I searched the pockets of the three beggars one after another, then pulled out the silver coin they had snatched from little Jevan, and gently carried him on my back.
But before I could move, I caught sight of someone from the corner of my eye moving at the far end of the alley. I quickly turned to see a tall man steadily approaching. There was no need to guess his identity it was the same inspector who had tossed the silver coin toward little Jevan in the square.
I stopped in place, then said:
"What are you doing here, Inspector?"
He muttered:
"You know who I am?"
Of course I don't know who you are. How could I? But it's obvious from your appearance that you're not one of the alley drifters, isn't that right? I muttered inwardly with sarcasm, then said:
"It would be strange not to recognize you while you stroll around dressed in clothes worth more than the combined yearly income of this entire neighborhood."
A faint smile spread across his face before he said:
"Unfortunately, this is my work uniform. I'm not allowed to change it during missions."
I let out a short laugh and said:
"Oh, and is it part of your duties to let a child be beaten until his blood runs?"
He looked at the sleeping child on my back and said:
"It seems you've got the wrong idea about me. I had nothing to do with what those scum did."
Sure, you have nothing to do with them? Why would you send a group of men to beat a little boy, when you could just end his life yourself if you wanted, without consequence? I wasn't asking you that. Why didn't you help him if you were watching?
I muttered inwardly before saying:
"No? Alright then, let's rephrase the question. Why were you following him?"
***
[Inspector Griffin Perspective]
I was sent on a mission to the "Lower District," and this type of mission is both the rarest and the worst. That place is like a rotten swamp, crawling with criminals not just any criminals, but criminals of authority.
Normally, no one from the Bureau is ever sent there, not because we're afraid (of course not we could erase the Lower District from the map if we wanted), but because of some annoying laws that restrict our freedom. We couldn't intervene much.
But this mission in particular wasn't ordinary. It was requested by Detective "Shadow" himself. And unfortunately, no one dares refuse an order from that man. Even the directors don't dare.
The problem was that no one wanted to take it. For many reasons, but the simplest is this: the order came from "Shadow," and the location was the "Lower District." A combination no one would be happy about.
So they resorted to drawing lots, and unlucky me, my name was chosen.
At least I wasn't alone. My colleague, Inspector Edward Graves, was also chosen. He's one of those lunatics who actually enjoys loitering in the Lower District.
The mission assigned to us was to search for a System Piece.
System Pieces are rare tools that carry within them authoritative power, allowing their user to wield a certain Authority without needing to be an assimilating.
And honestly? I don't understand what would make Detective "Shadow" himself ask us us to look for one. That man usually never assigns tasks to anyone.
In the Lower District, yes, there are System Pieces, but most of them are of poor quality. Either they don't function properly, or they cause dangerous side effects to the body or mind.
And if "Shadow" wanted an actually effective piece, he could simply request one from the Bureau's main stockpile. We have quite a number of original, high quality, reliable pieces stored in our official headquarters.
Yet here we were, searching amid filth, simply because "Shadow" said: "Find it." And no one dared to ask why. Cowards!
At first, Graves and I searched together, but as always, we split up. Suddenly I found myself alone.
I looked everywhere for Graves until I got tired. It wasn't easy to find him in this maze of twisting streets. I decided in the end to take a short break.
As I searched for a quiet spot to rest my feet, my eyes spotted a small boy sitting on the pavement, begging miserably. His thin body, torn clothes, and withered eyes stirred a hint of pity in me.
But before I could get closer, a strange figure suddenly appeared beside the boy.
Its features were unclear, blurry. Its long coat rippled unnaturally. Just its presence struck terror into my chest. I froze, and every part of my body screamed at me: Run!
I stared in shock. It didn't move, didn't speak, but its eyes or the void where its eyes should have been carried a clear threat: "Come closer, and I'll rip your soul from your body."
Its presence was exactly like Detective "Shadow." Standing before it gave the same feeling of being a tiny insect before a giant dragon.
I swallowed hard, then glanced at the boy. Quickly, I pulled a silver coin from my pocket and tossed it at his feet without saying a word, then turned and ran as fast as I could.
In this world, there are individuals who've surpassed human limits people whose stages of Authority assimilator have given them power that defies common sense.
Why am I so sure that being had such strength? Simply because I could see it.
Normally, people at that level can't be perceived. But I, possessing the "Authority of Truth" and having reached a high stage of assimilation, could see what others could not.
That aura I felt from it was very close to that of Detective "Shadow." Maybe a bit weaker, but only a bit.
Luckily, I survived. I don't know what would've happened had I stayed there a few more seconds. Most likely those would have been my final moments in this life.
Why would a being of such strength wander around a beggar child in the Lower District? Only God knows. Usually, those with such power live with bizarre habits, or under heavy restrictions.
Maybe it's just a hobby, or a kind of ritual, or maybe just a whim. But I'm sure of one thing: I wouldn't approach that beggar boy again. Or at least that's what I thought.
Because as I wandered aimlessly, cursing the day I was chosen for this mission, I glimpsed movement at the corner of a side alley.
And in my sheer stupidity, I decided to satisfy my curiosity and see what was happening. The moment I stepped into the alley, I froze.
There was that being from before, carrying the beggar boy on its back, while three grown men lay sprawled on the ground.
I immediately stepped back. I hadn't intended to interfere. I was going to withdraw quietly, pretend I hadn't seen anything. But its voice cut sharp:
"What are you doing here, Inspector?"
I swallowed slowly, then muttered involuntarily:
"You know who I am?"
He replied without blinking, his tone tinged with mockery:
"It would be strange not to recognize you while you stroll around in clothes worth more than the combined yearly income of this neighborhood."
I felt a twinge of insult, though it wasn't untrue. I exhaled slowly and said, struggling to keep my voice natural:
"Unfortunately, this is my work uniform. I'm not allowed to change it during missions."
He chuckled lightly, a short laugh dripping with mockery, then said:
"Oh, and is it part of your duties to let a child be beaten until his blood runs?"
I cast a side glance at the three bodies lying on the ground. No, I wasn't the cause! I had nothing to do with what those men did to you!
I said:
"It seems you've got the wrong idea about me. I had nothing to do with what those scum did."
He shot me a sideways look and said:
"No? Alright then, let's rephrase the question. Why were you following him?"
Following? Why would I follow him? I just want to keep my life and retire in peace. But wait I glanced at the boy on his back. There was a silver pendant dangling from his neck.
"No way…" I muttered to myself.
I stared again. It looked exactly like the System Piece Graves and I were ordered to recover in this cursed mission.
I couldn't hold back the hoarse laugh that slipped out. Of course now I understood perfectly why that bastard "Shadow" had sent me here. But does that mean the task was to defeat this thing?!
"This is absolute madness."