Naomi was dumbfounded, as if she had been struck by lightning. Two worlds, Tellus and Aqua, besides a first world that came long before; two species, humans and aztecs; wars and the Adam’s Apple, the reason the Illuminatus is after Lied, the apple’s owner. In the end there was the bad guy, Nachash, who killed countless people.

“That’s awful…” Naomi spoke in a whisper.

“Yes” Varius agreed with her.

“You’re just as awful as him! Doing anything to get what you want…”

“Fair enough” Varius jumped down from the window and walked around wide-eyed Naomi “Don’t go thinking you’re innocent, though.”

“What do you mean?”

“There are no coincidences. We are all bound together, either by different or the same links. The sin… is shared.”

“Once again, what are you trying to say?!”

“You and Nachash are connected.”

“You mean we know each other?”

“The mind might forget, but the spirit won’t. The same goes for Lied…”

“Enough! Lied may be a bit cold fish and sometimes rude, but deep down he’s a kind person. Just… unlucky…”

“Really? Darkness or light, one shall bathe him before the other as the Lied you know, or that you believe to know, will change in a way that cannot be avoided.”

“Even if he does change, I’ll be at his side!”

“Naomi Setsuko…” Varius thought.

Varius usually doesn’t show his smile and yet he smiled softly. He turned his back to her as he prepared to leave.

“Why don’t you go find him?” Varius said.

“You know where Lied is?!” Naomi said.

“Go home and lie down, let your spirit guide you on the journey. You will most certainly get there.”

“Why are you telling me that? Is it part of your plans?”

“…No. Me being here with you has nothing to do with the organization.”

“Then… why?”

“I myself have a destiny to follow.”

And so Varius, as clear as mud, vanished into the blue.

 

…

 

Naomi arrived home. She remembered the red-headed child while lying on the bed. Could she also find him in this mysterious place where everyone seems to be gathering? She closed her eyes without wrapping herself up in the blanket.

 

…

 

A dimension where daylight doesn’t reach, the surface dark such as the endless walls that seem to stretch out into various hideous paths. Lied couldn’t be seen anywhere. A shiver went down her spine as it smelled like… death.

“Anybody here…?”

The walls threw back the echoes of her voice until four tall, thin figures came forth from the darkness at the same time. These scary critters had warped faces and sallow flesh.

“M-Monsters… I have to…” Naomi thought.

One of the creatures uttered a full, deep, prolonged cry while Naomi ran away as fast as she could. The girl turned her head slightly and noticed that they had caught up with her. Naomi tripped on the ground, thus becoming an easy prey… That’s when snakes strangled the monsters to death. She stood up and watched their corpses agape. Meanwhile, a worn-out, gray cloaked figure strode up to Naomi.

The hooded figure took its hood off, revealing a dark-skinned young man with dark green hair, whose eyes shone fiendishly as he asked:

“You are… alive, aren’t you?”

“Eh?”

 

…

 

In Ganeden, during the conversation between Lied and Zaccharias…

After teaming up with the Chains Man, Susumu changed his mind and headed back to the police station. Apparently, someone else had the same idea.

“Oh! Senpai! Pumped up for work as well?” Nemo waited by the entrance.

Nemo, too, intended to settle everything today. The Chains Man promised to watch from his lair until the right moment.

“Well, the case is… right, they still haven’t given us one yet!” Nemo laughed.

“Actually, I have a pending investigation that I’d like to resume. I'm referring to the recent incident which resulted in the death of two people and the disappearance of their son.”

“Wasn’t that case closed?”

“The police did write in the reports that the deaths were due to natural causes.”

“…To be honest, I wasn’t convinced either.”

Both detectives set out in search of clues as they were taken to the alley wherein Susumu along with Lied and Naomi met Martyr. While Susumu stared at the wall looking for hidden clues, Nemo started to lift his head full of confidence…

“It’s over for you, SENPAI!”

 

…

 

Nemo didn't understand what happened. A second ago he was about to wipe out Susumu's memories and now he found himself standing on a confined, gloomy space.

“His soul?” Nemo said very quietly.

“’Soul’… so that’s what you call this place” Susumu said.

“Susumu! Were you the one who brought me here?!”

Nemo felt a third presence as chains popped up next to the detective.

“No, I was.”

“W-What?!”

The Chains Man attacked him immediately with his chains. Nemo realized he was put at a disadvantage and forced open the soul’s exit.

 

…

 

Nemo managed to return to reality, however the Chains Man promptly enveloped him in chains and lifted him high up in the air. The linked metal rings clinked as they tightened around Nemo’s body, he couldn’t break out no matter how hard he tried.

“It is futile. These chains are unbreakable.”

“T-This is… Spirit Mode…! But Susumu shouldn’t be able to use it!”

Nemo looked at Susumu, the latter’s blue eyes flared up.

“Who are you?!”

“My name is Zosimus, an aztec like you.”

“What is an aztec doing inside a human?!”

“It’s a long story. Now, it looks like your Spirit Mode isn’t suited for fighting. If they were aware of who the opponent was, they’d have probably sent somebody else. Yeah, perhaps… that Martyr guy. Anyway, time to sleep, lil boy.”

The blood stopped flowing as Nemo passed out with no further resistance. Zosimus allowed the detective to take back control over his own body.

 

…

 

Susumu recalled from his soul his strategy meeting in the course of their fight.

“He is a Spirit Mode user, the power a person awakens when both body and spirit become one. By the way, ‘Visibility’ is one of several properties of the spirit” the Chains Man said.

“I see…” Susumu said.

Although pretty confused, the detective knew that there was no time for lengthy explanations.

“Spirit Mode users can only be defeated by other users. Luckily for us, I’m able to use it. Susumu, I need you to lend me your body temporarily.”

Susumu would refuse under normal circumstances, notwithstanding, he couldn’t win this duel on his own.

 

…

 

“You never told me your name” Susumu said.

“I didn’t consider it necessary” Zosimus smiled.

“’Zosimus’, huh? Unusual.”

“Thank you” the Chains Man thanked ironically.

 

…