The scene shifted back to the grim alley where the drugged man had been found dead in Chapter 1. The ground was still stained faintly dark, the smell of stale smoke and iron lingering in the air. Around the taped-off perimeter, several workers and agents of the city's Detective Agency had gathered, murmuring among themselves. This wasn't just another case—it was one that had already begun to spiral into rumor and fear.
At the center of the scene stood Captain Zayden Locke, the one entrusted to lead this division's investigation. His coat hung loosely, his sharp eyes flicking between the smallest details. He finally turned to the cyber genius who was crouched beside a portable device, fingers running swiftly over its glowing surface.
"Did the cameras capture anything useful?" Zayden asked, his voice calm but firm.
The tech genius exhaled slowly before tilting the screen for everyone to see. Four windows of live security feeds appeared, each marked by a frozen frame of static. Then, one by one, they flashed red and read: ERROR.
"Not only did the feeds fail at the exact same moment," the genius explained, "but the previous footage was erased completely. It's not a system malfunction. Someone used a counter-device—something designed to jam and directly overwrite surveillance signals."
Murmurs rippled through the staff. Zayden's jaw tightened. "So the rumors were true. This… 'Obliviscythe' isn't just some random butcher. He's a tech genius as well as a smart killer."
He crouched down and picked up the cardboard box that had been left at the crime scene, the one that bore the word OBLIVISCYTHE in bold, jagged letters. Holding it carefully, Zayden studied it as though it were a riddle.
"Couldn't we at least lift fingerprints from this box?" he asked, turning toward his team. "If we get lucky, we'll have a template ready for any future suspects."
One of the agents hesitated before speaking. "It's possible, sir. But… why not give this task to the leader of the Agency? Shouldn't he be handling something this serious?"
The atmosphere chilled instantly. Zayden's eyes snapped to the man, his stare sharp enough to silence him on the spot. "The leader doesn't need to waste his time chasing a killer who's only been active for a year. I agree he's emerging as a third party among MafiaLandia and United Earth, but he's still just that—a new third party. And I will be the one to end him."
The lieutenant, a woman with keen eyes and cautious instincts, stepped forward. Her voice carried both respect and unease. "Reports suggest otherwise, sir. Records trace his killings back more than one year, perhaps two. And in that time, he didn't just kill criminals—he dismantled two entire mafia gangs single-handedly. Not to mention the predictions about his technological capabilities…"
Before she could finish, Zayden cut her off with another sharp glare. "Do you doubt me, Lieutenant? Have you forgotten I've handled third-party threats before?"
For a moment, silence hung heavy. The lieutenant lowered her eyes, then leaned closer to him and whispered, "With due respect, sir, this third party feels different. Dangerous. There are others like him, yes, but ignoring the weight of this case would be a mistake."
Zayden didn't reply immediately. Her words gnawed at him, forcing a pause. His hands tightened on the box as he considered the possibility she might be right.
The scene shifted.
The dark alley dissolved into the bright echo of a bouncing basketball. Aghorik, the boy who secretly bore the name Obliviscythe, was on the school court, sweat dripping down his face as he darted across the polished floor. His movements were sharp, controlled, almost predatory—even when disguised as play. With a final leap, he slammed the ball through the hoop, the sound of the dunk resonating like a small victory.
His teammates cheered, the scoreboard flashing. Aghorik had carried the entire match, ending it with fifteen points that left the opposing side stunned. Breathing hard, he grabbed a towel and wiped the sweat from his brow, his expression calm, almost detached.
As he walked away from the court, his thoughts wandered.
I wonder what the Detective Agency is doing with the case they picked up…
He slung the towel over his shoulder, blending back into the crowd of laughing students, while in the shadows of the city, Zayden Locke's hunt had only just begun.