Office Cabin, The Bureau, INFRA ORG....
Sylara is going through some papers and hologram windows with headphones on. The room is dark. Going through files of the victims, and mind searching through any proof that might be left behind by the killer.
Sylara- "Andrew Schene, Thursday, 1 AM. Age 54. One of the signers on the anti cease-fire deal.
Lauren Davis. 17 days ago. Member of the INFRA Defence executives.
Nicholas Cooper. Executive. 3 months ago. John Miller, vvip reporter from tha INFRA, same day at same spot. Some say he managed to take a picture of Raven 78. Though the picture only tells us that he.. or she... wears black. Damn it."
Sylara puts down the headphone and plops her head on her hands.
Sylara- "I'm not aware of how clever he actually is yet. It's just that they made such a fuss about it that I can't help."
"Let's see it. Let's gather all the footages available. Just the face shape is enough. I can make up the face with my knowledge on AI."
She ruffles through some more holograms. Compares the height from the footages to surroundings. Calculates thinnest details.
Sylara- "Last time I checked this scene, I liked Lauren's door design and wanted one for my dad's basement."
She immediately searches up the door with AI lens and finds it out in the online market. A fresh hologram of the door appears before her.
Sylara- Yessss!
The AI questions, "Is this what you wanted me create wasting 20$ worth power resources from the INFRA?"
Sylara- "You won't go bankrupt for that. Now, the door is 12 ft tall, not your ordinary ones. The shadow of Raven 78 seemed half it's size so I almost convinced myself it was a midget."
"Divide the door by half longitudinal."
A vertical shiny mark appears on the middle. She dkes the same on the footage parts.
"Repeat"
It keeps dividing again and again.
"Hmm. This much counts for 4 inches only. So my tasty insect is 6'4" tall-"
*Throws the entire file at the balcony*
"WHY ARE ALL THE B*STARDS SO DAMN TALL ALL THE TIME?!"
*remembers she's 5'11"*
"Nvm."
She spends an entire session of three hours alone comparing the shadow sizes to this and that and creating holograms. She finally develops a hologram of a faceless figure in dark cloak. Finally stretches and walks up to it, appreciating her creativity.
Sylara- "Well, you're taller than me. I'm jealous. Glad you won't be anymore after I put you 6 ft underground, though."
Somewhere else....
No lights, no holograms. Just a monitor playing around a video of the news featuring Sylara. And elegant brushes stroking on a canvas.
"Rose Gold hair, quite a rare color."
"Your height is too much of a landmark. I almost thought you're above me."
"But no worries. In a while, you will get a chance to investigate with your previous agents there."
Davenport, Cortia...
In an office, a TV plays the news. A man in his 40's, short and brown haired, qsits on a couch in front of the TV and watches, while sipping wine. The glass falls off his grip when the sudden headlines of Andrew's death fills the screen.
Kim: *shocked* "Wh-what...?"
TV: "The chain of murder has gotten to Andrew Schene. No traces of evidence.
Brutality and style clearly says Code 78's name out," says investigators."
Kim: (sweats) "No. No way... Even Andrew?"
(Takes his phone and immediately calls a number)
"Adrian, you heard the news?"
Adrian: (lying down on an armchair with a face mask on, cucumber on eyes) "No need to. It happened literally while I was on line with him."
Kim: "What? And you didn't hear anything?!"
Adrian: "Only the pause in his voice and shattering of glasses. And then, not a single sound."
Kim: "Hah.... *gasps and sighs, then starts panting*... Hah... Adrian... what the actual..."
Adrian: "Get an inhaler. Don't die before C78 kills you. He'll be sad."
Kim: *fetches his inhaler* "Then...th-then... what the hell should I do?! Who knows, you or me can be the next!"
Adrian: "Hah...hahaha. Is the great Kim afraid now? You were so cocky when this came up last time, just like Andrew."
Kim: "Adrian...! How can you laugh at an hour like this?! Wh-who knows if it's you?"
Adrian: "I actually want it to be me, you know? Gotta see if this C78 can surpass me. And if he does, I'll just give him what he wants to buy chances of life. Simple as that."
Kim: "Are you insane, Adrian?! Is the result of you Gatenberg trip? You think he'll let you off once he catches you?"
Adrian: "Well, in that case I can at least be proud of being a victim of a legend, heh. I'm however holding a grudge against this too. If it weren't for these messed up stuff, I wouldn't lose my disciple and successor.
Anyway, cya...or not."
Kim: "H-HOLD ON!!! I...I want to...
I want... to accept his warning."
Adrian: *Shrugs* "Tell him instead, what will I do knowing that?"
Kim: "I-I don't know how to contact him!"
Adrian: *sigh* "And you think I do? Is he my father or something..."
A while later.....
Kim: *slightly panting now* "Huff...huff... So... how the heck do I tell him? Do I wait for him to come then tell him?
Should I... arrange some drinks for him...? Aaaaaai don't even know!"
Kim decides to stand in middle of his hall. Puts his hands on the sides of his mouth. And yells---
"HeEEEeeeEeeEEEYYYY HONOURABLE SIR RAVEN SEVENTY EIIIIGHTTT!!! AAAAI ACCEPT YOUR WARNINGGGG!"
His voice cracks.
"I KNOW YOU CAN LISTEENNN!!! I'M READY TO GO AGAINST THE CONTINUATION OF THE VELMARKESE WAAAAR!!!"
"Did he actually hear that? Why do I feel relieved? Why the sun is shining a bit brighter?"
"CRACK— "
"AAAAAAAAAAHH!"
Suddenly a glass mirror shatters somewhere in the house. Kim jolts and looks back to locate the sound coming from his bedroom.
"*gulps* Um... honorable...sir...? Is that you...?"
"Was he...actually here? Am I hearing things or is he a ghost?"
Kim takes a vase in his hands and tiptoes to the bedroom to find it empty. He finds his dressing mirror cracked. And something written on it in crimson letters, maybe from blood—
"YOU BETTER KEEP YOUR WORDS."
Kim: *faints*
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