Ace sits in the DenLiner's dining car, a swirling vortex of thoughts clouding his mind. The Taros surround him, each a unique brand of chaotic energy. Naomi offers him coffee, but he waves her off, his focus solely on the Imagin situation. Vineveil's attack and the cosmetic woman's wish troubles him.
"Alright, we need a plan," Ace states, his voice cutting through the usual DenLiner cacophony. "I was thinking we find the contractor first. Figure out what they wished for. It'll give us a clue about what the Imagin is targeting."
Momotaros scoffs, arms crossed. "Without a clue to go on? We got nothin', Ace. It's like lookin' for a needle in a haystack."
Urataros adjusts his glasses, a thoughtful glint in his eyes. "I must concur with Sempai. Randomly searching is hardly efficient. Perhaps..." He trails off, lost in thought.
Kintaros snores softly, head resting on the table, oblivious to the discussion. Ryutaros, headphones on, sketches furiously in his notebook, lost in his own world.
Momotaros slams a fist on the table, jolting Urataros. "Hey, Kuma! Wake up! We're having an important discussion here, ya big lug!"
Kintaros doesn't stir. Naomi giggles, unfazed by the commotion. "Oh, don't bother. He is a heavy sleeper. Especially when you yell so loud, Momo."
Ace sighs, rubbing his temples. "We can't just wait for the Imagin to pop up again. More people are gonna get hurt. We need to be proactive."
Momotaros agrees. "But how are we supposed to do that?" He looks around the table, seeking inspiration. "It is not like we have a magic ball to show us where the bad guys are."
Seeing their hands tied, Ace decides on a more direct approach. "I'm gonna hit the streets. Roam around the city. Maybe I can get a sense of where the Imagin might strike next." He looks at the Taros.
"Okay," Momotaros huffs,
"Just try to stay out of trouble."
"Anytime, Ace! You know where to find us!" Naomi chirps, ever cheerful.
Ace nods and decides to enter the Sands of Time and spots a door not far from him. He grabs his Rider Pass, ready to head for the door. With the Rider Pass in hand, he knows he can connect to any door to enter the DenLiner or return to the world.
Ace touches the Rider Pass on the door and the time flashes [11:11:11].
He finds himself outside a public bathroom in Musutafu. A strange place, sure, but any port in a storm, right? Ace exits the bathroom. And nearby, he can see his Trychaser. A grin spreads across his face as he straddles the bike, revving the engine.
The Trychaser roars to life, and Ace speeds off, weaving through the streets of Musutafu. He keeps his eyes peeled, scanning the faces of passersby, searching for any sign of the Vineveil Imagin. He checks alleyways and busy shopping districts, hoping to catch a glimpse of the plant monster.
As he rides, his thoughts are interrupted by a growing commotion ahead. A crowd is forming, murmuring, and whispering with concern. Ace slows down, curiosity piqued. Could this be related to the Imagin?
He veers towards the gathering, parking the Trychaser on the sidewalk. As he gets closer, he overhears snippets of conversation.
"…attacked right in broad daylight…"
"…poor woman, her face…"
"…disfigured, they say…"
A chill runs down Ace's spine. It sounds eerily familiar to the Imagin's earlier attack. His pace quickens, a sense of urgency building within him.
Pushing past onlookers, he squeezes through the crowd, offering polite apologies as he goes. "Excuse me, sorry… just trying to see if I can help…"
Finally, he breaks through to the front. His breath hitches.
A woman sits on a nearby bench, surrounded by paramedics. Her face is covered with a white cloth, but the visible distress in her eyes is unmistakable. The paramedics try to calm her. Her makeup is smeared across her face. A few drops of blood seep through the cloth, staining it crimson.
Ace's heart sinks. He has seen this before. The attack in the alleyway, now this. It's gotta be the Vine Imagin. It has to be. The Imagin is targeting beautiful women.
The Imagin is preying on beauty, isn't it? Urataros said,
I think so too. It's the only connection between these two attacks. But is there anything else? Ace wonders, his eyes darting around the scene. He notices a female police officer, her features subtly feline, with cat-like ears twitching slightly atop her head and a tail swishing back and forth. He recalls her. He is pretty sure he saw her on patrol the other day.
Urataros then speaks up. I have an idea. A brilliant one, if I do say so myself.
Before Ace can respond, a familiar sensation washes over him—the subtle shift in control as Urataros seizes the reins. "Hey!" Ace protests, his voice a mere echo within his own mind. "What are you doing?"
Urataros, now in control of Ace's body, ignores the internal squabble. He flashes a charming smile and approaches the feline officer. "Excuse me, officer," he says, his voice smooth and laced with concern. "I couldn't help but notice what happened here. Tragic, truly tragic."
The officer looks at him, her expression wary. "Are you a witness, sir?"
Urataros shakes his head, his blue-streaked hair swaying gently. "Not exactly. But I'm a… a close friend of the victim. We were supposed to meet for lunch today, and I found out about this from a bystander." He pauses, feigning a choked sob. "I just want to make sure she is okay. I hope this monster will be caught."
The officer's gaze softens. Urataros can practically see the gears turning in her head, the empathy overriding her suspicion. "I understand, sir. But I can't let anyone through the crime scene. It is still under investigation."
Urataros adopts a pleading tone, his eyes wide and sincere. "Just a quick peek? I promise I won't get in the way. I just need to know that she is alright." He pauses and takes a deep breath. "Her mother… she is not well, and if she hears about this and how badly her daughter is injured… she might not make it." He adds more to his lie. "Please, officer. This will be the only time I ask."
The officer hesitates for a moment, then sighs. "Alright, alright. But be quick. And don't touch anything."
"Thank you, officer. You're a lifesaver," Urataros says, his smile widening. He follows her, his mind already racing.
As he gets closer to the injured woman, Urataros subtly scans her surroundings. He notices a company ID badge clipped to her purse. His eyes narrow as he leans in, feigning concern. "Oh, this is awful," he murmurs. He catches a glimpse of the company name on the badge. "Eternal Bloom Cosmetics…"
Inside Ace's mind, Ace exclaims, Eternal Bloom? The other woman worked there too!
Urataros's eyes widened. Oh, this is getting more interesting. There might be something going on there.
Urataros decides to leave the crime scene. He already knows what he needs to know. He thanks the officer again and makes his way back through the crowd. He hopes he can find anything there before the Imagin strikes again.
Ace, now back in control of his body, hurries away, weaving through the bystanders. "We need to leave before the actual police arrive and arrest us."
"Relax, Ace. My charm is irresistible. We could have stayed there all day," Urataros retorts.
"Maybe, but I'd rather not test that theory. We have a lead. Let's follow it." Ace rushes to the Trychaser, starts the engine, and speeds off. The duo need to find out what is going on in Eternal Bloom Cosmetics.
***
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Advance chapters are in my P@|r3on - Najicablitz