Master Detective Soo
Master Detective Soo—she'd wrung info out of that petty thief and handed him over to the ECPD. But Enoch, ever the opportunist, added a little "interrogation" for the guy's past crimes and even scored a bounty out of it. Soo shot him a disgusted look, but Enoch just fired back, "Didn't you say mercenaries have to make their own gigs if none come along?" Hearing that straight from the guy's mouth—the same line he'd dropped in the game—hit different. Anyway, the trio had wrapped things up clean and were now cruising to the address they'd squeezed from the thief.
Miki Ebner. Not a connector, but a shadowy broker who doled out errands to mercs. Kinda hilarious intro, really. "Shadowy broker," my ass—her full real name was slapped right there. Sure, to anyone else it'd scream alias. No way someone shady uses their birth name, right? But that's the thing about the lamp being darkest at its base. Miki's business card was exactly that.
"She called her a good little sister, but maybe puberty hit?" Soo didn't doubt Topher's word. No reason for a guy like that to embellish. If he said it, it was true. So Miki had to be a good kid... or at least, that's what she wanted to believe. But this world didn't let you coast that easy. Complicated, twisted—perfect for turning good folks bad. Soo had to brace for the worst case.
"[This morning, part of the Wellington Bridge pier in Southpeak collapsed, killing at least twelve—]" The radio droned on about Eden's endless mishaps. Outside the window, the world rolled by unchanged. Soo stared blankly at the usual scenery, then popped a candy in her mouth.
"Mm... yeah, something's off."
"What is?"
"That thief earlier? Stealing Enoch's ride was probably part of the errand."
Angela, eyes closed in the back, slowly opened them. Enoch muted the radio and leaned in.
"Too perfect to be coincidence."
If Enoch's car hadn't been jacked, he and Soo would've bolted straight to Kaleido Building, no matter the hour. Grab a bite out front, nap in the car—whatever. Point was, they'd have been there. But nope. The theft delayed them big time. By the time they arrived, Martin Etmuller was already dead. That's what landed them Salvador's gig to chase the truth. And now? They'd grilled the car thief, got a lead, and were off to meet Miki Ebner.
If things kept flowing this way... Well, she wouldn't peg Miki as the killer outright. Hell, Miki might be someone's puppet too. Still, they had to meet her. Gig was a gig.
"...Aha."
Soo's eyes lit up. "Someone planted spyware."
Crunch crunch—her fangs shattered the candy.
"Pushing us to meet Miki."
Figured they'd suck at hacking, so they stuck something in Miki. Spyware, probably. Meeting her could be trouble from jump. Just look at Angela—one glance and she owned hacks. If whatever was in Miki was similar, even showing up was risky.
"Turn the car around now?"
"Nah, we're good."
That "someone" wouldn't have banked on this setup.
"Angela's here."
They hadn't counted on her tagging along. Pure chance Angela found dying Enoch. Pure chance she hopped in the car. Pure chance she hadn't driven post-Rui Chun raid, or skipped shopping... All uncontrollable ripples crashing into "now." Couldn't rewrite Angela's past on a whim—tech hadn't cracked brains yet.
"Angela's got us covered."
"Aw? My shoulders feel heavier already. But... yeah, big sis has your back."
Angela grinned, combing Soo's tail fluff. Scales everywhere else, but that bushy tip? Her fave.
"If you're right, Soo, this ain't the big three corps' doing."
"Yup."
Megacorps didn't micromanage like this. Against rivals, sure—dirty tricks galore. But some rando? They just crushed with power. Couldn't orchestrate this level of puppetry anyway. If "someone" was pulling strings like Soo thought, it started when she and Enoch iced that second chimera.
Or maybe even before.
Anyway, megacorps couldn't finesse this without rivals sniffing profit. Enoch shifted gears with a growl.
"I'd almost prefer the big three's schemes."
"Knowing there's third-party players on their level... gives me a headache."
Forces dodging megacorp eyes, twisting the whole damn world's flow to their whims. If they existed, even corps were just pawns.
"Tell me about it."
Soo unbuckled and popped the door. The squeaky creak cleared her head.
"After we snag the office, let's get a new ride."
Angela hopped out, smirking. "Yeah, Enoch. Skill matters, but tooling around in this... abomination? No gigs incoming."
"Right? Even if it's your late mom's gift, this is too much."
"Righ... huh?"
Angela's eyes went wide. Mom's car? Enoch's mom was dead, yeah? Did she just trash a family heirloom?
"Hic...!"
A hiccup escaped. "Enoch, sorry! I didn't mean—hic— not like that, really!"
"Nah, it's fine. Even I think it's hideous."
Enoch glanced at Soo, who lounged with her usual sleepy blank. Suspicious as hell.
She's totally poking on purpose...
Acts clueless, but timing's always perfect. Where'd that sharp merc from the deduction fest go? Behavior screamed cat who knew she was cute and picked her chaos.
"...Let's move."
Enoch yanked the flashbang pin as he walked. No detailed plan, but he could guess Soo's play. Angela scouts first, signals clear, then they roll. Flashbang for cover—kept everyone incognito.
"Enoch."
Soo tugged his hem, trotting behind.
"Just in case, EMP grenade too."
"EMP? That'd screw Angela—"
Enoch trailed off at Angela's face. She looked shocked—hiccups gone after the double-take.
"Angela... you can hack through EMP?"
"Kinda, yeah... but how'd you know, Soo?"
Angela tilted her head, external signal amp locked on.
"Dragons know everything."
Vague as hell. But she knew. Angela poked Soo's cheek with a wry smile, stepping off.
"Soo's amazing~."
"Yup, I am."
"...Soo, what the—"
"Enoch."
Soo cut him off with a grin. "Mysteries make you cooler."
Gibberish, as usual. Enoch sighed, clipping the EMP grenade on.
"Someday you'll spill, right?"
"Soo, promise you'll tell big sis too?"
"Yup."
That wrapped it. They slipped inside, footsteps muffled. Inside matched the rundown exterior. Riverside spot meant thick fish stink. Alone, tolerable. Mixed with deep blood reek? Nasty haze.
God, let this one be alive for once...
Enoch prayed climbing stairs. Lately, targets were always corpses. Like delays piled up on purpose. Someone rigging it.
No CCTV through floors 2-4. 5th just before, no sensors. Building felt empty, silent. But someone was here. No abandoned chill—warmth lingered, despite the stench.
5th floor. Whirr—Noise cloaked them. Faint camera hum. Angela's eyes ahead, blue glow spilling. Camera died. Enoch's Hod sparked current across his body. Time stretched. Perception accelerated.
Step, step—three. Reinforced tendons launched him. He smashed the wall by the faint light leak, shoved in a flashbang. Then—shink.
Heavy machinery whirred. Could pass for a gun rack, but no. Autoturret spooling.
Boom!
That roar? At least 30mm autocannon barrage.
Didn't think I'd need the real deal.
Dozens of shells screamed in. Enoch slammed the EMP grenade down. No block, no dodge. Thud—ash-gray hair rippled.