would mean hell itself, the team leader told himself as he try to relax.