NoGift

Chapter 16: murder solved?

ARGENT could count in her fingers the number of times her assumptions turned to be wrong. That's why hearing the captain say that the person she thought responsible for the two murders that happened today was dead, she was quite surprised. But that only lasted for about a second or two.

"I see. That's terrible," she said, not meaning any of it. "But, may I ask captain, what does that have to do with us?"

"We want to make sure that the young man you met earlier was really the translator of the Xing delegates. So, if it's not too much trouble, we request that you come with us to identify the body we found."

That's understandable. The guy she and her sister met earlier might have lied about his identity just so he could lead them to the cabin room of that Xing delegate. If he wasn't the person he said he was, then he could only be connected to the two murders.

"You're asking my seven year old son to look at a dead body?" Anthea asked, her tone turning a tad bit aggressive.

"My apologies, Your Grace, but it's imperative that we do this. It can greatly help us with the investigation of what happened today," the captain said sincerely.

"It's okay, Mother. I'll go with them. After all, I've already seen a dead body once today. There's no harm seeing another," Argent said indifferently.

"But Argent, this is not something you should get used to."

"Mother, it doesn't bother me. So, it's fine."

Anthea stared at her daughter. There was no nervousness or even fear in her purple eyes. Only calm indifference. Showing that what she saw earlier and what she would be seeing later would not bother her in the least bit. Anthea didn't know if she should be glad of that or be more worried. Because this was not the attitude a seven year old should have when encountering something like this.

She knew how huge Argent's change was after she woke up from her sister's unexpected mental attack. She learned to accept it. After all, no matter how much Argent changed, she's still her daughter. Nothing could change that. But sometimes, seeing her indifferent attitude could really unnerve her.

Anthea sighed. "I understand. You could go." She looked at Captain Morgan. "I trust you will keep him safe?"

"Absolutely, Your Grace. Thank you for your understanding," the captain bowed.

Anthea turned to Felicia. "Go with your young lord."

"Yes, Duchess!"

"Mother, I also want to go with Brother," Aurum suddenly interjected.

"No," Argent said before their mother could reply. She barely prevented Aurum from seeing a dead body earlier. She wouldn't go and lead her to another. That wouldn't help with her psychological development. "Stay with Mother. We'll be back soon. I'm sure it won't take long."

Aurum pouted. She looked at her brother. By the tone of her voice and the look on her face, Aurum knew she wouldn't cave in. "Fine."

Argent smiled and patted her sister's head before turning to the captain. "Lead the way, Captain."

---------

The corridor they went to was the same one where the cabin of that dead Xing delegate was found. Argent noticed some kind of strange barrier that barricaded the entrance to the corridor. A thin layer of white light. It's almost invisible, if you didn't look carefully enough.

"This is a ban I set up to prevent anyone from entering before we finish our investigation," the captain said when he noticed her gaze. "It only reacts to mine and my first mate's Mana." He put his hand on the barrier and it slowly disappeared.

Argent stared at the slowly disappearing light curtain. She could probably traipsed trough it without a problem. She was almost tempted to test it.

"After you, milord," the captain said after the barrier completely disappeared.

Argent walked towards the corridor. Felicia immediately followed. Captain Morgan lead them to a cabin just one door away from the cabin of that dead Xing delegate. She guessed the cabins of the two Xing delegates and that translator were probably all located in this corridor.

The captain opened the door and the three of them entered. She heard Felicia gasp. No doubt because of the young man currently lying on the bed. He's the first thing one would notice once you enter the room. Anyone with eyes could see at a glance that he's already dead. What, with the deathly pale skin and the stark blue veins mapping it.

"Was this the young man you met earlier, milord?" asked the captain.

Argent went beside the bed and looked carefully at the man lying on it. She could see the endless fear in his eyes. On closer inspection, the blue veins on his skin was more pronounced. He was clutching his throat, as if he ingested something that he knew would kill him. "Yes, it's the same guy," she answered.

The same plain face, the same clothes, the same big glasses. The only difference she could see was that he was not wearing the gloves he's wearing earlier. Which didn't really make any difference at all. Being dead, it completely erased the suspicion that he killed the two Xing delegates.

She looked around. Just like earlier, there was no visible struggle in the room. "Were there only two Xing delegates and was this guy they're only employee?"

"Yes, to both questions, milord."

"Then they're probably specifically targeted. If that was the case, then the killings will probably stop now. The question now is why these three were targeted. I do hope you find the answer to that question, captain."

Captain Morgan stared at the boy. He ended up with the same conclusion. He just couldn't believe that he will hear it from a seven year old boy. A noble, no less. Who probably doesn't know anything of how the world works. Seeing a child speak and act like an adult was truly disconcerting.

"Have you already found the caused of death of the other two victims?"

"Poison. Different kinds for both," the captain answered but immediately stopped before he said more. He has no business telling this to a kid.

Argent already guessed as much. Considering the state of that dead body they found earlier and how Felicia described the other dead body. And seeing the body of this guy, he was also probably killed by some kind of poison. There's a high possibility that it was all done by the same person. "Well, I wish you good luck, Captain. I think you will need it. Now, if you don't need anything else, would you kindly escort us back?"

"Of course, milord."

"That poor guy. He's probably the same age as me," Felicia said when they got out of the room.

"No, he's definitely older than you. Probably in his twenties. Don't worry much about him, Felicia. I don't want you having nightmares because of the death of a stranger."

"Yes, Young Lord."

Captain Morgan heard what the boy said. Cold, indifferent, and undoubtedly smart. He couldn't help but wonder just what kind of man this young boy would grow into. Once they were out of the corridor, he immediately put up the ban.

They started walking back to the Blackbournes' cabin. They were about to turn a bend when someone suddenly bumped into Argent. It happened so suddenly that neither Felicia or the captain could prevent it. Because the person who bumped into her was much bigger, Argent fell on her back.

"I'm so sorry," said a girl's voice. Argent looked up and saw a tall girl, probably Felicia's age, with black hair braided at the back and a pair of mud brown eyes. "I wasn't looking where I'm going. I'm really sorry." She held her hand out to help her stand up.

Argent was tempted to ignore her. But in the end, she just sighed and reached her hand to the girl's. She easily pulled her up. Then Argent saw a glimmer of surprise in her eyes when she did.

"Young Lord, are you okay?" Felicia asked fussing over her.

"I'm okay, Felicia." She looked at the girl who was still holding her hand and staring at it in wonder. "My hand?"

"Oh, ahm, sorry," she said, letting her hand go and not without a bit of reluctance.

"You shouldn't be running around alone at this hour, young lady," the captain reprimanded.

"Oh, is it because of the murders?" the girl asked in hushed tone.

The captain didn't answer her question, instead he called a crewmate nearby and asked him to escort the girl. Then they continued walking back to the cabin.

"Thank you for your cooperation, milord," the captain said when they reached the door of the cabin.

"Glad to be of help."

----------

The tension was palpable in the air the morning after. It was obvious that the people on board the ship was on edge because of the murders that happened the day before. Argent was on deck. There weren't many people, unlike when they aboard the ship yesterday. Felicia and Aurum were near the stern, while their mother was still sleeping in their cabin.

Aurum looked back at her and waved. She waved back. Her sister's been doing that for every ten minutes. Probably just to make sure she's there.

"Good morning," greeted a slightly familiar voice.

Argent looked up on her side and saw the girl who bumped into her last night. She nodded and turned her head back to the ocean.

"You're a cold one, aren't you? Probably doesn't care much about anything. Except your family, I take it." Argent ignored her. "So if I say that I will do to them what I did to those three people who died yesterday, would you give me some of your time?"

Argent sharply turned her head back to the girl. "You--"

"Got your attention, huh?" the girl said, grinning from ear to ear.

"What you said, it's the truth?"

"Do I look like I'm joking?"

No, she doesn't. There was playfulness in her eyes. As if she just told Argent the most interesting thing. But there were no lies. "What do you want?" she asked, coldly, remembering her threat just now.

"I just want you to go with me quietly. Don't worry, I won't kill you. But I may do something to your sister if you refuse," she said still smiling.

Argent gritted her teeth, then sighed. "Lead the way, then."

The girl walked and Argent followed. They kept walking until they reached the door of a cabin. Argent's mind was working non-stop, thinking of ways on how to get out of this situation.

The girl opened the door. "Come in, milord," she said mockingly, gesturing for her to get in.

Argent went inside. The girl followed and closed the door and probably locked it too. Argent immediately noticed the girl lying on the floor. She wasn't that surprised not until she saw the girl's face. It was the same face as the girl who brought her here.

"Oh, this face originally belongs to that girl. I'm just borrowing it for the time being," the girl said when she noticed her gaze. "Human skin is quite helpful during jobs like these."

Argent turned to her. And a sudden realization hit her. "The translator we met yesterday..."

Her eyes danced with amusement. "Smart." This time she - or maybe she should use he - used the voice of the translator. "Oh, this is my real voice by the way," he added in another voice - a male voice.

So she was right, after all. The guy she and Aurum met yesterday was really the one who killed those Xing delegates. Argent calmed herself. There was no use panicking. She couldn't think properly otherwise. "Is she dead?"

"Her? No, she's just unconcious. And will remain so until I get off this ship. I don't kill without contracts."

Contracts? He's an assassin then. "And yet you just threatened my family."

"How else would I get you alone?"

"What do you need from me then?"

"Touch you. I want to touch you." He removed the gloves he's wearing and suddenly kneeled in front of her. He cupped her face. His eyes filled with wonder the moment his hands touched her skin. Just like how it did last night. "Amazing. It really doesn't affect you."

Argent furrowed her brows. She hated other's touch, especially if that other was a paid killer. But she forced herself to not move unless she agitate this guy.

"I tried to poison you last night, you know? Not really to kill you. Just to damage the nerves in your body. You were so snotty yesterday, it kind of annoyed me so I wanted to punish you. But 'lo and behold. My Gift doesn't work on you," he said while continually touching her face. "Every part of my skin was laced with poison, the disadvantage of my Gift. I have to wear enchanted clothes just to not walk buck naked. That's why when I touched you yesterday and you didn't even as much as flinch, heck, I didn't even feel my Mana flowing into you, it amazed me beyond belief. Why is that?"

"I will answer your question but you have to make two vows first."

Argent read about vows. How powerful it was. How one couldn't break it that easily unless one kill one self first. It's like some sort of heavenly law. She doesn't really know how it works, she just know that it does.

"Fine. What kind of vows?"

"Under no circumstances will you hurt me or my family and you will not tell anyone - human or not - my secret."

"I vow to Gaia that I will not hurt you or your family and that I won't tell anyone - human or not - your secret." Argent felt some kind of zing after he said those vows. Guessed that meant that it worked. She breathed a sigh of relief because of that. "Satisfied? Now answer my question."

"I'm immune to any kind of Gift."

"I haven't heard that kind of Gift," he said, somewhat confused.

"Because it's not a Gift. Let's just say it's my special affliction."

The confused look disappeared, replaced by a dazzling smile. "Then you must be specially made for me." He suddenly hugged her. She could feel the slow decay of the part of her clothes that touched his skin. So, he's telling the truth about that. She wanted to push him away, but before she could do that, he just hugged her tighter. "I'm called Viper. And from now on, you will belong to me, Argent Blackbourne."

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