Look at me!! I'm the reaper now: Reincarnated as the Herald of Death-Chapter 59: Nothing and Everything
Aunt Marie*
Santos crumpled the note in her fist.
"Staged suicide," she said. "Someone wanted Milo silenced. Used the aunt to do it. Paid her off and let her disappear."
She looked back at Milo’s paralyzed body as the medics prepared to move her.
"Take her into custody. Medical wing. Around-the-clock surveillance." Santos’s voice was hard. "She’s a witness now. And someone clearly doesn’t want her talking.
Huey stood at the bank of the vitalis river with his hands in his pockets while watching the water flow.
The city stretched out behind him and his mind processed yesterday’s chaos.
Everything went according to the plan.
Both Milo and the vice Magister had gotten exposed
Yet he couldn’t help but feel like something was missing.
"If you’re waiting for the end of the world, then you’re a millienia too early."
Huey turned to see where the voice came from.
Jimmy Zhao stood a few feet away with his hands also in his pockets and looking out at the river.
His wolf cut styled dark hair flowed softly in the wind.
"What are you doing here?" Huey asked.
"I pass by after school every day. This river holds memories." Jimmy’s red eyes reflected the water. "Good ones."
"This is where the heir of the Veltmans nearly died." Said Jimmy in a cheerful tone.
"Why are you telling me this?"
"Because you’re standing here looking contemplative. Thought you might appreciate some history." Jimmy turned to face him fully now. "Besides, you can’t really judge anyone for their family’s mistakes. Considering what YOUR family did."
Huey went still. "What’s that supposed to mean?"
"Nothing. Everything. Take your pick." Jimmy started walking away, then paused and looked back over his shoulder.
His red eyes gleamed in the fading sunlight.
"Enjoy the view, Huey Cross."
And then he continued walking.
As he left, his collar shifted slightly in the wind and Huey caught a glimpse of his neck.
Partially hidden by his high-collared robe and Huey’s eyes widened slightly.
Before he could process what he’d seen, Jimmy was already gone.
Arcanum Medical Wing – Special Holding Cell
Chief Santos reviewed the preliminary reports on the rescued students.
Eight survivors. All Topplers. All traumatized but alive.
And twelve bodies recovered from the cathedral’s lower levels.
But the forensics report on those bodies was... unusual.
She read through it again, frowning.
*"Subjects show signs of advanced experimentation. Pneuma levels in corpses are significantly elevated beyond normal ranges. Crest manifestations appear enhanced but unstable. Cause of death: systemic failure due to pneuma overload. Preliminary analysis suggests the use of an unknown enhancement serum that the subjects’ bodies rejected."*
Santos flipped to the next page.
*"Note: Three additional bodies were discovered in a sealed sub-basement area during the extended search. These subjects show different characteristics—pneuma levels depleted to zero, but enhanced Crest markings still visible. Cause of death: pneuma depletion followed by cellular breakdown. Recommend further investigation into the serum used."*
So the twelve dead weren’t just killed during the experiments.
They were failed test subjects.
The serum had either overloaded their pneuma and caused their Crests to burn them out from the inside...
Or it had completely drained their pneuma, turning them into something like living corpses before their bodies finally gave out.
Either way, they’d died in agony.
Santos closed the report and looked through the window at Milo’s paralyzed form in the medical bed.
*You knew. You knew what was happening to them and you helped anyway.*
Her communicator buzzed.
"Chief Santos? We’ve completed the analysis on the pills found in the DiMarco apartment."
"And?"
"It’s a custom mixture. Pneuma suppressant combined with a paralytic agent and... something else we can’t identify. Definitely not something you’d find on the street. This was made specifically for her."
"Someone wanted her alive but unable to talk."
"Looks that way."
Santos ended the call and stared at Milo through the glass.
*Who are you protecting? Or who’s protecting themselves by keeping you alive but silent?*
---
**Azzuri Innovations Tower – Executive Office – Night**
Q sat at his desk, swirling a glass of wine.
Across from him stood a figure in a white mask with a simple smiley face drawn on it.
"The operation was a failure," Q said.
"A setback," the masked figure—Alexis—replied. His voice was young. Calm. "But not without value."
"We lost the cathedral site. The Arcanum has the bodies. They’ll analyze the serum."
"Let them. They won’t understand it. Not without the complete formula."
"And the students who survived?"
"Traumatized. Unreliable witnesses. They saw masks and robes. Nothing identifying."
Q took a sip of wine. "The confession was... unfortunate."
"Milo served her purpose. She drew attention. Created chaos. And now she’s silenced."
"Is she?"
"Paralyzed. Unable to speak. Might as well be dead." Alexis tilted his head. "Though I’ll admit, I’m impressed. The Blue Reaper played that perfectly."
"Which brings us to the real issue." Q set down his glass. "We know who he is now."
---
**Unknown Location – Ceremonial Chamber**
The red-robed figure sat on a throne of shadow.
Montez knelt before him, bloodied and broken.
"You failed to kill your brother," the figure said. His voice was layered. Inhuman.
"I tried—"
"You used my gift. The Rift device. And still you failed."
"He’s an Omega-level Toppler! Absolute Perception is—"
"I don’t care about excuses." The figure leaned forward slightly. "But you’ve provided something more valuable than your brother’s death."
"What?"
"Information." The figure’s eyes glowed red behind the hood. "About the Blue Reaper."
Montez looked up, confused. "I don’t know anything about—"
"You were there. At St. Helena. Eight months ago."
"So?"
"So you saw him. The Blue Reaper. Before he became what he is now."
Understanding dawned on Montez’s face. "You mean..."
"Yes." The figure smiled. "I know who he is."
---
**Simultaneous – Two Locations, One Revelation**
**Location One: Azzuri Tower**
Q and Alexis spoke in unison, though they couldn’t hear each other.
"The Blue Reaper is Huey Cross."
**Location Two: The Ceremonial Chamber**
The red-robed figure and Montez spoke in unison.
"The Blue Reaper is Huey Cross."
**Both Locations:**
A pause.
Then:
"The Curse of House Cross."
