The moment our eyes locked, I felt a jolt of recognition surge through me. Jason had seen me—there was no doubt about that. His surprised expression told me he had seemed to realize something, and I couldn’t afford to let him approach.
Without a second thought, I ducked back into the crowd, trying to disappear amidst the sea of people. The bustling dock was my ally now. I kept my head low, weaving between passengers and dock workers as quickly and quietly as possible. The loud chatter and shuffling of footsteps masked my retreat, but I knew I had to move fast.
I slipped into a dark alley that snaked deeper into the city, the dim light from the street fading as I ventured further in. The cool air clung to the narrow passage, thick with the smell of damp stone and distant sea salt. I paused, doubling over with my hands braced on my knees, trying to calm my breathing. Every inhale felt sharp in my chest. As I prepared to activate [Developer's Eye] to check if anyone had followed me.
Suddenly, a faint whistle sliced through the air.
Instinct took over. In a split second, I summoned a dagger made of shimmering data, its edges flickering with an ethereal glow. I swung it up just in time, deflecting the projectile with a metallic clang as it ricocheted off the alley wall and clattered to the ground. My heart pounded in my ears as I quickly glanced at the object out of the corner of my eye.
A toothbrush?
I blinked, confusion coursing through me for a moment before realization hit.
Hearing the steady rhythm of footsteps approaching, my gaze snapped up toward the far end of the alley—the direction the toothbrush had been thrown from. ‘Damn it! They were testing my abilities... and now they know about my [Corporeal Data Creation].’ My mind raced, adrenaline surging through me as I cursed under my breath.
From the shadows, a figure emerged. Jason Berth stepped into view, his tall silhouette framed against the dim light spilling from the street beyond. His silver hair shimmered under the faint glow, while his sharp, pinkish-purple eyes locked onto mine with unnerving intensity. He wore a long coat, tailored pants, and polished black boots that clicked softly against the ground with each deliberate step. A diamond-shaped black metal earring gleamed on his left ear, catching the light as he moved, adding to the air of quiet menace he carried. His pace was unhurried, as though he already knew I had nowhere to run. The cool morning breeze seemed to hum with the tension between us as he approached.
“From the looks of it, you’re not her,” Jason said, his eyes narrowing as they flicked to the glowing dagger in my hand. His voice held a mix of suspicion and something else—faint hope, perhaps, though buried deep beneath layers of mistrust. “However, you look so similar to her that it’s uncanny.”
His words echoed in the tight alleyway, laced with cold accusation. There was a brief pause as his expression darkened, his hand slipping into his suitcase, gripping something tightly within. His stance radiated danger, like a predator waiting for the right moment to strike.
In a low, gravelly growl, he demanded, “State your identity and business.”
My mind raced. 'What’s the best way to handle this? Should I tell him the truth?'
Taking a steadying breath, I resolved to be honest. “My name is Tokei Makina,” I said, keeping my voice calm but firm. “And I’m here to find someone.”
Jason’s eyes widened slightly, a flicker of disbelief crossing his face. He straightened, his body language betraying the faintest hint of tension. “Makina?” he repeated, his voice tight with incredulity. “You mean to tell me that you’re really related to Miss Makina?”
The gravity of the name hung heavily between us, clearly stirring something deep within him. Whatever emotions he wrestled with—confusion, disbelief, perhaps even a spark of recognition—he didn’t let them show. But I could feel the weight of his consideration as the silence stretched.
“In that case, only one person can confirm your claim of being a Makina,” Jason said, his posture relaxing ever so slightly. “And that is Miss Makina herself.”
With a slow, deliberate movement, Jason withdrew his hand from the suitcase, revealing a gleaming silver revolver. The metallic gleam caught the light as he casually holstered it inside his grey coat, his eyes constantly directed towards me.
The tension shifted, but it didn’t disappear. Jason’s sharp gaze lingered on me as he spoke, his voice calm yet laced with authority. “Since you came here instead of heading to Bakhlav City, you must not have known where Miss Makina is. Instead, you tracked me to Apredis since I have connections with her, considering how you seemed to recognize me at the dock.”
'Damn, he has me all figured out,' I murmured under my breath, realizing how easily he had pieced everything together.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
“I’ll have to kindly ask you to follow me to Bakhlav,” Jason continued, his tone making it clear that this wasn’t a suggestion. “I’ll be taking you there, so stay with me until we get there.”
My mind raced. 'Should I mention that Nanik and Farthington came here with me?'
Before I could make up my mind, I glanced toward the entrance of the alley, and there, as if summoned by my thoughts, stood Farthington. He held a suit bag in one hand and a book in the other, casually striding by the alley before glancing into it and changing direction. His carefree demeanor was completely at odds with the tension crackling in the air.
“Well, fancy running into you here,” Farthington said with a smirk, as if the situation were nothing more than a pleasant coincidence. He glanced at Jason, then back at me, raising an eyebrow. “And who’s this new lad?”
I sighed inwardly, knowing that subtlety and Farthington weren’t exactly the best of companions. Jason’s eyes shifted from me to Farthington, his posture stiffening again.
“Is this one of your companions?” Jason asked, his voice cold, all traces of the slight relaxation gone. His hand hovered near his coat, and I knew he was ready to draw his weapon if things escalated.
Farthington, oblivious or simply not caring, gave a casual nod. “That I am. I just returned from some, uh, important business. Pleasure meet you~”
I groaned inwardly, glancing between them. ‘I guess I don’t have to choose what to do anymore…’
“I’ll come with you to Bakhlav, Only if my two companions are allowed to join.”
Jason's brow furrowed in confusion. “Two?” he echoed, his eyes darting between Farthington and me, clearly trying to piece together the situation.
I nodded, “Yes, two. My other companion is somewhere nearby.”
Jason’s posture tensed again, “When were you planning on informing me of this?” he said, his voice flat and unreadable.
“I wasn’t sure how this would go,” I admitted, glancing at Farthington, who was now casually inspecting his suit bag as if none of this concerned him. “But they’re trustworthy, and we’re in this together. If I’m going to Bakhlav, they come with me.”
Jason’s eyes narrowed. “Fine,” he said slowly, his tone laced with warning. “But understand this—your companions better not cause any trouble, or I’ll deal with them myself.”
Farthington gave an exaggerated salute. “No trouble from me, I assure you! Just here for the cash- I mean I’m just here to tag along for the ride.”
Jason glanced over at me one last time before nodding. “Alright,” he said, turning on his heel. “Let’s get going. We’ve wasted enough time already.”
With that, Jason began to lead the way out of the alley, and I exchanged a quick look with Farthington before following. I could only hope Nanik would turn up soon.
----------------------------------------
In the beating heart of the Country of Cielmouth, the Capital city, Killiane.
Within an inconspicuous building that rested near the capitol building, A group of people wearing black suits walked into a large room with an empty wall on one side and a seating arrangement opposite to it.
Taking their seats, one of them speaks up, “Alright, do you have the Lumen capture of the most recently found target from the group?”
A woman standing near the empty wall nods and traces her finger in a specific pattern across the wall. From the point where she had traced her finger once concealed runes began to glow a bright golden yellow spreading across the wall in a ripple till it was entirely covered in glowing runes. After a brief flicker, a somewhat translucent image appeared on the wall as if a projected image was being cast onto it.
The air in the room seemed to thicken with tension the moment the image of Jason and Tokei appeared on the rune-covered wall. The luminescent golden glow reflected off the sharp lines of the seated individuals' black suits, casting an eerie light across their faces.
One of the men seated near the center shot to his feet, his eyes wide with disbelief. "My god, it's Jason Berth!" he exclaimed, his voice tight with urgency. His fists were clenched as if he were trying to grasp onto the enormity of the revelation. "Where was this Lumen capture taken?"
The woman who had activated the runes took a deep breath, her calm demeanor a stark contrast to the sudden uproar. "The capture was taken in the port city of Apredis, in the western region of Cielmouth. It's been confirmed within the last few hours."
A murmur rippled through the room. The other seated individuals exchanged uneasy glances, their thoughts hidden behind composed faces. Jason Berth, a figure who was supposed to be under careful watch after the “Marin incident”, had resurfaced in an entirely different part of the country, and with someone else—a person none of them seemed to recognize.
"Who’s the woman?" another man asked, his voice low but laced with suspicion. His eyes were glued to the Lumen capture, focusing on the figure standing beside Jason.
The woman near the wall frowned, her fingers trailing along more runes as she tried to enhance the image. "We're still working to identify her. She’s an unknown, though, given the circumstances, we’re treating her with high priority as she might be Her."
"Whether it’s Her or not, if she's with Berth, she's dangerous!" someone else muttered darkly from the back.
The man who had stood up before was pacing now, his frustration boiling over. "We cannot allow this to continue unchecked. Jason Berth’s movements must be monitored more closely. He’s been in hiding for too long, and now he appears with someone new? This cannot be a coincidence."
The room fell into a tense silence, each person lost in thought, calculating their next move. Finally, the woman near the wall broke the quiet.
"What are your orders, sir?" she asked, her eyes lingering on the glowing image of Jason and Tokei.
The man at the head of the table, who had remained silent until now, leaned forward. His voice, low and authoritative, cut through the room like a blade.
"Deploy the surveillance teams immediately. I want eyes on Berth at all times. And as for the woman... find out who she is. If she’s a threat, neutralize her."
The rest of the room nodded in silent agreement.