Chapter 06: The Devil Hunters The next day, at a bar and grill called “The Black Bird”, a young, towheaded man clad in a black leather jumpsuit, jacket, and boots, was sitting at the bar counter, drinking an Orange Whip drink and gnawing on some spicy hot wings. As he was sitting down to his meal, he was watching a TV set inside the bar, showing the news. The news was talking about a golden tiger being stabbed and decapitated just outside the city of Kowloon. “Awww man! They don't need to show this on TV!”a scruffy looking older man groaned as he was sitting down to a meal. “Don't you see? People are trying to eat in here!” On the news, a middle aged male reported was interviewing a man in his late 30s-40s years of age with some heavy duty bandages wrapped around his mutilated left hand. “So you were keeping a golden tiger as a pet Mr. Long?” “Yes, her name is Blondie.” Mr. Long replied to the news reporter. “I'm devastated over her death. I wonder what horrible, sick, deranged individual would kill my precious Blondie?” “You're sad over Blondie's death?” the reporter asked Mr. Long. “Even though she bit off a couple of your fingers?” “Hey, it was a mistake.” Mr. Long protested. “I was trying to break up a fight between her and my Siamese cat, Sparkles. I'm glad Sparkles is alive and well. But poor, poor Blondie...” “Do you own a license?” The reporters asks again. “You do need to possess a license to own an exotic animal.” “No, my license got lost.” Mr. Long replied. “I'm getting a new one soon. I promise!” “Mr. Long has been arrested for illegally owning a wild animal as a pet.” A female voice over said sternly. “Mr. Long is currently serving his jail sentence and is ordered to serve the rest of his time doing community service work in Kowloon. As for Blondie's carcass...” “Wow! That Mr Long...he's a real Darwin Award winner.” The scruffy older man exclaimed sarcastically. “I mean really? What the hell was that guy thinking? Owning a man eating tiger as a pet and all...” “Hey, I got a pet!” Another man cheered sarcastically. “I have a pet saltwater crocodile, and her name is Cupcakes. Even though she ate my friend, I still cuddle up to her and call her my special little sugar lips!” “Ah ha ha ha! Good one Jun!” Another man laughed out loud. “People like that seem like they're too dumb to live.” “Humph! Whatever...” The young towhead thought to himself as he was finishing his wings. Just as he finished the last hot wing, his cellphone started to ring. The ring was set to the tone of the opening overture to Wagner's opera entitled: Der fliegende Holländer. “Now who can this be? Hello?” “Hi Leif Skovgaard?” A female voice asked on the other end of the phone. “Yes, it is I, Leif.” Leif replied to the female voice. “What have you been up to Doll?” “Matthias and I are here in Hong Kong...Kowloon to be exact...” “How's Matthias?” Leif asked. “I'm on vacation here in Kowloon, Hong Kong Too!” “Well, Matthias and I are here in Hong Kong, investigating a case.” Doll said in a grim tone of voice. “You know that tiger that was beheaded and stabbed?” “Yeah, I've been watching it on the news today at The Black Bird bar and grill.” Leif replied as he took a drink of his Orange Whip. “What about it?” “We think that's not an average human that killed the tiger, but something more sinister.” Doll responds.  “What do you mean by that Doll?” “Meet us at the Sung Wong Toi Gardens. We'll tell you more when you get there.” Doll said sternly. “Yes Doll. I'll meet you there. See ya later, bye!” Leif hung up his cellphone and paid the bartender for the food and drink. “You guys make excellent food and drinks at this bar and grill. I might comeback another time. Thank you for your wonderful service.” “No, thank you for enjoying our food.” The bartender replied happily. “Have a nice day.” “You too.” Leif responded before he walked out the door and headed back into his rented vehicle and drove off. --- “Thank goodness you came Leif.” An older looking man sighed in relief. The older looking man had olive hued skin, dark reddish brown hair and a slight beard at the tip of his chin, hazel eyes and wore a tan leather cowboy styled coat, black leather fingerless gloves, blue denim jeans and dark gray suede boots. “Of course I'd come Sir Matthias.” Leif said back, smiling. “Have you ever known me to break promises?” Next to the older man, was an androgynous looking young woman with short, yet slightly spiky, orange-red hair, one normal green left eye and a fake, pure green right eye that filled in her empty eye socket. Despite it being a fake eye, she can see out of it like her normal eye. She wore a golden tan sleeveless leather jumpsuit, a dark brown sleeveless leather vest and matching fingerless gloves, a green headband and dark brown suede, cowboy styled boots. She was seen smoking a cigarette and exhaling out puffs of smoke. “We have some serious business to take care of Leif.” The woman said sternly. “Like what kind of business Doll?” Leif asked, eying both Doll and Matthias. “Does it have to do with the pet tiger that got killed out in the valley?” “Yes, it does have to do with the killed tiger known as Blondie.” Matthias replied as he pulls out a cigarette and lights it. “What about Blondie?” Leif wondered as he cocked his head to the side. Doll goes through her backpack and pulls out a huge manilla envelop. As she opens the envelop, she shows Leif pictures and photographs of Prince Amirani in his devil god form. “You remember this monster? Prince Amirani?” Leif lets out a groan of disgust. “Ah him. Yes, I remember that devil. He always keeps eluding us, no matter what realm we travel to.” “Well Leif, it seems like he's in Hong Kong and is searching for his lover named Mist Elmbarn.” Matthias explains to Leif. Leif was rather perplexed. “Mist? You mean Mist Elmbarn, the traitor?” “Yes, THAT Mist Elmbarn.” Doll responds. “Know of any other Mist Elmbarns out there?” “No, of course not.” Leif replied sternly. “Rumor has it that Mist has reincarnated into a normal human girl and is living in Hong Kong.” Matthias added. “But who knows where Mist really is? If she is reincarnated in Human form, she could be anywhere in this world.” “Uh huh.” Leif nodded. “But what does that have to do with Blondie the tiger?” “It's rumored that Prince Amirani and Mist Elmbarn were sighted in the area and killed the tiger for reasons unknown.” Doll responded sternly. “Do you have any proof?” Leif asked, feeling rather skeptical about what Matthias and Doll were telling him. Doll pulls out one of her recent photograph, and well, Leif was shocked with what he saw. It looked like an avian devil god flying around in the dark, carrying a blood soaked flying guillotine. Right next to him, was a bat like succubus perched on the devil's shoulder. “Now do you believe us Leif?” “This photo was taken last night.” Matthias added. “It had to be either him or Mist that killed Blondie the tiger.” “Okay! Okay! I believe you two.” Leif shrieked nervously. “But where do we look for them?” “That's a good question...”Matthias sighed in dismay. “They could be anywhere...” “We just need to keep our eyes peeled and ears open over the news.” Doll said reassuringly. “If we follow the trail of the next sighting, we could find Prince Amirani, capture him, and hold him hostage. Right there, we can research the Devil god and experiment on him, finding out about his strengths and weaknesses.” “Why don't we just kill that jack ass at point blank?” Leif asked. “Wouldn't that solve our problems?” Matthias shook his head in disgust. “Don't be ridiculous Leif. Even though Angel Gods and Devil Gods can die, they are extremely hard to kill. We have to do some research on Amirani and search for his weaknesses.” “Plus, even if we did kill Amirani right there, that will only enrage Mist, and we'll just end up with dealing with a really pissed off Valkyrie.” Doll added sternly. “Believe me, that would be far from a pretty sight.” “Ah, I see.” Leif sighed. He looks at the time and notices it's 4:00PM. “Well, I better get back to my hotel room. See ya guys later.” “Later Leif. We'll meet you there!” Matthias and Doll said in unison as Leif went back to his rented vehicle and drove back to his hotel. Doll was seething with anger just thinking about Prince Amirani and Mist Elmbarn. “I swear to the gods, I will get you and your beloved Mist Elmbarn my wretched Devil Prince. I will make you suffer the same way you made me suffer many centuries ago...”