The Devilish Assassin Meets The Angelic Detective

"Erick… what is that sound? What happened?" Elle's voice was heard through the communication device.

No one from Erick's team had the courage to answer Elle's question. However, it did not take long when a video of the explosion was being flashed on the TV screen where the video of Phantom was playing moments ago.

Elle didn't have to ask them as she could already grasp what happened. The bio-weapon facilities of the Dark Knight Organization exploded.

The people who were watching the TV asked themselves: "Did Catseye commit suicide? Did he die in that explosion? Is that what he meant by his last mission?"

Elle felt like every ounce of her energy was drained from her. Her body trembled in fear and her knees felt weak as if she was on the verge of collapsing at any moment. Fortunately, Rose was there as she held Elle to steady her footings.

Brother Lu, Charles, and James were also confused about what had just happened. Their eyes were on the TV screen. 

"Wait… Master and my brothers… they are still there…" Brother Lu couldn't believe this. He felt like his world just crumbled. His family… what happened to them?

"M-Master Phantom… T-They are alive, aren't they?" Charles also mumbled as his heart sunk. Everyone was shaken by this incident.

James frowned and glanced at Elle. His face was filled with worries and concern for her. He immediately grabbed the remote control and turned off the monitor. Elle didn't have to see this any longer. That room suddenly engulfed by deafening silence and a gloomy atmosphere.

"No. I almost there… going in their system's server… t-this couldn't be…" Elle mumbled in her trembling voice. The look of shock, disbelief, and devastation crept over her face.

Rose guided her to sit down. Her body was limp. Soon, she buried her face using both hands and the tears began to fall from the corner of her eyes like raindrops.

"Father… No… this couldn't be… this is my fault… I should have acted fast… I let myself be distracted… This is my fault… my fault…"

Erick and others heard Elle's trembling voice from the other line. At that certain moment, they knew that Elle had already learned what happened.

"Wifey… please be strong," Erick mumbled in a low voice, clenching his fists.

The National Security Task Force immediately took action according to the instruction of the experts regarding what to do if bio-weapon would explode in the area and what necessary action they must do to contain it and avoid the spread of bio-weapon in the other area.

"Let's move. We need to get out of here now. Or at least wear a protective mask. The toxin might be spread through the air." The Team Leader of the National Security Task Force mobilized everyone.

"Oops, my time calculation is incorrect. I thought you will give me a response right away. Sorry about that," the Dark Lord mumbled with mockery in his eyes.

Erick clenched his fists, restraining himself from beating the Dark Lord. In a brief moment, everyone evacuated the area. 

Mr. Carter also helped the team on how they would manage to contain the toxin. They had to make sure that the situation won't escalate further, affecting the other areas.

While everyone was busy doing what they could to lessen the negative impact of that explosion and the impending danger of the toxin, Erick's mind was occupied by Elle. He was worried sick for her.

Erick knew Elle needed his presence right now. So without further ado, he said goodbye to Bryan and others as he rushed, going back to the XXX Crime Investigation Headquarters where Elle was waiting.

In the last minutes… everything went wrong. Erick didn't know how he would fix this. After a 30-minute drive, Erick reached his destination. He dashed inside the headquarter, looking for Elle.

He found her crying while being comforted by April and Rose. Erick felt like his heart was being stabbed millions of times seeing her like this.

He could see the sorrow and pain in Elle's dark eyes. She looked very vulnerable right now. This was the first time she saw her weeping like this. 

He traced his steps toward her, his heart was bleeding for her. His eyes were in tears because of her.

"Elle…" Erick called her out in a low voice that was almost a whisper but Elle still heard it. She gazed up only to see Erick in front of her.

"Erick…" she mumbled as she stood up and quickly buried herself in his arms. Erick hugged her tight while stroking her back.

Elle started crying again in his arms. Erick could feel her pain and sadness. He wished he could wipe away those negative emotions. He couldn't bear to see her like this.

"Erick… my father… I… l-lost him… I failed to save them… are they really gone?" Elle murmured in between her sobs.

Erick didn't know what to say or how to comfort her. After a while, he finally found his voice to speak to her.

"I talked to father one last time… he said… he wanted you to be happy and leave the past behind. He loves you so much, Elle. Please be strong... Our baby, Little Lee could feel Mom's feelings. Please be strong for me and for our baby.  I am always here for you, wifey." Erick softly said, encouraging and consoling Elle.

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[ 2 Months Later ]

After reopening the investigation of the Falcon Family Massacre's case and going into a trial, the people involved were sentenced to life imprisonment including Senator Mondragon, General Jason, and other members of the Los Mollasses Gang. 

The concrete proof and evidence were presented to the court including the sworn statement of the witnesses. Mr. Carter and Edson Tyler. General Jason also cooperated with them as he revealed the truth in the court.

The Murder Case of Phantom's Family was also reopened. Senator Mondragon and the members of the Los Mollasses Gang were also held responsible for their death. The justice finally came into their hands.

Catseye's case was also closed along with the death of Phantom and his henchmen during the explosion of the bio-weapon facility of the Dark Knight Organization.

The Government also commemorated the death of Agent Cedrick Falcon and pronounced him a hero. Elle was the one who accepted the honor and medal they had given to her father. 

They revealed to the public that Ma. Belle Elleisse Falcon, the missing daughter of Agent Falcon survived 18 years ago. Elle started living her real identity as Ma. Belle Falcon.

"After 18 years, I can now finally face them…" Elle mumbled to Erick.

Erick was holding her hand as the two of them standing side by side in front of a tombstone. Elle bent down to touch the carved words in the tombstone: [ In loving memory of Jasmine Falcon and Cedrick Falcon ]

"Mom, Dad, I'm sorry. It took me 18 years before I finally visited you. I couldn't bring myself to face you without getting the justice for your death," Elle was trying her best to hold her tears. 

Erick put down the white chrysanthemum flowers and started to light the two candles in a glass. After doing that, he stood beside Elle once again, wrapping his arm around her back.

"Dad… do you remember the time when you showed me Erick's picture for the first time? I told you that I already found my groom and that I would marry that boy when I grew up. I fulfilled it, Dad." Elle paused for a moment, staring at Erick with eyes filled with love and affection. 

Then she shifted her gaze from Erick back to the tombstone.

"Dad, Mom… Erick is with me… Your best friend's son... who is now my husband. He is your son-in-law. He is so handsome, isn't he?" Elle giggled after saying that. Then she glanced at Erick with a loving smile on her lovely face.

Erick smiled back at her, c.a.r.e.s.sing her face while planting a soft kiss on her forehead. He just remained silent, just listening to Elle. He knew there were lots of things Elle wanted to tell her parents.

"Mom, Dad, there's another one I would like you to meet," Elle's looked down at her stomach. It's not yet big because she was still in her three-month pregnancy.

She gently rubbed her stomach and said, "Mom, Dad, Meet your grandchild, our little Lee. We don't know our baby's gender yet. But I can't wait to see our Little Lee. Mom, I promise, I will be a good and loving mother, just like you."

"Mom… Dad… you can be at peace in heaven. I will protect Elle and our baby. I promise. I will make them happy and love them with all my heart," Erick finally spoke up.

"Yes, That's true. Believe in him. I think my son-in-law will do a better job in protecting our dear, Elle and our future grandchildren." A deep voice of a man was heard at the back.

Elle and Erick were both stunned for a moment upon hearing that familiar voice. They both turned around to see the person who spoke up behind them.

Just a few steps away from them, there was a man in a black suit holding a bouquet of flowers, smiling tenderly at them.

Both Erick and Elle had a startled expression on their faces while looking at that person's face. Soon the shock on their faces was replaced by joy and relief.

"Master Phantom… you… you are alive." Elle mumbled. The tears she was trying to hold a while ago just started to flow down her face.

The man frowned and pouted his lips. "You call me Master again? I thought I am your father now? Hmmp. And why are you crying again? Erick, I thought you won't make my daughter cry. That's why I left her in your care." Phantom complained to them.

Erick just looked at Phantom helplessly. He didn't know what to say. Meanwhile, Elle ran toward Phantom and hugged him immediately.

"You STUPID OLDMAN! Erick didn't make me cry. It's you. It's your fault that I am crying right now. So don't blame my husband!" Elle said, defending Erick and at the same time, scolding Phantom.

Phantom: "..."

'Did she just call me… Stupid Oldman?' Phantom didn't know whether to cry or laugh. He just hugged her back. He missed her so much.

"I'm sorry, dear. I didn't mean to make you cry and sad. Shhhhh… Stop crying already. I am back. I'm here now." Phantom said, comforting Elle who was still crying in his arms.

"Father, what happened to you? We thought you and the others died during the explosion?" Erick finally spoke up and asked Phantom curiously.

Phantom let out a soft chuckle. "It's a long story. I will tell you everything later. I must pay respect first to my old friend here." Phantom said, glancing at the tombstone of Agent Falcon.