Hametz was somewhat resistant to the police coming to her door a second time, but her objections were of no use.
"Public security cases have their procedures, homicide cases have theirs, and matters involving Evil Cults follow an entirely different set of procedures."
The highest-ranking officer at the scene, Sen Lang, was ugly-faced but mild-tempered. He was even willing to explain things to her. "When Evil Cult matters are involved, contamination must be considered first."
Hametz still tried to argue. "We're the victims!"
"Those who gaze into the Abyss may suffer contamination. Those gazed upon by the Abyss may also be contaminated."
Sen Lang's eyes, nearly two sizes smaller than a normal person's, were dull, and his speech was somewhat slurred. Combined with his wrinkled, hairless scalp, he looked like a dying old man who might collapse at any moment.
Yet the six hollow flesh tubes protruding from the back of his head, his temples, and his nose moved without wind, as though they possessed some uncanny ability to absorb and sniff out every tangible and intangible clue.
Even Hametz, who had seen countless grand occasions, found herself somewhat intimidated before a figure like him.
Sen Lang continued explaining at an unhurried pace. "Repeated close contact and targeting are highly abnormal circumstances. We do not fully understand how Evil Cult factors operate. If we did, this would be much easier to handle. That is why we need to gather more clues."
The man before them was a veteran expert from the Regional Police Headquarters. His status on Plane Six was relatively detached, and even the police of City of Eternal Darkness had to show him some respect.
Hametz could not say much more. She could only watch as, under Sen Lang's command and in accordance with "procedure," the officers temporarily