Mutants: Normal

5-3: Individual investigation

Here's the place... Zero saw the officials working at the crime scene as he approached the taped-off alleyway, marked out by the yellow tape and police cars stationed nearby. There were two officers posted at the southern entrance, clad in their black jackets over blue dress button-up shirts and navy ties, and black pants and shoes. Their police hats and the design of their uniforms had not changed much in recent years, save for the lack of a symbol representing the country of Qin. Now etched on their uniforms and their hats was a simple cluster of stars in a silver-white thread, which meant to stand for the country that had fallen apart. The two officers were glaring at Zero warily as he approached despite the benevolent smile he had plastered on his face.

"Good day," one of them said. "We are sorry for the inconvenience, but this area is off limits to civilians for the time being. We can redirect you to a detour—"

"Thanks, but I'm not a civilian." Zero flashed the documents Ranulf had handed him to the officers. "My name is Zero. I was sent here by Ranulf, my superior, to help with the investigation. Is Detective Yu here?"

"Do you have ID?" the second officer asked, suspicious. Zero mentally kicked himself for not having dressed at all for the occasion—he was only wearing a t-shirt and long pants, aka his pajamas. He shivered a bit in the frosty February air, wishing for more reasons than one that he had thought to throw on a jacket at least.

And now he wants my ID? I left that with Ranulf I think... "Not on me, sorry," Zero answered sheepishly. As he spoke glanced at the scene behind the two officers. For the moment, the crime scene was quiet—it seemed the forensics crew and remaining officers were taking a break for the scene. Most of the area looked as though it had already been examined earlier that morning, as evidenced by the lack of moisture in the area which should have been there had it been untouched by anything save the moist morning air. In any case, Zero could still make out the shadow of the body in the narrow street, crudely splayed on the ground.

"Sorry, we can't let you in without valid ID." The officer's gaze was piercing. "As you can see, Detective Yu isn't present to speak for your identity."

But I need to get in!  "I guess I'll go back and get my ID then," Zero said, secretly thinking of a way to knock out two officers with weapons before they could react. The street, being home to some of the shadier city folk, was largely empty. There wouldn't be any witnesses, and I could probably explain the situation somehow after—

"Looking for this?" a familiar voice drawled in his ear. Zero found his ID from the base, complete with his horrible profile photo, being waved in front of his face from an arm stretching over his shoulder. Fang's whole figure soon popped out from behind Zero and circled around the stunned mutant, walking up to the officers and handing them both his and Zero's identification cards. "Sorry, my colleague's a bit scatter-brained in the mornings. I have both his card and mine." The officers nodded in confirmation and handed the cards back. "By the way, our presence here is a juemi*. You both understand that term, don't you?"

"Of course, sir." The two officers replied, saluting.

"Excuse us for being rude," one of them told Zero as he held up the tape for Fang and him to duck underneath and enter. "Take as long as you want, sir."

"Thank you..." Zero sighed inwardly, wishing he could command the respect Fang did. It probably helped that he dressed in a well-put-together outfit. Currently, Zero was fairly envious of Fang's long coat as the two of them continued forward in silence to where the body of the victim lay on the ground.

Once inside the alleyway, Zero had to admit it was a pretty well-thought out spot for murder, as had been all the other murder locations in the serial killings. There were very few positions in the adjacent road from which the point in the middle of the alleyway would be visible to passing pedestrians, and even then, darkness would have probably worked to cover the deed. Zero spread his arms as he continued forward. The alleyway was only about the width of two of his arm spans, maybe even less. The two roads running perpendicular on either side, as with the main road, weren't very popular roads either.