7:00 A.M.
"Today is another new day, and every resident of Verne Town will begin working hard and happily…"
The usual cheerful and mechanical female voice floated from the town's radio system, filling the houses with its false warmth.
Then—
"Beep."
A sharp electric crackle cut the sweetness short.
The voice changed, shifting from the programmed female broadcast to a deep, cold male tone that rolled like thunder.
"Urgent notice. All villagers are to remain at home. Do not wander, do not move about without reason. The investigation is ongoing. Repeat, the investigation is ongoing."
The voice repeated the warning, dragging it out with grave authority:
"Inspections will be conducted simultaneously with the investigation. Daily health checks remain mandatory. Stay inside. Do not leave unless instructed."
---
Inside his modest home, Lucas had already woken early. He tucked the sheets of his bed neatly, as if ritual could keep him sane. He checked every corner of his living space for dust or disorder—cleanliness had long ago become survival in Verne.
Then, instead of pacing or panicking like most villagers would, Lucas sat calmly on the sofa. His eyes were steady, his posture unnervingly relaxed.
He was waiting for the prison guards to arrive.
---
Boom. Boom. Boom.
Three dull, symbolic knocks rattled the door.
Without waiting for a reply, the heavy wooden door creaked open, and three prison guards stepped into the home.
Lucas studied them closely. All three looked exhausted, their faces pale and shadowed by fatigue. Their uniforms were wrinkled, shirts left untucked, boots unpolished. This was not the polished, rigid force that patrolled the town only weeks ago.
Even more alarming, the number of guards had dropped. Yesterday there were six. Today, only three.
The system in Lucas's mind began a cold calculation:
> [480 is generating a risk assessment based on the host's own strength...]
[Town Staff: Advanced Danger]
[Town Staff: Advanced Danger]
[…]
The guards were losing strength—both in numbers and morale.
"Because the pipelines are closed," one of them muttered under his breath, "the reinforcements we lost yesterday can't be replaced…"
---
The female guard, clutching the inspection ledger, approached Lucas. Her voice was stern but tired as she delivered the daily lecture:
"At this special moment, every citizen of Verne Town must remember the importance of personal hygiene and basic behavioral norms. It is the responsibility of every villager to…"
Her tone was flat, rehearsed, almost meaningless.
But Lucas suddenly cut her off. His calm voice carried a weight that froze the room.
"Hello. I would like to report information about an intruder."
The female guard blinked in surprise.
The other two guards, who had been turning over furniture and peering into corners, instantly stopped their search. Their eyes snapped toward Lucas.
"You… met an intruder?" she asked, her voice trembling.
Lucas nodded. His finger slowly lifted, pointing toward the bedroom door.
"Last night," he began, his expression carefully arranged into one of nervous honesty, "I was about to sleep when a woman appeared suddenly in my room. She tried to attack me. I resisted with all my strength…"
The female guard's eyes widened. Her fatigue melted away, replaced by sharp interest. She exchanged a quick glance with her colleagues, signaling them with a barely visible wink.
The two guards rushed toward the bedroom, pushing the door open.
Lucas placed a hand on his chest, feigning the shaken nerves of a near-victim. His voice quivered just enough to be believable.
"Fortunately, I hadn't yet fallen asleep. Otherwise, I would not have survived her attempt."
---
Moments later, the guards reappeared. Their faces carried an odd mix of triumph and unease.
"There is indeed a body inside," one of them reported. "An intruder's corpse, but…"
The female guard frowned. "But what?"
The guard hesitated, eyes darting between Lucas and the floor.
"But… the body is unrecognizable. It's mutilated, incomplete. We can't confirm any identity for now."
Shock flickered across the female guard's face. She turned to Lucas.
He lowered his head slightly, forcing a soft gasp of guilt.
"Ah… it was dark last night. I was terrified. Maybe I defended myself too harshly."
"...?" The female guard was speechless, caught between confusion and reluctant acceptance.
Still, the truth remained: Lucas had indeed slain an intruder.
After offering him hollow praise for his vigilance and courage, the three guards quickly collected the body, placing it into a black containment sack. Then they resumed their inspection, their words heavy with propaganda.
"For the safety of every villager, you must remain indoors until all intruders are eliminated."
"Work is important, but life is more important."
"Use this time wisely. Even at home, strive for self-improvement. And above all, report every shred of information about intruders. Cooperation is survival."
The same words echoed not only in Lucas's home but across the entire town. The loudspeakers repeated the warnings again and again, drilling obedience into every ear.
---
Hours crawled by. The radio finally shifted.
Beep—
The heavy male voice returned.
"After a thorough investigation, an intruder has been discovered. Villager Daniel is confirmed guilty of harboring the intruder. Villager Daniel, the intruder, and the neighbors living to his left and right have all been taken to the office building."
"Let this serve as a warning: report intruders immediately. Concealment will lead to implication."
Beep—
The broadcast ended, replaced once again by gentle music, but the atmosphere of Verne grew heavier.
No villager dared to relax.
---
"Harboring intruders…" Lucas whispered, rolling a small coin across his knuckles. The object, marked as [Girl's Coin], spun in circles, catching dim light.
The day unfolded with similar reports. Another intruder caught. More villagers implicated. The numbers grew: three confirmed intruders, nine villagers taken with them.
Suspicion spread like wildfire. The town was beginning to turn on itself.
---
By evening, the stillness shattered again.
At precisely six o'clock, the broadcast blared louder than before, urgent and undeniable:
"All villagers, assemble immediately in the central square of Verne Town."
"Attendance is mandatory before 6:15."
The streets, long silent, came alive with hurried footsteps. Doors creaked open. Shadows poured from every house. Neighbors whispered nervously as they walked, speculating what this gathering could mean.
No one dared delay. No one dared disobey.
Lucas rose from the sofa and approached his front door. He reached for the lock, fingers brushing the cold metal. But then—he froze.
His eyes dropped to his palm, where the [Girl's Coin] lay silently.
"...The last time," he murmured.
He tossed it gently into the air. The coin spun, catching faint light as it fell. Lucas caught it neatly and turned his hand open.
The blank, empty side faced up.
His expression hardened.
"…Can there never be a different result?!"
For a moment, even his calm mask faltered.
And somewhere, the young author writing this story sighed miserably.
"Unlucky again…" they muttered. (Crying.)
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