Soho entered his room quietly and closed the door behind him without a sound.
He cast a quick glance around the place… the bed was unusually tidy, the window half-open, light slipping in shyly.
He stopped.
After a brief moment, he searched again with his eyes.
— Lily?
No answer.
He bent slightly and looked under the bed, then toward the corner near the desk, before letting out a soft sigh with a faint smile as he ran a hand through his hair.
— I hope you didn't bother the instructor…
✦ Newland Airport ✦
The airport was teeming with movement—announcement voices blending with travelers' footsteps, an unending noise.
Soho stood by one of the wide glass windows, gazing at the runway, when he heard a familiar voice behind him.
— I didn't expect to see you here, you reckless student.
Soho turned to face a tired smile belonging to an investigator he knew well.
— Investigator Park?
— You don't look happy to see me.
Soho chuckled lightly.
— More surprised than anything. What brings you here?
Park sighed and opened an electronic file on his tablet.
— Several gates have appeared recently. Unstable ones. Some carry a… troubling signature. The Association has secured a number of them for inspection.
Soho crossed his arms.
— So things are getting worse.
— As usual.
A brief silence passed before Soho said calmly:
— Book me a B-rank gate.
Park raised an eyebrow.
— Why all of a sudden?
— A promotion test at the academy, Soho replied.
Park asked,
— And where's your destination this time?
Soho turned toward the flight board.
— Russia. There's an outbreak in the city of Norilsk.
Park frowned slightly.
— Norilsk? That's not a common choice.
Soho gave a slanted smile.
— I chose it because it'll be… entertaining, despite the difficulty.
Soho handed him a paper file this time.
— Take this as well. An open investigation. Complex, with multiple threads. Take your time with it… it's bigger than it looks.
Park flipped through the file carefully while Soho skimmed it quickly himself, then sighed deeply.
— You really do love getting involved in trouble.
Soho laughed—a short, clear laugh.
— Trouble… comes with delicious rewards.
Without adding another word, he turned and headed toward the transfer gate.
✦ Russia — City of Norilsk ✦
The cold here wasn't just weather… it was the country's identity.
Soho sat calmly in the office of the head of the Russian Hunters Association branch.
A man in his fifties, features as harsh as the climate he lived in, slowly flipped through the mission file.
— A B-rank hunter…
He raised his eyes.
— But the academy's reports say something else.
He turned the screen toward Soho.
Level: 30 in the Tower
Academy Evaluation: A+
Specialization: Duelist — approximately 4 stars
— An excellent evaluation for your age, he said sincerely.
— But the outbreak here isn't simple. There's no need for reckless risk.
Soho replied steadily:
— I'm ready. There's no need to worry.
— Confident?
— If I weren't… I wouldn't have come alone.
The man studied him for a long moment, then nodded slowly.
— Very well. The mission is yours.
✦ Outbreak Site ✦
Soho stood atop a tall building, icy winds battering his long coat, the ruined city stretching beneath him like a silent white corpse.
Shattered streets.
Half-collapsed buildings.
And footprints… many of them.
A mixed outbreak that had appeared suddenly three months ago.
It was fortunate the police had evacuated the city.
He closed his eyes for a moment, sensing his surroundings.
Various ice monsters… their numbers nearing eight hundred.
Ice wolves, yeti, reptiles… and something was organizing them.
He opened his eyes and looked toward the horizon.
— Frost demons… I see.
A faint smile formed on his lips.
It would be a little difficult, but…
it would be excellent training.
He leaned forward slightly—
and vanished from the rooftop.