“Hey…”

The voice of a girl’s whisper.

Mary felt something tickle her nose and slowly opened her eyes. Her vision was blurry but she could make out the long white hair and red eyes of the girl who’s lap she rested on. The most beautiful girl she’s ever seen was back in her dreams, somehow. Wasn’t she gone forever? After her last message she disappeared and these dreams stopped occurring.

“You’re so cute when you’re sleepy.” her voice was heavenly. But Mary couldn’t shake the idea that Midare had said the same thing once before. Damnnit! Enough of the distractions. Who was this girl!? Explain anything!

She held a finger over her lips like she was going to tell a secret. She wasn’t, “Protect him for me. But don’t fall for his doppelganger’s tricks.”

You..!!

Then a slash wound appeared on her neck before her head cleanly popped off with an explosion of blood. The sight up close was horrifying. Blood fell onto Mary’s face and struck her out of her dazed state. Now she could see clearly, feel clearly, taste clearly. The blood dripping onto her face, the salty taste of blood that spilled in her mouth. All she could do was look at her hand, believing this wasn’t as real as it presented.

“G...gh..!”

“WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!”

Mary woke up screaming causing Ibuki to fall out of bed and Hyde to wake up freaking out.

Hyde jumped up from the floor he slept on with his fists raised. “Are we being attacked?! Is Soap here?!”

“Bloody hell…” Ibuki picked herself up and rubbed her head “What’s going on?”

Mary held her face anxiously repeating the phrase "That dream… that dream…" it felt so real. Her quivering hand moved down to her lips, the taste of blood still lingered. A rusty taste of metal and iron.

"I-I'll get a glass of water." Ibuki hurried out of the room.

Mikael was the last to wake up. Sitting up and looking around before lying back down. "5 more minutes…"

They all needed 5 more minutes…

────── 〔✿〕──────

"I'm sorry detectives but there really isn't anything out of the ordinary." Morren shrugged with a sigh. "But I invite you to keep searching after the show. I hope you can find the culprit spoiling my name."

Midare and Levin looked at the rows of seats from the stage they stood on. They had both investigated the building in and out however they weren't allowed backstage due to Morren's fears of accidentally tampering with some of the automated machines such as smoke machines and the confetti.

"Please think of the confetti. It's the most important thing required in a talent show." Morren cried.

Levin glanced at Midare wondering what she would do. She turned to Morren and agreed to continue the investigation after the show.

"I truly do apologize. If I could get you free seats I would but unfortunately they're all taken." Morren nervously dropped a sweat.

"It's fine. I went out and reserved seats already." Midare showed her tickets to Morren who eyes widened before he lowered his top hat to cover his nervous gaze.

"That's great..! Oh, the show starts in 30 minutes. I hope you enjoy my performance."

And so it began…

Midare, Levin and Mikael sat in the middle of the packed theater having to suffer the loud cheering from the crowds as Morren made his stellar appearance. It was an overexaggerated spectacle of magic. Thunder and fire and wind being shot out from his hands as he floated above the ground, the beams of magic exploded into fireworks and particles that gently rained down onto the crowd. Some of it getting on Mikael's popcorn burning the kernels.

"Are you gonna eat that?!" A person beside him asked way too eagerly. Mikael handed him the bag, too frustrated to reply at all.

"Hello ladies and gentlemen! I, your host, the wicked magician Morren, will deliver the most killer show in history!"

The entire show could be heard even from the thickest wall. Two men dressed in black buttoned shirts and pants came to a rushing stop. One of them tapped the phone in his ear, "Morren said there's 5 of them but I'm only seeing 3 in the crowd."

After getting a response he cursed under his breath and turned to his partner. "They aren't in the lobby either!"

"Follow me, they're probably trying to enter through the entrance on the roof."

They continued their run and disappeared behind the corner of the hallway. After their departure, Mary threw off the blanket covering her, Hyde and Ibuki dispelling the none in view technique.

"Well that confirms it. Morren's got a little agency of his own that's covering up his murders." Hyde stood up.

Ibuki hopped up "We're gonna need to find evidence though. But what kind..?"

"The note I got said to dig through his dressing room. There's bound to be something there. Something that he keeps close by at all times." Mary then unlocked the briefcase on the ground and the three armed themselves sharper than teeth with katanas, shurikens and various other weapons.

They ran down the hall continuing their venture into the dungeon-like theater halls. They had snuck in while hidden amongst the crowds of people flocking in. The chaotic situation of making sure the seats were filled with the correct people distracted security and allowed Mary's group to sneak into the back rooms without being seen. However, due to the maze-like structure of the building...

"Wait wait wait!" Hyde came to a skidding halt, stopping by the railings of a balcony and looking down at a different lobby than the one they entered from. Instead of it being a straight path to the stage, it was spacious and rich with paintings on the walls as well as other valuable items being out on display.

...They weren't going to find Morren's room anytime soon.

"I found them!"

Hyde turned around and spotted one of the security guards. He told the others to follow him as he placed his foot on the railing and jumped off, landing on the ground and frantically looking around.

"There's an Elevator!" Mary pointed out.

They didn't even have a chance to make a run for it as the security guard performed superhuman abilities, flipping over the railing and landing in front of them. His body then twitched and contorted frantically before his body bursted into a black puddle that soon formed into an iron golem, covered with dirt and vines and fists bigger than Its head.

Hyde drew his pistol, a five-seven, and took aim. "I'm not sure if any of our attacks will work on this guy."

Ibuki and Mary were in awe of the summoned being before them too lost in their heads trying to grasp how such a thing could exist. The limitations of magic boundaries were being pushed. How strong was Morren truly?

"Focus you two!" Hyde rolled out of the way to avoid the Golem slamming its fist down leaving behind a crater.

Mary and Ibuki snapped out of their trance and avoided the second attack made, a wide swing of its arm. Mary threw two kunai and took cover behind a potted plant. "W-we just have to reach the elevator. Hyde, can you distract it?"

Hyde nodded from across the room and ran forward. He slid under the golem's swing and shot at it twice. His bullets bounced off the iron surface but left small dents. The golem retaliated by thrusting its fist forward knocking Hyde back into a wall.

"His back is turned, let's go!" Ibuki exclaimed and ran forward.

"But Hyde..!" Mary saw that the golem was slowly making its way towards the injured boy.

Ibuki turned to the golem's back and shouted "Break!" A wave of wind shot out from her hand and struck the golem causing it to stagger. Hyde took the chance to slide under its legs. "So it is weak to magic. Mary, baton touch!"

Mary gasped and ran towards Hyde giving each other a high five transferring magic to each other. The girl's hand felt hot, like a microwave. She had to release this energy now..!

"Entflammen!" The words came right out of her mouth and a star formed overhead before diving towards the golem and bursting into a pillar of flame that engulfed it.

Mary looked at her hand which returned to normal. "I...did that..?"

"It's still standing!"

Mary looked back up and saw that the iron shell had melted and burned revealing its clay skin. The golem was enraged and inflamed, moving as fast as it could with a reeled back fist.

"Oh shit!" Hyde shouted.

They all dove to the side avoiding the Golem crashing into the wall causing the entire building to shake and the chandelier hanging on the ceiling to fall. There was no doubt everyone heard the loud commotion.

"Did you hear that?"

"Was that apart of the show?"

"Is there an earthquake?"

Midare listened to the nearby murmuring of the silence crowd. Even Morren had a puzzle look on his face before attempting to calm the situation.

"How unexpected of the Earth to quake during my show. But fear not! My power surpasses even mother nature herself!" He spread his arms wide proclaiming to be the greatest magician of all time once again.

Mikael leaned closer to Levin whispering "What's going on? Should we start making a move?"

"Not yet. Give the others some more time." He replied then grinned. "I can tell they're having one hell of a time."

Morren clapped his hands together then slowly opened them, revealing an apple had been created from nowhere. "For my last trick that will make mother nature herself quake. I will snipe an apple from someone's head using a bow and arrow."

A woman in a leotard handed him a bow and one arrow as well as a blindfold. He continued "But my lucky chooser won't be blindfolded. I will. And to make it more interesting, I'm going to spin myself 10 times to make myself dizzy, but I can guarantee you, I won't miss."

The crowd had a lower cheer than before. They were hesitant to put their lives on the line for such a trick but it was all improv from Morren. The selection had already been made. As he teased the crowd by pointing his finger at one person then the next, slowly making his way past Mikael and to, "You!"

Midare blinked then stood up pointing at herself. "Me?" She looked dumbfounded.

Morren smiled, uncontrollably his hand shook with rage. "Yes you my beauty! Come on down o' blessed one."

"Your damn life ends 5 minutes from now!" He thought.

Mary gasped when more security began to show armed with rifles and pistols alike. She was dragged by Ibuki and rushed into the elevator with Hyde pressing the up button over and over. "UP! UP! GO UP DAMNNIT!"

The doors slowly started to close and the security guards began to fire right when it closed. Mary curled into a ball screaming and Ibuki hugged the wall as close as she could as holes littered the door. The sounds of gunfire lowered as they went up. A massive weight was brought off their shoulders.

Ibuki let out a sigh of relief and slid down to sit "Did anyone get hit?"

Hyde patted himself down then shook his head. "All clear."

Mary did the same then bounced up. "Y-yeah! I'm fine!"

It didn't take long for their ride to end. They exited into some more halls before reaching one with doors on both sides and names labeled on them. Naturally they darted for Morren's room, entering to see what seemed to be a normal dressing room.

But tucked away under a cape was a cooler sealed with a lock. Mary kneeled down to inspect the lock and turned her head to Hyde "We should unlock it."

"That would be tampering with evidence! It'll be thrown out in court." Ibuki responded loudly.

After everything they did, now they were worrying about the legal system? It didn't matter anyway. Criminals that abused their magic acted as if they were above the law.

"Fine, I'll do it." Ibuki took out her lock picking tools.

"You sure? Mess up that lock and we're screwed." Hyde questioned.

"I've been training for this--"

Crack!

"Ah."

Hyde scratched his hair "Come on…"

Mary giggled and held her finger up to the lock. "If I can concentrate my fire magic here then I can melt off the lock." Her finger started to heat up, melting off the shackle. It fell with a dull ring.

Both girls stayed silent as they opened the cooler.

"Grk!" Mary covered her mouth and hopped away from the cooler. Ibuki did the same, covering her nose.

"W-what is it?!" Hyde asked with worry. Both girls were too busy recovering from what they had seen leaving him to courageously open it to see for himself. He was greeted with the stench of a rotted corpse and his eyes were met with Houjou's lifeless eyes left wide open. Her head and arm, severed and taken by Morren. Being so up close to a dead body made Hyde gag and reflexively back away letting the cooler lid shut on its own.

She must've been his last target before the show. The reason the police couldn't find Morren was because he served their limbs using magic. To any ordinary person, it seemed the victim had been cut with a butcher's knife. The cuts were too clean to be done with a sword or saw.

Morren only targeted people that were a threat. Noble Third must've bought those tickets early which is why they received a body part and not the detectives. If they had come, they would've been killed due to them not being properly equipped to fend off magic. Houjou knew too much, same with Noble Third.

Hyde swallowed down his fears and picked up the cooler. "Let's go."

Mary looked pale but had enough strength to make the escape. Ibuki rubbed her nose finally freed from the stench of the corpse and followed Hyde out of the room. They took a different route back to the lobby of the theater, traversing long stairs down. They opened a door and were stopped moments away from the lobby by security who were awaiting them.

They had their fingers ready on the triggers of their guns.

"Put the cooler down and no one gets hurt." One said. Their monotone voice made them believe this was another iron golem in disguise. Hyde slowly placed the cooler down then suddenly rushed forward and unsheathed his sword. Ibuki quickly followed along with Mary.

The security guards started to fire and Ibuki shot forward a wave of wind that stopped the bullets, allowing Hyde and Mary to make quick work of the guards, slashing them as deep as they could.

Hyde and Mary both stabbed the final guard who first fell hunched over their blades then rose up again with a glow starting to emit from his heart. It grew brighter and his face twisted. Hyde and Mary didn't have time to dodge or react fast enough to avoid the explosion that sent them flying back into Ibuki.

Hyde stopped his uncontrollably roll at the wall and was stuck lying on his back. Blood ran down from his forehead to his neck, his mind light and cloudy. All he thought to do was stare at the ceiling.

Mary was lying face down, blood stained her red hair but it was hard to tell due to the similar colors. Her eyelids were feeling heavy but she didn't feel like passing out.

Ibuki was the least injured but having Hyde and Mary crash into her made it difficult to stand again.

"I'll be swifter than wind!" Morren drew back the arrow.

Midare glared directly at his blindfold. Ignoring his shaky hand to pierce through the black cloth to gaze directly at his soul. He could feel it despite being blindfolded. Hatred greater than his own sent shivers down his spine. Not even the audience's silence and stares from thousands could make him feel the same way as being in the presence of Midare.

He pulled the arrow back even farther which made the corners of the bow bend slightly. He was going to kill her with one strike. He could do many things at this moment. Make her head blow? Set it ablaze? He had many options of increasing the strength of the arrow with his magic, why not do it all!

A cold sweat slowly dripped from his forehead. The tip of the arrow started to glow white.

…

…

An explosion from outside the stage alerted the audience and one security man came rushing in. "There's been multiple explosions in the building! We believe the terrorist Soap is here! Please evacuate calmly and safely."

…

…

This didn't distract Morren and Midare from their stare down. Some of the audience even stayed to see the outcome.

…

…

"There!" Morren shouted as he recoiled back, releasing the arrow. The arrow vanished from sight and immediately Midare caught it before it struck her between the eyes and broke it in half.

"You're under arrest Morren." Midare tossed the broken arrow. The magician cursed under his breath and jumped off the stage, landing perfectly on the back of an empty seat before jumping again towards the crowded doors. He pushed people out of his way as he tried to escape.

"He's getting away!" Mikael and Levin chased after, Midare following behind.

They entered the lobby only to see Mary, Hyde and Ibuki bloody and defeated on the ground. Morren stood before them at the entrance doors holding his wand and grinning. "So it seems Soap killed your detectives. Maybe they shouldn't have been snooping around where they don't belong."

Mikael fell to his knees and lowered his hat to cover his tear filled eyes. "No…"

Levin was speechless. He turned his head and closed his eyes tightly.

Midare was even shocked. A feeling rarely felt. Her detectives were defeated by the hands of him. Mary was bleeding, a sight she hated to see. Others couldn't tell the difference between her blood and hair but Midare could. Blood isn't as pure as she is, that's why. She lowered her head and clenched her fists, moments away from unleashing her fury until she caught a glimpse of Hyde sitting up and getting back to his feet slowly.

"W-what?! That explosion should've killed you!" Morren shouted with fright in his tone.

"Maybe an ordinary person… but I'm… a very ordinary person..?" Hyde used his left hand to draw a wakizashi, dragging himself slowly towards Morren like a zombie.

Morren's legs trembled. He screamed in fear as he shot out a small fireball to push Hyde back. The boy fell back to the ground too weak to even move this time. Midare kneeled beside him touching his hand as she took the small sword and ofuda from a pouch on his waist. "Take a break. You've earned it." She stood up and pointed the ofuda in her left hand at Morren. She then threw it at him "Light and darkness seal!"

Morren was too slow to dodge, getting hit with the ofuda that stuck to his sleeve. "W-wait you attached a magic property to an item? That's impossible!"

He blocked Midare's slash but was kicked into the door, breaking it on impact. When he landed on his back, he noticed police cars already parked and surrounded around the entrance of the building.

"Shit! I'll kill you all!" He took off his top hat and drew a gun similar to Soap's from it. He aimed it at Midare only to have his arm cut off with blood splattering all over her clothing. He began to cry and rant about how he couldn't feel any magic inside.

It was a pathetic display.

Midare dropped the wakizashi and spotted Dulivale among the police officers. They didn't need to exchange words on what to do with Morren.

Morren grabbed Midare's leg "My arm! Put it back please! Do it and I'll tell you about the traitor in your agency."

Midare kicked him off and police restrained him. The case was closed but another was about to open.

────── 〔✿〕──────

Midnight…

Yamiko did her rounds of the dormitory, going up then down the floors making sure everything was in order. She did this more often due to their cases getting more and more dangerous as well as Soap showing up publicly more. She jiggled the circle of keys and whistled a tune along with the rhythm. Her peaceful walk was then interrupted by a gust of wind that moved behind her. Turning around, nothing was there but her shadow.

She turned back around and noticed Hoka had been standing behind her. How did she get there so fast? Yamiko didn't hear any footsteps. Maybe she was just playing a prank. She lowered down to Hoka's height and smiled at her, "Hello…"

Hoka smiled back then swiped a knife across Yamiko's eyes making her reel back. Yamiko fell to her knees blinded with blood spilling on the red carpet. She dropped her keys and scrambled looking for them, touching the ground near her.

"You're much easier to trick than I expected." A voice said. Yamiko heard the sound of her keys being picked up then dropped again, this time she could tell where it landed and picked it up.

"Who are...you..?" She asked then heard something faintly touch the ground. She darted for it and gently touched the object that she identified to be a leaf. Her hand trembled while lifting it up "N-no..." she fell on her side passing out.

────── 〔✿〕──────

"Cheers!"

The detectives shared a victory toast in their hotel room. Their champagne glass was bubbling with cider crackling at the top. Mary stared at her glass with an emotionless gaze. They sat on the floor with an open pizza box in the center with only 3 slices left. She, Hyde and Ibuki had bandages all over their body luckily surviving the explosion that went off.

They didn't have to kill for once. Despite it being a good outcome, Mary felt disappointment deep inside. She wanted Morren to pay…

Midare noticed the girl's eye twitch and moved closer beside her. "You look pissed hahaha!"

Mary frowned, "Don't pretend to be drunk."

"Oh but I am. This is reeeeal alcohol." Midare snickered.

Hyde stared at his drink which made Mikael chuckle in response. "Don't worry it's just cider."

"Hm…"

Levin noticed the boy's distress and lowered the glass from his mouth. "Come on and relax Hyde. What's bothering ya?"

Hyde touched his forehead, hesitating to explain to the group what went through his mind. A faint memory seemed to break through, "My body felt like it was moving on its own when I got up. And the words slipped out of my mouth…" He glanced at his hand. "I don't know what came over me."

"That was really crazy dude! I was so worried you were dead." Mikael commented. Levin nodded slowly in agreement, "That was really wicked per se."

"I barely felt anything when that fireball hit me, but afterwards that intense feeling went away." Hyde didn't know how to feel. Midare didn't know how to feel either after being told there was a traitor in the agency. She sipped the rest of her drink quietly as she listened to the group change the topic.

Her mind was set on Morren who was locked away deep in a special prison meant for individuals with magic. Although there wasn't a machine or tool the police could use to suppress the magic, they still had old model handcuffs that weakened a person's magic output. It was thanks to Midare that they had such tools.

"Thankfully he doesn't seem like he wants to break out any soon." Dulivale stopped inches away from a metal door ahead at the end of the hall. She turned to Midare and handed her a revolver. "This was the weapon he was using."

Midare closed the file detailing Morren's information as well as the details of the case and other important things. She took the gun and inspected it, a revolver similar to the one Soap used. If he had shot, Midare's head would have been blown off by the shotgun rounds it used. She gave it back to Dulivale for safe keeping.

"The people working for him all turned out to be clay effigies controlled by magic. That kind of power worries me…" Dulivale trailed off.

"I'll get some answers out of him." Midare grinned.

Dulivale watched her walk past "Are you sure? A kid from Noble Third already tried and couldn't get anything."

"I have my ways." Midare closed the interrogation room door behind and tossed the file onto the table Morren sat at, his hands(or arms since he didn't have two hands anymore) in a bind and leg handcuffed to the chair. Midare couldn't help but laugh at his misfortune. A magician with one hand? Hilarious!

"..."

Suddenly Midare slammed the table knocking Morren out of his blank stare. Her fingernails dug into the wood, "You know what I'm here for so spill it now and we don't have an issue." Her red eyes were a lethal weapon on their own.

Still, Morren had the upper hand. "Hahaha… You think I would make it that easy? I saw the look on your face when I gave you a fortune. It happened didn't it?"

Midare decided to end this early.

"That was just a coincidence." Midare picked up the folder holding files and made her way towards the exit. Morren leaned back in his seat sweating nervously.

"You don't believe I have that power? There's no such thing as a coincidence!" He questioned. Midare shrugged, "That's what they all say. Ignorant people like to parrot phrases they don't understand."

She was going to have to get the answers her own way.