LUKE MATTHEW “By the way,” SIR ACOSTA PLACED a hand on my shoulder, causing me to jerk back to reality; “you were absent for two Saturdays. You aren’t the type of Officer to forget the day of our weekly formation.” I stilled. How am I supposed to explain that my first absence was because of The Mystery of the Five Orange Phones and the second was because I locked myself up in my bedroom? “There were things that a Salcedo has to do that are completely unrelated to his Vargas matters,” Toto chimed in and then winked at me. Am I supposed to thank you? That didn’t sound like a rescue! “Ah, that’s right.” Sir Acosta grinned. “My Adjutant is the Young Master Samael.” Hearing that name was not quite surprising. It’s impossible for the news from that night to not reach everyone. And, based on the situation right now, it’s also impossible for the students of AMU to not recognize me as that person. My peaceful Junior High School as Luke Matthew Vargas might have just ended. But what is th
JACOB “Your order of today’s Ammunition is outside, President.” ALISZIA TUAZON THREW the school paper accurately on the tablespace in front of me. Her black kinky hair was in a bun secured with a pink beaded hair tie. She had her DSLR in her hand and not hung around her neck. Judging by her aura this morning, the Club Secretary’s brought no good news. “What is it?” I asked while flipping through the pages of the Ammunition from the back. “We've had no clients for the past four days, thus, leaving our social media page inactive. Our followers are waiting for our newest post but we have nothing to give them,” Zia replied frustratingly just as I read the first paragraph of today’s headline. 【TFC Outsold! An Unnamed JHS Trio Grabs the Limelight. The popularity of the new detective group gets a boost in line with the bombing event of Albertus Magnus University three weeks ago. Comprised of three Grade 10-I students: Hibara W.C., Luke Matthew Vargas, and Toto Lei Chavez, this Junior Hig
JACOB AFTER FOUR DAYS of silence, we finally got a client. But the thing is— he’s dead. Counting five minutes on my wristwatch to elapse, I signaled to these two girls that we were safe to leave the table. “Stay right here. Only I will approach the victim for now, in case there’s another fire. Contact Chief Velasquez,” I ordered. I slipped on my gloves and crouched in front of the dead client. I did a thorough body search and made an inspection to see if there were any irregularities on his skin. Strange… Where is that thing? Lastly, I lifted his head and checked the bullet wound behind. This is—without a doubt—made by a sniper rifle! “.338 Lapua Magnum cartridge; shot around a one-kilometer radius.” “Zia!” I shouted in surprise, dropping the poor guy’s head on the floor. “Tsk. I told you to stay back!” However, she ignored me and continued talking while capturing pictures on her DSLR. “A sniper rifle developed by ORSIS in Russia back in 2018, T-5000 has a five-round detacha
JACOB “G-Guys… Bright Light… is online.” I GOT UP from Red’s chair in alarm and rushed to Team MM’s space. “WHAT?!” The Club President just said that Bright Light is Luciano’s gamer name! How could he be online when he’s lying dead in our clubroom’s doorway with Chief Velasquez? The gamer with a red forehead band pointed at his monitor with shaking hands. “He’s online!” “That can’t be! He’s dead!” I exclaimed but when my gaze landed on where he was pointing at, I found Bright Light on the list of online players. “He’s online in Mobile Legends, too!” announced Suzy, holding up her smartphone with a controller attached. “He’s online also in Valorant,” said Red, staring at his monitor. “Call of Duty, online!” added another Team BB gamer wearing a green forehead band. “Clash of Clans!” added another one from Team HS who also held up his smartphone. “This is…! Someone hacked his account!” I exclaimed. Then, I turned to the two and spoke in a low voice, “There is no doubt that our
JACOB THE SNIPER RIFLE Murder Case and the Gaming Account Hacking Case— two cases brought to us by a dead client will surely blast our ‘inactive’ social media page. “Chief, could you please hand over my laptop?” Zia asked Chief Velasquez. After deciding that we solve the murder case first, my Secretary volunteered to solve the hacking case while the VP and I will visit the three suspects in their respective schools. Since our clubroom happened to be a crime scene, we can’t come and go as we wish, especially with those yellow police tapes around. “Where are you three off to now?” he asked as he gave Zia her laptop. Tere answered, “President and I will interrogate our suspects while she stays here to solve another case.” The Campus Police Head sighs and places a hand on his forehead. “I really don’t understand why these things happen here while the other Campus Police tell us that they don’t do much on duty.” “Cases happen every single day, Chief. It’s just that they don’t notice
JACOB IN THE END, even without my permission, Tere gave the information of the case to Samael, who, in return, defended our suspect. “I thought you were some sort of a spy that this second-rate President sent us,” he remarked at Tere whose eyes now held a shivering gaze. “We found you during the Black and White Mystery. You weren’t a good spy.” “Enough of this,” I sighed and held Tere’s hand; “we’re going. Unlike you two, The Forensic Club still has two suspects to interrogate.” Samael crossed his arms and gave his final words, “Whatever you have to do, you can’t come to our younger cousins without passing through us.” Eligor swung his arm around the younger one. Their domineering aura has somehow faded, making me feel a bit better. “Samael and I are their eldest relatives who are within their reach. The others are already out there in the busy world. Only we can watch over them so, do bear with us if we are overprotective.” He smiled and then added, “Also, I’m graduating this ye
JACOBOUR THIRD SUSPECT and most probably the one who hired the sniper to kill Magnus Mightymen’s Luciano Nacario lay dead in front of our eyes. Gladly, no one approached the body when I told them not to by shouting from the window.The police that Tere called arrived while I was examining the body. “Didn’t anyone tell you not to tamper with the crime scene?” A police officer warned me.I stood up and faced him. “Apologies, Officer. As you can see, we are not from this school and I am wearing my gloves. You can be sure that I did not tamper with any of the possible evidences.”“Alright,” another police officer remarked. “Step aside now.”“But Officer,” I smirked; “I may have some information that could help you in your official investigation.”“Oh, Jacob!” A voice called from behind.“Constable!” I waved at Det. Con. Joaquin Perez with a cheerful smile. He is the older brother of my best friend, making me acquainted with the CID.Recalling my first meeting with the meddlesome youngste
LUKE MATTHEW“So, that’s their two cases?”I COMPLETELY NARRATED what happened on my trip to CSD and that’s the question Toto threw at me.“It’s just one case,” said the Detective, scrolling through their newest post on the TFC Case Files page.The doctors told us that recovery times for a second-degree burn vary widely, but if the damage is not very severe, it can take fifteen to twenty days for the wound to heal. Her first-degree burns have almost completely recovered while the rest are still under observation. They also said that she may be discharged around two weeks from now.For twenty days, Toto and I come over here after school and stay during weekends. We tell her what happened at school; we give her the lessons, details on the several homework, and the projects; and we update her about our current active case: ‘Gathering Evidence against Indigo’.I remember her saying she already knew that Indigo is a CAT Officer. Of course, I got mad at her for not telling me such informati
HIBARA THE NEWS REGARDING the Ammunition EIC’s death shook up the entire Albertus Magnus University. Although it was reported as a mysterious murder by an unknown gunman at first, it was later reported that the occurrence was an accident caused by a stray bullet. When I heard of that on the television, I couldn’t help but laugh. Violet’s death was a necessary action for the organization; to ensure that the information regarding their criminal business remains out of our reach. As soon as I stepped foot into the classroom of Grade 10 Section I, Cara approached me with a huge smile on her face. “Welcome back, Miss Detective!” My gaze shifted from her face down to her body, and then to the surroundings. I smirked and gave her a welcoming deduction show. “Since I wasn’t present last Monday and yesterday, I assume you might have missed hearing the brilliance of my deductive prowess.” “Oh, right! You were on the news yesterday!” Toto pointed out. “You helped a police detective to solve
HIBARA AFTER MY MOTHER insisted I stay in our residence, I spent my three days of recovery in the library. Since Cara turned my apartment into a ‘Detective Agency’ of some sort, it was actually good staying back here. The only thing I didn’t like was, of course, interacting with my dearest father. I finished quite a lot of mystery books and now, I’m skimming through Dad’s old case files. His recent case files are in his study while the old ones are stacked here in the library which I, sometimes, take a look at for studies. An incident from the year before I was born piqued my interest. I smirked as I read the words written in red ink above the title of the case: Unsolved. “So, you have an unsolved case fifteen years ago, huh?” I grabbed the white folder and sat on the well-lit, giant egg chair in the middle of the round room of books. 【Pre-School Teacher Murder Case】 Several photographs were within the folder. I checked mostly those that are focused on how the victim was found.
JACOB I WENT BACK to the university to get my motorbike and drive around the city. I need to know where Violet would be executed. I glanced at my side mirror, feeling as if someone was following me, and indeed, there was. A yellow taxi cab was about 200 meters behind me and I couldn’t recognize the passengers using only my side mirror. Damn it. I turned left at the intersection and the yellow taxi appeared behind not long after. I turned another left at the next corner and a right. Even in tight spaces, the yellow taxi continued to follow me. Don’t tell me…?! I picked up my speed and turned another right and then left until I found an open parking basement. I quickly paid for a ticket and drove down. What I didn’t expect was what I would see once the basement lights met my eyes. On both left and right sides were a total of six black 2021 Mercedes-Benz Metris Passenger Van parked side-by-side. My grip on the handlebars of my motorbike tensed as beads of sweat formed around my neck
JACOB THE GIRLS ENTERED the Ammunition Journalists Clubroom while I stayed outside on the lookout. A few minutes later, they came out with Catherine McKnight and Emmanuel Cagasa—the first two writers whose articles were drastically edited from truth to illegitimacy. And although today is Club Day, the third writer who was supposed to be present was nowhere in sight. “We haven’t seen Evelyn Gannaban since yesterday. It was actually surprising that she has an article for today’s distribution,” said Catherine. I looked at Emmanuel who was spinning a stylus pen with his fingers. “Yesterday was when your edited article was on Ammunition.” “Hold on.” Zia raised a hand and stared at the two. Her eyes were scanning every inch of their bodies. I smirked. “You,” she pointed at Catherine; “are from the Circulation Staff. And you,” she turned to Emmanuel; “are an Editorial Cartoonist.” “On-point deduction!” I praised her and she smiled. “Why did they write news articles, then?” Tere’s voi
JACOB CLUB DAY SATURDAY brought the three of us here in Room 502 of the Senior High Building—The Forensic Club’s Clubroom. After reading something on her phone, Tere announced, “The brat’s surgeries were successful.” “Violet, Indigo, Ocean, Green, and Dandelion— we must be the first to unmask who these people are! We can’t let the meddlesome youngster’s team open the curtains before us.” I declared with a wide grin, replacing the cap of the whiteboard marker after writing. “Didn’t you see today’s Ammunition headline?” Zia asked with a straight face, throwing the school paper on the table lazily and sighing. “We’re on the bad side again.” “I bet the sniper’s codename is Indigo. It’s the only one that sounds manly. Oh, it could be Ocean too!” “JACOB VALLE!” Zia slammed her hand on the table. “Are you listening to me?” Tere pulled the hem of my brown coat. I looked at her and she gestured her head toward the other girl. I met with Zia’s eyes and a shiver ran down my spine. Why is s
LUKE MATTHEW THERE WAS NOTHING. Not a single trace of the sniper was left on the rooftop of the Metropolitan Institute of Architecture and Engineering. Not even a footprint or a drop of blood could be seen. It was like he wasn’t even present. After learning of the Detective’s bloody message on Jacob’s sleeve, we decided to perform a joint investigation—“Just this once”, he said—about the sniper. I really don’t understand these two’s rivalry when we can do more if we’re all in one team. “Do you have any ideas about the fraudulent headlines on our school paper?” Cara asked the Club President, diverting the topic. “Well, aside from the Ghost Hand case, we know you wouldn’t stage a crime for fame so we dug deeper,” replied Tere. “I am suspicious of the EIC,” Toto stated. “There’s no way Catherine and Emmanuel’s articles would be edited drastically if it wasn’t for the last person who handles or approves them before printing.” I agreed. Jacob smirked as he declared, “Her criminal co
LUKE MATTHEW “I will still believe.” IT WASN’T A bluff. I don’t know exactly what occurred to me. At that moment, I just decided to believe in the Detective’s deduction about the sniper not targeting a Salcedo family member and dared to use my own body as a shield once again. As a detective, she has to protect the world from criminals. But who will protect her from them? She may think she’s strong and clever enough to keep them off of her, but there will be times when she’s not. Suddenly, a flash of red light pulled me from my thoughts. “SON, GET DOWN!” Mamá shouted as she ran across the street, her hand reaching out to me. It was chaos. The next thing I knew was that the Club President of The Forensic Club had my head in his hand, locking me in a bent-forward position. Because I was in that form, I couldn’t see what was really going on above, but I could hear the sound of the Detective’s pocket pistol. Then, I saw a tomato-looking ball thrown to the ground from the Nerd’s hand.
HIBARA I STOPPED AND discontentedly accepted the offer. I can’t believe the sniper got away from me! “Where’s the detective wannabe?” I asked the Major. “He took a motorcycle from one of the flower shop’s customers and trailed the shooter,” he answered. “It seems he lost sight of him as well.” “What information did he get? The last location sighted?” He shook his head. “All he knew was that the shooter was wearing all-black.” A smirk flashed on my lips knowing I am one step ahead of that Club President. Matthew’s eyes met mine through the rearview mirror and he remarked, “I know that face. You’ve got more information than him, haven’t you?” “Since when have you started doing this, Matt?” Mrs. Vargas asked her son. He simply answered, “Monday. Third week of classes.” “AND YOU NEVER TOLD ME?! It’s been, what, two months?!” “The Salcedos will stop me, Mamá. You know that. And these sixty-one days of my life were the most un-boring.” Mistress Lilith fell silent upon hearing Matt
HIBARA “So, you heard it too?” I CROSSED MY arms right when the three members of The Forensic Club came into our view. Their arrogant Club President Jacob Valle is a real-deal detective wannabe. Although I dropped those words earlier, I never meant to say he’s better than me. Of course, I am and always will be the greater detective. He ignored my sarcasm and pointed a finger at Matthew. “You! Call your chauffeur and have him drive us to the crime scene!” The Major awkwardly replied, “But my Genesis G80 only has a capacity of five passengers; six if those who will ride the backseat are four slim persons.” “Can’t you borrow bigger cars?” Jacob huffed. “Well,” he smirked; “I don’t think Eligor would let you ride his seven-seater Genesis GV80 after that case involving Chedipe, Rangda, and Drace.” I clapped and gave him a sinister smile. “I didn’t know you have the skills to shut this detective wannabe up, Major.” “That’s it!” Aliszia Tuazon glared at their President. “I suggest we