Kairo had barely four hours left before the ultimatum given by the chancellor was up. And still no clue about who exactly the Surgeon was—nor where he was hiding.
'How could he escape the Card Mage Police for an entire year? After just turning into a Card Mage? He had no knowledge of its inner workings at that time, so how?'
Kairo was well aware there was something fishy about all this. The Surgeon had gotten his card awakened a year earlier. Maybe they had missed someone in their last search. Kairo decided to take another look.
On his way to the archive, Kairo met Nyx. Her face had regained some color after the incident, fully ready to continue their investigation.
"Kairo, I have a clue to explore," she said. "Thanks to the patient, we know the Surgeon has nothing to do with the medical field. Up until now, we had limited our search to that small group of people. But revisiting the data again, I found two names. I think you need to see this."
Kairo nodded in understanding. Nyx was perfectly right. Their earlier investigation had been flawed because of their flawed assumptions.
"Where are we going this time?" he asked.
"The Bazaar of Lost Objects. That's where we keep objects belonging to those who left the Card Mage Police—on their own accord, or shelved their decks" Nyx explained as they left the building.
Kairo's movement slowed an instant. Although their job was risky, he didn't see why any normal person would want to leave the Card Mage Police. Excluding the primal desire for adrenaline-pumping work, the Card Mages were extremely well-paid and had huge privileges. Kairo's wealthy upbringing was just one example. With Magnus, there was nothing Kairo didn't have growing up. At least in theory.
"Some people don't fully trust the Card Mage Police. After just a few months, some leave. It's very rare, but not unheard of. Thinking about it... if the Surgeon got his card awakened a year earlier and left immediately after, that would explain why there is little to no data about him or his cards. Might be in the Bazaar we'll find something useful."
"Sometimes I feel like you were really born for this job, Nyx. You are amazing," Kairo casually commented as the duo arrived at the Bazaar.
Nyx's face flashed with a bright smile and she said, "Thanks, Kairo! I'm the best partner anyone can dream of, right?"
Kairo shook his head, amused. The Bazaar was, in fact, a single massive chamber, with rows and rows of objects lined on shelves. The air was a little dry and dusty, like this place had been forgotten in time.
'So where do we start searching, or what exactly?' Nyx voiced her concern, taking out a little box from the shelves. Inside were some personal belongings of a long-gone officer.
"This place serves not only for storing belongings of officers who left, but also those who died or disappeared during missions. Mainly because the government feels like their cards could one day be useful to another officer."
Kairo slid his fingers across the shelves, one after another.
'If the Surgeon left immediately after getting his card awakened… does that mean he knew exactly what card he would awaken? But that can't be. No one can ever know that—not even I did.'
Kairo was deep in thought.
'Why do I feel like the Card Mage Police hides more than it should? First this, and possibly the Deck of Origin too. Father, where are you? I need answers.'
While searching, Kairo felt several thoughts move back and forth in his head.
"Hey Kairo, I found something. Come take a look!" Nyx called out.
Joining her at the end of the hall, Kairo's eyes fell on a box.
"These are his things… you mean Gabriel Loravo?"
Kairo's heart accelerated as he picked up the images in the box. On it was a striking young man. His youthful and almost angelic face made Kairo shiver—knowing who it was now.
Nyx's eyes flickered when Kairo said the name.
"Something wrong?" Kairo asked.
Shaking her head, Nyx continued. "The records here say he had a card that could determine the course of illness in people. Exactly like he could see into the future," Nyx explained.
Kairo's face darkened. This didn't align with what the patient told them about Promised Result. Unless... it was exactly like with Jed.
'I think I understand now. Cards have hidden mechanics that only the card user could possibly know. This is the only explanation.'
The surgeon didn't lie about his card; he simply didn't tell the whole truth. After getting what he wanted, he left the Card Mage Police instantly.
"If you're right, then he must have known exactly that he would get something like Promised Result—but that's impossible. No one can know that, Kairo. Do you understand what it implies?"
Nyx's usually playful attitude was long gone, replaced by her sharper side.
"The government... knew exactly what card each and every one of us would awaken. I can't be certain how, but the underground card masters knew too. That's how Gabriel Loravo found out. He's part of them."
Kairo felt like his breathing was turning erratic. He leaned on the table to catch himself.
Kairo was certain the underground card masters knew—because of what Selis Variant told him during their first meeting on that train. Her words echoed in his mind again:
....
"If you could notice that, it simply means you have awakened like the others. Indoctrinated to follow the rules like a little toy. So sad—you looked pretty handsome. I didn't want to damage such a face…"
....
"This is huge, what you're insinuating, Kairo. Maybe they had a reason for keeping it secret. Think about it. If a card with massive destructive potential was allowed to awaken in an unstable person... do you understand the consequences that could have? Remember what Celia told us at the rehabilitation center?" Nyx said.
"I don't know what all this means. But we're onto something big. First, let's find out where that bastard Gabriel Loravo is hiding. At least now we have a name. And maybe even more..."
Kairo and Nyx left the bazaar immediately afterward. Their destination: Fabian's office. According to Nyx, Fabian had another 'special' job as head of the espionage department. He had to monitor all those who left the Card Mage Police—just in case. Meaning he probably already knew where the surgeon was hiding, without even being aware of it.
Kairo and Nyx picked up the pace, walking so fast that Kairo didn't stop when Leli approached him.
"Can we talk, Kairo?" she asked.
"No, not now, Leli. We have important things to handle."
Oblivious to the expression on her face, Kairo was focused on Gabriel. That bastard was not going to escape him this time.
Kairo and Nyx arrived in Fabian's office. However, this time around, he wasn't alone. Given how dangerous the surgeon had become, it was everyone's problem now. Danzan sat leisurely in a chair while Mirelle waited near the glass window, arms crossed. Fabian was seated behind his desk. All the captains were present—except David Ortega.
"Good job, Kairo. I knew you would produce results," Mirelle said. Her expression, as always, was unreadable. Whether it was sincere praise or just formal acknowledgment, no one could tell.
"I can't wait to find out. Show us the bastard, Fabian," Danzan said eagerly, cracking his fingers. The moment they confirmed it was him, it was clear—no one would stop him.
"Here we go."
Fabian ejected a card from his wrist gadget and caught it effortlessly between his fingers. He placed it on the table and murmured a few words.
"Divine I am not, but my eyes are not far from that. Show me what I want to see—General's Eye."
The circuitry of the void came to life, flickering with green waves that painted the room in eerie shades. Slowly, a model of a faraway place was drawn midair. On it, the exact man from the picture Kairo had shown earlier appeared, carefully working on a patient at a table. The lingering blood at the edges made Kairo's body quiver.
Then the figure—almost as if he could feel eyes on him—lifted his head and glanced directly at the General's Eye. It was like he was standing right there in front of them, looking and smiling... harmlessly.
"It's him… oh man, you're dead. I wouldn't need a minute to get there," Danzan barked, springing to his feet, ready to bolt.
But Kairo waved him down, stopping everyone mid-action.
'What is it, Kairo?' their expressions all seemed to ask.
Kairo's face twisted into a self-mocking smile.
"That's not the surgeon," Kairo said, shocking everyone on the spot.
"What do you mean it's not him?"
"His eyes. Those eyes are not those of a monster. They're nothing compared to the devil's gaze I saw in the patient's trauma."
Kairo balled his fist.
"This is not the surgeon. The bastard is making fun of us. From the very beginning, everything was carefully planned. That's his twin."
Kairo slammed the table in anger. Everything was beginning to click in his mind.
"The surgeon didn't exactly escape the Card Mage Police. After getting Promised Result, he disappeared—wiped his existence clean—and left his twin behind to replace him. He led us to monitor this man, knowing that if he no longer existed, no one would suspect him. Not ever."