Criminal X : Epitome Of Evil

Fozier and all his now ninety seven soldiers arrived inside ground 8.

Pablo and Draxus both jogged their way towards the first Marshal.

They had run enough to have sweat on their faces and they both were smart enough to talk before thinking.

At such times, Pablo was glad Flashy wasn't with him.

Stopping just in front of Fozier, Pablo bowed his head.

"What brings you here, first Marshal?" He asked.

Draxus remained behind Pablo with a straight face.

Fozier squinted his eyes at Pablo and his first words were :

"One of my soldiers died today."

'He died yesterday though.'

"Surely you jest." Pablo acted like he didn't believe Fozier.

"It's true."

Pablo raised his brows. "How is this possible? Was he ill?"

"Ill? Why do you ask that?" Fozier didn't understand.

"I mean, if it was your soldier then he must have died by some illness."

Fozier's gaze softened. "No. He has been killed."

Pablo widened his eyes.

"Impossible. Who could do such a thing? Who in their right mind would anger you?"

"That's what I want to find."

Fozier kept his eyes on Pablo and Pablo also did his best to look at Fozier only. If even a little bit of his gaze went to one of Fozier's soldiers, his body would flinch and that would be a pain to deal with.

"Then I am not sure why you came here, Marshal. I don't think I can help you in any way possible." Pablo slightly bowed his head.

"You can help me for sure." Fozier replied.

Pablo frowned.

Fozier carried on.

"What were you doing at the time of my soldier's death?"

'That's the oldest thing in the book.'

Pablo had heard this question many times. The culprit would answer this question right away as he would be ready with his alibi.

But someone who have nothing to do with the crime would answer this question like :

"How can I answer that, Marshal? I don't know what time the crime happened."

Fozier nodded.

He had expected Pablo would straight out tell some excuse if he really was the culprit.

"I also don't know when the death happened. That's why I came here." Fozier said.

"Tell me what you want, Marshal. I'll try to help." Pablo acted naturally. He had no fear on his face. But he still had no idea about what Fozier wanted his help for.

"You played as a detective during your assignment, right?"

'Oh. He is talking about that.'

"Yes. That I did."

"Then solve this case as well. We will go to the crime scene again and you'll do your investigation."

"Right now?"

"Yes. I want to find the killer as soon as possible."

Fozier looked around the empty ground and added, "You don't seem busy as well. It will be a good activity for you."

Pablo sighed. "As you say. I can't refuse you."

Fozier nodded and turned around.

His soldiers left ground 8 and Pablo walked behind them.

Soon, they left the camp as well and Fozier and his soldiers let Pablo come in the front.

But Pablo knew what was happening so he stopped walking. He refused to walk in front of Fozier and his soldiers.

"What happened?" Fozier asked.

Pablo inwardly smiled.

'I know what you are trying to do.'

"What?" Cupid asked.

'He says that we are going to the crime scene but he didn't tell me where the crime scene is.'

"So?" Cupid didn't get it.

Pablo explained, 'If I went to the General's mansion right now then they will instantly get to know that I am the killer because they haven't shared the crime scene yet. It would be like giving myself away. So before that could happen…'

Pablo furrowed his brow and asked Fozier, "Where is the crime scene, Marshal? I don't even know where I am going. I can't be in front of you all."

Fozier gave a slow nod. "Hmm."

Pablo acted like nothing was wrong.

"We will show you the way. I forgot about telling you the location." Fozier said and along with his soldiers, he started walking.

His soldiers were in front of him and Fozier, Pablo and Draxus were in the back of the line.

Pablo was in the middle of Fozier and Draxus.

Draxus remained silent all the way as he was afraid he might do something that could giveaway everything. He was scared of their current situation right now.

Pablo, however, wasn't scared. He was just cautious and he would take every step with great care.

But inside his mind, he was sure of one thing.

'All of them are children in front of me. They can't catch me even in a hundred years.'

He was confident in his abilities.

"Why are you so full of yourself? There must be someone who you think could match you." Cupid said.

'Well, if I have to say, then there was that one man.'

"Who?"

'That one. The Chief of special forces. I believe just like me, he also had some messed up life. He could have matched me.'

"Right. That man. Well, then no one will be able to catch you here. The Chief is long dead."

'Too bad for you.'

Pablo stopped talking and Cupid also said nothing.

Fozier and his soldiers remained silent but after a few seconds, the first Marshal asked :

"Why are you bringing him along?"

Pablo figured the man was asking about Draxus so he replied, "We were together in the camp and after the assignment, he got appointed under me. I brought him here, well, to feel comfortable among strangers."

"So you are scared of us?" Fozier asked.

Pablo hurriedly shook his head. "I am not scared of you all of course. You all are my comrades. It's just that there are so many strong soldiers around me right now which makes me feel like I am trapped or something."

Fozier didn't reply right away but after a moment, he nodded.

"Don't worry. It will be over soon."

'I agree.'

"If you say so."

Pablo went silent and looked ahead.

His eyes found a glint as black smoke was oozing from somewhere, spreading in the air.

'Good work.'

Pablo walked as if nothing was wrong and the soldiers did the same.

They also saw the smoke but they didn't think that the mansion would be on fire.

They kept walking and walking and after a few more minutes, the mansion finally came into view.

And as soon as Fozier and his soldiers saw it on fire, they looked at each other.

Fozier jerked his head at Pablo and Pablo also acted worried about the fire.

Draxus did the same as he looked here and there.

Fozier gritted his teeths and shouted :

"Put out the fire! Do anything to end this fire!!"

All his soldiers dashed towards the burning mansion and Pablo did the same.

He helped people to pour water on the fire and ordered Draxus to do it as well.

'I hope everything is burned when the fire ends.'

There were a few soldiers under Fozier with water Ego and they were pouring waves after waves on the burning mansion.

Pablo figured the fire would go out very soon if the soldiers poured water on it like that. But he couldn't just stop the soldiers. He could only hope that Fozier doesn't find anything related to Dilinger after the fire goes out.

However, Pablo was wrong.

The fire never went away.

No matter how much water was poured on it, the fire kept burning the same as before.

"The fire is not going out, Marshal. What now?" One shoulder shouted.

Fozier didn't say anything and stomped towards Pablo.

His eyes had glares directed at Pablo as the first Marshal stood in front of the tenth Marshal.

"Who the hell put this mansion on fire?"

'Why is he asking me? I was with him all this time. Don't suspect me now.'

"How should I know? I don't even know whose mansion is this? What is going on? And I was with you the entire time, Marshal." Pablo said in a surprised manner. As if all the confusion of the world was on his shoulders.

And he wasn't finished.

"Wait.. could it be.." Pablo took a step back, horrified. "Are you suspecting that I have something to do with all of this? I can't believe it, Marshal. Just because I acted a little rudely with the second Marshal in that meeting, you thought I would kill a fellow soldier! That's not done, Marshal. How can you think such a thing! How.. how.."

Pablo summoned tears on his eyelids and Draxus put his hand on Pablo's shoulder.

He comforted him and Pablo wiped his tears.

Fozier watched this display with a ridiculed face.

"Um.." He tried to say something.

"Er.." He couldn't form words.

"I am… sorry. I am just tense. Forget it, Pablo."

Fozier was finally able to say something. He apologized to Pablo of all things.

Pablo wiped his eyes a little more and with a smile looked at Fozier.

"It's okay, Marshal. I can understand you must be under pressure. But I will certainly clean my image inside your mind."

"How so?" Fozier asked.

Pablo reached out his hand towards Fozier and a deal was proposed.

"I will help you find the killer of your soldier."