Chapter 20: Stars and Prime
There's a saying about Prime City: no matter how well you think you know it, there's always more waiting just beneath the surface. Today, I was about to find out just how true that was.
After catching Cherry being detained, I ended up face-to-face with this officer, Rich, in his rumpled tuxedo and smirk that radiated authority and something else—bitterness, maybe. Rich claimed he was from the government, an officer of some kind, but the more he spoke, the less he sounded like your average lawman.
"What's your role in all this?" I asked casually, keeping my tone light as if I wasn't suspicious of him. But in reality, my mind was buzzing with possibilities, trying to figure out who this guy really was. I had barely caught a few words out of his mouth before he kept talking, almost as if he wanted me to know just how important he was. One thing I knew from the start: Rich loved hearing himself talk.
"I'm one of the managers of Prime City's government," he boasted, his eyes glinting with pride. "I handle what needs to be handled. Dangerous groups, unregulated magic, illegal movements... like YUGEN." He emphasized that last part, letting the word sink in.
I feigned mild interest, trying not to give away my reaction. I was sure he'd noticed me stiffen slightly at the mention of YUGEN, but thankfully, he was too busy flaunting his own importance to notice much else.
"Really? That's a tall order," I replied, keeping my tone neutral, "especially in a city like Prime."
Rich smirked, clearly pleased with himself. "You'd be surprised at how many resources we have. For instance..." He leaned in, as if he were letting me in on some state secret, "we have leads, reliable sources that tell us exactly where YUGEN likes to hide."
"Oh?" I asked, masking my excitement. "Where?"
He looked around as if checking for eavesdroppers, even though we were alone. "Let's just say we've got eyes in places people wouldn't expect. There's a particular source we've been keeping an eye on... one who has led us right under Sakura Square."
I felt my breath catch in my throat. Under Sakura Square? This was bigger than I'd thought. YUGEN, a group known for their secrecy, hiding in one of the most iconic parts of the city? But I kept my expression controlled, giving Rich a lazy smile.
"Interesting. I'll have to check out Sakura Square sometime."
Rich's face twisted into a cocky grin, clearly thinking he'd wowed me. I gave him a casual wave goodbye, and after saying my goodbyes to Cherry, I headed back to Michael and Kail.
When I returned to them, they were waiting outside, Kail pacing slightly while Michael leaned against the wall, arms crossed. As soon as he saw me, Michael straightened up, his gaze sharp and expectant.
"What took you so long?" Michael asked.
I shrugged. "Ran into an officer. Guy named Rich. Turns out he's one of the managers of the city's government, and he's got a thing against YUGEN."
"Rich?" Michael's eyebrows shot up, and then he laughed bitterly. "Figures. Rich is part of a royal family. His younger brother joined YUGEN a while back, so now he's made it his mission to bring the group down. He'd destroy Prime City if it meant taking them out."
I processed that for a second. So that's why Rich had such a vendetta. "Explains a lot," I muttered.
I filled them in on the lead about Sakura Square, and as expected, Michael was instantly intrigued. "If YUGEN's hiding under Sakura Square, that could be our best way in," he said thoughtfully. He then looked at Kail, who was clearly itching to come along.
