Meanwhile…
The parking lot stretched under a canopy of glowing panels that bathed the area in a soft, bluish-white light. Rows of hover cars floated silently, their sleek frames reflecting the ambient glow.
Claus leaned casually against their vehicle, his coat shifting slightly as his arms crossed in front of him.
His blue and white hair framed his composed face, the golden eye insignia on his eye patch catching the light with a glint as he adjusted his stance.
Kira paced beside him, restless. Her loose coat swayed with each step, barely clinging to her shoulders as if reflecting her defiance.
Her blond hair peeked out from beneath the white blindfold wrapped snugly around her head, the golden eye insignia in its center glinting faintly under the artificial light.
She stopped suddenly, turning toward Claus with a frustrated shake of her head, her hands planting firmly on her hips.
“You’re seriously telling me you called him?” Kira asked, her voice sharp and incredulous. “How did you even manage to get him to agree to come?”
Claus pushed off the car, stepping closer and adjusting the cuffs of his Union uniform with calm confidence. “Remember what I said earlier?” he replied, tilting his head slightly. “I can get any of them to help if I push the right buttons.”
Kira scoffed, throwing her arms up in frustration as she took a step back. “Yeah, well, you should’ve pushed different buttons. This is a terrible idea, Claus. I don’t like working with him. Never have, never will.”
Her coat shifted as she gestured wildly, almost slipping off her shoulders before she tugged it back into place with an irritated huff.
Claus straightened his posture, his eye narrowing slightly as he folded his arms again. “Your emotions aren’t the priority here. The mission is. He’s the best option, and you know it.”
Kira took a deep breath, shaking her head as her fingers tapped impatiently against her arm. “And what makes you think his ‘ends justify the means’ crap won’t backfire on us? He doesn’t care who or what gets caught in the crossfire.”
“Sometimes I wonder how a scumbag like him became a Union officer.”
Claus stepped closer, his tone firm now, his coat shifting with his movements. “Which is exactly why we need him. This situation isn’t about playing nice; it’s about results. Put aside your personal feelings, Kira. We have a job to do.”
Before Kira could retort, the hum of another hover car broke the tension. The sleek black vehicle descended smoothly, its glowing undercarriage casting sharp, angular shadows across the ground. Kira’s pacing came to a sudden halt, and she turned toward the approaching car, her blindfolded gaze seemingly locked onto its source.
The car’s doors slid open with a quiet hiss, and a tall figure stepped out. His movements were deliberate, his posture rigid as he adjusted the cuffs of his Union uniform.
The sharp lines of his suit were enhanced by his broad shoulders and authoritative presence.
His navy-blue hair, slicked back, revealed his chiseled jawline and sharp facial features, and his pale gray eyes swept over Claus and Kira with an intense, calculating gaze.
The blue U badge on his chest gleamed under the light, a stark reminder of his rank.
“Evening, Donnel,” Claus greeted with a nod, stepping forward.
Donnel’s lips curled into a faint, humorless smile as he strode toward them, his boots clicking against the pavement with a steady rhythm.
“Evening, Claus.”
“I trust you wouldn’t have called me unless it was absolutely necessary,” he said.
“Absolutely,” Claus replied, adjusting the edge of his collar as he faced the man. “We need someone with your skills.”
Donnel was a board member whose reputation rivaled that of the Union branch director. He was a man both respected and feared. A null class awakened with the Blessing, SS-rank Smite. His reputation, shaped by countless successful high-ranked dungeon raids and high-stakes crime cases, was known throughout the Union.
In the world of dungeon raids, Donnel had soloed S-ranked dungeons five times and returned in one piece each time. This was a feat he had achieved long before he was handed his position in the Union.
His ability to instantly read the battlefield and adapt on the fly had made him a feared figure among other raiders.
Beyond dungeons, Donnel’s approach to handling crime was ruthless. His reputation as a “cleaner” for high-profile cases earned him a reputation that criminals and corrupt officials dreaded.
When it came to taking down organized crime syndicates, Donnel was like an all-consuming fire, ensuring that no one escaped justice.
There was even a very believable rumor that crime rates had drastically dropped because of his… extreme ways of punishing and detaining criminals after he joined the Union.
It didn’t matter how long it took, he would never stop until he achieved what he set out to do. Many admired his resolve and discipline, but more feared him, seeing him as some sort of relentless beast.
No… He was a monster.
His methods were unconventional, often bending the rules to achieve his objectives. He’d leave no loose ends, even if that meant making morally questionable decisions.
Donnel’s personal code dictated that the greater good always outweighed the collateral damage.
And this was why Kira hated him so much.
Kira shifted uneasily, crossing her arms tighter as she glanced at Claus, her expression tense. “Just great, he really came,” she muttered.
Donnel’s gaze flicked toward her briefly, his gray eyes cutting through the tension like a blade, before returning to Claus. “Let’s get to it. I assume the situation is as dire as you
implied?”
Claus nodded, his mismatched eyes steady. “More than you can imagine.”
Claus’ voice was calm yet intense as he continued to explain the details to Donnel.
“Our priority is a factory in Sector II. It was supposed to be demolished… Astral Corp bought the land. They had plans to clear it for redevelopment, but Kira and I just sensed as a strange presence there. The kind that doesn’t belong.”
Donnel’s pale gray eyes narrowed slightly, his sharp gaze focused entirely on Claus as he listened.
“It’s not just a simple disturbance,” Claus continued, adjusting his stance slightly as he pulled up a small cube he tapped lightly that expanded a bit then projected a holographic layout of the city with red dots.
“All the reports of missing persons have actually occourd around that area for the past month… people disappearing without a trace. And there are strange, almost impossible-to- ignore patterns of blood-draining deaths. According to the data I compiled, most of these cases occurred within a 500-meter radius of that factory. The connection is too close to
ignore.”
Kira shifted uneasily beside them, her arms still crossed, but her eyes darting between Donnel and Claus.
The factory, the disappearances, the blood draining… it all felt like a twisted nightmare. But the data was clear. And now they had to act before whatever was hiding there could do even
more damage.
“Any idea what’s causing it?” Donnel asked, his voice still cold as he gilded his arms.
Claus shook his head. “We don’t have a solid ID on the creature or entity responsible. But we suspect it’s some kind of monster human hybrid, something powerful enough to cause these disappearances and deaths must certainly at lest be S Ranked. We’re guessing it’s been hiding in the factory for months, unnoticed, maybe feeding off the residual energy of the area… or worse.” He paused, letting the implications settle in.
“So, you want me to investigate?” Donnel asked, as he pointed at the holographic construct of the factory.
“Close but not quite,” Claus said. “We need you to guard us as we confirm what’s inside.
Whether it’s a rogue monster or something else entirely. Kira and I need to identify how it has been pulling all of this off without being noticed by cameras. We suspect some sort of dark magic, and if so we might need to take them in to confiscate ans study them incase we need to learn from it to crest counter measures in the future.”
“While we do that you can wipe the floor with the monster.”
Donnel stared at him for a moment, his eyes calculating, he then closed his eyes then let out a sigh. “Always, I’ll handle it. If it’s as bad as you say, we need to move quickly.” “Good,” Claus replied, his voice steady. “I’ll send you the coordinates and any additional
intel I have on the factory. But, Donnel,” he added, his tone turning serious, “we need this kept under wraps. Astrel Corp doesn’t know we’re investigating. If this gets out before we have all the facts, it could cause a panic among residence nearby.”
Donnel’s lips curled into a slight, tight smile. “I’m not in the habit of making waves, Claus. I’ll handle this quietly. No one will know until we have a solution.”
Claus nodded in agreement. The last thing they needed was more attention on this case before
they understood exactly what they were dealing with. “Alright then. Let’s head to it, and make sure this doesn’t spiral out of control.”
As Donnel turned toward the hover car, ready to head to Sector II, Kira couldn’t shake the feeling that something strange was brewing in that factory.
She caught Claus’s eye, a silent understanding passing between them. Whatever was waiting there, they had no choice but to face it. The mission came first.
“Let’s go,” Claus said, his voice steady. “It’s time to find out what’s really going on.”