*Labur District Police Department*
Inside the building was a hall.
Nothing particularly peculiar about it, other than its unusually wide space, rows of seats, and a projector facing a small podium equipped with a mic and speakers.
In that generic room, convincing enough to serve as both a briefing hall and a stage, stood the Chief Investigator of the Labur Police Department, Mr. Norman Arbon, addressing the crowd gathered inside.
The hall held an assortment of people, all sharing something common, yet each distinct in their own way, discipline tied them together.
*Norman POV*
"As of today, you all have been briefed on the reason we've been conducting raids and searches all over the district, top to bottom."
He paused, giving the officers and investigators space for the information to settle, before continuing.
"And as of now… we have not yet found anything, even after taking chances in towns and villages off record…"
A flicker of shame slipped past his guard.... contained, but visible to those trained to notice.
"So… for the reasons mentioned above, we will be conducting a thorough search in the Labucha Mountain Range as well."
The hall was immediately met with a chorus of stifled murmurs.
Two noticeably different individuals in the room also seemed particularly troubled by this development.
Mr. Norman let the murmurs linger for just a moment before raising his hand to signal silence.
Being a room filled with seasoned professionals, people for whom discipline and orders came before opinion, the noise quickly died down, and attention returned to the podium.
"Now… I know the whole mountain isn't worth the effort."
He paused, as if voicing his own reluctance.
"But it is an order."
His eyes shifted ever so slightly toward the two High Command officers.... subtle, but deliberate, before he continued.
"From above."
With that said, he resumed the formal briefing, outlining the search procedures and operational conduct.
The two officers listened, equally amused and impressed.
*High Command Officers POV*
A well built man in a suit, wearing a charismatic smile that hid his thoughts behind polarized glasses, leaned toward his partner.
A sharp, athletic woman whose beauty was wrapped in restraint, her lethality leaking only through the faint glint behind her lenses.
"Yo… sista… this Norman guy,"
He muttered, voice dripping with amusement.
"He ain't normal, is he?"
She paused briefly, studying Mr. Norman through her tinted glasses before replying.
"Well, he is the Chief of an entire district."
Her lips twitched slightly before settling back into their neutral line.
"And he's very… very slick with his words."
Catching something in her tone, the man's grin widened.
"Hoooo… sista, looks like you got a type, huh?"
"Thought you'd be single forever."
"Hehe…"
The response was immediate.
A sharp, silent glare.
Subtle, restrained, but lethal enough to make even hardened men reconsider their life choices.
He leaned back instantly, raising his hands in surrender.
*3rd POV*
While this side exchange unfolded between the two officers overseeing the operation, the briefing continued uninterrupted.
By the time it ended, every person present had been thoroughly ingrained with their orders, each aware of their role in the upcoming search.
*Inside a Room*
The room resembled that of a roadside motel.
Through a slightly parted window, the glow of a neon sign from the highway outside bled into the dim interior.
A man finished a call, slowly placing his phone on the bedside table.
From head to toe, he was covered in layered fabric, subtle metallic glints occasionally catching the light beneath the material.
He stared through the window partition, eyes fixed on the road beyond.
*The Man's POV*
His thoughts lingered on the conversation he'd just finished.
'Seems the grim suit really brought me some trouble.'
A smile spread across his face… then sharpened.
His jaw tightened, teeth clenching. His eyes glowed faintly as the smirk deepened.
'Let's see how much more you can do…'
"I am waiting…"
His silent laughter filled the stillness of the room.