Chapter 80: Case Closed

I went to the convention center where Stella was shot. I saw Stella being taken away in an ambulance while police were surrounding the place. I was confused about what had happened. Who would try and kill Stella as she was about to explain who was behind the mental shutdowns here in Hell?

I looked around, closer, trying to find an answer on who is behind this assassination! …When all of a sudden, a voice spoke to me from behind.

"Long time no see, Joker." He said in a familiar tone,

I gasped as I turned around to see someone I know. …He had white fur and had some sort of a red mask with a sharp beak on it for a face. …It was Goro Akechi. My killer.

"Goro!?" I said, "Goro Akechi?!"

Goro chuckled a bit.

"My code name was Crow, wasn't it?" He asked me with an evil grin, "Fancy meeting you down here in Hell, Ren."

"How? I thought I.M.P got you…" I wondered, "I thought you would be dead!"

Goro chuckled a bit more.

"Gosh, you really are pathetic. I got another shot at life thanks to a certain someone..." He said, "...Also, I thought your justice would end, but it's still going on in a place like Hell, huh?"

I tried to run, but Goro's leg sweeped me down. He shot a bullet in the air and gave me the gun. His outfit changed into his usual look that I would see when we were still alive and came out of hiding.

"Hey!" He shouted at the police, "I found the assassin behind the attempted murder of Stella Of Ars Goetia!"

Police then surrounded me as Goro looked at me with an evil grin.

"Case closed…" He said, "THIS… This is definitely where and how your justice ends!"

Fast forwarding to the real present moment. November 5th.

Bernie was still interrogating me as I finished telling him my story.

"Is that all, huh? That's all you told me on how you ended up here, yes?" He asked me, "What a disappointing end to the so-called hero of justice…"

There it is again… Hero of justice…

"You almost failed to change Stella's heart." He continued, "I said almost because she's still in the hospital recovering from that shot to her shoulder that almost killed her."

Bernie sighed.

"But, that's gonna be the last heart you'll ever change once she recovers fully." He said, "Because your life is now on the line."

I was breathing heavily.

"Are you ok?" He asked me,

"...I'm fine…" I replied,

"Anyways, now is the time for me to tell you who's associated with The Phantom Thieves. If you say yes to any one of them, then we'll carry on with your sentencing."

Bernie pulls out another folder and reads out the names of my allies from a paper.

"A resident from Greed and an offspring to older Phantom Thieves." He started, "Cattleya Tightwad."

Cattleya…

"A resident of Lust and a co-worker of The Hazbin Hotel." Bernie continued, "Lars Rabash."

Lars…

"A resident of Wrath and a journalist who played a role in the Valentino controversies." Bernie continued, "Willow Sturlu."

Willow…

"A resident of Gluttony and almost a victim from Vox's terror." Bernie continued, "Boris Alpha."

Boris…

"A resident of Sloth, an artist and another victim of Vox's hands." Bernie continued, "Selene Vamp."

Selene…

"A resident of Pride and the daughter of the deceased Dr. Nancy Kilobite." Bernie continued, "Astrid Kilobite."

Astrid…

Bernie then sighed in disgust.

"...And… a resident of Envy and a rookie spy of Pride's Police Force." He continued, "Arthur… Dovmain."

Arthur…

Bernie looked at me.

"Those are the names associated with The Phantom Thieves, yes?" He asked me,

Everyone…

I was silent as I was slowly dizzy.

"Silent, huh?" Bernie wondered, "I'm asking you a question. The names I said, are they or are they not associated with The Phantom Thieves?"

…No, I'm not done yet.

"...No." I replied, "No they are not…"

Bernie was surprised.

"Huh… So you don't want to sell out your friends then, huh?" He wondered, "Alright then…"

Bernie then turned to another piece of paper.

"What about those that aren't members of The Phantom Thieves, but have a close collaboration with?" He asked me, "For example, the Princess Of Hell herself, that Radio Demon Overlord and those imps working at I.M.P."

Charlie… Alastor… Blitz… Moxxie… Millie… I'm not gonna fool myself again."

"Are those part of The Hazbin Hotel and I.M.P associated with The Phantom Thieves?" Bernie asked me,

"...No." I replied,

Bernie raised an eyebrow.

"I see…" He said, "Alright then, so they aren't part of thr group either."

Bernie then turned to another paper.

"Perhaps this name will ring a bell." He said, "Darnell White."

Darnell…

"Darnell White is an ace detective and a good friend of mine here in Hell." Bernie said to me, "Do you think someone like Darnell is a close associate to The Phantom Thieves?"

…Not happening…

"...No." I replied,

Darnell was confused as he then sighed.

"Right, guess you won't sell out Darnell either." He said, "Something is up about you."

I was breathing heavily again.

"Why are you breathing heavily again?" He asked me, "Are you expecting us to know that your so-called justice is gonna do something to Hell? Do you realize how cruel this place can be? I'm surprised that you're doing more effort than that hotel Princess Charlie has created. You managed to change 4 hearts, 5 in the meantime, all from stealing the treasure inside of their cognition."

I couldn't hear what he was doing. I was still breathing heavily. Bernie was confused.

"Are you ok?" He wondered as he looked at his watch, "...Here, let me get help. I think you're not feeling well."

Bernie got up and walked out of the room. I rest my head, but still breathing heavily. What the hell is this sick feeling all of a sudden?

As Bernie left the hallway, Darnell was hiding in a dark corner and ran to the interrogation room where I was in.

"Ren!" He said to me as he closed the door, "Come on, we're getting out of here!"

"Huh?" I wondered,

"No time to explain, but someone is out to get us!"

Darnell took out his phone.

"So we are going to Mementos!" He said,

I was shocked. Darnell then booted up the metaNav app on his phone and took us to Mementos in The Cognitive World Of Hell. Then, Darnell left a note for Bernie as we disappeared.

Then, Goro himself came in with a gun in his hands. He saw that we're not in the interrogation room. He chuckled menacingly.

"They went to Mementos…" He said, "I'll follow them there…"

We were at Mementos. I wasn't in my Phantom Thief attire as I was weak. Darnell was. He looked at me as he was on one knee.

"Look, there's something you should know, same for your friends." Darnell said to me, "I'm being controlled by Goro Akechi."

"You?" He said,

"Yes, he's using me like a fiddle. You're not the assassin that attempted to kill Stella. It was him."

"Who else is controlling you?"

"Two other people. They're names are–"

Goro then appeared. He wasn't wearing any Phantom Thief attire.

"--Hello, Fossil." He said to Darnell, "I'm looking for Darnell White. Have you seen him?"

"Yes." Darnell replied as he took out his pickaxe, "You're looking at him!"

Darnell then tried to strike Goro with his pickaxe. Goro then used his newfound powers to strike Darnell with his feathers that appeared out of nowhere.

"Fossil!" I shouted,

Darnell then fell to the ground, weakened.

"Well, you're more pathetic than I thought, Darnell White." Goro said to him as he pulled out his phone, "Now, stay out of my lane."

"No, don't do it!" Darnell said,

Goro then used the metaNav app to make Darnell disappear instead of all of us.

"Darnell…" I said,

Goro laughed menacingly a bit as he then turned to me.

"You're next, Joker…" He said as he pulled out a gun,

I gasped.

"I've killed you once, and I'll gladly kill you again." Goro said, "This is where your real justice will end! So good night!"

I screamed in fear as Goro shot me, or so he did, as Arsene De Luxe was awakened.

"What the?!" Goro shouted, "Is that… Arsene?!"

Arsene De Luxe then used his wings to blow Goro away.

"GAH!" He shouted as he landed on the ground, "Damn asshole…"

I looked at Goro's phone as Arsene recalled. I got to it and made myself leave Mementos through the metaNav app. Goro was alone as I disappeared.

"Hrgh… He still has some fight left in him…" He said as he got up, "Fine, time for the next phase of our operation… Extermination Day is almost upon us, so I thought it would be the right time to show the big dogs what I can do without that shark bastard…"