Only one overhead light illuminated the tiny space, creating sharp shadows on the table. Rain had begun as a light drizzle outside and was now tapping lightly at the window like fingers drumming a warning from a distance. Across from me sat David. His eyes, a shade of dull blue, flicked to the table and back up to meet mine. His fingers twitched intermittently, restless, nervous.
But fear alone didn't make a man guilty.
I put my gloved hands on the cold metal surface between us and leaned forward a little. Wet from the heat that was already seeping in from the outside, my coat weighed heavy on my shoulders. There was a slight fragrance of sweat and wetness in the air.
"David," I said in a composed tone. "Let's talk about the lighters in your locker."
He scowled. "The lighters?"
I nodded slowly. "One half is full, the other is intensively used. Would you mind explaining?"
He paused. He shifted in his chair, his tongue darting out and moistening his lower lip. His voice was tense. "Yeah... yeah, I can explain that," he said. "I... uh... started smoking."
I tilted my head. "Smoking?"
"Yeah." He rubbed his palms together, then gestured vaguely with his left hand. "Started right after Chief Ryan died. After the fires started. I needed... something." He laughed dryly. "I know it sounds stupid, but the stress was getting to me. I kept flicking the lighter out of habit, even when I wasn't smoking."
The explanation made sense. I jotted it down in my notebook, but kept my eyes on him. The nervous energy remained—but it wasn't the kind of tension I'd expect from a liar.
My Psychological Insight skill hummed faintly in my mind as it leveled up, like a distant engine revving up.
Psychological Insight (Lv.1) ---> Psychological Insight (Lv.2)
Psychological Insight (Lv.2): Evaluating subject's emotional state...
There was a slight change. As though I had put on spectacles to see someone's soul, the tightness in his jaw, the darting of his eyes, and the rhythm of his breathing all became more apparent.
Assessment: Anxiety detected. No indicators of deception.
He was being honest so far.
"Alright," I answered. "The lighters might fit that theory. But what about the suit for the gear room? The one that smells like gasoline?"
David blinked. "What suit?"
"The one with the scorch marks on the edges. Have you used it lately?"
"No, I—" He paused, reflecting. As if seeking clarification, his gaze darted to the room's corner. "Hold on... Logan may have worn it last. A few days earlier, he had some late-night drills. Said that he preferred to train by himself."
The name slid into place like a key in a lock.
"David," I said, voice low, "did you know that Sasha received threats? Written letters."
He became rigid. "What? No. I didn't."
I put my phone with a photo of the letters on the table after reaching inside my pocket. As he read the words, his eyes widened and he leaned forward. His fingers clenched into fists as his breathing quickened. "I didn't know. She never spoke a word, Jesus. Why would somebody do that?
My Psychological Insight skill flickered again.
Assessment: Shock detected. No indicators of deception.
He was genuinely surprised.
Which meant David was crumbling under stress, but he wasn't Cipher.
My mind snapped back to Logan. The false bottom in his locker. The detailed layouts of the fire sites.
He was careful. Controlled. But careful men cracked when the walls closed in.
I pushed back from the table and stood. "Stay here," I ordered, turning toward the door.
The firefighter who'd brought me here waited just outside. "Bring Logan," I said. "Now."
The man nodded sharply and rushed away. I went back to the chair across from David and took a seat, quietly tapping the table with my fingers. The rain outside intensified, beating harder against the window. Minutes went by. David shifted about but remained silent.
The wall clock ticked slowly.
I got up suddenly. "What's taking so long?"
As I entered the corridor, David looked on in bewilderment. With a pallid expression, the firefighter who had gone to fetch Logan jogged in my direction.
Breathlessly, he muttered, "We can't find him...We checked the locker rooms, the equipment area... he's gone."
The words struck like a jolt of lightning. My mind raced. Logan had seen me investigating. He'd seen the doubt planted in everyone's minds. He'd known his careful plan was unraveling.
I turned toward the entrance, my coat swirling with the motion. "Lock down the station. No one leaves except me. Get the police here now."
With my boots making noise on the floor, I ran towards the station's main entrance. Outside, the rain had transformed into a fierce downpour that was pounding incessantly on the windows. As I reached the door, I shielded my eyes with my hat by pulling it down across my brow.
Then I stepped out into the storm.
The cold rain trickled down my coat and into the brim of my cap like a slap. Long, distorted shadows were cast on the wet pavement by the mist, which blocked out the lighting. My breath froze in front of me.
Think like him. Think like Cipher.
He'd want to avoid the main streets—too many eyes. He'd know the alleys, the quieter routes. There was a park not far from here, surrounded by thick trees. Good cover.
I turned sharply and sprinted in that direction, rainwater splashing beneath my feet.
Logan was out there. And if I didn't catch him now, I wouldn't be able to avenge Chief Ryan.
Name:Mr. Dust (Reynard Vale, Mr. Fox)
Job Title: Jobmaster (Rank SSS)
Construction Worker Portfolio (A-Rank):
Endurance Boost (Lv. 9)
Heavy Lifting (Lv. 8)
Material Efficiency (Lv. 5)
Team Coordination (Lv. 6)
Structural Reinforcement (Lv. 7)
Precision Engineering (Lv. 6)
Fast Assembly (Lv. 2)
On-Sight Adaptability (Lv. 2)
Workforce Command (Lv. 2)
Firefighter Portfolio (A-Rank):
Advanced Rescue Mastery (Lv. 8)
Fire Suppression (Lv. 3)
Heat Resistance (Lv. 3)
Command Presence (Lv. 8)
Advanced Hazard Assessment (Lv. 7)
Thermal Perception (Lv. 6)
Endurance Mastery (Lv. 7)
Strategist (Lv. 4) – Improves planning and problem-solving abilities
Observation (Level 5): Enhances the ability to notice minute details in environments, behavior, and physical evidence. No clue is too small.
Deduction (Level 4): Analyzes information rapidly, connecting dots that others might miss. Patterns reveal themselves like threads in a tapestry.
Interrogation (Level 3): Increases effectiveness in extracting information through questioning. Not just about what people say—but how they say it.
Instinct (Level 4): Heightens gut feelings regarding truth, danger, and deception. A sixth sense honed for survival and clarity.
Psychological Insight (Lv. 2) Reads body language, tone, and behavior to gauge intentions, confidence, and potential
Construction Worker (A-Rank) — Active in Portfolio
Firefighter (A-Rank) — Active in Portfolio
Scan, Absorb, Destroy
Skill Copy (Ready for Use)
[3 Construction Worker Skill Keys]