Kairo left the investigation room directly after. Time was of the essence, and he had to do something, but where exactly could he start?
'All we know about the mastermind for now is people call him the Surgeon. Such a chilling name for someone who doesn't save but destroys lives,' Kairo thought.
Still, how the Surgeon managed to modify his victims was still a mystery. What card exactly was it?
Outside, Nyx and Leli were already waiting for him, their expressions equally somber. Clearly, everyone was already aware of what was going on.
" Kairo, I'm sorry for this. You're not alone in this. I too was part of it. We shouldn't have left Jed alone," Nyx said.
"It's already done. No time for remorse now. First, we need to make research on all cards that have a relationship with the medical domain and all their owners. All the doctors and surgeons of the town too—and their interconnection. Leli, find out what relationship the victims all have in common," Kairo started formulating a plan.
He knew alone he wouldn't be able to complete this task. Thus, he went directly to the point.
Despite her initial surprise, Nyx kept a cool expression.
"I knew you would ask that. I made research already. We have found a victim that has not died after the experiment. He was saved by a Reeper on one of his missions. That's why we are here," Nyx said.
"We can't explain everything here. But Dorothy has put all four departments on his tail this time around. At first, he was considered a little Grade One danger, but now his danger level has been rising to Grade Three," Leli explained with her little tablet in hand.
Kairo took a glance at the file. He knew about the criminal classifications of the Card Mage—divided in five grades based on three criteria: first, the individual's strength; secondly, based on their influence; and thirdly, based on the overall danger for normal people.
Selis Variant was a Grade Five criminal—in all aspects, she surpassed almost everyone as the boss of the underground Card Mages.
"You said a Reeper? Aren't those under David Ortega? Thought they seldom meddled with things from the headquarters," Kairo's curiosity was piqued.
He had been here for quite some time already, but he had never met any Reeper. He knew about three out of the four captains already—David was the only elusive one.
"Normally, the Reepers are a little special, but you will find out soon enough when your star ranking increases. Now let's go, Kairo. I have arranged a meeting with the victim. We have less than an hour," Leli urged them, taking the lead as usual.
Kairo had no idea what he would find but followed his friends anyway.
'They are all equally invested in this. We will find a solution together,' Kairo said to himself.
He couldn't go back to take Jed with him that day, but he could do all he could to solve this problem.
A few hours later, Kairo and his group arrived at a large hospital facility. Within the verdant green compound, several patients could be seen in white robes, moving and acting like they had never seen sunlight in centuries.
Kairo observed his surroundings carefully. Now that he thought of it, crossing the gate earlier, he had felt something strange—like they had moved into another realm once more.
'It is not a hospital but some sort of prison.'
"Officer Kairo. Welcome to the rehabilitation center of the Card Mage Police. I am Celia—Inquisitor Celia, to be precise," the woman presented herself, wearing a jet black and red uniform. On her belt were all sorts of gadgets Kairo could only imagine the use for. On her shoulder, an insignia—a striking three-star.
"Thank you, Inquisitor Celia. We are here to meet the patient brought back by the Reeper. Can we meet him?" Kairo said directly.
Celia smiled and waved at them to follow her.
'The Card Mage Police seems to be more complex than we thought,' Kairo thought.
As Kairo and his friends moved through the corridors, he noticed a few rooms in which officers were 'talking' with patients. Some were screaming, but no voice was coming out. The corridor was ghost quiet. As he passed another glass window, a little girl jumped against it, screaming and pleading his way.
Although Kairo could not hear what she said, plea was a universal language that was easy to understand—even without sound.
"What is she doing to her?" Kairo could not hold himself anymore and stopped Celia.
"Kairo, please," Leli called out.
"Kairo, calm down. Don't forget why we are here. I too find it disturbing what they are doing here, but we have to keep a cool head," Nyx joined in.
Kairo sighed inwardly.
'Do they caution such things? Why does it not disturb them?' Kairo glanced strangely at his friends.
Still, there was nothing he could have done now. The trio left the corridors and entered a luxurious waiting room—the kind usually reserved only for higher-ranking officials and captains.
"Wait here. I will be right back," Celia said before leaving.
Nyx took a seat while Leli tried to talk to Kairo. However, Kairo found it hard to look at them. He simply couldn't pretend he hadn't seen anything. With all that had been happening with Jed, his nerves were already under high strain—and now this.
"Kairo, I have to tell you something. Please listen to me," Leli called out.
But Kairo was quick to keep her at a distance. His usually friendly and calm expression was replaced with suspicion and a hint of anger.
Despite the urge to get close to him, Leli smiled and stepped back. Seated on the table, she started speaking.
"Actually, when I said my family hated me for my attitude, it was true—but not completely true," Leli said.
Kairo's face darkened.
"The other reason is because other family members don't agree with what my father does in this place. I know it looks ugly and unsightly, but it is not what you think. We are trying to help these people. That's what my father does here," Leli explained.
Kairo's voice rose.
"Help them? You're torturing them. This is… I can't believe you agree with this thing. No wonder you managed to arrange a meeting here so fast. I can't believe you lied about something like this, Leli... Your family didn't cast you out because of your habit of bossing people around—but because you agree with this…"
"These people are sick, Kairo. Left outside on their own, they will create more destruction and pain than you can imagine. Their card magic is unstable and extremely hard to control. This place is the only thing the Card Mage Police found instead of keeping them with real prisoners. Leli had her reasons not to tell you the truth," Nyx explained.
"If I had told you the truth, would you have looked at me the same way? You, who claim righteousness—who wants to help others and catch criminals. Would you still be this angry if I told you that little girl is the origin of an entire village massacre? Of all people, I thought you would understand me, Kairo. But it looks like you're all the same—seeing things as either white or black." Leli stood up and slammed the door behind her.
"Leli, wait!" Nyx stood up, following after her. But Leli left without turning back, causing Nyx to stare blankly at the dangling door sides.
"And you, Nyx… do you agree with this?"
"You still don't understand her, Kairo. It's not about whether we agree or not. It's not because choices are hard that we shouldn't make them. Leli is strong enough to wear her demons and keep moving forward—trying to be better than she had been…"
Before Nyx could finish her sentence, Celia returned.
"Everything is ready. Kairo, you can come now... wait, where is Leli?"
Kairo fell silent at Nyx's words. She wasn't totally wrong. Was he strong enough to wear his demons, if he ever had to, one day?
Still… 'If we caution this and then blame people like the Surgeon, are we any different?'
As Kairo followed after Celia and Nyx, he questioned himself. Still, there was nothing he could do about it. Tilting his focus back to the objective, he entered the patient's room.
Despite the appearance, the room was well arranged and furnished.
'They seem to be well taken care of here, at least,' Kairo thought, observing the room.
The man sat on his bed, crawling dangerously near the edge as if trying to run away from them—like he had seen his worst nightmare moving toward him. Kairo could see the pain and fear in his eyes—not from them, but from what he had gone through.