The precinct was already humming with tension when Adrian arrived. He barely had time to hang his coat before Chief Jonathan Huggins summoned him into his office. The chief's desk was a fortress of paperwork, coffee stains, and half-eaten pastries, but today, a single manila folder sat front and center.
Huggins didn't waste time. "Sit, Cross."
Adrian obeyed, feeling the weight of the chief's gaze. Huggins slid the folder across the desk.
"Since our golden boy, Detective Inspector Harlan Kane, is off playing hero overseas, you're taking this one," Huggins said, voice gruff. "Don't mess it up."
Adrian opened the file. The first page was a crime scene photo—blood on grass, a body splayed open, something metallic glinting in the chest cavity. He felt his system flicker to life, scanning the contents.
[System: Scanning file…]
A new quest notification flashed in his vision:
[New Quest: Unmask the Clockwork Murderer]
A mysterious serial killer is targeting victims and replacing their hearts with intricate clockwork devices. Motive unknown, but the murders appear symbolic.
Current Victims: 3
Rewards: 500 Crime Points + 5 Skill Points
Failure: Termination Protocol
Adrian's jaw tightened. "Three victims?"
Huggins nodded. "All found in open fields. No witnesses, no CCTV, no nearby facilities. The press is already calling him the 'Clockwork Murderer.'"
Adrian closed the file. "Any leads?"
"None. That's why you're on it. District 7. Get moving."
Adrian stood, tucking the file under his arm. As he left, Huggins called after him, "And Cross—don't make me regret this."
The drive to District 7 was a blur of rain-slicked streets and the system's voice reciting details from the file.
System: No witnesses. No CCTV footage. All victims found in open fields, far from any buildings or traffic. The killer is careful—deliberate.
Adrian gripped the steering wheel tighter. "What about the victims?"
System: No clear connection. Different ages, backgrounds, and professions. The only link is the method.
He pulled up to the scene, greeted by a wall of police tape and a crowd of gossipers and media. Cameras flashed as he stepped out, the system's new "TV Detective" title making him an instant target.
A young officer intercepted him at the tape. "Detective Cross?"
Adrian flashed his badge. "That's me."
"Officer Lin Reyes," she said, leading him through the crowd. "It's chaos out here. The press is eating this up."
Adrian nodded, following her past the barricade. The field was muddy, trampled by too many feet. At the center, under a makeshift tent, lay the body.
"Third victim," Lin said quietly. "Name's Andrew Smiles. Office worker. No criminal record. Found early this morning by a jogger."
Adrian crouched beside the body. Andrew's chest was cut open, the heart replaced by a gleaming clockwork mechanism. Gears and springs glinted in the gray morning light.
[System: Clue Discovered – Clockwork Heart]
[Analysis: Device is hand-crafted. No manufacturer's mark. Possible message embedded.]
Adrian studied the device, noting the precision of the work. "Any sign of the killer?"
Lin shook her head. "Nothing. No footprints, no tire tracks. It's like he just… appeared."
System: Uploading body scan to Forensic Data Tool. Please wait…
Adrian stood, glancing at the crowd beyond the tape. "Give me a few minutes, Lin. I need to look around."
She nodded, stepping back to give him space.
Adrian pulled up the Forensic Data Tool. A 3D model of Andrew's body materialized in front of him, so vivid it made his skin crawl. He reached out, his fingers passing through the hologram, but the sensation was disturbingly real.
He focused on the chest, lifting the 3D clockwork mechanism from the model. The gears spun silently, every detail rendered in perfect clarity.
[System: New Clue – Engraving Detected]
[Text: "Time is the only true judge."]
Adrian's heart skipped. "A message."
Suddenly, the system interface shifted. A timer appeared, counting down from 25 hours, 20 minutes.
[Quest Updated: Prevent the Next Murder]
Timer: 25:20:00 until next victim
Failure Condition: Five victims means failure. Termination Protocol will be enacted.
Current number of victims: 3
Adrian stared at the timer. "How do you know when the next victim will be?"
System: I… don't know. The data triggered the timer automatically. There's a connection, but I can't explain it yet.
Adrian frowned, unsettled by the uncertainty in the system's voice. "Let me know if you figure it out."
He called Officer Lin back over. "Anything unusual in the area? Anyone acting strange?"
She shook her head. "Nothing. It's like he vanished into thin air."
Adrian nodded, closing the Forensic Data Tool. "I need to get back to the office. There's something I need to check."
As he walked back to his car, the system's timer ticked steadily in his vision—a relentless reminder that time, for once, was not on his side.