Sergei had been walking for some time, scouring the streets of Zaphere, using the dark resonance radiating from the idol he carried as a means to locate any hint of a demonic aura. So far his searching had yet to produce any results and no reaction from the evil spirit from within the small statue had manifested. He figured it was his own opposing aura sedating the phantom from making any personal actions. But for sure if there was a source likes its own, it would naturally call out and unintentionally give the Inquisitor a direction to take.

Thinking more about the incident an hour ago, Sergei pondered upon the developments that had took place that lead to the merchant's "assassination". He has since developed new theories about the event such as the spider's origin's being otherworldly; another feasible fact that conferring to the notes on his tome had confirmed the likely possibility. A minor summoning ritual would have been discreet and all that was necessary to summon that foul arachnid to murder a valuable source of information. Other ideas came to mind but every single one eventually dictated the logical conclusion that some form of shadowy operation was present. But was the intent?

After awaiting a caravan to move their load on by and out of the way, the Inquisitor crossed the cobblestone road, walking into the shifting flow of bustling civilians going about their business. From under his hood, the Inquisitor had eyed every person suspiciously who walked by him. Since an murder to conceal crucial evidence had taken place, it was clear that this organization was coordinated and knew the need to cut out the liabilities to ensure confidentiality and cover over their assets. Though the merchant may have had some relationship with this shady group, it was not a very strong once and only severed some mundane purpose. 

Was it funds? Maybe, but idols were obviously not in high demand unless they were based on some recent famous figure or claimed to have guaranteed good luck and riches; the one he carried however was hardly considered impressive in design with the female figure being hardly recognizable and the demon dwelling within gifted the opposite effect with evil possessions. He figured the income was lowly moderate and perhaps not substantial. Had the idols been the buzz of the town...Suffice to say, there would hardly be a town left after he burns it to the ground in a heretic hunt...But perhaps that was virtually the goal.

Maybe it wasn't a lowly task but a tactical one. Multiple discreet possessions through careful organization would have made a sleeper army of demons valid. The thought was heinous as it was terrifying and further made the overall plot make absolute sense. What it really what this organization as really planning? A demonic takeover of the city? The questions piled in but no answer to address them all. He had to find the evidence. He needed the source supply of the demon-infused goods. He needed a Pelordamned confession.

Suddenly, the spiritual pressure from the idol spiked and tugged Westward; the phantom was reaching out to a concentrated source of negative energy. "Finally." the Inquisitor grunted before hurrying his pace towards the direction of the spiritual disturbance. Turning the corner while pacing through one of the alleyways as a shortcut, Sergei had come across a series of warehouses all lined up into organized rows. He figured that it simply the local storage facilities used by the merchants, guilds, and other parties. He felt the demon tugging again, confirming this was the right location. Before he could take another step, a surge of negative spiritual energy could be felt radiating from one of the warehouses. The number of pulses in the wavelength indicated the casting of a spell...A powerful one.

"Damnation!" the Inquisitor broke into a dash, attempting to intercept the caster before the spell could complete its chant.

It probably didn't help that his Inquisitorial equipment slowed him down, especially the large shield he carried with him at all times and the warhammer used to channel his magical powers. There was also the armor he carried too to protect him against the dark arts too. But his body has had decade to adapt to his armored attire and could naturally move in it; he hoped that would be enough. Just as he reached the door to the warehouse the spell was radiating from, he felt the handle on the door had become excessively hot, even glowing as if it about to melt.

Then the last pulse of the spell cam with a chest feeling boom and subsided. 

"Shit."

Cunning and natural instincts influenced the Inquisitor, having him leap into a dive just as the main entrance exploded into a torrent of fire torching the back wall of another facility. The explosive had left persistent ring in his hear as his mind became aware of what transpired. Getting back on his feet, he could see the warehouse had been disemboweled and scorched beyond all comprehension. Shifting though the burnt and still burning heaps of structural wood and stone, Sergei could identify the remains of a lab, clear used for minor summonings going by the engravings. The facility also was used to store a arsenal of cursed items, including a proportional stock of idols like the one he carried. However everything had been destroyed and so where the spirits infused with them.

Eyeing the wreckage, Sergei could safely agree this was yet another attempt to dispose of any evidence. It appeared that the organization was simply cutting all ties and wasting many potential resources in the process. Simply re-purposing the cursed items into other uses would make sense indefinitely but this? This was erasing one more trail that lead to this group of heretics and it was now becoming excessive. It was almost as if they were running from something or keeping crucial evidence out of someones hand; someone like him.

Sergei then began to feel the dreaded realization that the actions began to take place just as he found out about the selling of cursed items. He himself was being tracked; watched and observed. Someone clearly did not want him investigating into any of this heretical business and just declared war against him and his endeavors to flush them out. Now that it was a known fact that he was being tracked and usurped at every turn, Sergei now had to act discreetly and less out of the open if he's going to pin down this group. As irritating as it was, he wished this organization would be more open in challenging his new found mission rather than using such sneaky and devious tactics.

Reaching into one of his internal robe pockets, his hand produced a small black ball of swirling ebony gases. If he was to leave now in plain sight he would be tracked once more another lead would be risked being destroyed. He was unsure as to how many assets his opposition retained but he was sure that Not all of it was not expendable and had legitimate uses towards their grand designs. Eventfully there would be no where else for them to run to. But for now, he had to jump of the trail and into hiding so he may investigate without any eyes upon him.

Casting a small spell within the hand that held the black orb, a mixture of heat and magic collided, detonating the ball into a instant flash before concealing the entire area into a sea of black mist. The gases were not poisonous but the haze heavily restricted sight and magical abilities. For a brief time, he would be able to escape and resume his investigations in secret. It was not the course of action he wished to take but it became necessary one.