CHAPTER 393: TELL ON MYSELF.

"Emotional distress?" Nara scoffed. "Because we asked you completely reasonable questions?"

"Do you really need me to explain it to you a second time?" Dante replied. "You can keep going, if you want. The longer this goes on, the more Gs that lawsuit will get me."

"Oh, believe me, if this even ends up in a courthouse, you will be the one getting charged."

Though he talked with confidence, the look on the portly officer spoke of his distress. Clearly, he didn’t expect Dante to hold up this long.

"Let’s talk about those implants of yours." He said. "I don’t see how an unemployed kid with no education could ever get his hands on such things, let alone afford the implantation surgery. How about you tell us where you got them from?"

"Ah, you mean these?" Dante tilted his head a little and pointed at its back. "I got them from the none of your business store. You can try shopping there sometime."

At this point, Dante was starting to get tired of the pudgy officer. This interview had gone on for far longer than planned. His patience seeped from the cracks his anger caused as it struggled to break free from its restraints. Any more than this and it would explode.

"It seems this isn’t going anywhere." Sighing, Nara closed his folder and stood up. "I have surmised that you are a dangerous and uncooperative individual. Until this matter is resolved, you-"

"NARA!"

Jonah cut in once more, though he sounded much angrier than before. As the trembling room settled, the portly officer turned to glare at him. Jonah met him with a glare of his own, then pointed a thumb at the door.

"We need to talk."

His tone didn’t leave any room for objection. Grimacing, Nara left the room, and the old officer followed, leaving Dante alone. As he waited in his seat, Dante heard shouting. It seemed like those two were in an intense argument, one that lasted for a while.

Shortly after the noise quieted down, the door opened again, and Jonah walked in, looking more exhausted than he already was.

"C’mon, kid. You’re free to go."

Though a little confused, Dante didn’t question it. Jonah escorted him to the entrance. The other officers present at the station followed them with their eyes, some looking confused, others displeased. Nara was nowhere to be seen.

"Sorry, kid. It shouldn’t have gotten to this."

"Nah, don’t worry about it." Dante shrugged. "Just buy me dinner next time."

"Sure, why not..."

Though it seemed like the conversation was over, Dante didn’t walk away. He was sure the old officer had more to say, and that guess was proven true.

"The Blood Hounds, huh?" Jonah said, his tone wistful. "Who could have guessed..."

"Yeah..." Dante sighed.

"So you aren’t going to deny it?"

"Deny what?"

The old man glanced at Dante, and their eyes met. A moment later, they both let out a chuckle.

"It’s not like I was hiding it or anything," Dante said. "That just goes to show how much things have changed since last year."

"Just so you know, I still expect you to tell me all about it." Said Jonah.

"You expecting me to tell on myself?" Dante raised one corner of his mouth.

"Then let’s wait till I’m off duty." Jonah sighed. "Well, at this rate, I won’t be off till I retire."

~[ ]~

[I have marked Pedro Nara.] Volcan said. [In case you would like to know his current location.]

’Good. It might come in handy later...’

The portly officer was in Riot’s pocket; that much was obvious by now. Using the bastard to intimidate him was a good move, but it failed to have any effect. Dante wasn’t someone who could be controlled by the legal threats and mundane cops.

If he wanted to, he could easily trap the portly officer in a copy of his own home, one with doors that led to nowhere. He could let him starve there, and no one would ever hear about it. The only thing stopping him from doing so was the suspicion it would draw to him, and that it would be an easy way out for the bastard.

’Go ahead and look into the bastard.’ Dante said. ’Get me whatever dirt you can find on him.’

[Understood.]

Dante pushed the matter to the back of his mind and turned his focus to a more pressing matter. Opening the messenger app, he sent a few messages. He then headed back to his building and retrieved the Raven. Yesterday’s fight had confirmed that his body was back in good shape, so he didn’t want to bother riding the train anymore.

The first stop was Suzuka’s place. Apparently, Finn had been so busy working on his projects that he never saw that viral video, which is why he hadn’t said anything until the blue-haired girl mentioned it.

Having wasted more than enough time because of the incident, Dante told him to leave it for another time, and the two headed to Yellowstone next.

"Dante!!!"

No sooner did Dante open the Golden Hummingbird’s door than he was tackled. Though he could have dodged without enhancing his perception and reflexes, he decided to stand his ground and catch the woman charging at him for once.

"I missed you so much!" She said, nuzzling her head against his chest. "You should have told me where you were having that surgery!"

"It was a brain surgery, you know?" Dante replied. "I wouldn’t want to boost the chances of me losing my mind."

"So you didn’t want me to take care of you?"

"Never did."

The mess at the station left Dante in the mood for a drink, so he had Thomas give him a bottle of whiskey. Settling in the room on the second floor, he poured a glass for himself and Rose. Only once they took the first sip did they start the meeting.

"I think we should get this out of the way first," Rose said. "That video, what’s the story behind it?"

Dante could only sigh at the question.

"Not you too." He muttered. "Where did you even hear about it?"

"You asking where I saw a viral video?"

"That was a stupid question." Sighing, Dante thought for a moment. He had just told Finn to leave it for another time, but from the looks of it, he would have to give them something, or they wouldn’t get to the main topic. "The asshole with the shiny arm tried to settle a grudge, that’s all. He’s locked up now, so you don’t have to worry about it."