"Who the hell do you think you are?"
The leader of the group, who was quite notably not either of the suspects, spoke out. She was a blond-haired girl.
’My turn.’
I stepped out from behind Rowan, straightening my back and trying to look imposing. Unfortunately, this body’s stunted growth made that an impossible task.
Still, I spoke steadily and calmly, like I imagined an official would.
"I’m the Vice President of the student council. Beside are mbers of the disciplinary wing of the council. You can check the school database if you have any doubts."
The eyes of the girl beside the leader, one of the suspects, flashed blue for a few monts. Eventually, she spoke.
"They’re not lying."
The leader looked back at us, suspicion still lingering in her eyes.
"Then what do you want?"
"Like my partner, Rowan, said, we are running an investigation. It’s in both of our interests that you cooperate with us."
The cadets looked at each other incredulously, more particularly the two suspects that had been friends with Ramona.
Still, the leader defended them.
"Why investigate us? We haven’t even done anything."
I understood the sentint; after all, the only incident that currently seed investigation-worthy was Ramona’s disappearance to her classmates.
Rumors about the other skinwalkers’ disappearances hadn’t spread due to Alice having more ti to find a proper excuse for them.
’Still, people are bound to notice sothing.’
I shook my head, clearing it from distracting thoughts, and continued the charade.
"We’ll be the judge of that. A credit card has gone missing from class; we are rely looking around for it."
The leader paused at my words, a mix of confusion and rage on her face.
"A card? Who even uses those anymore? That’s why you’re stopping us? What do you take us for, thieves!?"
She looked one step away from actually lashing out. My face didn’t shift a bit.
"It’s just standard procedure. If you have nothing to hide, then you’ll have no problem letting us perform a search."
The girl just looked at speechless, struggling to react to such shalessness. She did eventually, though.
"You can’t just do that. You can’t just search cadets because you want to."
"Why not?"
"Because it makes no sense. I’ll report you to the administration."
"Sure, but after we search you."
The girl’s face turned dangerous, and she pointed her hand straight at .
’Is she going to activate her gift?’
She continued.
"And if we refuse?"
I shrugged.
"It’d be a sha, but we’d have to deduct your points with the Academy."
"Bullshit. You can’t do that."
"Want to find out?"
The girl was right, and I was indeed bullshitting. But there’s no way she could know that; most students wouldn’t know the official powers and functions of the disciplinary arm.
She still struggled between fighting or backing down, but once one of the suspects—this ti the male—placed a hand on her shoulder, the girl finally decided it wasn’t worth the risk.
In turn, she glared at before speaking.
"I’ll be reporting you right after this, so do it quickly."
I suppressed a chuckle, trying not to antagonize her too much.
"Don’t worry, we’ll be done before you know it."
Unsurprisingly, she still kept glaring at .
’That’s fine too, I guess.’
It was more than fine, actually; I hadn’t even needed to use Alexa on them. Not that I was complaining, but I expected at least a bit more resistance.
’They’re still kids in the end.’
Of course, that wouldn’t always be the case.
I motioned Alexa towards them before turning to Rowan.
"Stand guard. In case they try anything funny."
He rolled his eyes, but still stood.
’Good.’
I split with Alexa to search them separately. Naturally, I couldn’t be the one patting down the girls.
That’d just add sexual harassnt to my already growing infamy. While it would still be a small price to pay in order to catch the skinwalker, it was wholly unnecessary when there were other, much more amicable thods of searching them.
She started with the leader, while I went straight to the male suspect first.
I activated [Error Sense] as I neared him, flashing an easy smile. A burning glare was all I got for my efforts.
Contrary to what the boy might’ve hoped, it only helped ease my concerns. There was much less chance of him being a skinwalker.
I wordlessly patted him down, checking his pockets, vest, and sleeves, while at the sa ti paying attention for a reaction.
’Nothing.’
In a way, I was relieved, while simultaneously disappointed. Nevertheless, I continued going through them.
Still leaving [Error Sense] activated, I patted down the other boys in the group. Yet, as I expected, there was nothing.
Alexa was just about done with the girls, too.
The leader let out an exasperated sigh.
"See, nothing. Can we get on our way now?"
I shook my head.
"No, she didn’t check your sleeves properly."
"Wha—"
Before she could react, I stepped up and shook her arm.
’Nothing.’
I imdiately went to the next girl, the suspect, and shook her wrist with [Error Sense] activated.
’Still nothing.’
The leader struggled to contain her frustration, opening and closing her mouth like a fish, before eventually taking a deep breath and walking away.
"I will be reporting you for this."
"Sure, go ahead."
I made no moves to stop them this ti, letting the rest of them pass by. Rowan spoke from his perch to the side.
"What’s wrong?"
It was only then I noticed my lips were curved into a deep frown. Rubbing my cheeks, I fixed my face before replying.
"Nothing. It’s fine."
"Do you think they’re serious about reporting?"
I waved off his concerns.
"Don’t worry about it. Even if they do report, it’ll be my neck on the line."
"Hmm..."
Rowan uncharacteristically fell silent. I paid him no mind, as my gaze lingered on the departing figures of the cadets.
’That’s two down.’
It was good progress, but it wasn’t nearly fast enough. I still had to do diversionary harassnt to throw off the skinwalker.
Even then, it was still likely it’d beco more cautious.
I considered the viability of finding another group of nobles to harass before sighing.
"Co on, we can continue this later. Let’s get to class."
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