Bishop's pulse pounded in his ears. **I don't exist.** The words rang in his head, hollow and impossible.
He took a step closer to Coil. **"You're sure about this?"**
Coil let out a dry laugh. **"Choom, I make a living pulling ghosts out of the system. But you? You're not just a ghost—you're a goddamn erased file."**
Bishop's fingers twitched at his side. Whoever he had been, someone had gone to extreme lengths to make sure no trace remained. And yet, here he was, alive—and very much being hunted.
**"I need to know more."**
Coil crossed his arms. **"Yeah? And I need creds."**
Bishop's jaw tightened. **"I don't have any."**
Coil grinned. **"Then we got a problem."**
A low hum came from Zero, the drone shifting slightly. Its optics flickered between them. Argus spoke up in Bishop's mind. **"He won't give you anything for free. But information dealers like him always have a price."**
Bishop exhaled sharply. **"Alright. What do you want?"**
Coil's smirk widened. **"There's a package sitting in a drop point a few blocks from here. Meant to be an easy pickup, but turns out the area's crawling with enforcers. I need someone fast and expendable to grab it for me."**
Bishop arched a brow. **"And if I say no?"**
Coil shrugged. **"Then you get to wander the city blind, with a kill squad breathing down your neck. Your call, choom."**
Bishop hated that the bastard had a point.
**"Fine,"** he said. **"Where's the drop?"**
Coil tossed him a small holo-device. It flickered to life, displaying a map of the city. A red marker blinked over a narrow alley near a rundown district.
**"Simple job. In, out, don't get shot."**
Bishop snorted. **"Yeah, real simple."**
Coil grinned. **"That's the spirit."**
###
The city swallowed Bishop whole as he emerged from the underground tunnels.
Neon billboards flickered above the streets, advertising everything from synthetic body mods to black-market stimulants. Holo-drones drifted overhead, scanning pedestrians with cold efficiency. The rain had slowed to a drizzle, making the streets glisten like liquid chrome.
**"This doesn't feel like a good idea,"** Argus muttered.
**"Not a lot of options."** Bishop moved fast, keeping his head down. His hospital clothes had started to dry, but they still screamed *lost fugitive*. He needed to find something less conspicuous soon.
As he neared the drop point, he slowed, scanning the area. The alley was partially hidden behind a flickering sign that read **"Kota's Noodles – Open Late"** in faded red holo-text.
Bishop spotted the package almost immediately—a small, unmarked case sitting behind a pile of discarded cybernetic parts. **Too easy.**
Then he saw the enforcers.
Two of them, both in sleek black armor, standing near the entrance of the alley. Their helmets had a faint red glow where their eyes should be—visor-linked, running facial recognition.
Bishop's muscles tensed. **"They're guarding the street. I can sneak in, but if they scan me…"**
**"They'll tag you as a priority target,"** Argus finished. **"You need a distraction."**
Bishop scanned the surroundings. Then he saw it—an old service drone perched near a vending unit, its maintenance light blinking idly.
**"Can you hack that thing?"** he whispered.
**"Already on it."**
A second later, the drone beeped sharply, then veered sideways—slamming into the vending unit with a loud *crash*. Soda cans exploded onto the street, rolling in all directions.
The enforcers turned instantly.
Bishop moved.
He slipped into the alley, staying low. The package was within reach. He grabbed it, tucked it under his arm, and turned—
**Too slow.**
A shadow shifted at the alley's entrance. A third enforcer. One Bishop hadn't seen.
**"Shit."**
The enforcer's visor locked onto him. **"Target identified."**
Bishop didn't wait for the rest. He pivoted, kicking off the ground and sprinting deeper into the alley. Gunfire erupted behind him, a round sparking against the brick wall.
**"Left!"** Argus shouted.
Bishop took the turn at full speed, nearly colliding with a stack of crates. The alley narrowed—no exit.
A metal ladder hung overhead.
No time to think. Bishop leaped, catching the bottom rung, and hauled himself up. More gunfire. A bullet clipped the railing beside him, sending sparks flying.
He climbed faster.
The rooftop was slick with rain. Bishop ran, vaulting over air vents and old machinery. The enforcers were still in pursuit—one had climbed after him, the other circling around.
**"Across the gap,"** Argus directed.
Bishop saw it. A four-meter leap between rooftops. His legs burned, but he pushed forward.
He jumped.
For a split second, the city spun beneath him.
Then—impact. He hit the next roof, rolling to absorb the force. Pain flared in his ribs, but he was up in an instant.
Behind him, the enforcer hesitated.
**Not willing to risk the jump.**
Bishop smirked, flipping him off as he disappeared over the next ledge.
###
By the time he made it back to Coil's hideout, his pulse was steady again.
Coil raised a brow. **"Still breathing, huh? Guess I owe you some answers."**
Bishop dropped the package on the table. **"Start talking."**
Coil chuckled, opening the case. Inside was a sleek, unmarked drive.
**"Let's see what you're worth, ghost-boy."**
He plugged it into a terminal. The screen lit up. Lines of code scrolled by, then resolved into a single name.
**Bishop froze.**
He didn't recognize the name. But something deep in his chest tightened at the sight of it.
**CIPHER-01**
Coil whistled. **"Well, well. Looks like you're more than just a lost soul, choom."**
Bishop swallowed hard.
**Who the hell was Cipher-01?**
And why did it feel like the answer would change everything?