TCOTRB: The Case of The Red Bubble

🁷 Chapter XV: CON-sequence

Chapter XV: CON-sequence

Jin recounted the time when he and their friends each began receiving manipulative messages from Omar on social media. This time, he went by the name 'Silverbird." A play on the meaning of his surname Vogel and distinct silver hair.
"He would spread false stories to get us to hate Milo and I'm afraid that everybody else he knows is gonna fall for his lies. I unfortunately was convinced when he claimed that Milo didn't want me to help him, tapping on my weakness (asthma condition). However, Irene was able to come online and warn me that it's all a lie!" Jin kept biting his lip whenever he spoke, probably holding in those triggered emotions. His eyes met with Milo's.
     Milo stood there in front of him in disbelief. "We tried to calm him down and suggested we talk to you first. Upon hearing everything you've just said, it turns out you're innocent," Leo explained.
The last time Jin saw Omar was at the convenience store next to their house. At 19:00, the guy happened to be withdrawing money from the ATM outside, passed him by and gave him a conniving look. It's a good thing that Mr. Inoue saw Omar and scared him away with a stinky eye. The father and son both hopped into their car as they secretly followed the target.

"I tried telling my dad to let him be, but he wasn't gonna turn a blind eye at someone like Omar. We ended up at a deserted road that's blocked by boulders," Jin emphasized, "We weren't able to spot the black Sedan hovercar anywhere."

"What were you thinking? Who knows what could have happened to both of you if you tried stalking him? He could have killed you at any moment," Leo shouted at him.

"Sorry, buddy ... I've tried to stop him (my dad)," Jin sounded upset.

"Hold on! Isn't the place called Sto. Tomas Road?" Aunt Glenda snapped her fingers in surprise. She explained that the road passing through a vast cave was still under construction following a landslide.
It was a shortcut leading to Mantel City, which turns out to be the neighboring district of the RFA. There is a chance that Omar could have moved to a different residence where nobody can easily find him.

"Well, neither me nor my dad had ever been there before. This seems alien to us," Jin assured them.

"As for Milo here ... " she turns to her nephew who has been standing behind her, "He'll aid us in tracking down Omar at Mantel City!"

"You've gotta be kidding me, Glenda! How do you think he's going to find him at a far place like that?" Jason protested.

    Aunt Glenda has already made up her mind. She thought about how Omar had already taken interest in Milo and saw it as an opportunity to lure him in. Her nephew shall serve as a bait, win his trust and lay over his tracks to them. "Alright, so here's the plan ... " she said.
    Milo watched her assure his parents that this is going to be a surefire way to stop Omar and hopefully get more information about the RFA.