Elements: The Ancient Tomb

"Time's up?!"- part 1: "First words before going..."

He removed his hand from her body with a bewildered expression, thinking:

"'Damn, motherfucker! How could he be so cruel to Linh?"

A ring call on his phone startled him. He quickly picked up the phone to see who had called. Seeing the caller's name, he exclaimed in surprise:

"Oh god, it was uncle Denvy's call… Why would he call me at this time?"

As soon as he pressed the call button, he heard a gasp and a babbling voice on the other end of the line:

"Victor, where are you?"

"Hi, uncle Denvy. I'm staying outside. By the way, you seem to be gasping for breath, aren't you?"

"Ah, it's because I worked too hard just now, don't worry. Did you go there with Michael?"

"Oh, god... Yeah, how do you know that?"

"Ha ha, just a kind of trying my luck, I didn't expect my guess to be right… Ah, I have a favor. Can you go back to the cafe for a while? I have some heavy stuff that I can't carry on my own, I need your help."

"Oh yeah, no problem."

"A! Hmm... There is a question I want to ask you... Is Michael with you now?"

"No, he just went out to see the doctor. Today we went to the hospital to visit a friend. "

"Before you go, don't tell Michael about it."

"Why?"

"Why have to tell Michael when you alone are enough? Just do what I said, OK?"- said Mr. Karatini

Victor saw something unusual in Mr. Karatini's voice and demeanor. On the phone, Karatini asked:

"Now your way of talking is very strange, uncle Denvy. Are you OK? Is anyone staying there with you?"

"I'm OK, Victor... Only me and a few 'classic gentleman's style guests' came for drinks there. Why would you ask me like that?"

"Hehe, I just asked to be sure. Because maybe some guests will come to the cafe looking for me."

"Yeah, got it."

"Didn't you even ask me who those guests are? You always show that you care about us by asking such things, right? Why are you so quiet now?"

"It's your personal. How can I ask you?"

That was what surprised Victor because Mr. Karatini had always been the one to ask him if he knew something was wrong, he was a subtle but also very careful man.

Suddenly Victor heard Mr. Karatini's three consecutive coughs. Victor knew what it meant. Through it, Victor realized that there was a bad omen. But instead of worrying, he still calmly said:

"OK. So you just stay there and wait for me, I'll be back after 15 minutes. Remember, just sit back in a chair and relax, don't do anything until you come back."

"Ah… OK. See you around, Victor."- Mr. Karratini's voice became softer, slightly stammered, showing fear and lack of concentration...

The call is finished. The part when Victor slams his hand on Linh's metal drawer, gritting his teeth, muttering in utter confusion and anxiety:

"What should I do? Maybe those bastards have gone to the cafe, taken control of that place, and controlled Uncle Denvy, forcing him to call and lure me there. Fortunately, thanks to his cough, he informed me in advance. Did Michael know about this through them? Wish I had an Elemental Card here. I can't go there without…"

Suddenly Victor saw something glowing. When he opened it he saw a bright yellow light rising into the air. He realized it was Thedus' Elemental Card.

"Thedus' Elemental Card? Why is it…?"

Although he was quite surprised, he still reached out and grabbed it. Suddenly Thedus appeared behind him, saying:

"Surprise, human? I told you you couldn't escape me, didn't I?"

Victor now turned his back to look in surprise. Seeing Thedus right behind him, although he was quite confused and bewildered, Victor at that time only whispered in front of Thedus:

"How come you're here?"

"I've been here a while, human. You must have regretted leaving me just now, right?"

Victor was still confused by Thedus's presence, his expression beginning to look pensive, his forehead wrinkled, he casted his eyes around- some expressions that indicated Victor was trying to think of something. Thedus laughed, pointed at him, and said:

"Are you asking me why I am here? Let me tell you, it's thanks to Michael."

"Thanks to Michael, huh? What do you mean?" Victor asked.

"I brought the Elemental Card to Michael after being freed by your renunciation of ownership," Thedus replied. "Michael brought this Elemental Card with him when he came here with you and secretly put it under the drawer, then quietly left. He left it for you without telling you because he wanted to surprise you."

"Really? He knew I was going to need you, that's why he did it?"

"Damn right. Now, do you know your mistake for leaving me? Without me, you can't do anything. I dare you to go there without me." Thedus laughed.

"We'll talk later, now I need to go save Uncle Denvy."

"You can't go now, because I smell Iron Head around here, I'm sure as shooting that he's here waiting for the right time to finish off Linh and Michael."

"I knew it, I also felt his aura before entering the treatment area. I tried to warn Michael but he didn't believe me."

"No, he already knew Iron Head's presence here very well because it was like what he predicted" explained Thedus- "That's why he left me here to warn you. He asked me to tell you on his behalf because he didn't want to make Iron Head suspicious while the two of you were standing at the door of the treatment ward."

"As expected, I really have a lot of respect for Michael. He's a smart guy, who always anticipates problems."

"So was what you said just then true?"- Thedus asked

Victor closed the door to the room, then leaned close to Thedus' ear as if he didn't want anyone else to overhear, whispering:

"Yes. I am 100% sure that Uncle Denvy is in the hands of Arthur's agents."

"On what basis do you say that?" - Thedus couldn't believe his ears when he heard what Victor had just said and stepped away from Victor with a surprised look on his face.

Victor pointed his left hand to his neck, and confidently began his speech:

"The first thing that made me realize it was the cough. Uncle Denvy told me that in the event of an emergency and could only signal to the other party, just cough loud enough for the other party to hear. Coughing once when the situation is OK, coughing twice means there is a dangerous situation but the one who coughs has predicted it in advance and still has the situation under control, and coughing three times means…"

"...Indicates a big threat that is beyond the prediction and ability of the one who coughs to deal with, it is necessary to warn the opponent to take supportive measures or at least, give them a sense of caution and vigilance. Am I right?"- said Thedus.

"That's exactly what I mean, Thedus. He was the one who always believed that there would come a time when we would need to use it as a method of signaling to others. I thought it was ridiculous at first, so I didn't think much of it. But now I believe Uncle Denvy's hunch was correct."

"But you can't conclude that he is being controlled by Arthur's agents just through that cough, can you?"

"Bingo"- Victor snapped his fingers, smiled, and replied- "I know, the cough was just a signal he used to warn me in general, it's not enough to conclude about their presence at that cafe. The things he wants me to find out and deduce the specific situation he is facing in a controlled situation seem to be the irregularity in his words when we talk on the phone and a few other objective details."

"Be more specific, Victor. The first is about the irregularity of his words."

"The first question that popped into my mind after talking to him was: 'How does he know I am with Michael? The two of us just met at Linh's mansion, not at a cafe.' That led me to the conclusion that Arthur sent people to the cafe, controlled Uncle Denvy, then tell him about our meeting and tell him to call me to lure me there."

"Got it. You're amazing. What about the objective details?"

"His way of speaking was somewhat awkward as if forced by someone. Also, I heard someone loading magazines over the phone. In the state where I live, specifically the area around Downest City, no one is allowed to carry a gun with them under current US law and I think it's going to be a long time before guns are one of the items that are not legalized here. But with the great power he holds, Arthur will have an easy way to bend this gun ban, which allows his agents to use guns freely. Last and most importantly, I heard the sound of the conventional hood and ceiling fan there over the phone."

"Those details aren't unusual, human. The conventional hood and the ceiling fan are two things used in daily life, not only in that cafe but also in any household use them regularly. Their role and practical application in human life are not disputed. What you said seems a bit…"

The part when Victor shook his head, put a smile on his lips and replied:

"You are not human, so you've been using only the logic of the gods to think and never put yourself in the position of a human to think, so you do not understand the crux of the matter I am talking about."

"Then explain in more detail to enlighten me, human"- said Thedus while pointing at Victor.

"Fine"- Victor very confidently replied- "First of all, let's talk about the conventional hood near the preparation area in Moonlight cafe, Uncle Denvy does not allow any guests to smoke while sitting in the cafe. He is a strict person, who does not want anyone to smoke in his cafe to ensure a healthy environment for other customers, so the conventional hood is rarely used. But that time, it was used, indicating that someone was smoking quite casually despite Uncle Denvy's objections. With gangsters in the form of gentlemen like Arthur's agents, smoking becomes a hard habit for them to quit to stay focused and relieve boredom." "Sound like reasonable."- said Thedus- "What about the ceiling fan? That is not surprising at all."

"What season is it on earth right now? Answer me, Thedus."

"Winter, as I know."- Thedus replied.

"You know, right? Normally no one would dare to sit and drink coffee alone in a room with a ceiling fan whirring over their head while going through a cold winter. The human body can't stand the cold below 0 degrees Celsius, no matter how well they are, they will have a cough, fever, cold, etc."

"You're right. Who would be crazy to ask the cafe owner to turn on the ceiling fan for him when he's alone in the cafe during the cold winter?"

"But that time I heard the ceiling fan spinning, even the fan was turned on at full volume."- Victor continued to give evidence- "So do you think that is unusual?"

"That makes sense."- said Thedus

Victor did not wait until Thedus stopped admiring and asked him, continuing:

"Moonlight cafe only has a maximum number of tables for 10 people, anyone who comes to the cafe when all the tables are used up will have no choice but to buy takeaway drinks, no one is free enough to wait until there is an available slot for them. In addition, when the restaurant reaches the limit of customers every day, the ceiling fan is never used. So the question is: What if there is a group of more than 10 people there but not there for coffee or other drinks?"

Thedus then nodded with a face filled with satisfaction because he understood everything, and replied:

"Uh-huh. Look like we got the point, Victor."

"Think about it"- said Victor- "Waiting in a cramped, closed place that can only accommodate about 10 adults in a situation where you can't take off the expensive suits they're wearing, not to mention some people of them are allowed to sit while the rest have to stand due to lack of seats, how could they not feel hot and stuffy? That's when ceiling fans are used as a tool to cool that closed and cramped room."

"Hmmm…"

"In general, through the conventional hood was turning on, I deduced that someone among them was smoking, through the ceiling fan was turning on, I guess the number of people Arthur sent there must have been 15 or even 20 people"- Victor concluded- "From the above proofs, I can confirm that Arthur's agents were there."

Thedus rested his hand on his chin in thought. A few seconds later, he said:

"I wonder if some of them were assigned by Arthur to go to other rooms to search or simply Arthur told them to leave the room serving drinks to reduce the number of people in that room as a way to avoid crowding and chaos?"

"So they would have not turned on the ceiling fan if this truly happened."- Victor said confidently"- I guess the main reason they just stay in the drinks room with Uncle Denvy is to both keep an eye on him and make their job easier when I get there, maybe the reason for this is that Arthur suspecting me to be Yellow Lightning. Well, maybe they've searched all the other rooms already."

"If what you say is true, they must be the ones who obey their boss's orders and are serious about their work, right?"- said Thedus

"Yep."- replied Victor.

"Anyway, it reinforces the 'he wants to confirm you're Yellow Lightning' theory… Wait, how do you know they're all wearing suits?"

"Uncle Denvy has his own terms to categorize customers based on what they wear. For customers wearing luxurious and noble suits, he often uses the phrase "Classic gentleman's style guests" to call them. Just now, he said that phrase again over the phone. That's why I came to that conclusion."

Thedus realized he had underestimated Victor's intelligence before. He didn't have any doubts after hearing what Victor said then.