04-21-2016, 03:33 PM
The moogle's office was a small plain-colored building situated near the heart of Ambrosia. Across the front evenly space black letters spelled out 'OFFICE OF J.E. KUPO, PRIVATE DETECTIVE'. Despite the creature's affable appearance he was no doubt a being of little humor. After it became more or less apparent that Renji wasn't a direct threat the guardsmen force petered out and returned to their posts. Only J.E., Renji, and the little ghost girl Wanda remained and they walked in relative silence. This whole song and dance was taxing Renji's patience. His bartending gig was enjoyable sure, but the constant interaction with the patrons taxed his already antisocial personality. Being forcefully dragged along by some kind of bat-cat puff ball to be interrogating for a crime he did not commit put a certain kind of sour on his mood. Still he followed the floating moogle into his office, hoping to absolve himself of any responsibility. Inside the building Renji is hit with a wave of nostalgia. J.E.'s office is reminiscent of an old 1950s classic crime noir film, complete with the dim lighting and moody atmosphere.
Taking a puff from his pipe the detective floated over to his chair and took a seat, "so mind telling me your name, and what you were doing near a dead body in the middle of the night?"
Renji coughed to clear his throat, "my name is Renji Kiyomasa, and I just happened to stumble upon it walking back home from work."
"And you work at the bar, kupo?"
"Yes, as a bartender. Tonight was actually the first night it was up and running."
"I suppose I did hear something about that," J.E. paused for a moment before responding, "I believe you, I don't think the killer is a man."
"Why do you say that?"
"Take a look at these," he said, sliding a stack of photographs over to the bartender, "all of the victim's weapons were shattered. Kupo."
Renji scanned through the crime scene photos. Six murders in total, not counting Marshall Woodrop's expiration. All six of them had a weapon of some sorts, and all six weapons were annihilated. Renji's heart skipped a beat as he leafed through the stack of photos. The sight of blood sparked something primal in him. Kuzuru's influence drove a stake through his heart and gripped his windpipe. Conflict. Lust for a good fight, for a vicious opponent sparked through the swordsman's core, drowning him in anticipation. Their was no choice, he was a bolt of lightning drawn to metal, he had to find the killer. Man or beast it meant little to the anxious swordsman, if it was capable of such ruthless slaughter it would make a fine opponent.
"I doubt a beast could kill in such a manner J.E."
"Oh?" the moogle puffed his pipe some more and tapped his fuzzy hand on the desk, "perhaps not a beast, but an orc or some other beastly race kupo?"
"No," Renji pointed at several photos, tapping on points of focus, "your first instinct is to assume that these weapons were shattered by a bludgeon or some other dull, but strong force. But look at the victim's wounds, they appear to be razor-thin slashing cuts. More than likely these were created with a blade of some kind."
"Hmmm, then how would hat explain the destroyed weapons? Kupo."
"I've seen countless warriors in my lifetime J.E. a skilled bladesman could perform miracles with his sword, I bet that is even truer here in the Omniverse."
"I see. Well that is worrying, kupo."
"Indeed, I've told the princess that I'd protect her village. A murderer on the loose makes me appear incompetent, I suppose I have little choice but to help you track down the killer J.E."
"I'd appreciate any help you could offer Renji, truth be told I've more or less hit a brick wall in this investigation. I believe the killer is not an Ambrosian."
"Why?"
"All of the deaths happened in the dead of night, and since most Ambrosians are such social beings I've yet to find one that doesn't have a solid alibi. Kupo. I think the killer is sneaking into Ambrosia at night, killing his victim and then retreating into the forest before sunrise."
"Buhhhhh," the ghost girl groaned as she floated overhead, "you guys are soooo booooring."
"Is she a friend of yours kupo?" J.E. asked, raising a quizzing eyebrow at the blue translucent girl floating above his office.
"I wouldn't say friend," Renji sighed, "she won't leave me alone."
"I see kupo," J.E. passed Renji a small folder, "at any rate here are copies of all my notes and photos regarding these murders, perhaps you'll be able to catch the fiend before I can, kupo."
"I'll try my best J.E."
The swordsman and ghost left the detective and began their quiet trudge back home. Wanda floated by wistfully, groaning every now and again about how utterly dull her companion was. Renji stayed silent, choosing instead to mull over the details of each murder. Most of the victims were attacked in their homes, they were killed quickly and efficiently. Even those that were seasoned warriors were slaughtered like cattle and their weapons were left devastated. There was a deep unspoken void left in the swordsman after his demon's disappearance. A deep itching beneath the skin, a clawing desire to prove himself without resorting to the demon's power. Like a child wishing to prove himself in the eyes of his father, Renji wished to dispel any doubts about his competence upon the battlefield. Perfection, after all, was best expressed through the conquest of others.
Taking a puff from his pipe the detective floated over to his chair and took a seat, "so mind telling me your name, and what you were doing near a dead body in the middle of the night?"
Renji coughed to clear his throat, "my name is Renji Kiyomasa, and I just happened to stumble upon it walking back home from work."
"And you work at the bar, kupo?"
"Yes, as a bartender. Tonight was actually the first night it was up and running."
"I suppose I did hear something about that," J.E. paused for a moment before responding, "I believe you, I don't think the killer is a man."
"Why do you say that?"
"Take a look at these," he said, sliding a stack of photographs over to the bartender, "all of the victim's weapons were shattered. Kupo."
Renji scanned through the crime scene photos. Six murders in total, not counting Marshall Woodrop's expiration. All six of them had a weapon of some sorts, and all six weapons were annihilated. Renji's heart skipped a beat as he leafed through the stack of photos. The sight of blood sparked something primal in him. Kuzuru's influence drove a stake through his heart and gripped his windpipe. Conflict. Lust for a good fight, for a vicious opponent sparked through the swordsman's core, drowning him in anticipation. Their was no choice, he was a bolt of lightning drawn to metal, he had to find the killer. Man or beast it meant little to the anxious swordsman, if it was capable of such ruthless slaughter it would make a fine opponent.
"I doubt a beast could kill in such a manner J.E."
"Oh?" the moogle puffed his pipe some more and tapped his fuzzy hand on the desk, "perhaps not a beast, but an orc or some other beastly race kupo?"
"No," Renji pointed at several photos, tapping on points of focus, "your first instinct is to assume that these weapons were shattered by a bludgeon or some other dull, but strong force. But look at the victim's wounds, they appear to be razor-thin slashing cuts. More than likely these were created with a blade of some kind."
"Hmmm, then how would hat explain the destroyed weapons? Kupo."
"I've seen countless warriors in my lifetime J.E. a skilled bladesman could perform miracles with his sword, I bet that is even truer here in the Omniverse."
"I see. Well that is worrying, kupo."
"Indeed, I've told the princess that I'd protect her village. A murderer on the loose makes me appear incompetent, I suppose I have little choice but to help you track down the killer J.E."
"I'd appreciate any help you could offer Renji, truth be told I've more or less hit a brick wall in this investigation. I believe the killer is not an Ambrosian."
"Why?"
"All of the deaths happened in the dead of night, and since most Ambrosians are such social beings I've yet to find one that doesn't have a solid alibi. Kupo. I think the killer is sneaking into Ambrosia at night, killing his victim and then retreating into the forest before sunrise."
"Buhhhhh," the ghost girl groaned as she floated overhead, "you guys are soooo booooring."
"Is she a friend of yours kupo?" J.E. asked, raising a quizzing eyebrow at the blue translucent girl floating above his office.
"I wouldn't say friend," Renji sighed, "she won't leave me alone."
"I see kupo," J.E. passed Renji a small folder, "at any rate here are copies of all my notes and photos regarding these murders, perhaps you'll be able to catch the fiend before I can, kupo."
"I'll try my best J.E."
The swordsman and ghost left the detective and began their quiet trudge back home. Wanda floated by wistfully, groaning every now and again about how utterly dull her companion was. Renji stayed silent, choosing instead to mull over the details of each murder. Most of the victims were attacked in their homes, they were killed quickly and efficiently. Even those that were seasoned warriors were slaughtered like cattle and their weapons were left devastated. There was a deep unspoken void left in the swordsman after his demon's disappearance. A deep itching beneath the skin, a clawing desire to prove himself without resorting to the demon's power. Like a child wishing to prove himself in the eyes of his father, Renji wished to dispel any doubts about his competence upon the battlefield. Perfection, after all, was best expressed through the conquest of others.