Chapter 2: Kuroi Chō (Black Butterfly)
The data chip felt like a brand against Ryo's skin. He clutched it tightly as he navigated the rain-slicked streets, the neon reflections painting his face in shifting hues of red, blue, and green. Kaito's words echoed in his mind: "You just earned yourself a lot of credits, and a lot of attention." The credits were welcome, a temporary shield against the city's relentless pressures. But the attention… that was a different beast altogether.
He couldn't shake the image of the man in the shadows, the impeccably dressed figure with the data pad and the unsettling gaze. Who was he? What did he want? And why did Ryo feel like he was being hunted, even before the hunt had begun?
He reached his tenement, the familiar squalor a small comfort after the adrenaline-fueled chaos of the Dragon's Den. He climbed the stairs, his muscles aching, his mind racing. He needed to analyze the situation, to understand the forces that were now swirling around him.
Back in his cramped room, he locked the door, a futile gesture against the city's omnipresent surveillance. He activated his ancient datapad, its screen flickering to life with a low hum. He inserted the data chip, his winnings from the fight downloading in a slow, agonizing trickle.
He also accessed the Hongkou district's public network, a chaotic stream of news feeds, propaganda, and unfiltered gossip. He searched for any mention of the fight, any whispers about the mysterious man in the shadows. He found nothing. Whoever he was, he was good at staying hidden.
As he sifted through the digital noise, a small, encrypted file caught his attention. It was buried deep within the network's architecture, disguised as a routine system update. But something about its signature felt wrong, a subtle dissonance that triggered his instincts.
He downloaded the file, his heart pounding in his chest. He ran a series of diagnostics, bypassing the network's security protocols with a skill honed by years of navigating the city's digital underbelly. The file was heavily encrypted, protected by layers of complex algorithms. But Ryo was persistent, his fingers flying across the keyboard, his mind a whirlwind of code and calculations.
After what felt like an eternity, the encryption finally cracked. The file decrypted, revealing a single image: a photograph of Ryo, taken moments after his victory in the Dragon's Den. The man in the shadows was clearly visible in the background, his face still obscured, but his presence undeniable.
The image was tagged with a series of cryptic keywords: "Hayabusa," "Project Yōkai," "Dr. Ishikawa."
Ryo's blood ran cold. Hayabusa. That was the codename for his CyberFrame, the experimental exoskeleton that had transformed him from a street fighter into a weapon. Project Yōkai. He had heard whispers of that project, rumors of unethical experiments and human augmentation. And Dr. Ishikawa… that was the name of the director of Black Tortoise Labs, the woman who had recruited him, the woman he had trusted.
The photograph was a message, a warning. Someone knew about his connection to Black Tortoise Labs, someone was watching him, and someone wanted him for something.
He deleted the file, erasing every trace of its existence from his datapad. But the image was burned into his mind, a chilling reminder of the forces arrayed against him.
He needed answers. He needed to understand what Project Yōkai was, and why Dr. Ishikawa had chosen him. And he needed to find the man in the shadows, before he found him.
He knew he couldn't stay in Neo-Shanghai. He was a target now, exposed and vulnerable. He had to disappear, to find a place where he could gather information and plan his next move.
He packed a small bag with his few possessions: a change of clothes, a worn photograph of his parents, and a small, silver pendant that had been his only connection to his past. He transferred his credits to an untraceable account, severing his ties to the city's financial network.
He was ready to leave.
As he opened the door, a figure stepped out of the shadows, blocking his path. It was a woman, her face hidden beneath a wide-brimmed hat, her body concealed by a long, flowing coat. She moved with a quiet confidence, her presence radiating an aura of power and danger.
"Ryota Tanaka," she said, her voice soft but firm. "We've been expecting you."
Ryo's hand instinctively went to the hidden knife strapped to his thigh. "Who are you?" he demanded, his voice low and dangerous.
The woman smiled, a subtle, almost predatory expression. "I am a friend," she said. "And I know the truth about Project Yōkai."
She reached into her coat, pulling out a small, black butterfly, its wings shimmering with an iridescent glow. She released it into the air, and it fluttered towards Ryo, landing gently on his outstretched hand.
"Follow the Kuroi Chō," she said. "It will lead you to safety. And to the answers you seek."
And then, as quickly as she had appeared, she vanished back into the shadows, leaving Ryo alone with the black butterfly, and the chilling certainty that his life had just become a whole lot more complicated. He knew he should be wary, that trusting a stranger was a fool's game in Neo-Shanghai. But he was out of options. He had to take a chance.
He took a deep breath, steeling his resolve. He would follow the Kuroi Chō. He would find the answers he sought. And he would survive, no matter the cost. The butterfly fluttered its wings, then flew out of the tenement window. Ryo followed, stepping out into the rain-soaked streets, leaving behind the only life he had ever known, and venturing into the unknown. The hunt had begun.
Chapter end 🙀