Ultimate Evolution I Became the Master of the World
Chapter 56 The Source

Leo strolled over, holding Michael's Social Security card.

"What's up? So, this security guard's really into extortion, huh? I say you lock him up right now. I'll get a lawyer to dig up some dirt and file a complaint," Lucas said, acting like he was the one being wronged.

Leo chimed in, "Lucas, we can only look into your claim. We need solid proof to press charges. Michael's rank is too high for us to just nab him. If you're sure he's extorting, come with me to the station and file a report." Lucas was floored. "What the heck? No authority to detain? Leo, you gotta be kidding me. You can't detain a security guard?"

Michael caught on quick. After snagging Nikolai's satellite phone, Freya must've hooked him up with Interpol. But wait, was Interpol's rank in Asia really that high? He was a bit confused about their hierarchy. "No mistake, I've checked. Lucas, come with us," Leo said. "Take Lucas to the station and get his statement."

Lucas felt uneasy. He asked cautiously, "Leo, what if the investigation doesn't pan out?"

"If the evidence is weak and it turns out the plaintiff lied, the plaintiff gets arrested for endangering national security," Leo said, eyeing Lucas suspiciously.

As a seasoned police chief, Leo could tell Lucas was sweating bullets. This case smelled fishy.

"Will I be detained?" Lucas asked again.

Leo shook his head, "Are you joking? Endangering national security means at least twenty years. If it's serious, ask your lawyer buddy; he knows better than me."

"What?" Lucas was stunned, his face going pale. Was it really that serious? It was just a little fraud, but now it was a national security issue. Lucas started sweating bullets.

When he looked at Michael again, it was with fear. Michael was definitely more than just a security guard.

Michael said, "Don't look at me, keep up the act."

"I was just kidding earlier. Let's drop this, okay? I'll buy you dinner and apologize. Deal?" Lucas forced a smile.

Michael said, "Weren't you accusing me of extortion? Why stop now?"

"Misunderstanding, total misunderstanding. I was just messing around, pretending to be a caterpillar. Got a bit dizzy and said some nonsense. Couldn't help myself," Lucas said. "Look at my mouth, it doesn't listen to me. Maybe I was possessed or something. Yeah, that's it. I was framed too."

"You're something else. I'm starting to admire you. But since we're investigating, let's get to the bottom of it. Right, Leo?" Michael said seriously. "Absolutely," Leo nodded, "Take Lucas back for questioning."

Two officers came over immediately. Lucas was so scared his legs gave out, collapsing to the ground, more desperate than if he'd seen a ghost. "Goodbye, caterpillar," Michael waved, "Take care. Don't blame me, I didn't do anything. Don't hold a grudge when you get out in twenty years." "Michael, you jerk," Lucas cried out, tears streaming down his face.

Michael hadn't realized how much clout Interpol had. When he met Nikolai before, he couldn't tell at all.

"Michael, you were in the mall earlier, do you know what went down inside? If it involves Interpol, then forget it," Leo whispered, "Lately, a lot of people have gone missing in that mall. I'm under a ton of pressure to crack the case. Please understand."

Michael said, "The people who disappeared are still in the mall, but they're not really people anymore. The whole place is super dangerous now. I suggest you seal it off immediately and don't send anyone in, or they won't come out. This case is beyond your jurisdiction; it's for Interpol. But Nikolai's dead and the new Interpol officer hasn't arrived yet. I suggest you hand the case over to the new officer when they get here."

"Anyway, let's keep unnecessary casualties to a minimum," Michael suggested, trying to be helpful.

"I get it," Leo nodded, quickly catching on.

He wasted no time, ordering the officers to secure the area and block off the mall.

"I've got some stuff to handle inside, so I won't get in the way of your investigation," Michael said.

Leo chuckled, "You're kidding, right? You're the one running the show here; I'm just helping out."

After going through Michael's file, Leo was convinced Michael was with Interpol.

"Ethan, let's roll. We're heading into the mall," Michael said, not wasting a second.

He'd made up his mind. This ghost had to be dealt with. He couldn't dodge it forever, and this was the perfect chance.

"Guys like us don't get to choose. When a chance pops up, we gotta grab it, or we're just waiting to die," Ethan said, joining Michael.

"Yeah, no choice at all," Michael agreed, eyeing the dimly lit mall.

The sky was already darkening.

Meanwhile, Jane was still holed up in the surveillance room on the fifth floor of the mall. She didn't dare move.

Nico's headless body was still kneeling, with his head lying nearby. If Michael didn't come for her, she was stuck in the surveillance room.

"Why hasn't Michael come back yet? What's taking him so long?" Jane muttered, flipping through old recordings while keeping an eye on the door's surveillance monitor, her face full of panic and fear.

The survivors had been rescued, leaving only her. She worried Michael was using her to make money by saving people and would eventually ditch her.

"Michael, can you hear me?" Jane's voice was shaky. "Come save me. I've been so good; you can't just leave me."

"Quit whining. I'm on my way," Michael's voice came through the phone.

"Have you figured out who that ghost is? I'm coming to get you."

Hearing Michael's words, Jane felt a wave of relief and smiled. "I haven't nailed down the ghost's identity, but the earliest footage is from a clothing store on the fifth floor."

The footage showed a clothing store at night. The store was closed, but at some point, a door inside slowly opened. No one was visible, just a blurry shadow.

The shadow walked out and paused in front of a mirror. Suddenly, the mannequins around it fell to the ground in a creepy way.

The shadow started picking up hands, feet, and bodies from the pile of mannequins, piecing them together. The assembled mannequins were either too long, too short, or had bodies that were too small, never quite right.

It spent over two hours assembling. All the mannequins in the store had been taken apart.

Finally, it put together a nearly seven-foot-tall mannequin with a small body, long legs, and arms, looking extremely disproportionate. But this mannequin had no head.

The video showed the shadow merging into the mannequin, and then the headless mannequin moved. It took a head of other mannequins and placed it on its neck. Finding it unsuitable, the head would roll off. It kept trying other heads, but none fit.

The headless mannequin kept trying until morning. Store owners began arriving to open for business.

A female store owner arrived at her clothing store. The seven-foot-tall mannequin stood motionless in front of the glass window. As the store owner entered, the mannequin's head slowly turned to follow her.

Finally, the head on the mannequin's neck turned around, but it still didn't fit and fell to the ground. The store owner glanced back and then continued tidying up the store. As she turned around, the strange mannequin moved. Its disproportionately long arms reached out to the store owner from behind.

"Is this the first victim?" Jane watched the video, extremely tense.

"So, the ghost is in that clothing store."