The Devilish Assassin Meets The Angelic Detective

*** At Charles's Place ***

Just like what Elle was thinking, Charles was already waiting for her, feeling impatient. He felt like every minute passed was equivalent to a year. He was very excited to see Elle once again. He wondered what was keeping her too long before she arrived.

He kept pacing back and forth across his living room. He even went out to his balcony now, waiting for her arrival. 

"Argh! I should have asked her Address instead." Charles mumbled.

It did not take long after he said that when a taxi cab stopped in front of his gate then Elle alighted from it. Charles sprinted towards her. When Charles was about to hug her, Elle suddenly stepped back to the side to avoid Charles.

After that, Elle grabbed his shoulder, bending her leg as she jabbed her knee aiming at Charle's abdomen. But Charles reacted quickly as he blocked her knee using his elbow, protecting his abdomen.

Elle's lips twitched in a playful smile after Charles succeeded in blocking her attack. That's the moment she pounced on him, wrapping her arms around his neck while hugging him.

"You improved a lot! You can even block my attack now." Elle commended Charles. Charles hugged her back. He was gripping her body too tightly.

"I missed you, Elle.. very much. I-I thought I would never see you again. I-I… couldn't forget you. I couldn't forgive myself for being incompetent. I couldn't protect you. Instead of helping you, I gave you a burden. I'm regretting the day I left City Z. I thought that was the last time I would see you alive. Thank you for coming back alive, Elle." Charle's body was shaking, his voice trembling. He was crying once again. Those were tears of joy.

Elle stroked his hair, comforting him. "Shhh… You're a strong man now. Don't cry. Why are you such a crybaby again?" Elle teased him, trying to lighten the mood.

"I couldn't help it. I am so happy right now… and very grateful." Charles said to her truthfully.

"I'm sorry… for giving you such pain. I want you to be happy, not sad." Elle apologized to him.

"You still deserve to be called ruthless and vicious! How can you say that? How can I be happy without you? I promised to protect you with my life but where was I when you were doing that dangerous mission? Did you think I can still be happy even after knowing that you died?" Charles lamented to her.

"Alright. Stop blaming yourself and Erick. I am here in front of you. Alive and Kicking. Sorry, it took me two years to come back. Sorry for not coming to you and Master Phantom. I thought it was better not to involve you both with my revenge. But I didn't expect that you would impersonate me as Catseye to avenge me and my family." After saying that, Elle hit Charles in the head.

"Ouch!" Charles grunted and he let go of Elle. "You sneaky Elle!! Why did you hit me?"

"Because you are so stupid and foolish! So Reckless!" Elle nagged at her.

"As if you are not. If I know, you are the most reckless among us!" Charles spat back at her.

Ell shot Charles a cold sharp glare. " Who told you to kill for me? Why did you turn yourself into a murderer? I didn't want or wish you to do that for my sake. What I want is for you to start a new life away from this dangerous mission and just live happily."

Charles couldn't refute her words. He felt so guilty as he remembered Elena's reaction last night when he told her that he killed a person. However, he couldn't tell if he truly regretted doing it or not. But one thing was for sure, he was bothered by Elena's reaction.

"And one more thing… Who told you to be so brutal when killing Roland Bienvenido and Samuel Sy? Do you really have to copy my previous actions? Charles, I was a madwoman at that time, I couldn't control my bloodthirst. I don't know what happened to you."

Charles frowned after hearing her. "Wait… wait… Don't accuse me right away. Yeah, I am the one who stabbed Samuel Sy but I didn't kill Roland Bienvenido!"

Elle was taken aback for a moment. From Charles's reaction alone, she could tell that he was not lying. If he did not do it then the other Catseye was the one who did it. Who's the other Catseye?

Then Elle and Charles exchanged meaningful glances. Both of them were asking the same question in their minds.

"Now, there's only one person left," Elle mumbled while staring straight into Charles's eyes.

Charles nodded and said, "I guess, we are thinking about the same thing." 

"I think this is the right time to meet Master Phantom. Do you have any updates about him?" Elle asked Charles curiously, wondering if Charles was in contact with Master Phantom.

"He returned to City Z a few weeks ago. We met twice. He was also a hundred percent recovered now. But we have not talked with each other for the past few days now. I know his new address. We can go and visit him now. I think he will also be happy to see you. You better tell us everything that happened to you for these past two years." 

"Okay, I can tell you both my story but we need to see Master Phantom first. By the way, how's your wound?" Elle asked him as she remembered that Charles was stabbed by Samuel Sy last night.

"Elena helped me last night. She stitched my wound for me and treated me well. She's a licensed nurse now and she was studying in a Med School to pursue her dream to become a doctor." Charles informed Elle about Elena.

"Oh, my sweet little sis, Elena. I miss her too. But this is not the right time to tell her about y whereabouts." Elle said, thinking about the possible consequences if Elena would know that she was still alive. For now, she wanted to keep it secret from everyone, of course, Erick, Charles, and Master Phantom were the only exemptions.

Soon, Elle and Charles headed straight to Phantom's place. Elle was the one driving Charle's car. When they arrived, they noticed that the house seemed empty and no one was inside. The door and windows were all closed.

"Hey, why don't you try calling Master Phantom. Ask him where he is right now." Elle requested Charles since she didn't know Phantom's current mobile number.

Charles picked up his phone to dial Pantom's number. But to their disappointment, his number was currently unattended. They stepped out of the car and proceeded to his main door. They rang the doorbell a few times but they didn't get any response.

"I think Master Phantom is not here," Charles mumbled.

"Should we try and ask Dr. Clara. Maybe she has an idea where Master Phantom is as of this moment." Elle suggested once again.

Charles dialed Dr. Clara's number. Her phone was ringing but it seemed that Dr. Clara was busy tending her patients as she was not able to answer the call.

Elle and Charles decided to come back later. They were about to leave when suddenly the front door opened and a man emerged from it.

"Brother Charles, what are you-?" The man was not able to complete his sentence as he stopped midway when his eyes saw Elle standing beside Charles.

"L-LADY BOSS???!"