Cherreads

Chapter 129 - Tracing the Source

-HOSPITAL ROOM-

-8:03 AM, MARCH 10, 2017-

The room had turned into a workspace.

Notes spread across the table.

Timelines.

Locations.

Patterns.

Rikuu stood over them.

Focused.

Ichika beside him.

Analyzing just as closely.

Rikuu pointed at the map.

"…Here."

Ichika leaned in.

"…That's where the first disruption started."

He nodded.

"…And every major shift traces back to a central relay point."

A pause.

"…Not random nodes."

"…A control source."

Ichika's eyes sharpened.

"…So they're not just testing the city…"

"…They're routing everything through one system."

Rikuu added,

"…Which means if we find that—"

"…We find them," Ichika finished.

Silence.

Then—

Ichika frowned slightly.

"…But they wouldn't make it obvious."

Rikuu shook his head.

"…They didn't."

A pause.

"…They hid it inside normal infrastructure."

Rikuu flipped a page.

"…Look at this."

Ichika followed.

"…Power grid fluctuations…"

"…Signal interference…"

Her expression changed.

"…These overlap."

Rikuu nodded.

"…Exactly."

Ichika traced the lines with her finger.

Then stopped.

"…This point…"

Rikuu looked.

"…Yeah."

A pause.

"…It shows up every time."

They both looked at the same location.

Silent.

Understanding.

Ichika spoke first.

"…That's not just a relay point."

Rikuu's voice lowered.

"…It's a hub."

Ichika straightened.

"…If we go there—"

Rikuu finished,

"…We interrupt everything."

A pause.

"…Or at least slow it down."

Ichika crossed her arms slightly.

Thinking.

"…It could be a trap."

Rikuu didn't deny it.

"…It probably is."

A pause.

"…But it's still our best lead."

Silence.

Then—

Ichika nodded.

"…Then we go."

Rikuu looked at her.

"…You're sure?"

She met his gaze.

"…We said we wouldn't wait."

Rikuu gave a small nod.

"…Alright."

A pause.

"…We move today."

-UNKNOWN LOCATION-

-8:40 AM-

The man watched a screen.

A map.

The same point highlighted.

"…They found it."

Another voice spoke.

"…Should we relocate?"

The man shook his head slightly.

"…No."

A pause.

"…Let them come."

-SAPPORO CITY-

-9:12 AM-

Snow continued to fall.

The city moved as usual.

But beneath it—

Two paths were now converging.

-HOSPITAL ROOM-

-9:20 AM-

Rikuu gathered his things.

Ichika ready beside him.

No hesitation.

No doubt.

This time—

They weren't being led.

They were walking straight into it.

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