A week had passed since the café incident. On the surface, the city looked normal again, but underneath, scars remained.
During the attack, SARS killed eighteen members of the Crystal Gang and twenty-eight innocent civilians. Many more were hospitalized with injuries. SARS, however, suffered no casualties. And worse—for all their brutality, they failed to capture or kill a single member of the Ruling Syndicate.
The news ran day and night, sparking outrage. People had begun rallying on the streets, demanding answers, demanding justice for the civilians who had died for no reason.
On the road, a car rolled between towering buildings. In the back seat sat a woman in a white crop top layered under a black leather jacket, her long black jeans fitting sharp against her figure. Her mid-length bob brushed her neck, and beside her rested a folded SARS signature coat—white and red, marking her rank.
At the wheel sat a man with short black hair, dressed in a plain white shirt and pants. His hands tightened on the steering wheel as he glanced at her through the rearview mirror.
"Why did you have to come yourself, Vice Chief?" he asked.
"Today's the Special Chiefs' meeting. And he's still at home," she replied flatly.
The driver smirked. "Haha… James again? Did he tease you?"
Her brows twitched. "Tease me? That man who failed for the first time in his career? That's what's funny."
The car stopped in front of a cramped little house sandwiched between two tall buildings. She stepped out, slid on her SARS coat halfway, and rang the bell.
Inside, the lights were off, the television muttering faint news reports in the background. A man lay sprawled across the bed, dead to the world. The bell echoed, again and again, until finally he stirred. Each ring dragged a reluctant movement from him, until at last he groaned, stretched, and dragged himself upright.
"Yeah, yeah, I'm coming," he yawned, switching off the TV. He pulled on a T-shirt, scratching lazily at his back as he shuffled to the door.
The door creaked open, revealing a man with messy mid-length hair with light beard and pale gray eyes, blinking sleepily. He rubbed at his face, yawning.
"What the hell? Were you still sleeping… Chief Yorick?" the woman asked, her voice sharp.
"Who?" he muttered, rubbing his eyes. Then recognition dawned. "Ah. Elysia. Something happen?"
Her eyebrow twitched. "Chief Yorick, don't tell me you don't remember what day it is?"
He blinked again, then looked past her. "Ahh, you're here too, Leif. Morning."
Elysia snapped. "It's eleven a.m. What morning?"
Yorick tilted his head. "But it's still morning, right? Leif?"
At the driver's side, Leif gave a loyal nod. "You're absolutely right, Chief."
Elysia let out a long breath and shoved Yorick back inside. "Go get ready."
Leif chuckled as he followed. "I bet he still doesn't remember the meeting."
SARS headquarters.
Inside a massive room, a round table dominated the center, surrounded by six chairs. Glass walls stretched on every side, black with red lightning streaks crisscrossing the floor and ceiling. Long rectangular tables lined the sides, filled with SARS officers observing silently.
Suddenly, the glass shifted from red to blue, bathing the room in a cooler glow.
At the side of the round table, a man in a blazer and pants, hair neatly brushed back, stepped forward.
"Welcome to the SARS Special Chiefs' meeting," he announced. "I am Carter Rex, representing the Ministry of SARS Forces. Though this is a Chief's meeting, we have allowed division members to observe from behind the glass."
Applause echoed through the room.
"I would appreciate it if the Chiefs came forward so we could begin," Carter added.
The doors opened, and Lawrence Luis entered with Xavier trailing behind. Across the glass, murmurs spread among the watching officers.
"Is that the most ruthless Chief in SARS?" one whispered.
"Look at those red eyes… thank goodness I'm not in the 3rd Division," another said.
"Xavier has a bandaged hand," a third observed.
Lawrence took his seat, Xavier beside him. Moments later, Henderson and James entered.
"Chief, it's going to be chaos in here, isn't it?" James muttered, glancing at Lawrence and Xavier.
On the other side of the glass, officers whispered to each other.
"The strongest Vice Chief ever… he failed to capture a woman?"
"That actually happened?"
"First time something like this happened, unbelievable."
Henderson sat across from Lawrence while James took the seat beside him.
Then the doors opened again. A woman in a long red-and-white dress stepped in, her black hair perfectly framing her face, long eyelashes catching the light. Beside her, a shorter man adjusted his shirt nervously, pen and notebook in hand. Whispers rippled through the room.
"6th Division Chief… Miss Zinnia Savannah," one officer murmured.
"Hot… why am I not in her division?"
"Forget him, just look at her."
Zinnia adjusted her hair as she took her seat, and the man with her ensured her dress sat correctly.
"I hear the voices of the observers," Carter said with a wry smile. "Miss Zinnia, you look as beautiful as ever."
Zinnia's eyes narrowed. "Who gave you permission to speak to me? Your existence is too pathetic to warrant conversation."
Carter cleared his throat, forcing a smile. "Ahem… so, is everyone here?"
"1st and 2nd Divisions not coming?" Henderson asked.
Carter waved a hand dismissively. "Busy with international assignments. Nothing we can do. Their absence won't stop us."
Zinnia whispered to the man beside her, who extended a hand hesitantly.
"Excuse me, Mr. Carter… may I speak?" he asked.
"Who are you?" Carter paused. "Oh, the new Vice Chief of the 6th Division… Calson, right?"
Calson nodded. "The 4th Division Chief is not here."
Carter chuckled. "Everyone knows who he is. Probably still lying in bed."
At that moment, the doors slammed open. Yorick, signature SARS coat draped over him, stretched his arms, yawning. Elysia stood beside him.
"Who's still in bed?" Yorick asked, rubbing his eyes.
"Don't slam the door like that, Chief," Elysia whispered.
"Ah, sorry," Yorick said, brushing it off.
Carter's eyes widened. How could he be here already?
Elysia gave him a pointed look. Carter realized why she was so precise in her work—like a perfectly calibrated machine.
The officers behind the glass were equally shocked.
"Chief Yorick… also here?"
"Known as 'Chief Sloth,'" one whispered.
"Ha, most of the time he's a good-for-nothing. Drinks, sleeps… but when he's serious… he's the most dangerous man I've ever seen."
Leif, sitting beside them, added quietly, "Sloth, huh?" His eyes scanned the room. "No, he's right. Most of the time he isn't serious. He drinks, he sleeps, he seems useless… but when he gets serious, I've seen it firsthand. He is easily the most dangerous human I've ever encountered in my entire life."
Everyone went silent, absorbing Leif's words.
Yorick took his seat beside Elysia remaining standing at his side. The meeting officially began.