Chapter 1: The Message – "We Exist"
Tokyo, Japan – 10:00 AM
Another boring morning.
I didn't sleep well last night either.
But what good can one expect in the life of a 19-year-old detective like me?
I turned on the television, hoping to catch the morning news.
"Welcome to NHK World-Japan. Today's top headline...""A massive explosion rocked Tokyo Plaza early this morning. As of now, over 300 people have been reported injured and at least 150 confirmed dead. Rescue operations are still ongoing."
A blast... that huge?
And we—Japan's intelligence—had no idea?
"Aspect, have you seen the news?"
"Yes," I replied, eyes still glued to the screen.
"A devastating attack like this... and no intel? Nothing at all?"
"Forget the screen. Look outside your house."
"What?"
I stepped out and looked.
Crowds. Signs. Rage.
People were flooding the streets.
"We want justice!"
"They're protesting," the voice continued.
"Don't worry, it's peaceful.
No violence... yet.""Peaceful? You call this peaceful?" I muttered.
"You know how much pressure we're under? Business tycoons. Ministers.
Left-wing politicians. Right-wing leaders. All of them screaming for answers."
"Calm down."
It was the Chief Secretary of Japan's Intelligence Agency—Akira Kurosawa.
"I've sent you the location. Get to the office. Fast."
"Understood, Chief. Give me five minutes."
---
After all the survivors were rescued, our agents combed the entire blast site at Tokyo Plaza. Amid the debris, we found something unusual—charred pieces of paper.
Not fully burnt... partially intact.
We pieced them together.
What we found...
"We Exist"
That's all it said.
I stared at the words.
"What does it mean?"
"That's why we called you here," Kurosawa said.
"Can you tell us anything from this, Aspect?"
I picked up the paper. Cold. Burnt edges. But the message was clear.
"This..." I said, eyes narrowing. "This is a code. A phrase."
"A code?"
"Yes. A cipher used only between the Japan Intelligence Division and the U.S. Intelligence Agency."
Kurosawa's eyes widened.
"So... what does it mean?"
I looked at him.
"It means what it says—'We exist.'"
"In other words, someone—or some group—is declaring that they're still alive. Still active."
"But who?" Kurosawa asked.
I slid the paper into my coat pocket.
"Leave that to me. I'll find out who sent this message, what it means... and why now."
"Understood. As you wish, Aspect."
---
His name: Lior Ashen.
Code name: Aspect.
A legendary figure.
Not just Japan's greatest detective—but the world's.
Every mission he's taken... flawlessly executed. Not a single failure.
But now, he's been handed a case unlike any before.
A mission that could unravel the truth...
or destroy everything.