The Devilish Assassin Meets The Angelic Detective

"That person was Agent Cedrick Falcon." Mr. Carter said.

Phantom: "..."

Erick: "..."

"T-That man… h-he is my… father," Elle mumbled with her surprised expression.

Mr. Carter: "..."

"Mateo Hirosito-Aganaki Carter. That's your real name," Erick also spoke up.

Mr. Carter was taken aback when Erick mentioned his real name.

"You are the whistleblower Elle's father met one week before he and his family were massacred in their home. My Dad found out that Uncle Cedrick found the truth about the bio-weapon facility. We suspected that this was the motive for killing him and his family," Erick informed Mr. Carter.

"My father and I are looking for you. You are the only person who can confirm the truth. You are the missing link for this case, Mr. Carter," Erick added with his serious voice. He held Elle's hand and squeezed it gently, comforting her.

Mr. Carter was consumed by guilt as he faced Phantom and Elle. It seemed that he was the one who brought misfortune to their family.

"I didn't know. I'm really sorry. I'm really sorry about what I have done. I didn't want any of them to be hurt. I just wanted the Dark Knight Organization to go down. Please forgive me. I am the root of your family's misfortune. I caused this." Mr. Carter kneeled in front of Elle and Phantom.

They could see the guilt and regret in his eyes. Phantom and Elle were dumbfounded when they saw him kneel. Elle immediately approached him, asking him to stand up. He didn't need to do it. They knew it was not his intention to harm their family. He was also a victim of the Dark Knight's evil deeds.

Erick also helped Mr. Carter to stand up. They were not blaming him for what happened. Mr. Carter went back to his seat. Phantom had finally calmed down as well. He wanted to listen more to what Mr. Carter was about to say.

"What happened between you and my father? How did you escape from the grasp of the Dark Knight? How about your family?" Elle asked him again.

Mr. Carter took a deep breath before answering her. "I met your father. When I learned that he was a good and clean cop I decided to tell him everything about the bio-weapon facility. I also told him about what happened to Beatrice."

"So Agent Falcon learned first about what happened to my wife. Since he was handling my case at that time, he investigated my personal background and he discovered what happened to my family. When you told him the story about my wife, he connected the dots. He was planning to tell me the truth, that's why he contacted me to meet." Phantom put things together about what happened in the past.

Mr. Carter nodded at him in agreement. There was too much revelation today. Elle and Phantom didn't know how to handle and absorb everything. They just fell silent once again. 

Erick was there, comforting his wife. He knew how miserable Elle and Phantom. Reminiscing those tragedies was too painful for them. But they were glad that they could put the pieces together now. These were the answers they were both seeking for a long time.

"Agent Falcon promised me that he would protect me and my family. He was the one who helped me escape from the grasp of the Dark Knight Organization. We thought everything was going fine. I warned him about the Dark Knight's spies."

Mr. Carter paused for a moment. Complicated emotions flashed in his eyes.

"He asked help from a friend. I didn't know who that person was. They moved my family to a safe house. I got to meet them there. I was so happy that day. My family and I reunited once again after all these years."

Mr. Carter slammed his eyes shut and gritted his teeth. From his expression alone, they could tell that what he was about to tell next was unpleasant memories.

"I never imagined that day was also the last day we would be together as a complete family." Mr. Carter's eyes became teary after saying those words. They could feel his pain and sorrow.

"One week after I gave Agent Falcon all the evidence about the bio-weapon facilities, I heard the news that he was killed and his entire family. The same thing that happened to Beatrice also happened to him. And… my family… they also died that day."

"At first, the Dark Lord didn't plan on killing them because he wanted to use them to blackmail me and threaten me to return to them. But my family knew what he was planning to use them again. My Father and my siblings fought back. The Dark Knight's men had no choice but to kill them."

Everyone fell silent after hearing that. Phantom, Elle, and Mr. Carter suffered the same fate from the hand of the evil organization, The Dark Knight. The Dark Knight was the one that caused their misery.

They had to do something to bring that organization down. At that moment, the four of them were thinking about the same thing: Getting justice for their family and giving the Dark Knight Organization the punishment they deserved. The Dark Knight must be destroyed. Leaders of the Dark Knight should be punished. That's their goal now.

They would work together with the Skull Gang and the police authority with the help of Erick. They would end the reign of this evil organization. This was for their family, for the other victims, and everyone who suffered because of Dark Knight's viciousness.

"We have to be careful from now on. We don't know who the spies are. Uncle Cedrick was also betrayed. Who was that person he asked for help? That's another mystery we need to solve," Erick spoke up breaking the deafening silence in the living room.

"I think we also need to protect you, Mr. Carter. The Dark Knight must not know the identities of people who help you today. Erick, son, be careful. Your department is the most vulnerable here against those spies. They might also target you," Phantom warned Erick.

"I understand, Father. I will be more extra careful," Erick responded.

"Mr. Carter, you should hide here for now. But it's better to ask the Skull Gang's help for your protection. I will personally talk to James about that." Elle also spoke up.

"Thank you, everyone. Elle, let us handle this. You should not exhaust yourself. It's not good for you and your baby's health if you stress yourself too much," Mr. Carter advised her.

"I know Mr. Carter. My husband is keeping his eyes on me. He will scold me if he sees me overworking myself. I am just here to assist everyone." Elle reassured them.

Erick smiled after hearing that. He gathered Elle in his arms and kissed her forehead. He would protect his wife and their baby with all his life.

"Wait, does it mean... Elle's father was the one who gave her the antidote? How did you take it? Did you remember now, Elle?" Phantom asked Elle curiously.

Mr. Carter, Erick, and Phantom averted their gaze to Elle, anticipating her response.

Elle smiled at them sheepishly while scratching her face before answering their question.

"Yes, I think I remember now. I also drank it accidentally."

"How?"

"Hmm, you know, I'm still a kid at that time. I came back from school. I saw the potion on my father's table. Since the substance was purple I thought it was a wine. My dad forbade me from drinking wine because I was still a kid. Out of curiosity, I wanted to try and taste it. Without my Dad's knowledge, I drank it."

"I only planned on tasting it. But my father suddenly entered his study. I was shocked. He caught me red-handed. Because of his sudden arrival, I ended up drinking the whole potion in one go." Elle giggled as she remembered her father's expression and reaction.

"I thought he would scold me. At first, Dad just stood there with his bewildered expression, looking at me and the empty bottle in my hand. After he recovered from the shock, he asked me ``how does it taste?"

"I just smiled at him and said, 'Sorry Dad. it tastes bad. Bitter!'.��

Phantom: "..."

Mr. Carter: "..."

Erick: "..." 

'What a silly little Elle,' Erick thought to himself.

After a while, the three men suddenly burst out laughing. Elle's face became red because of embarrassment.