Chapter 94 - Personal Significance

Finn listened closely as Zwei explained his warning.

“Seven years ago there was a series of cases in Noga. It started with a high ranking government official. He began displaying neurotic and paranoid behaviour, complaining about seeing things in the shadows.”

“I remember this.” Finn said, “He became famous for a short while for filling his manor and the land around it with lanterns.”

Zwei nodded, “As his condition worsened he permitted fewer and fewer people to be around him. One night his entire mansion burned up in flames. His charred body was found in the wreckage. Based on the layout of the room investigators thought it was highly likely that he lit himself on fire.”

Zwei slouched in his chair, resting his head on his hand, “The second case was a widow of a merchant. This merchant had died of natural causes several years prior, but the widow remained active in high society. She began complaining about nightmares and developed an extreme phobia of insects. She isolated herself in her home and eventually died of a panic induced heart attack.”

“There are several other cases, all grouped together in the files.” Zwei said. “The common thread between them are visual and audible hallucinations, fear of shadows and growing paranoia. The initial victims tended to be government officials and high society figures. Later on this also included officers investigating the case.”

Finn nodded, finding this information familiar. He remembered his father paying close attention to the papers during these incidents. At the time his father was already a prominent detective, handling the special cases that dealt with the supernatural and mystical. Finn was never told the details of what his father was working on, but even in his youth he was observant enough to make deductions.

“The first few cases were publicized due to their strangeness.” Finn said, showing his familiarity with the subject, “But as the number of deaths increased the news was quietly suppressed. If I remember correctly, the cause of the hallucinations was attributed to a disease from the south.”

Finn shrugged, “I remember this. But what does this have to do with us? These cases are all over six years old, and they were never solved conclusively. Sure, I can confirm that I’ve been having mild visual ‘hallucinations’, but it hasn’t been anything major. That’s hardly something I’d consider ‘grave danger’.”

“We are suffering from the same disease as in these cases. The hallucinations are mild now, but in all the cases they progressively worsened until the victims became completely paranoid.” Zwei frowned, he threw the report onto the table in front of Finn, “This paper is proof that something is wrong. If you doubt me, bring it outside and try to show it to people. It doesn’t exist outside of our minds.”

“This paper is proof that our supervisor is an Exalted.” Finn said in exasperation, “There are many explanations for strange phenomena. I don’t think you are I are well versed enough in these matters to make a judgement call. There’s no reason to suspect that the hallucinations are directly related to these cases.”

“There is.” Zwei said, pulling out a newspaper from inside his coat. He unfolded it and pointed at an article on one of the inner pages. The headline read, ‘Man lights self on fire in phobia-induced panic attack!’. The details of the case detailed the man’s growing fear of darkness and uncharacteristic neurotic behaviour in the weeks prior to his death. It was dated from the previous week.

“There are others.” Zwei said, “I’ve been tracking these cases since they started happening in the new year.”

Finn raised an eyebrow as he instantly caught a discrepancy in Zwei’s story. “Tracking these cases? Weren’t you just admitted into the force? How did you find those case files from seven years ago?”

“I looked for them after we gained authorization yesterday.” Zwei said calmly, then added, “These cases have a personal significance to me.”

“You’re really something, you know.” Finn shook his head, unable to hold back his frustration as he stood up, “I’ve been all over Noga for the past two days looking into this case. I thought maybe you were doing the same, but this is what you’ve been doing for a day and a half? Looking over old cases in record keeping for your own interests? You realize we have a job to do. We have a report to make in less than two days.”

“I have a theory that the person who caused these cases seven years ago has come back.” Zwei said quietly, “We were assigned to this case regarding Chief Yun and suddenly started experiencing hallucinations. In my mind it’s all connected, we just have to find the pieces.”

Finn frowned, “What evidence do you have?”

“Nothing yet.” Zwei said, then he shook his head, “Actually. There is something, but it’s more situational than anything. You know that there is another team investigating Chief Yun’s death, right? They are an official team lead by Chief Bear. You were talking to a member of that team just before I called you over.”

“Yes.” Finn said, “I know her from my previous department.”

“Why have two teams doing the same investigation?” Zwei asked poignantly.

Finn paused. In fact, he had been mulling over the question in the back of his mind but had yet to come to a conclusion. Finn felt something click into place in his mind as he suddenly realized Zwei’s point.

The organization of Minnie Kim’s team sounded more like the regular way of handling an important investigation. Gather individuals with the various specialties to complement each others’ skills, assign a Chief to supervise and direct.

Finn and Zwei, however, had been personally summoned by Chief Fang and then sworn to secrecy. Their supervisor was an individual outside of the regular force. They had access to resources and knowledge, but were lacking in manpower to handle such an investigation. Moreover, both Zwei and Finn were not experienced officers - why give them such an assignment?

The image of a pale white man with sunken red eyes flashed in his memory. Zwei’s words echoed in Finn’s mind.

“A personal significance...” Finn muttered, his eyes lowered in thought. If this case was a normal case, then the official response would be enough. But if this was personal...

“Chief Fang...” Finn said, “When he became the Chief of Three-P it was officially stated that he’d previously been a government official and was transferred as part of a political move. But if you were to look for records of his past it’s surprisingly hard to find anything. One of the quiet rumours is that Chief Fang used to be the Chief of Special Ops and stepped down due to an unknown incident.”

Finn looked at Zwei with thoughtful acknowledgement, “He took the position of Chief of Three-P six years ago.”

The time period matched up. Chief Fang’s appointment, Zwei’s personal cases... The disappearance of Finn’s father.

“I have things I need to do tonight on my part of the investigation. I don’t have time for this.” Finn’s thoughts turned to his own investigation. The connection between the Cloud Peak monks and the Marked Devout cultists. The murder weapon and Edwin’s master. The sightings of the albino man around the monastery, which suddenly held a new significance. These were all crucial leads that he needed to follow.

“That’s fine, isn’t that our agreement?” Zwei replied coolly, “I do me. You do you.”

“Yeah.” Finn paused, placing his hand on the door knob. Just before he left the room he said softly, “The morning before we report to Locke, let’s meet up and discuss our results.”

Finn shut the door softly behind him as he stepped out into the common area. The flickering light of the lamps played off the shelves and tables in the records room, casting shifting shadows against each other. Tiny little swirls wound around in the dark corners of the room, faint and ephemeral. He heard the faint sound of whispers echoing through the walls.

~

In the southern end of the city a luxurious black carriage pulled up to the front of the Lucky Pawn Shop. A light rain drizzled onto the cobblestone streets as the gas fired street lights began lighting up with the setting of the sun. Heavy clouds hung over the city, muting the colours of the sky.

“There’s a line up outside the shop.” Xiang said as he looked out the window.

Yuzu looked out as well, seeing a small crowd of around two dozen people standing outside the shop. They were peeking in through the darkened shop front and knocking on the door. The shop was normally open at this time, but it was extremely unusual to see so many customers around.

“Good evening.” Xiang dismounted from the carriage, greeting the small crowd of people.

“Ah, it’s Xiang. Thank the Lord. Are you open tonight?” A man said, his eyes brightening a bit.

“Yes-“ Xiang said instinctively as he looked around. With Yuzu’s health the way it was he hadn’t planned to open the shop, but the crowd of people certainly weren’t here to socialize.

“That’s a relief. We were worried you wouldn’t show up.” Another man said. Yuzu recognized both of them as semi-regular customers of their shop. There were a number of familiar faces, although the majority of them were strangers.

“Give us a moment and I’ll be right with all of you.” Xiang said a quick thank you to the carriage driver and escorted Yuzu into the shop.

“Business is always better during tough times.” Xiang muttered softly as he temporarily locked the door behind them.

“You can help the customers out.” Yuzu said, “I’m fine to go up to my room myself.”

The golden strings were somewhat lively in the shop tonight, indicating that there would actually be an unusual quantity of customers. She checked a few of the strings, listening to the conversations and transactions that would take place. Stories of hardship, paying for medical expenses, paying for funeral services. Selling off family heirlooms to handle the tough times.

The pawn shop was a lifeline for many of these families which didn’t have a lot of money to handle emergencies. At the same time, if they were able to weather the storm they’d be able to recover their valuables.

Yuzu headed up to her room, letting Xiang handle the customers. She was still feeling drained, but she had no intention of resting in bed tonight. She quickly changed into warmer clothes and stepped into the hallway. A few golden strands lingered in the doorway of her room. These were times in the night when Xiang would come to check on her.

She reached out to the strings, twisting them and pulling them out of the doorway. It only took a moment and then the doorway was clear.

“This is like casting a ward to stop people from entering...” Yuzu said softly to herself, comparing it to the magic in one of the novels she had read.

After confirming that her room would be clear for the night Yuzu calmly went down the stairs and left through the back door.

A few minutes later a rental carriage stopped in the alley outside. The driver was slightly confused - he had gotten lost on his regular route without realizing it, but as luck would have it there was a girl in that alley looking for a ride into town.

“Good evening, miss.” He said, tilting his hat politely as he dismounted to help Yuzu up into the covered back seat, “Where to, tonight?”

“Take me to Tye-An Market.”