Chapter 69: The Search Begins

Chapter 69: The


Yui crossed his arms, leaning lazily against the shop’s entrance. "Make it quick. I don’t want to waste more time than we already have."

Elias stepped inside, greeted by the distinct smell of books mixed with faint floral undertones.

The store was smaller than he’d expected, but its shelves were packed with a surprising variety of titles.

He found the technical section easily, scanning the spines until one caught his eye: Fundamentals of Energy Circuits; General electronics; Wood building for lesser intelligent people."

"Perfect," he muttered, tucking the books under his arm and heading to the counter. The elderly cashier, barely glancing up from her tablet, rang up the purchase with a soft hum of approval.

As he stepped back outside, Yui glanced at his scanner, tapping it lightly. "Perfect timing," he said, his tone unusually even. "Looks like they’re just five minutes away. Let’s move."

Elias handed over the books as Yui tucked them into a green leather bag slung over his shoulder. His dark green and black swim trunks swayed slightly with each step, running past his knees. The two maneuvered through the growing crowd, weaving between vacationers while a mixture of sizzling food and sweet tropical scents filled the air.



Yui glanced down at the monitor strapped to his wrist. The display pulsed once before he shut it with a click. "The shard user is around here somewhere," he muttered.

Elias followed his gaze as they stepped into a bustling plaza. The space was packed with food vendors, their carts lined along the curved edges of the open market. The air was rich with the scent of grilled seafood, fresh fruits, and sizzling skewers. Wrapped around the corner of the street were several hotel-like buildings, their balconies lined with sunbathers and draped towels.

Elias exhaled, hands on his hips. "Great. So it could be anyone from someone grabbing a bite to eat to someone knocked out in a hotel room."

Yui sighed in frustration. "This is going to take hours."

Elias thought for a moment, tapping his knuckles against his palm. "Here, let me try something. I’m hoping it doesn’t draw too much attention."

Yui’s expression immediately soured. "You’re not about to say something cringy again, are you?"

"Eh... I hope not," Elias said before clapping his hands together. "Fuse with me, Dots, and show me the secret path ahead of our mystery!"

Yui’s face went flat as he slowly shook his head. "Yep. Something stupid again."

As the words left Elias’ mouth, he felt the familiar shift—a static hum in his bones, a flicker behind his eyes. The world around him dulled to muted grays, the lively marketplace now a sea of featureless silhouettes. Hundreds of faded figures moved aimlessly, a fog of noise and motion.

Dots’ voice chimed in his mind, excitement bubbling in its tone. "What do you see?!"

Elias swept his gaze over the shifting mass before a single figure flickered into focus bright yellow. A man in a long white coat. A brief pulse of yellow light outlined him, standing out against the gray haze. He carried a suitcase and moved with purpose, slipping quietly through a side entrance into one of the hotel buildings.

"There," Elias whispered, locking onto the target.