"Currently, the victim's daughter has gone missing. We suspect this is a kidnapping or..."
"A domestic murder."
I broke out in a cold sweat hearing the police respond so bluntly.
It can't be right, can it? Emma isn't the type to go that far.
"But this is just speculation. The victim was a strong, healthy man—his daughter probably couldn't have killed him. And if you look closely, there are chunks of flesh that have been eaten. It's pretty certain this was done by a cannibal."
Hearing that, I immediately glanced at Emma's house.
"So... when did the murder happen, officer?"
"We're examining the body, but judging from the corpse, he was likely killed yesterday. The time... probably in the afternoon."
'That's the exact time Harry and I drove Emma home!'
Things are getting worse by the minute. Why that specific time? Why did Emma's dad die? Where is Emma?
Is this a kidnapping... or It's really a domestic murder?
"Oh, and who are you that I have to tell you everything? scram, kid. This is a work zone."
"Ah, thank you for sharing the information."
I looked at Emma's house one last time and left, spotting Gwen talking to someone.
"Wow! You two are so lovey-dovey! Teach me how to flirt!" Gwen said to the girl clinging to the blond guy's arm.
"Just ask him if he prefers city rats or country rats. If city rats, bite his tongue," the girl replied bluntly while hanging off the blond guy's arm.
Why does that sound so familiar?
"Looking at you two, he probably picked country rats, right?" Gwen asked curiously.
"Nope, he picked city rats. He can't even talk now, can you, Denis?"
"..."
"Anyway, bye! Good luck with your crush~" She waved, then kissed the blond guy, who seemed to enjoy it.
"Ohhh... Note to self, note to self..."
As the two left, she turned and saw Peter approaching.
"Ah, Peter! I have a question!"
"?" Peter stopped, raising an eyebrow at her.
"Do you prefer city rats or country rats?"
"I hate rats."
"Huh?" Gwen looked confused—her question had backfired.
While she was thinking, I pulled her away.
"Gwen, we're sneaking into Emma's house later."
"Eh? Why?"
"Just to be sure."
"Emma's fine! I have a feeling she didn't die!"
"Really?"
As we passed an alley, Gwen suddenly noticed something.
"Peter, look!"
"?"
I looked into the alley and saw a guy who'd been blown to bits, charred to coal, lying next to a dumpster.
Another murder??
"His name was... Bumkugo? What a funny name. Probably the hot-tempered type who bullies the powerless, goes to hero school, and gets shipped with the guy he bullies, right?" Gwen picked up the name tag from the body and poked it with a stick.
"...How do you guess stuff like that so accurately?"
"Who knows? Women's intuition tells me he was killed by someone with the same powers as him—but stronger."
What kind of women's intuition is that scary?
"Anyway, let's report it to the police!"
So the cops came and hauled the body away.
***
We both returned to school and saw Harry with Gus Fried frying something in the middle of the courtyard.
"Oh! Peterboi! Come try Gus's Costavos fried chicken!" Harry waved at me.
I glanced at the people who'd eaten Gus's fried chicken—they were sprawled out, high as kites, unable to stand.
Hope the cops don't show up...
"Harry, Emma's missing."
"Huh?!" Harry jumped up, dumping a box of fried chicken on a nearby guy's face.
"Emma's dad was murdered in their house. Emma's nowhere to be found. Gwen and I are planning to sneak in and investigate ourselves... even though we have zero experience."
"Hey! We just dropped Emma off yesterday... Let me join the investigation!"
"That won't work..."
Harry isn't Spider-Man like me and Gwen. If there's someone dangerous inside, he'd be in trouble.
"But—"
"Harry."
Gwen's voice cut in instead of mine.
Both Harry and I looked at her.
"You're useless. Keep frying chicken and making Cool-Aid for the Black guys."
...wow, this fanfic is about to cook.
"You..." Harry and I stared in shock at Gwen, who was casually picking her nose like what she just said was nothing.
"Peter! Let's investigate now! We'll be the ultimate detective duo! L and uhhh... Conan!"
"Who's Conan?"
"Conan from Detective Conan. Not many Westerners watch it—mostly Asians. Anyway, let's go, Peter!"
Gwen dragged me away with her ridiculous strength, leaving Harry with the fried chicken and Gus Fried.
"Ummm... You not gonna cook?" Gus asked Harry.
"Uh, yeah... Just a sec."
***
The sun had set, and the police presence had thinned out.
This was the perfect time to sneak into Emma's house.
So Gwen and Peter donned disguises to hide their identities.
Peter wore his Spider mask and all-black clothes.
As for Gwen...
"Why are you cosplaying as Alice from Alice in Wonderland?"
"Hehehe... You wanna know, don't you?" Gwen stood up, giving me a mysterious look.
"...Please tell me it's not because it's cute—"
"It's cute!"
"Forget I said anything."
We jumped down from a utility pole. Gwen had to hold her skirt to keep her blue-striped panties from showing.
"I told you not to pick a dress! We're investigating, not going to Comic-Con or AnimeCon!"
"But I like it..."
"Ugh, whatever."
We moved slowly, sneaking bit by bit. A nearby cop yawned and glanced behind him.
...? He rubbed his eyes and looked again.
This time, he saw a girl carrying a Spider-Masked guy in a princess hold.
"...?" He rubbed his eyes again.
Now the girl was sitting on the Spider-Masked guy's shoulders.
"...Am I smoking too much? It's got nicotine, after all?"
"Yeah, you're smoking way too much. We're not real~~" the Spider-Masked guy said.
"Maybe you're right..."
The cop turned away. Peter let out a sigh of relief.
And THREW GWEN TO THE GROUND.
"Are you serious right now?!"
"Sorry! Teehee~"
"Don't 'Teehee' me!"
We finally opened the door and went inside.
"Alright, now... OH GAH!!"
The stench of blood filled the room. I covered my nose and surveyed the scene.
It looked pretty normal—except for the blood everywhere, the body outline, and a Morrigan Fumo plushie?!
"Something feels off..."
Scratching my head, Peter and Gwen looked around.
As expected, all forensic evidence had been collected—only blood and the outline remained.
Not even a single hair.
"Talk about overconfidence. We're not Sherlock Holmes; what did we expect to find..." Peter sighed, wondering if they should just leave.
"KYAAAHHHHH!!!"
"Gwen?!"
Peter rushed to the room Gwen had entered. She was sitting on the floor, trembling, pointing at the computer screen.
"What is it?!"
"D-D..."
"D? D what?!" I looked at the computer.
"Emma's dad... WAS A DISCORD MOD!!!!!!"
?
"Are you kidding me?" Peter stared at Gwen, who was now hugging his leg in terror.
"I'm not! He's a Discord mod!! He's dangerous to us!! Run!"
"Calm down... Discord mods can be bad, but not that bad—" He moved the mouse and closed Discord.
"AGHHHHHH!!!" Peter screamed with Gwen, hugging each other.
What appeared on the screen...
"HE WAS A REDDITOR!!!"
No wonder he got killed! The bastard deserved it!
"Wait, he's already dead. We're looking for clues about Emma, not his computer!"
"Oh, right."
Peter and Gwen left the room and examined the scene more closely.
"...?"
This time, Peter noticed something off.
Though blood was splattered everywhere, making it look like a murder...
There was a small blood trail right next to the TV—clearly separate from the others.
Like... it was isolated.
'Nya'
[?]
'Investigate this blood trail.'
[This blood trail... Oh... Never mind, no spoilers.]
"Motherf— are you kidding me??"
"Huh?" Gwen turned to look at Peter.
"Ah, nothing."
After searching a bit more, they found nothing.
"Great, this trip was a waste. If only we could see the actual forensic evidence—"
Then Peter remembered and sighed.
"I have Mr. Stark..."
So they snuck out safely and stood in a dark alley to make the call.
[What is it, kid?]
"Mr. Stark, I need a favor..."
Peter explained the address, the case, and why.
[Hmm... Come to the station in a bit, kid. Wear your Stark Industries badge.]
"Got it."
Hope this clears up my questions.