Reborn with my killer's looks-Chapter 42: How to put some cheese in the mouse trap

Geometric patterns drifted through the zone.

The Blue Reaper stood before a holographic display, reviewing files and data. Jazz’s voice echoed through the space, narrating the findings.

Azzuri; back in his human body after being pulled from the Echo sat nearby with his arms crossed.

"So?" the Blue Reaper asked. "What did you find?"

Azzuri tossed a file onto the table and It materialized into a holographic projection.

Marcus Chen. Achusoi. Former Test personnel at Azzuri Innovations.

"This one," Azzuri said. "The kid I told you about. Worked as a paid test subject before he got sacked. Then he disappeared the day of the massacre."

The Blue Reaper’s eyes locked onto the photo.

A young man in his early twenties, thin, with dark eyes that looked tired even in the still image. The face was.....

Unfamiliar.

"So Marcus Chen is the test subject you’ve been talking about huh." the Blue Reaper said quietly.

"Looks like it." Azzuri leaned back. "Why are you so interested in this Marcus guy anyway?"

The Blue Reaper didn’t answer immediately.

His hand tightened on the edge of the file.

Azzuri noticed. "What, is it something you can’t share?"

then he exhaled, his shoulders dropping slightly.

"When I wake up every morning," he said slowly, "it’s usually on the ceiling."

Azzuri blinked. "The hell does that have to do with...."

"And when I’m up there," the Blue Reaper continued, "I see memories, memories that I’m sure aren’t mine."

Silence filled the room for a moment.

"I see myself as an Achusoi. A test subject at Azzuri Innovations and then..... at the St Helena massacre." His voice was flat. "And every time I’m about to see something that would explain what’s happening to me.... I wake up."

Azzuri stared at him. "You’re saying you’re seeing someone else’s memories?"

"I think so."

"Why Marcus Chen specifically? There were other Achusoi test subjects in Azzuri and other Achusoi at the St. Helena massacre."

"But none who were at both. Besides Montez mentioned the name during the whole Riva incident. He worked with Kaiser so I assume he’d have been farmiliar with Marcus and maybe even had a hand in his kidnapping." He gestured to the holographic data. "And After cross-referencing the facts, I’m almost certain the memories I’ve been seeing are Marcus Chen’s."

"Almost?"

"I don’t know why and I don’t even know how it’s possible. But the pieces fit too well to be coincidence."

Azzuri rubbed his jaw. "And you think the Golden Chalice knows more about the St. Helena massacre than they’re letting on."

"I’m certain of it."

Azzuri’s expression shifted. "Speaking of which, there’s something I heard while I was in Magister Jewel’s office."

The Blue Reaper looked up sharply.

"The Vice-Magister was searching for files. He mentioned something about a ’Nemesis incident’ from over a year ago."

The Blue Reaper’s eyes widened behind the mask.

"Nemesis incident," he repeated.

"Mean something to you?"

The Blue Reaper didn’t answer.

"Jazz," he said aloud. "Cross-reference any incidents involving the name ’Nemesis’ in the past two years. Focus on Virelia and surrounding sectors." 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

"Processing," Jazz replied. "This may take time, sir."

The Blue Reaper nodded, dismissing the holographic display.

"Keep digging, Azzuri. Incase there’s anything else in those files about Marcus Chen or the St. Helena massacre, I need to know."

Azzuri stood, stretching. "And what are you gonna do?"

"Put some cheese in my mouse trap."

The sun rose to the sight of the veltman estate the next morning.

The dining hall was massive and elegant.

Mira Veltman sat at one end of the long table, her fork resting untouched beside her plate.

And At the opposite end, Quantico Azzuri, her half-brother ate slowly, a small smile playing on his lips.

The silence stretched.

Finally, Mira set her fork down with a sharp clink.

"What is this?" she asked, her voice hard. "Why did you insist I sit here with you? You know I can’t stand the sight of you."

Quantico slowly wiped his mouth with a napkin.

"I wanted you to take a good look," he said smoothly, "at the new CEO of... Azzuri Innovations."

He emphasized the name deliberately.

Mira’s aura exploded.

She slammed her palms onto the table, rising to her feet.

Frost spread across the surface of the table. The silverware froze and the candles immediately died.

The maids gasped, stepping back.

"Princess, please....."

Mira breathed in sharply, forcing herself to calm.

The frost receded slightly, though the air remained bitterly cold.

She grabbed her bag and turned to leave.

"I know you’ve been seeing the Zhao girl," Quantico said casually.

Mira stopped.

"No matter how much you try to pin the blame on me," he continued, "it’s not my fault Zhao Corp went under in the first place."

Mira didn’t turn around.

Instead she walked out, the door slamming behind her.

Quantico smiled, returning to his breakfast.

Huey set his tray down at an empty table in the Virelia grind. A bottle of water and a single apple.

He bit into the apple, his mind turning over the Marcus Chen file.

His phone buzzed.

It was A text from Alessia: "Ready to go to the rehab center later today. Got Milo on board. See you there."

Huey pocketed his phone just as Willy approached with a tray in his hand.

"Yo!" Willy grinned, pulling down the hood of his robe and sitting across from Huey.

Wheeler materialized on his shoulder, his arms crossed and shaking his head.

Willy dug into his cuped food with chopsticks. "I heard you’ve been having it rough after what Milo did. How you holding up?"

"I’m fine," Huey said.

Wheeler shook his head harder.

Willy sighed, setting his cup down. "Huey, come on. You know Wheeler can tell when you’re lying."

Huey took another bite of his apple.

Then he remembered something Willy had said before about the "old Huey" and how he was starting to act like him again.

He looked at Willy’s expression now; dull and spaced out, like he was remembering something painful.

"Willy," Huey said quietly. "How was it for you growing up? And... what changed about me?"

Willy blinked as he was surprised by theq question and leaned back.

"I’m a Cross too, you know," Willy said. "Not the brightest. Not the strongest. Got bullied for it as a kid. Growing up, the only friend I had was Wheeler."

Wheeler chirped softly, nuzzling against Willy’s cheek.

"When I first saw you as a kid," Willy continued, "I really thought we’d vibe. Similar backgrounds, you know? Both Crosses who didn’t fit the family mold. But you... you didn’t see it that way."

Huey’s expression remained neutral.

"You had too much pent-up resentment and just wouldn’t budge. And I get it—I do, never blamed you for being it, even after we got into Virelia." Willy’s voice softened. "But then, about eight months ago, after the St. Helena massacre... you came back different."

Huey’s grip on the apple tightened.

"You were absent from school for a while," Willy said. "And when you came back, you were suddenly more open. More... you."

Wheeler nodded enthusiastically.

"Never wanted to be weird about you so I never did ask what sparked the change."

Huey was quiet for a long moment.

Then he set the apple down.

"I’m sorry," he said. "For how Ive been acting lately. There’s just... a lot going on."

Willy’s smile returned. "I know, man. Just don’t shut me out completely, alright?"

"I won’t."

Wheeler chirped happily.

And Huey managed a small smile.

Later That Afternoon,

The Medical Legion’s rehab center was quiet, sterile, and filled with the faint smell of disinfectant.

Alessia stood near the entrance with her arms crossed.

Beside her stood Dante, his arm around a young woman with tired eyes and track marks on her arms; Maya, his girlfriend

She looked pale and brittle.

"Thanks for coming," Alessia said.

Dante nodded. "I’m always here for Maya."

Milo’s expression was cold. "I only agreed to this cause you wouldn’t stop pestering me so could we make this quick.

"As a matter of fact, why did you ask me to come here"

Alessia opened her mouth to respond—

The door opened and Huey Cross walked in.

Milo’s eyes breadth caught

"You," she whispered.

Huey met her gaze with a calm and unreadable expression.