Asher Eli's chilling demeanour sent shivers through the room as he confronted the pink-haired woman, his eyes fixed on her trembling form.
"Now, tell me everything," Asher demanded, his voice cold and authoritative as he looked at her hand.
"AArrhh! W-What is this?!" The woman's scream pierced the air as she felt a strange movement under her skin, her hand pulsating unnaturally.
"Nothing much, just flesh-eating worms," Eli remarked casually, reclining back in his chair with a hint of satisfaction in his eyes, his gaze shifting to the unconscious director.
"W-Worms?" The woman's horror was palpable as she realized the gravity of the situation.
"Yes, don't you feel itchy?" Eli inquired with a wicked smile, observing her scratching her hand in discomfort.
"Y-Yes," the woman admitted, her voice trembling as she tried to alleviate the itchiness.
"That's just the beginning. Soon, those worms will devour your flesh from within, and even... your bones won't be spared," Eli explained nonchalantly, relishing the fear creeping into her expression.
The woman's face contorted in terror, and she exclaimed, "W-What have you done to me?!"
"Nothing much, just a simple handshake," Eli replied casually, adding a sardonic wink, "Oh, and they have a particular appetite for beautiful skin. Soon, you might find yourself transformed into an ugly, patchy mess.... Really a Mess!"
"NO!" The woman's terror escalated, and in a moment of desperation, she clung to Eli's leg.
'Thud'
Eli recoiled, repulsed by her touch. With a look of disdain, he pushed her away and remarked, "I enjoy the company of women, but not those who stoop to such despicable acts as selling children for profit.... is definitely not my taste!!"
The pink-haired woman, now horrified and regretful, looked up at Eli, who seemed to have transformed from a charming man into a menacing figure.... Pure Evil!!
"S-Saintess, P-Please help me," she pleaded, turning to Kyra and Kira for salvation.
"Tell us, what were you planning to do with this child?" Kira's voice was laced with fury, her eyes drilling into the woman, demanding the truth.
"I-I don't know, P-Please believe me," the woman cried, tears streaming down her face as she begged for mercy.
Kira hesitated, torn between her duty as a saintess and her compassion for someone in distress. The situation hung in the balance, teetering between justice and mercy.
"No, Kira," Eli interjected sternly, his voice cutting through the tension in the room, "It's good to have a heart, and there is nothing wrong with that. But you need to steel your heart sometimes, otherwise, you will lose something important to you." Eli's words carried a weight of experience, hinting at the depths of his own past struggles.
Kira's resolve wavered, her body trembling as she grappled with Eli's admonition. She lowered her gaze, unable to meet his eyes, grappling with the conflict within herself. Meanwhile, Kyra remained silent, she saw the ugly world so she knew when and where to what to do.
"Busted," Eli winked at Kyra, teasing her playfully.
"Eli!" Kyra shouted in annoyance, though there was a hint of amusement in her voice.
"It's me!!" Eli recounted.
"Hahaha..." The children joined in with laughter, their joy contagious as they watched the friendly banter unfold.
Seeing the children finally laughing, everyone's smiles were genuine and heartwarming.
"Eli?" Pearl called out to Eli with a concerned expression.
"Hmm?" Eli responded, turning his attention to Pearl.
"Are you sure about leaving them like that?" Pearl's worry was evident, hinting at potential repercussions as there might be someone influential backing the culprits, given the audacity of their actions in broad daylight.
"Yeah, that's not like you," Arlyne added, her concern mirroring Pearl's sentiments.
Eli's lips twitched slightly as he affectionately pinched their cheeks, "Do you think I'm just a brute who acts without thinking?"
Eli's lips twitched he pinched their cheeks and asked, "Do you think I am just a brute who does without thinking?"
"Yes"
"Do you even need to ask"
Pearl and Arlyne replied in unison, their honesty clear in their expressions.
Eli stared at them blankly for a moment before letting out a sigh. Just as he was about to respond, Oliver intervened by removing Eli's hand from his sister's cheek.
"Okay, that's enough!!" Oliver said with annoyance.
Eli glanced at Oliver with a hint of annoyance, but he respected Oliver's protective instincts towards his sister.
However, Eli's smile returned as he turned his attention back to the children. "Yes, I did want to put an end to those individuals, but then I thought, why not play this out a bit longer?"
"Pardon?" Kira furrowed her brows in confusion, not grasping Eli's intentions.
"What happens to criminals who die during an ongoing investigation?" Eli asked, a sly smile playing on his lips, hinting at a deeper plan in motion.