Chapter 102:The Reaper called Jack

The first thing the military did after Lucifer recovered from the Ghost Wave...

...was imprison him.

Not because he had failed.

Because he had succeeded far too well.

A rookie wasn't supposed to erase an entire Ghost Wave.

He certainly wasn't supposed to split a star with a single attack.

Deep beneath the military headquarters...

Lucifer sat inside a reinforced interrogation chamber.

The room was built entirely from soul-forged steel. Every wall was engraved with suppression runes capable of restraining even veteran Grim Reapers.

Commander Duan sat across from him.

Calm.

Elegant.

Unreadable.

For a long moment, neither of them spoke.

Then she finally broke the silence.

"I hope you understand why you're here."

Lucifer leaned back in his chair.

"No worries."

"I understand humans better than anyone."

Duan raised an eyebrow.

"You say that as though you aren't one."

Lucifer smiled.

"Of course I'm not."

"I'm the Devil."

Silence.

"...The Devil?" she asked.

"As in... the one from the Bible?"

Lucifer shrugged.

"Is there another one?"

"I haven't met him."

Chirin burst into laughter inside the room.

Duan folded her arms.

"So..."

"Mr. Devil."

Lucifer immediately frowned.

"Don't call me Mr."

"It makes me sound like some old grandfather."

Duan's lips curved slightly.

"But if you're truly the Devil..."

"...wouldn't you already be centuries old?"

Chirin laughed so hard she nearly fell out of the air.

"She got you."

Lucifer clicked his tongue.

"Do I look centuries old?"

"No."

"Then let's move on."

For the first time...

Commander Duan almost smiled.

"You claimed you understand humanity."

"I do."

"Then explain."

Lucifer looked through the small window at the soldiers standing outside.

"Humans fear two things."

"The unknown..."

"...and what they cannot control."

His crimson eyes met hers.

"Right now..."

"You aren't trying to decide whether I'm dangerous."

"You're trying to decide whether I can be controlled."

The room became silent.

Lucifer continued calmly.

"Unfortunately for you..."

"Not even my Creator could control me."

"So I wouldn't waste your time trying."

Duan's aura quietly filled the chamber.

The temperature dropped.

"Are you not afraid..."

"...that I'll kill you?"

Lucifer simply smiled.

"If you wanted me dead..."

"I wouldn't be sitting here."

"You need me."

"And everyone possesses unique talents."

"I'd appreciate it if you didn't force me to demonstrate mine."

For several seconds...

Commander Duan simply stared at him.

Then she stood.

"As you wish."

Without another word...

She left.

Outside the chamber...

Captain Amaira was waiting.

"What do you think?"

Duan looked back through the observation window.

"He's unpredictable."

"I've met geniuses."

"I've met monsters."

"I've met heroes."

She narrowed her eyes.

"...He's none of them."

"Then what is he?"

"I don't know."

"But I intend to find out."

She turned toward Amaira.

"Take him."

"Where?"

Duan answered without hesitation.

"Special Grade Investigation."

"...Jack the Reaper."

Amaira's eyes widened.

"Commander..."

"Sending a recruit there could get us all killed."

Duan looked toward the city skyline.

"...Or he might surprise us again."

By afternoon...

Lucifer was walking through the capital beside Amaira.

The city buzzed with life.

Street performers.

Vendors.

Children laughing.

Completely unaware...

...that death lurked only a few streets away.

Lucifer casually licked an ice cream.

"So..."

"Where are we going?"

"A murder scene."

"I thought murders weren't our department."

"They aren't."

"...Unless a ghost is involved."

The cheerful streets slowly disappeared.

Stone roads became cracked.

The lamps flickered.

The alleyways grew narrower.

Even the air felt colder.

After several minutes...

They arrived.

The crime scene had already been sealed.

A young woman's body lay split perfectly in half.

There wasn't a drop of blood wasted.

Instead...

It had been used to write a single sentence across the wall.

"How's my artwork?"

Silence.

Lucifer stared at it.

"...Definitely a psychopath."

One investigator approached them.

"Captain."

"We've confirmed the victim attended a party nearby."

"She never made it home."

Amaira nodded.

"The same pattern?"

"Yes."

"Female."

"Late at night."

"Body displayed."

"Message written in blood."

Lucifer crouched beside the corpse.

"So..."

"Our ghost enjoyed killing people while alive."

"And death only amplified his obsession."

Amaira nodded.

"Exactly."

"Ghosts don't simply inherit regrets."

"They become consumed by them."

"The more people fear him..."

"The stronger he becomes."

Lucifer looked toward the bloody message.

"Fear feeds ghosts."

"Just as faith feeds gods."

Chirin floated beside him.

"This isn't normal."

Lucifer slowly stood.

"No."

"It isn't."

He looked toward the night sky.

"Souls are supposed to pass on."

"Heaven."

"Hell."

"Judgment."

"That's how reality should work."

"But not here."

He slowly narrowed his eyes.

"Someone..."

"...rewrote the rules."

Chirin's expression turned serious.

"If someone can alter the laws governing souls..."

"...then they'd have to be—"

"Ridiculously powerful."

Instead of fear...

A smile appeared on Lucifer's face.

Finally...

Something interesting.

Later that afternoon...

Amaira and Lucifer ate lunch while reviewing the investigation.

Amaira sighed.

"So?"

"Got any brilliant ideas, genius?"

Lucifer swallowed another spoonful.

"I do."

"I just don't think you'll like it."

Amaira immediately frowned.

"That sentence never ends well."

Lucifer grinned.

Night fell.

Music thundered through the city's largest nightclub.

Colourful lights flashed across the dance floor.

People laughed.

Drank.

Forgot their worries.

Standing outside...

Amaira stared at the building.

"...This is your brilliant plan?"

Lucifer adjusted his jacket.

"We stop chasing the hunter."

"We become the prey."

Amaira folded her arms.

"I hate this already."

"He always targets beautiful women."

Lucifer pointed directly at her.

"Congratulations."

"You're perfect bait."

"...Thanks."

"I think."

Inside...

The club pulsed with music.

Lucifer immediately disappeared into the crowd.

Within minutes...

He had a drink in one hand...

...and was dancing like he'd completely forgotten the mission.

Amaira pinched the bridge of her nose.

"I can't believe this idiot."

Chirin floated nearby.

"He's enjoying himself."

Lucifer raised his glass.

"I never got to celebrate after leaving Hell."

"You held parties in Hell?"

"Of course."

"What did you think Hell was?"

Chirin answered without hesitation.

"Your personal playground."

Lucifer laughed.

"Exactly."

Then...

Someone approached Amaira.

A well-dressed man smiled politely.

"Good evening."

"May I buy you a drink?"

The moment he spoke...

Every instinct Amaira had developed through years of war screamed.

Danger.

She forced a smile.

"Sure."

"You seem new here."

"I don't like crowded places."

"Neither do I."

He extended his hand.

"Would you like somewhere quieter?"

Amaira nodded.

"I'd love to."

The two disappeared through the rear exit.

The alley behind the club was empty.

Silent.

The man turned—

Before he could react...

Amaira's fist crashed into his jaw.

He hit the ground unconscious.

She searched him immediately.

No ghost aura.

No soul corruption.

No hidden weapon.

Nothing.

Her instincts...

Had never been wrong.

"So why..."

A deafening explosion shattered the night.

BOOOOOOM!!

The nightclub erupted into flames.

Windows exploded outward.

People screamed as smoke poured into the sky.

Amaira's eyes widened.

Her heartbeat stopped.

"...Lucifer."

She sprinted towards the inferno.

Behind the blazing windows...

A silhouette slowly stepped through the fire.

Smiling.

Not because he had escaped.

Because...

Something inside the flames...

...was smiling back at him.