Ripped off of Beauty

" Listen Folks!"

Robin Mack isn't sure if the man with a megaphone yelling up on the stage is sending a message or just ranting out. A group of protesters gathered under the scorching sun.

Let us go back to paradise!

Perfection is a lie!

End that party games!

Cancel Standford High!

Wake up! It isn't a game but systematic murder

Those were what was written on their placards.

The voice of the man on a megaphone echoed amidst the streets again.

" Folks! This isn't a normal world! We were once free people before the apocalypse! They say our planet's original name is Eden. This planet was originally a paradise, a beautiful garden until we all fell into a curse! But even now...we're not still breaking from it! And we will continue to lose our paradise as long as Jimmie Vaughn is alive!"

The man ranted.

Oh! Damn! Why did he say the forbidden word? Robin Mack thinks.

Seconds later he saw men in uniform dragging the man with a megaphone, arresting him and the other protesters.

Robin was sure the protesters will be charged with a crime of grave threats. It's forbidden to mention Jimmie Vaughn's name by someone ordinary, in public places, especially in protest, and above all threatening him. Although Robin sensed that the protester man didn't really mean what he said, the people who arrested them aren't thinking the same.

Good thing I'm not in their department. He thinks.

And he crossed the street, walked on the pave way, and proceeded to his investigation about the death of Carsen's mom.

Magnifica.

Robin stares at the signboard outside. Okay, he's in the right place.

And he gets inside the bar. Inside, the bar has pendant lighting with a black and gold interior which makes the place looks expensive and elegant, yet masculine.

It seems that Harpie's hobby has leveled up now that she can hang out in expensive places like this... Carsen must be blind to notice that girl is a bitch! Poor naive guy! Robin thinks while his eyes glanced around.

" Excuse me, a Newman must be---"

" I have a special pass!" Robin showed off his police badge to the attendant.

He knows people in the hierarchical status as him, working Newmans and below aren't allowed in here.

" I want to ask about this girl," Robin showed Harpie's picture to the attendant.

" Was she here on Monday afternoon until night?" he asked.

The attendant shook its head.

" She's a regular here,"

" Was she here on Monday---

" But I don't track our customers' time! This isn't an office! This is a leisure place..."

Robin glared at the attendant.

" Do I need to issue a warrant...so you'll talk?" he said.

The attendant fell silent.

" Okay, you can check out her privilege card,"

Robin understands what the attendant means. Every Castellan has this card they can show and swipe, to enter any facilities build for their class, or to pay for any commodities their class can exclusively enjoy. The bad news is data about any Castellan's privilege card is protected by confidentiality rules.

" Are you pushing me to a dead end huh?" Robin asked the attendant with creased eyebrows.

The attendant frowned.

" Swear I can't help you.."

It seems that he's telling the truth and so Robin just sighed and left.

" Hey, you're looking for that regular girl here?"

an old man stopped him when he was about to get out of the door.

" That Standford owner's wife, right?"

Robin's brow creased, " How did you know she's the Standford's wife?" he asked.

The old man laughed.

" Oh, man I know it in how the guy fights with his wife," he said.

" Fight? What did you just say?"

" Yeah, I saw Barry Hansen beating that girl on Monday night...here,"

Robin was more shocked. Now, there's a witness that Harpie was here when the crime happened.

But wait... Barry is beating her up? Is she some kind of domestic violence victim? Robin asked in his thoughts.

" What time was it?" he asked the old man.

" I saw the girl entering the bar alone...that was 5 pm, If I remember...and then his husband came furious and drag her outside...that was 11 pm...near midnight. I'm sure coz I always stay in the bar until midnight," the old man explains.

Robin nodded and smiled.

" Thanks..." he patted the old man.

He looked up if there was any CCTV they could see to support what the old man said.

The Next Day

" Hey, are you fine?" one of Robin's colleagues asked him. He's looking worn out. That's why ask for sure.

" yeah," he just nodded. His eyes were fixed on the monitor. He's reviewing the CCTV footage.

Okay. Harpie's alibi checks out. He thinks.

So, who planted her DNA and her broach on Carsen's mom?

Robin rubs his face and sipped a coffee. He's been working hard lately on this case. If he had not just pitied Carsen...and if not only of the Outsider's request...he would have dropped this or handed this to another police officer.

" Hey, buddy...have you seen this?" one of his colleagues handed him a piece of paper.

" A special order from the Castellan's High Justice Office?" Robin asked frowning.

The colleague nodded.

" But Harpie Allens is already cleared...There's---"

" That's a powerful request,"

It means that despite strong evidence that Harpie's DNA was just planted, she can't still go out of prison.

" The CHJ rarely makes an order like this... it seems someone high up there is cooking this case," his colleague whispered to him.

" I don't know if I will believe this but a close friend gossiped to me about that thing in the DNA library,"

Robin's eyes widened. He knows where is his next stop but he's uncertain about if he'll have the courage to dig into Carsen's mom's case with his badge on.

Meanwhile

Lucas Wyatt was again in his lowly disguise. He's waiting again in the dark alley for that car to stop on him. But this time, it isn't Briggs he's meeting up with. A few moments later, a black sedan stopped.

A 30-year-old woman smiling with her perfect teeth popped out from the car window.

" Hey...get in!" she said.

It was Dash.

" Are you sure no one had seen us?' Lucas asked when he gets in.

Dash nodded. And she drives away fast. They're going to that other hideout that only the inner circle of the Outsiders knows.

" Sir...he's one of Jimmie's operators,"

Dash informed him when they get inside the hideout. It was the operator of Jimmie's control room who monitors the game and noticed odd about Carsen.

" Did he see it?" Lucas asked.

He was referring to that video footage in the game where Carsen's ability was shown.

Dash nodded.

" Okay, we're here to make a deal with you," Lucas said to the operator.

" You'll get paid twice bigger than what you're getting at Jimmie Vaughn in exchange for your loyalty to us," said Lucas.

Then he looked at Dash.

It can't get out that one of Jimmie's council is actually an outsider.

" What you see here...stays here,"

" Also, one task we will require most of you is...you delete all unusual footage of Carsen Adams, in that game," Lucas added.

The operator agreed.

A moment after, another outsider entered the room and handed Lucas a small red pouch.

" First payment for loyalty and service,' Lucas said, giving the pouch to the operator.

The operator was wondering what was inside. He was expecting money but it seems this one is not. He grasped the pouch and then peeked at what was inside.

" Diamonds!" he gasped.

And he looked at Lucas who was grinning wide.

It has been rumored that the planet has lost its minerals in the apocalypse war, and yet here is one of the precious stones in his grip. Possessing this at this time is really a great value! But what's more shocking is... how could these outsiders have possessions like these?

Based on their actions, it seems that they have lots of these! All the while I thought outsiders were poor as rats! The operator thought to himself.

Meanwhile

An old fashion Italian symphony echoed in the entire room. Jimmie was waving his hand like an orchestra conductor. The opera music that's playing in the atmosphere is soothing his mood. He was smiling like a lunatic while he's eyes were close savoring the music that was soothing to his ears. Then, in a moment, Jimmie rose from his seat and walked slowly to the grand bookshelf. He picked a book from it.

The book isn't ordinary. Jimmie stared at its metallic cover.

The Secrets of Eden...

That's what it says on the cover.

Jimmie smiled then he swiped his palm over it. And the grand bookshelves were torn apart, revealing a secret room behind them.

Jimmie walked in.

"You were the picture of perfection—wise beyond your years and exquisitely beautiful. You were in Eden, the garden of the highest; every precious stone, including carnelian, chrysolite, moonstone, beryl, onyx, jasper, sapphire, turquoise, and emerald, was your covering. Your settings and engravings were made of gold that had been wrought,"

Jimmie recited that verse he learned in childhood as his eyes feasted on all the expensive minerals that were magnificently displayed in the room.

He paused.

And then he looked at each of his wealth collections with awe. His eyes were sparkling in delight and worship.

" Humanity...has not reached this wisdom," Jimmie whispered.

" How could they fail to see that this planet of ours was indeed a paradise...until I harvested all of its beauty," he sinisterly whispered.