The three youths walked out of the room and headed out of the building.
Every so often, workers would glance at Zephyros and immediately avert their gaze in... fear? Why were they afraid? Zeph didn't know.
'What kind of person was the previous Zeph?'
Their reaction towards him was different from the one they gave Darry. Darry was often saluted and greeted with respect. Even those older than him respected him, which was impressive for someone who still looked as if he had just clocked eighteen.
Zephyros couldn't help but grin.
As Zephyros studied the building more, he realized he hadn't learned anything yet. All Darius had told him was just the tip of the iceberg. There was still more to this world than met the eye. From Darry's words, it seemed the humans here hadn't learned anything about the true origin of the Miasma.
They only faced what they saw—the monsters and portals—and paid no attention to the miasma's deeper nature.
Is that how it is? Or is Darius keeping information for later?
'Aah...' Zephyros smiled and sighed.
'It's all coming back. My long-gone detective days are back, and this time with a bigger mystery at hand. It feels so good to be back.'
But to know more, he had to go to the academy or conduct a personal interview with someone like Darry. If he tried to interview Darry too much, it might spark suspicion.
'And if I want to go to the academy and learn about the Miasma thoroughly, I have to be chosen as an Ordained by the Miasma...'
And to get chosen...
Zeph shrugged.
'Don't even think about it... I'll never be stuck in a Miasma Veil... Never!'
Zephyros was so lost in his thoughts, he did not notice they had almost gotten outside the building already.
The doors swung open, and Zephyros stepped outside.
It looked… normal. A city like any other. Rows of apartment blocks stretched down the street, their paint chipped and windows patched with tape. Old street lamps buzzed faintly, casting a dull glow even though it was still daylight. Cars rolled past, the hum of engines mixing with the chatter of people going about their day.
Vendors called from food stalls at the corners, selling steaming bread, skewers, and cheap coffee. A group of kids dashed past, laughing as they weaved through the crowd. Everything looked so… ordinary.
And yet, Zephyros could feel it, that quiet tension beneath the surface. People walked quickly, their eyes darting to shadows without realizing it. Every so often, he caught someone glance at the sky, almost nervously, before hurrying on. The air carried a faint smell of rust and damp concrete, as if the city itself was tired.
To anyone else, it was just another busy street. But to Zephyros, it felt like a stage where everyone was pretending life was normal, all while ignoring the cracks running through the backdrop.
He shoved his hands into his pockets and smirked. His green top was slowly moving sideways due to the gentle wind.
'So this is the world I landed in… looks normal enough. For now...'
He turned, his gaze lifting to the building they had just left.
It loomed over the street like an oversized block of concrete. The walls were a dull gray, streaked with rain marks that no one had bothered to scrub away. Rows of narrow windows stared blankly outward, most of them covered with metal bars or old shutters. Near the top, a faded emblem had been painted on the wall.. once bright, now chipped and barely recognizable.
It wasn't grand like a palace or shining like a skyscraper. It was… functional. Heavy. Like a place built to last, not to inspire.
Around its entrance, guards weren't standing with weapons, but the workers who came and went moved with stiff, controlled steps, as if being watched. Zephyros noticed the way they kept their heads low, how conversations died the moment anyone from inside the building appeared.
Even without soldiers, the place radiated authority.
As they stepped onto the street, Zephyros began noticing more of it. Across the road, a wide poster clung to the wall of a convenience shop, the paper wrinkled from rain. In bold red letters, it read:
"THE MIASTIC VEILS ARE NOT TO BE FEARED. TRUST THE CRIMSON CONCLAVE."
The picture beneath showed a faceless figure standing tall inside a swirling black mist, a glowing crest of the Conclave branded across its chest. Someone had scratched a crude "X" over the crest, but the ink had been painted back over, darker than before.
A line of kiosks ran along the block, but half of them were closed, their shutters chained. At one corner, a loudspeaker crackled to life, repeating a bland announcement about "safety drills" and "Miasma awareness."
Nobody stopped to listen. They just walked faster, heads ducked, as though ignoring it would make it fade away.
Zephyros smirked faintly.
'So this is the Crimson Conclave's nest… looks more like a prison than a home.'
To his left, a boy no older than ten darted out of an alley with a basket of fruit, only to be yanked back by his mother before he could cross in front of their group. Her eyes flicked to Darius, then to Zephyros, and she pulled her son close, whispering something hurriedly in his ear. The child's laughter died instantly.
Zephyros didn't miss it. Fear... again. 'Why are they so scared of me?'
He shoved his hands deeper into his pockets and breathed out slowly. The city might look normal—street stalls, cars, the hum of neon signs—but beneath the noise was a silence. A watchfulness. Everyone played along with the Conclave's order, but it was clear: no one really felt free.
'Normal city, my ass,' he thought. 'This place is just pretending.'
Just as he was "admiring" the atmosphere, Riven came out of the building, now dressed in normal clothes... if they were even normal to Zephyros.
His heart skipped a beat after seeing her. She had ditched her uniform for something casual: dark jeans, a plain jacket, and sneakers that had clearly seen better days. Nothing flashy. Nothing out of place.
And yet, somehow, it suited her too well. Zephyros felt his chest tighten for a moment. It wasn't the clothes; it was the way she carried herself, calm but sharp, as if she didn't belong to the same cracked streets they were standing on.
His heart kept skipping beats from time to time. That was when he realized this wasn't his feeling; it belonged to the real Zeph.
'What kind of relationship did the two teenagers share...'
Riven seemed not to care that he was staring at her and just came closer and stood beside him.
Now the question was, what were they waiting for?
Just then, a sleek black car glided to a stop at the curb. Its polished surface caught what little sunlight broke through the clouds, gleaming as if it didn't belong on the same cracked, grimy street. The engine purred low, much smoother than the rickety ones back in New Kowloon, and the tinted windows kept its passengers hidden.
People on the sidewalk slowed instinctively, their chatter dying down as they gave the vehicle space. A car like that didn't show up in these parts without a reason.
The driver stepped out. He was suited, composed, and clearly not the kind of man who ever worried about coin. He circled to the back and opened the door with a crisp motion, bowing his head slightly.
Darry gave a casual nod, as if this wasn't unusual at all. Riven followed, slipping inside without a glance at anyone.
Zephyros lingered, smirking faintly as he caught the gawking stares from the street vendors and passersby.
'A rich man's car, huh? Not bad… guess I'm not walking the sidewalks of the poor anymore.'
He shoved his hands in his pockets and stepped inside. The moment Zephyros slid into the backseat, the smell of leather hit him first. It was clean, rich, untouched by the damp air of the streets outside.
The inside of the car was clean and straightforward. Smooth black leather seats, no scratches or stains, with plenty of space to sit comfortably. The dashboard was neat, with a large screen in the middle showing the time, temperature, and a simple map.
The air conditioning hummed quietly, keeping the cabin cool. Cup holders and a small compartment sat between the front seats, nothing cluttered or messy. The windows were tinted just enough to block the glare of the sun.
It looked like the kind of car only someone with money could afford.. comfortable, simple, and well-kept.
Zephyros grinned from ear to ear while admiring the interior of the car.
'Is this the life I'll be living now? Is this the kind of life I missed out on?'
Though he was a popular detective, he had barely had time to live life. His riches were just there until the global coup came, taking everything away from him.
'That was the past... the past! I can finally live the life I wanted. The life of luxury.'
Darius, catching his smile, smiled back at him and asked, "You like what you see? Wait till you see your beloved Zephyrion..."
'I... I have my own vehicle! I got transmigrated as the younger brother of one of the strongest humans, and I'm also back as a teenager... What could possibly go wrong?'
Just then, the car jerked abruptly and stopped.
Zephyros was confused and glanced at the driver, but his gaze caught something else instead.
Just ahead of the car, people immediately scampered away. The air twisted and was growing violent. The street ahead started to bend, like the air itself was being pulled apart. Dust and scraps of paper lifted off the ground, caught in a spiral. People nearby panicked, some screaming, others running without looking back.
Then the portal appeared.
A circle of blue light ripped open in the middle of the street. The edges glowed like neon, steady but sharp, while the inside looked like rippling water. Dark, heavy shapes moved behind it, just out of focus.
"Blue…" Darry muttered, his tone suddenly serious.
The driver gripped the wheel tighter but didn't move the car. Everyone who had been walking around cleared out fast; vendors left their carts, parents pulled their kids away, and doors slammed shut. The whole street emptied in seconds.
Riven leaned forward, her eyes locked on the portal. "C to B-rank. Too close to the Conclave district... Monsters should spew out in the next ten minutes... What's the plan, Archon Darius? Call for backup?"
'Archon?'
The glow from the portal grew brighter for a moment, and the surface rippled as if something was pressing against it. A sound followed, like glass cracking under pressure.
Darius sighed and shook his head slightly.
"It's just a blue one... It's B and C rank... Nothing to worry about."
'Nothing to worry about?! A portal is a portal, right? I mean, regardless of the color, they're all filled with monsters, right? Or is this one filled with Christmas presents?'
Though Zephyros still didn't know much about this world, from what he could remember, B and C were the letters flanking A. So what could be worse than a portal ranked B to C... not to even mention an A-rank portal.
If there was nothing to worry about, were they just going to ignore it and drive past it or...
'Make more sense, brother!'
For a while, Riven and Darius remained silent. Zephyros couldn't tell what was going on in their heads. What were they planning to do?
"Hey... are you guys forgetting there's a portal with monsters in it right in front of us? C'mon, think faster..."
Finally, Darius turned to him and smiled darkly.
Zephyros gave him a disgusted, confused look.
"What?"
As if Riven already knew what he was about to say, she slowly opened the car door, ready to step out.
Darius grinned, his voice low and almost amused.
"Do you want to watch your big brother beat the hell out of some shitty, disgusting things?"
Zephyros blinked, then leaned back against the seat, muttering under his breath.
"Hell no!... You've gotta be kidding me."