Nineteen

Searching around the area far from the harbor only to come up empty-handed, Suo Ming began to regret his actions. He knew full well that Tsujitsuji had a neurotic temperament; he shouldn't have said those provocative things to him.

If he still couldn't find him, he would have to call the police. Suo Ming pulled out his phone and checked the time; it was already four in the morning, and dawn would be breaking soon.

Suddenly, a pair of cold, soft hands covered his eyes from behind, and a gentle, clear voice whispered in his ear, "Guess who?"

It was Tsujitsuji’s voice. Suo Ming breathed a sigh of relief, the heavy stone that had been weighing on his heart finally lifting. Pulling down Tsujitsuji Tomie’s hands, Suo Ming turned to look at the youth, who wore an innocent expression as if nothing had happened.

"I'm hungry, let’s go home. I was wrong earlier; I don't want to break up with you." Tomie wrapped his arms around Suo Ming’s, apologizing pitifully. On his handsome face, a pair of slightly reddened eyes looked up at Suo Ming pleadingly.

He was like a cat that knew it had done something wrong, drooping its ears pitifully, rubbing against you with its soft, fluffy fur while meowing in a sweet, pathetic way.

The urge to hold him accountable vanished instantly. Suo Ming looked helplessly at the acting-coy Tsujitsuji Tomie and let out a deep sigh. "The night is dangerous. Don't go running off like that again."

Tsujitsuji Tomie curled his lip, looking completely dismissive of the danger Suo Ming spoke of, but he maintained a well-behaved facade. "I know. Let’s hurry home; I’m so cold."

Suo Ming looked at the thin clothing the youth was wearing, took off his own coat, and draped it over Tomie’s shoulders. "Let's go."

Tomie pulled the coat tighter around himself, let go of Suo Ming’s arm, and instead grabbed his hand, pulling him forward. "Hurry up, you're too slow, Teacher Suo."

Suo Ming hesitated and didn't immediately follow Tsujitsuji Tomie’s pace. He glanced back at a small alleyway; that must have been where Tomie had been hiding just moments ago.

There seemed to be some movement in the alley—a rustling sound, though he couldn't hear it clearly.

The youth pulling him urged him on with some impatience. Suo Ming didn't linger, catching up to Tsujitsuji Tomie’s stride, and the two walked forward side-by-side, hand in hand.

The handsome, clear-featured youth looked back silently. As he gazed into the alleyway, which was completely swallowed by darkness, a look of gratified, twisted, and eerie satisfaction curled the corners of his lips.

Inside the alley, a man with a withered, gaunt face clamped his hands tightly over a youth’s mouth and nose. With a dagger, he cruelly slit the youth’s throat, and blood gushed out in large quantities, soaking and staining the youth’s clothes.

At first, the youth had the strength to struggle, but the man’s power was far beyond what his gaunt frame suggested. His withered hands held the youth like iron pincers until blood loss robbed the youth of his strength and life.

The porcelain-white hands dropped limply. The skin, already fair, now took on a terrifying, grayish-white, parched appearance due to the massive blood loss. The youth stared blankly at the ground, the tear mole at the corner of his eye losing its vitality.

The man looked at the dead youth and swallowed hard, muttering to himself, "I did it. I killed him. Tomie, I listened to you and killed this imposter..."

The body, now devoid of warmth, lay lifeless in the corner against the wall. His face was identical to the Tsujitsuji Tomie who had just left. And this gaunt, skeletal man was none other than the dungeon guard who had previously defected.

After killing this Tsujitsuji Tomie, the man hid in the alley, watching Suo Ming’s retreating back with eyes full of jealousy and resentment. The dagger in his hand scraped harshly against the wall, leaving behind jagged, hideous marks.

"Why do you get to stay by Tomie’s side... when I am the one who loves him the most! And Tomie, too—he promised to be with me! Bitch! You fickle, promiscuous bitch!"

The man growled in a frenzy, his hands digging relentlessly into his own face, leaving bloody gashes on skin that was already terrifying to look at.

Black-red blood welled up from the wounds, but the man felt no pain as he scratched viciously, his eyes flickering between obsession and hatred for Tomie, both crazed and pathological.

He had been completely bewitched by Tomie, drowning in the vortex named Tomie, gradually losing his reason until only hysterical madness remained.

To fall in love with Tomie, to be unable to extricate oneself, and finally, to kill him. The abyss of desire named Tomie seduced and attracted everyone who laid eyes on him, dragging them into the evil greed known as 'love.'

The next day, Suo Ming habitually watched the news while eating breakfast. Tomie was still sleeping, so Suo Ming kept the television volume low.

Taking a bite of his sandwich, Suo Ming stared at the news, motionless for a long time. The report was covering a series of bizarre deaths occurring in the city.

A woman pierced by an icicle was exposed to the public in a gruesome manner. The scene had already been cordoned off by police, and there was no shortage of onlookers nearby.

Even through the news broadcast, Suo Ming could hear the chatter from the crowd.

This method of killing could never have been done by human hands. Like an urban legend in Yokohama, an 'Ability User' had suddenly been exposed to the public eye.

Pulling out his phone, Suo Ming began searching for related reports. Yokohama had always maintained an ambiguous attitude regarding the existence of Ability Users—neither confirming nor denying it.

But today, they had broken that rule, which puzzled Suo Ming. However, he soon found the reason.

In an official report, members of Scepter 4 had stepped forward, stating they would assist in the investigation of this "Non-Aligned" death incident.

By labeling Ability Users as "Non-Aligned" (Strain), they blurred the concepts, significantly reducing public panic.

For the citizens, compared to the unfamiliar "Ability User," a "Non-Aligned" individual—endorsed by a King and investigated by official forces—felt much safer.

As for whether these people with special powers were truly Non-Aligned or Ability Users, the average citizen didn't need to distinguish between the two.

Is the Blue King intervening in Yokohama? Suo Ming stroked his chin. This was a good thing for Yokohama; having an upright and orderly King managing the city was far better than the current situation.

At least as an ordinary citizen, he very much hoped Munakata Reisi and Scepter 4 would take over Yokohama.

——————————————

"Damn it! That guy found an opening after all!" Nakahara Chuuya slammed his fist against the desk in anger. The appearance of the strange white mist and the eerie way the Ability Users were dying gave Scepter 4, with the help of the Special Ability Department, a legitimate reason to station themselves in Yokohama.

Munakata Reisi appeared gentle and law-abiding, but deep down, he remained a radical hawk.

Now that he had seized the opportunity to meddle in Yokohama’s affairs, he would absolutely not give up until he achieved his goals!

"Report, Executive Nakahara, the traitor has been found." A subordinate knocked politely on the door. Nakahara Chuuya exhaled and adjusted his hat. "Let’s go."

In the Boss’s office, Mori Ogai looked at the documents on his desk with a grave expression.

He hadn't expected the Yokohama government to send the "White Kirin" back at a time like this. Six years ago, the "Dragon’s Head Conflict" sparked by the White Kirin had allowed the Port Mafia to climb to the top, but the resulting losses were equally immense.

If Dazai Osamu hadn't still been in the Port Mafia at that time, revitalizing most of the Mafia's industries, the Port Mafia would not have been the one to have the last laugh.

After the Dragon’s Head Conflict ended, the White Kirin, as the primary culprit, was originally meant to face the death penalty. However, the higher-ups in Yokohama, coveting his unique ability and the temptation of him being the "most promising candidate to become a transcendent," secretly sent the White Kirin away from Yokohama, sparing his life.

He hadn't expected this guy to appear in Yokohama again, and the moment he returned, he began hunting down Ability Users.

The news reports covered only the first victims to appear. By now, to Mori Ogai’s knowledge, there were already thirteen victims.

The Special Ability Department was also wary of the White Kirin, which was why they dragged the visiting Scepter 4 into the mess. The Special Ability Department alone couldn't withstand the pressure from above, but with Munakata Reisi added to the mix, it was a different story.

With Munakata Reisi involved, it was no longer the Yokohama government putting pressure on them, but two special agencies putting pressure on the government.

Mori Ogai sighed deeply, feeling a twisted sense of having eaten chocolate that tasted like excrement.