Sasuke In The World Of Remnant (Completed)

63 - Mangekyō

Mantle

Dr. Arthur Watts walked through the dimly lit streets of Mantle, his coat billowing slightly as the cold, biting wind blew through the city. The oppressive atmosphere was thick with the muted sounds of everyday life—people shuffling by, machines whirring, and distant voices mingling in the background. Above him, the ever-present surveillance cameras loomed, their red lights blinking ominously.

"Rghh... Walking around the city with a thousand eyes watching every move." Tyrian's voice crackled through the mic in Watts' right ear. The venomous tone made it clear that the scorpion-tailed man was less than thrilled about Mantle's heavy surveillance.

Watts smirked, his expression barely visible in the low light. "You would think so, wouldn't you?" he replied, his tone laced with amusement. "Unfortunately for them, they're still relying on a system I helped design years ago."

He crossed the road, his footsteps soft but deliberate as he navigated through the snow-covered streets. Mantle's citizens, too engrossed in their daily struggles, barely noticed the man moving through their midst. Watts tapped a button on a small, concealed device in his glove. In an instant, the cameras above him stopped recording, their red lights flickering out one by one.

"Ah, now that's more like it," Watts remarked, his voice holding a hint of pride. "You see, the cyber security in Atlas may have been stepped up—advanced, even—but Mantle? They haven't bothered to update all the codes. Sloppy."

"Hehe, that certainly sounds useful," Tyrian responded, the sadistic glee in his voice evident even through the static of the radio.

"Hmph, useful indeed. I helped write that code, after all," Watts said coolly, his eyes scanning the street for any other potential obstacles. The old familiar thrill of manipulating the very systems that others depended on was always a satisfying experience. A reminder that he was always two steps ahead.

As he strolled through Mantle, the city's harsh industrial landscape reflected in his sharp eyes. The grim architecture, the downtrodden people, all of it was beneath him—a crumbling foundation for the higher, more elite society of Atlas. Watts could almost laugh at the irony; here he was, the very architect of Mantle's security, now dismantling it with nothing more than the press of a button.

"Keep your focus, Tyrian. Mantle's eyes may be blind for now, but Atlas won't be as forgiving," Watts warned, his tone growing more serious as he approached his destination. "Our work here needs to be flawless."

"And it will be, Doctor. It will be," Tyrian hissed back, the promise of chaos dripping from his words.

Watts adjusted his collar against the cold, his breath visible in the chill air. The cameras remained dormant, allowing him to continue his walk through the city uninterrupted. It wouldn't be long now before they could set their plans in motion, and soon enough, Mantle—and all of Atlas—would be at their mercy.

His lips curled into a slight smile. "Let's see how long they can stay blind."

As Neo stood silently outside the dimly lit building, her sharp eyes scanning the area, the door behind her creaked open. Tyrian stepped out, his movements as unsettlingly fluid as ever. He met her gaze with a twisted smile, and without a word, the two nodded at each other—a silent agreement between like-minded killers. Together, they set off, their next target already in mind.

As they walked away, a thick pool of blood seeped out from under the door Tyrian had just exited, slowly spreading across the cold floor. Inside, the still form of his latest victim lay in the shadows. Tyrian's faint, manic giggles echoed down the dark hallway behind them, the only sign of the brutality that had just occurred.