With the help of Hei Lan's ability, Li Xing and Yi Zheng had successfully obtained proof that the reaper is able to steal abilities from his victimized espers. He got full control over the ability he got.
Li Xing spoke, "My speculations were now half proven. If we had invited Sir Hei on the day you found the body we would have known the reaper's appearance as well. Sadly we are unlucky."
"Blame me for it, Xing'er. I shouldn't have hesitated." said Yi Zheng.
"It's no one's fault A'Zhe. It's ill-fated. Let's focus on the plan first." replied Li Xing as he gestured to his lover to speak.
Yi Zheng nodded to his lover before moving his gaze to Hei Lan.
"Sir Hei. I have an offer to make. I wanted to ask you to become SID's special officer." said Yi Zheng.
"Are you sure? I'm an unstable person~" responded Hei Lan. There's even a playful smile on his face.
Clearly, Li Xing and Yi Zheng knew about Hei Lan's unstable mindset. Not only does he have a Borderline Personality Disorder, he is even a certified distempered psychopath. The two could only ask for help from the one person who had the strength to stop this man's berserk state. They were staring at Xie Ye with pleading eyes, this is especially true for Yi Zheng, this silly puppy of their former group.
Xie Ye only raised an eyebrow to those begging gaze and then averted his eyes to look at Hei Lan. Observing this man quietly.
Thoughts of Xie Ye: 'Yi Zheng is right. This person is a bit like Lan'er, but my Lan'er doesn't act like a seductress. This man's every gesture gives away the feeling of temptation. A simple fluttering of his eyelashes can cause someone's heartbeat chaotic, sultry gaze that captivates even one's soul and an indolent posture as if a demonic fox parading his alluring self. Would my pure, calm and aloof Lan'er grew up into this?! I don't believe it. They are just similar but this is not my Lan'er!'
With a mischievous and tempting smile on his face, "Why would this handsome sir here stare at me like that? Am I good looking?" teasingly asked Hei Lan.
Hei Lan's obvious flirting seems to have hit a stone wall this time. A very thick one. Xie Ye's emotions remained unmoved in spite of Gui Lan full bloom temptation. His face had the calmness of a dormant volcano. Unmoved by anything unless he wishes so. His gaze was fierce as a lion watching over his prey. Calculating and menacing.
"No. I am here to psychoanalyze you. But for someone who is supposed to have the ability to venture into the field of affinity, you don't seem to be the type to show compassion towards others. You have full control over your emotions. Even the expression you show is directly under command. It seems that I was called here for nothing then." said Xie Ye.
Hei Lan looked at him as if he was quite entertained by his words as there's a cunning smile on his face. "I am pretty sure that you were not called here to take control of me nor help me simmer down my emotions every time I use my ability. I have no need for that. Your job is to stop me during my wild precariousness."
Xie Ye and Hei Lan stared down at each other. Neither is willing to concede to the other and so they had a google show down for a few minutes. One remained smiling while the other remained indifferent. The rest of the people in the room were watching them in silence. They could even imagine a black clouds converging between the two. In the end one of them lost.
The cold faced man clicked his tongue, disgruntled.
Moved his gaze, "I will only prevent him from dying." said Xie Ye.
Hei Lan averted his eyes back to his tea cup, "Well then I will agree with the offered position as well."
As their words of agreement Li Xing and Yi Zheng's faces were beaming with a bright smile. They were delighted with the events that unfolds before them. Only Professor Sen watches the whole affair as if watching a play. A play casted by Hei Lan according to his script.
"Then Uncle Sen please let Xing'er work with me as well." said Yi Zheng.
Professor Sen stared at the silly puppy like the protagonist gong before him.
"As long as Hei Lan is on the scene then I will agree." he replied.
------
Hei Lan and Xie Ye joining in SID as special officers caused commotion in the whole unit. Not only that both of them have a special rank, a high authorized rank personnel. A position just below the rank of a Chief. There hasn't been much racket when Xie Ye's name was mentioned because he is a well-known figure from the Gui Clan who had connections to the state itself. But Hei Lan's existence gave everyone a surprise especially when his personal profile was shared for the unit as a reference.
Contents of the profile: [Note: None of this is possible in real life.]
Hei Lan
21 years old.
Qualifications:
PhD in Psychology at the age of 18. (Graduated within just 3 years with special honors and title)
At the age of 20, he got his PhD in Forensic Medicine (Graduated within 2 years)
Worked as a Doctor, professor and psychologist for a year before Professor Sen scouted him to work in Psyche Institute as an Associate Professor.
Talents:
Glib Mouth
Hypnotism
Special skill:
Empathic Retrocognition
Mental State: Unstable
Please attention to the ff.:
He has Borderline Personality Disorder.
Tested and certified Distempered Psychopath
A bit OCD-ic.
Warning:
Don't anger him or annoy him.
Don't touch him unless it's completely necessary.
Those with low esteem will should not approach
If problems persist, contact his consultant: Xie Ye.
Their thoughts converge as one and they only thought of one thing:
'A Psychopath Esper with personality disorder but extremely qualified and well accomplished.'
But what caught all their attention is his special ability as an esper. Empathic Retrocognition. Cognitive mental types abilities are very rare since most abilities under this type is considered a high level ability. An ability that allows a user to fathom timelines like the past and the future. The only person they knew who had this kind of ability is Gui Lan which is Telepathy. Yi Zheng knew how powerful this ability is. Considering that someone with talent to hypnotize plus Telepathy is owned by a bad person then many things could go wrong. This is why cognitive skills are extremely sought for. After all this is an exceedingly scary ability.
Yi Zheng brought Hei Lan to the most unsolved case in their unit and it didn't take a while for him to prove his worth. The unit welcomed their arms to such a high maintenance but talented weird person. There may be some episodes of this man beating others black and blue within the unit but those are cases where the latter was at fault instead. Hei Lan had never been the type to move first.
------
Crime scene.
Homicide at 13th street 3rd block manor.
Inside the manor, Hei Lan watches the SID unit personnel moving around the house to clean up. Yi Zheng had brought him to the location as soon as they'd received the news. Surrounded by numerous busy footstep and police radio chattering in the background Hei Lan stood right at the place where the deceased had died. He glanced at the people behind him. This time instead of Li Xing escorting him from the institute, it was Yun Li who came with him. Not far from Yun Li is Xu Lun who came instead of Yi Zheng. Xie Ye is watching in the corner as his consultant. Both Yi Zheng and Li Xing remained in the headquarters today because they were preparing all the reports and possible ones that involved their serial esper killer, The Reaper.
The interior of the manor is a mess. Broken glass fragments from the windows and anything that is made of glass. Electronics like television, radios, surveillance monitor and camera were wrecked beyond means as if it exploded from overloading electricity. The things inside the manor feels like it has suffered a huge disaster. This is also the reason why the clean up is taking too long to finish and they had to call Hei Lan to do his task first while the rest is being out in order.
Hei Lan said to Yun Li, "I'll begin now. Move accordingly, don't let anyone touch me nor approach me."
Yun Li nodded, "Don't worry. No one will be able to bother you." he replied beside him Xu Lun is staring at him with an observing gaze. There's an obvious frown on his face.
"The one I'll empathize with is the murderer's side. Just in case you guys move away as well." They followed the order and left a meter area circle around Hei Lan.
Hei Lan averted his gaze and kneel on the floor on one knee. He removes the black gloves on his hands and touches the floor lightly with the tip of his fingers and closes his eyes to concentrate. With his eyes close he used is retrocognition ability to see the events in the past. At first he welcomed the abyss with his eyes closed in reality. The sounds in his surroundings slowly, little bit by bit fading to silence. Only his heart beats lingers in his ears.
As even his heartbeats fade, countless of framed scenes appeared in his mind like a fast moving film. He watch it indifferently until he found the start of the event before the murder began. The perspective is from the murderer's. This time as Hei Lan possessed the body of the murderer's, he saw all what the former had seen, touch, smell and ear. All senses were synchronized.
[Murderer's Perspective:]
I watched Mary outside the manor from the window. I saw my wife giggling happily within the embrace of another man. The man who was flirting with my wife is none other than my best friend Aron. They were making actions to advance their romance. They shared a hug that was supposed to be mine. Mary kisses Aron when that is only my right. Now they seem to be in celebration.
I heard the rumors about this but didn't believe it in the beginning. I love my wife and trust my best friend. Until Mary started action. She started becoming easily irritated. She feels ill as if suffering from morning sickness. Then she runs towards the bathroom every time I've served the meal. It is as if she is... pregnant.
But that's impossible! I was so busy lately and haven't touched her for a long time. Aron visits at home become frequent and the atmosphere between them becomes ambiguous. I finally believe those rumors. I choose to plan a business trip. I told Mary I would be away for three days. Before I left I watched my wife show some sadness with tears in her eyes as she sent me away. Seeing her like this I felt guilt for some reason. I almost told her the truth but Aron comes over to bring fruits and cakes for us. Seeing him come over my decision turned finally.
I left the house intending to catch them on purpose. If there is really nothing going on, then I would apologize to my wife and best friend. Either that or...
Now I stood outside my house hiding in some corner and watched the disgusting scene unfold before me. Watch my wife and best friend's affair before me. I almost couldn't hold back my rage. I only wanted a normal life, a beautiful wife, good friends and a stable living conditions. Aside from that I wished for nothing. I choose to throw away my past. Hide the fact that I am not a normal being but an esper. I just wanted to forget that hellish life in that place and wanted to live like a normal person.
But even that was not allowed for a monster like me... As Espers were treated like monsters. We are different from normals and we couldn't change that fact. I wanted to change it. I tried very hard to live like a normal person and eventually I failed. My wife put a green hat on the top of my head like a crown. My best friend betrayed me and had an affair with my wife. It was slapped on my face.
They look so happy.
Why couldn't I have that.
I wanted that too.
That was my dream.
They've destroyed it for me.
If so then...
they could only disappear.
Since it was not mine anymore.
I'm just going to destroy it then.
[Murderer's Perspective End]
Hei Lan separated himself from that scene. After all he already learned the details and found out who the murderer is. It was the missing husband of his deceased wife.
Hei Lan murmured, "So he had no involvement with this death. So boring~"
He watched as the man entered the manor used his ability to control electricity and caused a black out in the whole house. Then only the sound of a woman and man's voices screaming could be heard. No one else could hear them as the distance between houses is too far from each other. Moreover the sound isolation of the manor is quite good and then the murder occurred that night. A long night of blood killing. The husband killed the two
Hei Lan then closed his eyes in that space slowly controlling his ability to be shut off so he could return to his past.