Chapter 623: Wonder Drug

"Who else can it be?" the godlike silhouette gave a helping hand. 'He just took out the gang without support,' the breathing disrupted.

"No time for anxiety," chastised Igna, "-wake up, Odgar, you're the leader. I've only halted the premature slaughter." 

"The hospital," cried he, "-we need a doctor, Aki's badly wounded."

"So be it," the palms pressed, *Ancient Magic: Teleportation,* they stood atop the drug store. He watched silently; any unnecessary movement could rupture the savior's concentration. 

"Are they the only one's present?" inquired Igna who waited atop the edge.

"Yes," nodded Odgar with a faint inhale, '-is that a child on his back?'

"Then so be it," he playfully tapped the dark-green hair, "-Vanesa, if you'd please take them out."

"Okay…" she said without much effort,"-ancient demon arts or whatever," the arms sloppily stretched forward, "-amnesia," her wrist curled to sprinkle green flakes along the street. Those below fell after the tiniest of contact. "Should forget a day's worth of memory," she yawned, "-alright, I'm going back, good night."

"Guess she's done," side-glanced Igna, "-Odgar, jump."

"Excuse me?" he pulled back.

"Didn't I make myself clear?" he followed with a lecherous mien; "-jump I say."

"Jump," he gulped, "-fine," he leaped shut-eyed to the whole situation.

*Spatial-Arts: Wormhole,* the eyes reopened to a red-leathery seat and a large dirty edged glass pane. The outside felt heavy, and so did the inside. A supposed vintage radio played older songs, the likes of Save the World by Aceline and occasional recent titles, Kill the Bitch by Xius. A bolted table plastered before his person, a waitress in an uncleaned uniform went around and flung her pigtails behind. Her gestures were sharp and erratic, many customers were startled reflectively at her actions. Any moment and her tray would crash onto the checkered-tiled floor. The head-chef stood behind a register with a dejected wince. 

*Cling,* the doorbell rang, the waitress rushed to bid a warm welcome. "Where are we?" said Odgar, "-I remember jumping off a building."

"We're at the Roadster Eatery," said Igna, "-look outside," he gestured abruptly with his thumb, "-there's your car. A little bit on the shabby side, but hey, what can you do?" A typical fast-food special arrived, a burger and fries. 

"Where are they others?" 

"Look around," he said holding a gracious expression.

"Sorry, must be the shock," he strained for a better look, '-Kion, Aki, Tensy, Ulia, Inesa and Camilia.' Granted, the girls were sat at the next table. 

"Aki, are you well?" 

"Don't worry boss," returned the shorter military man, "-I'm fine. The bullet vest came in handy," he proudly proclaimed.

"Shut it," fired Camilia, "-we were scared shitless."

"Mind your tongue," murmured Odgar, "-a lady mustn't be so foul-mouthed." 

"Whatever," she disgruntled her attitude.

"Thanks for taking the hit, Aki."

"Don't worry, Tensy," he gave a brotherly shoulder tap, "-you'd do the same in my shoes." Food piled one after the other, the smell of fried glistening meat roused plenty o' beasts. The stomachs seemed to talk in riddles as they'd growl and sneer. A mouth-full of the buns, "-I never expected this," said Kion.

"Seems your party has been under a lot of pressure, how's life so far?"

"Amazing," fired Ulia.

"Odgar is an amazing boss," winked Inesa, "-we make quite the team," she elbowed Camilia whilst holding an obnoxious smirk.

"Yes, we do," her eyes rolled, "-Kion and those two are average, I guess," she scarfed the fries without eye contact. 

"I second Kion's question. What brings you here, Igna?"

"For work," he replied nonchalantly. Part of the mind worried about Vanesa for she had climbed atop his lap and waited impatiently. 'Where is the food?' said her gaze reflecting against Odgar's soft-drink bottle. "-I was out in town and heard gunfire. Good thing we were close."

"We really screwed up," facepalmed Kion, "-we're lucky."

"I know," exhaled Odgar desperately, "-the blame is on me for not being prepared."

"Don't worry boss," returned the crowd, "-no one blames you."

"I should have been better," said Inesa, "-the man figured the disguise so easily, I should have thought of ways to escape."

"Who was that even?" wondered Camilia in a battle against a lonesome lush fry coated in sauce, "-isn't the illusion arts Inesa's specialty or something?"

"It is," a sip of juice led into, "-or was. They called him the appraiser, maybe a spell or skill about detection?"

"Should be good enough for today," said Igna, "-enjoy the meals, we'll discuss the matter later." He said so after men in suits entered the premises. Each wore sunglasses inside, '-a bunch of idiots,' snickered the maid.

"Listen up people," said a bigger man, "-who's the owner of the Astra?"

"That would be me," smiled Igna, "-what's the matter gentlemen?" Vanesa was left to her own devices. 'Watch over her,' said the expression.

"You're the rich dude," chuckled he, "-listen, buddy," the crowd gathered, the atmosphere fell to a pin-drop silence. Those who ate stopped in fear, the imposing owner cowered behind a dispenser, "-can we, like, get a picture?" 

"Excuse me?" the head tilted, "-if it's a picture, just take one."

"No, you don't understand," he grasped Igna's shoulder, "-we need contact information. The boss's been looking all over for that particular model."

"Oh," darkness shrouded the intent, "-I'm not opposed to negotiations." 

"Will he be ok?" inquired Aki, the rude men crossed their window. Igna all but waved at Vanesa. 

"Shouldn't be a problem," shrugged Odgar, "-I seriously doubt they'll cause trouble."

Thus, the back of the eatery stood in reckless abandon. Trash littered the area, toppled dustbins and stray dogs wagged their tails at leftovers. The streets were empty. 'Let's see here,' the lens dug deep into the negotiators, '-the weaklings have generic names and common upbringings. They're affiliated to…' he looked to the leader, '-Wen, the human traffickers.'

"Alright," returned the tall man, "-the car, how much to part from it?"

"I ought to ask, is there a reason why baseball bats have to be inserted in the presumed negotiations. Granted, I'm not accustomed to the ways of guard dogs, it would truly befit thy station and solely stick to speaking terms."

"Sorry buddy, we don't understand whatever you said?" they laughed.

"A noble accent," refuted the leader, "-you're from Hidros, aren't you?"

"Correct," he smiled, "-have you heard of us?"

"Yes, the news often say the people of Hidros are strong and animalistic. How goes the fight against the monsters?"

"I'm impressed," the arms crossed, "-you're smart."

"I have a good head on my shoulders," he grinned, "-excuse the bats. Tis a little bit of intimidation."

"Let's get to the real reason."

"I'd like to purchase the car and double whatever thee paid for."

"Are you sure?" wondered Igna, "-I'm not particularly attached. Go on, shoot me a price."

"Retail is around five million, I'll offer ten million."

"Ten million," he paused, "-a scrumptious offer. Alas, I must decline. There are better models made available for thy budget."

"One problem, many of the companies don't want to sell to us."

"Mobsters have a rough time," said he, "-Alphian politics is jarring. Hidros is simpler, if one wants something, use either of two ways; money or violence. I understand the mobsters don't have much leverage against law enforcement. Corrupt bunch, they move to the sway of bills, must be hard trying to stay in business." 

"Lookey here, fellow," voiced a bystander, "-stop the small talk and get to the point," a metal bat grazed against the asphalted lot, "-I think I'll take your advice and stick to violence instead."

"Boy, I said to stick to words alone," *thud,* "-I appreciate your leader's foresight. He didn't jump headfirst into battle. Talking is often the best way to come to a solution," *Mana Control: Elemental Variant – Spectral Dislocation,* the primary elements hovered on each of his fingers, "-tales of Hidros must surely speak of magic." The pressure forced an untimely surrender, "-mages are perhaps the thing of the past," the hues flared, "-there are still those who command tremendous power." 

"Calm it," said the leader, "-I think he's had enough."

"So be it," *Dispel,* "-what then, the negotiations?"

"-I'll be honest," he jumped onto a closed bin, "-we came in search of a little spy. She wears a black mask and was spotted beside the Astra. She's not here, so we'll take our leave," he leaped, "-Noble from Hidros, you're the same as us, a member of society's most hated bunch."

"Correct," he smirked, "-well met, Fujio of Wen's gang. We shall meet again soon."

"Full of surprises," he chuckled, "-good day, lord noble," a van promptly stopped and left. 

'Fujio, the right-hand man of Carl who's a duckling in a lake of fearsome competitors.' The others exited after their meal as he arrived, "-anything the matter?" inquired Odgar who regained the prior stern frown.

"You seem well," commented Igna.

"The pressure of losing my companions broke me," he admitted with much pain, "-what's the plan?"

"Head on to the manor, what else."

And so, the dusk waned on the greyish sky. Go's manor returned to the former glory. Walls and traces of armored trucks erased to a blank painting. The residence of a powerful man stood as was meant. Lady Go's disappearance came as no surprise. They could have cared less. Inesa took the lead and made for the bath, the men headed to the study where half the room laid in waste by paper. 

"Quite a mess," remarked Igna.

"Don't pay heed," said Kion, "-the leader's crazy, I can't even."

"All the brain stuff goes over my head," said Aki, "-Tensy, let's go freshen up." The teddy bear agreed and left the three in a room of ruin. 

"Take a seat wherever."

'Wherever he says,' narrowed Igna.

Kion kept an unsettling grin, conscious or not, the distance closed into borderline creepy. "Odgar," he thundered and broke the confusion, "-mind explaining what happened earlier?"

"We were on a trail about the murders. It seems the attacks are unrelated. Anyone who wishes to get away with murder only has to order a special grade of drug and give their victims. It also looks as if there's one that can affect the psyche, the recipient turns into a puppet for the master," videos plastered onto a flat-screen, "-here are the uses. The Arcanum's a dark place, darker than people realize. They've used the drug to enchant men and women alike into sadistic and depraved acts. Some are even mutilated on film, there's no end to the clips. Here," another one flashed, "-he ordered a teenager to screw right into his nether regions."

"Turn it off!" exclaimed Kion. 

"Y-yeah, it's graphic alright," sighed Igna. "-the mind control pill, who manufactures it?"

"No idea," said he, "-rumors has it those wishing of the pill have to be prominent in society or the underworld, tis myths."

"What trail were you onto?"

"The case of Bheta Zena."

"Found dead in her apartment and ruled as a narcotic overdose. It's quite old if I remember correctly."

"Astute as usual. Ulia's talent in perfectly recreating images of the past using limited information couldn't have come at a better time. We took her to the apartment and had a scan of the area. The story goes deeper into the scandal. There were two figures, one held a camera, and the other, a hammer."

"Let me see the picture," he requested.

"There," it spawned onto the screen. '-She didn't have physical injuries. Why would there be a camera and a hammer?'

"Scroll," said Igna.

"There," another picture showed the bedroom and shadows. Not much could be concluded. The last picture flashed, and it told of the woman's death of which was on the bed.

"She killed herself," said Igna, "-the hammer, she was a sadist, the video camera, it makes sense."

"I came to the same conclusion. Her death was actually as was meant. The media portraited it to be a scandal, a way to take the blame off the narcotics."

"Backtracked and you found her connection to Stea."

"Correct."