Lyss sat quietly on a public bench nestled between two trees, holding an unfolded newspaper in front of her as she casually observed the passing pedestrians. To anyone glancing her way, she looked like an ordinary citizen enjoying a peaceful morning. However, a faint ringing in her earpiece soon interrupted her thoughts, followed by the familiar voice of a woman speaking through the communication channel.
"Lyss, we've detected a new location for the Malform. It's relatively close to your current position. According to our latest observations, it hasn't caused any damage or displayed signs of aggression. The surrounding area remains relatively quiet."
Lyss lowered the newspaper slightly, her expression shifting with interest. "It's not attacking anyone? That's pretty unusual behaviour for a Malform. And are you absolutely certain it's there? Last time I followed your directions, the thing was nowhere to be found. We ended up accomplishing absolutely nothing."
"Yes, our information has been verified. Recent activity confirms that the creature has remained in the reported location for some time. It's possible that it's still recovering from the injuries it sustained during its rampage at the Yaoshima shopping center." The woman replied in a composed, professional manner, her tone carrying the confidence of someone accustomed to handling sensitive operations.
Lyss gave a small nod, mentally taking note of the information before continuing her questions. "Alright. Any other obstacles I should know about? Ghouls? Chimeras?"
"Negative. Our current readings indicate no additional threats in the vicinity. The estimated danger level is currently negligible. Nevertheless, exercise caution when approaching the Malform. And remember, Lyss, our objective is strictly to obtain a blood sample. Nothing more."
Lyss folded the newspaper slightly, her attention now entirely focused on the assignment ahead.
"Remember, Lyss. Exercise caution. You're one of the few agents we've managed to keep beyond the Institute's radar. Your work so far has been commendable, and we'd prefer to keep it that way. Secure the sample as soon as possible. We need it without further delay. I'll forward the coordinates to your device now."
The communication channel fell silent shortly afterward, and a moment later, Lyss felt her phone vibrate with an incoming message. She glanced down at the screen, where the newly received coordinates were displayed.
"Don't worry. I'll get you that sample, alright?" she whispered to herself, making sure her voice remained low enough that nobody nearby would overhear her.
Lyss knew she wasn't alone in the area. A quick glance around had already revealed a noticeable police presence, and the sight was hardly reassuring. "A bunch of constables running around here. Just what I needed to make my job harder," she muttered, slipping her phone into her pocket before continuing along the patio.
She kept a casual pace, making sure not to draw any unnecessary attention as she surveyed the surroundings. Several officers were scattered throughout the area, some questioning civilians while others stood watch over the nearby streets. Their presence seemed unusually heavy for what was otherwise a fairly quiet part of the city, leaving Lyss to wonder what had prompted such a deployment.
"Why send so many officers out here?" she murmured to herself.
Her attention soon shifted when she noticed a policeman approaching a young woman, notebook already in hand. Rather than continue walking, Lyss quietly stepped behind a nearby tree, positioning herself where she could listen without being noticed.
"Miss, about a week ago, there was a murder involving the principal of a rather prominent school just outside Yaoshima. Is there anything you might know that could help with our investigation?" the officer asked, his pen hovering over the page.
Lyss raised her eyebrows slightly. The question caught her off guard, bringing the incident back to mind. "They're still investigating the Institute's murder? And they're asking people this far out?"
Before she could give it much more thought, the young woman responded with an irritated sigh. "How should I know? I've got a family and a job to worry about. It was probably some kind of monster anyway. You remember those after-dark events, don't you?"
The policeman immediately interrupted her assumption, his expression remaining stern. "The murder took place during the daytime. It couldn't have been caused by a 'monster.'"
The woman stared at him for a moment before her frustration finally boiled over. "What are you even talking about? Have you already forgotten the destruction of the largest shopping center in the region? That was attacked in broad daylight! For all we know, the principal was slaughtered by one of those creatures, too! Families can't even feel safe outside during the day anymore, and you police-ass-men aren't doing a damn thing about it! Just leave me alone!"
With that, she turned and stormed off, leaving the officer standing where he was. He watched her disappear into the crowd before lowering his notebook with a quiet sigh. Lyss remained behind the tree, her attention fixed on the exchange, now wondering whether the police presence had more to do with the principal's murder than the Malform she had come to investigate.
Lyss shook her head, forcing her attention back to the task at hand. Whatever the police were investigating had nothing to do with her current assignment, and she couldn't afford to get distracted. "Gotta hurry," she muttered, picking up her pace before breaking into a sprint, her sneakers striking the pavement as she rushed down the street.
She weaved through the passing pedestrians and swiftly navigated the winding streets, taking each corner without slowing down. Before long, she reached a narrow passage beside a building, where a metal ladder had been mounted against the wall, its lower end hanging just beyond her reach. Lyss stopped for a moment, glancing around to make sure nobody was watching before raising her arm.
A faint blue glow gathered around her hand, quickly taking the shape of a lasso woven from translucent energy. With a swift flick of her wrist, she sent it whipping through the air, the weighted end catching firmly around the ladder's handle. She gave it a sharp tug, unlocking the mechanism and allowing the ladder to slide down until it reached a height she could easily access.
The glowing lasso dissipated into scattered blue particles as Lyss grabbed the ladder and began climbing. Reaching the staircase above, she hurried up the remaining steps until she finally emerged onto the rooftop. From there, she could use the buildings as a route through the area, keeping to the higher ground and well out of sight of the policemen patrolling the streets below.
She continued across the rooftops, carefully hopping over narrow gaps and navigating the uneven edges of each structure. Every movement was quick and deliberate, her eyes already fixed on the direction of her destination. She needed to reach the Malform before anything—or anyone—interfered with her assignment.
Lyss slowed her pace as she approached the next rooftop, reaching up to adjust her earpiece before initiating another call. While waiting for the connection, she continued walking along the rooftop, her gaze sweeping across the surrounding buildings. A steady breeze brushed past her ears and stirred her hair, a reminder of just how high above the streets she was.
A moment later, the familiar voice of the woman who had assigned her the mission came through the earpiece. Lyss touched it lightly, making sure the connection was clear before speaking.
"I'm getting close to the Malform's reported location, but there's no sign of it anywhere. Are you sure this is the right area?" she asked, glancing over the rooftops and down toward the streets below.
The woman didn't hesitate or show the slightest uncertainty in her response. "Yes. The coordinates I sent you are accurate. There should be an underground section somewhere near your current position. It's an abandoned station where the old monorail used to operate, before the Ghouls destroyed it. The government eventually sealed the area off because the damage made it far too dangerous to access."
"Let me guess. The Malform has taken shelter underground, away from the light?" Lyss asked, though the explanation she received wasn't quite what she had expected.
"Not exactly. I don't believe that's the case. Remember, Malforms aren't particularly affected by daylight, unlike Ghouls, which generally only emerge during the late hours. My assumption is fairly straightforward: the creature sustained considerable damage during its previous encounter and needed somewhere quiet to recover. Unfortunately for it, our methods of detection proved more effective than it anticipated. We've managed to pinpoint its location despite its attempt to remain hidden." The woman paused briefly before continuing, her tone growing more serious. "Stay focused on your assignment and use the stairs to enter the underground station. Be careful not to make too much noise. We don't want to disturb the creature before you're ready. And trust me, Lyss, once you're down there, you won't have anywhere safe to retreat to if things go wrong."
Lyss listened carefully, understanding the implications of her instructions. She approached the rooftop access door and rested one hand against it, preparing herself for what awaited on the other side. Before ending the call, she allowed herself a brief, amused smirk.
"So... A big, sleepy guy, huh? Shouldn't be too difficult to handle."
She finally disconnected and began making her way toward the stairs leading down to the underground station. However, just as she took her first few steps, something beneath her sneaker caught her attention. She stopped and glanced down, noticing a small, folded piece of paper lying on the rooftop. It hadn't been there a moment ago—or at least, she was certain she hadn't noticed it before. Curious, Lyss carefully lifted her foot and picked it up.
"Huh...?" Lyss murmured, her eyes narrowing as she glanced around the rooftop. She briefly scanned the nearby buildings and the surrounding area, searching for any sign of someone who might have left the note behind. However, there was nobody in sight. Only the faint whisper of the wind passing between the rooftops broke the otherwise peaceful silence.
Curiosity getting the better of her, she carefully unfolded the paper and began reading its contents. The message was surprisingly short, consisting of only a handful of sentences.
Good day to you, Miss Kael. I've sent you this letter because I'd like us to meet in person, somewhere away from prying eyes. I know who you are. If you don't want your secret exposed, meet me at Paper & Pine in Shinsei after you've completed your mission. I'll be waiting.[1]
That was all it said.
"What the hell...?" Lyss muttered, staring at the paper for another moment as she tried to make sense of what she'd just read. Her gaze shifted around the rooftop once more, this time with considerably more suspicion. Whoever had written the message clearly knew her identity, and judging by the wording, they knew more about her activities than they should have.
She folded the letter back into its original shape and slipped it into her pocket, deciding against making a scene or drawing attention to herself. Whatever this was, she would have to deal with it later. For now, she had a Malform to find and a mission to complete. With one last glance around the rooftop, Lyss continued toward the underground entrance.
To be continued...
[1] Reader's NoteThe mysterious letter suggests that someone has discovered Lyss Kael's identity and, more importantly, is aware of her covert activities outside the Vanguard Institute's supervision. By inviting her to meet privately after her mission and threatening to expose her secret, the sender makes it clear that they know far more about Lyss than she would like. Who sent the letter, how they discovered her, and what they ultimately want remain unknown.