As the upper echelons of the city were scrambling to form a proper response, there was one citizen who showed urgency for an entirely different reason.

Chief Investigator Warrick Lewis had begun collecting evidence relating to the various events that took place. There were indisputable facts in each scenario and they began to point toward a single individual, Visette Thales.

Commander Wakefield knew of the budding inconsistencies Visette left behind, how could he not? He planned to send Visette to assassinate several more councilors. Once there was enough evidence out there, he could use it to leash Visette. If she chose to disobey, he could paint her as an Abnormal who moved as she pleased without his supervision. There was no record of the orders he had given her and she already killed a Councilor in public when she first arrived at the city.

That plan had crumbled as the city was thrown into more chaos. The biggest error came from Visette’s work at the academy which was displayed for all to see. The slow trickle of medical reports showed a startling overlap to anyone with a discerning eye. The soldiers from Roslin that were killed within the city, the prisoners at the detention facility, and now the Abnormals at the school. All three events showed the same types of injuries in at least a few of the deceased.

Someone neck being broken with extreme precision was bound to catch attention. When the many autopsy reports involving such a death were compared, it wouldn’t be a stretch to say the same person was responsible. After all, who could snap the neck of an individual so perfectly each time? Who was able to slit a throat the same exact way each time? Even the most well-trained soldier couldn’t perform to absolute perfection. The cuts inflicted by Visette reflected surgical precision and stood out all the more because of it. From an objective view, it was likely Visette Thales had assassinated several councilors and disposed of the operatives from Roslin.

That was the theory Warrick put forward to Governor Burke who accepted all of the info with an unreadable expression. One moment, he showed complicated thoughts, the other, he seemed to be brooding. There were a few missing links that like the enemies who committed suicide for some strange reason and the broken handgun found in a councilor manor. Warrick wisely chose to leave them out even though he still felt they were extremely important details.

“You believe Visette Thales to be responsible for the deaths of councilors, Investigator Lewis?”

“Yes, Sir.” Warrick nodded as he pushed a folder toward the Governor.

He compiled each autopsy report and arranged them in such a way that his claim could not be disputed. The evidence was just too convincing.

“This is the only copy?” Governor Burke asked as he flipped through the information.

“Yes, Sir. I didn’t know who could be trusted. We already had to deal with an informant among our councilors, who is to say there isn’t one in the DSF.”

“You were right in doing so, Investigator Lewis. I commend you for taking the proper route and maintaining discretion.” Governor Burke gestured toward his advisor. “Send her in, Mr.Price.”

“Yes, Sir.” Eugene Price quickly left the room to retrieve the person in question.

Meanwhile, Warrick had a confused expression on his face. “Sir?”

“Just a moment.” Governor Burke spoke full of assurance, which caused Warrick to settle.

A moment later, a beautiful young woman with long white hair entered the room.

“Sir? Should you really-” Warrick nearly jumped out of his chair as Visette appeared.

“Calm down, we will get to the bottom of this matter right here.” Governor Burke frowned, his form became imposing as he said so.

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“Ah, yes, Sir.” Warrick regained his calm but kept his eyes on Visette. The humiliation that Lyn delivered to him four years before had suddenly seemed fresh in his mind. When he thought of her, his countenance reflected a victor who was gloating in front of the loser.

“Now, Ms.Thales, in this folder there should be evidence that exposes your involvement in several treasonous crimes that occurred within the city. If that is true, then it would appear that you’re involved with some very dangerous elements.”

Visette’s expression remained unperturbed without the slightest sign of panic. She secretly channeled her psionic power and mapped out an escape route.

Perhaps Governor Burke could see that as he spoke once more.

“Yes, this folder should have evidence against you...” As he trailed off, he tossed the folder into a metal bin before lighting a match. “I guess we will never know.”

The match was tossed in and soon the evidence Warrick painstakingly collected was burnt to ash in front of his very eyes.

“Governor Burke!” Warrick was filled with pure shock.

He couldn’t have possibly expect the Governor to act so irrationally.

“Ms.Thales, it seems there was some sort of misunderstanding as I see no evidence.” The Governor smiled meaningfully.

“Yes, I understand,” Visette replied, able to read his intentions.

“You can’t just let her go, Sir! You don’t know what she’ll do!” Warrick spoke up abruptly, “She could kill any one of us-”

“No, just you.” Governor Burke looked at Visette as he said his next words, “Ms.Thales, Investigator Lewis has come to my office with the intention of assassinating me. As a soldier of New Mayhall, it is your responsibility to protect me, no?”

“You are correct, Sir.” Visette suddenly shot out of her seat and grabbed Warrick. One hand pressed into the back of his head and the other firmly held his jaw.

“No-” Warrick managed to mutter a single word before Visette brutally snapped his neck.

The bone crunching sound didn’t seem to register in either Visette’s or Governor Burke’s ears.

“I assume that Commander Wakefield was responsible for those assassinations?” The Governor inquired, but Visette replied with silence.

“Hmm, I’d rather you not confirm it either… I will overlook this, Ms.Thales. You should’ve been briefed on the threat we’re currently facing, compared to the Corrupted, this matter is trivial. I’d like to think that we’re of the same mind when it comes to this.”

“I agree, Sir.” Visette intoned emotionlessly.

“Ah, that is very good to hear, Ms.Thales. From now on, I’d ask that you keep me in mind when Commander Wakefield proposes something unreasonable. Now, Investigator Warrick will be dealt without issue so do not worry. I’m sure your team should be assembling for deployment in a few hours.”

“Yes, that is correct, Sir.”

“Then you are dismissed.” Governor Burke smiled amicably, in spite of the fresh corpse sitting across from him.

Warrick’s eyes had gone lifeless, but feelings of astonishment could be found deep within. The threat of the Corrupted had elevated Visette to a point Warrick could never hope to be at. Governor Burke turned his life into a show of goodwill to keep Visette on his side and it worked.

Unfortunately, that made Commander Wakefield more expendable. Unless he could display an overwhelming understanding of military tactics that went far beyond what Visette could accomplish, he wouldn’t be worth much else.

…

A little while later, Visette was standing in an air hangar, equipped in black tactical gear. Heavy metal plating was useful for withstanding the claws and teeth of Corrupted, so that’s what her gear mostly consisted of. There was also a shortsword that almost resembled a gladius sheathed on her back. A blade or knife was the very last resort for normal humans while Abnormals could bring out more use in bladed and blunt weapons. As for firepower, an auto rifle was slung over her shoulder and two large semi-auto pistols were holstered on each hip. She held the combat mask in her hands as she waited for her call.

“Hey!” It came in the form of Lyn’s voice. “Time to go.”

She and four other people standing behind her were already fully equipped.

Visette gave them a glance before she strapped the combat mask to her face and nodded.

“I’m ready.”

The group of six headed toward a tilt-rotor aerial vehicle which featured a propeller on both of its wings. It was already humming and ready to go before they arrived, so they climbed into the cargo hold without delay before it ascended into the darkened sky.

The rescue operation had begun.