Location: Absolute Detectives Headquarters - Merlin's Floor
Calling the place filled with objects wouldn't be strange at all. Various items and antiques were scattered everywhere, some broken yet still left untouched. No one knew whether Merlin collected them out of habit or kept them as memories.
One thing was certain: behind him stood a soundproof glass wall. Birds passed outside, yet not a single sound could be heard. The room was messy, but at the moment only two people were inside.
Merlin: When will he arrive?
Zach: He'll be here soon.
The two had been waiting for Richard for several minutes. Zach had deliberately chosen to wait so Richard could hear the information as well.
After a while, running footsteps echoed behind the entrance door. Both remained expressionless as they waited.
The door suddenly burst open, almost as if someone had crashed into it.
The one who entered was-
Richard: Sorry. The interrogation took longer than expected.
Zach and Merlin showed no reaction. Merlin slowly clasped his hands together.
Merlin: Then we can begin.
Richard quickly shut the door and moved beside Zach.
Merlin: I will assign you a mission.
Merlin took a slow breath.
Merlin: An island has been discovered. The ones who found it were Guardians… and the one who sent this mission was Arthur.
When Arthur heard about the island's existence, he told Rick:
"Inform the Detectives. Let them handle the exploration. I'll be busy."
After that day, Rick immediately sent a letter to the Absolute Detectives. Roland read it first, then Merlin, and now Zach and Richard were learning about it.
As for Zane, he was busy training his daughter. He loved her deeply even the fact that she was a Guardian didn't matter to him.
Merlin: There is a high probability that a remnant of the Demon King exists there.
That's why I'm assigning the two of you.
Richard tensed up, but Zach immediately asked:
Zach: Let's say… others try to claim it. What should we do?
Merlin answered instantly, without hesitation. His tone remained completely calm.
Merlin: Kill them.
Richard: What?
Merlin spoke so naturally it sounded disturbingly ordinary.
Merlin: Anyone attempting to seize that relic has betrayed humanity. They will no longer be regarded as human… but as a creature.
Zach: No problem. Just tell us when we leave, my Supreme.
Merlin looked as if he had something more to say.
Merlin: You know the relic, Arthur was protecting, correct?
Zach and Richard nodded.
Zach: The Book of the Fallen Angel, right?
Merlin: Yes. But someone managed to steal it… without Arthur even noticing.
Richard was visibly shocked, but Zach remained expressionless.
Zach: Who was it?
Merlin: Deadeye Revenant. You may simply call him Revenant. He isn't just one of the best snipers… he's the best.
Zach and Richard: Ah… the man who escaped us…
Zach: We actually caught him earlier today, but-
Merlin's eyes showed slight surprise, though his face remained calm.
Merlin: What do you mean?
Zach: A gigantic hand emerged from a spatial crack and took him away. But that Revenant guy was holding a brass knuckle weapon a close-combat tool.
Merlin: Seems he temporarily switched to close combat… anyway, do you know how Arthur obtained that relic?
Richard scratched his head, clearly clueless. Zach hesitated between two possibilities.
Zach: Which one? Revenant… or Arthur?
Merlin: Arthur.
Zach: How?
Merlin: Arthur discovered that relic roughly two years ago… Do you know about the Cursed Spirits Incident?
Zach didn't understand; he had still been living in his village at the time. But Richard immediately reacted.
Richard: You mean the man who declared war on the Guardians?!
Merlin nodded.
Merlin: He was a bounty hunter the strongest one. He declared war against all bounty hunters and ranked as the third strongest person in the world. But he died after his battle with Yujin.
Zach showed quiet curiosity.
Zach: Can you explain what happened?
Richard sighed before speaking sincerely.
Richard: As our Supreme said… it happened two years ago, in the winter of 3117. He gathered all bounty hunters and launched war against the Guardian Alliance. Absolute chaos followed. Then he fought Yujin… and lost.
The Cursed Spirits Incident occurred during the winter of 3117.
The man sought revenge against Yujin for reasons unknown.
His name was Kyojin Deathclaw.
He had only one goal - to kill Yujin.
No one knew why.
During their battle, Kyojin lost his life.
Yujin's power was unlike anyone else's. He was a user of four Techniques and was bound to three cursed spirits, meaning he could control three souls simultaneously. He was also the only person of that era capable of wielding a uniquely altered flame energy.
He used that power twice during his battle with Kyojin.
After that fight, Yujin was reborn as an entirely different person.
As for the relic's connection-
Kyojin had absorbed the Fallen Angel's Relic into himself to ascend to a higher level of power. After his defeat, Arthur sealed the relic.
Merlin: I'm sending you to that island to ensure an incident like that never happens again… or something even worse.
Merlin struck the table lightly with his hand. Pens and several objects fell, their sounds echoing through the room.
Merlin: If that relic truly exists there… seal it immediately and bring it back here!