After causing a great deal of inconvenience to everyone in the village, Azzy looked around. "Okay, there's no one spying on me."
For a brief couple of seconds, he summoned the Hour Glass and unleashed soul skill: Chrono Rewind on the electric pole and the wires that were damaged.
Within a fraction of a second, they were repaired as if nothing happened earlier and everyone had the power back. While some thought that it is just a power glitch and continued to sleep, others in the neighborhood who heard the sound outside woke up.
Meanwhile, Azzy dismissed the hourglass and took out a 5-star healing card from his storage space card.
As he healed the unconscious man, the latter's skin returned to normal.
Azzy was a little bit surprised and took a closer look at the man's face through the night vision goggles. "This man is that village chief Albert's grandson, right?"
Earlier during the day, when he went to meet the village chief, he had seen the photo. So, he easily recognized it.
"I wonder what kind of transformation is this…" Azzy mumbled to himself.
His doubts were answered by the Reaper, right away. "It's a werewolf, Azrael."
"A werewolf?" Azzy was taken aback. He asked, "This man's transformation is different though."
The Reaper explained, "He's not a full werewolf. Either his body couldn't completely integrate a wolf's DNA or he is a child, born from werewolf and a human."
"So, one of his parents are werewolves?" Azzy suddenly thought of the village chief. Is it possible that his grandfather might also be one? Possibilities are there but he doesn't know for sure.
Azzy reached out his back and pulled out the walkie-talkie that is hanging in its pants. He tuned it to channel 3 and see if he can connect to the other two.
Thankfully, Neal's walkie-talkie is always on.
Azzy told them to come to the village chief's house.
After informing them, he healed the unconscious man and carried him to the house of the chief of the village where the other two also brought the caskets and the three thieves.
But, there, as soon as he stepped inside, he found the village chief rushed towards him, making Azzy stop.
Albert stopped before Azzy and laid his eyes on the unconscious young man. His hands quivered and tears welled up in his eyes as the old man touched the face, "Evan…"
Azzy already knew about it but for protocol, he asked, just in case, "Is this perhaps, your grandson?"
"Yes," The old man nodded, confirming it.
Azzy then said, "Don't worry. He's out of danger but we'll have to interrogate him. He's not only a culprit in attempting to steal the caskets but is also a suspect in other crimes."
"No, he must have been blackmailed. Evan is a good fellow." The old man was visibly shocked, clearly in disbelief that his grandson can do something wrong.
"And this good fellow isn't human. He's a werewolf. Forget about your grandson and worry about yourself. As you are his kin, you are also a suspect, now." Azzy replied right away in a straight tone. Because his face doesn't contain a bit of emotion, it impacted the old man a lot.
"No, a werewolf? That's not possible…" The village chief stepped back in fear. His whole body is shaking uncontrollably.
"It looks like you know what a werewolf is." Azzy caught his mistake and attempted to interrogate him on the spot without any compassion. "Even the people in towns and cities never heard of the term. But, a person from a tiny village hidden in some mountains knows of it. I feel like you are hiding something."
It's not that Azzy is trying to be cruel to this frail-looking elder, he had pity for him and his grandson but because of the late Galarian King that troubled his life a lot, his body wouldn't listen to his heart.
Claire who was sitting in the living room scurried towards them with a trace of surprise on his face, "I thought it he is only an Arcana Master but a werewolf?
"Not a complete one, Claire." Azzy clarified her and then, explained how his transformation is only partial.
After placing the young man on a cot, both of them looked at the old man for an explanation. As for the other three, they admitted that they were the ones who were stealing the cattle but were only following Evan's orders.
Taking a seat, Albert let out a deep sigh as he leaned forward with his elbows resting on his knees, "Twenty-five years ago, our mountains are known for possessing ginsengs. People used to stop by our village before they go on a trek to find those treasures.
My daughter, Nova, was abducted when she ventured into the mountains as a guide for a couple. I have searched for her, complained of a missing report but to avail.
Two years later, she returned with Evan inside her. People thought she just eloped with her boyfriend and returned home after being cheated on. I too thought the same.
But, it wasn't the complete truth.
Somewhere in the mountains, there's a dungeon where experiments were being made on abducted humans.
She was held a prisoner there for more than a year and experimented with by those cruel bas***ds. As a result, she indeed became stronger but lost her humanity.
Every once in a while, she would suddenly storm out from the village and go to the mountains. Whether it's a curse or a blessing, she wouldn't remember anything during her transformation.
Eventually, she gives birth to a boy and dies in childbirth. During childhood, my grandson's eyes used to turn yellow like a wolf and he would possess supernatural reflexes and power but the ability slowly waned away.
During the past 15 years, he never exhibited any unnatural symptoms, and neither did he harm anyone in his life."
"Well, we know it when he wakes up," commented Claire before turning around to walk away.
About a couple of hours later, the young man recovered his consciousness. His eyes fell on his grandfather and exclaimed, "Grandpa…"
However, the surprise didn't last a second as he discovered that he was captured by dark energy chains.
Albert looked at his grandson in worry and spoke in a pleading tone, "tell them that you are innocent, Evan. These people from WAMO are telling you that they will take you to their headquarters to interrogate you. You didn't commit any crime, right?"
Then, Neal's hand fell on the shoulders of his grandfather as he said, "sorry for interrupting your reunion but we have questions. Whether we treat your grandfather as your accomplice or not, depends on your answers."
He struggled, "leave my grandpa, alone. He has nothing to with this."
"Now, tell us everything. Why were you stealing the caskets? Why are there dozens of hundred dead bodies buried on the mountain? Who do you work for?" Claire asked sternly. Naturally, she was trying to act tough.
After a brief silence, Evans answered, "a few months ago, I received an offer from a noble named Roan Falcon. I don't know how he found out our family's secret but I didn't adhere to his blackmail of working for him.
However, he refused to back away. Roan showed the power of his Falcon family, cutting off the aid to our village and throwing my grandfather into jail with charges of corruption.
It forced me to work under him for there's no police officer who would listen to my plea.
My work isn't that complicated either. Every week, I would have to venture into the mountains and go to the mine. I will be handed corpses without heads. I don't know what will they do with them but my job is to bury those corpses.
At first, it was out of no choice but as my payment is increased, I could only continue."
"Do you know the location of the mine?" Claire asked him.
As Evan nodded and promised that he will take them there, his grandfather pleaded innocence, "I know that my grandson cannot do any harm. He is innocent. I promise you that he won't run away and will cooperate with your case. So, please free him."
Claire's expression turned soft as she looked at Azzy who was the one that trapped him with energy chains, "Rael, free him."
Azzy didn't release but said to the captured suspect, "I have but one question. Your three friends say that you are their boss and the fourth friend was killed by a wolf. Is it really the case? Or were you involved in it?"
The room suddenly went silent. Four pairs of eyes were staring at Evan, waiting for an answer.
The source of this c𝐨ntent is freewe(b)nov𝒆l