Murmurs and whispers filled the surroundings. I could see the tension in the room slowly starting to rise.
The Section Chief took in the tension and continued to speak, "In that regard, we’ve already shared a lot of the information with the bureau, and we’re getting ready for what is to co. We’ve also gotten a few hints regarding what the gate could possibly be about."
Pressing the remote, the projection changed. An image appeared shortly after — one that caused a small stir and made my heart tighten a little.
That’s...
"VILE — 2013, also known as the Jester. As previously stated, we managed to spot him again recently."
Pressing the remote again, the image began to move as the Jester in the video started playing the piano. His movents were smooth and erratic at the sa ti. A low, yet incredibly haunting tune filled the surroundings as all eyes seed fixed on the Jester.
Even Kyle’s expression turned subtly serious at the sight. But after a while, he leaned closer to and whispered, "I rember you used to play the piano."
I barely kept my expression from changing as my heart skipped a beat while I looked at Kyle.
Swallowing softly, I nodded my head.
"...Yes. I have."
Did he notice sothing?
It couldn’t—
"That thing plays better than you."
He laughed while comnting.
"You should start practicing again."
My eye twitched subtly.
"...Oh."
I looked at the figure on the screen.
If only he knew...
Click!
The Section Chief paused the video.
"From what we’ve managed to figure out, including the posters and all the clues, the gate will most likely include this certain performance from the anomaly. While we’re unsure if the anomaly will play this very sa music, from what we’ve heard so far, it doesn’t appear to be anything dangerous. Nonetheless, we should still be careful. Considering the rank of the gate, we all should be aware of the dangers."
The Section Chief went on to detail the items necessary for the gate and so on.
I listened to all of this, feeling a knot form in my stomach.
’Why is he speaking as though all of us will be present? As far as I’m aware, not everyone can enter.’
I rubbed the back of my head. If that was truly the case, then how would I explain my disappearance? It wasn’t like I could be there.
I had to perform.
But...
’Will the system do the sa thing as before? Will my doppelgänger appear again?’
I thought back to the video I watched and the expression on the doppelgänger. My stomach sank.
For whatever reason, the doppelgänger didn’t give a good feeling.
While it looked and acted like , I could tell it was an entity completely different. It felt like so sort of anomaly that could shape-shift at will.
"That’s all for the preparations. I’ll keep you all updated with the information. Now, I’ll talk about more pressing matters at hand."
The Section Chief turned sowhat helpless at this mont.
He focused back on the projection and pressed the remote.
Imdiately, the projection shifted to a news channel.
A red headline imdiately stood out to :
[mbers of the Main Island have finally descended in Malovia. Are they here to tackle the gate?]
Behind the headline, a group of people in suits walked out of the airport area, surrounded by reporters as flashes of light and a barrage of questions rained down on them.
The group remained rather indifferent, but it wasn’t long before they stopped, as the man at the head of the group, a tall man with blonde hair, slowly pulled his glasses away to reveal his crystal-blue eyes.
In that mont, all the flashes stopped, and he smiled.
"I’m very happy for the greeting, but our team is currently tired. If possible, we’d like for all of you to part ways."
Although his request sounded polite, the mont the words left his mouth, it was as though the reporters lost control of their bodies; they all stepped aside.
The man smiled again before putting his sunglasses back on and continuing on his own.
It looked like the scene would end there, but just as he started to move, a reporter shouted a question.
"The gate! Are you here to take over!? Unless it reaches the rank, the Guilds here can take care of it!"
The words echoed throughout the area as the blonde man stopped. Without turning his back, he murmured, "Even if the gate doesn’t upgrade, I doubt the people of this island can handle an ranked gate."
He then left imdiately afterward.
The video ended, and the room fell silent.
All eyes seed fixed on the blonde man on the screen. I expected anger at his words, but instead, everyone looked tense, and even... bitter.
Curious, I turned to look at Kyle. I was t with an unexpected expression.
He didn’t look angry or tense. In fact, his expression seed extrely complicated.
’What’s going on? Why is everyone acting like this?’
As I looked around, I realized the situation was more complex than I thought. When my eyes fell on Zoey, I saw her expression was even more conflicted than Kyle’s.
This made extrely curious.
"Care to tell what’s going on?"
"...Oh."
As if my voice finally snapped him out of it, Kyle looked at and forced a smile.
"That person right there..."
His expression beca even more complicated.
"He used to be my senior. You can say that he’s the one who taught everything."
***
A large black car sped through the streets of Malovia. The tall skyscrapers pierced the sky as a figure sat inside, staring at the ever-changing scenery with a calm expression.
"...It’s been a while since I’ve been here. I’m glad to see this place hasn’t changed at all."
A smile crossed his lips as he turned to the driver.
"How long until we arrive?"
"We should be almost there, sir."
"Mhm."
Hers nodded faintly before taking out his phone. A few familiar contacts appeared as he touched his chin.
’It’s been a while since I last saw my juniors. I wonder how they’re doing. I’m sure they’re ready to be brought back with . This island is too small to hold talents like them.’
While Guilds were all graded from Pawn to King, not all Guilds were equal.
The Guilds on the main island were far stronger than those on the other islands. They had more influence and access to higher-ranked gates.
Simply put, their wealth far exceeded that of the Guilds from other islands.
This was why he had chosen to move away. This place was too small to hold talents like himself and his juniors.
Hers planned to bring them back with him to the main island after this was all over. He couldn’t leave them rotting here.
"...We’re here."
The car ca to a stop, and Hers put on his sunglasses before opening the door, his gaze falling on the massive opera house ahead.
Feeling the energy emanating from it, his eyes closed slightly, and he took a deep breath.
’...Not bad.’
He looked satisfied.
"Not bad at all."
D — 5
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