Bck cars and SUVs sped through the streets of Poison City, in all three districts. Some of the cars had sirens on them, while others did not. Agents and special police from the city, ag uhe order from the Poison City Security cil, the de facto ter of power iy’s w enfort institution.

  And the very reason for this broadcast bst was very simple. For the first time in quite a while, the cil issued an order of a city-wide manhunt.

  “All units be on the lookout, there is a city-wide manhunt ongoing. All units be on the lookout, there is a city-wide manhunt ongoing. ” The radio inside of a police car parked right outside of a venieore was activated. “The target of manhunt: Cai, Marcus, male, 31 years of age, previous detective of the 17th Prect of the South-Western District, armed and Dangerous; Loo, Kevin, male, 25 years of age, previous forensic tei of the 17th Prect of the South-Western District, unarmed; Lance, Keryn, female, 27 years of age, previous detective of the 17th Prect, armed and dangerous; Cramer, Mick, male, 22 years of age, previous senior officer of the 17th Prect, unarmed and likely a hostage.

  “All sergeants and captains, you are hereby instructed to inform your officers aives to be on the lookout. All spare personnel and resources shall be redirected to the seard hunt effort for all these targets.

  “Instrus to this manhunt are as follows: all four of them shall be apprehended. If the situation requires, use of lethal force is allowed. Measures must be taken to ehe safety of the hostage to the maximum extent. ”

  Poison City was still a big city, even though there were a few dozens of city agents who in theory had power to take and in any prect. But their primary target destination was not anywhere in the Northern or South-Western Districts. Instead, the first pce most of them o visit was the South-Eastern District, or a pce they could meet the representatives or liaisons of the unity collective, to be precise.

  The closest prects to the 17th were still somewhat far off. For a prect of less than teives, the entire area of the prect was surprisingly rge. A few of the city agents’ cars drove around the streets of the now closed down 17th Prect office building before finally parking ireet ers.

  A total of six city agents walked into the prect building. A group of men maintaining the se ihe building walked up to the city with the highest rank: “ I help you, agents?”

  “What have you found?” The city agents asked, his eyes were invisible behind the sungsses, even though it was te in the evening.

  “Not much aside from their personnel files, most of which the city already has anyway.” The head of the mainteeam answered: “And some personal items.”

  “What kind of personal items?”

  “Pictures, framed. Metal chopsticks, coffee mugs used as pen holders, folders - ”

  “Pictures sound good. Anything more personal? Like neckces, pendants, gloves, scarves?”

  “Aside from the pictures we found only a small inse burner, it’s more like a decoration, unused.”

  “Let us have a look.” The highest ranking city agent nodded.

  The mainteeam led the city agents to a emporary desk put in the middle of the first floor. The table was covered by a thick sheet of pstic cloth, on which id a few items: two frame pictures of youive Marcus Cai, some metal keys found in the manhunt targets’ desks, some old mobile phone protectors, chopsticks, notepads and one small bronze inse burner.

  “So this is it?” The leader of the city agents frowned: “This is - this is like a few ts off the night market. Whose is it?”

  “The forensic tei, I assume.” The head of the maintenance crew shrugged: “We found this in a drawer ihe b. It’s put alongside some chopsticks. As far as we know, they have only one forensic tei. ”

  “Acc to the personal dossier, he’s the oh the most expressed i in - in are things.” Another city agent ented from the side: “Doctor Ayer Flemmings once worked with him for a short while, but their project was halted due to some higher priority work from the city, and she’s never caught up with him since.”

  “Okay - so it’s his, very likely.” The leader of the city agents nodded, before clig his fi one of the ents and poi the burner: “ you take a look? Just to see how it works out.”

  “Roger that.” The ent put on pstic gloves, then pulled out a small bottle filled with red liquid and took a gulp. Then he proceeded to pick the inse burner up with his right hand and blew all the liquid in his mouth onto the burner, before making a hand seal and tapping the burner with his left middle finger.

  A puff of smoke rose from the mouth of the empty inse burner. A pu burned and charred smell filled the air.

  “What the hell is that?” The head of the maintenance crew asked, grimag.