Content Notice: This chapter contains depictions of a murder scene, blood, and disturbing themes.

Around 1 PM of Day 276. that day, Victoria, Lili, and Alice sat the diner. It wasn't quite the usual rush, but there were a few more people than yesterday—about five others scattered around. They sat at a table, obviously. Extra portions sat in metal carriers, one for them and one for their families.

Victoria offered to bring the food herself—faster and safer, but Lili insisted on going. I need to see people, she said. The killer hadn't struck yesterday, she pointed out, so why not take the chance? And with the three of them together, nothing would happen to them.

As they sat, eating and talking, Lili began reminiscing about Bertolt. She smiled as she recalled how creative he was, the kind of games he liked to play. It was a nice, bittersweet memory. Victoria didn't really remember Bertolt as funny, but Lili insisted he was. Maybe it was a different version of him that she'd never seen. Either way, it didn't matter much.

The diner was quiet, but there were a few people. One of them was Lukas Hermann, the soldier from the murder site. He sat near them, eating by himself. Lili seemed to tense up when she saw him. There was a noticeable discomfort in her voice when she muttered something about him.

Lili's irritation, or perhaps just her general unease, caused her to spill a small amount of her drink on her blouse—hibiscus tea, a reddish shade. It was just a tiny spill, barely noticeable, but enough to frustrate her. She couldn't stand it, the feeling of that stain on her shirt. She stood up abruptly, holding her drink in her hand and the bagged meals under her arm. "I'll be back in a minute," she said, heading for her room to change.

Victoria nd Alice exchanged a quick uneasy look. "Lili, it's dangerous." Victoria said. "The killer could be nearby."

Lili waved them off dismissively. "I'm fine. I'll be quick". The tiny stain on her shirt disturbed her so much that, even with the threat of a loose killer nearby couldn't stop her.

Five minutes later, just as Victoria and Alice were finishing up their meal, they heard a scream—a woman's voice, calling for help. The emergency lights above the diner flickered on, flashing red and green. The alarm rang out, and the few people still in the diner rushed to see what was happening.

Victoria and Alice were among the first to get there. They pushed through the door into the narrow hallway that led to the bathrooms. Inside, they found a body—another victim, this time a woman—late 30s, early 40s. She wasn't young, but she wasn't old. She was bare-chested with a deep cut in her neck. Her skin was still warm.

Across her chest, the word "RUINED" was carved. The wounds were messy, crude. And, like the others, she was an amputee—missing one leg and with an upgraded arm. A medical cane was nearby. It seemed the killer had been rushed or distracted.

But there was something else. A drink, spilled near her body. It was red, a different shade from the blood. Most people didn't notice it. But Victoria did. It was similar to what Lili was drinking earlier.

A few minutes later, Lili reappeared, wearing a new shirt. She looked around and gasped when she saw the body. "Oh my god, what happened?" she asked in shock.

"Another one." Alice replied, her voice tight. She kept her eyes on Lili as she said it, though. Something about this felt off.

Victoria turned to Lili. "What happened to your drink?" she asked, not sure why she was asking, but needing to know.

"I finished it." Lili said, shrugging. "Why do you ask, silly?"

Victoria didn't press. "Nothing. Forget it."

Lili glanced at the body again, then said with a little too much interest. "Hmm, she's quite a bit younger, isn't she?"

Victoria responded. "Yeah. It's like the killer is changing things up, to avoid getting caught."

"Why do you think about it so much?" Lili asked, laughing nervously. "Oh my god, is it you? Are you the killer?"

Victoria gave a dry laugh. "It's too obvious not to notice."

At that moment, Erdmann Warner, the leader of the elected council appeared, responding to the panic alarm. He glanced around before walking over to the body. He didn't address anyone directly. As he crouched down, his eyes quickly took in the details, particularly the shade of red mixed with the blood. He dipped two fingers in the liquid and brought them to his nose, sniffing them. He examined the body carefully before removing his coat and covering her bare chest.

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