Near the entrance to the parking lot, where the group with Miss Renald leading them stood, some discussions were held.
Most lost interest in the short girl that was speaking a little too highly of herself and rather spoke amongst themselves about how they'd survive the upcoming days.
As they are modern Gen-Z children, the lack of a phone was excruciating.
Most started to discuss the floating screen as a lot of them had previously investigated it.
Nobody cared about what the little girl had to say.
The boy with blue green highlights on his black hair grinded his teeth in anger before he respectfully bowed to Katie Renald. "May I use other means to get the others to listen?"
Katie Renald glanced at the others from down her chin as she waved her hand. "Forget it. Don't waste your energy on these commoners, Blake."
Blake lowered his voice as he kept his head down, saying, "Yes, your royal highness."
Katie instinctively cringed from the title as she looked at Blake. "Just call me Katie."
Blake stood straight as he slightly nodded. "As you wish."
He glanced once more through the crowd that was well spread out, discussing with each other either on the floor, on rocks they found, or just standing.
Then someone caught his eye as his pupils slightly dilated. Short black hair, green eyes, smooth pearl like skin, and a kind expression that reminded any ordinary person of pure happiness.
What caught his eye was neither of those things, but the numbers that hovered over the boy's head.
1,300
Before he arrived, he received his job through the selection process. The blue screen revealed shimmering gold characters that spelled out: Arbiter.
Once he saw this, some sort of corresponding information automatically ran through his head, telling him about his powers.
The information that was given to him wasn't completely exclusive to him. Everyone else who received a Job received the information on their capabilities as well.
This information was what caused the group that was hurrying to the exit to slow down earlier. It was also why a lot of people were hesitant on sharing their Jobs.
Nobody would want to reveal the trump card of what abilities little they had to complete strangers.
Blake, though, revealed his abilities to Katie without a moment's hesitation, preparing to allow her to use him for whatever means she wished.
One of those abilities was "Recognition", which allowed an Arbiter to perfectly recall every feature of a person's characteristics almost instinctively. Recognition also allowed an Arbiter to peek through a person's mind to reveal, in an almost supernatural manner, how many people they've killed.
With Blake's slight understanding of the ability, this ability revealed the target's kills by reading the target's "aura" as he referred to it from his experience as Katie's personal bodyguard.
He's found a few of these kids who killed one or two children and he made sure to handle them thoroughly.
Yet this person has killed 1,300 people. No matter how he killed them, this person had to have the respective capabilities.
Blake took a step back and quickly moved his gaze away with immense fear and pressure on him. He adjusted his glasses and tried his best to control his emotions.
Suddenly Ajax felt someone's gaze on him as he carefully acted as if he didn't notice anything. He conversed with Jean with a friendly smile on his face, glancing at the corner of his eye to find Katie, her bodyguards, and Blake walking back inside.
Jean seemed to notice the slight change in Ajax's expression as she asked somewhat worrily, "What's wrong Ajax?"
Ajax stroked his chin as he looked curious. "Nothing, why do you ask?"
Jean shrugged. "You just seemed troubled a moment ago."
"I see." Ajax clasped his hands together, realizing something.
He continued, "You think you can use any of your detective powers to find out a safe route through the outside world? Outside the bubble, I mean."
Jean became reminded of something as she tilted her head, asking, "Oh yeah, you never mentioned your job. I told you mine, so you have to tell me yours."
Ajax knew she would ask, as he led the discussion in this direction. He looked hesitant as if thinking on whether he should tell her.
Jean urged him, "You have to!"
Ajax shrugged and sighed with a smile. "Ah, I'm too helpless..."
He leaned into her ear glancing left and right to see if anyone was listening. He cupped her ear and whispered softly, "A Priest."
Ajax had long figured out his powers as a Criminal. As a Criminal, he basically had both the powers of the traditional thief and assassin in video games at once.
He had some basic form of invisibility which is easily revealable, but still practical as it's more an understanding of how to hide oneself.
He could also "Steal" a person's soul when he kills them, allowing him to use their abilities.
He also gets some basic understanding of how to take down a person as efficiently as possible with preliminary understanding of how to use any weapon; be it a sword, lance, a gun, or even a rock.
These abilities were mostly basic knowledge, but "Stealing" a person's soul was what surprised Ajax the most.
For some particular reason, Ajax seemed to carry 2 souls with him, which was what he had knowledge of being his limit.
One was a priest, while the other was a detective. He had absolutely no knowledge of what abilities they had as they aren't his personal Jobs.
Jean didn't seem to be too surprised as she only nodded, with a thoughtful expression. "So what can that Job do?"
Ajax pulled his head back, sitting in his spot slightly farther away from Jean and smiled at the question, keeping silent.
Jean grumbled, "That's how it is, huh?"
Ajax shrugged before Jean pulled at her shirt, glancing at the blue bubble. As Ajax previously noticed, she seemed to try not to mention the specific names of Jobs out loud, respecting his privacy. "With my Job, I might- No, I'm not sure if I could actually do that."
Ajax, who was sitting on a rock opposite of her, folded his fingers into each other and nodded. "What if you were well protected and assisted?"
"Probably, y-yes."
She clearly didn't want at all to go anywhere near the place the kid 'Derrick' died.
It was a instinctive response that was completely rational. There wasn't any guarantee that things won't develop the same way for her.
She might've gained some preliminary trust in Ajax, but she had to still be wary in some way.
Ajax nodded in understanding and swept his gaze across the many people who were discussing, finding Jordan and a few others that talked to him.
Then after a few seconds of thought, looked back at the driven Jean who seemed to be clearly studying the system. He smiled and confirmed, "I'll make preperations, then."
…
The moonlight reflected off the dark pupils of a middle aged man. The light clouds rolled under the moon, with little to no stars in the sky.
The man was laying on a bed in his room, staring at his ceiling window.
Life was moving too fast. The world turned and didn't wait for anyone, no matter who.
This was Preston Richards, a leading businessman in the oil industry. He's made lucrative profits and enjoyed the benefits money brought.
Personal servants for his every need and loyal bodyguards.
The other day, his son had seemed to admire one of the bodyguards and started gaining an interest.
As the son of the infamous Preston Richards, he had to be prestigious in every field and had to outshine others easily. So, when Preston found out he had this interest, he led him forward with all he could. Money wasn't a problem.
A few minutes ago, he was working on confirming or denying any proposed projects related to this and was almost finished when he caught eye of a flash of light in the corner of his eye.
When he curiously looked at that direction, he was blinded by a sudden increase in the amount of light.
Without having any idea on the subsequent events, in the blink of an eye, he was laying on his bed, silently gurgling blood out from his throat, unable to make a single noise.
A pool of blood fell from his head and stomach, spilling onto the floor.
Right now, there were bodyguards standing right outside the door ready to barge in at a moment's notice.
Yet Preston didn't have the chance to make a single noise. His limbs were weak and it felt like he lost control of his body.
His eyes only stared at the moon hanging above the bed.
He was faintly able to see the ceiling window slowly closing on its own as a black shadow flew by.
Unable to make noise, he was only able to inwardly remark, 'To hire even the Headless Demon...How I regret offending them.'
'They' are the group of which the 'Headless Demon' was a part of: The Night Descent.