An uproar of applause and a few whoops here and there is not enough to impress Maxwell Hampton, Chief of the Vesper City Police. Within the crowd, Jonah Sullivan observes the situation. The crowd is made up of no less than a thousand people, those who are new to the city and those who've been around. A number that makes the amount of police bodies standing before them seem minuscule. Only about 50 officers or so stand at attention while dressed in protective armored uniforms. He stares a few seconds longer at the police chief. The much older man exudes experience, as if he's seen it all, or at least enough to scare the crap out of someone.
Samuel continues with his speech, "Many people ask me why I did what I did. I've been accused of radicalizing freedom, of building a city for the purpose of spreading anarchy, of recreating the same horror my great-grandfather desperately tried to unleash.""I am merely a humble servant inspired by what freedom could be. And that is my motive, freedom. To give people a chance to exercise absolute freedom and opportunities they can't find anywhere else in the world. I read a quote in a book once...Letting go means to come to the realization that some people are a part of your history, but not a part of your destiny. I will not be the legacy of my great-grandfather. I strive for a more collectively favorable goal."
"Nobody rules the city, nobody owns the city, my family may have owned the island, but I've given this piece of land back to the public. New residents of Vesper City, as well as old, are given freedom. We also have our very own police department to make sure conflict never gets out of hand! I appreciate what the VCPD has done for my city ever since I founded it several years ago. And that is why I will be donating a sizable portion of my own fortune to the police department to ensure the safety of you as the fellow citizens in our city."
"Now, I have heard that there's an uprising of certain super powered individuals. Both those claiming to fight for justice and others who choose to wreak havoc and treat others with cruelty and ruthlessness. I assure you; these individuals will be dealt with properly on both sides. Even those claiming to fight for justice are only wearing masks, choosing to play by their own rules and selfishly take on villains for what- glory? Honor?!? There are no heroes that belong in the City of Vesper except for those sanctioned by our very own police force, the same goes for villains. These masked cowards will be brought to justice properly. Thank you and enjoy your time in our city. I hope you decide to make your stay permanent!"
Samuel waves at the crowd as he finally steps from the stage. Another uproar of applauds drown out the music that comes in from the speakers of the stage.Jonah looks around, although it's just a presentation he notices the tables full of food on the outskirts of the plaza they currently stand in. Tables spreading wide with heaping piles of fruit, appetizers, drinks (non-alcoholic, of course), as well as a bar separate from the rest of the display for any adults wanting to celebrate a bit more than necessary.
Jonah turns to a random person and asks, "Excuse me, have you lived here long?"
"I'm not one of the oldest residents but I have been here the past two years."
"How often does he host these events?"
"Once every year, this is the fifth year since the city was first founded."
Jonah nods his head slowly, the gears starting to turn in his head as questions begin eating away at his mind. Before he stands there in a daze all night long trying to figure everything out without knowing anything first, he snaps out of his stupor and ask directions for the nearest hotel.
Jonah crosses the streets of Vesper City and is surprised by how jam-packed most of the city is. The alleyways are few and far in between but the ones that do exist are both long and wide and twist and turn throughout buildings, like a maze within the confines of the skyscrapers towering over them.According to what little research Jonah has done, most of the city was created out of the leftover stronghold of Cornelius Vesper and some of the winding paths were actually once a part of the stronghold's corridors. He's not sure if he believes this piece of information, but he'll take what he can get until he eventually finds out more.
He enters the hotel building and walks up to the front desk, "Room for one, please."
"And how long do you plan on staying at the Rico Veeri Hotel?"
"Possibly six months at most...I'm only here on business."
"I wonder what business would keep you here for six months," the concierge comments nonchalantly.
"You might find out in the newspaper six months later," Jonah answers while taking his key from the older woman. A closer look at her, Jonah would describe her as an aunt who lives alone and hates children, possibly with a cat or two back home.
He heads up to his room and drops his stuff on the ground. He decides to unpack later and sits back in the office chair situated next to the writing desk on the left side of the bed. He rests his head on his fist as he stares at the wall. He picks up the weathered, gray leather briefcase sitting next to his duffel bag. He opens it and sifts through the items inside: pins, different colored threads, pictures and scraps of document varying in quality and level of deterioration. He pulls a final piece of paper and stares at it blankly for a moment.It's just an ordinary piece of notebook paper, aside from the little splotch of blood stained in the corner. It reads a phrase with a moniker: He is Mr.Killertainment. His business doesn't bring him any pleasure, although he is anticipating the resolution. "I have a lot of work to do..." he says aloud, as if trying to reach out to the victim who wrote it.