The bus wheezed to a stop at Sector 3’s main terminal, its hydraulic doors sighing open with chanical exhaustion. Rina gathered her bag and stepped onto the pristine sidewalk, breathing in the familiar scent of jasmine from the perfectly manicured planters lining the boulevard.
Sector 3 stood as testant to visionary urban planning. The current chairman’s grandfather had spent decades designing these interwoven networks of roads and rail lines, creating what residents still called "the masterpiece." Even now, three generations later, commuters moved through the sector with clockwork efficiency.
But today, Rina barely noticed the architectural marvel around her. Her heart hamred against her ribs as she walked toward ho. Finally, she thought, I can spend ti with Mom and Dad without buried in textbooks. Thanks to Liam’s help with her family’s finances, she no longer needed to work through every visit ho.
The thought brought warmth to her chest, and she found herself humming softly.
"Miss. Stop right there."
The sharp command cut through her daydream. Two officers approached from their post at the intersection—a middle-aged man with graying temples and a younger woman whose hand rested casually on her radio.
Rina’s stomach clenched, but she forced herself to stay calm. "Is sothing wrong, officer?"
"Routine check," the male officer said, his tone professionally neutral. "We’re conducting drug sweeps in the area. Lot of academy students getting mixed up with enhanced stimulants lately."
He gestured toward another intersection where additional officers were searching bags and questioning pedestrians. Rina had heard rumors about the crackdown but hadn’t realized how extensive it had beco.
"I understand," she said, offering her bag. "What do you need from ?"
The female officer took the bag while her partner pulled out a tablet. "Na and age?"
"Rina hra. Eighteen."
"Local resident?"
"Yes, sir."
The questions continued in steady rhythm—where she attended school, where she worked, how long she’d lived in the sector. Standard procedure, but Rina’s anxiety mounted with each query. She watched the female officer thodically examining her belongings: textbooks, water bottle, academy ID, pencil case...
The rabbit plushie.
"What’s this?" The officer squeezed the toy, her experienced fingers detecting sothing unusual. A faint crinkling sound erged from within the soft fabric.
"A gift from a friend," Rina said quickly.
The officer’s expression hardened. "There’s sothing inside." She produced a small knife from her utility belt. "I’m going to need to open this."
"Wait, please—" Rina’s voice cracked. "It’s really special to —"
But the blade was already slicing through the careful stitching. The cute rabbit split open like a wound, revealing a clear plastic baggie filled with crystalline powder that seed to shimr with its own inner light—the telltale sign of qi-enhanced drugs.
The world tilted. Blood drained from Rina’s face as the officers’ deanor shifted from routine professionalism to grim focus.
"Qi-stimulants," the male officer said. "Class A controlled substance. That’s a federal offense, Miss hra."
"I didn’t—I’ve never seen that before!" The words tumbled out in desperate panic. "I swear on my family’s honor, I had no idea—"
"Turn around. Hands behind your back."
"Please, you have to believe ! My friend gave that toy, I never opened it, I would never—"
Cold tal bit into her wrists. The handcuffs clicked shut with chanical finality, each sound driving ho the impossibility of her situation. Tears blurred her vision as the reality crashed over her: she was going to prison. Her parents would be destroyed. Everything Liam had done to help her family would be aningless.
"Move," the female officer said, guiding her toward their patrol vehicle.
"Excuse , officers."
The voice was cultured, carrying quiet authority that made all three of them turn. A man in his thirties approached with asured steps, his charcoal suit impeccably tailored, his manner radiating the calm confidence that ca with significant wealth. Behind him, three black sedans sat at the curb, their occupants clearly security personnel.
"This is police business, sir," the male officer said, though uncertainty flickered in his voice as he took in the stranger’s obvious status.
The man’s intelligent gaze swept over the scene—Rina’s tear-streaked face, the torn plushie, the evidence bag containing the drugs. "I couldn’t help but notice the young lady’s distress. What’s the situation?"
The officer hesitated before answering. "Possession of controlled substances. Qi-enhanced stimulants."
"Hidden, I assu?"
"Sewn inside the stuffed animal."
"Interesting." The stranger stepped closer, hands clasped behind his back in a posture of casual authority. "Miss, did you place those substances there yourself?"
"No!" Rina’s voice broke. "I had no idea they were there! Soone gave the toy as a gift—I swear I’m telling the truth!"
The man nodded thoughtfully. "Officers, might I examine the evidence? I have so experience with these matters."
After a mont’s hesitation, the female officer held out the torn plushie. The stranger studied it with the focused attention of soone accustod to analyzing details others missed.
"The stitching here," he said, indicating the opened seam. "It’s been resewn recently. You can see the thread doesn’t match—slightly different shade, different tension. This toy was opened and resealed after manufacture."
He turned to Rina. "When did you receive this gift?"
"Today. Just before I left campus."
"And you’ve had no opportunity to examine it since then?"
"Of course not. Who tears open a gift?" Bewildernt colored her voice.
"Precisely." The stranger’s tone carried conviction. "Officers, you’re looking at unwitting possession. Soone used this young lady as an unwitting courier."
The male officer frowned. "That’s a serious accusation."
"Indeed. Which is why I propose a compromise." The man’s voice carried the quiet confidence of soone accustod to being heard. "The young lady clearly had no knowledge of the contraband. The real question is who had access to that toy and who benefits from her unknowing transport of illegal substances."
He paused, letting the implication settle.
"Release this young lady into my custody while you investigate the true source. I’ll take full responsibility and ensure she’s available for questioning. anwhile, you can trace the drugs—qi-enhanced stimulants of this purity have distinctive energy signatures that can be tracked to their manufacturer."
The officers exchanged glances. "Sir, we can’t simply release a suspect because—"
"Because I asked nicely?" His smile was disarming. "Of course not. But you can release her because the evidence supports her innocence, and because holding an innocent student while the real criminals escape serves no one."
He produced an elegant business card, though he held it so Rina couldn’t see the na. "My personal guarantee. If she fails to appear for proceedings, I’ll cover all administrative costs and ensure full cooperation."
The weight of obvious influence hung in the air. The officers studied his face, glanced at the luxury vehicles and security detail, then looked at the card... and they really looked at it.
The shock was too much for them to bear. They started sweating profusely. Were they talking with the man who owns their entire force just now? They looked up to say sothing but stopped imdiately after seeing Vincent’s gesture and understood his intentions.
"Can we go now officers?"
"Y-Yes of course, sir" the male officer said trying to control his emotions. "Since you have guaranteed it, we will be taking our leave now." he almost bowed but was quickly held up by the policewoman.
Relief flooded through Rina so powerfully her knees buckled completely. She would have collapsed to the pavent if not for the stranger’s quick reflexes—his strong arms caught her, pulling her against his chest as her legs gave out beneath her.
For a long mont, they stayed like that. Rina found herself pressed against the fine wool of his suit, breathing in the subtle scent of expensive cologne mixed with sothing distinctly masculine. His embrace was steady, protective, and unexpectedly comforting. She could feel the solid warmth of him, the quiet strength in his arms as he held her upright.
Her tears soaked into his jacket, but he didn’t seem to mind. One hand rested gently on her back while the other supported her weight, and she felt safer than she had in hours.
🔔 System Notification
▶ Rina Favorability towards Vincent: 20(Will be added once the identity is reveled)
▶ Liam LP: -50 ▶ Vincent LP: 50
▶ VP: 150
"Thank you," she whispered against his chest, her voice thick with emotion. "I don’t know how to repay you."
"No repaynt necessary," he murmured, his voice softer now. "Just be more careful about who you trust in the future."
After what felt like both an eternity and not nearly long enough, Rina slowly pulled back, trying to steady herself on shaking legs. "I should... I should go ho now. My parents are waiting."
"Of course." His hands lingered on her arms for a mont, making sure she was stable. But when she took a tentative step, her legs trembled visibly.
He frowned, concern flickering across his features. "You’re in no condition to walk alone. Let drive you."
"No, really, I’ll be fine—" she started to protest, but another unsteady step proved his point.
"I insist," he said gently but firmly, guiding her toward his car with a protective hand at the small of her back. "It’s just a few blocks, and you’ve been through enough today."
He stepped closer to Rina, offering her a clean handkerchief for her remaining tears. "The person who gave you that toy—do you know them well?"
The question hit like a physical blow. The answer felt like betrayal even to think, maybe it was given to him by soone else, but the evidence was undeniable.
🔔 System Notification
▶ Rina Favorability toward Liam: -6 → 75
▶ Liam LP: -20 ▶ Vincent LP: 20
▶VP: 100
"A friend from the academy," she said quietly.
He nodded, his expression sympathetic but unsurprised. "Sotis those we trust most are in the best position to exploit that trust."
The short drive passed in comfortable silence. When they arrived at her house, he paused at the entrance, studying the building with what appeared to be recognition.
"What’s wrong? Why are you looking at like that"
"What an interesting coincidence," he said, his composed mask slipping slightly. "I didn’t expect to encounter you this way today, Ms. Rina hra."
"How do you know my full na?" Hearing her surna from his lips left her both surprised and intrigued.
"Perhaps you can figure that out," he replied, that mysterious smile returning to his features.
P.S.— What do you think about the pacing? Is it ok?
Reviews
All reviews (0)