Plaything

She closed the door without turning around and said, "What do you want? Snooping around my house like some cockroach."

"How did you find me?"

"You still need some training. Though I'll admit, your hiding technique is worth some praise."

"Enough nonsense. What do you know about Igor?" I asked, cutting straight to the point.

"You found that briefcase, so why ask again?"

"You're sickening me."

"I'm just doing my job."

"But they don't deserve that."

"That's not up to me to decide. It's for those at the top."

"Why did you go into hiding? Do you think Synth didn't know?" I changed the subject.

"They already know. My disappearance was ordered."

"They're behind this? No surprise. The event isn't covered by the media, and Synth silenced anyone who might have known. No one knew what happened… until now."

"Bravo, you found the answer yourself," she said with a smile.

"Don't you feel any remorse?" Disgust leaked from my voice.

"Whether I feel remorse or not won't bring their lives back. What, you want to teach me a lesson?" She shifted the topic. "Your powers are unique—being able to open that briefcase. I sealed it pretty tight, you know. Do you mind telling me about your powers?"

"F*ck you."

"Relax, I'm asking nicely."

"Did Igor kill himself because of guilt?" I pressed.

"Ridden by regret? He's not the type to end his life over something like that," she denied. "Did you even read the documents?"

The briefcase contained top-secret files, and they were far more sinister than I expected. It made you realize how monstrous a person could be.

When she mentioned the documents, I thought for a moment before recalling something. It described how a group of expanders—people who expand the city by drilling into the earth—had unearthed a mysterious metallic machine. The document didn't explain what it did, but it did mention that the machine was involved in that event. That event caused a significant number of casualties, enough to suggest the machine had the destructive power of an atomic bomb.

"Is that metallic machine like something from an old cartoon, like *Gundam*?"

"Yeah, and if I remember correctly, it had a strange obsession with Honors."

"A strange obsession?" I frowned.

"Yeah, it swore to kill all Honors. We used that as leverage to control it. Once it finished its job, we didn't fulfill our side of the deal. I think that *Tengen Toppa* rip-off is now just scrap in some junkyard," she explained slowly.

"Those working under Synth are truly the embodiment of scum," I muttered, sensing something was off.

If the machine was like she described, then what about the mecha Calvin summoned? I wanted to ask her, but something told me to keep that information hidden. I didn't trust her, and I wasn't sure what she'd do with it.

"Say whatever you like, I don't care," she said, walking past me and sitting on the sofa.

"Would you care if I killed your children?"

Swish! In a blink, her eyes glowed and black laser beams shot out, piercing my head. Blood streamed down as I collapsed to the ground, motionless. She looked at the body with little more than indifference.

"If you say that again, I'll kill you."

Mist began to form behind her, gathering and then reshaping into my human form.

"If you can, and you shouldn't care about another human being, especially after what you've done. You're truly disgusting," I spat, filled with hatred.

"That's not up to you to decide," she replied coldly.

"True, but the fact that you started a family proves you still have some humanity left. That will define your past. Isn't it great being human? You still have a compass to guide you through life, even if you've done terrible things. Honestly, I wish you didn't have that. It's unfair to those innocent lives."

"What are you getting at?"

"Atone for your sins by revealing everything to the public," I said solemnly.

"And if I don't?" she challenged.

"I'll do it myself."

"You think I'd let you?" she shot back.

"If you want to stop me, we'd be having a battle to the death right now, but that's not the case, is it?"

"What happens after the truth is exposed? Synth will just call it a hoax. There's no proof."

"The document," I pointed out.

"You know better than anyone what Synth is capable of. They could easily claim it's forged, and no one would question it."

"There's a way."

"You won't convince me," she said, crossing her arms and tapping her finger on her shoulder.

"And I'm particularly good at convincing people."

She fell silent, sighing. "Fine, let's hear it."

"We show your memories to the entire city."

"That's the dumbest thing I've heard. How would you even show someone's memories? And let's not forget, there are abilities that can create fake memories. How do you plan to prove mine aren't fake when Synth denies them?"

"At that point, who will the public believe? The organization that protects them or two slightly famous people?"

"We don't need the public to believe everything."

"I thought that was your goal?"

"I'm not naïve. I know how much influence Synth has on the public."

"Then what's your goal?"

"Make them doubt Synth."

"Would that work?"

"Of course. I'm sure you've noticed. The public doesn't show it, but some of them despise Synth."

A heavy silence filled the room as she seemed to contemplate my words. After a moment, she spoke.

"I see. So, that's your plan. But you'll need a bigger spark than this."

"No, this is enough."

I glanced at the TV. The news was on, but nothing about the night market event was mentioned. Strange, considering there were countless witnesses and substantial damage.

She seemed to understand my point. "Did they cover another event?"

"Who knows."

"... So, this will be the big spark? You called me a monster, but you're using people's emotions like they're your playthings."

"I don't care if they call me a monster when they find out. I'm just doing what I believe is right."

"Quite the words," she remarked.