Traveling through the game world, starting out as a third-rate villain

While I was investigating the scene, I suddenly received a message on my smartwatch.

[Tribe]: Sir, the information you requested is ready.

I opened the message and saw the source.

'Perfect timing.'

Besides some claw marks and saliva on the ground, I didn't find more clues about the scene. These were not enough to confirm what type of enemy it was.

If I had enough information, I could analyze what kind of demon it was. But unfortunately, there's no time for that now.

However, I can collaborate with the local security department, and I've already notified Emilia. They will investigate the scene according to Emilia's instructions.

I decided to head to a nearby coffee shop, where I could sort out my thoughts and also review the information from [Tribe]. Stepping into the coffee shop, the aroma of fresh coffee wafted over me, temporarily relaxing me and easing the tense atmosphere of the night.

I chose a quiet corner to sit down, and the smartwatch projected a soft light on the table. I started reading the files.

In the quiet corner of the coffee shop, the surrounding noise was irrelevant to me, and I was completely immersed in the information provided by [Tribe]. The glow of the smartwatch flickered gently on the tabletop, creating a small space.

The files detailed a series of recent missing person cases in West Oukes, revealing the patterns, locations, and possible suspects.

The report presented a grim narrative, and as I browsed the documents, some specific details gradually emerged:

— — — —

List of Missing Persons:

Millie

Occupation: Clerk

Last Seen Location: Maple Street

Last Seen Time: 7:45 PM

Last Seen Date: November 8, 2035

— — — —

Daniel Johnson

Occupation: Shop Assistant

Last Seen Location: Riverside Park

Last Seen Time: 8:20 PM

Last Seen Date: November 9, 2035

— — — —

Olivia Harris

Occupation: Waitress

Last Seen Location: Old Library on Elm Avenue

Last Seen Time: 6:55 PM

Last Seen Date: November 9, 2035

— — — —

Benjamin Rodriguez

Occupation: Security Guard

Last Seen Location: Oak Street Coal Yard

Last Seen Time: 9:10 PM

Last Seen Date: November 10, 2035

— — — —

Sophia Carter

Occupation: Researcher

Last Seen Location: Birch Street Arcade Alley

Last Seen Time: 8:30 PM

Last Seen Date: November 14, 2035

......

— — — —

Remarks:

Serial numbers 002 to 011 represent newly added missing persons.

Seeing the list before me, I realized that there had already been 11 missing person cases.

'This number is too high, how could this happen?'

For a small city, so many missing persons cases are indeed shocking.

'Is nobody in the local area taking care of this? Or is this the norm?'

Although I wasn't familiar with West Oukes, in any case, the situation before me made me realize that this case was very serious.

“Hoo.”

I breathed out softly.

One problem with living in these places is that most people see these places as rural, and officials always boldly assume that nothing major happens, and then take it lightly.

“But it's also because of this that I was able to get these files.”

It would have been much more difficult and time-consuming to obtain information from the Arcadia City Security Bureau, which is an advantage for me.

'Alright, let's begin.'

I continued to delve into the files and began to analyze the cases.

— — — —

Diversity of Occupations:

The victims came from different occupations, including clerks, shop assistants, waitresses, security guards, and researchers. There was no obvious connection that could be found through occupation.

I initially assumed that these events were the work of demons, and this kind of low-level demon would not specifically choose a certain occupation as a target, so this was logical.

— — — —

Common Locations:

The locations where the victims were last seen varied, from warehouses to parks, libraries, and factories. There was no obvious attack location.

No clear pattern emerged, which meant that demons could appear anywhere in the city.

'However, it definitely has a hiding place. But how should I judge it?'

Would it be in the city center? Abandoned factories, houses? Or somewhere else?

It was difficult to find obvious patterns simply by observing. If they were concentrated in a certain area of the city, it might be easier to spot clues.

— — — —

Time Difference:

This part isn't very valuable. The time when the victims were last seen is usually reported by witnesses, so there may be errors. However, judging only from the time of disappearance, the demon is likely to be active at night.

'Demons active at night.'

Contrary to popular belief, demons are not so fond of nocturnal activity. Most demons prefer daytime activity, but there are also a few demons that lurk at night.

'The Mist Specter is an example.'

Although this information helps narrow down the demon type range, it is not enough to determine exactly which demon it is.

— — — —

Last Seen Date:

The last dates of the missing person cases range from November 8, 2035, to November 14. These cases are recent, while the previous missing persons cases occurred a month ago.

'In other words, the demon started to become active around November 8.'

So, what caused it? Did it come here from outside, or has it always been in this city?

Judging from the dates, the frequency of missing person cases has increased. Do these dates directly represent the dates of disappearance?

Considering that most of the missing people have fixed jobs and did not clock in the next day, I speculate that these people were reported missing after they disappeared.

The increase in missing persons cases suggests that the demon is either becoming more comfortable in the city over time, or it needs to appear more frequently.

‘The latter is more likely.’

Everyone has a biological clock, and demons are no exception. If the demon needs to capture more targets, it will adapt and adjust its actions, avoiding excessive exposure.

‘Either way, I need more details to figure out the demon's motives.’

I fell into thought, deciding to request more detailed information from [Tribe] again.

[Shadowmoon-1]: I have a crucial task that I need you to complete. I need detailed information about each victim in the West Ooks missing persons cases, including backgrounds, habits, and contacts—any clues that might reveal patterns or motives in the cases.

[Tribe]: Understood, sir. We'll prepare it immediately. Expect the information to be ready soon.

[Shadowmoon-1]: Make sure to dig deep; I need every possible detail.

[Tribe]: Consider it done. We'll contact you as soon as we've compiled all the information; it won't take too long.

Now that my mind is filled with a jumble of thoughts, after taking a short rest, I decided to continue my investigation.

......

After paying for my coffee, I slowly left the cafe.

The cold air outside rushed in, making me more alert and reminding me to quicken my pace.

‘It's late, and at this hour, most people have gone home.’

Considering that I intend to talk to the town's residents to get more information, I must try to avoid arousing their suspicion.

‘It's better than doing nothing.’

Even if I can't talk to people directly, I can check the last places the missing people were seen to try and find some clues.

Opening the map on my smartwatch, I started heading to the locations of the disappearances.

The atmosphere of the city at night is completely different, with the light of the streetlamps casting long shadows on the deserted streets.

As I walked through the quiet alleys and dimly lit streets, I felt a stark contrast between the city's surface tranquility and the tense atmosphere brought about by the missing persons cases.

Whoosh!

I immediately activated my trait, blending into the shadows and moving silently across the rooftops. The first location was soon reached.

The first location was Maple Street, where Millie was last seen. She was witnessed entering this area, and then there was no further information about her leaving.

The street here is long, and she could have entered many different places. But if this is really related to the Night Demon, then it may have interfered with people's senses.

So I moved carefully through the streets.

As I walked along the desolate street, my eyes caught a faint glint on a wall.

Upon closer inspection, I found claw marks etched into the brick wall.

‘This…’

I closed my eyes, comparing these small cuts to the marks I had seen before.

‘They match.’

After carefully examining the marks on the wall, I noticed a difference between these claw marks and the previous ones. The width of the claws matched, indicating a similar source, but there was a noticeable difference in their depth.

“These marks aren't as deep,” I muttered to myself, gently running my fingers over the grooves in the brick wall.

‘And there are signs of a struggle.’

Considering Millie was an office worker, it was unlikely she could fight such a powerful demon.

This further indicates that it wasn't at its peak during this incident.

It suddenly dawned on me that the demon, like all creatures, experiences fluctuations in power. If this Night Demon was weaker when Millie was abducted, that would explain the shallower claw marks and the possibility of a struggle between her and the demon.

My brain raced, trying to piece together this puzzle. The fluctuations in the demon's power seemed to be key, and if I could understand the patterns of these fluctuations, it might provide clues for tracking and confronting it.

‘I can check this issue from other locations.’

Since this happened a long time ago, traces like saliva are no longer visible.

Realizing the information gathered from Millie's last known location, I decided to head to the next destination on the list. The fluctuations in the demon's power might reveal its weakness to me.

Leaving Maple Street, I traversed the silent city, heading towards Riverside Park, which was the last place the next missing person, store clerk Daniel Johnson, was seen. As I approached the park, the atmosphere became even more eerie, a stark contrast to the tranquility of the daytime.

I quickly climbed onto the rooftops, using my [Shadow] ability to silently traverse the terrain, avoiding attracting any attention. Riverside Park is large, with many potential hiding places.

As I moved across the rooftops, my eyes scanned the surroundings, looking for anything unusual. The moonlight cast an eerie glow over the park, rendering it desolate and silent. I remained highly vigilant, ready to respond to changes at any moment.

Soon after, I noticed a faint glint on a tree. I cautiously descended and examined the trunk, discovering some claw marks. Unlike the previous location, these marks appeared deeper, indicating the demon had become more powerful.

‘So, the demon's power increased after the first one.’

This might be related to the location, or it might be that the demon is getting stronger over time.

‘However…’

Although I was reluctant to think this way, an ominous conclusion couldn't help but surface in my mind.

Ding! Just then, I heard the notification sound from my watch.

[Tribe]: Sir, the information you requested is ready.

Ring ring ring!

At the same time, the phone rang.

[Incoming call: Senior Sister Emilia]