Night returned like it always did—silent and unwelcome.
The moon hung high over the southern edge of Valortown, casting pale light over the rusted metal gates of the freight district, a section long abandoned by the public but heavily guarded by automated VAS drones. Beyond the fences stood broken shipping containers, floodlight towers, and old warehouses whose windows hadn't seen daylight in years.
Three figures stood in the shadows just beyond the southern fence—each dressed in black.
Ryo Saito adjusted his blue circular glasses and stood beneath a flickering streetlight, wearing his usual Second Shift attire: crisp white shirt, black tie, gloves, and boots. His long coat brushed the ground as he leaned casually against a broken pole.
In his left hand, he held a tall cup of milkshake. In his right, a silver pocket watch, open and quietly ticking in the night air.
He checked the time, sipped once through the straw, then exhaled softly like he was bored.
Jack Monroe stood beside Adam, both of them fully dressed for the mission. Jack clutched his golden skull mask in one hand but hadn't put it on yet. The memory of the last time he wore it still lingered behind his eyes.
"You sure this is the place?" Jack asked, glancing at the buildings.
Ryo didn't look up.
"This is where the girl vanished. Surveillance ended five meters past that fence."
Adam grunted, cracking his knuckles. "Place is stacked with drones. Motion detectors. Laser turrets. The whole automated buffet."
Jack turned to Ryo again, concern in his voice. "How are we even supposed to get in without triggering half the alarms in the city?"
Ryo paused mid-sip.
He looked at Jack slowly, eyes amused above the rim of the straw.
"We?"
He clicked the pocket watch shut.
"I'm not going."
Jack blinked. "Wait. What?"
"I've got a date," Ryo said casually. "With Miku."
He gestured with his milkshake cup and started walking backward down the sidewalk.
"Virtual girl. Real devotion. You boys have fun."
"Are you serious?" Jack called after him. "You're ditching us for... her?"
Ryo kept walking. "She never yells at me, never makes me punch anything, and sings in sixteen languages. You, on the other hand... are loud."
Adam just sighed and stretched his arms. "Let him go. It's just us again. Nothing new."
Jack hesitated. His eyes dropped to the mask in his hand.
"I'm still not sure," he muttered. "What if I lose control again?"
Adam slid on his brass knuckles, tightening the fit on both hands. His voice was calm, steady.
"You won't."
Jack looked at him.
Adam offered a small grin.
"That mask doesn't take over unless you let it. It's not about the weapon—it's about the will."
Jack stared down at the golden skull, its hollow eyes staring back.
He nodded.
Then, slowly, he raised it to his face.
The golden glow surged around the edges as it locked into place. His black hair shimmered into bright blond. His eyes lit like goldfire.
Adam smirked.
"There's the guy who throws spears out of pens."
Jack exhaled, focused. "Ready."
They both crouched atop the fence-line railing.
The wind picked up, blowing across the rooftops.
With a final glance toward the gate, the two of them leapt down silently into the dark compound, landing on the metal rooftop of a nearby container without a sound.
Inside the freight district, something moved in the shadows.
Watching.
Waiting.