Zeyang waited until work hours were over before going to see Lu Shen. He had decided it wasn't the right moment to tell him and hoped that, in the meantime, Lombardi might be able to resolve the situation.
The idea of lying to the sorcerer made him uneasy, but he was afraid of Lu Shen's reaction and still didn't have the strength.
When he arrived at the villa, Ling greeted him at the door. "The master has left," he said in a low voice.
Zeyang felt the blood freeze in his veins.
"He left this for you," the servant added, handing him the envelope.
The detective's hand trembled as he took it, and after reading it, he looked at the man before him. "Where did he go?"
Ling looked at him with sad eyes. "When I asked him, he said he was leaving on a mission… He was wearing his old uniform, and a military vehicle came to pick him up."
Zeyang's breath shortened. He turned and ran to his car, driving toward the barracks where he had met the general that morning.
He drove without respecting traffic lights or signs, abandoned the car at the barracks' entrance, and approached the guards. He asked for General Lu and was escorted to the main building. There, another soldier took charge of him and led him inside.
They crossed paths with the general in the corridor, accompanied by another soldier.
Zeyang grabbed him by the collar and slammed him against the wall. "Where did you send him?" he shouted.
The two soldiers rushed over, but the detective struggled until they managed to restrain and move him away.
"I cannot disclose information. You should know that," the general replied, adjusting his jacket.
"He has no magic! How can a father send his own son to die?" Zeyang yelled in rage, trying to break free.
Lu Wei stepped closer. "What are you saying?"
Zeyang stared him directly in the eyes. "He used all his magic to destroy the Cube and the spell. He hasn't recovered yet. You sent him unarmed to serve your purposes."
The detective saw a flicker of doubt cross the general's gaze, but it immediately returned cold and haughty. "Escort him out."
The two soldiers turned him around and led him outside, all the way to the gate.
Once they released him, Zeyang returned to his car and punched it. The pain reverberated up his arm to his head, without overpowering what he felt in his chest.
He started the engine, then called Lombardi.
"Boss, I need you to find out where they sent Lu Shen."
---
Lu Wei watched the three men disappear and took out his phone. He dialed a number and waited.
"This is General Lu. Put me through to Captain Williams."
"That's impossible, sir: he's on a mission, and all contacts are cut off until he's recovered by the retrieval team," replied the person on the other end.
"Call me as soon as you have news."
"Yes, sir."
The general ended the call, rested a hand on the wall, then straightened up and left.