145. Playing A Fool

"Mom, i wasn't expecting you today."

"I've been waiting here for a while. Have you been keeping well?"

"Yes. Nelnel surprised me that you were here, waking me up early morning from my deep slumber."

"I asked him not to tell you I was coming today. There are private matters we need to discuss before he and I head to work."

"He seems to be enjoying it considering often times he's come home quite late."

"We hardly see each other except today. Anyway, we need discuss serious matters. One concerning the case and secondly, your health." Elric's mother gestured at her son from head to toe. "You are much more chubbier than the last time I saw you. How many months so far?"

"I clocked seven months end of last week."

"My hard headed son, willing to risk it all regardless of the consequences. Are you sure you are not in any kind of pain? Dont lie to your mother."

Sitting down slowly, Elric shook his head, "What's going on? I haven't caught on the case since the last time we worked together. I figured you'd reach out if you needed my help."

"Have you watched the news lately?"

"Not really."

"You've become complaisant son. Nonetheless, I don't have much time so let's get to the point. There are a lot of pharmaceutical companies that have worked hand in hand with Mora's father in the supply of harmful ingredients to illegal drugs. It is literally an undercover criminal organization and finally we managed to bring almost everyone involved to account. Additionally, do you remember the collapse of the infamous museum years ago which accumulated quite a number of casualties? It was due to poor construction of the museum and mismanagement of funds. Mora's father may not be behind this but he aided in hiding this truth since underneath that construction was billions worth of narcotics hidden.

I can no longer continue to follow up this case. I've been authorized to hand over all evidences in my hands to a team of prosecutors who have been chosen to focus majorly slush funds but holding prosecutors accountable is quite a challenge. A couple of billions were raised in the process. They hid their acts under use of double accounts and other money laundering techniques which you and I are familiar with, seeing your father's brothers.

Anyway, the results of their preliminary investigations, as well as the one made by my team has shown a number of those who'd previously perpetrated the incident are deceased, a few of them left whom I had spoken to months back and were willing to make statements against Mora's father as a means to avenge. Now that the case has been taken by the prosecutors, it puts me in a dangerous spot since prosecutors hold tremendous influence over a case and with a little threat they will succumb to intentional misconduct.

Moreover, investment associated with Mora's father is under tight scrutiny, or has been rather, for the past couple of months. I couldn't tell you because of your condition."

"Mom," Elric cut in. "Do you mean to say we stand to loose? I don't think bribery will be an option if micromanagement by a third party is done. As back up, there is always an option to appeal and keep the case."

"My son, how did Mijin come to hold the party at that wretched place?"

Elric instantly understood why his mother asked him that question. A thorough investigation might have his name mentioned, dating back all the way to that dreadful day. "I told her of it." Unable to face his mother, he added. "The owner was investigated, I myself was taken in for questioning and I told the police everything I know."

"Did you ever consume that drug?" Elric's mother asked, her eyes locked on her son.

"For pleasure."

"With Mijin or with other people?"

"Both."

Elric's mother sighed yet somewhat looked relieved, her eyes on his son's belly. "I just wanted to hear from your own lips before confronting you." Looking back up at her son, she added, "Mijin delivered a bouncing baby girl. I'm sure you already know this. She seems to have disappeared out of thin air however, before she unexpected exit, she left a recording of everything she knows and everyone involved. That was how your name came up."

"Mom, there are two types of that drug. I'm not trying to justify myself but I took the uncontaminated one and most of the people I took it with were mutual friends with Mijin. I stopped the hype a long time ago, the hallucinating was a game at first but afterwards it became exhausting and Mijin never revealed her supplier. The fact that its impure form was found at the party still baffles me to date. I told the police everything that day, I just didn't tell you."

"How long did you stop taking it before that party?"

"About six months or so, probably more."

"Then it will be futile."

"What do you mean?"

"When one has consumed the impure form, it stays in their system for at least six months meaning bits of their memory, or hallucinations can be retracted from their subconscious by administering the uncontaminated version of it."

"Are you trying to retract Yeon's memory?"

"No. Yeon's had opium in it. It's Mora's brother I'm interested in. He is our key witness to bringing down Mora however, from the information I've received from Mijin, we probably have enough evidence.

Anyway, several informants have indicated that a lot of people were murdered to keep information about the supply of illegal ingredients a secret. Ingredients like opium. We've also managed to receive a confession from one of the people who were present when Yeon was attacked and that's good progress though he only confessed since the case is no longer in my hands. He also gave us a location of where previous murders have happened and how they were carried out. Police have been investigating the area and discovered several bodies disposed and decomposed in the ocean." Looking at her son, she asked. "Are you sure you're able to take in all this information? I'm afraid of your current state."

"Niel refused for me to watch the TV following the first report by the media. I'd thought you had advised him against it."

"Not at all. Anyway, we finally have concrete evidence to bring Mora down. She attacked her father, extending her detention due to her unstable suspicious character. She has been vigorously questioned and you'd be surprised what her reply was."

"What?"

"She committed the murders because she got bored."

"I thought she hadn't killed anyone yet."

"Negligence. She blamed her victims for being weak to pain. As per forensics reports, most of her victims died from shock rather than bleeding. Severe pain can cause shock too. I would know since your father passed away from that.

Everything her father built using the lives of others has crumbled, the family completely fallen. Mora said this is what she wanted to do and because it has happened, she admitted to her crimes without batting an eye. She didn't show any remorse in fact, she seemed rather satisfied."

"Have you taken the life of anyone?"

"No. It's a burden getting rid of a body, you have to keep it for a week. Disposing more than one body a week leaves a lot of traces. Causing harm to others, yes I've done it. I know it's wrong, I just don't understand why."

"How did you cause harm to others?"

"Cuts. Many small cuts eventually lead to a big cut, but I preserved life. That's my protocol. My pets just died too quickly."

"How did they die? From the cuts you gave them or in another way?"

"Often times that was the way. However, some of them still hope to be saved so they tend to hold on to the trust I planted in them at the beginning and to relieve them from pain, I'd simply administer morphine and my father would strangle them as a hobby but that was in the past."

Elric's mother shivered at the memory of Mora's entire confession and her son didn't miss her reaction.

"What happened mom? Tell me everything."

"Not in your current state. All I can share with you now is just like her father, Mora has multiple cases to face and answer to in court after a secret room was discovered in their mansion. As much as it frightens me to think of it, Mora's father's husbands words still linger in my mind. He said that his husband can turn anything into a weapon yet he appeared stoic after his first hearing and subsequent ones after that. He insisted this was all a game to him and I fear it's the same for Mora too. Nevertheless, I'm at least relieved Mora's father can be controlled therefore, subject to where this case has progressed so far, our pan to use Yeon to bait Mora is unnecessary. These two individuals are formidable serial killers. You wouldn't believe it but Mora appeared fond of Yeon whenever she mentioned him. It makes me wonder, is all settled, or are we still dancing to their tune?"

"I wonder too mom."

"Sometimes when I close my eyes, I see both of them, having been in contact with them for such a long time repetitively. Whenever I sleep, I can see how Mora's father's eyes are filled with a hunger to hunt me down, then I think about you and your safety son."

"Do you want us to move into the main house?"

"Yes and no. It would make me sleep peacefully at night to know you are safe however, you living here with your fated also is more like a trap. I know that if they were to come here to attack, they'll get caught but I don't think they would. Mora and her father are very intelligent for that and trespassing seems like a petty boring crime to them not to mention, serial killers of their kind would rather carry out their deeds than send someone in their place. To them, the fun is in the chase, the thrill in the hunt."

"Mom," Elric called out softly, "You look stressed."

"I guess I am son. I've reached my breaking point especially now that I'm no longer controlling both cases."

"I'm sorry you had to shoulder all these alone. Still, why did you lie to me that you were okay? I thought we agreed to be each other's back up when dad left?"

"I wanted to keep you safe especially after I suspected you being pregnant. I'm your mother remember? Soon, you'll understand why a parent would willingly sacrifice themselves for the sake of their children."

"Mom you're scaring me."

"Don't be son. All I need you to do is to continue to live as normally as possible and enjoy your married life with your fated and whenever I have moments when I need to vent, hear me out the way you are doing right now. You are my son, but I also made you my confidant. I'm sorry I have to burden you like this."

"Then tell me! What are you planning? I don't understand you!"

"Mijin is my pivot to protecting you. I feel she knows more than she lets us believe."

"Mijin?"

"I avoided bringing her in for questioning following what happened to her and her pregnancy. Now that she is delivered, there is no need to hold back anymore but I can't trace her."

"Mijin is vengeful. Knowing her, she is bound to go after Mora."

"Yes. Her parents informed me she's been up to something the last couple of months. The question is, whatever she is panning to do, since the case is no longer in my hands, I'm I going to stop her?"

"Mom, you're not making any sense."

"She and I understand bringing such a giant and corrupted corporation is no piece of cake. To completely cripple them down, we must cut them from the roots and make the first move."

"How do you plan on caring out that plan? Is it even legal?"

"That man threatened me. He wants to hurt me for humiliating him. Mora too will never give up her fight to go after Yeon. After witnessing her attack on her father, their secret training room, her hidden apartment with all her so called trophies which where from her victims including those from animals. We are talking about things like bracelets, blood stained clothes, teeth, fingernails, hair, urine... It gets more disgusting as I think about it. Yeon's picture was at the center of them all, Yeon being the only one alive."

"Mother, I understand now why you couldn't continue with the case. Legally, criminals of their caliber who have accumulated such number of deaths, of course the case would be taken away from you. They are a national threat."

"I will be closely monitoring the case regardless. Prosecutors have so much control and access to evidence. There are a few systems holding them accountable and my firm will be one of them. I intend to sit by and watch. In the event I suspect any form of foul play, I shall push this case to the supreme court. Nevertheless, I have to cooperate son, lest I be accused of the many traps Mora had laid up on me and my firm; providing evidence that wasn't just substantial in the end. She knew my team would be questioned how they came up with the evidences collected so far."

"She fooled us all."

"Indeed."