He was gone.
For minutes, Chunji stood there trying to solve the wicked problem in his head. Chunji took labored breaths, but still, it proved fruitless. Chunji wasn't a hunter nor a hitman, detective, or dog. If he was a writer, he might create a solution to draw him closer to the ending. Alas, he was a simple student training to become a doctor.
Chunji knelt and touched the burn mark, proving Davil's presence. It was starting to get cold. Even after hours had flown by, Alto's horrendous class plagued his mind. Chunji's eyes furrowed as he tried to figure out who Davil was meeting with. They had to be with someone, considering Davil ran all this way into this specific alley. Not to mention, he tried punching them the first time he met them.
So, who was it?
If Chunji had more time, then he'd had a better grasp of the situation. But for now, he could rule out potential suspects. Judging by the time frame, everyone in the attunement zone could be ruled out. They were all accounted for unless they had a duplicitous nature like Gulliver. That left with a few people that Chunji personally knew. Chloe, Rio, and Gulliver. Chloe was held up at the clinic, and Rio disappeared. Rio was still a potential candidate, but Chunji found it hard to believe due to the way he fights. Chunji didn't know Gulliver's whereabouts, but he could act anywhere in the academy by manipulating puppets.
It was either those two, the faculty, or a third party hidden in the academy. The sample size was too big and left too many holes for Chunji to deduce who the perpetrator was. Though that could wait, finding where Davil went was paramount.
Chunji could not do this alone. Dayin manifested beside him as Chunji drafted a message.
Davil's gone missing. I need assistance in finding him. The perpetrator remains unknown and may be responsible.
Chunji sent the message to Otis and Iraleth with directions to his current location. Those two were the ones who went out of their way to locate Davil, so they may have a better chance to do so again. Time wasn't on their side as the heat faded, and so was their lead on Davil. However, Chunji didn't plan to sit idle while waiting for them to appear.
Removing his glasses, Chunji covered one of his eyes to avoid any more strain. As much as Chunji didn't want to do this, someone's life was potentially at risk. It was a doctor's job to ensure the safety of their patient. If he could find a clue, then he'd be able to pursue it with Otis and Iraleth's help.
On the other hand, the perpetrator may still be around. The consequences be damned if he at least found someone nearby.
"透过现象看本质!"
The world revealed itself once more. No concerns with his primal essence, as his Ethos seemed to be functioning normally. The perpetrator had long since left the scene of the crime, most likely taking Davil with him. However, it wasn't fruitless at all.
His eyes darted toward the ground, noticing something he had missed. A small leyline fountain that was like a needle in a haystack. Chunji's sight then followed to the mote of the wall.
With a swift movement of his scalpel, blood started dripping down from his palm. He didn't know what to expect, but it was clear that it would be dangerous.
Chunji tried to interact with the mote on the wall to see if he could do anything with it.