I boarded a capsule car headed for Rat Town.
Beep—.
[Please comply with the indoor no-smoking policy.]
I ignored the autonomous driving system’s warning.
Reina, seated beside me, opened the window, giving me a sidelong glare.
“Can’t you hold off smoking, at least in here?”
“Nope. I’d rather die.”
“Sigh…”
I know it’s a nuisance, but I had to be shameless.
No joke, without these herbs, I’d genuinely feel death’s better. Especially after overusing Stone energy to lift that water tank before collapsing.
“Cough, cough! Why’s it so harsh…!?”
“Still a kid, huh, Sheriff?”
I had those days too. My mentor’s cigarette stench used to bring tears—now a fond memory.
Thinking about it, I’m probably a heavier smoker than he was.
Realizing that bitter truth soured my mood.
Beep—.
[Please comply with the indoor no-smoking policy.]
The pointless warning looped as background noise while the capsule car cut through the city.
The Ombre Wall, Rat Town’s gateway.
“Checkpoints every time. Such a hassle.”
It used to be just a big tunnel dividing districts, but after the great fire five years ago, every pass requires a checkpoint.
It’s just logging entry with an ID code, but it’s blatant discrimination compared to other city zones.
As the one who caused the fire, I wasn’t exactly at ease.
Normally, the flames should’ve been contained in Rat Town, but a lightning strike caused a citywide blackout, letting the fire spread.
I was out cold, nearly dead, so I don’t remember clearly. I woke in Ikazuchi’s VIP ward, hearing the news later.
“Hm?”
Lost in thought, I noticed someone controlling traffic in the tunnel. Up close, it was cops.
I could guess why. Probably the recent arson. The great fire left Neotopia with PTSD-level fear of flames.
The taller the tower, the faster it burns to ash.
We’re free to pass anyway, so no need to worry.
The capsule car stopped automatically at the police protocol. The window rolled down without me lifting a finger. No escaping cops without hacking this thing.
An officer approached the open window, deliberately intimidating.
“Show your ID.”
Look at this guy, dropping formalities.
After five years on Old City’s frontlines, this was unthinkable. Anyone pulling this got crushed to set an example.
But now, I’ll let my buddy handle it. Same workplace, she’ll sort it out.
Reina didn’t disappoint.
“Reina, Rat Town precinct security inspector. We’re on urgent investigation. Please let us through.”
The cop’s reaction was telling.
“Rebel cop… Ahem!”
Realizing he spoke aloud, he coughed awkwardly, but I’d heard it all.
“ID verified. Carry on.”
He rushed us through, avoiding trouble. An awkward silence filled the car as it moved.
“Pretty famous internally, huh?”
“Don’t care what people say.”
A nickname, no less. For it to slip out reflexively, her notoriety must be something.
Rebel cop. Depending on how you hear it, a humiliating slur. In a police force valuing hierarchy, “rebel” is never a compliment.
I can guess how it stuck. A stickler for justice, she probably clashed with corrupt brass often.
Climbing to security inspector with that baggage is impressive.
“Rat Town precinct? Never heard of it while I lived there.”
“Probably not. It was a ghost station with zero staff before I was assigned.”
So, she was demoted. Not just sent to a rough area—pushed off a cliff to quit.
Her tenacity to stay and investigate deserves respect.
“We’re back. Let’s walk from here.”
Driving in Rat Town just draws eyes. Stepping out, the capsule car zipped back to the tunnel alone.
“Straight to Red Dog’s hideout.”
“Hold up.”
“What?”
I stopped her as she moved eagerly. Scanning Reina from head to toe, I was sure.
Flowing blonde hair, piercing blue eyes. Porcelain skin, perfect figure even under her uniform.
Too conspicuous.
“Move like that, and Ruby won’t meet us. It’s like shouting you’re here to arrest her. Plus, you’ll attract flies.”
“…So?”
“Sheriff, isn’t disguise investigation 101?”
I bought a coat at a shop near the district’s entrance.
“Haha. Outsiders, huh?”
The clerk glanced at us, chatting warmly. Reina’s police uniform was ditched on the street, leaving her in a bold outfit.
Squirming in embarrassment, she whispered protests.
“Do we really need this…!?”
“Tch. Gonna half-ass an investigation over some shame?”
“Ugh…!!”
Sunk with one line. It worked so well, I was a bit thrown. I just meant to tease her lightly.
The clerk, watching with a creepy gaze, gave a sleazy smile.
“Lovers, eh? You two seem close.”
“L-Lovers!? Two women, that’s…!”
“Shut up with the nonsense.”
Pretty conservative, huh? In this depraved city, rejecting something like that’s rare. Not that I’m one to talk.
“Hey, just ring us up.”
“…Haha. Right. 500,000 credits.”
Haha. Prices must’ve spiked in my five-year absence. No way that’s over 100,000 credits. Fivefold inflation, huh?
I puffed my cigarette, rummaging my pockets.
“Oh, here.”
I tossed a 500-credit coin carelessly.
“This’ll do, right?”
“…Hey. What’s this supposed to mean?”
Wow, instant attitude shift. Sadly, it’s more laughable than scary. As the mood turned hostile, Reina tried to mediate.
“Both of you, calm down and talk—”
Click.
“Talk? Great. My gun wants to chat.”
The clerk grinned, pulling a shotgun from under the counter. I exhaled smoke and told Reina.
“See? Self-defense.”
“Wait—!”
Boom—!!!
I swung before she could stop me.
“Guh!”
Phew. Beating the thieving clerk finally eased some stress. Since returning to Neotopia, nothing’s gone my way—frustrating as hell.
Reina, watching, rubbed her temples, muttering.
“You’re really something…”
“Don’t worry. I went easy on him.”
“The one saying we need to move quietly causes this mess?”
Well, when you put it like that, I’ve got no comeback. But you changed clothes too.
“Better get used to it. Everyone here’s the same. Smiling while plotting to stab you in the back.”
“…No. When someone shows kindness, you should be grateful and reciprocate.”
“Maybe. But the Neotopia I’ve lived in isn’t like that.”
“That’s why we change it. We can’t live like this forever.”
A tearjerking ideal. Dreaming of a perfect utopia. Nobody’d say that world’s wrong. They just shake their heads, knowing it’s impossible.
“Suits you.”
“…Thanks.”
After changing, we headed to our destination. Reaching Red Dog’s hideout didn’t take long.
Time to finally meet Ruby.
With that thought, I entered the building.
“Ruby?”
“Looks empty.”
The hideout was deserted.
“Maybe she sensed danger and went into hiding.”
“Damn it. This is bad.”
If so, I’d have to hunt for Ruby without a clue where she is. With only a week, I can’t scour all of Neotopia…
“Let’s search the area.”
Hoping for any lead, I was about to check the hideout. Then, something glinted in the corner of my vision.
‘Wire?’
Reflexively, I grabbed Reina’s collar from behind.
And then.
Boom!!
A vicious explosion rocked the hideout.