Kumojiro took a single step forward when suddenly, hoverboarders zoomed past him, nearly colliding with his body. One of them yelled, "Watch out, idiot!"
Kumojiro merely glanced in their direction, then refocused, stepping toward the streets. They weren't worth his time. Taking action would only escalate things, and frankly, it would be a drag.
People were smoking nearby, addicts lingering in the corners, all stared at him, their eyes boring into him like needles. Like they wanted something from him.
Kumojiro let out a sigh. Annoying. He knew he'd have to move at some point. He made his way to the bustling streets of his neighborhood, Skyline Heights.
Skyline Heights, formerly known as Brooklyn Heights, was still, after all these years, a great spot for tourists. Its iconic walkways and breathtaking views of the Statue of Liberty and other landmarks remained a draw.
The neighborhood was still famous for its beautifully preserved 19th-century brownstones and row houses.
It had taken a lot to change Brooklyn Heights to Skyline Heights, from garnering community support to overcoming resistance from historic preservation groups, but they managed to do it.
That wasn't the only thing that had changed. Brooklyn Heights was now located in New Urbania, a borough in Cipher City.
The streets were crowded. Students, workers, and pedestrians hurried to their destinations, some stopping to grab breakfast from street vendors while others weaved through the throngs, heads down, lost in their own worlds.
Kumojiro moved through the large crowd like a shadow, silent but fully aware. He did his best to mimic the movements of a civilian, checking stores and blending in. He wanted to fit in, and he was determined to try.
There were still remnants of Brooklyn Heights' famed tree-lined streets. Some were natural, while others were artificial, a change many people didn't like.
But that was the reality in a future where technology ruled most things.
It didn't matter to Kumojiro, though; that wasn't his problem.
As Kumo crossed the road, he saw an approaching bus, he broke into a jog.
"Hold up!" Kumojiro called, raising his hand.
The driver saw him and stopped. The doors of the bus opened, and Kumojiro stepped inside. He pulled out his phone and paid for the ride by showing it to a scanner.
It shone green, indicating that the payment had worked. He squeezed past the crowded bus and took a seat in the back. As the bus rolled forward, Kumojiro gazed out the window.
'...The streets are always so beautiful at this time of the day.' He thought.
Suddenly, a holographic screen popped up, showcasing the time to the next destination, the route name, and real-time traffic updates. Then, an ad appeared.
Kumojiro sighed and waved his hand, making the holographic screen disappear. The ad was another one for Narakuma. He really hated them. They were in everything and everywhere.
Even this damn bus belonged to them! There was truly no escape. He sighed again and decided to attune his senses to the crowd around him. It was something he liked to do.'People have interesting things to say about colleges or classmates...It's entertaining to listen in. They have drama that just makes you want to know more and more.'
The bus rolled forward, and the chatter of students discussing their day blended with office workers sharing gossip about their jobs. The energy was lively, but it all vanished when Kumojiro overheard a few kids speaking in hushed tones.
"Did you hear? Apparently, a journalist was killed. Brutally murdered. I think it was a gang hit. And...I suspect that the victim is..."
'Oswin Wynstan.'
Kumojiro's ears perked up, his gaze sliding toward them.
The other students practically burst out laughing when hearing that theory come out of the first one's mouth. They couldn't truly be talking about him, right?
Oswin was practically a legend in Cipher City. A brilliant journalist and an even sharper detective, Oswin had brought corrupt corporations and gangs to their knees with his exposés.
If he were dead, the city would be in an uproar. His name would be splashed across every screen in Cipher City.
Before Kumojiro could reflect further, his phone buzzed. He pulled it out and saw the name flash on the screen: D. He answered, pressing the phone to his ear.
"I'm on my way." Kumojiro said, curtly.
A distorted voice answered, masked by layers of encryption and modulating devices. But Kumojiro got used to it. That was how D always communicated.
"Good, you've picked quite a time, Kumo. Let's skip the pleasantries. Heard of the Steel Vipers? Small gang, pretty low-level. Well, last night, they got big. Politically big. You know Oswin Wynstan? Yeah, they're the ones who killed him."
Kumojiro's grip tightened on his phone. So that student was right. How? The Steel Vipers were nobodies. Pathetic. Their tech was subpar, their weaponry even worse.
He'd encountered them before, and they were no real threat. As if reading his mind, D continued.
"I know, it doesn't add up. And get this, any trace of the murder? Scrubbed from the web. Firewalled, encrypted, sanitized. Official channels have buried it deep, but I've breached through some of it. Our employer's paying well, but more than that, this might be linked to Narakuma."
Kumojiro's eyes twitched at the name. Narakuma. Not just a company, something far beyond that. Their reach extended into every corner of Cipher City and beyond. If they were involved…this was no ordinary job.
"...So, Steel Vipers, huh? Just need to pay them a visit and beat the information out of the boss?" Kumojiro asked, his voice cold and detached.
D chuckled. "Bingo. You're quick on the uptake, Kumo. They're holed up at Cobra's Nest, classic snake motifs, green jackets, you know the drill."
Kumojiro stared out the bus window as the city passed by in a blur. Graffiti lined the streets, gang insignias overlapping like battle scars on the urban landscape. The Viper symbols were easy to spot now. He was getting close.
"Got it. Green jackets, snake tattoos, Cobra's Nest. Easy enough."
There was a pause on the other end before D's voice softened slightly.
"Kumo…sure you don't need anything else? I've got some prototype tech, unfinished, but it'll work. Or a gun, maybe? You're walking into a snake pit. I don't want to play doctor with you again."
"I've got everything I need." Kumojiro answered swiftly.
D made a sound, something between a sigh and a laugh.
"Alright, if you say so. Just don't get yourself killed. This job's deeper than you think. I'll keep running an analysis on Oswin's case, let you know if anything new comes up. But you're walking into this blind. Call me if things get hairy."
A faint smile tugged at Kumojiro's lips.
"Thanks, D. I'll be fine. I'll call you when it's done."
He ended the call and slipped his phone back into his pocket. The bus slowed to a stop, and Kumojiro stepped off, greeted by the smell of rot, sweat, and decay that permeated the streets.
The place was truly disgusting, they didn't bother to even take care of it.
He moved forward, alert. This was dangerous territory. A place where a single wrong move could get you killed.
The graffiti grew denser as he approached Cobra's Nest, snakes coiled on every wall, their green scales glistening like venom in the dim light.
The alley ahead was dark, narrow, and reeked of desperation.
This was the Steel Vipers' den. And he was walking straight into it.