Location: Entrance Gate of the Absolute Detectives Headquarters
There were three hours left before sunset. People had slowly begun heading home some chatting along the way, others walking with tired expressions. Birds were chirping, already resting in their nests.
The bridge was slightly crowded.
Something incredibly fast passed over it so fast that no one could even tell what it was.
In reality… it was those two.
Richard: How long until we get there?
Zach and Richard were moving at extreme speed. The wind crashed against them constantly, roaring loudly, yet they could still hear each other clearly.
Zach: About an hour, I think.
The two raced northward at unbelievable speed, practically impossible to notice.
Meanwhile, Jack and Bob were heading toward Bob's storage depot to retrieve paint and an energy sphere.
Location: Deadland City Bob's Storage Depot
There was nothing alive around. The area looked completely abandoned. Strong winds swept through the empty streets, mixing with sand and giving the place a desolate atmosphere.
The only structure standing was Bob's warehouse partially damaged.
Inside, the sounds of falling metals, barrels, and scattered objects echoed everywhere, along with two loud voices arguing.
Bob: Nereye attım o ########## boyalarını!
(Where did I throw those ########## paints?!)
Jack: You don't need to shout!
Bob: You're shouting too!
Jack: I wonder why!
They had been searching for the paint and the energy sphere for quite some time. At this rate, they might destroy the entire warehouse out of frustration.
Every object Bob tossed contained metal, creating deafening crashes as they hit the ground.
Bob: Bir daha bu depoya gelirsem beni #########!
(If I ever come back to this warehouse again, #### me!)
Just as Bob was about to completely lose his sanity, Jack noticed a faint light coming from a box.
He punched the lid open.
The box shattered instantly.
Inside was a sphere glowing with a soft blue light.
Jack picked it up and showed it to Bob.
Jack: Is this what we were looking for?
Bob, who was standing on a tall bunk platform, turned to look but his foot slipped.
He fell hard.
A massive clatter of metal echoed as Bob crashed down and emerged from the pile.
Bob: Let me see… I think my butt's broken…
His samurai helmet split in two and fell off his head. Realizing this, Bob immediately pulled tape from his pocket, picked up the broken helmet, reattached the halves, and patched it together.
He hurried over to Jack.
Bob: That's it! Where the hell did you find it?
Jack: Since we found it, let's go. It's starting to get late.
Bob: Give me the sphere.
Jack handed it over. Bob instantly stuffed it into his pocket.
Both focused on escaping the massive warehouse. After running for a while, they reached the giant entrance gate.
Bob threw his hammer-
and launched himself along with it.
Spinning through the air, Bob and the hammer slammed into the gate. The structure couldn't withstand the impact and collapsed.
Bob landed still stuck on the hammer handle.
Bob: I'm stuck…
Jack: Seriously, how many times has this happened to you?
Jack rotated the hammer 180 degrees.
Bob dropped onto his backside while Jack set the hammer down on the iron floor covered in sand, the sound echoing faintly.
Bob picked up the hammer happily.
Bob: Finally escaped this warehouse! Yes!
Jack: We didn't find the paint, but we'll buy new ones.
Bob: Correction… you will buy them.
Jack smirked.
Jack: Correction… Arthur will buy them.
Both burst into laughter. They truly looked like friends now.
While they laughed-
a dark figure stood behind them.
Green light glowed from its eye.
It simply smiled.
Meanwhile…
Zach and Richard had likely already reached the island.
Location: Unknown Island
Dead flowers. Dead trees. Withered grass. Everything here screamed one thing:
This place had no life.
An unnatural silence dominated the island.
Only the cawing of crows filled the sky.
Two figures walked through the lifeless terrain.
Richard: This place is seriously creepy…
Zach showed no reaction. He walked calmly, as if this were an ordinary stroll.
Zach: Nothing matters here. Our objective is to seal the Relic and return it to the Headquarters as quickly as possible.
Richard: Yeah, but-
The crows' cries grew louder.
Crows usually gathered for only two reasons death… or food.
Zach and Richard moved toward where the flock had gathered. They broke into a run.
They ran and ran-
and when they arrived, they encountered a strange sight.
- - - : So… two uninvited guests have arrived.
A crow perched on someone's hand began cawing loudly toward Zach and Richard, almost as if reporting something.
- - - : Right behind me, huh… Thanks for the information. What brings you here?
Zach's expression turned serious.
The person before them released an overwhelming aura. He instantly realized the situation's gravity.
Zach: Who are you?
The figure wore a dark cloak that concealed most of his face only his mouth visible.
He smiled.
Then removed the cloak and turned toward them.
- - - : My name is Lucifer Deadman. The Relic you're looking for… has already been claimed.
Lucifer had arrived on the island long before them.
Yet…
it felt as though someone was missing.