Chapter Twenty Nine - Stratagem, Sundown

  I laid in the pool of blood for what seemed to be around two or three hours, completely in silence and devoid of hope. I was alone, bloodied and bereft of dignity, like some kind of dying pig. In short, I was defeated, and the only thing I could muster was to lie here and suffer.

  I had many things on my mind, but the most important thing was how much I let myself go. I went from a proud detective to this. I am not the man I used to be – or if I was one to begin with. Truthfully, I hate myself. I hate everything that I am, and everything that I was. I am a useless being whose breathing is a waste of oxygen. Honestly, I wish that Sylphie shot me back then, as it would make the process of defeat much faster. But instead, I have to sit here and wait, until I gain enough resolve to get up and face the world again. And once I do, I will only be met with disdain as it always one. People laughing, people bickering, people growing angrier upon seeing me – all of it would happen yet again. However, this time, it would not be out of envy and jealousy, but out of mockery and ridicule.

  It would be a dire understatement to say that I was finessed. In truth, Sylphie succeeded in everything she wished to do. Whereas I did the opposite of that – fail everywhere possible. That repose in the pool of blood gave me enough time to think about her speech on perfection, and I fully understood that I was nowhere near it.

  Back then, before MC-13, I considered myself perfect. I considered myself perfect, because others were below me. However, that was a mistake. It was true that I was the best, but that doesn’t translate to being perfect. Being the best doesn’t equal being flawless. It only took me almost a month to understand that. I was never perfect, nor flawless. I was only deceived by my own ego.

  My rank of S-tier is a sham. This badge is not something I deserve – everything that transpired today shows that. I was but a sad excuse of a detective, only now did I realize that, and how empty my life was. I only wished to solve case after case, and never thought of the bigger picture. My ambitions were none, and my desires even less. I was only a hollow frame with no picture within. Yes, that picture never formed – no desires, no ambition, and no purpose. I senselessly did my job, and eventually, I was recognized as a successful detective. However, ‘successful’ was only a trait I possessed on the outside to the masses.

  Foolish. I was simply a fool who ran around headless, until I fell over. I fell over, and bathed in blood. If I ever got a second chance, the first thing I would do is be the opposite of me. Instead of being an arrogant asshole who relished his glory, I would be discreet, and I would strive for my own records, and not the wishes of others. Instead of being a flaunting S-tier, I would hide my badge, and attempt to show that level of skill with skill alone. I just want to be different next time around.

  I made so many enemies for no reason. I antagonized my world against me just because I thought that I could. I wanted to stay at the top, and laugh in the faces of those below me. However, as the investigation continued, I realized that this was only a fairytale of mine. There was never a difference between me and others, and my heckling was only seen as dumb ramblings and jokes. All of that culminated into this scene – me, lying in a puddle of blood from another man.

  The dead Flawless next to me was my biggest flaw yet. The entirety of MC-13 was being investigated by a man with self-image problems, and my efforts bleed through into the case itself. I never worked on this case for the sake of others, but only for the glory it would bring. That is why I viewed Debrief as such a threat, because he would strip me of the bragging rights I thought I would get from such an accomplishment. My biggest fears were losing, but losing in the form that I imagined – humiliation. In truth, I could accept that I wasn’t able to solve MC-13, but I couldn’t get behind the laughter it would bring to others.

  Yes, people are scum – that opinion will probably never change, but something else will. Not all people are scum, and those are the people I should be trying to appease. If I got that second chance, I would try to follow that rule – to only impress the ones important to me.

  A second chance – as ridiculous as it sounds, I don’t deserve it. I failed in everything that I could, yet I speak of a second wind. I caused the escape of a mastermind criminal, Sylphie Seishi, and allowed her to flee Misult City. I never solved MC-13, I just moved it elsewhere.

  Although, thinking about it, there might be a way to receive my undeserved second chance. If I would be so insolent as to ask for it, there is a way it could work. There is a scenario where I could live this new life, and it all revolves around a favor that I haven’t followed up on. Not long ago, Detective Debrief offered me his help on the case, and now, that would be the only thing that could save my efforts on MC-13. Of course, his only condition was for me to relinquish my status as Head Detective of MC-13.

  But who am I to care about something like that?

  “Detective Debrief.”

  I called my only hope on my cell phone, hoping that I could still convince him to not give up on me. Even though a few hours have passed since Sylphie’s departure, things could not be over just yet.

  A voice responds on the other side. “Detective Capleaf. To what do I owe the occasion?”

  “It might be time for me to answer to that whole ‘team’ idea.”

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  As I gaze out of this window, I noticed that my car was nowhere to be found. Sylphie must have taken it. We drove here for almost thirty minutes, and the speed we had was in no way a rush. In short, Sylphie must have already gone into the DPD, presumably to retrieve the Face, her sister, Lori Seishi.

  I inform him of the truth. “Debrief, Sylphie is no detective, and you should consider her our enemy from now on.”

  I waited patiently for his response. It took a few seconds, but he finally responded.

  “Well, this is most interesting. I take it that you accept my condition?”

  “Yes. Now – tell me, how is it looking over at your end?”

  “Hmm, what if I told you that your captured suspect is now missing, and that your assistant was here recently?”

  “Then, she has already left?”

  “Not precisely. I have seen her here moments ago. Right now, it appears that they are holed up in a wing of the DPD.”

  He was strangely calm about the whole situation. I had no reason to doubt Debrief, though, as his personal motivations are not crime-related. Not only that, but I also heard gunshots in the background of the call. It appears that whatever is transpiring at the precinct is the result of Sylphie making her move.

  “It would be wise for you to show up, Detective Capleaf. Where are you?”

  “Museum of Stillness. Getting from her might be troublesome, as Sylphie Seishi stole my car.”

  “Seishi…”

  I was thinking of the most viable way of getting to the DPD on my way out of the building. I took off my detective’s coat to minimize the amount of blood on me, and ran straight through the building outside. Many concerned visitors looked at me frightfully, and rightfully so – I just killed a man in there. However, what mattered more was the way there. A short back and forth between me and Debrief resulted in an unexpected outcome – he is going to show up himself.

  I waited in the front parking lot for only a few minutes before I heard the sounds of a roaring engine approaching me at lightning speed. A few seconds later, and I see a police-related sports car that is only used in special emergencies. It was that type of car that could travel at three hundred kilometers an hour, and it is usually used in organ deliveries for hospital use, or other cases like that. In short, Debrief obtaining authorized use of that thing is miraculous, and I quickly understood why he chose this way. Driving for a few minutes to pick me up would certainly be faster than me running for an hour or two. This was a massive advantage for us, to say the least.

  “I hope I did not keep you waiting for too long,” the Genius Detective smugly said.

  As soon as I saw him, the light in my soul rekindled. We may still have a chance at capturing Sylphie Seishi, the Fabricant. Hope is not lost just yet, and Debrief understood that.

  Without any further delay, we got in the navy-colored sports vehicle with police markings on it, and soon enough, we barreled down the road at a whopping three hundred and ten kilometers per hour.

  “The roads have been cleared for us. I hope you will value my efforts.”

  Sure enough, there were closed roads dotted all about, even if I was able to see them for only a fraction of a second. Even Debrief knew that this is no cause to give up on, and his efforts seemed to surpass even mine. It is only better that way. He himself seemed to be completely calm going at such high speeds.

  He glanced towards me. “Are you willing to tell me some insight as to what has been happening?”

  “I killed the Flawless, but it isn’t over yet. His underlings are still causing trouble from what I can tell.”

  His eyes widened with surprise. “Well then, Detective Capleaf, I have utmost respect for you. And you are quite right – Ms. Seishi has initiated a shootout between us and them.”

  “How was that going?”

  “Needless to say, the officers struggled to push through their defense.”

  Just as Debrief told me everything he knew, I told him everything I knew. We exchanged our intel, and one thing was made apparent. We only have one shot at this, as we may very well lose our lives during this. Both Sylphie and her sister, Lori, are armed with submachine guns with enough ammo to last an evening.

  Speaking of evening, the sun was slowly going past the horizon when we arrived at the scene. There was still plenty of light, and the skies were a red hue of color. As for the precinct, there were police teams surrounding the whole building, their cars, and even some special task force units in full body armor. Just this sight made me aware that this is no trifling matter.

  “How are two small girls able to hold their own against such an army?” I enquired Debrief.

  “Those two small girls are holding the scientists hostage.”

  I felt a pit in my stomach upon hearing that, and my first thoughts were about Faust being in trouble. However, Debrief quickly ushered those worries away.

  “Do not worry about that white-haired friend of yours – she is still in recovery and was not present when this situation escalated.”

  “Thank goodness. How will we go from here?”

  “That is for you to decide, Detective Capleaf.”

  I was strangely moved by his words, and the gesture of giving me the charge. However, I quickly noticed why he did that. Debrief is no man that shows much of his emotions, and as he retrieved something from the trunk of the car, I noticed what his intentions and feelings were. With what he was now holding and upending to his side, I could tell that he was livid.

  “I wish to take a more ‘involved’ approach and let you do the strategy.”

  It was unexpected coming from Debrief, but I understood what he meant. I saw the fire in his eyes, and his emotions were showing. I could tell that he was deeply upset by this attack. If there was anything to show that even more, and if there was something I never knew he had and carried, it would be the ornate saber he carried by his side. Yes, he was carrying a full-on sword that was as long as most of his body, and curved ever so slightly. He was determined to make ends meet with his own means, because his rage was overflowing.

  I am pretty sure that detectives aren’t allowed to carry such weaponry, but who am I to oppose the director of the DPD?