Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“For the past several years, there’s this thief who made the Public Security light-headed. He was captured once, but managed to escape. Then he was captured again, but escaped again with his bounty money. Then it happened again as if it’s monthly or yearly agenda. He’s clearly not working alone, especially when his way of stealing is very frank and bold. It’s almost like a circus or magic tricks or drama performace, sometimes. He comes with nicknames like ‘Captain of The Fools’, ‘The King of Wayward Souls’, ‘The Flaming Returned’—”

“The last one is cool.”

“Xiangli,” a red-haired man rebuked.

“Sorry, I’m just glad you make it the nickname to put on the official list, because the other sounded cringe.”

Mortefi sighed, as well the Public Security inspector in front of them, who sounded desperate.

“During one of our introgation, he stated his name is Brant.”

“Sounds like a type of seagull’s name.” Another interfere.

“Baizhi-” this time, Mortefi’s tone is a bit confused, while Xiangli Yao chuckles.

“You actually follows Chixia’s advice to joke more, Baizhi.”

The inspector puts a paper on the table a bit harsher than when he puts the documents before. “We received this letter this morning and we need the Huaxu Detective Agency’s help.”

The three detectives peeked the paper. It looks like an invitation letter to an exclusive show. But the “show” is stealing an ancient relic from the museum. The handwriting and some small golden garnish used are giving a classy impression, alongside with a ticket attached at the back. Huaxu Detective Agency was written on the ticket.

Huaxu Detective Agency itself is a science-based detective agency funded by the Black Shores, a world wide peacekeeper organization. Not only solving crimes, they also investigate supernatural phenomena that often occurs around everyday life and if it’s distrubing enough, they have the permission to exterminate it.

But, after an incident in New Federation 3 months ago, suddenly some detectives were killed mysteriously. Turns out that incident was actually rigged by someone. That person put a certain tracker when the incident occurs and now they’re hunting down the remaining detectives, for whatever reason. Mortefi had a house in Jinzhou, so he took some of his colleauges to hide here for a while. Even when Jinzhou’s Magistrate assurace their safety, the possibility they’ll be found isn’t low so they need to move around. The Black Shores is still trying to investigate further about that incident and search the main culprit who has been hunting the detectives. They’ll send Bloom Bearers once in a while who had their own ways to find the detectives, to make sure they’re sill alive. They also brought money, informations from the hub, and required supplies for the detectives.

It makes sense that The Flaming Returned sends this invitation letter to the Public Security office. The documents said that he often perform in Rinascita, then there’s this ancient relic that pique his interest in Jinzhou, making him come all the way here and heard about them at some points. But when and how did he heard that the Huaxu detectives was in Jinzhou? If the detectives remember correctly, they didn’t announce their arrival except to the Magistrate and Public Security.

The inspector sighed at that question. “We don’t know either. This is also something I want to discuss with you…”

The three detectives looked at each other.

“Chixia didn’t accidentally spilled it out, right?” Baizhi looks worried.

“Or was our last meeting with a Bloom Bearer quite striking?” Xiangli Yao thinks.

Mortefi grunts. “Rumors. Inspector, what kind of conversation which is being talked about on the city streets recently?”

“Well, the top one certainly is about The Flaming Returned who will ‘throw a show’ tonight of stealing an ancient relic. Alongside it are celebrity gossips and… ah, the incident in New Federation 3 months ago.”

“That topic must’ve been the roots of rumors about us. People speculate from the news that, ironically, was partially covered up for our safety. But of course it made them wonder where the Huaxu detectives went, especially when we didn’t show up when a supernatural phenomena occurred lately.” Mortefi deduced. “And from this rumors, this thief found a way to confirm that we are indeed here.”

“Ah, inspector, I have a question,” Xiangli Yao raised a hand. “Is this thief good at disguising?”

The inspector’s brows furrowed. “Apparently, he does. In one of his drama performance, he acted as multiple people with different faces and changes appearance in a quick pace.”

“Then, that guy must be…”

Baizhi squints her eyes at Xiangli Yao. “You’ve meet him before?”

“I’m just guessing. Yesterday, after we had lunch, someone droped some change coins near the cashier. One rolled near me, so I helped him pick it up. For a brief moment, I saw a coin with an anchor on it that he also picks up.” The brunet explained.

“An anchor!” The inspector slams the table, startling them. “It’s definetely him!”

“Please calm down, Inspector,” Xiangli Yao was a bit worried the table might broke.

“Are you saying he immediately knows that you’re a detective from Huaxu? How?” Mortefi asked, curious.

“Habit observation, then confirming from reactions to small things. I think he purposedly drops the coins and showed the anchor coin to Xiangli to see what only Huaxu detectives do,” Baizhi said.

Xiangli Yao nods in agreement. “It means he already knows quite a lot of things about us, despite being more active in Rinascita. Perhaps he also been looking at us while we’re eating.”

Mortefi frowns, then the inspector sighed heavily.

“So, will the three of you come tonight?”

“Yeah, he already invited us,” Xiangli Yao uses one hand to prop his chin on the table. A small smirk on his face as he murmurs, “Plus, he’s interesting.”

***

Jinzhou Museum keeps a lot of ancient relic, runes, and old scrolls about traditional magic and supernatural system. For example, a pot that could seal ghosts, a necklace that could change voice, even a device that works like modern day walkie-talkie and camera at once. The ancient relic that said to be stolen this night is stored on a wooden box which had a complex lock mechanism. Its size was around a tissue box’s, but the shape is really unique, with detailed and beautiful engravings on every side, as if telling a story. It was put inside a glass box to be shown to eveyone.

“It is said that the key of this box is within itself,” the museum owner explained.

“The patterns on each side, right?” Xiangli Yao leaned closer.

“I see a lot of animals here,” Baizhi commented.

Mortefi intended to save his energy, so he decides to sigh and say sorry to the museum owner, who stares in disbelief at first, but then laughed. “As expected from Huaxu detectives!”

Thankfully, the museum already closed, so nobody else can heard them. Although just right outside the gate, there’s a crowd of people being curious and excited for The Flaming Returned’s show.

“Oh, it requires a certain noise to unlock,” Xiangli Yao suddenly blurted out.

“Guys, are you trying to unlock it?!” Mortefi quickly pulls those two.

“Sorry, Mortefi, it’s just so intriguing.” Xiangli Yao scrathes his cheek awkwardly.

Mortefi forgot this colleauge of him loves solving puzzles. This wodden box is nothing but a puzzle with ancient design to him.

“What’s the relic, actually?” The red haired man decides to change the topic and asked the museum owner.

“It was a gift from an old emperor who once rule all of Huanglong to his only daughter. A gem—the prettiest gem the daugher ever seen. It also holds a magic power that will always protect her, just like her father’s power in his prime age. She puts the gem on a wand that she use to help other during war, but then the enemies start targeting it because the old emperor’s power is really strong. So, for it never fall into a wrong hand, she puts it in this box and lock it with her singing.” The museum owner told the story.

“Oh, so it can be unlocked just with her singing too?” Xiangli Yao asked.

“Haha, you said that it requires a certain noise, didn’t you? Those animal engravings are actually the musical sheet. Follow the notes and it shall be unlocked!”

“Ah, I see. You’tans here are treble clef symbols.” Baizhi was beside the box again, making Mortefi drags her back again.

“Well, none of us are good at playing musical instrument,” Xiangli Yao said. “But that thief, on the other hand…”

“Huh, right. He always consider stealing as performing, according to Inspector’s story. So, if he find out sooner about this hidden music sheet, his ‘show’ tonight is almost certainly a way to open the box by itself.” Mortefi realized.

“Don’t worry! This section where we keep the Old Empire heritage was guarded since we got the letter and I made sure nobody was nearer than 50 centimeters with the box for the whole day! And we also put a special sensor when the glass was touched: the lights will go out, except the spotlight towards the box, so we knew the who is the nearest person to it!” The museum owner looked excited, like he waited for so long to use this defense mechanism. “And the sensor respond to pressure instead of skin contact!”

“Amazing. So, no alarms?” Xiangli Yao asked.

“No, we’ll do it in an elegant way. I heard that thief loves to be the center of attention, so we should prepare his stage as well,” the museum owner laughed.

“What if he use pistols?” Baizhi asked too.

“The mechanism still got triggered and at least the box wasn’t damaged!”

Then, the Public Security inspector approaches them. “Sir, it’s almost time.”

The detectives reflexively looked at their watches at the same time.

“Right, right! Let’s watch from this side, detectives!” The museum owner took them near to the inspector’s own position. It’s not too far from the box, but also not too near to possibly disturb the guards positioned to make a wall around it. They also could see the entrance door and the crowd outside through the window.

Right when the clock hits 10:00, all the lights inside the museum runs off. Everyone got confused because it didn’t go as planned and they have not seen anything touching that glass box yet. The crowd outside to screams excitedly.

“The Flaming Returned appeared on top of the museum!!” All the guards’ communication device announced, shocking them.

“I’ll go to the top floor.” Xiangli Yao said as he saw a squad of gruards rushing to the stairs with flashlights on.

“I’ll go with you. Baizhi, you go outside!” Mortefi pointed.

“On it,” the woman constructed an ice flower that glow softly and runs to the exit door, while her two colleauges catch up with the inspector to the top floor.

The top floor is an outdoor area with a dome-shaped canopy. When the squad arrives, they saw a stage which immediately lit up by spotlights. A group of plushies are standing there, holding musical instruments.

“My, thank you for coming in, gentlemen!” A voice was heard, but no owner was seen. “Tonight’s show is actually for these adorable plushies~ I would not like to interfere them.”

“What do you mean?! Brant, show yourself!” The inspector shouts, then search the whole floor with his squad.

Those plushies rise their instruments and start playing. Somehow, everyone inside and around the museum could hear the music. The crowd was amazed, they cheer and clapping their hands, while Baizhi who just joined Chixia’s squad were confused because no sights of that thief again after he made an appearance some moments ago.

Xiangli Yao checks on those plushies which looked so happy playing the music. “Mortefi, look! They’re Echoes!”

Huaxu detectives are familiar with Echoes, of course, because those creatures are one of the most often supernatural occurrence happening around. Mortefi took a closer look.

“I think these guys are red herrings—” just as he said that, the tail of his eye caught a flash of light. He turns and run to the side that facing a building.

“Mortefi?” Xiangli Yao got confused, he followed Mortefi and paying attention of what the red hair might saw.

“I tought I saw something coming from this way,” the man stated. “But I’m not sure what it is.”

Xiangli Yao wants to reply, but then the museum lights switches on again and—

“THE GEM, THE GEM IS MISSING!!”

***

Brant was leaning by an opened window frame, rising his hand that holds a purple gem to the eye level, admiring how it reflect the moonlight and glows bautifully. The wind slowly comes inside the dim bedroom where a man lies unconsciously on the floor with a sniper. A girl was kneeling to check on him.

“I almost tought you’ll kill him,” she said as a creature from her suitcase made a room for evidences around them—including the man.

Brant chuckles. “Maybe I’ll considerate that option after we got enough information.”

“Pero pero!” The creature comments.

“Pero said you’re too reckless. Have you think about the risk if we involved in this case?” The girl frowns.

“Yes. I am aware of the danger we might face after taking this sniper. But at least…” he didn’t continue immediately. Instead, he stares at Jinzhou Museum with an unexplained expression, then sighs softly. “Roccia, do you believe in love at first sight?”

“I do trust in trust in first sight,” the girl said flatly, then turns to the door. “Let’s go, Brant.”

***

Chapter Text

A package arrived at Mortefi’s door and it’s obviously wasn’t from any ally of them. There’s a small note pasted that proves it’s for the Huaxu Detective Agency. When he was wondering who put it there, he found an achor symbol on one corner. He took it in and shows it to the others.

“Should we tell the Public Security?” Baizhi asked.

“Might be the best option, but it’s very light. Somehow I doubt it contains any dangerous thing,” Mortefi answered. “After his ‘show’ yesterday, the Echo plushies coorperate with us pretty well and even stated that he never intended to harm us. But we can’t believe him instantly…”

Xiangli Yao carefully opened the package while Baizhi asked again, “Oh, anyway, how did that thief took the gem? The music played by those plushies is the key to open the box, but the power failure for the whole museum? And the glass box that didn’t even move an inch?”

“The power failure happen right before anything touches the glass box and the spotlights in that room was replaced. Those original spotlights were then put for the stage on the top floor. I don’t really know how or when did he prepare it all, but he opened the glass box right after we arrive there, then took the gem just like that.” Mortefi explained.

“It turns out the glass box could be opened from the top, not even the museum owner know about it. The darkness gives him advantage to throw a hook to open it and took the gem out. From where he did it is still a mystery especially when the guards immediately turn on flashlights.” Xiangli Yao added. “And speaking of boxes, apparently he sended us one.”

Baizhi and Mortefi moved closer to the table. The package was indeed a simple and small wooden box, wrapped in a plain waterproof paper which Xiangli Yao already put aside.

“It’s a puzzle,” he lift it up and smiled excitedly.

Baizhi also smiled a little. “Well then, we’ll leave it to you, Xiangli.”

She then walked towards the kitchen to get some water for herself. But, right when the supposed plain water touches her tongue, her body tenses and she immediately drop the glass. The shattering sound startled the two men at the living room. They ran to the kitchen and saw Baizhi spits into the sink, her face pale and hands shaking.

“Baizhi, are you okay?! What happen?!” Mortefi asked in a panic tone.

The woman glanced towards the pool of water on the floor. “The water… is extremely bitter. It wasn’t like this yesterday.”

Xiangli Yao lightly touches the water with his prostetic fighers, then opens up a hologram tab to scan the sample. It didn’t take long for it to show the result. “Strychnine.” His eyes widen and looks worriedly at Baizhi.

Mortefi quickly opens the dispenser to check on the water gallon. “Don’t say…”

Realization hits them.

“I’ll check the security camera. You two, pack our things now!” The red haired man said and the three of them immediately went separate ways.

Baizhi in their bedrooms, putting their clothes in suitcases and tidy up as fast as she can in a limited time. Xiangli Yao in the living room, collecting all the important documents and items, then rushed to the bedrooms to help Baizhi. Mortefi still in the kitchen, picking up a cactus on one of the shelf and opens a hidden chamber at the bottom of the pot. He took out a small item before connecting it to his tablet.

The pot of that cactus had a hidden camera and that item is its memory card. Usually, Mortefi just connect the camera to his tablet wirelessly without the card, but this time is for future safety reasons. He search for the footage where the three of them went out yesterday. To his surprise, he didn’t find anything odd. Just an empty kitchen until they ate dinner. Around that time, they also drank the water from the dispenser, but nobody reacts like Baizhi just then. So, how did the water was poisoned? And most importantly, how did ‘that person’ escaped the security supervison?

“Mortefi! We just got a call from Rover. We must go to the other side of the city and meet Camellya, she’ll help us find a new hideout,” Xiangli Yao came with their both’s suitcases.

“Alright.”

***

The last thing they expected from meeting with Camellya is a cheap underground apartement room, barely enough for the three detectives and their stuffs. There’s a Public Security post nearby, so at least they feel a little bit safer.

“From now on, I’ll be the responsible Bloom Bearer for your team,” the woman said. “Outside from the regular visit, you guys could call me by picking one of these flowers anytime you need.”

She pointed at a vase of red flowers that are similar to the ones adorned her clothes.

“Thank you, Camellya. Oh, anyway, any new progress from the Black Shores about the investigation?” Mortefi asked.

“Yes, we found a crystal shard around the location of that incident. It is identified as the same crystal from a meteoroid that hit Solaris one year ago, but this time it’s not there because of a meteor. Upon further investigation, we found that that crystal holds a spesific pattern which we could only see after being modified by Carlotta Montelli.”

A clicking sound paused Camellya. Xiangli Yao just solved the box puzzle and he gasps. There’s nothing inside the puzzle except an engraving of measured close lines, even though the length of each lines are different, but they made a spesific pattern.

“What? Wait, it looks excatly like the pattern I was talking about!” Camellya was also shocked. “How did it get here? Who give this to you?”

“Have you heard about The Flaming Returned, Camellya? I guess he involved with this case somehow…” Mortefi crossed his arms.

“The Flaming… ah, that infamous phantom thief from Rinascita? He sended this?” Camellya was stunned for a second. “How… did he knew your position?”

The three detectives fell silent.

“The only possible reason is that he had an intel. Inspector said he didn’t work alone, right? That also might be the reason he knew about this pattern,” Baizhi deduced.

“Ah, Camellya, you mentioned someone named Carlotta Montelli. Is she…” Xiangli Yao looked at the Bloom Bearer.

She nods. “The heir of Montelli Family from Rinascita.”

“I see…” Xiangli Yao opens his tablet and starts searching something.

“Are you suspecting her?” Mortefi asked.

“Not really, but there is a possibility,” the brunet replied. His tablet screen displays a lot of information about the Montelli Family, their gem and precious collections, also news about the Flaming Returned’s actions in Rinascita.

Apparently, some expensive items that thief has stolen from the Montelli Family was always returned after he had a showdown with Carlotta. There’s a video recording of them “fighting”—it’s actually more like dancing. Their gun’s bullets clashed, creating sparks of pretty colors in Ragunna’s night sky. Their footworks when dodging and jumping from roof to roof, how their bodies moved, as if they had chemistry and this performance is prepared.

Xiangli Yao then switches to a interview with Carlotta where she explained how that thief break into a high-security section of Averardo Vault, that only few registered employee could enter. He realized it was similar to yesterday’s case in the museum.

“Xiangli,” Baizhi showed her tablet, to a video recorded by an onlooker from the crowd around the museum yesterday, right when the Flaming Returned appeared on the building.

He paid attention to it carefully while Mortefi discuss some more things with Camellya, then the Bloom Bearer leaves them. After closing and locking the door, Mortefi turned back to his colleagues and notices their expressions changed.

“You got something from that, don’t you?”

He just received a small smirk from Xiangli Yao.

***

A delivery man entered the upperground of the apartement building. He dressed like a restaurant waiter who got tasked to deliver a food ordered online, nothing seems suspicious at all. He placed the food at the receptionist as it was a rule in this apartement: its inhabitants must not take anything adressed to them directly unless the apartement’s management knows about it. The man headed back to the entrance door, but suddenly got stopped.

“I’m sorry, Sir, may I have some of your time?”

His purple eyes got widen because he recorginze that voice. He continues his act like a professional he is, turned around and smiles at the brown haired detective who—unfortunately—decides to wear a glasses this afternoon.

“Ah, yes, anything I could help?”

“I’m currently doing a survey about how many delivery a delivery man delivers in one day. Would you mind if I ask that to you?”

The man scrathes the back of his head awkwardly. “Sure,” he said with an unsure tone.

Xiangli Yao smiles. “So, how many deliveries did you deliver today, Sir?”

“Around… 2? There aren’t a lot of people using our online service today.”

“Usually, how much did you get paid? Was it per delivery or do you have a fixed wage?”

“I got 1500 to 20000 Credits in average for each delivery.”

“I see. Last question, are you a Huanglong native?”

The man gives crooked smile at the question. “I… am.”

“Oh… Well, thank you for your time and sorry for bothering you,” Xiangli Yao bowed in respect.

“Ah, don’t thank me and I’m not bothered at all!” By that, the man quickly takes his leave.

Xiangli Yao stays quiet for a minute, then looked into his palm where he has a coin with an anchor symbol on it. “I wonder what made him careless today.”

Meanwhile, the said “delivery man” almost crashed into an alley and stumbled upon opening a doorway. He puts down his disguise and sighed loudly.

“Pero?” The creature in a suitcase approaches him.

“…Why is it so hard to not kiss someone so good-looking?”

“Pero pero…” Should’ve known, it said.

***

Chapter Text

Brant doesn’t remember since when he was on the bed, naked, inside a dim room that half-looked like his old bedroom back in Ragunna City. He heard a rustle beside him and got surprised by another person presence there. Part of his mind screamed that this was just a dream because there’s no fucking way he kidnap someone just to sleep with them.

He reached out, stoking at the brown hair down to the soft cheek. It almost feel surreal. He leaned closer and do what he always want to do. It was an absurd feeling, too direct, too good. His body moving instinctively, his vision a bit blurred but still he focuses on that face. Pretty. He could hear the filthly sounds they made, the bed creaking, the pant and heavy breaths, the whispers—

“I love you.”

His eyes snapped open and he immediately sat up with a loud gasp.

The door opened a bit. “What was that?” Roccia’s head appears with a confused look.

Brant realized that he’s back to reality, in his room at the Troupe’s Dorm that currently settled in Jinzhou. He waved at Roccia with a weird smile. After the girl decided to went with it, Brant looked under his blanked and saw a wet stain on his crotch.

Great. A wet dream.

***

“Now we know he’s not working alone and often disguised as locals. The performace at the museum is already set up long before he sended the invitations. First, he swapped the spotlights in the gem’s room with ones on the rooftop, then making sure the glass box could be opened from any sides. After that, the plushie squad was put on the rooftop to play the music and also project a recorded footage and voice of him who appeared on the roof, distracting our attention. When half of the guards were focusing to chase him, at the time he actually disguised as one of the guards in the gem’s room. He opened the glass box, took the gem, and then flew out as fast as a blink of eye to Sentinel knows where.”

The three Huaxu detectives were invited by the Jinzhou Magistrate for a meeting in the City Hall, for there was a special person paying a visit—the Black Shore’s leader themself, Rover, who chooses a male appearance this time. He grew an interest at this thief after Camellya reported about the detectives’ condition and suspicions.

“I’ve already tell you about our very first encounter at the restaurant, where he confirms that we were indeed at Jinzhou. After that, he sended a package to our previous hideout. He knew the adress because he put a tracker in a certain pattern on the plushie squad.” Xiangli Yao glances at Baizhi, who then shows the data of said Echoes on the screen.

She arrange the Echoes from the biggest to smallest and taps the screen twice. A measured close lines appears, from longest to shortest, but still forming a specific pattern which quite surprised Rover.

“That is…”

“Also similar to the crystal shard you found and what was inside this box,” Mortefi pointed at the puzzle box in front of Xiangli Yao.

Without being asked, Rover pulls out the crystal shard Camellya talked yesterday, then puts it beside the box.

“It looks slightly different, but perhaps because it tries to tell something.”

“Correct. These are something that resemble encryption codes. It works differently according to the big shape it made,” Baizhi nods in agreement. “For example, the one we found on the plushie squad was meant for tracking, the big shape is like an internet signal bar.”

“As for the one on the crystal shard, it looks like a chain of diamonds, so perhaps it holds a clue of the other shards,” Xiangli Yao added.

Rover took a minute of silence. “Then, the one in your box must be—”

The brunet abruptly closes the box and store it elsewhere. Baizhi glanced at Mortefi, who had an irritated face and obviously unpleasant gesture. Rover sighed and chuckled almost in the same time, while the Jinzhou Magistrate tries to peek curiously.

“Anyway, about how to read the code, it’s a challenging phase,” Xiangli Yao changes the topic.

“Can we hope your Thethys can do something about it?” Mortefi asked, shifting his expression.

“Wait, it can’t be read by normal encryption-reading machine?” The Magistrate, Jinhsi, asked back and Mortefi shakes his head.

“We’ve tried and it said ‘failed to detect code type’. It means these weren’t normal encryption code, just something similar to it, especially if you think about the one that could track us,” the red-head gestured at the screen.

“These codes are unique in their own way, a special device must be used to interact with it. It means that thief have the said device that could read these codes even from afar.” Rover deducts.

“Not only that. We found this code in the Echoes’ data, not entirely on the plushies themselves,” Baizhi shows her way of finding the pattern. “So, that device also needs to manipulate and create, not only read or track. It will be easier to operate that way.”

“Now, the ultimate question is: what are these codes actually? What’s the purpose of anyone or anything leave it in the first place, especially in the crystal shard?” Xiangli Yao glanced at the said shard.

“Hmm… I think you have a nearest clue at the moment,” Jinhsi said.

“Right. The Flaming Returned.” Rover nods, thinking the same thing. “Have you tried tracking him down? Even with clues that looked so out of place, you always managed to found a way, don’t you, Yao?”

Xiangli Yao chuckles. “Well, I actually got an idea when looking at his actions in Rinascita. The one that draw my attention the most is when he had a ‘performance’ with Carlotta Montelli. There’s something there that gave me a guarantee to spot him anywhere, even in disguise.”

Mortefi puts on his irritated face again which Xiangli Yao ignore, while Rover and Jinhsi looked at each other and nod in a same thought. Baizhi cleared her throat, signaling her colleauges to focus on work first, so Xiangli Yao pulls out an anchor coin.

“When now we had an immovable tracker by the form of Echoes data in Baizhi’s tablet, it’ll very easy for him to follow us around, even after we move to a new hideout. He disguised himself as a ‘delivery man’ from a local restaurant yesterday, perhaps it was another person’s order, but certainly he was checking on us too. So, I just greeted him before he go and ask him a bunch of questions that surprisingly, distracted him.”

“Ah, I haven’t asked about what you will do with this coin, Xiangli.” Mortefi said, trying to sound normal.

Xiangli Yao hums and thinks for a moment. “We can use it as a bait in his next ‘show’.”

A knock was heard from the door and the person across it announce, “Excuse me, My Lady, this is Sanhua, delivering a message.”

The Magistrate turned her head. “Come in.”

The door swung open and a short-haired woman walks in. She handed an envelope to Jinhsi. The Magistrate’s name was written on it, so she opens it curiously and gasps.

“What’s wrong?!” Rover and Sanhua hurriedly asked in a worried tone.

“Apparently, that thief decided to come in the right timing,” she shows the paper which looks similar to the one Huaxu detectives received a couple of days ago, but this time it’s just one sentence, straight to the point.

Tell the detective that I would like to take back something that used to be mine ❤

The heart caught them off guard, especially Xiangli Yao who sighed and feel a little regret. But to be honest, he was tempted to meet face-to-face with that thief.

***

A strage-looking device was put on a table in an empty room. It let out a soft ‘click’ sound and a pattern appears on the screen on top of it—the exact same pattern engraved inside the puzzle box that made a heart as the big shape. Then, a music started playing as a scanning line touches each measured lines.

🎵 All of it was boring

All of it was drab

Nobody can desribe you

Perfectly, so I will try

Because everything else sounds the same 🎵

***

Chapter Text

Mortefi probably would scold him for quietly climb to the top of City Hall roof, but Jinzhou’s night is really beautiful. The crescent moon emits a soft glow, the gentle breeze giving a whisper that ask him relax a bit, and the city view below almost seems like a peaceful, safe place for them who have been hunted by something unknown.

The last time Xiangli Yao climb to a high place aside from mountains is in his childhood during Moon-Chasing Festival, climbing the giant tree where people write down their whishes under it. He wonders if the festival is still being held because it’s been years since the last time he visitted. After joining Huaxu Detective Agency, he has travelled all across Huanglong, working in New Federation, consulting some things in the Black Shores, drop by once or twice in Rinascita, and visitting many other places.

As a detective, he has faced many criminals and been dealing with supernatural occurences, one of which is the Echo plushie squad. Some humans have supernatural abilities and sometimes he got criminals like that, who are smart enough to make perfect crimes with said advantage. Between the three of them, Baizhi is quite prominent of having a supernatural ability—she could call upon a creature named You’tan to heal people and solidify air into ice. In contrast, Mortefi is so fiery and full of passion. An unique thing about him is that he has a literal dragon within him and it’s something normal in his family.

As for Xiangli Yao himself, say that he’s right in the middle. Enough to balance both of them, especially in the first days after this team was formed. As for supernatural ability, he doubt he had some. The most special thing about him is his brain and, just like Rover said, even with clues that looked out of place, he always found a way for the answer.

Tap.

“You always purposely do something to caught my attention, don’t you?” He’s half murmuring, then turns his head. “Hello, good evening.”

The man before him stood still for a while, as if staring breathlessly at how pretty Xiangli Yao was. The moonlight outlining his brown hair, the calm expression and soft gaze, smooth skin and tempting lips.

The thief raised his hat and bowed. “Good evening to you too, My Detective. I presume you waited for me here?”

“Well, you’re the one who asked to meet me in person from your letter. Moreover, I’m the one holding your coin, so are you going to take this back?” Xiangli Yao took out the anchor coin and plays it between his fingers, while maintaining eye contact with the thief.

He noted that the man has blue hair with a few purple strikes, who then puts on his hat again, stand straight, and gave a small smile.

“Actually, I think I could give it to you as a reward for blowing my cover. May as well tell me how you do it?”

“It’s the same with how you recognize us as Huaxu detectives at our first meeting in that restaurant. I am sure there’re barely any news about us that shows our faces and during our stay in Jinzhou, we never wear the agency’s badge or ID card like we used to. But you know our habits, so just by using close observations and purposely doing something, you know it’s us.

“I observe you through a footage of your showdown with Carlotta Montelli back in Rinascita. You never fully planned a ‘show’, do you? I noticed both of you talked once during the gun fight and that’s something you didn’t expect, but you could adapt and improvise like a professional you are.”

“Ah… so that’s why you acted like someone doing a survey,” The Flaming Returned mumbles.

“But, you didn’t act the same yesterday. Did something somehow distract you?” Xiangli Yao took a step closer to notice a subtle flinch on the thief’s shoulders.

The taller man stares intently while deciding to do the same, leaning in until the distance between them barely exist.

“Yes,” he raises a hand and lightly touches Xiangi Yao’s cheek. “It was actually yourself, My Dear.”

The detective’s face became red at the moment he feels a hint of possessiveness in the thief’s voice. “…what?” He tries to breath out a laugh.

“I’m not joking. Have you ever seen your own face and wonder why nobody has kissed you? Do you even realize how good you’re at stealing people’s hearts?” Sweetness coating every question marks.

Xiangli Yao thinks about it for a moment, giving an unspoken consent for being caressed from the hair and down to the chin. The Flaming Returned lifted it up a little. Xiangli Yao sighed as their face become closer and closer and—

He raises a hand to cover the thief’s mouth and stopping his movement. Those purple eyes got widen while the brunet just smirks amusedly. The arm on his waist was lifted gently as he spoke, “If that’s the case, I may or may not do anything about it. But as the infamous phantom thief, why don’t you try to steal my heart too? Perhaps I can give you something more precious than any treasure you’ve stolen.”

It’s a challenge. It made the thief’s heart skips a beat. He smirks back, trying to ignore how hot his face is now.

“Why, how could I deny anything that comes from you, My Dearest Detective? Rest assured, because I will claim my treasure less than one month!” He declares optimistically as he extend both of his arm to the sky and a rain of confetti—most of them were heart-shaped—fall upon Xiangli Yao.

“BRANT! STOP RIGHT THERE!!”

The man turned, a bit confused.

“As we were talking, your partner doing a real show inside the City Hall as a distraction, right? But actually, I sended a message to my colleagues and guide them here with the Public Security force.” Xiangli Yao explain calmly as he taps his right earring, indicating that it also worked as a communication device.

“Heh, good move, My Dear,” the thief is making a preparation gesture for pulling out his gun. “Here’s one thing I need to say: there’s a pulse beating in a place where curiosity once sparked madness, covered in dust and threatened to be forgotten. You shall find it before it stops completely.”

Before the detective could react, he quickly gave a peck on his forehead and jumps. They’re both on the roof’s edge, it almost gave Xiangli Yao a heart attack if he didn’t think about how his gun was used to shoot a hook and fling him to another roof. From that roof, he then give a goodbye bow and shoots another hook to a wingray that somehow flew by.

Xiangli Yao was stunned until the Public Security inspector with his squad and other two detectives came breathless. And just like how he expected in the beginning, Mortefi scolded him.

***

Chapter Text

“’There’s a pulse beating in a place where curiosity once sparked madness, covered in dust and threatened to be forgotten. You shall find it before it stops completely’…” Mortefi recites what he just heard from Xiangli Yao. “What is that… riddle-like words?”

He just cooled himself down after scolding the brunet detective all the way back to their hideout. Now, that colleague of him is kindly making two cup of hot chocolates as an apologize.

“Anything else he said, specifically about ‘that machine’ we discuss earlier?” Baizhi rises her eyes from her tablet, asking Xiangli Yao as he puts down the cups.

“It was implied in the riddle he said,” the brunet answered. “Pulse beating that ‘covered in dust’ and ‘threatened to be forgotten’ means it was something really old. There’re a lot of things we can interpret for ‘pulse beating’, leaning most on the machine you’re talking about, but it also can be an important information that he wants us to know.”

Mortefi grunts. “If it turns out to be another courting plan of his, I’ll make sure to not miss a shot at his head.”

Baizhi looks at him with a bit of disbelief, but she is actually feeling worried too towards Xiangli Yao. She sighs and takes a tiny sip of her hot chocolate, making sure there’s nothing funny in it, before speaking up.

“I think you should strengthen your defense, Xiangli, especially when it involves your feeling. Don’t go too far, don’t move too bold, tell us before hand what you want to do, because I’m afraid one day you will getting hurt… or even lost yourself…”

The room fell silent as both men in there were shocked. It can be said that this is the first time they hear her thought other than analysis or deductions. Xiangli Yao stares to the floor, feeling guilty because Baizhi definitely remembered her past. The woman then stands up and taps his shoulder softly.

“Let’s discuss about that riddle tomorrow. Get a rest now. Oh, and thank you for the chocolate.”

With that, she went to her bed.

***

It was warm. Maybe a mid-autumn afternoon. He could heard the water droplets from a small nearby fountain, the leaves rustling, and laughers, chatters, a bell chiming, a traditional instrument being played while birds singing. He is here again after a while, watching the old memories and giving in to the nostalgia. Before him was a tree, under it are children sitting in a circle, excitement all over their face.

Slowly, he walks closer to a distance enough to see those faces. He found out what makes them so excited: a small robot was in the middle of the circle. It almost looked like a bunch of varied-shaped cubes sticking to each others, with a pair of elongated ears on its head for a cute design. Its face was a black screen before a boy behind it switch the power on.

He recognize the robot, he recognize the boy because it was himself years ago. That robot is his very first creation. He smiled as those children let out a loud amazed gasp. The robot’s black screen now showed emojis as its expression when it greets and introduces itself.

“It could only say those for now,” the boy explains shyly when the robot standing idly with a “*v*” emoji on its screen.

Xiangli Yao sighs, thinking about how much time it has passed. Now, he could make fully functional robots and gadgets that help in everyday life.

“Finally thinking about yourself?”

He doesn’t need to turn around to know who is talking. “It’s been a while,” he said.

“It is and you will always be welcomed. Having a moment of peace and just be yourself won’t hurt.”

“I know. There’re a lot of thing happens lately… I’m glad I can see this place again…”

“Stay as long as you want. You deserve it.”

Xiangli Yao didn’t reply again. He smelled a floral scent and the faint taste of a certain soup. He closes his eyes, enjoying the music slowly fades as he could feel his bed again, back to the underground apartment room that only has two bed, so Mortefi sleep on the couch. The kitchen set is at the corner near the door and now occupied by Baizhi.

It’s 6 AM. Apparently, she was making soup for their breakfast. Xiangli Yao wonders where the floral scent come from, so he rose up from the bed and start searching around. He thought it was from the flowers from Camellya, but those are almost scentless. Moreover, the vase they’re in is on the shelf in front of the couch, quite far from his bed.

Baizhi noticed him and asks, “Xiangli, are you searching for something?”

“Ah, not really…”

“Then, while you’re there, please wake up Mortefi and let’s have breakfast.”

Xiangli Yao do as told, chuckling internally for how Baizhi is so close to a mother figure. Usually, Mortefi wakes up before the two of them, but now he’s still fully covered by a blanket on the couch, making Xiangli Yao pulled off the blanket and let the room temperature wakes him up. It worked almost instantly.

Mortefi groaned and Xiangli Yao just smiled innocently. “Good morning, Mortefi. Did you have a good sleep?”

The red-haired man rose to a sitting position. “What time is it?”

“Six in the morning.”

Mortefi blinks, turning on his phone to reconfirm the time, and sighs. “I’ll take a bath first.”

“Not breakfast?” Baizhi was approaching them with a tray of three cups and a teapot.

“Oh? You’re cooking?” Mortefi asked as Xiangli Yao moves the messy items on the table for that tray to be placed.

“Yes. Magistrate Jinhsi gave us a bag of vegetables and herbs when we’re leaving last night, so I made soup and herbal tea. But if you want to take a bath first, go ahead.”

“Heh… alright,” Mortefi laughed shortly, then went to the bathroom.

Xiangli Yao sits down on the couch after putting aside a folded blanket. As Baizhi pours down the herbal tea for them, he is still thinking about the floral scent which surely not coming from the tea.

“Baizhi,” he decided to ask. “Did you smell some kind of flower across the room?”

The woman glanced towards the flower vase. “Camellya’s flower?”

“No, it’s more sweet… I smelled it when waking up.”

“You may want to check your pillow.”

Xiangli Yao hums. He’s sure he has done it and didn’t found anything around his bed. At the same time, Mortefi steps out the bathroom, then they have breakfast and talk about other topic, like the riddle from last night.

“He said the place is where ‘curiosity sparks madness’. Perhaps it’s an experiment zone which got destroyed because a failed attempt? Considering if he’s giving us a clue to ‘that machine’.” Baizhi deducts.

“And he asked us to find this place before ‘that machine’ is not functioning anymore?” Mortefi asks.

“Or before that place collapsed. Because it’s an old technology, meaning the place it was made in has long been destroyed. I think ‘covered in dust’ could also means ‘between ruins of an old building’.” Xiangli Yao scrolls his tablet. “There’s a lot of abandoned building that match the criteria, but let’s narrow it down to what Baizhi said and the ‘madness’ part.”

“Madness… then, it was once a crazy idea that ended up as a disaster, if we put it in other words.” Mortefi thinks further, then his eyes widen. “Wait, there’s a possibility it is our old HQ in New Federation!”

“We had that technology to create a new kind of encryption code?!” Baizhi was a little shocked.

Xiangli Yao looked at both of them. “We’ll put that on the list, but for now, there’re at least three places with higher possibilities.” He shows a list of places that match the criteria of abandoned experiment or research zone. The top one is the nearest from Jinzhou.

“Court of Savantae…” realization caught both of his colleagues.

“Xiangli, you…” Baizhi cuts off her own words, and then shakes her head slowly.

Mortefi clears his throat, quickly emptied his bowl of soup. “Alright, let’s head there in a moment you’re ready.”

Xiangli Yao nods. He helps Baizhi clean up and wash the dishes while the woman took a bath. When it’s his turn, Baizhi tells Mortefi about their more earlier conversation and the red-haired instinctively checks on under Xiangli Yao’s bed. He was shocked to find blood-red pistils and thin petals scattered there. He decides to collect them and give it to Camellya later.

***

Chapter Text

I never explicitly tell what happen in New Federation 3 months ago, have I? It just mentioned that there was an incident and the remaining Huaxu detectives were being hunted. According to a report from the Black Shores, it all started with this interesting device that could create supernatural anomalies, such as opening a gate that teleports people into random places or putting them in a Sonoro Sphere with barely any exits. The Ghost Hounds were the one who found it and immediately gave it to Huaxu Detective Agency for further investigation.

Supernatural anomalies created by a device is sure worth to investigate, for this is the first case. It opens more possibilities for future supernatural anomaly cases: is it a natural occurrence, created by someone, or even by a device?

As the said device found its way to Xiangli Yao, he also looked at the files of past cases regarding supernatural anomalies. More precisely, it was his trust-worthty robot, Xiang-LEE, which did the task.

“It works like a projector,” Xiangli Yao talked about it one morning with Baizhi, as they walked in the hallway. “But it didn’t create a normal projection. In fact, there are real cases where people somehow got inside a Sonoro Sphere, right?”

“Have you found what Sonoro Sphere it creates? If I remember correctly, the inside of a Sonoro is somebody’s memory.” Baizhi asked.

“Not yet, but it should be the creator’s. I’m trying to access it today.”

“Oh, you’ve tell the President, right? Just in case.”

Xiangli Yao chuckles. “Don’t worry, Baizhi. I have plans.”

His plans were slightly shifted when the device create another anomaly instead of a Sonoro Sphere. Huaxu detectives are so familiar with this kind of things, so when an alive liquid slides out Xiangli Yao’s office, his colleauge immediately knew it was a supernatural anomaly and helped him took care of it. In another time, Xiangli Yao got teleported to the basement and Xiang-LEE almost broke the security system to free him.

But after that, somehow the Supernatural Anomaly Creator or SAC (a temporary name Baizhi suggested) didn’t do anything despite Xiangli Yao tweaking it and pushing the same buttons as before. He then tries to disassemble the device’s parts and opening its programming code that took a very long time to extract, so he leave it at lunch time.

When he was away, the codes start writing on his computer screen, but then stopped when the text turned red. Xiang-LEE recorded it, but suddenly the computer went off as steam came out of it. The lights went out on the whole floor for some moments, making everyone guessed that this was just another supernatural anomaly. It seems harmless, until the lights came back on for a few seconds before the light blubs broke in a domino-like effect to other floors.

Almost immediately, the whole headquarters went dark and an artifact stored in the agency President’s office moved on its own, as if it was possessed. The said artifact was a diamond goblet that could cure any diseases just by drinking any liquid served in it. It flew out the cupboard right onto the President’s head, but he dodge it in a swift move. The goblet hits the window and shattering all the glass-made items inside the room.

As if it wasn’t obvious enough, this was NOT a normal supernatural anomaly that the Huaxu detectives deal with usually.

Half of the detectives evacuate with the regular employees. Half other, including Xiangli Yao, tries to find the source of this anomaly. Their phones ring a notification in the same time, so loud for the whole building to hear:

“DANGER! DANGER! DANGER! SUPERNATURAL ANOMALY RATE IN THE AREA IS TOO HIGH! TOO HIGH! GET OUT IMMEDIATELY! DANGER! DANGER!”

The emergency alarm adding the chaos. Panic rose to the area around the headquarters and the city’s Public Security force came in a haste.

Xiangli Yao rushed to his office and found his robots have gone mad. Xiang-LEE was flying in circle, repeating the same line of weird warnings—Xiangli Yao did not remember he programed it like that. Patty was crashing everything uncontrollably, also repeating a same line. What shocked him the most is a Sonoro Sphere opening right in the middle of the room. Papers were coming out of it, floating around and even mixing with other papers from files and documents in his room.

He was conflicted. His mind telling him to get inside the Sonoro, but he feared at the risks, especially about what will happen to this building and his colleagues after that. He heard footsteps coming closer, then his eyes found the SAC device still connected to his dead computer. He took some of it parts that look in a good condition.

“Xiangli,” someone called him.

He turned back. “Ah, Mr. President! I’m sorry for this mess. I was trying to extract the device’s program code, but my computer got corrupt and then it creates this anomaly.”

The older man stands calmly, not bothered by the robots. More so, he observed the Sonoro Sphere while Xiangli Yao tried to save whatever he could save.

“Do you believe in me?”

The younger detective stops, right after he managed to caught Patty.

“Of course, Sir.”

“Then, jump out off the window.”

Xiangli Yao’s eyes got widen. “Pardon?”

“This Sonoro is unstable and most likely to blew up if anything enters it in the worst scenario. I am familiar with this, while you’re not. So, please, save yourself after I entered it.”

“What? Wha… I mean, Sir, why? What do you mean?”

“No time for further explanation because I too searching for answers. I cannot ensure this could clear everything, but I must ensure the safety of my subordinates.” The President gave a soft smile. “I have a feeling you all won’t live the same again after this. Reach out to the Black Shores and if you meet their leader, say I leave a message: ‘that time was on me. No need to feel a burden’. That person will understand.”

Xiangli Yao remained unmoving, processing what the President just said. He highly respect and believe the older man, but something inside him was preventing him from leave. The President got the hint and sighed.

“I’m sorry, Xiangli.”

Another man stepped into the room. The President dashed into the Sonoro Sphere. The opening shakes violently and all Xiangli Yao’s could hear was an unsettling buzz. He even didn’t regorginze that other man fully when they jumped out off the window right before the explosion.

***

This might sound absurd, but the Black Shores’ leader has a supernatural ability where… “they” could switch genders. Their appearance will also change, mostly becoming a male when travelling out of Black Shores Archipelago, but it just depend on their mood. Nobody really know their real name, so everyone calls them Rover or other nicknames they made up for fun.

It happens that they use a “he” right now to do a field-inspection. Most of the situation was explained by the Ghost Hounds’ leader who was still holding Xiangli Yao’s arm for some reason. The detective didn’t bother at first, but then he could hear a dragon grumbling from somewhere far—or near, he wasn’t sure. He reminded the taller, white-haired man beside him.

“Oh, I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine,” Xiangli Yao smiled, then look at Rover who suddenly pulled out a small-sized plaster.

“Excuse me, please,” he pointed a wound on Xiangli Yao’s cheek.

I’t was just then the brunet felt the sting of the cut. He nodded, letting Rover tend his wound.

“You should search the medic for further check-ups.” The black-haired man suggested.

“Thank you…” Xiangli Yao calmed himself for a bit. “Oh yeah, our President leave a message for you, Black Shores’ leader.”

Rover’s eyes sparks briefly in their golden irises as Xiangli Yao tells him the details. He then nodded thoughtfully.

“The Black Shores will take over the investigation for this case. For the meantime, let’s say it’s an accident. The Huaxu Detective Agency can continue their job from a new base we will provide. Oh, and hopefully you’re being careful when facing supernatural anomalies.”

The last sentence was ignored by half of the detectives. They came across a supernatural case, unaware of the anomalies, and then got murdered mysteriously. It took 2 victims for the Black Shores to found out the SAC was a self-destruct device that could trigger an abnormal anomaly when a specific code was found in its program.

Xiangli Yao was trying to retrieve Xiang-LEE’s memory when a detective was murdered right in front of their new base. They found out that all of them were marked and now being hunted by someone—or even something.

***

Chapter Text

The sun was high up above their head when they arrive at a restricted area guarded by agents from a special department of Huanglong official supernatural investigators, named MYTH4, who didn’t allow access to the detectives at first.

“We believe you’re from the Huaxu Detective Agency, but we cannot easily give permission to enter.” One of the agent said. “Because we just found a dangerous material inside and some dormant machines that could switch up anytime.”

“That’s why we are here to check them out,” Mortefi almost shouted irritated. “Our situation right now requires us to move two steps ahead from the enemy, whoever or whatever they are. We just got a hint that lead us here.”

MYTH4 and Huaxu Detective Agency work on the same subject and often collaborating on difficult cases involving supernatural things, but when they work on their own, they have a different styles of executions. MYTH4 was well informed about ‘that incident’, but there’re some details unwritten in the report they received, such as the agency’s President’s disappearance.

“What kind of material anyway?” Xiangli Yao asked.

The agent stares at them for a while and talked through his earphone.

“Over here,” he then took them to a van not so far, where some agents were discussing serious topics. He asked to borrow one that sealed inside a clear plastic and shows it to the detectives. It shaped like a black stone with sharp edges and glowing yellow parts that moved around the surface on its own, creating what seems to be random patterns.

“These materials holds a similarity with gunpowders, but more explosive. We’re still investigating on where this material comes from.”

“Did you found a lot of these?” Mortefi asked. “And is it just found recently or…?”

“Yes, we did found these recently in the most damaged parts of the building.” That agent answered a bit too early, making Baizhi smiled crookedly.

“I have a feeling that this might be a form of a puzzle,” she murmurs towards her two colleagues. “The yellow patterns intrigue me the most.”

“It might be similar to the crystal found by the Black Shores, but if it’s a puzzle, then it means we need to see the other parts.” Mortefi commented.

“Its shape definitely shows that it is a jigsaw puzzle,” Xiangli Yao adds with a smirk on his face. “How many exactly did you found?”

The agent quietly sighed, seem to regret the decision he made. It should be a common sense that literally any detective’s second nature is chasing the truth. They could smell lies and detect clues and arrange the track of the chase. Huaxu detectives are indeed professionals, but… the MYTH4 agents in here were actually deployed on purpose so that these detectives—specifically these three detectives—didn’t found the secret basement under the main experiment building.

It is not polite to let someone’s question be unanswered, especially if it’s a hard to dodge one. The agents near them suddenly become tense.

“Four,” the agent in front of them said.

Xiangli Yao took the plastic seal and face it to the sun. “There’re eight parts of this puzzle. The big image is a cube—perhaps a cracked one, and this one coincidentally being the middle part. Look, when facing the sun, the glowing yellow color making an actual pattern, didn’t it?”

In a two dimensional imagery, that said material is like an octagon that have a yellow dense circle in the middle, it didn’t need to be full of yellow color. Then, there’s another yellow color in the form of crooked and dotted lines tracing its sides. Now, make it three dimensional with different area for the sides, made out of stone, and in the size of a handball.

Xiangli Yao gave it back to the agent. Right after that, an explosion was heard from a distant.

“It’s from the laboratory! The floor at the entrance of the laboratory just exploded!” The agents around the van were informed through their earphones.

“How?”

“Probably due to these black-yellow stones… there’s a hidden room here!”

“Copy that.”

Two agents jump into the van to operate their computer while the others immediately ran into the direction of the scene. The agent who was talking to the detectives puts the plastic seal back and warned them, “Please stay here for a moment.”

But he only sees Baizhi with her tablet and You’tan on her side. Xiangli Yao and Mortefi dashed a second prior when the agents got the call. The said laboratory was an overgrown building right next to the main building. Smoke coming out from the entrance and Xiangli Yao also notices glowing yellow particles in the air as they approach the scene. MYTH4 agents are circling a gaping hole on the floor, taking photos and sample of the black stones, they didn’t notice the two men who are now taking advantage to get inside the laboratory. Xiangli Yao throws a small camera that looks like a rock which also connected to Baizhi’s tablet into the hole as they quietly walk on the side.

“You’ve been here, right?” Mortefi asked carefully.

“Yes, quite some years ago when this place was not guarded yet,” the brunet answered. “It was only when those stone was found MYTH4 took an action to secure this place. I wonder what it is actually.”

“You didn’t found it that time?”

Xiangli Yao shakes his head. “I was just searching for my father’s records and I think we won’t find anything about it again now, considering that our archive has blown up.”

Mortefi sighs. “Please don’t make it sound like a joke. By the way, ehem, that agent earlier mentioned about ‘dormant machines’…”

“I did find some machines that possibly be the ones they mean at that time, but I never thought they were ‘dormant’. Instead, I was sure they already ran out of energy source to even switch up.”

“It means those stones were giving the energy in some ways. But how did they knew the machines just become ‘dormant’?”

Xiangli Yao rises his prosthetic hand. The glowing yellow particles dancing around it, some clings into it. “Perhaps it started with an explosion like before. You also have some of these on your glasses, Mortefi.”

The red head took off his glasses and squints his eyes. “I barely noticed it. So, let’s say this is some kind of energy. It travels through air and touches dead machines and turned them on again? Even when that machine lost its crucial parts?”

“I think this energy could reacts with electricity and replace missing part temporarily, then the machines move on their own to search for anything suitable.”

“…you’re saying these could give souls to machines?”

“It’s just a wild deduction, though,” Xiangli Yao smiled a little.

Mortefi fixed his glasses position and thinks about that possibility. There weren’t any MYTH4 agents nearby to confirm, but there’s something else that wanted to do so. A metal can drops from a hole at the ceiling, stopping the two men’s step. When they look up, a light bulb suddenly descends from there. It was glued to a cable by the particles, that then fly spirally upwards. Their glow shows where the other end of the cable is—a tax machine… with limbs and a sensor device acting like an eye, staring at the two detectives.

“Oh my God, I think the process is more similar to… zombifying them…?” Xiangli Yao said, half amused.

While Mortefi couldn’t believe his own eyes. “What the fuck is that?”

“Well, it seems harmless, so let’s pass by,” Xiangli Yao was about to take step when Mortefi holds him.

Something feels off. The amount of those yellow particles are increasing. Is it because the metal surface around here also increased? There’s a clanking noise sounding like it’s coming towards them and it’s not a really good sign, especially when there’s a slow knock from the ceiling above. The atmosphere feels like a horror movie. Then, from a dim hallway where they are going to take a turn, another zombified machine appears. It’s as tall as them because the 5 limbs that are different in size but similar in length. Its body was a mix of a computer screen, random metal plates, and a drone. It also has a pair of antennas with one of them was bent while the other has a metal ball at the top. The metal ball flicks and the remaining fans of the drone whirs. The yellow particles gathered around it. Mortefi feels a slight tug from the metal arm he’s holding. Quickly, he pulls Xiangli Yao away from that machine’s sight, just right before it shoots an energy laser that shatters the light bulb. Despite being the owner of that light bulb, the tax machine remains still in its place, but its sensor was following the two detectives’ movements.

They ran pass that machine and forced to took the stairs at the end of the hall, but what greeted them in the next floor is another zombified machine. Apparently, this is the one that made the slow knocking noise because it doesn’t have any foot to stand on, instead it jumps and using the yellow particles to float and move forward for a while. One of its hand has a magnet glued by the particles while the other is a short, plain metal box. Its “face” is an LED screen that shows a buch of messy codes. Before it can even do anything, Mortefi takes out his gun and shoots it.

“These things obviously trying to take your arm, Xiangli,” he said as that floating machine hits the floor with a thud.

Xiangli Yao didn’t answer, he looked around and thinking of something else. A buzz came from Mortefi’s pocket as they enter a room. He took out a folded phone which can only receive messages and disaster warnings. It was barely used in these couple of years, but Mortefi still keeps it for some reason, one of them being to secretly communicate. In moments like this, it is with Baizhi.

I’ve found a way to sneak into the main experiment building. Are you two still in the lab? There’s a piece of that black and yellow stone for the puzzle behind that explosion. Can you take it?

On her side, some moments ago when Baizhi is waiting for the small camera loads its surveillance to her tablet, You’tan quietly took the black-yellow puzzle-pieces stones. The MYTH4 agents inside the van and the one who talked to them were distracted enough. Baizhi was quite impressed by the inside of that laboratory’s underfloor. It used to be accessible through a lift, but the place to the lift seems to be blocked by something. She couldn’t get more details from the agents’ conversation, but at least that underfloor gave her the blueprint of every buildings owned by Court of Savantae, the organization’s long term goal, the mapped out plans, analysis results that have not been perfected, and even records of interesting journal, reports, and conversations between researchers.

What surprises Baizhi the most is this area is not affected much by the black-yellow stones. Those were just sitting in the corners or gluing themselves into a small area of the wall and ceiling. Something must have detonated it, but what exactly? The activity on the upper floor? Where are the nearest agent’s position before, when, and after the explosion?

Baizhi was stressing herself, so she decides to analyze the blueprint for the main building where she’s sure had whatever this “old technology” they’re searching. Now, she’s also sure that MYTH4 is trying to prevent them from finding it. She’s on her way to the main experiment building when the small camera caught something—a black and yellow and sharp-edged stone lying down on the floor. Another piece for the puzzle mentioned earlier.

“Hm, I think I know what detonates that explosion. The question now is how?”

She sends a message to Mortefi’s second phone and tries to put the puzzle pieces together, even though she’s not an expert at solving puzzles like Xiangli Yao. That one colleague of hers said that the big image was a cube, she already had a image of it and trying to figure out which one is where. She did face it to the sun first so the patterns are clear.

“This one is the core, so the other four must go around it.”

When placed in the right place, the stones would pull each other like magnets and immediately glued by their glowing yellow edges. She pieces it together carefully because she suspects it would explode anytime by a certain amount of friction or heat.

Just after she puts the last piece, the hairs on the back of her neck stood up, alerted of a bad news might happen around here. She took cover behind metal scraps nearby and—

BOOMM!!

A high energy beam just blow up the laboratory’s second floor’s wall that facing right at Baizhi. That building shakes violently while she saw two figures landed on the ground, alongside with another black-yellow stone that landed a bit further. Baizhi sighed, not noticing that her cover was moved by the glowing yellow particles.

“What the hell are you doing?” She summons You’tan.

“Escaping some zombified machines,” Mortefi answered as Xiangli Yao took the black-yellow stone.

“At least we now got two pieces.”

“Two? How exactly?” Baizhi was confused. “And what do you mean by zombified machines?”

Xiangli Yao tries to explain as simple and short as he can, but then something big and heavy landed right behind them—a zombified machine that is now getting a new part of body from metal scraps nearby. Its head is the poor tax machine with the censoric device. Six elastic trunk coming out of its back while it already had three arms, two on the left and one on the right which is the biggest one. No half measures, its body was made by three computers and a tube they haven’t known the fuction yet. The new body part it just got was like an armor for its legs, making it thicker and more stable.

“We’ll explain later!” Mortefi pushed those two away. One of that machine’s trunk fling at them and You’tan parries it, sparing them some times.

“The MYTH4 agents will certainly gather in here soon, making the front entrance less guarded, but I have found a faster way.” Baizhi, who has memorized the main experiment building’s blueprint, took the two men to the secret entrance she hope would still working. If not, they can use brute force and hope there will be no explosion again. Coincidentally, there’s an Echo that looked like a fusion of a hedgehog and a beetle, digging the ground at the spot. It then got startled by the detectives’ arrival and ran away.

Baizhi kneels and her hand reaches inside the hole it just made. She found some kind of handle and pulled it out, but it’s quite heavy considering the amount of rust the mechanics inside has. Mortefi and Xiangli Yao quickly gave her a hand. They could hear shouting from the MYTH4 agents and some bullet shooting, also whatever the yellow energy was doing. Thankfully, a patch of wall beside them slides down into the ground.

“Both of you can get in first.” Xiangli Yao said soon after, making Mortefi scoffed in annoyance.

“No time for this fucking debate!” He slams the handle to the ground and pressed it down. He pushed his two colleagues again hastily through the open area of entrance. Then, he took out his gun again and shoot the handle an the right angle to give it a nudge, returning the mechanics to their first place, that mean closing the entrance before anybody—or perhaps that machine—notice it.

The chaos outside immediately got muffled.

“We might clash with MYTH4 because of this,” Baizhi mutters.

“It’s not like this is the first time, though,” Xiangli Yao responded.

Mortefi sighed a bit too loud, it echoes slightly in the room they’re in. “So, where is that ‘old technology’ thingy or whatever?!”

“Mortefi, don’t you forget something?” Xiangli Yao sighed more softly.

Baizhi shows them her analysis result and the half-finished black-yellow stone puzzle. Xiangli Yao praised her thoroughness and continued it by placing the two new pieces.

“So, the ones that are for this puzzle is basically indestructible, and they’re the ones that igniting the others to explode?” Mortefi asked.

“The key is this unique yellow energy. Whatever it is, it could make anything possible from sticking metal objects, temporarily replace a machine’s broken parts, to ‘zombifying’ them. But surprisingly, there weren’t much of it inside here.” Xiangli Yao said. “When this puzzle is finished, I think it’ll lead us there. Now, we need to find the remaining two.”

“Should we split up?” Baizhi suggested.

***

Back in Jinzhou, a gentleman with a hat entered the Public Security HQ with a crazy-looking man in handcuffs. Nobody knows who is that gentleman, but they were convinced that he is a detective who just caught a criminal. An officer yelped when realized that the crazy-looking man was a fugitive—Scar. That gentleman said that he’s in a hurry, so he apologized for not giving detailed information, but he suggest to call the Black Shores.

And so, Rover in female appearance fulfill the call with Aalto. She has a staring (glaring) contest with Scar for a quite of time, while Aalto asked for details.

“That gentleman just said that he managed to track Scar down to Qichi Village where he was making bombs. Here’s the evidences.” The officer pointed at the items on the table.

“Why are you making bombs now?” Rover asked, but Scar just rolls his eyes as the answer. She asked again, “Were you letting yourself get caught?”

“You may say,” he acted nonchalantly, probably on purpose to ragebait Rover. He then asked the Public Security officers, “Remember the sniper you caught yesterday?”

“Huh, the one who was found passed out drunk?” An officer replied. “If I’m not mistaken, we got the report of his position from an anonymous person. This feels like coincidence…”

“What is between you and that sniper, anyway? Working together?” Rover gave a crooked smile.

“Yes.”

“Oh… Wait, WHAT?!” She almost jumped from her seat. A light switched on inside of her head and she turns towards Aalto, who’s half confused but also half getting the hint.

“You’d be more shocked when I say that the anonymous person and the ‘gentleman’ who took me here are the same person.”

Only one person crosses Rover’s mind. She whispered under breath, “…really, Brant?”

***