Chapter 1: The Veteran and the Rookie
Snow fell heavily, blanketing the road as pedestrians hurried along. Despite the biting cold, many wore faint smiles on their faces. The New Year’s bell was about to toll, and the citizens of the State Federation could hardly wait. A middle-aged man bundled in a thick coat rubbed his hands together, calculating how many new pieces of furniture he could buy for his family this year.
A sudden, piercing car horn startled him. He whirled around to see a black sedan with no license plates speeding past. In that fleeting glance, he caught sight of a man and a woman inside. They wore black suits and sunglasses, their expressions grim, devoid of any New Year cheer.
The man opened his mouth as if about to say something. “Polluter…” he muttered, the smile vanishing from his face. “Not on New Year’s Eve, please.”
………………………………………………….
“Senior, are there any other precautions for this operation?” The woman in the passenger seat, her face previously an icy mask, finally spoke as they neared their destination.
“Did you forget what I said before we left?” The man driving didn’t take his eyes off the road.
“Call for backup if the situation turns bad.”
“And?”
“If the target’s condition is unstable, we are authorized to terminate with extreme prejudice.” She unconsciously clenched her fist.
“And?”
“Huh?” The woman hesitated. “If the situation gets out of control, prioritize personal safety. Stay away from the target and wait for professional support.”
“There you go.”
Satisfied, the man fell silent. The woman, however, still seemed uneasy.
“Aya, it’s your first mission. It’s normal to be nervous.” The man finally broke the silence. “Honestly, no one knows how dangerous the target is until we’re on-site. But I’m here with you; I won’t let a rookie like you shoulder the burden alone.”
“With this old dog around, just listen to my commands, and we’ll be fine.”
His attempt at humor seemed to ease Aya’s anxiety slightly. She took a deep breath and managed a small smile. “Then, I’ll leave everything to you, Senior.”
The man inwardly sighed. ‘She really is a complete newbie. What is headquarters thinking, sending me someone so green?’ He kept his thoughts to himself, maintaining a calm facade.
“Don’t worry, I’ve studied the files thoroughly. Based on my years of experience, this mission is low risk.” He reassured her, “I mean, it’s just a six or seven-year-old girl. What’s the worst that could happen?”
“But she’s a ‘Polluter’!” Aya’s voice took on an edge, and the man frowned.
“Watch your tone. She’s not confirmed to be a Polluter yet!”
Sensing his displeasure, Aya fell silent once more.
The black sedan sped along, soon leaving the bustling city center for a desolate district. As they approached their destination, Aya spotted a group of people waiting in front of an orphanage. She breathed a sigh of relief.
‘At least there’s someone to receive us. It seems the situation isn’t too bad.’ Her biggest fear was arriving to find the orphanage a scene of carnage, forcing them into a life-or-death struggle.
‘Prioritize safety, wait for backup?’ Aya scoffed internally. She knew the risks of their line of work. Those were just empty words.
With a slightly lighter heart, she was the first to exit the car once it came to a stop.
“Hello,” Aya greeted, taking out her identification. “Officer.”
“Oh, hello, officer.” The elderly orphanage director, his hair as white as snow, shook hands with the seemingly experienced woman.
Ignoring the incorrect title, Aya continued, “We’ve been briefed on the situation, but written reports can be lacking. Could you please elaborate on the little girl’s condition?”
The man, now out of the car, remained silent, playing the role of the supportive partner.
The elderly director launched into a detailed explanation, his words occasionally supplemented by the murmurs of several middle-aged women standing nearby.
“That poor child, abandoned at the orphanage gate with her sister years ago. Abandoned by their own parents, what a tragedy.”
“The sisters always had each other. The fire a month ago, it was just awful, completely unexpected.”
“So pitiful, so pitiful.”
The man listened to the director’s rambling, comparing it to the information he had received.
Seven years ago, two sisters were abandoned at the orphanage gate. Driven by compassion and aided by the orphanage’s stable financial situation at the time, the girls were fortunate enough to be taken in.
The younger sister, Bubbles, was well-behaved and sensible, loved by everyone like their own daughter. The older sister, Sasha, was a mischievous child, always causing trouble.
Their lives might have continued on this path, but the fire a month ago changed everything.
The mischievous older sister, Sasha, had snuck into the kitchen with her younger sister late one night, looking for a snack. Perhaps she forgot the adults’ warnings or was too confident in her abilities, but Sasha decided to cook something herself.
Discrepancy one: The diligent staff had locked the kitchen door during their rounds.
Discrepancy two: Even if there was a mistake, could cooking something really cause such a massive fire?
“Who was on duty that night?” The man suddenly asked.
The crowd exchanged uneasy glances. Finally, a pale-faced middle-aged woman spoke up. “It was me. I was on duty the night of the fire. But officer, please let me explain!”
She spoke nervously, “I patrolled that night, just like we’re supposed to. Once, just once! I wasn’t slacking off.”
“I’m sure I locked the kitchen door. There’s no way they could have gotten in!”
“Are you sure?” At that moment, another voice chimed in. “Was the door really locked?”
The middle-aged woman’s face flushed red. “Why would I lie? Of course it was locked!”
“Then how did they get in if it was locked? You must have been slacking off that night and didn’t check properly!”
“You, you’re slandering me!”
“Stop it, both of you! The fire was an accident. No one wanted it to happen.” The director intervened, trying to mediate.
“Director, she’s always against me! Now she’s slandering me in front of the officers!”
“Ha! Why are you so agitated? You must have something to hide!”
“You…”
“Enough!” The man slammed his hand down, cutting off the argument. “We’re here to solve a problem, not assign blame.”
“Director, please continue. Everyone else, remain silent.”
The elderly director adjusted his glasses and continued, “Ever since her sister’s passing, Bubbles has been acting strangely.”
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