Demon Lord Shapeshifting System

Chapter 237 Fragile Strings

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Earlier that day, when Harker and Joan were still in the Kokoro to Shinzou antique shop, Roland had to take care of some matters for proceedings of Felix's re-trial. They're running out of time. 

Soon, there would be an examination of evidence, and they need to gain that evidence and witnesses to prove his innocence. Not only that, but they needed witnesses and testimonies to prove it. 

Once Harker was done with Galeas, Roland informed him and Joan about this. They would also have to serve as a witness in case they truly uncovered something big.

"I'm fine with that." Harker said. "I'd probably be your best bet to stop any foul play. How about you, Joan?"

Joan shrugged. "Never really liked court trials and never been to a proper one before… Not under the US Constitution, that is. But as long as you help me with the prep work, I'm all good."

Roland sighed. "That's all well and good… But you guys do know that even if you promise to give the truth and nothing but the truth, we'll have to cover up the more supernatural elements of this case, right?"

"Yeah. It's a shame, but it's hard to convince a jury that plastic mannequins or disembodied shadows killed Dahlia Nieves." Harker said. 

"I'll take care of that. I'm sure I can come up with a clean narrative while still sticking to most of the facts." Roland said. "There's one more thing I'd like to tell you before we part ways. I'm going to have to be busy for some days, especially once the proceedings begin. So while I'm away—"

"We'll investigate for you." Harker made a thumbs up. "No need to tell us twice. We have plenty of leads to follow, and a very strong prime suspect."

Roland was relieved that he had some help since this was truly overwhelming work. "My people would also be working on their side of things. I already made a call for them to dig into Chief Fieldings now. His past, anything relating to Felix Garcia... and to the Circus Cabaret."

Joan then raised her hand. "Can I also follow a lead of my own? This is more of finding a way to stop the killings... I think you need someone to be on that too."

Roland agreed. "Of course. I assume you'll be working on that incident with the boy with a lighter and the antiques shop, then?"

"Yes." Joan said. "I don't think solving the mystery of who framed Felix is enough. I want to find more about this woman that he mentioned." 

Harker rubbed his chin. "Then I guess it's better if we split up. Divide and conquer. Joan will take care of things on her side, she still has work after all. I'll take the lead against Fieldings, and get a confession out of him on tape. Assuming he really was the one who framed Felix. I sure hope so, or it's back to square one and I don't like running in circles."

"Also…."

He took out the pin. "I can't just ignore this. Kian may be a victim of them already. I still don't get why sometimes these shadow skinwalkers would frame someone. They could just steal their identity without anyone knowing, what's the point?"

Roland rubbed his chin. "I'll allow you to, but if you visit the university too often, it would be too suspicious. You'd need to have a reason for your visits." 

Suddenly, an idea struck Harker. 

"Right... I almost forgot." 

Harker frowned. "Forgot what?"

"The vice president candidate for Artea's party actually took a sick leave. I can tell her that you could stand in for him, using make-up and prosthetics to look like him."

Harker's eyes widened. "You want me to pretend to be a politician?"

"It's just for the Student Council, Hark."

"Which is still a politician, given how everyone that joins them takes Political Science. And would Artea really believe that make-up and prosthetics can make me look exactly like him?"

Roland shrugged. "It's the best way to keep investigating in Holmwood about Kian, since you're so sure he was replaced by the shadows. And I also want you to check on Galeas once in a while, to see if his father said anything. On weekends, you can go check on the police chief and the Circus Cabaret, and I'd help either you or Joan when I'm available."

So it was settled. Divide and conquer was the plan, and Roland had divided their tasks neatly. 

Harker didn't know when he started to dislike being bossed around by Roland. His plan was reasonable, and he doesn't really have any qualms with it besides having to spend time with Artea as some Student Council vice president candidate. 

But he just has this petty feeling of not wanting to be controlled. 

Since when had he thought Roland was controlling?

Roland did nothing but help him all these years. Everything he does result into something good, and he's the reason why Harker fucked things up less than he would. He was being unreasonable, and yet he can't shake it off. 

Harker wandered into the streets passing by houses and stores that were starting to put up their Halloween decor. 

There was a delivery man sending off displays of spiderwebs to a candy store owner. They were gossamer thin and almost looked like nets that would trap something in, like a bug or a fly.

Harker felt that he was also a bug and fly stuck in an intricate web full of connections that only the spider could make sense of. Fate often felt like that, and we were all just stuck in it, not knowing where in the web we lie.

Yet in the end, the spider will come to devour us anyway. There's no escape. 

His mind was overloaded by all the information he had to process from this whole case. Maybe he should just take a nap. 

When he did go home, he jotted down all the details so far. There were so many that he almost felt compelled to make a board with red strings like in those detective movies. 

Felix's case got so complicated that he almost forgot about his dad, and his disappearances. Almost. 

But Roland did manage that thing about receiving a response from Yakov Perelman. For Harker soon heard a knock….

And the same delivery man from earlier came to his doorsteps. 

"Hello, sir. Delivery for an H. Jones? Coming from the Noch Foundation in Los Angeles, California."

Harker knew that was the name of that establishment where Yakov received his mail. He looked at the box, and it was just big enough for his arms to wrap around. 

"Thank you." Harker signed the papers. 

The delivery man's thin and spindly fingers took the papers and pen from him with a smile. "You're welcome, sir. Careful with your package. I was told it's fragile." 

Harker wondered what fragile thing must Yakov Perelman send him. He went to set it down gently and open it….

"What the….."

Why would the old man send him this!? All he did was ask about his Dad!