Seonghwah was sitting in the van after the investigation, thinking about his fight with Xinyue, the mutilated dead body and those puddles of blood and more strongly; about his newfound abilities. What were they? How exactly did they work? Why were they even there? Was the virus in the paint particles still present in the original crime scene?All of these questions, tension about the case and thoughts about the victims and the crime scene were starting to deprive Seonghwah of good sleep, crow's feet were forming under his sharp, amber eyes and he was starting to feel drowsy and tired all the time."Maybe I will find something in that meeting with that girl, Xinyue." He thought.
***
As Seonghwah reached his home, he sighed and flopped himself down on the sofa.
"Ugh", he said, "Why did I have to love crime stories so much that I became a damn investigator?"
"You were just following your heart, don't go so hard on yourself.", said an oddly familiar voice from behind him.
"AAH", Seonghwah cried and fell down from the edge of the sofa, "OW!".
"You're late!", said Xinyue, standing over him as he lay on the floor.
"I accept that, but breaking and entering is a crime ."
"I didn't break in, you left the door open when you came inside."
Seonghwah slapped his forehead in exasperation, "You just tell me what you want and let me rest."
"Lets go to your room, people can overhear through the windows."
"What? No one is that much of a creep!"
"I am being followed by a member of the criminal gang or team or whatever. Please, just cooperate."
As Seonghwah and Xinyue went towards The main bedroom of the house, a heavy sound of metal falling on hard ground came through the window in the corridor and a tall and hefty figure loomed right outside, waiting. Like a lioness on the hunt.
***
"So you are telling that there are three more superheroes with you, and they are all in search of the criminals behind these kidnappings?"
"Yes, absolutely right. And I am here on behalf of my team to recruit you as our fifth member."
"So, is it necessary for me to join you guys to search for the criminals."
"No, but we can help each other. We can join forces to search for the criminals, expose them and defeat them. And if possible, we might even find the lost children. We can also help you figure out how your powers work."
"Join us, Choi Seonghwah. We will help you crack the most complex mystery of your life.", Xinyue said; trying to look calm even when she was in a hurry to distance herself from the one tailing her.
"Okay I'll join you people. But where do you live, is it a secret base or what?", said Seonghwah; thinking that he would leave immediately if he felt something was suspicious. But that ring of truth in Xinyue's voice was telling him to just join the team without second thought.
But what Seonghwah didn't know, was that even though Xinyue was speaking the truth; it had been an understatement on her part that someone from the criminal organisation was trailing her.
That member was out for her blood
***
"Yes master, the girl in hanfu is with some detective.", said a strong and deep, yet feminine voice just outside Seonghwah's window. A deep and gravelly voice came from the phone into which the member of the criminal gang was talking, "Kill that detective along with the girl. Those two samples and the other three in Tokyo are crucial for the protection of both our experiments and our secrecy. Go my blacksmith, make the crimson maw proud."
"Yes master"