2025-01-04 15:35:46Manchester lay in the hospital bed, his body aching from the incident. He had been lucky to escape with only minor injuries but his mind was consumed by the worry of his one-year-old son Nelson.
The second his eyes shot open, his heart skipped a beat, knowing that he was involved in a car accident and his son was strapped behind on a child's seat. "Nelson?" He muttered and ignored the tubes that were connected to him, he pulled them out forcefully and made his way out of the ward, fear and worry etched all over his face. "Sir you shouldn't be out here," a nurse tried to get his attention and hopefully get him back to the ward, but Manchester couldn't be stopped. "Where is my son?" He asked, limping his way from one ward to the other and stealing a glance at the window "Where is my son, Nelson?" He called out, forgetting that the baby couldn't speak and wouldn't respond. "Nelson?" "Sir, I am very sure that your baby is fine, he should be somewhere in the pediatric ward. If only you'd get back to you..." the nurse's voice trailed off as Manchester shot a deadly gaze at her. "The only thing I want to do right now is to see my son, all these things don't matter to me right now." He said, staring straight into the nurse's eyes. "Please sir, you've opened your treated wound and it's bleeding." The nurse tried to convince him, and before Manchester could open his mouth to say another word, someone spoke from far ahead. "He's in a ward upstairs, come with me." With his white coat and stethoscope hanging from his neck, the doctor understood how worried the father must be, and chose to break the scene. Manchester cast one last glance at the nurse before heading up to meet the doctor. They stepped into the elevator and soon they were on the second floor. Once inside the ward, Manchester's heart sank to the bottom as his gaze fell upon his son whose condition seemed worse than his. "He suffered severe injuries in the accident, and we are doing everything that we can to save him." "Nelson," He muttered, running his fingers down his unconscious child's smooth face. "I am so sorry, just one day without mummy and I've almost killed you." Manchester bit back his tears, and his thoughts drifted to his wife Mel, he had been trying to process all that plus losing his job, but now, the accident had thrown everything into chaos. "Doctor, please do everything you can to save him," Manchester pleaded, "I don't care how much it cost, just save him, please... "It cost so much already to sustain him to this point," the doctor interjected, but his tone was quite friendly so it didn't appear as though he doubted the young father's worth. "But I'm glad we have your permission to continue." Deep down, Manchester knew that this was going to be an addition to the piles of bills he had yet to sort out, but he was ready to give up everything to save his child. "Can you give me a moment, doctor?" He requests, taking Nelson's tiny hand in his palm. "Just three minutes," the doctor replied, "I can't have you in here for too long." "That's enough time," Manchester nodded and with that, the doctor walked out of the ward closing the door behind him. Now alone with his son, Manchester took a deep breath, he gently rubbed his hand while searching for his phone with the other. He always has it in his pocket, so he hoped that it wasn't damaged in the accident. Luckily it wasn't severely damaged, just a few cracks on the screen and that was it. Remembering that she had blocked his line, Manchester dialled his mother-in-law's number, again. "Hasn't she told you to let her be, Manchester?" His mother-in-law scolded him even before he could say hello. "Mum please, just one minute I beg you, I just want to speak with her for one minute, it's about Nelson... "She doesn't want to speak with you." As she was responding, Manchester could hear Mel's voice in the background asking her mother to hand over the phone to her. His heart raced thinking that she might disconnect the call and block him on the spot, but to his greatest surprise she said, "What is it, this time?" Manchester kept his voice steady, but did not try to hide his emotions, "We were driving home, and... and ran into someone at the red light. Nelson is hurt Mel, he is hurt." "And what do you want me to do?" She asked him, her tone was indifferent as though she wasn't the mother of the child. Manchester felt a surge of anger and frustration, how could she be so cold? Doesn't she care about their son? "Mel, please come to the hospital, Nelson needs you, I need you, please." Mel sighed, "Let me guess, you are stuck on the bill and need me to pay... "But I have never asked you to pay my bills before." Manchester cut her off. "And that is exactly why you are still in debt, Manchester and you'd keep accumulating them." Her words tore his flesh like a two-edged sword, piercing his already wounded heart. "Mel, please just come to the hospital, for Nelson's sake, if not for mine." There was a pause, and for a moment Manchester thought he had lost her. But then Mel spoke up. "You are his father, take care of him by yourself, if you lose that child then it's your loss, not mine. I have no business with you or that home any longer, I just got engaged and I've moved on with my life. Please, Manchester let it go." "Mel, can... and she hung up!" Manchester's face fell in disappointment, he couldn't believe that he was on his own now, everything was going wrong and could it get worse? Well yes.
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I-Mode: Becoming A Famous Detective With A System 4. I- took expired pills
Manchester felt as if he had been punched in the guts, he couldn't believe what he had just heard. Mel, the mother of his child, the woman that he had shared his life with had moved on so quickly and was even engaged to someone else without getting a proper divorce. Something wasn't right, it was either all of these had been going on behind his back, or Mel was just lying to keep him away for a reason that he was yet to understand. "What did I do wrong?" He really couldn't get an answer, he wasn't the poorest man, especially when compared with a lot of people he had seen in the city. Manchester was living very comfortably and he was quite the provider no matter how hard things got. If there was anything he could point out that Mel disliked about him then it was his temper, getting very agitated could be a turn-off for a lot of women but he was working on that as well to save his marriage, only to end up losing it. It just didn’t make any sense and how she left as well wasn't addi
I-Mode: Becoming A Famous Detective With A System 5. I- pray this is not a dream
A few minutes passed and Manchester's eyes fluttered open, the room was still blurry and a wave of dizziness washed over him. He just lay down there staring at the kitchen ceiling that he could barely see, his mind reeling with thoughts."Am I dead or alive?" He remembered taking a pill to relieve himself, but at the moment he felt worse, his head hurt so much and he couldn't tell if he was hallucinating but a holographic screen flickered to life before his eyes.Manchester wasn't startled, he just closed his eyes and tried to relax, whatever that thing was he knew it wasn't something to worry about. But then all the incidents over the past two days flooded his mind and Manchester suddenly remembered why he had come back home in the first place.He sat up Immediately, holding his aching head and hoping that his vision was better. He could thank God now that he was alive and had learnt a valuable lesson about pills. But then again why was this holographic screen still in front of him?
I-Mode: Becoming A Famous Detective With A System 6. I- don't trust Atkinson
In a few minutes, Manchester arrived at Bellvue Manor, a grand estate nestled in the heart of the city in a simple vehicle similar to that of a police officer. His driver was also dressed in uniform making it appear as though it was official police business.Along the way, Manchester had gotten a couple of messages from what appeared to be a research team who were ready to support him through the investigation, and as weird as it may seem, Manchester played along.After speaking with the security guard at the entrance to the manor, Manchester was directed to the living room by a butler, and there he met the wealthy man who seemed to have been waiting for him. "Detective Duke," He exclaimed,"It's such a relief that you are here." The wealthy businessman man with a receding hairline stood on his feet, stretching his elderly hand for a handshake which Manchester received with a warm smile."How does he even know my name... ""Sit down." Mr. Richard Langley gestured to the couch that
I-Mode: Becoming A Famous Detective With A System 7. I- will tell you what I heard him say over the phone
Mr Richard Langley led Manchester to the security room and asked the butler to wait outside while the detective did his job. Manchester could see a glint of anxiety in the butler's eyes and he took a mental note of that. As a detective, all kinds of reactions were important to him. With the doors closed Manchester was faced with two large monitors hanging on the walls, a desk with a keyboard and mouse, along with two chairs. He sat down and Mr. Langley did the same, watching the young detective skillfully scroll through the visual images on the screen. //Transferring security footage via wireless network// //Transfer complete // // You may select footage Vid_123 // Manchester scrolled down the screen and as soon as he spotted the videos, he clicked on it. It was a two hours long footage so he put it on fast-forward until he spotted someone in it. This footage was from a surveillance camera in the garden, and it was ten minutes to the hour of theft, it captured someone lurking be
I-Mode: Becoming A Famous Detective With A System 8. I- begged him
"I still don't believe you," Manchester's voice echoed off the walls after listening to Emma's seemingly made-up explanation."This is all nonsense especially after you said that you didn't hear anything and now you are saying that Atkinson was speaking with someone about a business deal ... we will settle all this at the station.//Do you wish to arrest the suspects?//"Yes."// Sending in the team //Within a minute, a knock was heard on the door and Manchester opened it to let the team of three cops into the room, and he pointed the suspects out to them. Emma continued to beg, and swear that she was saying the truth while Atkinson willingly offered himself to be taken away."Don't worry Mr. Langley I will get to the bottom of this before the end of the day..."Please do," Mr. Richard Langley uttered before Manchester could finish speaking,"In the meantime, I'd search for something similar in case I don't find it today." "Very well," Manchester nodded before walking out of the roo
I-Mode: Becoming A Famous Detective With A System 9. I- know who it is
"When I was in the garden, I caught her listening to my conversation, and I had no choice but to tell her the truth. However, she was scared of getting into trouble too and wanted to tell Mr Langley. So... I threatened her... or rather I blackmailed her with something I'd rather not talk about if that's okay with you sir."Manchester shrugged, he couldn't care less about the blackmail."This is what I am going to do." He said,"You will remain detained until we find the necklace, since we have your phone coupled with what you just told me, this case would be easier to solve. If what you have just said is the truth, then the necklace must be in the manor somewhere."Manchester was about to leave the room when he remembered something and turned to ask him,"Is there anyone in the manor that you suspect? Someone that holds something against you enough to want to get you fired."Atkinson thought about this question for a while, but he shook his head when he couldn't think of anyone. "I
I-Mode: Becoming A Famous Detective With A System 10. I- am sorry sir
Back at the Bellvue Manor, Mr. Langley was anxiously anticipating Manchester's return. "Does he have answers, has he found the the thief?", these questions ran through his mind and it was impossible to sit down. "Ah, Mr. Detective," he exclaimed the second the butler ushered Manchester into the living room. Mr Langley couldn't help but notice that both Emma and Atkinson came in along with him, and he started to question if they were innocent all along, or perhaps they had come to confess. "Do you have answers?" He asked, "Please tell me that you have answers. My wife's plane would land in an hour, and I'd have to go pick her up soon, so if you don't have answers yet, you can leave it while I... "We have answers, Mr. Langley, " Manchester interjected, his tone was firm and certain. He felt that it was rude to cut the man off while he was still speaking, but knowing Mr Richard Langley's loquacious nature, it was for the best. "So?" Mr. Langley asked, still standing. "Well, sir." M
I-Mode: Becoming A Famous Detective With A System 11. I- can win you back home, Mel
Now alone in the living room with the detective, Mr. Langley took a deep breath and stared at the young man in the eyes. "Is it true?" He asked, gesturing for Manchester to sit on the couch opposite him. "She left without a reason?" "Oh, that!" Manchester let out a faint smile. This isn't a subject he'd love to discuss with anyone, and the only reason he mentioned it in the first place was to prove to the butler that he could relate to the hurt he felt on the inside. "I'd rather not bother you with it, sir," He added before taking his seat and stapling both fingers together, "And your son?" Asked Mr. Langley, "Where is he?" Now, Manchester doesn't mind the show of concern, but he wishes that Langley would read his body language and end this conversation or at least change the subject. "I left him at the daycare," he lied "I'll pick him up on my way home." Mr. Langley soon noticed that Manchester had no interest in proceeding with this conversation, and he understood. It was
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17. I- don't know anymore
//I am sorry // "It's alright," Manchester replied with a long sigh, he walked back into the hall to sit back for a few minutes, while booking a ride to return home. He had plans for the night, and that is because according to the doctors, Nelson would be discharged the next day at 5pm if there were no further complications. Which means, he needed to stock up on baby food, diapers and wipes. He had come to realise that he needed help with this child, because no matter how strong a man he was, a one-year-old was too much to deal with while doing some investigation. So he decided that he would call his mother and narrate the incident to her. He didn't want to tell her initially because she always warned him about his temper especially when it comes to marriage, so he feared that she might blame him for it. But then again, she is his mother and no matter how annoyed she was, she'd always be willing to assist. "Detective Duke!" Langley exclaimed when he saw Manchester seated by
16. I- would take off that stupid ring
Manchester caught up with them at the parking lot, and the only way he could get their attention without causing a scene was to call his wife by her name. "Mel!" The couple paused and turned around to see who had called one of them. "You know him?" The man asked, staring suspiciously at Manchester who didn't say a word after they turned. "Yeah," Mel replied, tightening her grip on his arm, "We met at high school, I haven't seen him in a while." Mel pauses and whispers into his ears, "Smile a little so that he won't be so intimidated, you are scaring him." "Can I see you for a second, please?" He requested, avoiding his wife's fiancé's gaze. He has a strong feeling that she might say no to him, but to his greatest surprise, Mel said. "Sure." She kept a smile on her face the whole time, "Sweetheart I'll be with you in the car shortly, let me catch up with an old friend if you don't mind." she requested, and her fiancé walked away with the key dangling from his index
15. I- need your help with an investigation
The party stretched on for what seemed like an eternity, and Manchester just couldn't wait for it to come to an end. He stole a glance at his wife now and then, but Mel didn't seem to do the same or notice him. It hurts so much how she appears to have forgotten about him entirely to the point that she acts uninterested even in his presence. Or was he overthinking the situation? Three hours passed and it was 8:45, the celebrations were officially over, but as expected, not everyone would leave immediately. A number of them wanted to see Langley and congratulate his wife, while others just sat back to enjoy a few drinks before leaving. The whole time, Manchester had been tracking his wife and Aiden Lamar's movement simultaneously, it was a difficult task but he was up for it. As soon as he got a chance, seeing that Aiden Lamar was less crowded by people, he approached the elderly man with a humble and polite greeting. "Good evening, sir." He stretched forth his hand with a war
14. I- will have the wine instead
// Exp 1200/ 1000 ////Congratulations! Case 3, unlocked! //// Earn 600 Exp to unlock the next case////Exp 0 / 600 //Manchester knew that he couldn't proceed with this task until he had gotten some Intel from the Everglow company, so he put the case on pause and headed for the hospital to spend the rest of his day with Nelson.At past 5pm the same day, in a part of the city, the halls and decorations were all set up for Mr Langley's wife's birthday celebrations.It was her fiftieth birthday, so it is no surprise that he made it so elaborate and grand.From 5:30 pm, cars were already at the parking lot, and the chairs in the hall slowly got occupied until Mr. Langley and his wife arrived, marking the commencement of the occasion.He had hired a stand-up comedian to anchor the celebrations. As expected of him, the event kicked off with a few laughs, sarcastic roasts, and recognition of some important guests.At this time, Manchester showed up at the entrance, he wasn't bothered by th
13. I- might have use for Mr. Langley's party afterall
Manchester gazes at the wall, the building itself was a single-story structure, with a faded sign that read 'Research facility' in peeling letters. Maybe it was due to Sophia Patel's disappearance, but the environment gave off an eerie feeling as they walked further into it.When they entered her laboratory, Manchester was greeted by a middle-aged woman who was taking pictures of the area before their arrival. Her name is Kim and she is the lab director whom the security officer had talked about."Thank you for coming, detective," she said, shaking hands with the Manchester, she could tell by the ID hanging from his neck and the box in his hand. Plus, she had also requested one a few hours ago."We are worried sick about Sophia," she began, her voice dripped with sadness,"It has been three days and we have no idea what happened to her."Manchester nodded sympathetically, dropped his box on the floor and opened it up to take out his notepad. "Can you tell me more about Dr. Patel's re
12. I-need and overview of the area
Just as he has said to Mr. Langley, Manchester headed for the hospital first to complete the payment from Nelson's treatment and words couldn't describe the wave of relief that washed over him when all that was cleared.Nelson's health was a priority to him because losing his child just after his wife had left would eventually cause him to end up at a rehabilitation centre."We are doing everything we can, and he will be fine." The doctor assured him with a firm nod, before taking him to Nelson's ward for a few minutes.The one-year-old was yet to awaken, so Manchester did what always made him feel relieved, and that was to take Nelson's tiny hand in his, and talk to him as though he was awake and listening."Don't worry, I'll get mummy back home." These were Manchester's last words to his unconscious child before leaving the hospital to rest. However, Manchester's depression worsened as soon as walked through the front door. He wasn't coming home to his family as usual, but to an em
11. I- can win you back home, Mel
Now alone in the living room with the detective, Mr. Langley took a deep breath and stared at the young man in the eyes. "Is it true?" He asked, gesturing for Manchester to sit on the couch opposite him. "She left without a reason?" "Oh, that!" Manchester let out a faint smile. This isn't a subject he'd love to discuss with anyone, and the only reason he mentioned it in the first place was to prove to the butler that he could relate to the hurt he felt on the inside. "I'd rather not bother you with it, sir," He added before taking his seat and stapling both fingers together, "And your son?" Asked Mr. Langley, "Where is he?" Now, Manchester doesn't mind the show of concern, but he wishes that Langley would read his body language and end this conversation or at least change the subject. "I left him at the daycare," he lied "I'll pick him up on my way home." Mr. Langley soon noticed that Manchester had no interest in proceeding with this conversation, and he understood. It was
10. I- am sorry sir
Back at the Bellvue Manor, Mr. Langley was anxiously anticipating Manchester's return. "Does he have answers, has he found the the thief?", these questions ran through his mind and it was impossible to sit down. "Ah, Mr. Detective," he exclaimed the second the butler ushered Manchester into the living room. Mr Langley couldn't help but notice that both Emma and Atkinson came in along with him, and he started to question if they were innocent all along, or perhaps they had come to confess. "Do you have answers?" He asked, "Please tell me that you have answers. My wife's plane would land in an hour, and I'd have to go pick her up soon, so if you don't have answers yet, you can leave it while I... "We have answers, Mr. Langley, " Manchester interjected, his tone was firm and certain. He felt that it was rude to cut the man off while he was still speaking, but knowing Mr Richard Langley's loquacious nature, it was for the best. "So?" Mr. Langley asked, still standing. "Well, sir." M
9. I- know who it is
"When I was in the garden, I caught her listening to my conversation, and I had no choice but to tell her the truth. However, she was scared of getting into trouble too and wanted to tell Mr Langley. So... I threatened her... or rather I blackmailed her with something I'd rather not talk about if that's okay with you sir."Manchester shrugged, he couldn't care less about the blackmail."This is what I am going to do." He said,"You will remain detained until we find the necklace, since we have your phone coupled with what you just told me, this case would be easier to solve. If what you have just said is the truth, then the necklace must be in the manor somewhere."Manchester was about to leave the room when he remembered something and turned to ask him,"Is there anyone in the manor that you suspect? Someone that holds something against you enough to want to get you fired."Atkinson thought about this question for a while, but he shook his head when he couldn't think of anyone. "I
