Cyrus glanced at the electronic clock as she returned home, the digits glowing past midnight.

Perfect. Her second job of the night wrapped up without the need to pull an all-nighter. Six hours of sleep lay ahead—what a luxury.

The clock displayed July 31st, 2086, 00:28.

This marked Cyrus's fifth day since her journey across dimensions began.

August was on the horizon, with just eight days until the harbor bombing and eleven until the Kraken Ship's landing.

Peeling off her soiled clothes, she packed them in a trash bag, planning to incinerate them at the first chance. They were splattered with blood and flesh, and despite Argentum's cleaning efforts, the stench of gore lingered.

Argentum was tidying up equipment in the living room while Cyrus headed to bathe and change.

The bathtub brimmed with water, and Cyrus slipped in to relax her tense muscles. She had acquired two extraordinary abilities tonight—Blood Aflame and Flesh Regeneration. The former was too damaging to experiment with casually, but the latter was undeniably a handy skill.

Fumbling for an eyebrow razor on the shelf, she made a small cut on her finger. A bead of blood emerged, but within seconds, the superficial wound healed, leaving the skin smooth and unmarred.

Assured, she drove the razor deep into her palm, and blood streamed down her wrist into the bath. This deeper wound closed more slowly, taking about five or six seconds as tiny flesh buds reconnected the torn tissue, the new skin a pale pink.

Her shoulders relaxed.

Leaning in the tub, eyes half-closed, she let out a sigh of relief. The regeneration ability significantly bolstered her survival chances. All the night's fatigue and risks had been worthwhile.

The relentless pace of life in this new world left Cyrus exhausted, and unknowingly, she dozed off in the tub.

Argentum, finished with the gear, sprawled on the couch, fighting sleep. As a dutiful subordinate, he awaited Cyrus's orders—perhaps a post-bath briefing on tonight's mission. So, he stayed awake.

After an hour with no sound from the bathroom, he knocked on the door, puzzled. "Hey, you alright in there?"

Cyrus, jolted awake, sat up with a start. "I'm fine."

Reassured by her response, Argentum returned to the couch and soon succumbed to sleep.

Cyrus, hair damp, emerged ten minutes later. The shower had washed away the pungent blood, leaving her feeling refreshed.

"Any tasks for tonight?" Argentum inquired, ever mindful of duty.

"Tonight's task is to sleep," Cyrus said, downing a glass of water. "We made too much noise killing the python. Let's lay low; the Coast Security will investigate."

"I like sleep tasks," Argentum quipped, wrapping himself in a blanket, finding the most comfortable position on the couch.

His tall frame meant his feet extended beyond the couch unless he curled up.

In mere seconds, his breathing evened out, fast asleep.

Cyrus checked her wristband; a new message from Red awaited her.

"The body's been retrieved and sent back to headquarters for autopsy. It's a rare specimen of an exotic blooded for dissection. But you blew up his head with a grenade, leaving it incomplete. That was unnecessary."

"Will keep that in mind next time," she replied.

"Remember to be discreet," Red chided.

"How's Thornrose's injury?" Cyrus asked after a pause.

"She underwent surgery. A mechanical limb will replace her right hand; she needs a day's rest to resume duties," Red informed. "She claimed a red threadworm burrowed into her flesh, forcing the amputation. It seems the python planted it on her."

"Keep me updated on the findings," Cyrus requested.

The wristband's time advanced to 01:32, deep into the night.

Cyrus crawled into bed, nestling into the covers, and shut her eyes, reflecting on the day's gains.

She had aced her interview, completed orientation, dined with teammates, and eliminated the python.

The day's fulfillment came to a close as she lay in bed, feeling a sense of security because she had personally eradicated an enemy determined to kill her.

Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

Though the mastermind behind the python remained unclear, it was a good start.

For tonight, at least, she would sleep soundly, leaving the rest for when she awoke.

...

The next morning at seven, Cyrus threw open her bedroom window to air out the room.

The air in the coastal city carried the briny scent of the sea—an aroma Cyrus found unsettling. Before her translocation to this second world, she was a landlubber, never having seen the ocean.

It was a bright, sunny day, and the light of dawn bathed Blackwater City. Darkness receded, and so did the gloom in Cyrus's heart.

"I despise sunny days, and I loathe the sun," Argentum grumbled.

Cyrus breakfasted on a bowl of cereal soaked in milk. As she spooned the flakes into her mouth, her communicator buzzed.

Adam had sent the day's schedule.

Since Squad Seven was reassigned to harbor duty, Cyrus didn't have to rush to the surveillance tower for work. Instead, she would report directly to the Coast Security office. Adam's email thoughtfully included the office's location and the optimal route from her home.

The note at the end read warmly: "Today is sunny with a high of 38 degrees. Outdoor patrols on the coast may lead to sunburn. It's advised to apply sunscreen."

"I don't think I have sunscreen..." Cyrus mused aloud.

"I do," Argentum interjected, his face emerging from his cereal bowl. "I have lots of sunscreen."

He handed her a tube from his pocket. "Here, use it."

"Thanks," Cyrus replied, slightly amused.

"My skin lacks melanin, unable to withstand UV rays. I have to use it," Argentum complained. "Being fully covered for missions is such a hassle... Some sunscreens don't stay on in water, and the ones that do are expensive. I prefer night missions—no sunlight to deal with."

No wonder he detested sunny days and the sun; such weather was indeed unfriendly to someone with albinism.

After breakfast, Cyrus applied sunscreen to her face and arms, and Argentum did the same, more meticulously. He didn't miss a single spot—neck, behind the ears, ankles. He then donned his mask, long-sleeved jacket, and pulled up his hood, a necessity to protect his scalp.

"I'm ready. What's the directive for today?" Argentum asked, geared up.

"Stick to the plan. Scan Dock No. 5 for data and send it back to headquarters for structural pillar analysis," Cyrus instructed. "With Thornrose out, you'll have to pick up the slack."

Argentum nodded, "Understood."

Dock No. 5 was part of the offshore floating harbor, with many structures anchored and supported by pillars. Argentum's aquatic abilities would make the scanning task more efficient.

Cyrus stepped out.

The Coast Security office was a twenty-minute walk from her home. The morning air was mild, making for a pleasant stroll.

The office, unlike the imposing surveillance tower, was a modest three-story building, surrounded by cameras and steel fencing.

As Cyrus approached, the cameras zeroed in on her, recognizing her facial information.

"Good morning, Officer Cyrus. Welcome to the Coast Security office. We hope you enjoy your work here," Adam's timely voice greeted her.

She had graduated from "Trainee Officer" to "Officer," and Adam's salutation changed accordingly.

The steel gates slid open, granting her entry.

Inside, the environment was less grand than the surveillance tower. Police cars were parked on the ground, not on a dedicated platform. The training area was large but exposed to the elements.

Upon entering the first floor, Adam directed, "You need to report to the patrol office on the third floor first. Your team leader will assign you specific patrol duties."

As Cyrus opened the office door on the third floor, Shu Xuyao, Jiang Ming, and Liu Kangyun were already seated inside.

"Good morning," she greeted.

"You live nearby, right? I remember your place is close," Jiang Ming commented. "Lan Lan lives downtown, quite far from here. Hopefully, he won't be late."

As if on cue, Lan Lan burst in, sweat-soaked. "Phew... why is the nearest bus stop Anning Street Station? It's a good walk from here; I ran the whole way."

"Because the harbor district is too poor for full coverage by the hover train," Cyrus shrugged.

"Leave earlier next time, Lan Lan," Shu Xuyao advised. "We were considering requesting staff housing for Cyrus because of Anning Street's safety concerns, but now that we're stationed here, living near Anning Street actually works out."

"Let's wait until we're back at headquarters to apply for staff housing," Cyrus suggested.

Residing in staff housing would make it difficult to contact members of Mechanism Dawn or to leave at will. Anning Street was preferable; with her combat prowess, she wasn't concerned about potential trouble in the area.

Coastal patrols were rotated among squads, typically for a month, meaning Squad Seven would return to headquarters after a month of harbor duty.

"By the way, did they catch the bastard who cracked Cyrus's head open?" Liu Kangyun inquired.

"No, we don't even know who he is," Shu Xuyao said, looking at Cyrus. "Cyrus suffered severe head injuries and lost her memory of the incident."

Cyrus lied seamlessly, "Yeah, I can't remember anything... If I knew who he was, I'd make him pay."

The original "Officer Cyrus," now replaced by a Mechanism Dawn mole, had her accident in the harbor district during a sudden firefight at the port. Chaos erupted with explosions and shootouts, prompting the Enforcement Department to send reinforcements to the harbor. "Officer Cyrus" was among the squads dispatched and unfortunately became a casualty.

"Our coastal patrols are divided into sea and land. Sea patrols mainly check if ships are operating normally and look out for smugglers and stowaways. Land patrols maintain port security," Shu Xuyao explained. "Sea patrols are currently handled by Squads Six and Five, while we and other patrol officers are responsible for land patrols."

"Be cautious. Last night, there was another incident near the harbor—someone was killed. The perpetrator used heavy firearms; our team found nearly a hundred bullet casings on-site. The victim's flesh was scattered meters away, but the body was missing. Someone must have taken it, suggesting a premeditated, organized murder with more than one participant involved."

Lan Lan asked, "Was the victim's identity confirmed?"

"No records of his identity. He's a ghost in the system, invisible to society," Shu Xuyao stated flatly. "But that's not our concern. The investigation will be handled by the detective team. Last night, Chief Jiang personally visited the scene."

Cyrus's forehead twitched.

"Chief Jiang himself took charge?" Jiang Ming exclaimed in surprise.

Liu Kangyun added, "Given the commotion last night, this wasn't just a typical gang fight. Heavy firearms and grenades... those aren't things just any faction can get their hands on."

"We've been ordered to have the harbor operational by August 5th. Our job is to patrol and prevent any accidents during repairs," Shu Xuyao briefed. "Always wear your firearm and carry extra bullets when patrolling... These are dangerous times, and this place is far from peaceful."