"Stop investigating this case, 001." The voice of the veteran officer echoed, cold yet laced with the fury hidden beneath his gaze fixed on the young officer in front of him. This was the office of the head of the Special Crime Suppression Unit, and Ryzen ignored the white envelope placed in front of him.
Asic stood with his hands behind his back, staring at his superior with a composed face, the atmosphere around him freezing, dropping the temperature until it felt like ice. He appeared indifferent, but internally, a fire of rage was burning. Dark purple energy surged within him, tightly restrained, as he tried not to let it erupt and destroy everything in the room.
Ryzen looked at the subordinate he trusted more than anyone. It felt like the boy he'd raised was baring his teeth at him. It made him both disappointed and angry, yet he understood that things had escalated beyond repair.
"Why can't you just let it go, kid? Your skills can be used to help so many people. Without you, chaos will break out, and peace will be disrupted."
"Why can't you pretend you never saw it and let it pass, old man? My powers could help a lot of people. If I'm not around, who knows how many scumbags will wreak havoc, make innocent people suffer? You want to see that kind of world?"
"There are plenty of skilled officers who could take over if I'm gone. I'm just a small, insignificant cog in the machine," Asic replied, his tone stern and harsh. Though his words were devoid of any crude language, it sounded as if he was outright cursing the man before him. The bitter sarcasm in his voice made Ryzen even more furious.
"Besides, I don't need to be a cop to help people. Why cling to someone who's lost faith, Commander?" Asic spoke coldly, extinguishing the flames in Ryzen's heart. The young man who used to joke and laugh with him had now become a stranger, like oil and water.
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"I've done all this for your future. In three years, you could retire with a good pension and live out your days peacefully. Why throw that away?" Ryzen tried to reason, his voice desperate.
"That's not the future I want," Asic said, gripping his fists tightly until his knuckles cracked from the strain.
"My brother didn't die naturally. Not only did you not help, but you also obstructed my investigation. What's justice to you? What does the police force even stand for? What does this uniform mean?"
"You little brat." Ryzen felt a headache coming on as Asic questioned him. The day had finally come—the day he could no longer control this wild animal. In the end, the dog he'd raised had bitten its owner.
"You know what'll happen if you let your emotions take control, don't you? Everything you've worked for, everything you've built, will be gone. All the peace, status, friendships—you'll lose it all. You know I'm not bluffing because I taught you myself, damn it!" Ryzen pounded the desk and stood up, glaring at Asic. The authority of the commander filled the room, suppressing the entire office floor until it felt like a cemetery. He was the commander—like a handler controlling a pack of dogs. If he couldn't control his own, what kind of leader was he?
"Don't forget, your mother lives on the department's welfare. What happens to her if you quit?"
"!!!" It was as if cold water had been poured over him from head to toe, a chilling sensation seeping into his bones. Asic couldn't help but shiver.
"..." Ryzen's words hit him like a cold shower, numbing him to his fingertips. Disappointment flooded his heart, plunging him into a dark, bottomless abyss. The commander he respected as a father figure—the man who had trained him with a smile—was now threatening him.
'How did it come to this? Where did it go wrong?' Asic loved justice; that was why he became a cop. He dedicated his life to his duty and the people. But today made him realize that the justice of the police force was nothing but a facade. Everything he had believed in shattered, and the last thread tying him to this place finally snapped.
Ryzen's eyes grew sad for a moment. He picked up a cigarette, trying to regain his composure. He exhaled, gray eyes filled with regret.
"I've lost many subordinates. Most of them died in the line of duty. I treated them well—considered them my children, including you. This job doesn't allow for a long life. I wanted my kids to live out their later years in peace. You're one of them… Asic, give me one more chance. Let's uphold justice together, like we swore back at the camp."
"Our justice isn't the same, Commander." The justice of the police was dead to him. There was no trace of loyalty left in his heart—only iron wings that wanted to break free from the cage.
"Even if it's you, if you get in my way…" Asic left the sentence unfinished. No, there was no need to explain any further. There was no point in talking anymore. He turned his back and walked towards the door.
"Kid." Ryzen made a move to call him back one last time but didn't say anything. Asic reached for the door handle and spoke his final words without looking back.
"Goodbye, old man."