The police officers simultaneously pulled their triggers.
Momentary.
The bullets flying toward me seemed to move in slow motion.
I moved behind the officers and fired my Desert Eagle, precisely planting a bullet into each of their skulls.
The corpses of the six officers collapsed to the floor.
Huff. I've done it. This will mobilize the Special Police.
The Special Police.
These officers handle criminals beyond the capabilities of regular police essentially, they deal with individuals possessing exceptional combat abilities.
Until now, the only crimes I'd committed were sexual assaults, so the regular police were the ones chasing me...
The reason this city's law and order has been maintained in this harsh world is precisely due to the existence of the Special Police.
The Special Police are no longer a force I can afford to ignore.
Continentals inherently lack Status Windows and Unique Traits, making them weaker than Exiles.
However, Continentals can awaken their Status Windows and Unique Traits if they meet certain conditions.
The first method is to contract with a Divine Throne. When a Continental makes such a pact, their Status Window and Unique Trait awaken naturally.
The second method is through rigorous training. By honing their bodies, Continentals can eventually trigger their awakening.
The third method is monster hunting, which allows for faster awakening than training, but at a greater risk.
The Special Police in this city are Continentals who have awakened their Status Windows.
One thing is certain: the Special Police are stronger than the novice Exiles at the Chapel of Beginnings.
Damn. Now I can't just stroll around town harassing beautiful women anymore.
I glanced at the police car parked at the end of the alley. I considered stealing it, but decided against it.
Hobson's Mansion is just a short walk away. No need to bother with this.
Using my Deception (SS) skill to conceal my appearance, I headed toward Hobson's Mansion.
"Fucking hell..."
Benjamin stormed into the police station, cursing under his breath.
The officers around him stared in confusion. Benjamin was the Police Chief of District 57, Etin's central police station the highest authority in the district's police force.
His massive frame bristling with irritation, Benjamin stomped toward the Chief's Office.
"Jessica! Natalia! Get to the Chief's Office now! It's urgent and important!"
He shouted once, then slammed the door of the Chief's Office shut. Benjamin looked visibly agitated.
Benjamin sat at his desk, tapping his index finger rhythmically against the surface. Now in his fifties, his face was crumpled like a discarded piece of paper, its wrinkles refusing to smooth out.
Moments later, the door swung open, and two women entered the office.
"Benjamin, what's wrong? What's got you so worked up?"
Jessica, a woman with tied-back blonde hair, strolled casually into the office and settled onto the sofa, crossing her legs. Widely regarded as the most beautiful police officer in District 57, she possessed both stunning looks and an enviable figure.
"Something's probably blown up again," Natalia muttered.
The tall woman who followed Jessica was just as stunning. With fiery red hair and hazel eyes, she plopped down beside Jessica. While Jessica exuded refined elegance, Natalia radiated a tough, chic aura.
Jessica and Natalia.
Currently, they were the most renowned Special Police duo in Etin, the City of Lights in District 57.
Benjamin stared at them, his voice rough with agitation. "You both know there's a crazed clown running loose in the city, right?"
Jessica nodded. The office had been buzzing about the clown all day. They'd dealt with countless criminals, but none like this one.
"You mean that perverted clown in black clothes who's been roaming the city, groping women's breasts and butts? We should just cut off his junk to shut him up."
Jessica hadn't taken the news seriously. She'd heard the clown had assaulted a man, but it seemed he'd only committed sexual harassment. For Jessica and Natalia, Special Police officers who specialized in handling dangerous criminals, a sexually harassing clown was hardly a case worth their attention.
"That damn clown bastard killed six police officers!"
"...What?" Jessica's eyes widened in disbelief at the unexpected news.
"The clown bastard opened fire on our officers! Six of them are dead, each with a bullet hole in their head! Goddamn it! He must think we're a bunch of fucking idiots!"
"A guy who was just committing sexual harassment suddenly started killing police officers?! Why?!"
"I don't know! He must have snapped. He's been ranting about being a demon descended from the heavens the guy's clearly mentally unstable!"
Jessica fell silent, her expression turning grave.
The murder of six police officers was a serious matter. Beyond the damage to the police's reputation, it was tantamount to a declaration of war against law enforcement.
"The Clown killed Black Knife Jack too. There was a woman's corpse nearby, but that was Jack's doing."
Black Knife Jack.
A serial killer who appeared in Josi at regular intervals, murdered women, and vanished. The police had shot Jack dead several times, yet he always reappeared months later, as if resurrected, to kill again.
Still, Jack never killed police officers. He always fled whenever he encountered them.
"Clown. This bastard is even crazier than Jack. He killed six police officers at once, so now he'll kill without hesitation. He won't stop at sexual harassment anymore; he'll took them indiscriminately. We need to catch him as soon as possible before the city descends into terror."
"Benjamin wants us to handle Clown."
"This is extremely urgent. We need your strength, especially yours, Natalia. Cancel the previous plan. Use your Prophecy on Clown."
Two weeks ago, Natalia had contracted with the Divine Throne, the "Prophet of 66." The Divine Throne Skill she received, Prophecy (A), allows her to predict events that will occur within three days, once per month, for a specified target.
The original plan was to use Prophecy on Black Knife Jack to uncover why he kept reappearing even after death.
"What about Black Knife Jack? You were so eager to catch him," Natalia said curtly.
She had wanted to use Prophecy on Jack rather than the Clown. Her reason for joining the Special Police was to avenge her friend who had been murdered by Jack.
"Natalia, this guy is more dangerous than Jack. We suspect he has teleportation or invisibility abilities. We need to stop him before he commits more murders. If we fail, dozens maybe even hundreds of people could become victims!"
Natalia closed her eyes briefly before opening them again. Benjamin was right: the Clown posed a greater threat than Jack.
"Alright, Benjamin. If the Clown is indeed more dangerous, as you say... then capturing him first is the right thing to do."
"Good. Use your prophetic abilities to pinpoint his location. I've entrusted this task to you, but I won't send you out alone. I promise to provide all the support I can."
"Understood. Quiet now, Benjamin. I'm about to use my prophetic ability. Where's the Clown's portrait?"
"Here it is."
Natalia took the offered paper. The portrait showed a man in black clothing wearing a childish clown mask.
"Ugh. He looks even creepier up close. I've always been scared of clowns," Jessica grumbled, eyeing the portrait.
"..."
Natalia gazed at the portrait, then closed her eyes. As if on cue, a notification window appeared. This special window remained visible even with her eyes closed or rather, she couldn't help but see it.
Use Prophecy?
Natalia mentally affirmed her intention.
She felt her consciousness being drawn somewhere else.
A few seconds later, Natalia's eyes snapped open. Her upper body swayed to the side. Jessica, startled, steadied her.
"Natalia! Are you alright?!"
"...I'm fine. I just felt a momentary disconnect."
Natalia gently squeezed Jessica's hand and spoke softly.
"Natalia! What happened with the prophecy? Did it work?!"
"It worked, Benjamin."
"The Clown?! When and where will the Clown appear?!"
"Today. He'll appear at Hobson's Mansion. The Clown was searching for something there."
Benjamin, hearing Natalia's words, clutched his head and tore at his hair.
"Hobson's Mansion? Damn it!"
"...Benjamin. Why are you groveling to Hobson? You could arrest him and seize his assets!"
"No. It's impossible. Hobson's wealth isn't just in the mansion. He's definitely hidden it elsewhere. Why am I groveling? For the money, of course! Hobson's support allows our police to operate at peak efficiency. We need his money for the police to function properly!"
Benjamin, who had been speaking roughly, quickly regained his composure and turned to Natalia.
"...Natalia, what did you see at Hobson's Mansion through your prophecy?"
"I only saw the Clown ransacking Hobson's Mansion."
"...Are you absolutely sure it was Hobson's Mansion?"
"Don't be too confident. The prophecy's accuracy is only about 70%."
Natalia rose from the sofa and headed toward the door.
"Natalia?! Where are you going so suddenly?!"
"To the restroom, Benjamin. I'll wash my face and be right back. Wait here."
"Natalia, you don't look well... Let me go with you!"
Jessica followed Natalia out.
Benjamin leaned back in his chair, muttering, "Damn it. Why Hobson's Mansion of all places? Hobson's going to throw another fit."
Natalia entered the women's restroom and gazed at the mirror on the wall. She saw Jessica's face reflected behind her.
"Natalia, what's wrong? What did you see in your prophecy?"
"Jack was at Hobson's Mansion."
"...Hobson was Jack?"
"No, I can't be certain. There were three Jacks, not just one. But... Hobson is definitely connected to Jack."
Jessica fell silent, deep in thought. After a moment, she seemed to reach a decision and said to Natalia,
"Natalia, I trust you. Even if Benjamin values Hobson... you're the one who matters to me."
Natalia turned to meet Jessica's blue eyes, gazing intently into them.
"Jessica, I trust you too."
"Natalia..."
Jessica leaned into Natalia's embrace, tilting her chin up and closing her eyes.
Natalia wrapped her arms around Jessica and kissed her deeply. Their tongues intertwined, slipping between their lips and into each other's mouths.
"Mmm... mmm..."
Lost in the kiss, they soon began caressing each other's bodies.
Natalia's hand slid down Jessica's back, slipping beneath her skirt, while Jessica's hand traced Natalia's firm abs before dipping into her pants.
Their hands were about to slip beneath each other's underwear to touch bare skin when...
"Jessica! Natalia! Don't you realize every second counts right now?!"
Benjamin's booming voice echoed through the air.
Their lips and tongues, locked in a passionate kiss, parted.
"Ugh. Clueless Benjamin..."
"Let's go back, Jessica. We can... continue this after we finish our work."
"Natalia, I want to do it at your place tonight. Is that okay?"
"You and our home are always welcome, Jessica."
Tch.
A five-story mansion loomed before me.
My face twisted into a scowl as I stared at Hobson's Mansion.
My original plan had been to infiltrate the mansion after nightfall, kill the guards and Hobson himself, and then leisurely search for the crimson branch.
But before sunset, police officers had swarmed the estate and begun patrolling the grounds.
Why are the cops guarding the mansion?
Did Hobson call the police? If so, why?
After considering various possibilities, I could only reach one conclusion:
Hobson, or the police, knew in advance that I was targeting the mansion.
Fuck. How did they find out I was after Hobson's mansion? Could it be Pesica? Did that old hag leak the information?
I quickly shook my head.
Pesica had no reason to betray me. She even gave me the spell scroll why would she sabotage her own plan?
I can't back down now. I need to return to the Chapel of Beginnings by noon. If I'm gone too long, they'll start to suspect something.
My only option was to press on. Fortunately, I possessed the perfect Unique Trait for this: Deception (SS), which allowed me to infiltrate and escape undetected.