Chapter 419: Is There Really Bird Poop on His Head?
Chapter 419: Chapter 419: Is There Really Bird Poop on His Head?
Time ticked by, second by second.
Only 43 hours remained on Renee Jennings’s mission countdown.
Brother Shawn was clearly toying with her, saying he wanted to help ease her pain on one hand, while refusing to show himself on the other.
Another possibility was that he was still devising a plan for the crime.
He hadn’t yet decided how he would end "Stella’s" life.
The group ate takeout in the conference room, glancing up at Renee Jennings’s phone from time to time.
Kyle Morgan had no appetite. He pushed his food around a few times before closing the container, his tone indignant. "It’s already 8:30. What kind of game is that ’Shawn’ playing?"
Henry Stark ate his meal slowly and deliberately. "This is his psychological tactic," he said coolly.
Renee Jennings frowned slightly. "He must have used the same method to torment Sherry Zane."
"Sherry Zane was young and more susceptible to his lures." Zachary Conway also found the food tasteless and stopped eating.
The next second, the phone screen lit up.
Renee Jennings immediately put down her chopsticks and picked up the phone.
Brother Shawn: [Stella, have you been a good girl and eaten? Send me your address. Brother Shawn will bring you something to eat.]
"He wants an address to deliver food," Renee Jennings said. "But I don’t think he’s actually going to bring anything."
Henry Stark’s voice was low. "It’s an obedience test."
"So what do we do now?"
"Give him the school’s address and my burner phone number."
Renee Jennings nodded. "Okay."
[Are you really going to bring me food?]
Brother Shawn: [I never lie. The address?]
Renee Jennings typed out the school’s address and sent it.
Brother Shawn: [Good girl, Stella. And your phone number.]
Renee Jennings sent Henry Stark’s burner number.
In the bustling supermarket, Teacher Quinn stared down at his phone screen, a smile playing on his lips.
He slipped the phone back into the pocket of his trousers and looked up, carefully examining the fruit knives in front of him.
A store clerk, noticing his handsome looks, approached with a cheerful smile. "Hey handsome, looking for a fruit knife? Need me to give you a recommendation?"
Teacher Quinn tilted his head slightly, his smile deepening. "In that case, could you please help me pick out the sharpest one?"
’I’ve never seen the sight of seawater and blood mixing together.’
’What a beautiful and romantic color that would be?’
’Truly something to look forward to.’
Outside the supermarket was a small plaza where a number of children were chasing each other, laughing and playing.
Under the heavy veil of night, Inky stood on a utility pole with his wings folded, looking expectantly at the vampire bat beside him. "King, do you smell it?"
The vampire bat looked a little lost at the moment. "Strange. This king can clearly smell his scent here, but why can’t I find him?"
The two Shadows huddled together, whispering.
"He says he’s the Prince of Vampire Bats. I think he’s just bragging."
"If he’s a prince, then what does that make me?"
Noctus: "..."
Inky reminded them awkwardly, "Keep your voices down. I could hear you."
Noctus added darkly, "This king heard you too."
One Shadow said, "I didn’t say it, he did."
The other Shadow: "..."
Just then, Noctus caught a strong scent.
He spread his wing membranes and shot off, heading straight for the supermarket exit.
"Hey, where are you going?" Inky hastily flapped his wings and gave chase.
The two Shadows also flew after them, a beat behind.
"It’s him!" Noctus circled once above the head of the man carrying a shopping bag. He looked at Inky. "This king is certain! He’s the one who hunts female humans!"
Hearing this, Inky hurried over to familiarize himself with the male’s scent and, while he was at it, leave a mark on him.
A glob of greenish-yellow bird-dropping fell from the sky, slicing through the air and landing squarely on Teacher Quinn’s head. A small droplet happened to land on his glasses frame.
The man sensed it all. His body instantly went rigid, his steps came to a sharp halt, and his expression turned dark and ugly.
The hand carrying the shopping bag clenched into a tight fist, the veins on its back bulging.
Both Shadows were delighted. They never thought that Inky, who usually seemed so elegant, mature, and composed, would do something like this.
Noctus also looked at Inky in surprise.
Stared at by three pairs of eyes, Inky explained a little unnaturally, "I was just leaving a mark, no offense intended."
After speaking, he immediately changed the subject. "Alright, look at him, not at me."
Teacher Quinn’s face was grim. Before he could deal with the filth on his head, he heard children to the side burst out laughing.
"HAHAHA, a bird pooped on his head!"
"Is there bird poop on his head? Really?"
"Wow, what does fresh bird poop look like?"
"Mister, mister, can you bend down and let us see the bird poop on your head? Is it warm?"
Teacher Quinn: "..."
He suppressed his rage, ignored the children’s rude words, and strode hastily toward the crosswalk on the road.
Inky and the others followed him all the way, watching as he entered the gate of a residential complex and went into one of the buildings.
Inky followed him inside, wanting to see which floor he lived on.
He didn’t expect to be met by a pair of dark, terrifying eyes as soon as he flew in.
The man was staring daggers at him from behind his lenses.
’Inky, don’t be afraid. This human can’t fly, and he doesn’t have a bird trap. It’s okay!’ Inky’s wings trembled with fear, but he forced himself to stay calm, consoling himself.
Teacher Quinn knew this was the swallow that had pooped on his head, and now it even dared to follow him.
He ground his back teeth. Seeing that no one was around, he pulled an apple from his shopping bag, raised his arm, and hurled it viciously.
THWACK—
The apple smashed against the wall, its juice splattering everywhere.
’That was close! I almost got hit!’ Inky silently congratulated himself on being agile enough to dodge in time.
Teacher Quinn wanted to continue his assault, but he saw someone approaching and had to give up on his revenge.
He reined in his anger, returning to his usual elegant and composed demeanor.
Inky saw more and more people gathering to wait for the elevator. Realizing he wouldn’t be able to tell which floor his target was going to, he flew out of the lobby.
He told the two Shadows to stay there. "I’m going to tell Renee this good news. Wait for me to come back!"
Inky first flew to Eastgate Villa, where he learned from Blueberry that Renee Jennings wasn’t home. After a moment of thought, he decisively flapped his wings and took off in a specific direction.
**
Renee Jennings’s phone had been quiet for a long time.
It was getting later and later.
Henry Stark’s burner phone hadn’t received any calls either.
"What the hell is that piece of trash up to?" Kyle Morgan was getting annoyed from the wait and felt like cursing. "Son of a bitch!"
Zachary Conway stood up and opened a window, intending to have a smoke, but he noticed a small swallow flying back and forth outside.
He felt that this swallow looked like the one from the morning, so he called out tentatively, "Hey, little swallow, are you looking for Renee Jennings?"
As soon as the words left his mouth, Zachary Conway saw the little swallow suddenly turn and fly toward him.
"How did you know I was looking for Renee?" Inky hovered in front of Zachary Conway.
Renee Jennings overheard Zachary Conway and looked over, confused. "Kian, who did you say was looking for me?"