We cleared the overpasses of the Upper District, banking toward the sector where the Rainburg Manor lay.
Storm clouds had gathered while I wasn't looking. It felt like a downpour was imminent.
Roselia’s military multipurpose vehicle led the way, its armored black chassis seemingly gliding over the pavement. Tailing her closely, I spoke into the terminal connected to the car’s local line.
"—And that’s the gist of it. That’s more or less how it all went down."
Over the comms, I heard her let out a sharp exhale.
“Hmm. To think the chip from the Rainburg girl would lead to a story like that...”
Her voice was a mix of equal parts exasperation and intrigue.
“You’re a magnet for trouble, aren't you? Are you possessed by a god of misfortune?”
She let out a dry, rattling laugh. Honestly, it wasn't a laughing matter.
"Maybe. Should I look into hiring an exorcist?"
“In this city? A profession like that wouldn't last three days.”
As we traded barbs, the cars steadily encroached on the high-class residential district. The scenery outside began to shift. The streetlights thinned out, replaced by the sight of rugged barricades and rows of armored vehicles. The gate, which had been brilliantly illuminated when I passed through with Lucia, was now a strobing mess of red warning lights.
"...Anyway, that’s where we stand. I don't have the full picture yet, but Rainburg, the Ninth, and Vira Corp—those three lines definitely converge."
A brief silence followed before Roselia’s low voice crackled back.
“Certainly. That android head fits the pattern, too. It’s highly probable Vira is involved. But even if they are, I haven't the slightest clue what their endgame is.”
"Agreed."
It was then that a flash of light tore through the distant sky beyond the windshield. A heavy, muffled boom followed. An orange glow—vivid enough to scorch the darkening city—illuminated the underbelly of the low clouds.
"Did you see that?"
“Yeah. A helicopter just went down.”
I could see it even from this distance. Right in the heart of the Upper District—the direction of the Rainburg Manor. Several hovering craft danced in the fire-lit sky. One of them began spewing flames, tilting precariously before it started a slow, terminal descent.
A beat later, a massive thoom shook the air.
"They're certainly being flamboyant about it."
“No kidding. This looks like a threat level even the Police Organization headquarters would struggle to contain.”
When we reached the foot of the bridge, we found a checkpoint. Security vehicles were positioned between barricades, and soldiers were scrambling back and forth in a frantic rush. Their equipment was live-ammo spec—they were in full combat readiness.
Roselia’s vehicle stopped first, and she rolled down her window. The sentry at the checkpoint looked at my car trailing behind and frowned, murmuring something to his comrade. It was a fair reaction; I wasn't official police, and I looked wildly out of place. Normally, they never would have let me through, but—
“Don't sweat it. I’ve got clout here,” Roselia said over the comms.
A moment later, the soldier’s face went pale. Her ID pulsed on a holo-display: her rank insignia and the emblem of the Seventh Tactical Control Division. Roselia was leagues higher in the field chain of command than anyone here.
Eventually, the gate ahead groaned open. A soldier ran up and stood by my window, offering a sharp salute.
"Good work, sir! I’ve issued a temporary passage permit for the zone ahead. It needs to be linked to your ID, so please present your arm."
"Sure thing."
I extended my left arm out the window. A cylindrical device snapped around it with a mechanical click. An electronic beep sounded as a faint light traced a path beneath my skin.
"Registration complete. Valid until midnight tonight. Your location data will be shared with central command."
I gave a casual wave and stepped on the accelerator. Ahead of me, Roselia was already moving. Her black car crossed the bridge, its surface reflecting the rhythmic pulse of the warning lights.
I followed her into a world of red and black.
The wail of sirens tore through the quiet streets. The air was thick with the stench of scorched iron and ozone. Another thoom echoed, followed by a rising pillar of fire.
"Hey, is the Police Organization actually doing its job?"
“Who knows? But at the very least, it looks like one hell of a party.”
Roselia’s voice sounded almost... amused. Good grief, this is why I can't stand muscle-heads. I gave a wry smile and floored it to keep up with her. My headlights cut through the swirling smoke as we plunged into the war zone.
The situation at the Rainburg Manor was even worse than it looked from afar.
Flames roared toward the sky. Trees had been snapped like toothpicks by blast waves. Ash and smoke drifted through the air, choking the atmosphere. The entire estate was stained a bruised reddish-black. The cocktail of burning metal, ozone, and blood was so thick it felt like it was charring the inside of my lungs.
As I stepped out of the car, my boot hit a helmet rolling across the pavement. It was empty—mercifully, there was no "content" left inside. Looking around, I saw discarded gear and bodies scattered everywhere. Soldiers groaned under piles of rubble; others were being carried away by their comrades, missing limbs. Many more simply didn't move at all.
"What a mess..." I muttered.
The fuselage of the crashed helicopter lay on its side right in front of me, belching black smoke. Part of the rotor had sliced deep into the manor’s outer wall, sending a constant spray of sparks into the air. Further in, by the massive gate, an overturned combat vehicle was being consumed by fire. Its armor was peeling away, and molten metal dripped from the frame like iron rain.
It was a small mercy that there were no civilian corpses in sight, but the rest of the carnage was staggering. The losses on the Police Organization’s side were horrific. I saw shredded simple combat jackets and prosthetic limbs twisted into scrap by the heat. In some places, there were bodies that had been entirely eviscerated by the blasts.
What the hell is running wild in there?
"Captain!"
A young female officer standing at the perimeter line called out. She had short blonde hair pulled back and no visible cybernetics—likely a rookie. The moment she spotted Roselia, she snapped to attention and hurried over. She gave me a single, dismissive glance before ignoring me entirely. Right, she’s one of those.
"Situation report!" Roselia barked. Her voice instantly sharpened the air of the entire scene—low, piercing, and authoritative.
The rookie flinched for a split second before snapping back into her report.
"Y-yes, ma'am! By the time we arrived, the manor's security detail and the perimeter Police Organization units were almost entirely neutralized. The attackers have already breached the manor! The status of the civilians inside is currently unknown!"
Her voice was nearly swallowed by the roar of explosions and the wail of sirens.
"Analysis of the external cameras shows multiple humanoid heat signatures. No vehicles. They’re projecting jamming sensors, so ID verification is impossible. However...!"
She trailed off, her gaze darting toward the manor. At that exact moment—BOOM!!
The upper floor of the building erupted. A fireball scorched the overcast sky, raining debris down on us.
"...There are currently three teams engaged inside. Twelve personnel total. However, half have already been forced to retreat. This isn't a scale that flesh-and-blood humans can handle!"
Roselia let out a sharp snort. "I see. Perfect."
Clang—.
She slammed her prosthetic fists together, sending a shower of sparks flying. She was completely "switched on" now.
I noticed the rookie’s eyes light up with unintentional admiration. Kid, I really wouldn't recommend following in her footsteps.
"We're burning daylight. Let’s move," I said.
The rookie’s gaze finally snapped to me. "...Captain, who is this?"
A holographic speech bubble floated near her, practically radiating distrust: <Acting so familiar with the Captain... who on earth is this nobody?>
"Him? Oh, he's a 'Repairman,'" Roselia answered vaguely. "You’ll be seeing more of him soon enough. Remember his face."
Talk about a bare-bones introduction. I mean, it is my job title, but still. The rookie’s gaze turned cold and piercing.
"...Understood." Her voice sounded like she had a throat full of sand. She immediately turned away.
Roselia didn't care. She barked orders to the rest of her subordinates, her voice carrying over the chaos.
"The Repairman and I are breaching! All units inside the manor are to prioritize civilian rescue and then extract! The rest of you, hold the entrance. We have to assume reinforcements are coming."
The words had barely left her mouth when her leg boosters roared to life. With a violent hiss of compressed air, Roselia’s massive frame shattered the pavement beneath her as she launched forward. She tore toward the manor like a kinetic penetrator, framed by the backdrop of explosions.
Seriously, no matter how many times I see it, that woman has clearly given up on being human.
I chased after her, diving into the heat. My boots crunched through charred metal fragments as the temperature soared.
Now then, let's see what's waiting for us in the fire.