[b][i]“Iederren wins by a landslide.”[/i][/b]

The headline read by Merse unnerved him. “Who the hell was Iederren? And how did they recover so quickly to the point where they could even have elections.” A cold sweat weaved its way between the hairs of his brow, and out of nerves, he began rolling up the newspaper. Was he really in Oaneson? The world reflected in the paper by far resembled some other society. In fact, it was vaguely similar. In that moment Merse was no longer nervous but intrigued.  His signature smirk filled his face once again and he just knew there was a mystery unravel.

Those familiar with Merse knew this was not a good look. It was one often associated with obsession. It was like he had completely forgotten the eeriness of the situation and now he had to know what exactly took place. It was only a matter of time. Curiosity often killed the cat as they say, but Merse was still alive and who knew how many lives he still had left. His methods were unorthodox and at times inhumane but it's not like he got to where he was in life by being civil.

It was time to go. Lifting his brimmed cap with his left hand, he placed it snuggly on his head. In a rush, Merse didn’t bother to sip any of the coffee he had ordered and to his suprise it seemed to garner attention from the workers and customers of the diner.

“Excuse me sir? You haven’t even touched any of our world famous coffee. It would be a shame if you didn’t at least take a sip.” The woman behind the counter was pleading but almost demanding simultaniously with tone of her voice. The others seated within the dinner took notice and for a moment all eyes were on Merse. The same cold dead stare could bee seen on all of their faces. Whereas any other person would give in and drink, the information broker knew something wasn’t right.

Immediately he started to explain himself. “Oh my. I almost forgot. I’m terribly sorry. I didn’t mean to disrespect your diner. I just was in a rush that’s all.” It didn’t appear like he was doing much but in-between every breath he whispered an incantation to himself in a manner undetectable to them. When he did take a drink of the liquid, the spell he slyly called upon took anything thing that entered his mouth, whether it being, liquids, solids and even oxygen and expelled it through a portal into a dimensional waste spot elsewhere.

This may have been a little over precautious but he had no reason to trust anyone on this planet. He had been poisoned in the same manner in the past and if similar results were to occur, he wasn’t sure if he’d make it out this time. The second he scarfed down the drink everyone’s expressions changed. Their blank stares turned into smiles of glee and in response, he did too. The fucking weirdos.

Saying nothing further, he left, casually waltzing out the front to get into what was most likely trouble. Nefarious thoughts ran through his cerebellum. The next place he could be seen was a rooftop, overlooking a woman as dusk approached. Only his silhouette was seen in the amber sky before it all went blank for her.

It was the woman who worked at the diner. He waited for her until she had gotten off of work. When she awoke she realized she had been completely restrained in what looked like the living room of some rundown apartment. In front of her was an unfamiliar face. It was Merse in disguise but with a completely different one than he had used earlier. At first, she exhibited natural signs of fear and aggressively attempted to free herself in a panic. She attempted to scream but something Merse restricted her voice somehow via magic.

“Sshhhhh.” 

He hushed her for the time being and paced back and forth in the room. “It doesn’t last long but for now, you will only talk when I allow you to, ok? I want to know something and you’re going to tell me” he explained.

“I don’t know anything you might want” she frantically screamed.

“I'm afraid that answer won't do. I have ways of prying the information from your mind” Merse countered, and instantaneously his hand began to glow a neon purple. All he would need was to place his palm firmly on her skull and he’d get all of the information he desired. At least he thought so.  As soon as he attempted so a foreign force began to overwhelm his spirit. He opened a crack in the door and as a result, it was kicked entirely open. It almost felt as if someone was trying to enter his body and as a reflex, he cut his connection he made to female's consciousness. 

Backing up, he noticed a smile on the girls face. It was uncharacteristic of her considering how she had acted prior. At this point, he had forbidden her to talk under his spell but she began to do just that and lecture him. 

“I’m not sure who you are but you should probably leave while you still can. I don’t really have the patience for this. The matters of this planet are not things you should ever aspire to know too much about. I felt you trying to read poor Nallilsu’s mind as if it were some sort of book in a library. Unforgivable actions to say the least. So now that this failed, what will you do now?

Frankly, Merse didn’t have a response. 

She could be lying, but it didn’t explain the powerful force he felt when he attempted to read her thoughts. Before he could slyly conjure a response he became distracted by the TV and even sat down on the same couch she was restrained on. Considering it was the news, he was vastly interested and promptly, fazed out anything she managed to say. 

[i]“This just in: A huge unknown explosion in Crelas has occurred. No known casualties, and first responders on the way.”[/i]

“What the hell?” Things were getting stranger by the second. Looking across the couch he smugly looked at the young woman on the right end of the couch. She was looking off in the opposite direction with a highly agitated look upon her face. Realizing the advantages he currently had in the situation, Merse arrogantly asked her a question.“

You’re still tied up so I was wondering… do you want to just tell me for free?”