Xiao smiled and nodded. “Yes, I've been working there for almost five years. The agency is quite famous, especially in the field of lingerie modeling. Many famous models work there,” she said.
There was a whistling sound coming from Berlin. “You seem to like working at this agency quite a lot. Your eyes really feel refreshed to see the beautiful scenery every day,” Berlin chided.
“Shhtt... shut up!” Cologne immediately stepped on Berlin's foot and made the demon grimace in pain.
Feeling unhappy with Cologne's harsh treatment. Berlin glared at the young man and was unfortunately completely ignored.
Xiao himself who saw the incident only laughed awkwardly. “You two look familiar with each other. It seems nice to have coworkers like you two,” he commented.
Cologne cleared her throat and waved her hand in front of her face. “No, no, no. Please don't misunderstand. The two of us have never felt close to each other. How about we change the topic?” she suggested, seemingly curious for more information about the woman in her dream, starting to ask further questions. “Do you know a model named...,” Cologne paused to remember the name on the photo, “Elena?”
Xiao frowned for a moment, then her face turned somewhat serious. “Elena, yes. I remember her. She disappeared about three months ago. There were many rumors about her disappearance, but no one knows for sure what happened to her.”
Berlin, who had been listening, suddenly spoke up. “Rumors? Can you tell me more about that?”
Xiao let out a long breath. “Some people say she got involved with someone dangerous, maybe a mobster or something. Others say she ran away with her boyfriend overseas. Either way, something's not right because before she disappeared, she often looked agitated and like she was scared.”
Cologne felt there was an important clue in Xiao's story. “Was there someone at the agency who was close to her? Maybe someone who knows more about her life?”
Xiao nodded again. “There was one person, her name was Clara. She is Elena's close friend. Maybe she can provide more detailed information. But Clara rarely comes to the office these days. She seems to be devastated by Elena's passing.”
Cologne and Berlin looked at each other. “Well, we need to meet with Clara,” Cologne said. “Xiao, can you help us contact her?”
Xiao smiled faintly. “I can try. Maybe I can arrange for you to meet her tomorrow.”
After that conversation, Cologne and Berlin parted ways with Xiao and returned home. Today's work was quite exhausting and time-consuming. Cologne felt exhausted and headed straight to her room, while Berlin was busy with her cell phone.
“You look so focused, what are you doing?” asked Cologne suspiciously.
Berlin looked at Cologne with a rather cynical gaze. “I'm just looking for more information about Elena. Maybe I can find something you missed,” he said with a serious look on his face.
Cologne sighed. “Alright, but don't screw up, this is our job together.” To be honest, Cologne herself still felt unsure about cooperating with Berlin.
Berlin just shrugged and continued his search. Cologne then lay down on her bed, trying to reflect on all the information she had gotten today. She stared at the ceiling of the room and her mind kept guessing.
Just as Cologne was about to fall asleep, Berlin's sudden voice jolted her out of her slumber. “Hey, Cologne! I found something interesting,” he said in a fairly loud voice.
Cologne woke up quickly and walked over to Berlin. “You don't have to be loud like you're in the mountains. What have you found?”
Berlin showed an old news article on his cell phone. “Shut your smelly mouth and take a look at this. It turns out that Elena was involved in a pretty controversial case a few years ago. She was a witness in an embezzlement case involving a big businessman.”
Cologne frowned. “Does this have anything to do with her disappearance?”
Berlin nodded. “Could be. The businessman was recently released from prison due to lack of evidence. Maybe Elena knows something she doesn't want to divulge.”
Cologne felt she had found a common thread in this case. “We should find out more about this businessman and his relationship with Elena.” This kind of information would at least help her.
Berlin smiled slyly. “Finally, you're thinking smart. All right, we'll continue this investigation tomorrow. Now, you'd better get some rest. It's useless to force that stupid brain of yours to keep working because I'm sure it's not worthwhile at all.”
“Your speech is typical of not using the contents of the mind first.”
“Just go to sleep. Do you want to sleep alone or do you want me to sleep forever?” Berlin said in a mocking tone.
Cologne chose not to respond and returned to her bed, but her mind kept spinning about Elena, Clara, and the mysterious businessman. She knew something big was going on and she was determined to uncover everything. However, she also couldn't help but be amused at how Berlin, the usually indifferent demon, was so enthusiastic about this investigation. Maybe, just maybe, there was another side to Berlin that he had yet to understand. Well... Berlin was a demon after all, it was only natural that he was completely incomprehensible to the human mind.
Although Berlin bothered him, with Berlin by his side, at least he felt that they would be able to find the answers they were looking for.
***
The next morning, Cologne woke up feeling like her mouth was full and stuffed with something.
“Hum...auhmm...ummm?”
Surprised as well as shocked to death. Cologne even felt like she could barely breathe. She hurriedly got up and felt towards her mouth. And found a pile of bread forcibly stuffed into her mouth.
That demon freak wants to kill me? She thought, already knowing who the culprit was from the figure who stuffed her mouth with a stack of bread while still asleep.
“Oh my... oh my. Already awake? I was really hoping those buns would kill you. That's too bad. But it looks like you still can't die today,” Berlin quipped as a form of morning greeting for Cologne.
Cologne looked at Berlin with an angry glare, the bread still half-hanging in her mouth. “You're really annoying! Isn't there a more polite way to wake people up?”
Berlin just chuckled. “This is more effective. Besides, I get a kick out of your reaction. So, ready for today? We have to meet with Clara.”
After cleaning up and getting dressed, Cologne and Berlin left the apartment for the address Xiao had given them. On the way, Cologne couldn't stop thinking about the mystery surrounding Elena. She felt that something big was being hidden.