Chapter 285: Meeting Again (1)
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As Private Investigator Hais pulled up to the grand entrance of the Red Palace, he looked at the ornate structure that loomed before him once again. Still, the effect the place had on him wasn't so big anymore, and despite the beauty of the place, the investigator could only feel disgust and rage toward the institution.
The Red Palace was a renowned place where individuals trained to enhance their physical and mental abilities.
It was also the place where Hais was going to meet Erik Romano, a young man he had previously met during an investigation and who he strongly believed had something to do with the disappearance of three boys.
But this time, Hais wasn't here to investigate Conal, Orson, and Logan's disappearance; instead, the investigator had the inkling that Erik was also involved in Nathaniel McConnel's death, and he came here again to inquire and to see if the young man showed signs of guilt or nervousness.
The imposing sight of the palace's crimson walls, which appeared to exude an air of power, greeted Hais as he got out of his car. He quickly passed through the gate and arrived at the entrance, where two bulky security officers were now watching him warily.
"I'm Private Investigator Hais," he announced, showing them his identification. "I have an appointment."
The guards exchanged a glance before one of them nodded and led Hais inside. The interior of the Red Palace was just as awe-inspiring as its exterior, but again, the man only became angrier once he saw it. The walls were adorned with intricate murals depicting warriors in action, and the halls were lined with statues of martial artists frozen in dynamic poses.
Amanda Smith, the receptionist, sat behind the front desk. Her dark skin contrasted beautifully with her bright smile, making her a striking figure.
As the receptionist, she was used to dealing with all sorts of people, but when the tall, lanky private investigator in a worn-out trench coat he wore despite being summer entered the building, she greeted him with a cold and assessing stare.
"Welcome again, Mr. Hais," the woman said.
"There is no need for you to force yourself to be polite to me. I don't like you as much as you don't like me," the man said.
"Oh, but I do like you, sir," Amanda replied.
"Yeah, yeah, just bring me to the room," Hais replied.
"All right. Then, if you are gentle enough to follow me, we will go to the same one we used last time." She was used to keeping a professional stance in front of everyone who entered the institution, especially outsiders like Hais.
"Mr. Hais, please follow me," Amanda said, her voice relaxed and professional. She started walking toward a door leading to a corridor, her pencil skirt hugging her curves, and led the way down the hallway.
Hais followed, taking in the grandeur of the Red Palace once again with its opulent decor and solemn and luxurious atmosphere but remaining wary of everything and everyone.
Amanda led Hais to a small, windowless room. The walls were painted in a muted shade of gray, and the only furnishings in the room were a plain wooden table and two chairs. She gestured for Hais to have a seat, and he complied, settling into one of the chairs with a sense of urgency.
"I will inform Erik that you're here," Amanda said curtly before turning on her heel and leaving the room. As Hais waited, he took the opportunity to scan the room for anything suspicious.
He noticed the faint smell of cleaning chemicals, suggesting that the room had been recently sanitized, and saw multiple cameras pointing at him from every corner of the room.
***
Erik's heart pounded in his chest as he stepped out of his apartment and into the hallway of his high-rise building. He had just received a call from Amanda, the receptionist at the Red Palace, informing him that the private investigator, Hais, had returned to ask him more questions.
the young man thought.
However, Erik couldn't shake off the nagging feeling of unease that had settled in his gut ever since Hais first showed up at the Red Palace. He likely knew he had killed Conal, Logan, and Orson.
As Erik made his way to the elevator, and couldn't help but feel a sense of foreboding. He knew that Hais was determined and persistent, and the thought of facing him again filled him with anxiety.
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As Private Investigator Hais pulled up to the grand entrance of the Red Palace, he looked at the ornate structure that loomed before him once again. Still, the effect the place had on him wasn't so big anymore, and despite the beauty of the place, the investigator could only feel disgust and rage toward the institution.
The Red Palace was a renowned place where individuals trained to enhance their physical and mental abilities.
It was also the place where Hais was going to meet Erik Romano, a young man he had previously met during an investigation and who he strongly believed had something to do with the disappearance of three boys.
But this time, Hais wasn't here to investigate Conal, Orson, and Logan's disappearance; instead, the investigator had the inkling that Erik was also involved in Nathaniel McConnel's death, and he came here again to inquire and to see if the young man showed signs of guilt or nervousness.
The imposing sight of the palace's crimson walls, which appeared to exude an air of power, greeted Hais as he got out of his car. He quickly passed through the gate and arrived at the entrance, where two bulky security officers were now watching him warily.
"I'm Private Investigator Hais," he announced, showing them his identification. "I have an appointment."
The guards exchanged a glance before one of them nodded and led Hais inside. The interior of the Red Palace was just as awe-inspiring as its exterior, but again, the man only became angrier once he saw it. The walls were adorned with intricate murals depicting warriors in action, and the halls were lined with statues of martial artists frozen in dynamic poses.
Amanda Smith, the receptionist, sat behind the front desk. Her dark skin contrasted beautifully with her bright smile, making her a striking figure.
As the receptionist, she was used to dealing with all sorts of people, but when the tall, lanky private investigator in a worn-out trench coat he wore despite being summer entered the building, she greeted him with a cold and assessing stare.
"Welcome again, Mr. Hais," the woman said.
"There is no need for you to force yourself to be polite to me. I don't like you as much as you don't like me," the man said.
"Oh, but I do like you, sir," Amanda replied.
"Yeah, yeah, just bring me to the room," Hais replied.
"All right. Then, if you are gentle enough to follow me, we will go to the same one we used last time." She was used to keeping a professional stance in front of everyone who entered the institution, especially outsiders like Hais.
"Mr. Hais, please follow me," Amanda said, her voice relaxed and professional. She started walking toward a door leading to a corridor, her pencil skirt hugging her curves, and led the way down the hallway.
Hais followed, taking in the grandeur of the Red Palace once again with its opulent decor and solemn and luxurious atmosphere but remaining wary of everything and everyone.
Amanda led Hais to a small, windowless room. The walls were painted in a muted shade of gray, and the only furnishings in the room were a plain wooden table and two chairs. She gestured for Hais to have a seat, and he complied, settling into one of the chairs with a sense of urgency.
"I will inform Erik that you're here," Amanda said curtly before turning on her heel and leaving the room. As Hais waited, he took the opportunity to scan the room for anything suspicious.
He noticed the faint smell of cleaning chemicals, suggesting that the room had been recently sanitized, and saw multiple cameras pointing at him from every corner of the room.
***
Erik's heart pounded in his chest as he stepped out of his apartment and into the hallway of his high-rise building. He had just received a call from Amanda, the receptionist at the Red Palace, informing him that the private investigator, Hais, had returned to ask him more questions.
the young man thought.
However, Erik couldn't shake off the nagging feeling of unease that had settled in his gut ever since Hais first showed up at the Red Palace. He likely knew he had killed Conal, Logan, and Orson.
As Erik made his way to the elevator, and couldn't help but feel a sense of foreboding. He knew that Hais was determined and persistent, and the thought of facing him again filled him with anxiety.
As Private Investigator Hais pulled up to the grand entrance of the Red Palace, he looked at the ornate structure that loomed before him once again. Still, the effect the place had on him wasn't so big anymore, and despite the beauty of the place, the investigator could only feel disgust and rage toward the institution.The Red Palace was a renowned place where individuals trained to enhance their physical and mental abilities.It was also the place where Hais was going to meet Erik Romano, a young man he had previously met during an investigation and who he strongly believed had something to do with the disappearance of three boys.But this time, Hais wasn't here to investigate Conal, Orson, and Logan's disappearance; instead, the investigator had the inkling that Erik was also involved in Nathaniel McConnel's death, and he came here again to inquire and to see if the young man showed signs of guilt or nervousness.The imposing sight of the palace's crimson walls, which appeared to exude an air of power, greeted Hais as he got out of his car. He quickly passed through the gate and arrived at the entrance, where two bulky security officers were now watching him warily."I'm Private Investigator Hais," he announced, showing them his identification. "I have an appointment."The guards exchanged a glance before one of them nodded and led Hais inside. The interior of the Red Palace was just as awe-inspiring as its exterior, but again, the man only became angrier once he saw it. The walls were adorned with intricate murals depicting warriors in action, and the halls were lined with statues of martial artists frozen in dynamic poses.Amanda Smith, the receptionist, sat behind the front desk. Her dark skin contrasted beautifully with her bright smile, making her a striking figure.As the receptionist, she was used to dealing with all sorts of people, but when the tall, lanky private investigator in a worn-out trench coat he wore despite being summer entered the building, she greeted him with a cold and assessing stare."Welcome again, Mr. Hais," the woman said."There is no need for you to force yourself to be polite to me. I don't like you as much as you don't like me," the man said."Oh, but I do like you, sir," Amanda replied."Yeah, yeah, just bring me to the room," Hais replied."All right. Then, if you are gentle enough to follow me, we will go to the same one we used last time." She was used to keeping a professional stance in front of everyone who entered the institution, especially outsiders like Hais."Mr. Hais, please follow me," Amanda said, her voice relaxed and professional. She started walking toward a door leading to a corridor, her pencil skirt hugging her curves, and led the way down the hallway.Hais followed, taking in the grandeur of the Red Palace once again with its opulent decor and solemn and luxurious atmosphere but remaining wary of everything and everyone.Amanda led Hais to a small, windowless room. The walls were painted in a muted shade of gray, and the only furnishings in the room were a plain wooden table and two chairs. She gestured for Hais to have a seat, and he complied, settling into one of the chairs with a sense of urgency."I will inform Erik that you're here," Amanda said curtly before turning on her heel and leaving the room. As Hais waited, he took the opportunity to scan the room for anything suspicious.He noticed the faint smell of cleaning chemicals, suggesting that the room had been recently sanitized, and saw multiple cameras pointing at him from every corner of the room.***Erik's heart pounded in his chest as he stepped out of his apartment and into the hallway of his high-rise building. He had just received a call from Amanda, the receptionist at the Red Palace, informing him that the private investigator, Hais, had returned to ask him more questions. the young man thought.However, Erik couldn't shake off the nagging feeling of unease that had settled in his gut ever since Hais first showed up at the Red Palace. He likely knew he had killed Conal, Logan, and Orson.As Erik made his way to the elevator, and couldn't help but feel a sense of foreboding. He knew that Hais was determined and persistent, and the thought of facing him again filled him with anxiety.
