Raizel's eyes narrowed as he stared at the two people at the door.

A man and a woman stood there, both dressed in the distinctive uniforms of this world's Federation police force.

His heartbeat quickened.

Not now. Not so soon.

He hadn't expected to see them today—not when everything was finally falling into place, and they were just about to move out.

But the officers weren't alone.

Behind them stood his parents, their aged faces marked with deep worry and concern.

Raizel forced himself to stay calm. He took a slow breath, steadying his nerves, trying his best to appear unaffected.

"What? Are we not welcome, little girl?" the female officer asked with a composed smile.

Ruby glanced back at her parents—and seeing their subtle nods, she didn't argue. These were real officers. People you couldn't afford to defy lightly.

Quietly, she stepped aside, allowing them to enter.

"Wow, such a cozy little house, don't you think, Alice?" the male officer remarked casually, though his sharp gaze never left Raizel. He studied every movement, every twitch, as if reading him like an open book.

The female officer, Alice, with her golden-blonde hair tied in a strict bun and a hardened expression on her face, walked in confidently. Her build was firm, muscular, and her eyes were cold and calculating.

They were obviously players of higher level, judging by no weapons or guns by their side.

"Indeed," she said coolly, "It doesn't look like a criminal's home at all. I'm surprised."

Her words sent a shockwave throughout the room, dripping with serious accusation.

"C-Criminal? What do you mean by that officers? There's no criminal here! You said you were here for a regular inspection," Robert said anxiously, his brows tightly furrowed.

His wife stood beside him, equally tense and confused.

The male officer responded with a calm but firm tone, "It was supposed to be just that. But now, things have become much more serious, Mr. Robert."

Their words sent a wave of confusion through the room. What are they trying to say?

Officer Alice's gaze, sharp as a blade, zeroed in on Raizel.

"Your name is Raizel Ashblade, am I right?"

"Yes… that's me, Officer. But why are you looking for me?" Raizel replied, keeping his voice controlled.

His tone was slightly tense, just enough to pass as a concerned civilian.

But Alice wasn't convinced. She scrutinized every hint of his expression, every shift in his stance.

"Don't play dumb, kid," she said coldly.

"We have clear, undeniable proof of your crimes. But I'll admit... I'm impressed by your skill. You have made us work really hard."

Although they claimed to have clear evidence, Raizel remained suspicious.

This could be a bluff, he thought. A psychological tactic to provoke panic and force a confession.

Outwardly, however, he wore the perfect mask of confusion. His eyes widened, mouth slightly agape, as if truly dumbfounded.

"What crime did I commit, Officer?" he asked with disbelief. "And why am I not even aware of it?"

"Hmph… You'll know once you're in custody. Enough games. Zen, restrain him," Alice ordered coldly, unmoved by his performance.

Before the male officer could move, Robert and Marianne stepped between them, panic written all over their faces.

"Please, Officer!" Robert pleaded. "Clarify everything clearly. You can't just take our son without telling us what he's accused of! And show us the proof. We believe in our children. Raizel would never do anything that breaks the law!"

Marianne nodded beside him, her eyes filled with fear but also fierce maternal protectiveness. "We demand to know the truth before anything else."

"Hmph, I won't let you take my big brother away!" Ruby snapped, stepping protectively between the officers and Raizel, her eyes glaring with fierce determination.

Alice and Zen didn't flinch. Instead, they calmly began their explanation.

"Your precious brother is suspected of killing his classmates and burning their bodies in an abandoned warehouse nearby," Alice said, her tone firm and devoid of sympathy. "While we haven't found conclusive evidence directly linking him to the scene, he's become the prime suspect due to his conflicting relationship with Alastor Kingsley and his group. The bad terms between them was well-known."

She paused, eyes narrowing slightly. "And given his recent registration as a player, it's likely only someone like him would be capable of such a brutal act."

Zen added grimly,

"Ever heard of the Kingsley family?" he asked, gaze sharp. "They're one of the most powerful families in Megacity 17. Alastor's father is the Vice President of the Vulkan Guild."

He leaned closer to Robert, letting the weight of his words settle in the room.

"So, do you realize just how big of a mistake your son may have made?"

Marianne's hand gripped Robert's tightly, expressing the anxiety they both felt after hearing the news.

It was a serious matter. Committing mass slaughter was no simple accusation.

With apprehension and suspicion, they turned their eyes to their son, who stood looking confused.

"Did you do it, son?" they asked hesitantly, their ears straining for a hopeful denial.

"No, I didn't, Mom, Dad. Don't you trust your son? I would never do anything bad."

Raizel felt guilty lying—but the last part was true.

Alastor and the others did deserve it.

His father and mother looked relieved upon hearing his denial.

"See, officers? Our son said he didn't do it. You can't just take him away," they said firmly, gathering the courage to defend their child with everything they had.

Zen smirked. "Sorry, Mr. Robert. But your words alone aren't enough to remove him as the prime suspect. We'll take him with us—whether by hook or crook.

Now, step aside."

Instantly, an invisible force erupted from Zen's mouth, sending Robert and Marianne stumbling backward.

Only Raizel managed to hold his ground, his feet sliding slightly against the floor.

But if the force increased any more, even he wouldn't be able to stand against it…

Unless he used Antimagic.

Should he reveal it?

Was there no other choice?

But suddenly—

"Excuse me, does Mr. Raizel live here?"

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.