The heavy oak doors of the Suiban Organization headquarters groaned, then swung open to reveal the cavernous, sterile expanse of the main hall.
A man stepped inside, the light catching his dark hair and pale skin.
He moved with a quiet, deliberate grace, pausing only to ensure the door clicked shut behind him, sealing away the outside world.
“You look sharp today,” a voice teased, echoing slightly in the hall.
“Though you always carry that cool composure.
But a bit of a smile wouldn’t hurt, Mr.
Longterm.”
Yuxuan didn’t stop.
He walked with his head held high, ignoring the curious, lingering gazes of the others in the hall.
“Call me ‘Lie’,” he replied, his voice devoid of warmth.
“And I don’t particularly care for opinions on my expression.”
He navigated the room with the singular focus of a man who knew exactly where he was going.
Around him, the atmosphere shifted.
He could feel the eyes of the other agents—the women watching with whispered admiration, the men casting sharp, envious looks.
He paid them no mind, his boots clicking rhythmically against the floor until he stood before the heavy door of Sheren’s private cabin.
Inside, the room was dim.
He had expected to see William Sheren, but the cabin was occupied by someone else.
A woman sat perched on the corner of the heavy wooden desk, her legs crossed.
She wore a striking dress of black and deep red, with sheer stockings and star-shaped earrings that caught the faint light.
She was in the middle of lifting a grape to her lips when Yuxuan entered; she froze, the fruit hovering, her eyes narrowing as she appraised the newcomer.
She didn’t move for a long moment, then slowly set the grape back onto the plate.
“You must be Lie Longterm,” she said. This story is hosted at g.com.
“Yes,” Yuxuan replied, his tone as neutral as a blank page.
She slid off the desk, standing with a casual elegance.
“I’m Emma Parker.
You can call me Ms.
Emma.
Sheren is occupied, so I’ve been tasked with briefing you.
We’ve received a ‘D’ Rank case—a woman contacted our acting H.Q.
in Geld Square.
She’s looking for a detective, and for reasons that remain unclear, she specifically requested our organization.
We’ve been assigned to the matter.”
She paused, her purple pupils fixed on him.
“For your information, I am a Rank 5 ‘Discordant’ and a Grade 6 ‘Ceson’.
Let’s go.
Sheren left your uniform here for you.”
She handed him a bundle of fabric from the desk—a long, black coat that fell to his knees, detailed with white piping at the cuffs.
A crimson tie accompanied it, along with a pair of steel-framed spectacles hanging from a delicate white chain.
Yuxuan moved behind a screen, the process slow and methodical.
When he emerged, he wore the coat over his clothes, the black-hole-and-moon emblem on the lapel catching the light.
He fastened the silver-runed holster containing six silver bullets to his side, sliding his ID card into a pocket.
“The uniform suits you,” Emma remarked, though her gaze remained clinical.
They exited the cabin, but before they could reach the main doors, Emma reached into a hidden compartment on the desk and pulled out a firearm.
It was heavy, its design unlike anything Yuxuan had seen—sleek, cold, and etched with faint, glowing lines.
“It’s not a standard piece,” Emma explained, her voice dropping to a whisper.
“This is a ‘Sizzle Embroid’.
It’s a single-shot mechanism, but if your aim is true, it can punch a hole through reinforced concrete.
It was crafted by our technical experts in the accessory room.
Lord Omega personally ordered this for you—it was his weapon once.
You’re lucky to be holding it.”
As they moved toward the exit, they passed three female agents who were huddled together, whispering frantically.
“Oh my…
he’s even more striking up close.
Someone hold me, I’m about to faint!” one whispered loudly.
“Yes, but Emma is with him, we can’t approach now,” another hissed.
Emma stopped abruptly, her sharp eyes snapping toward them.
“Did you just say something?”
The girls went rigid, their faces paling as they scrambled to offer a clumsy, terrified salute.
“No, ma’am!” they shouted in unison.
Emma held their gaze for a beat longer than necessary before turning away.
“Fine.
Carry on.”
The girls practically collapsed in relief as Emma and Yuxuan stepped out of the headquarters, the cold air of the city greeting them like a harsh, unwanted truth.
The first case was waiting.