–step –step –step
I kept pacing. Again. And again. So much that the floor had memorized the rhythm of my steps each creak a silent witness to my anxiety.
One of the many reasons I was losing my mind?I was a witness. A damn witness.And these days, almost every car has 360° cameras recording in 4K.That was a problem.
Because the people above Yellow Charge?Yeah. They could bribe me, threaten me or just make me disappear.
The more I thought about it, the more I walked. Hoping the movement would knock a solution loose from the walls of my skull.
Hero Tower – 8th Floor
"YOU DID WHAT?!"A man in a sleek black suit and silver glasses nearly lost it.
"I-I'm sorry... I guess?" Yellow Charge mumbled, scratching his neck awkwardly, face a bit red. "It happened while I was... you know... having a little fun. A threesome actually. And suddenly my little brother down there ZAP blasted out 200 volts."
He paused for a second, trying to lighten the mood."Anyway, it was just those three girls in the area, sooo…"
Then his smile faded."...And a weird-looking crippled boy."
"..."The man in the suit pinched the bridge of his nose and rubbed his forehead hard enough to go red.
"We'll handle this first. And then you'll face the consequences."
–gulp
Yellow Charge swallowed. The word consequences hit harder than a punch.
Kaiser's Apartment – Living Room
Good afternoon. My name is Kaiser Moni. I saw the three women yes, the ones found dead in the river—getting into Yellow Charge's car. It was the day before they died.
"Do you have any solid evidence?"
"…"
'Of course not. Who the hell walks around expecting a 'hero' to suddenly murder three women?'
"No. I don't," I admitted, voice a bit shaky.
"Hmm... then please come to the station and give us a full statement."
'Maybe, for once, someone will actually listen.'
A few minutes after the call, I went to freshen up.
While washing my face, I suddenly had a flashback—those damn students laughing at me, like hyenas.
Once I was done, I grabbed my phone and slipped into a cheap, matte-black suit I'd picked up at a flea market. It fit oddly well.
And then, I stepped out.
En route to the station
According to my GPS, the police station was close.
Just around here somewhere…I checked again 300 meters away.
But before I could move again, I spotted something.Five long, black cars. Like something straight out of an FBI movie.
I pulled out my dark green phone and launched the camera app. Zoomed in.
And what I saw froze my blood.
Police Station – Office
The officer who'd spoken to me on the phone glanced up.
"Manager Kim? Is that you?"
It was him.Hair slicked back. Silver glasses. Eyes like faded ice.Manager Kim. A well-known manager for rising heroes, including, you guessed it... Yellow Charge.
"Yes, that's me," Kim said, his tone flat, unreadable. "I came here because I overheard the call with that lunatic kid."
"O-Overheard?" the officer stammered.
"Yes, overheard. You know who we are."
"Y-Yes, of course," the officer replied quickly.
"When is he supposed to arrive?" Kim asked, eyes narrowing.
"Any minute now. I can call him and check."
Kim nodded. Meaning: do it.
300 meters away from the station
What I saw made my insides twist.The officer was chatting with Kim. That Kim. The guy even cave dwellers would recognize.
'It's a trap.And just like that'
–ring ring–
My phone lit up.Caller: the officer.
I peeked through my camera again.Same guy. Same room. Same phone to his ear.
'I knew it!'
I picked up while turning and walking away in the opposite direction.
"H-Hey, where are you?" the officer asked, clearly faking concern.
"Uh—I'm about 20 minutes away. I live kinda far, you know?"
"Alright, but don't dawdle," he replied and hung up.
Kim, of course, heard everything.
"He's lying," he said coldly, expression unreadable.
"How can you tell?" asked the overweight officer.
"We did a quick check. He lives just 5–10 minutes from here. He probably noticed the trap."
'Smart kid' Kim thought.
"Mark him as the main suspect. He most likely killed those girls," Kim added, clearly amused by his own lie.
"At that age? With no Trustpoints?" the officer asked, doubtful.
"There are serial killers under 20 with fewer Trustpoints. Don't forget, artifacts exist."
It was true. Since Trustpoints exists, mysterious artifacts had been discovered.
With them, even weaklings and normies could gain power.
"I-I understand. I'll flag him right away," the officer said and went quiet.
There wasn't much left to say.
Kim left the station without another word.
A few hours later, I was all over the news. Everyone knew my name.