The Deceitful One

The ceiling of the underground basement was covered in a layer of bronze and golden-colored pipes and gears. If looked at it as a whole, the pipes seemed to have formed a sort of runic formation.

Hailey saw Bryan staring at the pipes and explained, "These pipes have been laid in a formation that helps with things such as sound and vibration restriction, defense, and concealment among other things."

Bryan\'s interest was piqued, "Concealment? How does that work?"

"If someone on the surface sweeps their spiritual force in this direction, they will find nothing. Of course, if it\'s a Transcendent of higher ranks then it\'s a completely different story," replied Hailey.

"I see," Bryan nodded his head in understanding.

Hailey then gestured for Bryan to follow her as she said, "Come, let me take you to the captain\'s office first. I can show you around afterward."

"All right," Bryan then followed Hailey to the other end of the basement. Along the way, he looked at all the different things happening in the basement with fascination.

The others also noticed a newcomer and were wondering who this person was who was looking around with starry eyes like a monkey that had found a forest full of bananas.

Andrew, who was currently tinkering with some magic spells in the practice area also caught sight of Bryan as his eyebrows rose in surprise.

"Oh? Isn\'t that Detective Watson\'s student?" He mumbled to himself.

Andrew, along with Ron had been present in the infirmary at the Church of Wisdom back when Bryan was admitted there after getting brutally beaten up by Johnny.

They had also overheard Bishop Walls mention that Bryan had a supreme-grade spiritual aptitude. Hence, Andrew had some impression of Bryan.

He only stared at Bryan for a moment, and then got back to practicing his magic spells with a bored expression.

Meanwhile, Hailey had brought Bryan to the entrance of Robert\'s office door. She respectfully knocked twice on the door and waited patiently.

About a few seconds later, a deep voice sounded from within the office, "Come in."

Hailey opened the door and Bryan followed behind her, feeling slightly nervous. Robert\'s office room was quite spacious but very simple.

Only the most basic necessities were kept in the office. Like a table, three chairs, a single bookshelf, a court hanger, and finally only one painting hanging on the wall, that of the famous statue of the Goddess of Wisdom in Nadir.

Robert had a head full of black hair, brown eyes, and a thick beard. He was sitting in his chair behind the table and across from him was Ron who had now grown a mustache since the last time Bryan had seen him at Kenny Adam\'s house.

Hailey politely introduced, "Captain, Bryan Lombardi is here."

Both Robert and Ron turned their heads and looked at the handsome youth wearing a black three-piece suit and a trench coat of the same color.

Ron was pleasantly surprised as he greeted Bryan with a smile. However, Robert\'s eyes slightly narrowed.

He then instructed Hailey, "Hailey, you may leave."

Hailey nodded respectfully, "Yes, captain."

She then turned around and exited his office after shutting the door behind her.

Bryan who was still feeling a tad bit nervous greeted Robert, "Good mor-"

However, before he could finish his sentence, spiritual force gushed out from Robert, drowning him completely and putting tremendous pressure on him.

Bryan was alarmed at this sudden attack as he thought, \'W-What the fuck!?\'

He instantly released his own spiritual force and covered it around his body, trying to lessen the pressure.

Robert raised his eyebrow at the sight of this as he thought in astonishment, \'This kid… what fine control of the spiritual force. And he\'s not even a Transcendent yet!\'

Ron who was taken aback at the sudden turn of events, stood up from his chair, and asked Robert in shock, "Captain, what happened? Why are you doing this?"

Robert didn\'t reply to Ron\'s question, however. He kept staring at Bryan who was on the verge of kneeling and asked in a cold voice, "Tell me, Bryan. Why do I sense such a deep murderous aura from you?"

Bryan was taken aback as he struggled to resist the pressure, "I-I don\'t know what you\'re t-talking about…ugh"

Robert applied even more spiritual force causing Bryan to finally drop to his knees. Robert\'s eyes narrowed as his voice turned colder, "Don\'t lie to me, boy. How many people have you killed?

Be honest with me or else I won\'t hesitate to imprison you here at the headquarters. I don\'t care even if you are Detective Watson\'s only student. I simply do not wish to include and nurture a bloodthirsty killer in my team."

Ron\'s expression turned serious as he thought, \'Murderous aura? Bryan… a bloodthirsty killer?\'

Bryan finally came to a realization as he understood the meaning of Robert\'s words, \'I see. Having killed all those people at Brown Estate, this guy must\'ve sensed it on my body somehow.\'

He gritted his teeth as he spoke, "All right, all right I\'ll tell you everything. J-Just remove this pressure… fuck!"

Robert withdrew his spiritual force as he stared intently at him.

Bryan finally breathed a sigh of relief as he got up to his feet. Wiping the sweat dripping from his forehead, he looked at both Robert and Ron and then recounted to them about everything that led to the massacre.

From being attacked by Johnny and almost dying, torturing and getting out all the intel from Pyke, infiltrating Jeffrey Gill\'s house and leaving him a letter, deceiving all the gang leaders working under Jack to finally killing everyone.

Bryan took about more than ten minutes to explain everything, even the most minute of details. The only thing he didn\'t mention was looting the safes at both Jack and Jeffrey\'s villas.

There was no need to disclose that, after all.

By the time Bryan finished narrating everything, Robert and Ron had bewildered expressions on their faces.

Especially Ron. His eyes were like round saucers and his mouth was wide enough to fit a chicken\'s egg. He looked at Bryan with an incredulous gaze, "Y-You mean, you were the one who orchestrated the Damascus Massacre!?"

"Uh, yeah," Bryan replied matter-of-factly.

Ron involuntary gulped as he inquired further, "And you\'re saying, you alone killed at least 40 people!?"

Bryan thought for a moment while he stroked his chin as he replied, "Hmm, yes. That should be about right."

Ron was dumbfounded as he mumbled, "Madman!"