Episode 2: A World Full of Lies Part 2

I’m Masashi Mayumi. 22 years old. 182cm Tall and pretty built. My black hair reaches my neck. Annoying glasses that irritate my face. Rank 2 Executioner for the Deceit Execution Squad. Some people call me a prodigy but that comes to everything. I’ve been the best at everything I do and I plan to maintain that agenda.

 I start making coffee and put on my DES uniform. It resembled a police uniform but instead with a badge that had DES printed on it. It was pretty simple since I’m only rank 2, but I will become a special rank executioner no matter what it takes. I grab my coffee and walk out the door.

Kyoto’s sidewalks aren’t as crowded as it use to be due to people being more alert of deceits. Even with there being less people, the irritating amount of slow walking people pisses me off. People have jobs to get to and you decide to walk like we’re in some kind of traffic jam. My phone starts to ring in my pocket. It’s a call from Magnus Astrum! What would the head of the DES want from a 2nd Rank Investigator? 

“2nd Rank Executioner Mayumi at your service. What is your concern?” 

“Come straight to my office once you arrive at the headquarters. Its an urgent matter.” Astrum says with bass in his voice. He is normally very calm and quiet. Whats so bad that could be happening to have him on edge like this? 

“Yes sir, I’ll be there shortly.” I hang up and start pacing faster through the crowd of people. I wonder what this urgent matter could be. Is it a special operation on a strong deceit? Thats all it really could be.But how bad can the deceit be to the point that he is so serious? I shake my head to remove the thoughts as I walk up to the DES building. 

I go inside and its louder than usual. The researchers at the entrance of the building were frantically looking through papers and typing documents and executioners were all arguing with each other. I hurry into the elevator to go to the 4th floor, the boss’s office. What chaos is erupted this morning that has everyone in such a frenzy? This can’t just be a deceit… it has to be something… more. 

The elevator dings as it reaches the 4th floor. As it opens I see the large rectangular shaped office and see Astrum sitting in a seat behind a large half-circle desk while smoking a cigarette. I never knew he smoked. Maybe thats why his hair is grey at the age of 32.  I step into the office and walk up to the chair that is facing his desk. 

“Take a seat.” I follow his command and sit down in the armrest desk chair. “We have ran into a huge problem that has been stirring chaos for the past few hours now.”

“And whats that?”

“Someone has broken the entire Executioner Code.” My eyes widen in shock. The Executioners Code has 3 set rules for executioners:

1. People aware that they have executioner potential have to join the DES with no exceptions. 

2. If an executioner who is not part of DES uses their Shinkuro or Executioner Weapon will be labeled as Demons.

3. If an executioner who is not working with the DES kills a deceit, it will be considered an act of Executioner Vigilantism which can be punished by death.

I try to keep my cool and not panic.

“This is horrendous. How could someone go against the simple rules of an executioner like that? Do we know who committed these acts?” Astrum smirks and turns his computer screen towards me. It shows two profiles of two possible suspects.  The image shows a boy with an average looking body. He has messy black hair with red highlights and silver eyes being carried by a slender girl with the same hair style, color, and eye colour. The only difference is that her hair is longer. She also seems shorter than the guy she is carrying. 

They are both wearing a school uniform but its hard to make out what school it is exactly. I’ve never been around a school that has brown uniforms around here. I wince at the picture for a little longer until he turns the screen away from me.

“Highschool students?”

“Yes, these two may be the ones who caused the power outage yesterday afternoon.” Wait. How could a high schooler even be able to withstand that much electricity? And why does he think its them of all people? I hesitantly ask Astrum. 

“Why do you think it’s them?” 

“The large power outage yesterday that affected half of Kyoto started around the area the school is located and those two were spotted around the area during that time. You know what happens to volt shinkuro users correct?” 

“If they intake a high level of electric power, they will lose their abilities to fight for a period of time depending on how much electricity was used.” 

“Correct. I’m sure a prodigy such as yourself can pick up on that right?” Astrum’s tone gets sinisterly lower than before. I nod at Astrum and he gives me a slight grin before starting to speak again. “Now that you have this information, I can now tell you why I called you here. I want you to find those two and execute them with no hesitation.” 

“Sorry but I can’t d—“

“Mayumi. You are probably the strongest executioner we have in the DES. Despite your low rank, you have far more power than any of the higher rank executioners could ever dream to accomplish. You know how serious this case is and you know how much your reputation at the DES will boost if you take up this offer. 

You’re different from all the others. You don’t just want justice but you also want power and you can gain so much more authority over the DES if you simply take up this special operation. Mayumi, you are the hero that will release the world of lies and contradictions. What do you say, Mayumi?” Astrum reaches out his hand towards me.

My body freezes in place. I couldn’t even open my mouth for a reply. He really thinks this highly of me? How does he understand me more than anyone else has in my entire life? It’s like he see’s right through me. I can’t turn down an opportunity like this. 

“If all this is coming from you, then I’d be honored to take up this case.” I say as I shake his hand. 

“You’re starting today. Take as much time as you need Prodigy. Good luck.” I stand up and bow to him in response of his words. I make my way back to the elevator as I grip my tie. I am now Astrum’s subordinate.