After the knock, the door to Max’s room is opened, and one of the orphanage caretakers comes inside.
“Max, the police are here looking for you. You didn’t do anything against the law, isn’t it? I know that our orphanage didn’t give out pocket money but still…”
“Don’t worry, big brother David. I am not doing something like that. It must have had something to do with the explosion earlier today at the memorial.”
“The memorial? Ah…”
“Alright then, are they in the waiting room?”
David couldn’t say anything and only nodded. As a caretaker of the orphanage, he naturally has a soft heart and understands the story behind everyone’s reason to be here. He feels that he has asked something inappropriate since he should know that today is the anniversary of the explosion incident.
When Max arrived at the waiting room, the orphanage’s director is there talking with the police. It was just a formality and to make sure that nothing goes wrong. after all, if someone from the orphanage really committed a crime, the orphanage will take a big hit because of it. Not only because of the reputation damage but also their monetary support might get cut.
“Max, you’re here already. The police are here, sir; this is Max. please talk comfortably.”
Max sits down beside the director, and the police finally tell their intentions.
“Hello Max, we’re from the police, and we have some questions for you. Is that alright?”
“Yes, sir. Please ask away.”
“Max, we heard that you come to the memorial of the United Heroes headquarters bombing today?”
“Yes. Since I lost my parents in the incident, it is normal for me to come and visit them there. After all, they don’t even have a proper grave.”
Max looked normal on the outside; however, nobody understands and realize how broken his heart is deep inside. After all, he has decided to live normally with a façade to not make his parents, who might be watching him from the heavens, feel sad. Even right now, when he talked about his parents, he didn’t show even an ounce of sadness.
“Ah, I’m sorry about your parents. One of the security guards also said that you were near the memorial when the explosion happened today.”
“yes. Coincidentally, I was leaving the area and haven’t walked far when the explosion happened.”
“We heard that you see a man and making sure that the security guards come to save him.”
“Ah, yes. That man gives me a familiar feeling as if he was at the United Heroes headquarters too ten years ago. He must come to visit someone on the memorial too. How is he? Did you manage to find him?”
The police’s expression immediately changed when Max said that. It was as if he wasn’t sure whether he could tell Max about it or not. Not to mention that the orphanage’s director is still there.
“Director, can I have a private moment with Max?”
The director didn’t look to be shocked at all as he nodded and left the room. Seeing that the director has left and there’s only two of them in the room, the police once again speak to Max.
“Max, you said that the man you meet gives you a familiar feeling. Can you describe to me how does this man looks or his defining features?”
“I only saw him for a brief moment, so I am not sure that I could remember his face. However, when I saw him ten years ago, I feel that he is such a big man. Previously I thought it was because I am still small, so everything looked bigger for me, but as I meet him again today, I realized that this man has a huge figure. He might be one or two heads taller than normal people, and his shoulder is really broad.”
Hearing the testimony from Max, the police then takes out a photo from his pocket.
“Is this the man that you see?”
Max take a look at the picture that was handed over to him, and after examining it for a while, he nodded.
“Yes, this is the man.”
“Max, to tell the truth, after the incident ten years ago, we have increased the security, and we put CCTV around the memorial just in case something like this happened. This man that you see is actually a villain. He was one of the suspects for the bombing incident ten years ago, and after hearing what you said today, we can confirm that he is indeed involved with the bombing. Actually, this is something that you shouldn’t hear from me. However, as someone who lost someone from this incident, I hope you could understand the truth and even help us. If you see this man again, please tell us. Seeing how calm you are when talking about your loss, I believe that you are someone rational enough to cooperate with us.”
Sensible and mature. That’s what the police thought in mind when he decided to divulge the information to Max. Little did he know that a spark of fire is now blazing inside his heart.
“Certainly, I will try to help. Is there any way to contact you if I saw this man again?”
“Oh right, here’s my contact number. I’m not an officer but a detective in an undercover mission.”
Max takes the card and looks at it. There are only name and phone numbers on it.
“Detective Greg, can you tell me more about this man? Or his group of friends?”
“Ah, this man name is Lindt. His ability is controlling fire, so the bomb might be something he ignited on the spot. He has a partner named Vanya. We suspected that her ability is to turn water into some kind of gasoline or combustible material. That is how both of them are able to cause the incident ten years ago, and the same can be said today. We are masking it as a bombing because we don’t want the people to become panicked when they know that only two individuals can cause such a massive incident.”
The detective then takes out another picture, and it is a picture of Vanya. If earlier Lindt is looking like a burly man with a large build, Vanya is the opposite. She looked like a doll, and her petite body is like a child compared to Lindt. Although Max seemed very calm, he looks at both pictures furiously as he is engraving their faces into his mind. Only God knows what he is planning in his mind.
“Max, make sure to keep the things I told you to yourself, okay?”
“Yes, sir. I won’t tell anyone about it.”
“Good. Make sure to contact me if you saw them.”
Greg then goes out of the room and talks a few things with the director before going back. As for Max, he returned to his room as if nothing happened. As soon as he arrived inside his room, he muttered two words with full of hatred.
“Lindt…Vanya…”