Category: Indescribable Bubbles

Chapter 5: Little Student Bubble

“Dinner together tonight?” A young woman with a briefcase asked Aya.

“Ah, another time. I have something to do tonight.” Aya glanced at her watch. “I’ll be going then.”

Watching Aya hurry away, the colleague who had spoken to her tilted her head. “Has Aya been acting colder than usual lately?”

“Yeah, I noticed that too,” another colleague chimed in.

“Do you think it’s because…”

“No way, who could it be?” A woman with long hair asked, surprised.

“I heard it’s someone from the Third Division.”

“Hmm?”

“Her partner from the last mission,” someone whispered, leaning in conspiratorially.

“Oh, I knew it!”

“Hee hee, someone’s got it bad…”

Ignoring the gossip behind her, Aya strode out of the office.

Arriving at her destination after a short taxi ride, Aya thanked the driver and entered “Romantic Moment.”

It was a small, cozy cafe, its name a clear indication of its target clientele: lovebirds on a date.

Aya walked straight towards a table where the ‘veteran,’ dressed casually, sat waiting.

“Senior, you’re early.”

“It’s unbecoming of a gentleman to keep a lady waiting.”

The man chuckled, then shrugged at her lack of response. “Coffee? Juice?”

“Water,” Aya replied casually.

“One water, then.” He signaled for the waiter. An awkward silence fell between them.

The atmosphere was undeniably strained, but then again, they weren’t there for a romantic rendezvous.

“How’s Bubbles doing?” Aya finally broke the silence.

She had intended to take care of Bubbles personally during her time at the facility, but the investigation, initially expected to last a few days, had been delayed for reasons unknown to her. Left with no other choice, she had entrusted the little girl to the ‘veteran,’ who had more connections within the organization.

“It’s only been a few days. Didn’t realize you were so attached.” The man chuckled. “Don’t worry, I’ll make sure she’s happy and healthy when you see her again.”

“Senior, it’s been seven days,” Aya said pointedly.

The man’s smile faded. He took a moment to choose his words carefully. “There have been some complications.”

“…” Aya remained silent.

“We sent specialists to investigate the scene. There were no traces of Chaotic entities. The sea of flowers seems to be another unexplained phenomenon, no immediate threat detected.”

“Then why haven’t you released Bubbles? She doesn’t have to go back to the orphanage. We can find a family willing to adopt her.” Aya’s voice rose in frustration.

The ‘veteran’ sighed, his expression grave. “The problem is, Bubbles’s contamination levels are too high.”

“How high?” Aya’s eyes widened in alarm.

“30.5%.”

“That’s…” After a moment of stunned silence, Aya continued, “That’s a precarious number.”

“Tell me about it.” The man downed his coffee in one gulp. “Anything above 30% is a serious problem. Thankfully, the Federation laws are more lenient towards children.”

“30.5%…”

Seeing Aya’s crestfallen expression, the man tried to reassure her. “Look on the bright side, Aya. Bubbles is a good kid. We have to have faith in her.”

“This is just a temporary setback. I’m sure she’ll be able to return to a normal life soon.”

………………………………………………………….

This place was strange. Every day, Bubbles met new aunts and uncles who ran countless tests on her.

Sometimes, Bubbles wondered, “Bubbles isn’t sick. Why are there so many tests?”

The adults would just smile and tell her that the tests were necessary, and that Bubbles was a good girl who always listened to her elders.

And Bubbles was a good girl. She never threw tantrums.

Perhaps it was because they saw a lonely little girl who was well-behaved and obedient. Or perhaps it was because the 30.5% contamination level was indeed an anomaly.

Whatever the reason, within a few days, the adults started showing their kind side.

There were always candies and snacks, and they even allowed a certain someone to visit.

“Bubbles, look what your uncle brought you!”

The man in the black suit and sunglasses walked into Bubbles’s temporary residence, carrying a bag of snacks.

“Uncle ‘Veteran’!” Bubbles’s eyes lit up as she ran towards him.

“Give me a hug!”

The man, initially embarrassed by the nickname, softened at the sight of the little girl’s enthusiasm.

He bent down and nuzzled his beard against her cheek.

“Tickles!” Bubbles giggled.

“Bubbles, is anyone bullying you here? Tell me, and I’ll take care of them.”

“Everyone’s been nice to Bubbles.” The little girl smiled, her dimples appearing on her chubby cheeks.

“That’s good, that’s good.”

The man straightened up and said cheerfully, “But you can’t stay here forever, Bubbles. It’s time for you to go somewhere else.”

“Somewhere else?” The little girl looked confused. “But, the director…”

“Not that place.” Realizing his tone was a bit harsh, the man softened his voice. “Bubbles, you’re a big girl now.”

“Yes, Bubbles is seven years old!”

“Seven years old. Where do seven-year-olds go?”

“?????”

Seeing the question marks in her eyes, the ‘veteran’ revealed the answer. “It’s time for school, Bubbles.”

“School?” Bubbles’s blonde pigtails bounced. “Bubbles is going to school?”

“Of course! A good girl like you should go to school.”

“Look, your sister even brought your uniform.”

Bubbles turned around to see a familiar woman standing in the doorway.

“Aya!”

“Bubbles…” Aya’s eyes were filled with warmth as she pulled the little girl into a hug. “Look what I brought.”

“Wow!”

A yellow safety helmet, a red backpack, and… the plain white school uniform she had been longing for.

“Try it on,” Aya urged.

“Okay!”

Bubbles quickly changed into her new clothes and turned around. “Aya, what does it say on the back?”

“Pri-vate Cher-ry Ele-men-ta-ry School.”

Aya read slowly, enunciating each syllable. “This is the school you’ll be attending from now on.”

“And because it’s a boarding school… it’ll be a long time before I can see you again.”

A hint of sadness crept into Aya’s voice, but Bubbles, lost in her excitement, didn’t notice.

At that moment, there was only one thought on the little girl’s mind.

“Bubbles is finally going to school!”

Chapter 4: The Mischievous Big Sister

“Sasha!” Bubbles pushed against the door, but it wouldn’t budge. She turned to her sister for help.

“Well, this is troublesome.”

Sasha put her hands on her hips, surveying their surroundings for an escape route.

“The window… no good.” In the blink of an eye, the raging flames had blocked their only other exit.

“The door won’t open… the window…” Looking up, Sasha realized that while the door was indeed locked, the transom window above it couldn’t be bolted shut.

“Bubbles, help me move a chair!”

“Coming!”

Bubbles rushed over, her movements clumsy with fear. Together, they dragged a chair towards the door.

“Sasha, what are we going to do?”

Bubbles was frantic, her eyes red-rimmed with tears. This was all too much for her young mind to process. Instinctively, she turned to the person she trusted most for help.

“One chair…” Sasha compared her height to the window, then glanced back at the approaching flames.

“No time.” A wave of sadness washed over Sasha, but seeing the desperation in her sister’s eyes, she forced a smile.

She climbed onto the chair and held out her hand. “Bubbles, come here.”

“See that window up there? Yes, that one. You’re going to climb on my shoulders and climb through it. Trust yourself, Bubbles, you can do it.”

“But, what about you, Sasha? I can’t leave you behind!” Bubbles shook her head vehemently.

“Silly Bubbles…”

Sasha wiped her stinging eyes, her vision blurry from the smoke. “Once you’re out, go get help. Promise me you’ll save me, Bubbles.”

Something felt wrong, but with her sister’s insistent urging, Bubbles stepped onto her shoulders.

“Bubbles.”

“Yes?”

Halfway through the window, Bubbles froze at the sound of her sister’s voice.

“Be a good kid, okay?”

Sasha’s tone was strange, almost wistful. With that, she jumped up, pushing her sister’s feet with all her might.

“Ahhhh!”

Sasha crumpled to the floor, her body aching from the fall. She didn’t even try to get up.

Whispering a final blessing for her sister, she stared at the flames licking their way towards her and sighed.

“If only I knew… who…”

………………………………………………..

Silence descended upon the room as the little girl finished her story.

A rare pang of regret struck the ‘veteran.’ Perhaps he had been wrong this time.

Aya, tears streaming down her face, walked over and embraced Bubbles.

“Bubbles…”

“Waaahhhh!” The little girl burst into tears, burying her face in Aya’s chest.

“Bubbles is a big dummy, it’s all Bubbles’s fault. If it wasn’t for finding Bubbles food, Sasha, sister wouldn’t have…”

“It was an accident, sweetheart. Let it all out, you’ll feel better.”

The man quietly excused himself, stepping out of the room and leaning against the wall, lighting a cigarette.

The sound of the little girl’s sobs tugged at his heartstrings.

A while later, his phone vibrated. Glancing at the message, he extinguished his cigarette and knocked on the door.

“Aya, bring Bubbles out. Backup is here.”

The chatter inside ceased. A moment later, Aya emerged, leading the little girl by the hand.

“Senior, since this was all a misunderstanding, about Bubbles…”

“I understand how you feel, but we have to follow protocol… There’s nothing I can do.”

The three of them descended the stairs in silence, passing through the sea of flowers. As they stepped out of the orphanage, they were met with a group of heavily armed soldiers, standing guard as if facing a formidable enemy.

The man raised his hands, his expression unsurprised. “Stand down, everyone. It’s a misunderstanding. Please remain calm.”

Aya, after calming the anxious Bubbles, followed suit. “Easy there, we don’t want to scare the child.”

The soldiers, faces grim behind their helmets, remained motionless, as if they hadn’t heard a word.

A moment later, a tall, imposing man in a black suit and sunglasses approached them.

He studied Aya and the ‘veteran’ carefully, then glanced at Bubbles.

“I expect a detailed report on my desk.”

“Understood.” Aya and the man responded in unison.

The man in sunglasses nodded curtly and gestured to the troops behind him.

“Pack it up!” His voice boomed across the courtyard.

“One, two!”

“One, two!”

“One, two!”

“One, two!”

The soldiers chanted in unison, falling back into formation and boarding the armored transport trucks with practiced efficiency. Within minutes, the only ones left in front of the orphanage were the three of them and…

“Officer…” A hesitant voice called out. The orphanage director approached them cautiously.

The earlier display had clearly shaken the old man. Only after the soldiers had withdrawn did he dare to approach them.

“Director, I apologize for the inconvenience.” The man bowed slightly. The old man waved his hands dismissively. “Oh, no, it’s alright, officer…”

“It’s all over now, you can rest assured.” Aya added, “We just need to take Bubbles with us for a short while. Don’t worry, we’ll bring her back safe and sound once everything is cleared up.”

The director fell silent, his eyes downcast.

Mistaking his silence for distrust, Aya reassured him again. “Director, you have our word.”

“I’ll take good care of Bubbles while she’s away. I promise she’ll be happy and healthy when she returns.”

She turned to Bubbles and made a funny face. “Isn’t that right, Bubbles?”

“Hee hee!” The little girl giggled, her tears drying up. “Bubbles will be good. Bubbles won’t cause any trouble for Aya.”

“You…” Aya’s heart ached for the child’s understanding. She turned to the director, about to say something, but stopped short. The old man’s gaze flickered, avoiding her eyes.

Sensing something amiss, the ‘veteran’ frowned. Before he could speak, the director spoke, his voice trembling slightly. “That’s… that’s very kind of you, officer.”

“I’m relieved to know she’ll be in good hands, but… she doesn’t have to come back.”

“…What?”

Aya blinked, her mind struggling to catch up. “Bubbles will be back soon. This is just a formality, we…”

“I’m sorry, but we can no longer accommodate her here.”

The old man kept his head bowed, unable to meet Aya’s gaze. His voice, however, was firm. “This has always been a peaceful place, nothing like this has ever happened before.”

“The fire was the only exception… alas.”

“Officer, you don’t understand. Ever since Sasha… passed, everyone’s been on edge. It was an accident, but… people talk.”

“And now this…”

“There are far better facilities in the Federation… It’s for the best, for both us and Bubbles.”

“So please, don’t bring her back here.”

The old man bowed deeply. “Please!”

Aya instinctively looked at Bubbles. The little girl had her head down, clutching the rabbit doll tightly, her face pale and drawn.

Snowflakes fell around them, and Aya shivered.

“It’s cold,” the ‘veteran’ muttered, exhaling a cloud of breath into the frigid air.

Chapter 3: Bubbles and Sasha

Chaotic entities were known for their strength, ferocity, greed, and bloodlust… but not their intelligence. At least, the man had never heard of a Chaotic entity possessing extraordinary intellect.

Therefore, it wouldn’t resort to tactics like ambush, deception, or divide-and-conquer. Generally speaking, if there were no monstrous creatures lurking around the prime suspect, then this mission was likely a false alarm.

With that in mind, the man asked in a gentle tone, “Bubbles, where is your friend now?”

“Kuroro? She went on a trip far away.”

“Oh, so she’s out.” The man nodded slightly. “When will she be back?”

“I don’t know. Kuroro said she’s going to find her way home.”

“Home? Huh?” The man froze, a strange expression crossing his face. “Bubbles, did she tell you that herself?”

The little girl looked at him curiously and nodded vigorously. “Kuroro and Bubbles are good friends. She told me before she left.”

‘Since when could Chaotic entities talk?’ The man exchanged a look with Aya, the same question surfacing in both their minds.

“What does your friend look like?” Aya couldn’t help but ask.

“Small,” Bubbles gestured with her hand, about the size of her palm. “With wings.”

“Very pretty.”

“She has a nice voice.”

“She’s very kind to Bubbles.”

“……….”

The two officers exchanged uneasy glances. Based on Bubbles’s description, this didn’t sound like any Chaotic entity they knew. Intelligent, kind to children, a small humanoid creature with wings…

“That sounds like a fairy from a storybook,” Aya muttered under her breath.

Perhaps they had been mistaken from the very beginning.

The sea of flowers, Bubbles, the Chaotic entity… they had naturally linked these three elements together.

Now it seemed that the girl before them wasn’t a severely polluted individual, but a child struggling to cope with the loss of her sister and escaping into delusions. As for the sea of flowers… it was just another unexplained phenomenon, not necessarily related to Chaotic entities.

Having somewhat untangled their thoughts, Aya looked at the little girl, a pang of guilt washing over her.

Because they had overestimated the severity of the situation, they had already called for backup. Regardless, Bubbles, the ‘suspect,’ would have to be taken back to headquarters for a thorough investigation. Only after they confirmed she was safe would she be allowed to return to the orphanage.

“Bubbles, how old are you?” Feeling a twinge of remorse, Aya softened her tone.

“Hmm.” The little girl counted on her fingers. “One, two, three, four, five, six, seven.”

“Bubbles is seven years old!”

“Seven years old, that’s old enough to start school.”

The little girl nodded repeatedly. “In another month, Bubbles is going to school with my sister, but my sister, Sasha…”

Bubbles’s eyes dimmed, her dejected expression tugging at Aya’s heartstrings.

“Bubbles, you said your sister… where is she now?” The man asked, his expression unreadable.

“Senior!” Aya stared at him incredulously. “Bubbles’s sister, she’s not, she’s not…”

“Sister, sister is gone.” The little girl hung her head, tears welling up in her big, round eyes.

“…Gone? What happened?” Ignoring Aya’s accusing gaze, the man pressed on, determined to see this through.

Let his junior misunderstand him, let them think him a bully of a child. There was a lingering doubt in his heart, and as a ‘veteran,’ he knew better than to let compassion cloud his judgment.

The little girl walked back to her bed and picked up a crudely made black rabbit doll, falling silent.

Aya was mortified. She wanted to say something but found herself silenced by her senior’s stern expression. She opened her mouth, then closed it again, swallowing her words.

“That night, Bubbles was hungry.”

The little girl’s small voice broke the silence. “My tummy was rumbling.”

“Sasha heard it and wanted to find me something to eat.”

……………………………………………….

“Silly Bubbles, you have to eat when you’re hungry.” A girl who looked remarkably like Bubbles, but with a completely different demeanor, spoke with a hint of reproach.

“You have to tell your big sister when you’re hungry. Come on, let’s go find something to eat in the kitchen!”

“But, but, the director said we can’t go to the kitchen after seven o’clock.” Bubbles looked at her nonchalant sister, her voice barely a whisper.

“Silly! Silly! Silly! You’re hopeless!”

“Ow!”

Bubbles clutched her head, bewildered by her sister’s sudden outburst.

“Bubbles is a good kid, I know that. But Sasha isn’t.”

A mischievous grin spread across the older girl’s face. “Tonight, the bad kid Sasha is taking Bubbles on an adventure!”

“Umm…”

Looking at Sasha’s excitement, Bubbles knew she had no choice but to go along with it.

“Let’s go, let’s go!”

Hand in hand, the two girls made their way towards the kitchen. At first, Bubbles was worried, but their mission seemed to be going surprisingly smoothly. There were no patrolling caretakers, no other children up for a late-night bathroom break.

Reaching the kitchen door, Sasha gave it a push, and it swung open easily.

“Wow, you’re amazing, Sasha! Did you know the door wouldn’t be locked?”

Bubbles was impressed. It seemed her sister wasn’t acting entirely on impulse; she was also observant and…

“I had no idea it would be unlocked.” Sasha looked surprised.

“Then, what if it hadn’t opened?”

“We’d figure something out.” Sasha shrugged, her carefree attitude returning.

“But, but…” Bubbles was still apprehensive, but Sasha cut her off.

“Come on, stop dawdling, let’s go!”

Sasha stepped inside, undeterred by the darkness of the kitchen. She fumbled around, finding the stove and turning on the gas. The small flame brought a wave of relief to Bubbles’s anxious heart.

“Okay, close the door. We don’t want any patrolling aunties catching us.”

As she spoke, Sasha opened the refrigerator. “There’s plenty of food.”

“Sis, sister…”

“No more eggs, but there’s milk and plenty of bread.”

“Sasha, Sasha!”

“Eating some leftovers shouldn’t be a big deal… What is it?”

Hearing the panic in her sister’s voice, Sasha turned around.

“The fire, the fire’s getting bigger!”

Sasha’s eyes widened. The stove seemed to be malfunctioning.

The small flame was now dancing erratically, growing larger and larger, taking on a menacing life of its own.

Without hesitation, Sasha slammed the refrigerator door shut, ready to take action, but it was too late.

“Whoosh!” The orange flames spread with terrifying speed.

Crackle, sizzle, hiss

In the blink of an eye, the situation spiraled out of control.

“Strange, this is… too strange.”

Sasha couldn’t comprehend what was happening. It was all happening so fast, too fast. How could a fire spread so quickly, so fiercely?

“Bubbles, open the door!” She shouted, seeing her sister frozen in fear.

“Oh, okay!”

Snapping out of her daze, Bubbles scrambled towards the door.

“Click.” The sound of the deadbolt locking echoed through the kitchen.

Chapter 2: SJSHDFJ Calling for Backup

“At first, it wasn’t so bad. She just clung to a doll her sister gave her and wouldn’t speak. We all thought she was just heartbroken, but…” The director sighed deeply. “Later, Bubbles started talking to herself, sometimes even sneaking out into the courtyard in the middle of the night.”

“Oh? What does she say? And why does she sneak out at night? I thought you said Bubbles was a good kid, Director?” The man, now naturally leading the questioning, asked curiously.

“Bubbles is a good kid.” The director affirmed, “She would never have done such things before.”

He led the way, reminiscing, “When we asked her why, she just said she was going to play with her friend. When she talks to herself in her room, she’s talking to this ‘friend.’”

“But officer, none of us have ever seen this ‘friend’ Bubbles speaks of.” As if to add credibility to his words, the director looked back at the others.

Everyone nodded in agreement. “Never seen them.”

“There’s no way. I know every child here. There can’t be a friend Bubbles’s talking about.”

“They don’t exist.”

“Impossible.”

“If that was all, we wouldn’t have troubled you, officers. But… see for yourselves.” The director stepped aside, allowing the two officers a clear view of the courtyard.

The man, no longer paying attention to the incorrect title, stared at the blooming flowers in the courtyard, a look of bewilderment on his face.

Violets, tulips, black roses, jasmine, lilies, sunflowers… before him lay a sea of flowers, blooming out of season, defying nature’s laws.

His initial shock gave way to a chilling realization.

Some of these flowers were familiar, some unknown. It wasn’t just that this dilapidated orphanage lacked the resources to maintain such a vibrant garden, but the very existence of these flowers defied the natural order.

Aya looked up at the sky, snowflakes falling gently. Her eyes scanned the sea of flowers once more, and her face turned pale.

“Officers, look.” The director frowned. “We haven’t had the funds to hire a gardener for years. We just do what we can, pulling weeds when we have the time.”

“But…”

“When did this happen?”

“About three days ago. This place was practically barren before, but overnight…”

“Why wasn’t this detailed in the report?” Aya’s voice sharpened as she interrupted the director, her eyes fixed on him.

“It… it was.” The elderly director looked confused. “It said that flowers suddenly bloomed in the courtyard a few days ago.”

“…” The man tugged at the corner of his lips, silencing his partner with a look.

“Director, this isn’t something you can just brush off as ‘flowers suddenly blooming.’ Depending on the circumstances, we… forget it.” Seeing the director’s bewildered expression, he sighed.

The man took out his phone. “Headquarters, headquarters, this is SJSHDFJ requesting backup.”

“Repeat, this is SJSHDFJ requesting backup. We suspect the presence of a Chaotic entity.”

“Click”

“Headquarters received. SJSHDFJ, please maintain communication. You are granted temporary Level 3 authority. You are authorized to terminate the Polluter and any Chaotic entities on sight, if necessary.”

“Roger.”

The man’s face was expressionless as he put away his phone. He knew they were in deep trouble now.

‘No retreat, maintain communication at all times?’

‘Temporary authority, terminate on sight?’

‘They’re sending me to my death!’

A commotion broke out amongst the onlookers, many realizing that something was wrong with these ‘police officers.’

“Officer, what’s going on? Backup? Why do you need backup?”

“Chaotic entity? Oh god, this has to be a joke.”

“Officer, say something!”

The man pulled out his gun and fired a shot into the air.

‘Peace and quiet at last.’

Ignoring the terrified faces around him, he licked his lips.

“I’ll lead the way. Director, you’re with me. Aya, you’re in the rear.” He gestured with his gun. “Please cooperate, everyone. This is a serious matter.”

“Now, let’s go meet the lovely Bubbles. I have a lot of questions for her.”

……………………………………………………..

The air crackled with tension, the earlier lightheartedness completely gone. The man felt his heart pounding in his chest. They hadn’t walked far, but it felt like an eternity.

Was this loyalty to his duty or simply resignation to his fate?

He couldn’t tell what he was thinking anymore. One ‘veteran,’ one rookie, two handguns, and a group of old people and children. If a Chaotic entity did appear, they were all done for.

Despite the pessimism, the despair, he knew he had to face it. There was no escape if the worst happened. In that case… he might as well face it head-on.

As if a weight had been lifted from his shoulders, the man’s pace quickened.

They stopped in front of a wooden door on the second floor. The man gestured for the director to stay back. After a moment of hesitation, he hid his gun-wielding hand behind his back.

“Knock, knock.”

“Who is it?” A small voice came from behind the door.

Silence. The man took a deep breath and made up his mind. “It’s the police, open up.”

“…The director said I can’t open the door to strangers. Not even the police.” The tiny voice responded.

“Uh…” The man was taken aback. He looked at the director.

“Bubbles, come open the door. This officer has some important questions for you.” The director understood and quickly said.

“Okay.”

The door creaked open slightly, and a small head peeked out.

Seeing the group of people staring at her, the little girl jumped back in fright, slamming the door shut.

“Director, please take everyone downstairs. Aya, stay here.”

“Senior!” Meeting the man’s stern gaze, Aya reluctantly agreed. “Fine.”

Once everyone else was gone, the man spoke softly, “Bubbles, I have some very important questions to ask you. Don’t be afraid, I’ve asked everyone else to leave. Can you open the door now?”

After a moment, the door creaked open again, and the little head peeked out once more.

Bubbles looked around, seeing only the unfamiliar man and the woman from before. A relieved expression appeared on her face.

“There were too many people. Bubbles got scared.” The little girl giggled sheepishly, finally opening the door completely.

The man quickly scanned the room. A small bed, a chair, the cramped space held neither terrifying monsters nor gruesome corpses.

He turned his attention to the little girl before him. Six or seven years old, with bright blue eyes, chubby cheeks, and soft blonde hair tied into two cute pigtails… she didn’t look like a severely polluted individual at all.

He heard a sigh of relief from beside him. Glancing over, he saw that Aya seemed to have shed a heavy burden.

And wasn’t he the same?

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.”