Chapter 50: Puppet (4)
The coastline straddling the eastern and northern districts was once one of Earth’s most beautiful tourist destinations.
Before the Great Convergence, it was known for its soft white sands and warm sunlight—a place swarmed with visitors year-round.
But that beauty was long gone.
Blackened seawater had slowly devoured the shoreline, and the once-luxurious resorts had crumbled into a slum drowned in darkness.
Drugged-out addicts wandered the streets like ghosts, and gangs waged turf wars over the ruins.
Even so, the climate remained mild—making it a haven for those exiled from the heart of Babel.
But tonight, something was different.
The alleys were eerily silent. Gone were the sounds of brawls, drug deals, and drunken shouting. Silence hung heavy in the air, as if noise itself had ceased to exist.
A man walked through the deserted streets in absolute stillness.
Dressed in an unremarkable gray suit, his presence carried something unsettling.
His straight nose and neatly trimmed beard seemed almost artificial—like he couldn’t fully control the expressions on his face. A faint unnatural twitch passed over his features.
“I’ve cleaned things up enough. No way the cops’ll bother me now.”