"You want something, brat." The scary looking man said in a horsed voice.
His voice deep and rude, a perfect patch with his face. But that was not all, he was also tall like a half gaint, but shorter than Mr. Hank, so he was not actually that of a gaint bloodline.
"No, no.. nothing, sir." Jay shaked his head voilantly.
After a moment of silence the man live without another word, only then Jay took a sigh of relief.
'Ah, Awakened police are scary.' a clod sweet rolled from his head.
***
Luke approached the counter where a woman was seated. Her face was drowned in layers of makeup, with bright red lipstick coating her lips. Her eyes were sharply defined by eyeliner, and her brown hair—the most common hair color in the Empire—was tied neatly in a bun.
She wore a short cap, and her outfit resembled that of the Awakened Police. A golden necklace rested around her neck, and the top buttons of her uniform were left undone, exposing the skin below her collarbone.
There were no badges on her uniform, which meant she was a Hollow—no… an Unawakened.
Noticing the group walking toward her, she offered a soft smile and subtly adjusted her hair, preparing for conversation.
Luke went ahead alone while Jay and Jin waited behind on a row of steel chairs arranged for visitors.
As her gaze landed on Luke's striking face, a faint blush crept onto her cheeks.
There was a clear age gap between them—at least seven years. Slightly unusual, perhaps. But marrying someone younger had become a rising trend in society. So she didn't mind.
She unfastened another button on her uniform, creating a broader glimpse of her chest. Her once-polite eyes, meant to assist those seeking help, now shifted into a seductive stare—calculating her next move.
It wasn't entirely her fault for reacting this way to someone visiting the police station. After all, most came seeking aid. But she was already twenty-five, well past the socially ideal age for marriage—seventeen to eighteen.
In a world where each day lasted twenty-five hours and a year stretched across 525 days, she had lived more than 13,228 days. That number haunted her in her dreams.
So seducing any man with a decent face had unknowingly become her quiet ambition in life.
And Luke wasn't just decent—he looked like a prince carved straight out of forgotten fairytales.
In her dazed state, Luke approached her, gently tapping the desk to draw her attention.
"Um… hello, madam," he said, clearing his throat awkwardly.
Madam? Who's he calling madam? she frowned internally.
"Oh—yes. Are you here to file a complaint?" she asked, snapping into her professional demeanor.
"No, I'm here regarding the apprenticeship month."
Apprenticeship… is he an Awakened!?
The woman hit the jackpot. Her excitement surged. It wasn't the first time she had encountered an Awakened—her office was practically swarming with them. But unfortunately, none had ever been her type. She was a selective one, hence her twenty-five years of solitude.
"Oh, I see. We did receive your application… but I think I may have misplaced it somewhere," she said, feigning concern.
The application was right there on her desk.
In truth, it was a strict rules to keep all documents concerning Awakened under meticulous care. After all, most of them were unpredictable—dangerous, even. Complaints, legal hearings, and court summons were part of the daily grind.
But her little lie bought her some time… and so began their long, meandering, and completely unrequited conversation.
***
After Luke told them to sit comfortably while he handled the entire process—which was, admittedly, a wise decision—he left. Jay's awkwardness around strangers would've only made things messier, and Jin, with his absolute lack of modern knowledge, was practically useless in such situations.
Jin navigated himself toward the benches arranged for waiting. In front of him stood a table with a glass top. Beneath it, a wooden shelf displayed a stack of newspapers, visible through the transparent surface.
Having nothing better to do, he pulled one out. Fortunately, the date printed on the paper was the 20th day of the Emerald Moon—the same day.
It was a copy of Hello Biharaj—a local paper exclusive to the Holy City. Unlike The Shining Empire or Present Times, this one had limited circulation, and its reach didn't extend beyond Biharaj.
What made it particularly distinct was its narrow focus: news strictly from within the Holy City. Naturally, its demand outside was almost nonexistent.
Jin flipped the newspaper open. The first page was flooded with ads—massive, sprawling advertisements that devoured half the space. Since the paper wasn't as renowned on a national scale, advertising rates were significantly cheaper. But within the Holy City, it held sway, attracting attention from big companies who often promoted their products in it.
The paper was made of a slightly brown material—not as deep brown as the kind used in cheap diaries or notebooks available in market—but clearly inferior in quality compared to national level publications.
The content was methodically divided into segments, each assigned a specific genre of news. What intrigued Jin the most, though, were the photographs.
Though limited, the paper did include an image—only one—for the most critical report of the day. And it marked only the second time Jin had ever seen a printed photograph.
The news accompanied by the photo covered the breach in the city wall, destroyed 10 days ago by a monster. The media had dubbed the incident The Great Tragedy of Block Sataras.
Even in the original shot, the image quality was barely tolerable, as the current quality of cameras. After going through the printing process, it was almost unrecognizable.
Jin doubted even the photographer would be able to identify it afterward. Still, the technology was undeniably revolutionary.
The article continued, stating that nearly three-fifths of the Gatekeepers had perished that day, alongside a full fifth of the city's Awakened. The aftermath left the city dangerously exposed to potential future attacks.
Half a page followed, repeating the same facts in different phrasing before diving into the wall's structural failure. The barrier had since been repaired, but its current strength paled compared to its former glory.
Several monsters had survived the breach—though most had mysteriously died that day. The rest were suspected to be roaming inside the city, their number estimated to be close to a hundred. Now, they were being hunted by the Awakened police.
Four blocks surrounding Sataras had been sealed off entirely—isolated behind magical barriers.
The next piece detailed a nighttime operation where three monsters had been successfully hunted down by the Awakened police.
"Looks like we arrived at the worst possible time."
Jin finally muttered, folding the paper after failing to find anything else of interest. He turned his gaze toward Jay, observing him quietly, attempting to deduce the nature of his innate ability.
Moments later, Luke returned. In his hands were two blue armbands—one already wrapped around his own right arm.
He handed them out.
"You'll need to wear these at all times during duty," he explained.
"Oh, and Miss Lovia said there are other applicants besides us."
"Who's Miss Lovia?" Jin asked.
"Oh—the lady at the counter." Luke gestured in her direction.
"…"
"Ah, right! I almost forgot—you're required to sign in the register after arriving… and before leaving."
***
After a brief wait, a woman approached them.
"Oh, hello there! You must be the new recruits. I'm Sub-Inspector Rosela, and you'll be working under me," she introduced herself in a hurried tone, as if time itself were running out and they had somewhere urgent to be.
She wore the standard-issue uniform of the Awakened Police. Her figure was rather average—neither commanding nor delicate—but there was a certain briskness in her movements that demanded attention. Her dark hair was neatly tucked beneath a regulation cap that matched the slate-blue of her uniform.
At her waist hung a single-handed blade in a military-grade sheath. Its handle was partially covered by an upward-curving guard, designed more for function than flair. The weapon looked worn but well-maintained—clearly used, but never neglected.
There was a no-nonsense air about her, the kind that came from years of being thrown into high-stress situations and walking out unscathed. And yet, beneath the clipped professionalism, there was the faintest trace of fatigue—like a candle that had been burning for far too long without pause.
"Oh my, I am Luke, and these are—"
Luke immediately stood, preparing to introduce himself and his companions in his usual noble demeanor, but he was cut off by the sub-inspector's hurried voice.
"Haha, introductions can wait! Right now—run! I'm already late, and the Inspector is a cruel man. If we're any later, he'll crush our heads. So move!"
Without waiting for a response, she spun on her heel and darted toward the gate like a soldier on borrowed time.
Luke instinctively took off after her, a startled Jay scrambling close behind, trying not to trip over his own feet.
Jin, on the other hand, didn't speed up in the slightest. He walked at his usual, unhurried pace, hands in his pockets, eyes calm.
As if to say, "We're already late. What's the point of rushing now?"
The other two disappeared around the corner, their footsteps echoing loudly in the hall. Meanwhile, Jin's soft footfalls trailed behind like a whisper—steady, quiet, and unfazed.
Some nearby staff paused to glance at the strange contrast—two running as if their lives depended on it, and one walking like he had all the time in the world.
And Jin? He didn't even blink.