I apologize for the fact that the last chapters are updated so rarely. Unfortunately, work, life, and general burnout do not make writing easy . Thank you for your patience.
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Lappland pov
Lappland: "Hahahaha"
I laughed and laughed until I cried. Holding my stomach and bending over, I laughed despite the pain in my lungs. I laughed as soon as I understood the implications of what was said in the news.
Lappland: "They want people to believe , that they killed each other... Hahaha! HaHah haha."
I continued laughing, not caring if anyone saw me in this state. The situation was just ridiculous, but so expected . Of course , I'm not complaining. This is good news for me and Blake. It's just funny to me.
' Well At least for me . For others, it's a "tragedy" or a cause for concern. '
I thought about it, but even so, I couldn't help but feel amused.
' What was I really worried about? '
I thought, wiping the tears from my eyes. Still, I continued to giggle.
'The authorities are as useless as ever. If they have no evidence, clues, or ideas, they will make up any story they can in order to reassure the public and outside authorities. They will invent anything to avoid looking like incompetent fools .'
I thought, knowing that things like this would never change. Not that anyone dealing with this matter had any other option than to come up with a lie.
' But well , it's not that they had anything else to work with. Whatever they had would probably have disappeared with the rain. '
I thought, aware that this situation was also different from an ordinary murder . If one insignificant person had died, it would have been considered simply an unsolved case. Of course, it would still have looked bad, but public opinion would have quickly forgotten about it.
That is, if they had even found out about it, because the media would not have reported on such a thing. Vale is huge, and there are thousands of more interesting things happening there than the discovery of a body.
' On the other hand, however . Those we killed were Atlas hunters. If Vale had not provided a sufficient explanation, Atlas would have had the right to conduct their own investigation, and they would certainly have exercised that right. And if there is one thing we know the Vale authorities hate, it is when foreign authorities barge into their turf. '
I thought, finishing that line of thought.
Other me : " So they had no choice but to come up with something. "
Other me said, still standing next to me , showing similar amusement over this situation . But the younger me has already disappeared. When exactly did she vanish? I have no idea.
Lappland: " Anyway, let them think what they want, as long as they don't drag me into it. "
I said to myself . Then , I finally calm down. After that I pretended to continue watching the screen with satisfaction. Waiting to see if they would add anything else . The truth was, however, that my thoughts were already focused on something else. Something that would seem more urgent to anyone else. For me, however, it was normal, I am used to it and I already knew what to do, so I didn't panic.
Other me: "Yes, they're still there. Nothing has changed."
Said the other me , revealing the crux of the problem . As for the problem in question. My ear had been twitching for some time, picking up strange sounds, which I initially ignored, either because I thought they were background noise or because I was watching the news . Besides, there were also voices in my head with which I had and still have discussions.
Then came the feeling of being watched. But again, I ignored it, thinking it was my paranoia and a delusion of my mind. Now, however, there was this strange but familiar smell carried by the wind. A smell that cannot be ignored. Sniffing a few more times, I made sure of what I was smelling.
'Scent-masking cream,'
I thought, and a delicate smile, visible in the reflection of the shop window, appeared on my lips.
' A good choice for forest areas or places with lots of plants and animals. But not in the city, where the range of smells is completely different. Here, such a scent stands out. Especially when someone uses so much of it that it ceases to be subtle. It's as if they wanted me to smell them. '
I thought, further pretending that I was watching the screen through the display window. However, the truth was that I , without taking my eyes off the screen, where the presenter had already moved on to some other trivial news , using only the reflection in the window , I look around.
However, I found nothing. Whoever they are , they are hiding well. As for determining their position with the help of other senses? Almost impossible. Wind simultaneously obstructs and helps . The wind makes it difficult to determine exactly wron where does the smell come from, and consequently, from where they watch. However, it also carries the scent right under my nose. And thanks to its direction, I know the direction from which it is coming from .
' Its is definitely somewhere south of my position . The wind is blowing from there, carrying the scent. However, judging by the intensity and dispersion of the smell, I can say that they are about two hundred to three hundred meters away from me. '
' As for the sound, determining its direction is even more difficult. The sound travels irregularly on this street, so I hear the same sound coming from different directions. '
' However, I can definitely say that there are at least six different tones that sound like conversation. Six different tones means that there are most likely six different people. '
I thought, squinting my eyes and pondering. Meanwhile, visible only to me, my other self did not hide, she just looked around, but knowing that she would not know anything more than I did, I ignored her.
Other me: "Maybe it's just a group of friends getting ready to go hunting."
Other me said, clearly bored already. I just looked at her, my gaze was enough to convey what I thought about it. The other me just shrugged her shoulders.
Lappland: " Who in their right mind uses scent-masking cream in the middle of the city? If they were hunters, they would use it just before the hunt, already in the forest, so as not to risk mixing the scent with the smell of the city. "
I asked the other me, but she remained silent, uninterested in responding .
Lappland: " Besides, I know that the feeling of being watched is not an illusion. There was no way it was a coincidence. Everything in me says so. And most importantly, my instincts too. I'm sure someone is watching me. "
I said confidently, thanks to my multiple experiences. After all, this isn't the first time someone has been stalking me. I know that unsettling feeling all too well.
' It's someone who knows who I am. After all, only people who know my capabilities would do things so quietly and use scent masking. And that also means that these are people who know who I am even without a mask. People who know my identity. '
Thinking about it, I didn't feel anxious . I was calm , as it was to be expected.
Other me : " I wonder who it is?Other me asked sarcastically, smiling at me. I already knew what was going through her .... our minds.
Lappland: "Isn't it obvious? Who else but Adam's people. White Fang."
I said that with certainty. Only he knows my face . My other self seemed to think the same, but she added something else.
Other me : " Still, we should be prepared for a surprise if it's someone else."
She said with mysterious tone . Without showing anything on my face, I simply looked at her questioningly. Haven't we already concluded that it's a white fang?
Other me: "You're so sure of it, it's adorable. But isn't this a rookie mistake? "
Said the other me, in a tone as if she knew something I didn't, and then she giggled. However, I was still lost in what she was talking about. It didn't seem to be her typical attempt to get on my nerves, but sincere advice.
Lappland: "No one knows what I look like. Only people who know who I am under the mask or are targeting me without knowing my identity , only because of my physical appearance eith which they are "interested" , can follow me. But look at their tactics, they know enough about me. Which makes them the first kinde ."
I said calmly, explaining where my assumptions come from. She just clicked her tongue and shook her head.
Other me : " What's wrong with you? Where's our caution? Have these few days of freedom turned your brain to mush? Have you already forgotten that , we've already caused quite a stir with our appearance in the cage fight. News like this has probably already spread."
Other me : " What I mean , is that not just Adam, but also many other people know about that you came back from the grave , or at least they heard about it . That means everyone who wants your head is already looking at Vale. Whether it's to find you, or to confirm that it's really you. "
Other me : " We know very well that there are people for whom suspicion is enough to start looking for you again. Whether out of hatred or fear, they need to know. So they will start looking. And what they find, a faunus with white hair and double wolf features, that would be enough for them to kill you. Besides, let's not avoid the blatant obvious. "
Other me said, and I clamped my mouth shut , unable to argue. But my other self didn't stop there. Instead, she melted into a black and red mist for a moment, then reappeared. This time, she was wearing my mask and the clothes I wore when I worked for White Fang. Once she was dressed, she stood next to me. Seeing our reflection in the window, I could compare us.
Other me : " They don't need to see your face without the mask to be sure. Let's be serious, let's put you in the mask and you without it next to each other... "
Said the other me, and she was right. Anyone, even an idiot, will see the truth. I could only remain silent and hide my grimace. I know it, I knew it would happen someday. I was going to keep a low profile. But apparently I screwed up right from the start. Back then, at the club, I just didn't think, I acted on impulse. But acting on impulse without thinking is something I can't control. That's how I am.
' But even then, it was always a matter of time and luck. Knowing my life, even without this situation at the club, I would still do something that would make me stand out. That's my luck, that's my life. Besides, I got the money we needed and let off some steam. I don't regret it. '
I thought, accepting the situation. Nevertheless, I am certain that it is a white fang, as for my reason for thinking so.
Lappland: " Vale is huge . Finding someone in less than three days , even if that person stands out, is very difficult, if not impossible, unless you know where to start looking. Adam knows where I might be because he knows people I know. So knowing that I am in Vale, Adam should have stationed people in places where I might show up, such as the True Nature club and Dr. Linzi's clinic. "
Lappland : " This is something that other forces seeking me could not do . There are a few other reasons, but there's no point in listing them. "
I shared my thoughts, and the other me nodded in agreement.
Other me : " Well, if you put it that way, you're right. We were found too quickly. "
She agreed.