Chapter 8: The South Calls

Ushi and Tao sat in a booth at a pub in District Yau, casually enjoying their drinks. Ushi took a sip of his fruit-infused alcoholic drink and exhaled in satisfaction after the carbonated fizz hit the back of his throat.

Across the table, Tao looked at him expectantly. 'So? Any news from Ji Sia?'

'Not really, brother. Only that Keung's actions have caused trouble for us all. But hopefully, the Luen siblings will be forgiving. Oh, I've also heard of some troubles stirring in the industrial estates of Yau. The unemployed giving people grief.'

'Yeah, I heard that too,' Tao said with a weary sigh. 'The Zhaisheng has automated many of the production lines in Yau's manufacturing plants. Apparently profits have spiked, but almost every single labourer has lost their job.'

Ushi shook his head. 'It's been a few annui-cycle since the Zhaisheng launched in Central Kowloon, but I'm yet to see its promises of prosperity.'

'The Emperor keeps asking for time and patience … I wonder if one or both are starting to run out.'

With a nonchalant lean, Tao lifted his glass for a leisurely sip, his gaze drifting beyond their private booth, where the rest of the dim pub buzzed with energy. Pink neon lights beneath the bar's long edge glowed and reflected off the stocky bartender standing behind it, as he chatted with patrons in varying states of exhaustion and energy.

'Haoyu probably knows more about what's happening,' Tao suggested. 'You know bartenders … they're therapists for the drunk and lost. Big ears and bigger secrets. Seems like half the working-class men of Yau spill their guts over a pint or two here now. Go ask him.'

An irrational sense of unease always fluttered in Ushi's gut whenever he looked at Haoyu's left arm, a robotic prosthetic. The metallic limb itself wasn't the issue, but he found the exposed web of wires and the raw hydraulics unsettling. Ushi was familiar with the prosthesis model, it was supposed to be encased in sleek metal plates, providing an illusion of muscle and skin, but Haoyu's indifference for maintenance made it resemble more buzzsaw than arm.

'Looks like he's tied up,' Ushi muttered.

'Anyways, I hope we get more downtime soon. Most of our team still feel like strangers to me and it's been an entire annui-cycle since we came together. I remember how sceptical you were of the team at the start. So, what do you think of them now, brother?'

'What do I think?' Ushi's deep voice echoed the question as he pondered on it. He sat there, a monolith of a man , his brawny shoulders straining the seams of his buttoned shirt as he leaned back in the booth.

'Shing just can't let go of his grudge against Keung,' Ushi said, sounding both annoyed and resigned. 'I get it, we all have our issues with Keung. Teasing him was fun back in the academy, but we've moved on. Shing should do the same and just ignore him like the rest of us do. When I heard about what Keung did to Jian, and him killing that poor centurion, I knew dwelling on it would only make me angrier. So, I let it go. Keung will either grow up or he won't, but Kowloon will move on.'

He paused, then his features softened slightly. 'But Cheng … I have nothing but respect for him. Despite Keung being our leader on paper, Cheng is the one who really holds the reins; he keeps us together. It won't be long until he becomes lieutenant. Actually, I see the workings of a Dragon in him.'

Tao nodded, shifting in his booth seat. 'Our team's full of good people, I reckon. Even Keung. I never understood why people hated him simply because General Denzhen gave him everything. Sure, he didn't have to fight for it like everyone else, but he's a Yaozhi. And if people have issues with privileged Yaozhis, they'd also have issues with Yaozhi Puyin being Emperor. People forget the title of Emperor is granted through inheritance, too. Like a sort of guaranteed nepotism. Prince Tsai is arguably a bigger nepotist than Keung, but for some reason, no one questions his advantage. So, why's it different with Keung?'

'I don't know, Tao … it just is. Everyone already admits that it's the Yaozhis that lead Kowloon. It's a role they've had for almost a thousand annui-cycles.'

'So, by your logic, if Keung was dropped out of his lieutenant rank and elevated to the status of Emperor, he would somehow be less of a nepotist?'

'No, of course not. But again, it's just different. Emperor Puyin has kept the peace in Kowloon. Emperor Guangxu may have started the District Rebellions, but he still knew how to run Kowloon. The same goes for every Yaozhi ancestor. They've had their ups and downs, but Kowloon is far from collapsing. Maybe Keung's real calling is to be on the throne. Maybe it isn't. But the Yaozhis have never had a calling to be a Kingmaker any more than anyone else. You still need specialised training for that. General Denzhen did not become lieutenant until he was thirty-seven. If fairness existed in the tower, Keung would be stripped back down to centurion rank. And don't get me started on Shing; Keung may be a bad Kingmaker, but Shing's a bad person! Always running his mouth and saying the filthiest shit, never missing a chance to stir the pot. Have you even been on an assignment with him?'

'Can't say I've had the pleasure,' Tao drawled.

'Flagrant catcalling, shouting slurs in public, provoking fights, pulling violent pranks. He's a bigoted piece of scum. And I can't even figure out if he's attracted to women, or if he hates them … but I started hating him long before I found out about all that.

Tao leaned in. 'Really? What was it that made you hate him then?'

'Remember back during Operation Searchlight? A few menses-cycles before the Yau bombings?'

Tao nodded.

The memory of Operation Searchlight had left a painful scar on Ushi. Last annui-cycle, with the Yang presence growing alarmingly fast in Yau, the Luen siblings sought Kingmaker assistance to curb the threat. In response, the Kingmakers placed the entire Southern diaspora in Yau under suspicion. Mass arrests ensued, prompting fierce resistance among Southerners that ultimately lead to a violent deportation back to South Kowloon. Many died and many more have gone missing.

This was a dark chapter in Ushi's life, forced by orders to subdue his own people.

'We did depraved things to try and stop the spread of Yang, but it was all in vain.' Tao said with a sigh. 'In the end, the Yau Bombings happened anyway. Why bring back the memory?'

'It's only a rumour. But I heard Shing's team were among the more overzealous of the lot. They made sure to have their fun while making their arrests. Hundreds of the arrested women claimed to have been … violated by the Ji Sias. One team in particular was mentioned by at least a dozen women; a squad of Luen boys, overseen by a Kingmaker carrying an oversized sniper rifle.'

Ushi's implication drew immediate disgust onto Tao's face. 'I can't believe it. Are you saying they raped them?'

'You know how history has treated my southern sisters during times of conflict?'

Tao flushed. 'That southern women are the best spoils of war. They provide the most comfort … Then I wouldn't be surprised they got away with it easily. Those Southerners we targeted in Yau never had the law on their side. But was Shing really part of this? He's a bigot, but I never pegged him for a monster.'

'Whether or not Shing participated personally, he certainly knew what his Ji Sia subordinates were up to. Ultimately, that's why the Yang felt it necessary to retaliate. If we had fewer Shings during the operation, maybe the Yau Bombings wouldn't have happened. And Yutai, his so-called best friend, he's no better. I know for a fact he cringes whenever Shing acts like a clown, but will he ever say anything? He enables that shit. Yutai is a pushover and will do anything to avoid conflict. One day, Shing's gonna piss off the wrong person, and Yutai will end up paying the price.'

Tao nodded and took another sip. 'It's difficult operating as a team with this much division. Maybe the growing Yang situation will pull us all closer.'

'Yeah well, the one annui-cycle with them already seems too much,' Ushi retorted. 'I'm not expecting any heart-to-heart bonding sessions with any of my team. Maybe I'll give Cheng a chance. But Shing? I'd sooner denounce my name.'

All of a sudden, an unusual lull enveloped the lively pub. The normal chatter had turned into hushed whispers.

'Oi, Ushi, Tao, look here! Ain't that the Yang?' Haoyu's deep voice, roughened by years of whiskey and smoke, echoed in the now-quiet bar. His prosthetic arm swung toward the wide screen that held every patron's attention.

'What the …? Is that …' Tao's question drifted into muted suspense as he stared at the screen: A masked man clad in red robes and milk-white armour stood on the ledge of a building. He was in the middle of addressing a massive crowd below with a microphone.

'Tao, I think that's The Ibilis,' Ushi's brow creased heavily. He immediately dove for his holocommunicator, buried beneath his trench coat and cap on the seat beside him.

Six missed calls from Cheng … Damn me! I didn't think I'd have to answer a call this late into the sleep-cycle!

'Fuck, what do we do?!' Tao asked.

'We head to Ho Man Ting right now,' Ushi replied, already grabbing his things and standing up. 'If Cheng and the others are there, they'll need our help.'

****

Shing and Yutai continue walking through the dimmed streets of Kam Shan, escorted by a Black Jacket gangster named Kaang.

'Don't tell anyone this, but I've always dreamed of riding the King Rail,' Kaang confessed as he tried to hurry along beside Yutai and Shing. His greased hair flopped with his large steps, his sagging pants sliding down his thin frame every few strides.

'It's really nothing much,' Yutai said noticing Kaang's awed expression. A whole head taller than Kaang, both Kingmakers cast an intimidating shadow.

'You wanna know what it's like on the rail?' Shing asked mischievously.

'What do you mean?'

'Get on Yutai's shoulders and he'll jump up and down while I shake you left and right. That there would be an accurate simulation of being on that piece of shit train.' 'No way the King Rail is that bad.'

'It isn't, Kaang,' Yutai said as he stifled his laugh. 'Shing! The Emperor didn't spend almost a trillion Hongs on the rail just for you to bash it to everyone!' Yutai turned to Kaang. 'If there's one thing we Kingmakers are masters at, its complaining.'

Kaang raised his palms in surrender. 'Hey now, you won't be catching my Black Jacketed ass criticising the Kingmakers about anything.'

'We better not!' Shing jested.

They ambled through the archaic corridor on the ground level of a towering groundscraper. Walking through the dim passage, the trio took in the unique features of Old Kowloon - shops huddled under flickering bulbs, dusty windows, exposed brick walls with peeling paint, and a cacophony of clattering vents. The ground, a patchwork of uneven cement slabs and open sewage channels, added to the raw, musty scent of the old city.

As their footsteps echoed against the ancient stones, Yutai thought of something to say. 'You know,' he began, his voice blending with the rumble of distant vents. 'The leader of our team has a similar name to yours. The Emperor's very own nephew.'

'Yaozhi Keung?' Kaang clarified with a hint of apprehension. 'He's been on the news a lot recently. With that Jian stuff.'

Shing flashed a knowing smirk. 'Then you've heard of the best of our lieutenant. We have a team of six and turns out the guy meant to lead us is our weakest link.'

'If I may speak my mind?' Kaang asked as he loosened the sleeves of his black jacket. Yutai kept walking, offering no response, but Shing gave a welcoming nod.

'Yaozhi Keung isn't really respected out west,' Kaang continued. 'His mother died because of him during the rebellions, which led to General Denzhen losing control of King-controlled Huang territory. We all learned in school what a shitshow that was.'

'Now I'm not the type to make habit out of defending Keung,' Yutai interjected, 'But I think it's a bit unfair to speak as though he killed his mother. It's childbirth for crying out loud. Shit, if we're blaming Keung for his mother dying, then I better be hearing you two claim responsibility for every rip, tear, and stretch you caused your mothers.'

There was no reply, the awkwardness of the conversation punctuated by the echoes of their footsteps.

The three entered a small, dimly lit food court that was closed for the sleep-cycle. Small, shuttered shops formed a silent square around deserted tables and chairs. Daytime lamps hung overhead like a spectral gallery, extinguished and casting no glow. The fronts of the shops, small, two-storey buildings serving as both home and business, were draped in creeping fungal vines brushing against their faded signs.

Walking through the desolate square, they nudged aside tables and ducked under umbrella shades until Kaang led them to a tall, arched gate in the corner. Its black iron bars yielded with a swift key swipe, revealing a cobblestone stairway descending between two looming groundscrapers.

'I'm not sure how much you two know of Kam Shan history, but we once had legendary family called the Fong clan,' Kaang spoke up out of nowhere.

Both Kings listened attentively as he continued. 'The Fong's produced a long line of military strategists for Aunt Tong's family, earning a formidable reputation in the Western Reaches. During the great rebellions, when Yaozhi Denzhen vanished from the front lines, it allowed for a southern charge that almost reached Kam Shan's capital. The Fong family home was unfortunately in their path, and it was destroyed. Everyone inside slaughtered. All the men were out fighting the war, leaving the women and children defenceless. Lord-Captain Winsen Fong returned from the war with no family to welcome him back. Despite Aunt Tong's pleas for him to remarry and revive the clan's future, he refused and died a lonely old man a couple of annui-cycles ago. His famous last words were 'The world does not deserve us Fongs, so I'm taking us back.' No one in Kam Shan has any illusions about the loss of our great Fong clan. You understand now why we Westerners think Keung's very existence is a bad omen for us all.'

Without missing a beat, Shing affirmed Kaang's criticisms. 'I'm not surprised at all. The legendary Dragon, revered for his strategic prowess, crumbled under the weight of Keung's birth. The southern front fell into chaos, and if it weren't for Gen … Jian and the other Dragons, all would have been lost. Keung's more than a bad omen; the Light seems to avoid any path he walks.'

General Denzhen is a great man, Shing, Yutai thought to himself. He doesn't deserve such vitriol because of Keung.

'But is it true Keung made it to Lieutenant in the fastest time ever because of the favour his father grants him?' Kaang asked earnestly.

Shing nodded. 'It's true. All of it. Keung became praefecti at 16, a tribune at 20, legate at 22 and a goddamn lieutenant just one cycle later. Even Yutai can agree that becoming a lieutenant at 23 has been the biggest bastardisation of our Kingmaker name.'

Yutai offered a shallow nod. 'It's not untrue …'

'It takes at least a decade of Kingmaker training to even be considered for lieutenant,' Shing added. 'Unless you're a born prodigy like General Cao. And I can tell you right now, Keung is no Cao; he is talentless, a nose so high that it puts some of these groundscrapers to shame.'

Shing, you need to shut up! Yutai glared at Shing, which went unnoticed. We shouldn't be painting such poor images of ourselves to outsiders!

But Shing continued. 'Did you know he recently got beaten up by three other Kings who were, what, just regular Centurions?'

Shing … that's private Kingmaker information, Yutai clenched his jaw in frustration, hoping he'd stop.

'Centurion. Kaang, that's the lowest field rank for a Kingmaker. A lieutenant Kingmaker should be able to take on five praefecti blindfolded. I find myself not wanting to ever become a lieutenant because of Keung. Oh, and don't get me started on his lapdog Cheng, the second weakest link in our group!'

'Enough, brother!' Yutai thundered, cutting the conversation short. 'Let's change the subject. This conversation is growing tiresome.' Though he didn't entirely disagree with Shing's argument about Keung's nepotism, Yutai knew what he was saying was wildly inappropriate for a Kingmaker. He glowered at Shing, who barely shrugged.

'Yeah,' Shing acquiesced, his tone lighter. 'Talking about Keung does tend to become boring. Apologies, Kaang. Let's talk about you. What's it like working under Tong? Actually no, tell me more about that monster standing behind her at the den.'

'You mean Shou Feng?' Kaang's tone became softer and his walking pace slowed. 'I avoid talking about him really, as do most. His temper has always been explosive but after his hands were made iridium, a loss of his temper might mean a loss of your head. The Aunt's had to warn us about looking at him for too long.'

'Is he really her son?' Shing asked. 'I can't even imagine him ever being small enough to come out of a woman's cunt.'

'Yes, the son and personal guard of the Aunt. Ever since the Tei Lung incident, he's been kept on a short leash. The Aunt worries about his unchecked anger sparking another political catastrophe for Kam Shan.'

'You're going to find this hard to believe,' Yutai interjected. 'But one of our squadmates is almost as big as him.'

Shing smirked, 'Ah, Ushi. I had the same thought. What do you think, could Ushi stand a chance against him, brother?'

'Hardly. Shou looked to be half a man wider than our Ushi,' Yutai argued. 'And against those iridium fists? Perhaps if Ushi had a similar advantage, he'd have a chance.'

Shing raised an eyebrow. 'But remember, he still has the fighting skill of a Kingmaker. A praefecti no less and —'

'But experience plays a crucial role,' Kaang chimed in before Shing could finish. 'Shou, at 38, has been running around doing assignments alongside our Black Jacket veterans since he was eight. He's spent three decades honing his skills, and building every muscle to its biological maximum. And how old is Ushi? About as young as you two?'

'Yeah, that's a good point Kaang. Ushi seems like a child in comparison,' answered Yutai. 'But it'd be interesting to see a fight between the two.'

'Are you fucking kidding me?' Shing laughed in disbelief. 'Kingmaker training has nothing on age differences! That dangdexue southerner may make me retch, but I'd empty my pockets any day to see Ushi crush Shou! As long as my pockets return twice as heavy, which they would.'

'I suppose we'll never know,' Yutai said with a shrug, ending the debate.

They now stood on a wide stony footbridge, looking at the University of Kam Shan at its other end. It was an imposing building, with expansive glass windows, gleaming white pillars, and meticulously pruned hedges. Spotlights perched at ground level illuminated the walls of the structure, casting a soft glow that ascended to the uppermost floors. This was the most prestigious university in the district. However, the sleep-cycle had pulled any signs of life from the campus until the next work-cycle.

'Is that it?' Yutai's voice echoed as they began crossing the bridge, his gaze fixed on the monumental structure as they passed lanterns affixed to either side of the bridge.

'Yep. It's nothing fancy like Yau Technical, but it's probably the most attractive university in all of the Western Reaches. Dr Chinh's lab quarters are just a few floors higher.'

As they walked across, Yutai stepped to the side to peer down the bridge, where the distant dimly lit streets hummed with nighttime activity. Muted conversations and laughter wafted up from the huddles of people who went about their business in the streets and alleyways beneath.

'This is a very quiet side of the capital,' Yutai commented as he rejoined Shing. 'I didn't know any place in the West could get this desolate during the dimming.'

'That's because we've been walking through the richest parts of Fengcheng for the better part of this journey,' Kaang answered. 'Most folk here actually sleep during the dimming. Wild, huh?'

Upon reaching the main entrance, Yutai wasn't surprised to find the glass doors locked with a small glowing blue screen beside it. With a swift touch from Kaang, they sprung open to reveal a white-washed hallway bathed in lights that sequentially flickered to life. The immaculate white tiles reflected the soft glow and echoed their footsteps, leading them past a series of empty laboratories.

Beyond the maze of labs, a vast lobby emerged, filled with a sea of study desks and a sweeping staircase leading to more corridors above. Mini supercomputers were integrated into the scattered study tables, all dwarfed by a towering glass pillar housing an elevator. The trio advanced towards it and Kaang pressed a button to open its doors.

'Hold any degrees, Kaang?' Shing asked, breaking the silence. The three stepped inside and Kaang pressed a button to take them to the 5th level.

'Anyone with a degree wouldn't be a Black Jacket grunt for the Aunt. I've never quite fit in with the book-smart types, so I'm not losing sleep over the fact that I can barely read.'

The glass lift rose higher and higher until it came to a halt. The doors slid open to reveal another long hallway, its lights turning on one-by-one. They walked in silence for a few minutes until Kaang stopped by a closed door on their left.

'Here we are, boys. Doctor Chinh's quarters.'

Kaang faced the room's security pad and swiped a card over its screen. The small screen loaded as they waited for it to unlock.

Pii-puu.

It flashed red, remaining locked.

'You got the right key?' Shing asked.

'Of course. These locks work by communicating with some server. Maybe they're down.'

Kaang tried again but was met with the same sound.

Yutai threw a glance over his shoulder at the hallway, seriously entertaining the idea of heading back.

BANG!!

Kaang jumped back and Yutai spun around with his hand on his holstered gun. Not known for his patience, Shing had shot the security pad, causing the door to shudder and jam open.

'Subtlety, brother! Did you forget where we are?!' Yutai shook his head and lead the way into the doctor's shadowy room. Shing shrugged, mouthing a mute 'What?' before following after Yutai, followed by Kaang.

After Kaang flipped the light switch, the space flooded with soft, warm illumination.

Piles of scientific texts and academic journals lay strewn across a desk adorned with antiquated scientific paraphernalia. High-tech gadgets half-assembled and devices with exposed wiring and circuitry peered out from the cluttered shelves, giving an air of controlled chaos to the otherwise austere surroundings.

Looks to have been working on many things at once, Yutai thought.

A single wall on the far left side was covered with framed degrees, certificates, and photographs with other acclaimed scientists. Dr Chinh's quarters resembled a studio apartment, with everything in one open space.

At the other side of the room, Yutai saw a tack board on the wall littered with printed newspaper articles. Many of them were about the same thing - abnormal sewer rodent sightings. Among them were photographs capturing grotesque and freakishly massive bite marks on other dead creatures, along with a local boy posing with a colossal severed rat tail. One article even reported a sewer rodent carcass the size of a southern canine clogging a call centre's ventilation system.

"ANIMAL OR MONSTER? SIGHTINGS OF SUPER RODENTS INCREASE AROUND WEST KOWLOON."

Kaang was near the jammed front door, whistling away, displaying a jarring lack of investigative insight, content to leave the heavy lifting to the skilled and talented Kingmakers.

'Wow, look at this. Computer is still hibernating,' Shing called out from the doctor's study.

'Check his recent communications. Might find a clue, brother.'

Yutai continued to leaf through the clippings on the tackboard. A cluster of hand-written notes belonging to a 'Dr Jode' was also pinned. Sharp, angry scribbles in red pen, some almost scoring the paper through, annotated the complex handwritten mathematical equations.

'What the fuck is this?' was commented a circled formula.

'How did you get this wrong? A Hui's Law equation never results in a complex number!' Dr Chinh pointed with an arrow. These were just two of many, across multiple pages.

I remember the Aunt mention Dr Jode, thought Yutai. She was one of the researchers who joined his expedition into Chuan Wan Dam. Aunt Tong said his unprofessional remarks about her led the university to revoke his doctorate. That's when he met with the Aunt, two cycles before his demise. Judging by these corrections alone, he clearly detested this Dr Jode.

As he peered closer to try and work out the context behind these equations, the holocommunicator on his wrist pierced the silence.

'Who's that?' Shing called out.

'Cheng … Wonder why he's calling this late?'

…'Hello? Sir, is everything okay? Hello?'

'Grrzt-rother, brother, can you hear me? Yutai, are you there? Yutai?'

Despite the terrible connection, Cheng sounded agitated.

'Yes sir, I can hear you. What's going on?' Yutai spoke firmly into his holocommunicator, his voice echoing throughout the quarters.

'I -brrzt- help. We need your help. Get to Ho—n Ting. -brrzt- are all here …-Shing, too.'

'Sorry sir, you're breaking up. Where?'

'Ho M—-n —ing. Ho Man —ing. The square. Rooftop — the mall. We think -brrzt- Ibilis has rallied a mob brrzzt Yang —'

'Ho Man Ting, the square, mall rooftop, understood. We're coming now.'

Yutai hung up and looked up at Shing. 'This is urgent, brother. We need to make for Man Ting. Now.' He turned to Kaang. 'Where can we find the nearest King Rail?'

'It's not far; I can take you there. Ten minutes at a run!'

As Yutai took a step forward towards the door, the wails of Ah Lam - Dr Chinh's grieving wife - rang in his mind. If he left this now, there was almost no chance the doctor's body would be returning to her soon.

'Brother! What are you waiting for?' Shing asked, already half out the door with their Black Jacket escort.

Yutai bit his lip. 'I don't know, Shing. The lady I spoke to over the phone was really distraught over Chinh.'

'And? Did you promise her you were going to solve this shit tonight?!'

'No, of course not. The Aunt said she'd release the doctor's body before the lanterns reignite if we started investigating tonight. We jeopardise meeting our end of the deal if we leave now. Besides, the Light awaits that poor man in the Memorial Pipes. It's best we don't interfere with divine processes - for the sake of the ones awaiting us.'

Shing sighed. 'You always have to overcomplicate things. Alright,' Shing began, a resolve hardening in his voice. 'I'll go with Kaang to the King Rail and get to the Square. Stay here and figure something out with this shit.'

'But what about Cheng?' Yutai asked. He knew the tribune wouldn't take kindly to Yutai disobeying his summons.

'I'll handle him. Come on, Kaang, let's hurry!'

'Wait!' Yutai raised a hand and hurried to Shing. He grabbed Shing's hand and pulled him in for a hug. 'Thank you, brother. But if things escalate, call me, okay?'

Shing gave a quick nod and patted Yutai's back reassuringly. 'I will. See you soon, brother.'

As Shing rushed out, Kaang close on his heels, the Black Jacket called over this shoulder, 'Yutai sir, please don't forget to lock the doors of the university as you leave. Or I might be invited to the Aunt's next tea party.'

'Got it. Now go!' Yutai yelled back, sending Kaang sprinting off.

Once he was alone, Yutai let his body ease and switched on the camera on his holocommunicator and recorded the array of articles, photographs, and frenzied mathematical equations. In the eerie stillness, the click of each picture seemed deafeningly loud.

Yutai turned around and looked at the desk that Shing was at earlier. Didn't he say the computer was hibernating? He walked over and tapped on the touch pad on the table. The screen switched on. It was already sitting on his mailbox.

Probably what Shing was checking before he had to leave.

Yutai navigated through its directories searched for the the last communication exchange.

Ten cycles ago? No, that's not right, no one's network mail sits this empty for ten days straight. Not even spam in the last ten days. It's all been cleared. Maybe that's why his card was missing and his room was hard-locked. Someone came in here to make sure we don't find out who he was talking to in the days leading to his death.

Yutai took a step back with a hand on his hip and sighed.

This better not be a dead end. After impatiently tapping his foot, he approached the computer screen once more and tapped his fingers along its frame. As he traced around the sides of the monitor, he felt the crinkle of a torn piece of paper, taped to the rear side. Tearing it off, he squinted to read the tiny writing. He mouthed what he could read; XRP01320123. It was a Kowlooni communication number. The first three letters represented the district code of the number. XRP was a Ho Man Ting number.

Ho Man Ting? That's where Cheng called us from. A coincidence?

Yutai dialled the number into his holocommunicator, bouncing on his toes in anticipation.

The line rang once. Then again. Then once more.

Someone picked up. Yutai stayed quiet.

'Hello? Doctor?'

The voice was deep and digitised.

'Who's this?' Yutai demanded.

'… …'

Beep.

The caller hung up. Yutai took notice of the call's timestamp.

He chuckled to himself, got you! Ten seconds is all I needed! You fucked up by picking up, whoever you are. You never answer a Kingmaker's call.'

Yutai approached the computer again to trace the number. His fingers danced over the keys on the table, then he inserted his Kingmaker root program, a cable from his holocommunicator, into a computer slot below the desk. A cascade of data flooded the screen as he gained control over the system's back end, cryptic lines of code and strings of information unfurling in a matrix-like display.

Amidst the avalanche of technical jargon and complex directories, Yutai unearthed the call log of his holocommunicator. Each second stretched into eternity as he waited on the coordinates from the trace. Finally, they popped up on the screen.

The 13th floor of Ho Man Ting University, right in the heart of the square. The very same place Tribune Cheng called from, where Shing is headed right now! It can't be a coincidence. Now I'm certain the Yang are involved. I need to go to its source - maybe our mystery caller is still there.

His heart pounding in his chest, Yutai hastily set a waypoint to the nearest King Rail. He grabbed his gear and bolted towards the door, the weight of the revelations spurring him into a desperate sprint.