Black cars and SUVs sped through the streets of Poison City, in all three districts. Some of the cars had sirens on them, while others did not. Agents and special police from the city, acting under the order from the Poison City Security Council, the de facto center of power in the city’s law enforcement institution.

And the very reason for this broadcast blast was very simple. For the first time in quite a while, the council issued an order of a city-wide manhunt.

“All units be on the lookout, there is a city-wide manhunt ongoing. All units be on the lookout, there is a city-wide manhunt ongoing. ” The radio inside of a police car parked right outside of a convenience store was activated. “The target of manhunt: Cai, Marcus, male, 31 years of age, previous detective of the 17th Precinct of the South-Western District, armed and Dangerous; Loo, Kevin, male, 25 years of age, previous forensic technician of the 17th Precinct of the South-Western District, unarmed; Lance, Keryn, female, 27 years of age, previous detective of the 17th Precinct, armed and dangerous; Cramer, Mick, male, 22 years of age, previous senior officer of the 17th Precinct, unarmed and likely a hostage.

“All sergeants and captains, you are hereby instructed to inform your officers and detectives to be on the lookout. All spare personnel and resources shall be redirected to the search and hunt effort for all these targets.

“Instructions to this manhunt are as follows: all four of them shall be apprehended. If the situation requires, use of lethal force is allowed. Measures must be taken to ensure the safety of the hostage to the maximum extent. ”

Poison City was still a big city, even though there were a few dozens of city agents who in theory had power to take command in any precinct. But their primary target destination was not anywhere in the Northern or South-Western Districts. Instead, the first place most of them needed to visit was the South-Eastern District, or a place they could meet the representatives or liaisons of the community collective, to be precise.

The closest precincts to the 17th were still somewhat far off. For a precinct of less than ten detectives, the entire area of the precinct was surprisingly large. A few of the city agents’ cars drove around the streets of the now closed down 17th Precinct office building before finally parking in the street corners.

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A total of six city agents walked into the precinct building. A group of men maintaining the scene inside the building walked up to the city with the highest rank: “Can I help you, agents?”

“What have you found?” The city agents asked, his eyes were invisible behind the sunglasses, even though it was late in the evening.

“Not much aside from their personnel files, most of which the city already has anyway.” The head of the maintenance team answered: “And some personal items.”

“What kind of personal items?”

“Pictures, framed. Metal chopsticks, coffee mugs used as pen holders, folders - ”

“Pictures sound good. Anything more personal? Like necklaces, pendants, gloves, scarves?”

“Aside from the pictures we found only a small incense burner, it’s more like a decoration, unused.”

“Let us have a look.” The highest ranking city agent nodded.

The maintenance team led the city agents to a new temporary desk put in the middle of the first floor. The table was covered by a thick sheet of plastic cloth, on which laid a few items: two frame pictures of young Detective Marcus Cai, some metal keys found in the manhunt targets’ desks, some old mobile phone protectors, chopsticks, notepads and one small bronze incense burner.

“So this is it?” The leader of the city agents frowned: “This is - this is like a few cents off the night market. Whose is it?”

“The forensic technician, I assume.” The head of the maintenance crew shrugged: “We found this in a drawer inside the lab. It’s put alongside some chopsticks. As far as we know, they have only one forensic technician. ”

“According to the personal dossier, he’s the one with the most expressed interest in - in arcane things.” Another city agent commented from the side: “Doctor Ayer Flemmings once worked with him for a short while, but their project was halted due to some higher priority work from the city, and she’s never caught up with him since.”

“Okay - so it’s his, very likely.” The leader of the city agents nodded, before clicking his finger at one of the other agents and pointed at the burner: “Can you take a look? Just to see how it works out.”

“Roger that.” The other agent put on plastic gloves, then pulled out a small bottle filled with red liquid and took a gulp. Then he proceeded to pick the incense burner up with his right hand and blew all the liquid in his mouth onto the burner, before making a hand seal and tapping the burner with his left middle finger.

A puff of smoke rose from the mouth of the empty incense burner. A pungent burned and charred smell filled the air.

“What the hell is that?” The head of the maintenance crew asked, grimacing.