Trust and Doubt (Act I)
"Now that we've gathered enough evidence, let's retrace her steps." I spoke through the voice modifier of my skull-themed, silver helmet.
It was 10 am when Tea, Wuneng, and I examined a warehouse in the southeastern industrial zone of Bright Island.
The 1.82 meters tall, fair-skinned beauty from Ryuutairiku was dressed in her sleeveless, black combat bodysuit underneath a tactical cropped vest and shorts of color deep royal blue with a military camouflage pattern. Black fingerless gloves covered her forearms. Over her silky black hair, styled in 2 buns, she wore a deep royal blue beret with a golden badge of a 'fox and two cranes' motif. On her toned, long, and capti-
She wore dark blue kneepads and shin-level, black military boots on her legs.
On the other hand, I was wearing my repaired Mik Calavera battle attire. Thanks to the welding equipment Roberto got me, I could fix the damaged gauntlets, boots, shin guards, and chest plates, which counted with decorative silver patterns that simulated the bones of the respective body parts these covered.
Ehekatl's repairs were still far from done though.
"Two days ago, the infamous bioterrorist, Neopolitan, cut the steel wire I used to secure her to a tree while I confronted Silver Moth at Principal Park." I cautiously walked toward Tea to avoid stepping on the suspects' footwear prints. "During the lockdown, she fled to this warehouse to meet with her accomplice."
Wuneng and I were now used to the uncanny-looking, blonde 'teenager' in a white ballet dress with thin prosthetics of color platinum for legs. Her hairstyle consisted of two space buns with braids and two sizeable wisps of hair that framed her face. A platinum lace choker necklace and two white ballet armbands made Tea look like she wore flowers on her neck and arms.
"Microscopic pink aura particles detected with my ocular sensors support this." The emotionless gynoid used her shiny red eyes to project on the floor a holographic recreation of magnified aura shards she and I found in this place, the next day after Neopolitan assumedly fled Bright Island.
The real ones had vanished. Honestly, without Tea's extremely advanced and sensible sensors, I wouldn't have detected the few tiny traces of Neopolitan's aura still left on the floor before these dissolved into the environment.
"Was it here where the mime girl undid her latest disguise?" The lieutenant crouched to inspect closely the holographic aura shards and the footwear prints.
Galatea highlighted the latter on my helmet's footage and Wuneng's holodial through a special app Dr. Rot Laugh installed on our devices.
"It's possible. Afterward, she and one of her accomplices made it to the Bright-Copper Tunnel by tearing down some walls, including one of this warehouse's basement." Tea and I looked at two pairs of footwear prints that exited the building.
"Calavera, regarding the other footprints..." Wuneng stood straight and tilted her head in confusion. "The ones that belong to a pair of dancing, high-heeled shoes left no signs of exiting or entering the building."
"I admit those are puzzling." I approached the enigmatic footwear prints and looked up at the ceiling.
What worried us about the unidentified prints was that combined with the pink aura shards, these suggested a woman jumped down from the roof to ambush Neopolitan, breaking her disguise.
Hair strands and other biological traces found here suggested that at least three individuals reunited, and one of them was likely The Trillion Bounty Girl.
Did a female dancer meet with her the night of the lockdown? Why attack Neopolitan if this was their hideout? Did Neopolitan improvise a disguise that confused even her accomplices? What happened to the mysterious assailant? Was this individual murdered with a powerful semblance that didn't leave a single trace of her? Or...
"Maybe this person danced to teleport away..." Not even the voice modulator helped my dubious assumption sound less laughable.
But the lieutenant's charming mild blue eyes widened in surprise.
"The probabilities of the unidentified individual possessing a spatial or movement semblance to flee Bright Island aren't zero." Tea supported my wild theory in a deadpan manner.
"Then, the other two fled on a motorcycle to the warehouse in Copper Suburb..." The irked lieutenant bit her lower lip.
To complement her statement, Galatea displayed through her eyes a holo-screen with pictures of tire marks, which suggested someone drove away from this building's basement and into Bright-Copper Tunnel.
"And they met there with the blue-haired gorilla from that silly video." With a face of disgust, Wuneng continued saying aloud what we dug up during our investigations.
Tea showed us a video clip of the mad muscular woman landing on a vulture gangster to save Beryl, plus a photograph of a blue hair strand my two investigation partners found in the other warehouse. I had pointed out that the latter possibly belonged to the female individual in that video.
"I'm assuming a lot here but that's my theory. The muscle of the group was likely in charge of keeping an eye on the submarine at Copper Suburb." As I spoke, Tea kept looping the violent clip.
I had previously told her to mute the video since the very rude woman in it said many unnecessary profanities.
"Anything else I missed before delivering a report to my superiors?" Wuneng typed on her holodial more notes of our examinations.
"No." I gave her a dry, quick reply.
Galatea tapped twice on the floor.
The military lady confusedly stared at her while I did my best to conceal my nervousness.
"... Anything that helps us lift those silly lockdown restrictions is welcome." Wuneng kept typing nonchalantly.
She wasn't aware that the day we arrived at Bright Island, I ordered the gynoid to tap twice on the ground whenever someone lied during an interrogation. I had told my investigation partner to stop doing this after Neopolitan escaped but she kept disobeying my new directive.
I need to clear things with Tea. It's not her fault she doesn't fully trust me anymore.
"Ah, sorry for requesting this but I need you to investigate today Copper's slums without me." Holodial in her hands, Wuneng bowed to us with an embarrassed face.
Despite her fit build and being slightly taller than me, she sometimes looked adorably girlish. I secretly took a picture of her using a camera app installed on my helmet. By now, I had a folder dedicated to her photogenic beauty.
"We understand. The more time you have to write your report before dinner, the better for everyone." Tea and I gave her a prideful military salute.
"Aargh! That stupid dinner with my captain just gets in our way!" Wuneng comically stomped on the ground. "傻缺! 笨人! 笨蛋!"
I had spent enough time with her to at least discern she was insulting (once again) Irigami in her mother language. Even if I wasn't aware of their history, I could tell she hated her superior so much, that thinking of him was enough to make her lose control of her emotions.
"Relax, teniente. Let us see this as an opportunity to convince him to lift the lockdown." I fearfully raised my hands in a defensive position.
"Calavera, you are more dependable than most of my co-workers. No wonder Dr. Rot Laugh trusted you with her." After calming down, Wuneng smiled at us.
"... Xièxiè (thanks)... Lieutenant." I lowered the brim of my sombrero with repressed shame.
Normally, I would have loved to receive a compliment from such a gorgeous girl but the guilt of lying to Tea and her forbade me from doing so.
Regret continued accumulating in my heart.
•
"Remember to call me Max Zaragoza when I'm dressed like this." I instructed my robotic partner as we walked through Principal Park to reach the train station by Shine Crossing, under the early afternoon sun.
I was in my 'normal civilian' attire after leaving my hunter armor in Poktli's box truck. We were done eating (well, at least me) at Bright's... The restaurant named after his owner. Our plan now was to keep searching in Copper Suburb for any clues that led us to Neopolitan.
"..." Tea remained silent and expressionless, walking by my side.
Ever since she discovered I was concealing a vital piece of evidence from everyone else connected to The Trillion Bounty Girl, she rarely spoke to me. She only addressed me whenever we were inspecting scenes with the lieutenant and other authorities.
"Tea, listen... I'm sorry." We ceased walking at the same time.
I looked around to confirm there were no passersby nearby who could listen to the following. The few people in the park were over 20 meters away from the road we were standing on, surrounded by bushes and trees. Barely anyone still had the guts to venture into this park out of fear of being blown up by a dust-firefly, even if all of them were deactivated following Silver Moth's death and most secured by IZA, firefighters, and local authorities.
"I swear there's a good reason I've lied to Wuneng and you. Believe me, it's not something I feel happy about..." Tea turned to look at me with an inexpressive semblance. Her cold stare pierced my heart.
"But that still won't change the fact that it's my mission to search for and capture Neopolitan to prevent another tragedy, like Sally Island's. The doctor and you can count on me for that." I took off my true blue fedora hat and held it against my chest.
Tea tapped once on the floor with her metallic leg. This meant she was intrigued by my words and wanted to hear more in pursuit of the truth.
"I cannot go much into detail, especially here... I did find something among Neopolitan's belongings the night Condor Tower fell. A binder with a bunch of notes unrelated to the case..." I put my hat on and continued excusing myself, trying to look her in the eyes. "I've been keeping it to myself because if word about its contents spreads, my life will be in great danger."
"Max, I'm having difficulties analyzing your pulse rate, corporal movements, and voice. I am unable to determine if you are telling the truth..." She said in an analytical tone, completely unfazed by my unsettling words. "Nevertheless, I can detect that the evidence you speak of is the source of stress currently disrupting your vital signs."
"You are sure handling this binder to IZA or Bright Island's police department will endanger your life. Is my assessment, correct?" She asked me a 'yes or no' question.
Probably because it was the easiest way to confirm if I was lying.
"Yes, correct." I gave her an earnest reply while pressing the bottom of my neck.
"How so?" She blinked with a robotic sound. Despite being an intelligent gynoid, my answers were confusing her.
Or perhaps, making her curious.
"I cannot answer that... Doing so would breach one of the clauses in my mission contract." I spoke, still looking at her face.
"You aren't lying..." My partner's eyes widened with unusual disbelief.
She averted her gaze from mine in a very human manner. What I told her must have generated ambivalence in her heart... Hard drive? Or whatever she uses to process information.
"That's the problem. Revealing the contents of that binder would be suicidal for me." As I spoke as calmly as possible, Tea resumed analyzing me.
"Max, hold on. I have determined that your last statement was also true. My programming forbids me from endangering the life of a person. I am only allowed to hurt humans in self-defense but never to terminate their lives." Tea turned around and walked away from me.
"You mean..." I ceased clutching my neck and followed Tea. It appeared she wanted the conversation to be over.
"I am forbidden from forcing you to disclose information that puts you at risk. Just like I am obliged to comply with the clauses in your contra-"
"Patada Voladora!"As Tea explained the logic behind her proceedings, we heard an energetic and fierce female voice.
One that spoke in my mother language.
"QUE- AH!" I turned around in shock only to be hit in the stomach by something- No, by someone.
I barely activated in time a purple aura cloak to absorb most of the damage in my stead. But I still felt some pain out of the mysterious female's kick.
"Maxie, al fin te encontré!" The unexpected arrival said with a stern tone.
"CARLA, QUE HACES AQUI!?" I shockingly shouted to my younger sister.
She was in her white 'traje de luces', embroidered with silver patterns reminiscent of flowers and stems with tiny leaves and thorns. Her ankles were covered by black stockings that matched her black shirt. The footwear that kicked me was white 'zapatillas' worthy of a renowned Grimm Matador. A red tie and waistband complemented the small cape hanging, with a silver clip shaped like a horizontal shell, to the right 'hombrera' of her white matador jacket. The black sheath on the right side of her waist contained a silver, bullfighter rapier.
Her dark chocolate brown, wavy hair was tied into a ballerina bun with a white flower-wrap accessory. However, some bangs partially covered her light blue, left eye.
"Hostile individual detected. Use of immobilization techniques authorized." Tea casually stepped toward her.
Maybe my mind played tricks on me but I sensed anger in her usual uncanny method of speaking and walking.
"Wait!" I grabbed Tea's left hand to stop her but she extended her right arm to poke my sister.
"Y tú quién- KYAAAH!" An electric current flowed into our human bodies, delivering a shock that made us fall to the ground.
...
"She is... My sister..." I struggled to explain the situation to the standing android as Carla and I stared at the beautiful blue sky.
•
"No vas a regresar!?" My little sister skeptically said once I rejected her plan of returning to Olvido together.
Carla and Galatea sat on a bench in a deserted park section.
"I've got important business to attend. Also, Roberto told me he spilled the details of my mission when Mom and you jumped on him." I crossed my arms to scold Carla for her rash behavior.
"Why you speak in Anglese? You know I don't... Master it." My annoyed sister put effort into finishing her sentence.
"So Galatea understands what's going on." I made Carla glance at the gynoid.
"Downloading Hispañol software update. Estimated download time: 3 minutes and 44 seconds." Tea began to make a buzzing sound and her red eyes shone as she sat motionless.
"Esperen, Roberto me dió esto..." Carla took out a Lingua and put it on her left ear. "As he pleaded for his life."
The device immediately translated CC's words without issues.
Why did I even bother learning Anglese?
"You've been ignoring our calls and, unlike this strange girl, kept us in the dark about this dangerous mission. Why!?" My frustrated sibling stood up and slapped me in the face.
International news outlets were to blame for everyone, including Olvidados, learning about the fight between Mik Calavera and Silver Moth on this island.
"You know mom wouldn't have let me travel here under these circumstances. I need to capture Neopolitan before things go out of hand..." I rubbed my cheek in pain. Her strike caught me off guard. "More than they already have."
"If I don't arrest her-"
"Yes, we know! Roberto and Dad told us after we threatened them. But it's not your responsibility to arrest The Trillion Bounty Girl to stop Olvido's recession or Poktli's bankruptcy. Let other bounty hunters handle this matter!" Carla softly hit my guts multiple times.
"I cannot do that. At least not anymore." I put both hands in my white trousers' pockets and carefully turned around to confirm that no one was spying on us. "I need to capture her before anyone else. Otherwise..."
"Otherwise, what? Why are you lowering your voice?" I grabbed my sister's wrist and turned off her Lingua with the other hand.
"Qué haces!?" She panicked as my mouth approached her right ear so I could tell her what had been torturing me since the night I met Neopolitan.
...
She attentively listened to my confession in complete silence.
...
"Mientes!" Flabbergasted, Carla slapped me once more when I was done.
"I wish it were a lie but I've evidence to prove it. I snatched Neopolitan's binder during our brief encounter." I didn't bother rubbing my face this time.
We had a grave concern to deal with.
"Better show it to me later..." Carla sat down and turned on the Lingua again. I saw despair and fear in her face. "Because if you aren't lying..."
My little sister got teary-eyed as she covered her mouth with her left hand.
...
"How she... Found out... Her of all people..." Her voice broke, trying not to cry.
"No idea. That's why I MUST find and arrest her first. Before anyone else learns about this." I looked at the ground and my shoes in discomfort.
...
"You think she would tell others if they capture her?" Regaining control over her emotions, Carla gathered enough courage to ask.
"Well, Neopolitan is mute so I don't think she'll- Ay!" Carla kicked my shin, not letting me finish the joke.
"Okay, I don't know... She probably hates me for tying her to a tree... Surrounded by hundreds of explosives." I awkwardly buried my lower lip under my tongue. "I'm so dead, aren't I?"
"Maxie, you..." Carla stood up to brutally pinch my cheeks. "MORON!"
"Espera! Piedad!" I tried to make distance between us but my efforts were in vain.
"And who is this white girl?" At last, CC stopped pinching me to look at Tea but she suddenly gasped in horror. "Do not tell me, you're a perv-"
"It's not what you're thinking!" I lowered her arms and readjusted my clothes.
It seemed Roberto had not told my family the whole truth. He probably was too afraid of violating our contract's stipulations, likely because doing so would jeopardize his company. And unlike my battle with Silver Moth, Novus Corporation and IZA succeeded in covering up my other blunder from two days ago.
No news outlet had reported Tea's involvement in this case, and much less revealed that she was a gynoid. Somehow, they deleted any picture or footage of Galatea flying around Bright Island and fighting Araknim. And IZA probably ordered local authorities to keep quiet about what they saw during that chaotic night.
"I cannot tell you much about her because of my contract with Novus Corporation. All I can say is that she's an investigation partner they forced on me. Her name is Galatea. Tea, for shorts." The gynoid observed my perplexed sister while I vaguely explained the situation.
"Buenas tardes. Es un placer conocerte, Carla Zaragoza." Galatea greeted her in perfect Hispañol.
"Your client assigned you a teenager as a mission partner? But you don't like working with others! Not even with me!" My sister pointed to herself in absolute disbelief.
"My chances of finding Neopolitan with Tea by my side are way higher than without her." I saw the robotic ballerina's lips forming a small smile.
"What can she do that I cannot?" Carla incredulously put her palm over her chest.
For starters: X-ray vision, hijack cameras, explode like a nuclear bomb, and not die of starvation or sleep deprivation.
"Let's just say Tea is the daughter of a Novus honcho. They are confident her unparalleled skills will help me complete the mission. And they are probably right." As I spoke, Tea stood up to give my sister a curtsy.
I knew Carla would eventually figure out everything without me breaching my contract. Then again, knowing her hobbies, the danger of my sister wanting to keep Tea for herself once she discovered our secret was very real.
CC was an absolute maniac when it came to collecting dolls.
"Ah, hermana. NEVER use your semblance on Tea. She has an artificial heart and prosthetic legs." As I said a white lie, the gynoid confusedly blinked at me and Carla looked at her metallic legs.
"Maxie, you aren't telling me somethi-"
"How did you get here so fast? You aren't a licensed bounty hunter." I took the initiative by asking her an uncomfortable question.
As an average Olvidado civilian, she couldn't legally travel to this island without undergoing a long and arduous process to obtain the necessary papers.
"Ah... You see..." Carla turned her head in all directions, desperately looking for an idea that helped her formulate a convincing lie.
She was taking too long. Unlike me, my sister was a terrible liar.
"Don't tell me you snuck into U.N.N.M using a Poktli transport and your semblance." In shame, I covered my face with the fedora hat.
"It was an emergency! And Roberto allowed it-"
"CC, please..." I preemptively shot down my sister's excuses.
"We weren't going to wait an entire year with our arms crossed!" She stood up to passionately defend her reckless actions.
"Illegal immigrant detected. Use of immobilization techniques authorized." Tea hopped and landed next to her.
"Espera!" I quickly grabbed both of the gynoid's arms, in case she was thinking of electrocuting my sister again.
"Attempt to reduce the target's stress levels... Unsuccessful. The subject failed to realize I lack the authority to arrest immigrants." After learning Tea was joking, I let go of her hands so she could sit again.
"Is she..." Carla bent forward to give the gynoid a close (and suspicious) look.
"Hermana, we are heading to Copper Suburb in search of leads, and we don't have much time before a dinner with some army officials. Wait for me at my hotel room-"
"I'm heading with you." She took out her rapier and pointed it at me. I raised my arms as if a thief surrendering to the police.
In this address... She didn't even let me finish.
Tea remained on the bench, not defending me from her. Clearly, she now understood the gist of our lovely sibling relationship.
•
"Yo, that's Liz! She's crazy strong! Dislocated a vulture's arm. Right, bro?" An excited breakdancer, in jogger pants and a sweatshirt, paused his performance when I showed him a picture of Neopolitan disguised as a roller-skating girl.
One I took with my headgear the night we met.
"Word." A chilled companion of his, wearing a similar clothing style and dark sunglasses, twisted his own arm a bit to back up their testimony.
Carla and I grimaced as we imagined how the altercation they witnessed played out. We were standing in an open area of an underground park at Copper Suburb. Some meters away, Tea was performing a splendid ballet routine that attracted the locals.
"We've heard rumors she lives around here. My sister and her friend would love to meet the viral girl who literally caught a train to Bright Island." Carla waved at the breakdancers while I confidently lied to earn their trust.
"Ask on the east. Folks see her frequently there." The first witness suggested before summoning 2 clones of himself to resume his dance.
Even if I wasn't familiar with this area, I could sense people around here were wary or distrustful of bounty hunters and local authorities.
This wasn't the first time I requested information about Neopolitan (or Liz) from the inhabitants of Copper Suburb. However, today was the first time I did this as Max Zaragoza, instead of Mik Calavera, and so far, I was getting better results.
•
"Liz lives 3 blocks from here. Will has a crush on her." A teenager with a cap, who was painting graffiti on the wall of an evicted building, informed us.
"... I just think she's neat... Wanna see her work?" An embarrassed Will guided us to another evicted building in the same city block.
As we turned around the corner, a huge graffiti appeared before us. The stylish work consisted of a redhead man with a bowler hat and a beautiful lady in a green dress standing below a tree with rainbow-colored leaves. Next to it was a message that read 'In memory of my beloved'.
That's... A really impressive graffiti.
As we contemplated it, I couldn't help but keenly observe the noblewoman. For good measure, Tea and I took pictures of the suspect's work.
"What's the matter, Maxie? The blondie caught your eye?" I ignored CC's teases, studying the graffiti, until-
"Ah, we are on the right track!" I happily exclaimed.
•
"Last time I saw her, she jumped out of her apartment". A middle-aged woman, in a cream-colored dress with floral patterns, pointed at a balcony, 8 stories up. "Liz scared us to death but she used her umbrella to land safely."
The woman we were questioning on a sidewalk claimed to be a neighbor of our suspect.
"Sounds like she pulls crazy stunts all the time." Carla shook her head in disapproval.
"Liz sure does but she saved me from a vicious gang that constantly harassed me. Girl scared those punks away after stabbing them with their own knives." The woman got into character, pretending to stab an imaginary opponent.
"Did she kill anyone?" I clutched my stomach and asked with concern.
"Nah, but they'll never terrorize our hood again." The witness funnily swayed her hips and did an admonitory hand gesture.
•
"What happened?" CC asked by mistake to some workers at the entrance hall, after we stepped into the building thanks to Galatea unlocking its doors.
"My sister is visiting me from overseas. Good afternoon." I took off my hat to salute the two men wearing denim overalls and white shirts.
"An idiot broke down the elevator! Fell 8 floors before crashing here!" One of them replied with annoyance, pointing to the opened doors of what used to be a functional elevator.
Carla and I looked awkwardly at each other, not uttering a word.
•
"She always repaired my kids' clothes. Such a good girl." Placing a hand on her cheek, a middle-aged woman tenderly remembered the neighbor who lived on the same floor. "Haven't seen her since the lockdown though."
"Liz went to check over some co-workers at the hospital and sent us to pick a change of clothes for her. We are her friends..." I sweetly lied to the woman in a white sweater and long black skirt.
"And Tea is her cousin." Then, I pointed toward the gynoid, who unlocked the door to Neopolitan's living place behind us.
"Poor Liz. Makes sense she jumped out of her apartment in a hurry. Please, give everyone my best regards." The gentle family woman requested before stepping into her apartment.
•
"Maxie, are you sure Liz is Neopolitan? She doesn't sound like a mass-murdering bioterrorist." Carla voiced her doubts once we entered the missing suspect's apartment.
"The only subject who lied during the interrogations was the interviewer himself." Tea half-closed her eyes to give me a disappointed look.
"Do not be deceived. Judging by my encounter with her, Neopolitan is an exceptional trickster. And yes, I'm sure Liz is her because..." I pulled out my holodial to show them an interweb news article. "The woman in the graffiti is none other than Milady de Frost. Neopolitan's former criminal accomplice."
"Whoa, you are right!" Carla took the holodial from me to read the article. "But who is the gingerhead beside her?"
"No idea." My enthusiastic response made her growl.
"I'll check criminal databases in search of an individual who matches the male in the graffiti." Tea froze next to a kitchenette.
The apartment was so cramped for the three of us, I couldn't imagine how tough life must be for families here. The inhabitants of Copper Suburb lived in worse conditions than I expected. There seemed to be a housing crisis also affecting this whole region.
"There are fewer whites than I thought. Almost everyone we met at Copper Suburb is black, and there are people of all kinds in Cloud City and Bright Island." CC said as she stared at my holodial.
"Bueno, immigrants from Migdal founded UNNM, and a huge percentage of its current population is of Olvidado descent, so there are many- AH, NO!" As I was about to inspect the apartment, Carla opened my folder of pictures transferred between my helmet and holodial.
"What the hell?" She gazed in stupefaction as the big holographic screen displayed my private collection.
"Who is Wuneng, and why do most of her pictures focus on her legs?" Carla asked disgusted.
"Regrésamelo!" I commanded with panic to my sister but she refused to return the device.
"Oh, you also got a Beryl folder!" Carla stepped back and displayed my collection of The Star of the Night.
"No, that's Neopolitan in disguise. I swear that one is for investigation purposes only!" At last, I retrieved my holodial from her hands.
"So, the Wuneng folder isn't!?" Carla sat in the room's bed and laughed uncontrollably.
I felt my body sweating in extreme embarrassment.
...
"Maxie, seriously..." After a whole minute, my devilish sister calmed down. Although she still struggled to talk between chuckles. "Get a girlfriend already."
"Shut up, CC. You know I'm too busy for one." I shamefully pocketed my holodial to begin inspecting the place. "Tea is there something dangerous, like an explosive device, in that pink suitcase?"
"Negative. I detect no weapons or explosives among its contents." My investigation partner shook her head, so I kneeled to grab the suitcase.
"Good. Leave the redhead's search for later and-" But I stopped unzipping it halfway through.
"What's the matter?" Carla glanced over my shoulder.
"It's better you handle this..." My body's temperature continued rising.
"I get the feeling there are mostly female clothes in here." I rigidly walked away from the suitcase.
My face was probably blushing as both girls gave me reproachful looks.
•
"No biological traces or footwear prints besides Neopolitan's." I closed the balcony's doors. "At least these match the ones we found at Bright Island's warehouse."
"But no clues of where she left next." Carla sighed and sat in the bed again.
We had meticulously examined the tiny apartment for over 2 hours.
"It's better we handle her belongings to IZA. Maybe they can uncover something we missed." Tea zipped the suitcase as I spoke.
So far, the army officials had collected all the evidence linked to the case, except for the binder. Giving them the suitcase and informing Wuneng about this apartment posed no threat to us.
"Max, about this souvenir..." Tea held a cup with the illustration of a butterfly.
"She must have stolen it from the abandoned amusement park in the pier area. We will go there tomorrow." I yawned in exhaustion, thinking our day was still far from over.
"Ella es la unidad prototipo?" Carla deactivated her Lingua.
Tea and I turned in full surprise at her.
"Je... No?" I nervously chuckled.
"Entiendo, no le diré a nadie. Es nuestro secreto." She reactivated the translation device, smiling with satisfaction. "Your dress is so beautiful, Tea."
"Gracias, señorita Zaragoza." Back in her usual emotionless state, the gynoid bowed to my sister.
"You can call me CC!" My sibling hugged Tea with a thrill. "The rumors about Novus Corporation are true! Maxie, can we keep-"
"NO! She isn't for sale!" I lifted Tea by the arms to free her from the doll maniac's grasp and turned to the exit. "We need to head to the hotel. She and I have a dinner to attend."
And it's not like we could ever afford Tea, considering her production costs in the files Roberto and the doctor gave me.
"Not fair, take me with you!" The illegal tourist, who bypassed several military checkpoints to get here, huffed and softly hit me on the back.
"You can kill time in our room by checking Neopolitan's binder." After saying this, I turned to her.
...
The mention of the cursed item was enough to make her go silent and serious. CC shook her head to remove the bang from her face and stare at me with both eyes.
"Fine. But if it fails to convince me, we are returning to Olvido..." She swiftly stole the gynoid from me, in doll maniac mode. "WITH TEA!"
•
It was 7:32 pm when Tea and I arrived at Subaraya, a restaurant at the top of a building on Bright Island, with a clear view of The Statue of Unity.
The traditional Taiyou-style restaurant, with its wooden interior design, shoji screens, paper lanterns, calligraphy scrolls, bonsai trees, and leather booth seats, was empty, except for its staff and two other clients sitting in the waiting area.
"You are late, Calavera." Bouncing a knee up and down impatiently, Captain Irigami scolded me for arriving 2 minutes past the appointed time.
The Canine Faunus wore the same outfit as the day we met. A simple, aurora black military uniform with a white shirt and a black tie underneath his jacket. His footwear consisted of sleek, black knee boots. The color of his captain's hat was also black, except for a golden head badge featuring IZA's coat of arms. His white side cape had vine-themed, embroidered patterns along its edges.
Despite inviting us to dinner, his two sheathed swords were beside his seat.
"Taii, perhaps if Silver Moth had not damaged his motorcycle, he wouldn't have a hard time moving across the confined boroughs." Arms crossed, Lieutenant Wuneng defended me from his superior, who scowled at her in response.
"I miscalculated how much it would take us to get here. Pardon my error, captain." I tipped my sombrero's brim and pleaded through my skull helmet's voice changer.
"Let's not waste more time, I didn't reserve this place for the entire night." The stern captain stood up and guided us to a special section in the restaurant, behind a curtain.
"A noren." Tea clarified in her usual deadpan tone while I analyzed the fabric divider.
We walked to a table for 4 people close to a stand hanger and a panoramic window.
Wuneng placed her military beret on the stand hanger, followed by Irigami leaving his captain hat and side cape on it. Since I wasn't armed, I only left my sombrero next to their headwear. I couldn't avoid staring at the captain's glacier-gray, canine ears and ponytail as the IZA members sat in a booth seat opposite ours.
"I made an oath to myself." Slightly ashamed, Irigami rested his swords on their seat's edge. "I won't cut my hair till I capture that fugitive pest."
His ponytail was approximately 15 centimeters long, so I estimated he made his goal to capture Neopolitan a year ago.
"You are committed to duty." I moved aside my jorongo to grab a tablet on our table, containing this restaurant's menu.
"It's natural to be concerned for the safety of our people." The captain's statement made Wuneng snicker while she was using the second tablet designated for us.
"Taii, right?" Irigami nodded to my question.
"Tea and I found the suspect's apartment during the afternoon." I ceased glancing at the tablet to focus on the captain sitting directly ahead.
"I am aware. The lieutenant informed me." I could see his sharp fangs through his grin.
"She and I were thinking that IZA could remove some lockdown restrictions..." I turned left to look at the city landscape in the distance, outside the panoramic window. "In benefit of this region's inhabitants."
In the middle of a small island, stood the big sculpture of a man with a fox mask, dressed in traditional Ryuutairiku robes. It held a paper fan in one hand, and an extended scroll in the other. The deformed, full moon and a narrow 'trail of lights' were visible in the cloudless sky.
"The head mayor wants the same thing. Vertex Group is worried about the financial losses caused by military restrictions. How Byron addresses Nuovas tonight depends on our dinner." Giving me a menacing smile, Irigami took the tablet from his displeased lieutenant.
•
I asked Wuneng for recommendations since I lacked experience with sushi restaurants. Like her, I ordered an omakase featuring many seasonal specialties selected by the chef, as she explained. Irigami went for okonomi, or dishes of his preference. It seemed the captain was a frequent client of Subaraya, so he was confident in his selection.
"Finding decent restaurants in UNNM is harder than hunting a level 4 Grimm." Irigami complained while taking off his gloves. "Thank the heavens, authentic Taiyoujin chefs opened this place. They import over 90% of their fresh ingredients from my home country, every 2 days."
"Subaraya is not on par with the best kaiseki restaurants in Taiyou (太陽), but it is preferable to other businesses on this junk island. Most disgusting of all, fusion sushi rolls." The racist grabbed the hot towel he was given to clean his hands. "Nuova culinary culture is criminal."
I wondered if by Nuovas he also meant Olvidados. Technically, Olvido was part of Nuovo Mondo but people in UNNM, and around the globe, often forgot this.
"It's not strange for those who travel a lot to miss their home's cuisine." I removed the skull-themed, combat gauntlets to grab my towel. "I apologize in advance for my poor chopstick skills."
"Rookie mistake." Irigami laughed, grabbing the hand sanitizer on the table.
"You can eat omakase here bare-handed, like tacos and chalupas." Wuneng mischievously smiled as she cleaned her hands.
My body felt hotter for making such ridicule.
"Understood..." I was about to pick up the hand sanitizer when a thought hit me. "Teniente, have you tried authentic Olvidado cuisine?"
Wuneng dropped her hand towel. She remained silent as her gorgeous eyes widened.
"... During some missions, an Olvidado lieutenant cooked for us." Irigami slowly grabbed one of the small green cups on the table.
"How was-"
"Exceptional. His culinary skills and taste were outstanding, as much as I hate to admit it." The captain answered without letting me finish the question.
He started preparing himself tea, filling his cup with a hot water tap installed on the table.
"I didn't know food on this side of the world could be so delicious. No offense!" An exhilarated Wuneng bowed to apologize.
"May I ask for the lieutenant's name?" I was eager to know who was this individual.
From their reactions, I gathered the Olvidado they met was a pretty good chef.
"We forgot. Guy died on duty, years ago." The captain poured with disinterest green powder (matcha?) into his cup.
...
Everyone at the table remained quiet for a few seconds.
"Sorry to hear that." I apologized, not daring to ask more out of fear of them thinking I was insolent.
•
"Let's cut to the chase." Irigami gobbled up fugu (according to him) and tuna plates. "I invited you to discuss about Neopolitan."
"I read your report from two nights ago but wanted to hear more details from you, in person." The Canine Faunus stacked his empty dishes, for a waitress in a kimono to take away, as she brought oyster and shrimp sushi for Wuneng and me.
...
Tea and the military officials attentively saw me grab the shrimp sushi. I carefully approached the food to my helmet while an incredulous Wuneng shook her head.
...
The jaw of the silver-colored headgear rapidly opened for my mouth to consume the sushi. Afterward, the helmet's jaw closed again to conceal the lower half of my face. It all transpired in less than 3 seconds.
"頭がいい (Clever)." Irigami sounded disappointed.
Wuneng took a deep breath and Tea went back to staring into nothingness.
The texture of this sushi is so soft. What a clean and well-balanced flavor.
"Calavera, you wrote in the report that the bioterrorist claimed to be innocent of Sally Island's tragedy. Did she say why? Or tried to prove such an outrageous claim?" Irigami questioned me as Wuneng took a sip from her tea cup.
"Negative, captain." I shook my head, grabbing the oyster. "Innocent was the only word her lips formed before we got attacked."
"It's obvious she's not innocent! Neopolitan is behind that horrendous crime!" A fired-up Wuneng ate her oyster at the same time as me.
"Ha. She is guilty..." The Taiyoujin wolf remained in deep thought, before resuming his questions.
"... What about her place of origin? Where was she going? Any hints at all?" The tranquil waitress brought multiple dishes of raw octopus and crab sushi for Irigami.
"I didn't interact enough with her to figure that out. Our best shot to find Neopolitan is through the blue-haired woman in the video." I handed the empty plates to the staff.
"No luck on that front either." The dejected military lady sipped her teacup.
If I had to bet, Neopolitan was of Anglian descent but this was conjecture based on her physical appearance and mannerisms. I wrote in my report that at least I believed she was from Migdal.
"What about Silver Moth? Any idea why he was so desperate to capture her? He must have told you something." Done with his questions, the wolfish military started to devour the new round of plates.
"Money, glory, fame. Silver Moth probably thought capturing Neopolitan would grant him the legendary rank of 5 stars. To join the winners, as he said." I prepared a cup of tea, waiting for the next omakase dishes to arrive.
"βMU Galatea – 001... カラベラは今嘘を言いましたか?" The Faunus soldier asked Tea something in his mother language, who quietly heard the conversation.
The gynoid shook her head.
What did he ask her? I think the captain mentioned my last name.
"Cazador. Is that how you call yourselves over at Olvido?" The intimidating official piled up his latest empty dishes.
The graceful waitress left new plates for Wuneng and me as she retrieved those of the captain.
"Affirmative, Taii." I inspected the food but was unable to tell its ingredients.
"Kampachi with wasabi and ikura." The grinning lieutenant clarified as she went for the one with little orange balloons. "Never tried caviar?"
I shook my head, grabbing the same dish.
"I find it impressive that you arrested Araknim and thwarted Silver Moth's plans despite having no semblance. Cazador de 4 estrellas." Irigami spoke to me as I ate the ikura.
He mentioned the last words in Hispañol, with a slight 'Taiyou-ish' accent.
"The sole reason I attained such a high rank is because I apprehended Araknim, who has a semblance that counters powerful Grimm. If it weren't for the lieutenant, I would have perished two nights ago." Done with my reply, I went for the kampachi dish.
Wuneng pridefully smiled at his superior.
"You are modest." Irigami replied in a restrained despiteful voice. Think one of the corners of his lips twitched for an instant.
I never bragged about my rank. I considered myself lucky for being promoted to 4 stars by the guild after arresting The Desert Spider. Simply, I was among those who thought forming a plan to hunt prey with a lowered guard was the fastest, safest, and most efficient method to catch it and avoid hurting innocents in a crossfire.
Unlike other bounty hunters, I relied on my tools and tactics alone. Over the years, I learned that those who abuse their semblances often take things for granted and make careless mistakes. A weakness I liked to exploit to my benefit.
It's not about mindlessly collecting and exploiting one's resources, but rather about using wisely what you have. It's the only way to survive in Olvido's harsh and competitive environment.
•
"Neopolitan is a tenacious girl, for sure. Doesn't give up without a fight." I commented, aiming for my next plate.
Wuneng informed me we were given by the waitress shiro ebi and marinated bluefin tuna. On the other hand, the captain was mercilessly devouring sushi dishes with small A5 wagyu pieces. The best meat in town, he swore.
"However, I find it weird someone so young is that knowledgeable about biological welfare. What type of crazy background does she have?" I ate my shiro ebi with a single bite.
"..." The captain froze in the middle of his feast.
"If I were Neopolitan, I would take years off with her semblance. Who knows what's her real age." The envious lieutenant averted her gaze, looking at the window with frustration.
"Teniente, at least you beat her in height. Nobody would go around pretending to be THAT short. Even Tea is taller than Neopolitan!" Wuneng and I chuckled while the gynoid smiled.
"Do not be deceived by appearances. Neopolitan is a dangerous criminal. A threat to our world and civilization, Calavera!" Irigami admonished me, eating the last wagyu dish.
"... You are right. Forgive the jest, Taii." I timidly apologized.
The awkwardness of the situation prevented me from picking the bluefin tuna.
"We must play it safe. Keep up the traveling restrictions and tighten the security around the region. Stricter checkpoints. Exhaustive inspections. Obligatory curfews. Aura prohibition. 24/7 Drone surveillance. No one leaves or enters the boroughs unless IZA authorizes it. No matter if it takes days to search through everyone's belongings and transports. IZA will maintain the maximum alert level, till Neopolitan or her accomplices show their faces again!" The captain slammed the table, shaking all the dishes on it.
His draconian words worried me. The military checkpoints weren't a big deal for people with semblances, such as Neopolitan or my sister. But for everyone else, it was a different story.
"Taii, our restrictions are asphyxiating Bright Island and the other boroughs. Barely anyone has made it through IZA's checkpoints in the last 2 days. Hundreds of people are piling up at the airports, and resentment toward us is increasing." The empathetic lieutenant protested to her superior.
"I don't care. There's no bigger priority than arresting that terrorist. No matter if people sleep on the ground while we conduct inspections." The captain raised his voice to silence her.
"Clarisse de Frost... What do you know about her?" I got their attention with a simple question.
It was time to make my move.
"She was arrested and executed in prison, months ago. Under multiple murder charges, including that of a Gallian cardinal. Most importantly..." Irigami paused as I took out my holodial.
Wuneng remained speechless with an uncomfortable expression.
"Milady de Frost was an accomplice of Neopolitan. Their misadventure at Gallia made it to international headlines." I showed both IZA members a picture of Neopolitan's graffiti. "Tea and I found this near the suspect's apartment in Copper Suburb."
"Considering the graffiti, footwear prints, and biological traces we analyzed today, it's guaranteed that the individual who used the secret passage between both warehouses is Neopolitan. Who else but she would dedicate this work to Milady's memory?" I zoomed in to display better the message next to the painting.
...
Wuneng and Irigimai keep quiet, studying the picture in my holodial.
"Calavera, do you know what is that tree in the background?" The cold and scary captain asked.
The temperature in the room dropped several degrees.
The tree? Why not ask about the gingerhead instead?
"N-Negative. We couldn't identify the man in the picture or the tree's species. It's likely a symbolic detail of hers." I turned to stare at Tea.
"Mik Calavera's theory is reasonable. No identified tree species in the world produces leaves of that color." My partner supported me with an inexpressive face.
"本当ですか?" The blonde girl nodded to Irigami's threatening question.
"Taii, I doubt the mime girl will return to this island. She doesn't repeat cities where her covers have been blown." The lieutenant provided me support, eating her bluefin tuna.
"We will do it my way. An accomplice of her could soon screw up." As the stubborn military piled up his empty dishes, I observed the remaining bluefin tuna on the table.
...
"Captain, when were the travel and transportation restrictions put into action?" I grabbed the last piece of sushi.
"The night the lockdown was declared. No time was wasted setting up severe security checkpoints." The irritated captain watched me examine the sushi.
"So, people have been struggling to get in and out of the boroughs in the last two days?" I nonchalantly ate the tuna.
"Ha." The angry captain nodded, not putting much thought into his answer.
I made exaggerated noises of delight with my mouth before closing the skull helmet's jaw.
"We must make sure to enjoy these premium delicacies..." I put my empty dish over Irigami's pile. "Who knows how long Subaraya will be unable to import the freshest Taiyou fish in town."
...
None of us said another word. The captain clenched both fists, suppressing his fury. It took till the waitress's arrival for him to speak again.
"Nee, how much fresh fish Subaraya has left? Tonight's isn't the last, right?"
The waitress answered his questions with an anxious smile.
•
"The reservation time is up. I'll have a talk with Byron regarding the lockdown." Irigami elegantly put on his hat and side cape, hanging the sheathed swords to his waist.
Some minutes ago, he had a private conversation with Subaraya's owner. Judging by his lack of comeback, they told him the restaurant was struggling with its supply chain due to the military restrictions.
"Irigami Taii, I'll stay here a bit longer. Let me try the sake brand you gloat so much about." The happy lieutenant sat in the center of the booth seat.
"It'll go to your account." The strict captain put his gloves on as he walked away.
The lieutenant and I sighed simultaneously as the tension in the room disappeared.
"Must not be easy to work for him." I gathered the final empty plates on the table.
"You've no idea." Now more relaxed, Wuneng sipped the last of her tea. "You helped me a lot tonight, how about I treat you to more sushi?"
"Are you sure, teniente? It doesn't look like a cheap place." I grabbed the tablet once more to check its menu.
...
"Calavera... The truth is..." The blushing lady wrung her hands below the table. "I want to try a couple of Subaraya's courses."
"A couple of courses? Isn't a course a full meal for-" I shut my mouth once I noticed Wuneng looking down.
Her face became redder.
Oh, she means-
"Calavera, your questions are the source of great stress to the lieutenant." Tea scolded me in a very robotic manner.
•
"Keep this between us. Otherwise, Wǔxíng (五刑)." The military lady threatened me with a word I preferred not to know what it meant.
The waitress had brought her the Seasonal Subaraya Feast (a full course of several dishes), and a dish of takobutsu for me. Since the omakase I had earlier mostly satisfied my hunger, I ordered just three additional sushi dishes as the voracious beauty wrapped up her courses.
"What did Irigami ask you?" I turned again to my robotic companion.
Tea's right eye twitched for a few seconds and her head jerked a little.
"She won't answer because Irigami ordered it to her." Wuneng told me as she ate the insides of a crab. "You don't have the authority to overwrite his commands."
"Qué?" I dropped my takobutsu back on the dish.
"The captain doesn't trust you, so he asked her if you were lying." Done with the poor crab, the lieutenant aimed next for her next victim: A grilled eel. "I don't mind disobeying him though."
The whole dinner was a trap! He would have discovered my secret if he had asked the right questions!
The stealthy waitress left a porcelain flask and two flat saucers for us. Even I knew sake was served best in these.
"Teniente, let me at least serve-"
"Taiyoushu is poured into the sakazuki with two hands." Wuneng stopped biting the eel, took the sake flask in my hand, and showed me how to hold it properly.
"And it's not polite to serve yourself. So..." The military lady poured the crystal-clear drink into my 'sakazuki'. "Now, serve me. お願いします!"
"Teniente, are you from Ryuutairiku's mainland? Or from Taiyou?" I took the flask to pour sake into her sakazuki cup.
"Shénxià (神夏), the mainland, but I trained for some years in Taiyou." The lieutenant raised her sakazuki so I did the same. "Salud!"
"Kanpai." We drank at the same time as Tea curiously looked at us.
Unfortunately, she was not only an android but also an eternal teenager; otherwise, I would have invited her for a drink.
"..." The smiling lieutenant turned to see the moon in the distance. But a melancholic face gradually replaced her grin.
"I hope we catch her soon." She thought aloud, still looking at the moon. I sensed something off.
"Teniente... Did Neopolitan hurt someone close to you?" I put down my sakazuki, expecting my hunch to be wrong.
"Ah, more or less." Wuneng turned to us with regret in her eyes. "A friend of mine got into trouble because of her. Arresting Neopolitan also became my goal since then."
How many enemies does that chaneque have?
"My friend is alright, don't worry..." Wuneng resumed eating the feast on the table. Her attitude improved as she emptied the dishes. "Hey, Calavera, care to listen to a story? A mission of ours, from some years back."
"Sure, if you are allowed to." Now loosened up, I went for the takobutsu.
"I'll omit confidential details, so forgive me if I keep it vague, or lie here and there." She glanced at Tea with a smile, who silently nodded in response.
•
Taiyou – 2002 (Invasion Era). 6 years before Neopolitan's arrival.
"Usagi-chan, pick up the pace." Tsubaki onee-chan's kind order regained my attention after I stopped to appreciate the scenery.
The three of us stood on a dirt road in a dense forest. After landing a few kilometers away from Sachiko (幸湖), one of the most beautiful lakes in central Taiyou, we had been hiking for about an hour. The morning sunlight couldn't reach us due to the misty weather, but I sensed the temperature was around 10 Astro degrees.
I wore a traditional purple kunoichi outfit: Pants, a sleeveless blouse, a red obi, and a black bodysuit underneath. Additionally, I had a black breastplate, gauntlets, shin guards, and a pair of tabi. For this mission, I put on a white bunny mask that completely covered my face, featuring extensions that resembled the long ears of a rabbit, leaving only the back of my head and black ponytail exposed. My wagasa (桜, Sakura) and sheathed wakizashi (竹取, Taketori) were slung across my back, and a wrapped dust scroll was tied to my waist.
"Ondori-san, don't bother with that airhead. She will only slow us down." My conceited mission partner readjusted the guandao (八戒, Bājiè) tied to her back.
Ye-san wore clothes comfortable enough for kung fu moves: A blue royal, qipao-style top, slippers, below-the-knee white trousers, and black wristbands. Her white boar mask covered her face but not her double bun hairstyle. Each bun had a blue ribbon that reached the back of her shoulders. Like me, she had a dust scroll tied to her waist.
"Onee-chan! I'm not much older than you." Senpai complained about being addressed incorrectly.
Tsubaki-chan wore a jade green, sleeveless combat kimono that reached mid-thighs. Underneath, she donned a sleeveless, legless black bodysuit. A golden obi, adorned with leaf and feather patterns, wrapped her torso. Her outfit included loose, detached sleeves in jade green. Like the kimono, these featured golden edges. Her black knee socks left enough skin visible for a zettai ryouiki. Thanks to her black open-toed sandals, I noticed that her toenail color matched her golden lips and fingernails.
Today, onee-chan wasn't armed, and unlike ours, her white rooster mask covered only the upper half of her face. While most of her loose black hair reached slightly past her shoulders, she still tied some of it into a bun, using a jade tama-kanzashi and a golden comb with a rooster symbol.
Only her unparalleled beauty surpassed that of the forest.
"Sachiko is just behind that mount." Tsubaki announced as the road became a slope.
"Onee-chan, Ye-san, it's early spring. Will there be sakura in full bloom? I eagerly clasped my hands and caught up with both. "Maybe we can organize a hanami next to the lake."
So far, the forest was filled with mizu-basho (skunk cabbages), fir, maple, and sugi trees.
"Depends on what we face but..." Our senpai came to a halt. "Better assume the worst."
•
"What the..." My dumbfounded partner couldn't finish her phrase once we reached the mount's peak.
The view that awaited us was one straight out of a horror manga. What was supposed to be a scenic, green space filled with vegetation had been replaced with a black area full of dead trees surrounding the lake. An eerie silence reigned across the barren zone.
"Shimatta! Zhang's satellites alerted us too late!" Tsubaki bit her thumb with consternation. "It spread faster than anticipated!"
"Ondori-san, is this the work of a Grimm?" As my boar partner spoke, I saw movement in the small village of wooden houses below.
These were built around the northern and eastern sides of the 11-square-kilometer lake.
"There are people over there! I will check if they are fine!" In a hurry, I activated a small aura boost to enhance my lower body.
"Matte, Usagi! Those are-" I sprinted down the mount without hearing whatever onee-chan wanted to say.
In less than two minutes, I reached the outskirts. A 6-meter-tall, barrier protected the village but I halted my movements once I noticed the opened entrance gates. A group of villagers had gathered on the other side. Most of them wearing yukata, waraji, and geta.
Oddly enough, they weren't moving at all. They just stood there, in silence.
"Is everything okay? A black stain is spreading-" A balding man in his forties turned his head towards me, in a very unnatural way, making some of his bones crack.
"Yabee! I did not conceal my presence! Forget you saw me!" I apologetically bowed to him.
The resident crossed the entrance gates, strangely contorting his body with every step. He stared at me with vacant eyes.
"O-Oji-san, do you feel-"
"空いた (empty). Suita. Suita." The starving man continued approaching me, repeating a single word in his hollow voice.
"I don't have any food but we could buy onigiri-" Oji-san halted his movement as I inspected my clothes for money.
"Suita! Suita! Suita!" The mysterious man grew furious, repeating the same word faster.
A combination of nausea and dread took hold of me.
"Suita! Suita! Suita!" His voice became louder, deeper, and more...
Monstrous.
"..." I froze in fear, observing the man's skin turn grayish-white with red veins.
Oji-san hunched while his bones cracked and big lumps moved erratically under his clothes. His eyes grew in size, their sclerae going from white to black and irises turning red. He went through an unnatural growth spurt, increasing his height by 1 meter in seconds. The guy's face widened and extended forward.
"Suita! Suita! Suita!" The ominous chant no longer belonged to a man but to a grotesque beast.
The pale hunchback, who now barely resembled a human, stood in his 4 deformed limbs, opening wide, very wide, his mouth for a big and long tongue to come out of it. The other dozen people behind him also transformed into similar creatures as they exited the village.
"Suita! Suita! Suita!" I stepped back but the chanting and croaking bunch hopped on all fours to get closer.
"... Give me a moment... Maybe I can save-" A sudden lethal wind engulfed the entrance.
I covered my face with both arms until I noticed the lack of noise and pain.
"Onee-chan!" I happily shouted.
"You are losing points because of that, baka!" There was no mistake. The admirable beauty, kneeling ahead with arms fully extended out, was none other than my senpai. A lonely black wing on her back flapped for an instant.
Before us, lay the chopped corpses of the toad-like creatures. They had been sliced into several pieces by Tsubaki's fingernails, in combination with her aura and semblance.
"Chotto matte, those weren't Grimm. Is it okay for us to kill them?" Onee-chan turned to me as I protested.
"Take a good look." She stepped aside to let me examine the fallen party.
I was afraid to do as she said but bizarre noises made me glance at the enemies. Tendrils and tentacles were sprouting from their remains in a grisly attempt to restore their sliced bodies.
"Ew..." Behind us, Ye-san looked disgusted at the regenerating toads. "Ondori-san, it has to be the ancient Gamagami (蝦蟇神)."
"Correct! You earned back some of the points Usagi-chan lost." Our supervisor childishly celebrated by standing on one foot and raising her right arm.
"We are sharing the score!?" Ye-san complained as she prepared her weapon.
"Of course. This is a team mission." Still looking at us, Onee-chan swiftly waved an arm at the horde of monsters behind her.
Another series of pressurized air cuts reduced the creatures into smaller pieces to prevent their recovery. Even with my aura-enhanced senses, it was difficult to discern how she executed her attacks due to her insane offensive speed.
"Usagi-chan, the villagers are beyond saving. All of their blood and most of their cells have been replaced by Grimm goop. Only their carcasses remain." Our instructor coldly explained as the chopped enemies tried to rebuild themselves again. "At this point, they are level 1 Grimm."
"It's useless to stay here. As long as Gamagami is nearby, its puppets will keep regenerating." A determined Ye-san ran into the rural village, ignoring the foes on the ground.
"I won't help more. Complete this mission without activating your masks, semblances, and other stuff we discussed." Onee-chan encouraged me to follow Ye-san, patting my back.
I ran past the entrance gates, leaning forward and stretching both arms behind at a 30-degree angle.
"Why do you run in such a weird way?" My irritated partner jogged by my side, holding Bājiè diagonally with both hands.
"It's the mythical shinobi running style. You go faster like this, according to Rai-kun." I excitedly explained as we ran between lined, two-story houses with tiled roofs.
"Shǎquē (fool)! The newcomer stole that stupid pose from an anime, and you believed it!" Two infected men jumped out of their houses to ambush us while she criticized me.
But within a fraction of a second, the boar girl effortlessly swung sideways her guandao to send them flying into the house to our right. The wooden structure collapsed on them as we continued running on the lane. Chanting and croaking spread across the village to alert every toad mutant of our arrival.
"Where are we going?" I opened Sakura's canopy to move aside a bunch of toad kids who charged at us.
"Gamagami infects people to convert them into extensions of itself while remaining hidden. It usually relies on great quantities of water to scatter its Grimm particles among a large population." My studious partner quickly explained, punching in the face a toad man who jumped through a shoji and failed to sneak up on her.
"Sachiko?" I sliced with Taketori a supersonic tongue from an enemy latched to a house's second story.
"I saw from the top of the mount some sort of point or promontory with a shrine. Let's head there!" Ye-san and I accelerated to evade the enemies trying to tackle us.
We soon found the exit leading to the long and narrow point in the lake and sprinted through multiple torii along its path. Finally, we reached the small wooden shrine housing a sculpture of a fox deity.
Surprisingly, the enemy horde gave up chasing after us when we crossed the first torii. Now more at ease, we looked around the area behind the shrine. I calculated we were around 140 meters inside the lake. We saw nothing but the movement in the lake's surface of the water, caused by the natural flow of water and the currents of wind.
"Now what?" I sheathed Taketori and hung Sakura on my back.
"I don't know, Chibi. Set up an aura field to search for anything suspicious." Dissatisfied, Ye-san buried Bājiè's tip on the point's soil.
"Chibi!? Just because you are like..." I stared at her impressive legs. "Thirty centimeters taller doesn't give you the right to call me that. Wait till I hit another growth spurt."
"You're 16 years old. That won't happen." My haughty partner bent her knees to pat my head.
"Don't make fun of my height!" I slapped away her hand.
It had been a while since someone pissed me off. And worst of all, it was a mission partner I wasn't very familiar with.
"Not only are you short but also dumb. You won't make it far within Shēngxiào. Baaaka!" She unexpectedly pushed me, almost making me lose my balance.
"YAMERO!" I retaliated by pushing her back.
As much as I wanted to befriend Ye-san, she wasn't making things easy.
"You are weak! Put more force into it!" She pushed me again.
On this occasion, I almost fell into the lake.
"Just a baka would buy onigiri to a Grimm." The boar girl laughed maniacally.
I furiously hunched and clenched my fists.
"Damare! PI-" A croak interrupted me. One so loud, it echoed across the whole area, including the surrounding dead forest and mounts.
...
"Good work, Usagi-san." Ye-san gently complimented me and patted my head before going for her weapon. "Your act was very convincing."
She was pretending to be a bully!? But why-
AH, RIGHT!
"Your acting was also remarkable. Almost fooled me!" I joyously made a peace hand gesture.
"The toad minions limiting themselves to the shoreline gave it away that Gamagami hides here." Ye-san pointed her weapon to the center of the lake.
Loud croaking and giant ripples spread across Sachiko's surface. With each passing second, these grew in frequency and intensity till small waves reached the portion of land we stood on.
A humongous figure emerged from the depths of the lake. One that could be mistaken for another mount. It was the first level 4 Grimm I've seen in my life.
Ancient Water-Polluting God, Gamagami.