Shadows Persona

Katherine and I were now seated at a corner table in the café, sipping our hot coffee. She had a triumphant smile plastered across her face, clearly waiting for me to acknowledge her earlier performance with the obnoxious vlogger.

"Alright, fine!" I said, raising my hands in mock surrender. "What you did back there was amazing. I didn't expect your ability to have that much of an effect. It's incredible. Anyone you want to investigate doesn't stand a chance—they'll spill everything the moment they talk to you."

Katherine let out a loud laugh, her cheeks tinting slightly pink at my praise. Her eyes sparkled with pride, and I couldn't help but smile at her playful reaction. It also reminded me of how she'd been able to track me down so effortlessly back when she was hunting for The Fool. Her ability was no joke—powerful, precise, and impossible to resist.

"You're not bad at this 'teamwork' thing," I added with a grin. "Though you might be a little too good at getting confessions."

She rolled her eyes but chuckled, clearly enjoying the moment. Meanwhile, my mind started working through the next steps for our mission.

The first priority was to figure out where Pastor Jun's hideout was. He wouldn't be openly campaigning at his church all the time—someone as corrupt and well-connected as him would definitely have a secret base of operations.

I tapped my fingers against the coffee cup, already piecing together the plan. Katherine's ability would be crucial in questioning anyone we encountered who might know his whereabouts. Combined with my Tarot card's unique effects, we had the tools we needed to take down someone as slippery as Pastor Jun.

"We'll start by tracking down anyone connected to him," I said, my voice dropping to a low, focused tone. "People who work for him, those who handle his campaigns, or even his security team. Someone will know where he's hiding."

Katherine nodded, her playful demeanor shifting into one of seriousness. "Leave the talking to me. I'll make sure they can't lie their way out of it."

"Good," I said with a smirk. "This mission just might be the perfect test for us."

Katherine and I decided to wait until nightfall before making any moves. Under the cover of darkness, we'd be less noticeable, and it would allow us to operate in the shadows, questioning people discreetly without tipping off the pastor or his men. A stealthy approach was essential to avoid attracting unnecessary attention.

As we went over our plans, I brought up another critical element. "We'll need a way to broadcast everything if we find the pastor's hideout," I said, my tone serious. "We have to wake people up—show them how the government and these wealthy, powerful people are playing them. Even if the authorities erase the evidence or the pro-government media spins the story, a few minutes of live footage would be enough to make it spread."

Katherine listened intently, nodding in agreement. But then her expression shifted, and she smirked, as though she'd just had a brilliant idea. "Jay," she said suddenly.

"Jay?" I asked, confused for a moment before it clicked. "The loudmouth vlogger from the coffee shop?"

"Exactly," she replied, her eyes gleaming with mischief. "He has all the tools we need—his camera, his phone, and most importantly, his followers. If we get our hands on that, we can broadcast live to an audience of millions."

The suggestion was clever, but I hesitated. "Katherine, I can't drag that guy into this. Yeah, he's obnoxious and comes from a corrupt family, but that's not enough to justify putting him at risk. He doesn't deserve to be caught up in this."

Katherine rolled her eyes but quickly countered, "Who said anything about bringing him along? We don't need him—just his phone. I can think of a few ways to… borrow it without him realizing."

Her plan was straightforward, and it made sense. I nodded slowly. "Alright. I'll handle it," I said, the wheels turning in my mind. "We'll wait for the right moment, tail him until he's in a less crowded area, and then I'll use my ability to take control of his thoughts. I'll have him hand over his phone, give me the password, and send him on his way like nothing ever happened."

Katherine grinned, clearly impressed with the idea. "Perfect. Just make sure he doesn't remember anything. And don't worry, I've got your back if anything goes wrong."

Before we left the coffee shop, while the vlogger we intended to follow was still there, Katherine suddenly remembered something. "Oh, right!" she exclaimed, her face lighting up with excitement. "I have a surprise for you!"

I recalled her mentioning it earlier in the morning but had completely forgotten amidst all the planning. She quickly rummaged through her bag, a spark of excitement evident in her every movement. When she finally pulled it out, I couldn't help but be impressed.

A mask.

It was jet black, with a sleek design resembling the face of a crow. The mask covered the entire face, concealing any identifiable features while giving off an ominous and mysterious aura. The craftsmanship was impressive, every detail meticulously thought out. It wasn't just practical—it looked intimidating, perfect for the persona we were creating.

"Brilliant," I muttered as I took the mask in my hands, admiring its design. I grinned, realizing I wouldn't have to rely solely on my black facemask and hood anymore. This would ensure my identity remained hidden no matter what. "This is incredible, Katherine. No wonder your bag looked so big earlier—you really came prepared."

She smiled proudly, pulling out a matching long, flowing black jacket to complete the look. The outfit was mysterious, dramatic even, and fit perfectly with the image we wanted to project.

"You've outdone yourself," I told her, genuinely impressed. "This is more than just a good idea—it's genius. You've thought of everything."

Katherine's cheeks flushed slightly at the praise, but she brushed it off with a casual shrug. "Well, I couldn't let you go out there looking half-prepared, could I? We're in this together, and I want us to be ready for anything."

As Katherine and I quietly passed the time, keeping an eye on the vlogger, we noticed him finally starting to move. He packed up his equipment and, with his phone pressed to his ear, appeared to answer a call. There was a hint of urgency in his movements, and as he spoke, his tone grew more animated.

Before long, he hurried toward a secluded alley nearby, seemingly searching for a quiet spot to continue his conversation. From where we sat, the alley was partially visible—a shadowy, narrow path that offered enough cover for what we needed to do.

"This is our chance," Katherine said, her voice steady but excited. "We should follow him now. If we're quick, we can grab the phone before he gets back to a crowded area."

I nodded but held up a hand to stop her. "Let me handle this," I said firmly. "This time, let me be the one to act. You stay here and keep watch."

Her eyes widened slightly, a mix of curiosity and anticipation flashing across her face. "Alright," she said, leaning back with a playful grin. "I guess I'll finally get to see The Fool in action."

I smirked at her comment but didn't say anything as I adjusted my hood and mask, slipping into the persona that the world feared. With one last glance at Katherine, I made my way toward the alley, blending into the shadows as if they were a part of me.