Setting
The Realm of Matterfall
Minimap
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The Morbus-verse is a part of 
Neo-Noir.
11 Characters Here
Su Min Park [184] A young, talented Forensic Investigator.
Amen Rodrigo De Silva [177] The force's best pilot. The disaffected detective. The man who spots the corruption in everything...
Meon Jong [163] A private eye looking to do right in a world he doesn't believe in.
Camilla 'Cammie" Janye [84] A former bounty hunter and vigilantee with a whip and a heart of gold.
James Kyo [83] A G.H.S.T. captain on a personal quest to leave his mark on the underbelly of Neo-Seoul as the final legacy of his family name.
Su-Ji Dikshil [40] The newly promoted commissioner of police, looking to restore peace to a corrupt city.
Taku Saito [39] Disgraced Police sniper from Neo-Tokyo hellbent on restoring his name.
Iya Matamis [27] A tired soul wasting day after day, wishing for change but remaining ever stagnant.
NIA [3] A bleeding-edge android with an organic brain. Designed by Lunars as a sentient legal loophole.
Keao Lani [0] A woman with a murderer to catch.
Start Character Here »
Meon Jong began to drive as the woman beside him went over the case files, the darkness of the city creeping out as they emerged from the N.S.P.A. parking garage. Though the sky couldn't be seen from the depths of downtown it could be felt- the sunlight light that usually krept through the skyways and roads and building arches replaced by artificial adverts lighting up the spaces- bright, blinding so, but not nearly as bright as the sun.
"My contact got back to me," Jong interrupted as Park recited boring case notes. "He knows where the crime scene is. He also knows who the only witness to one of the murders is... Neo-Puna man on a teacher's visa, goes by the name Johnny Radish." Jong glanced up at Park. "Still don't have an address on him, think your friends in tech can search him up?"
***
"Wow," A Korean man in the park lot said, wiping away the sweat on his brow as he glared at Amen's car. "Employees only!" With a grunt he pulled out his phone and began to dial the police....
"My contact got back to me," Jong interrupted as Park recited boring case notes. "He knows where the crime scene is. He also knows who the only witness to one of the murders is... Neo-Puna man on a teacher's visa, goes by the name Johnny Radish." Jong glanced up at Park. "Still don't have an address on him, think your friends in tech can search him up?"
***
"Wow," A Korean man in the park lot said, wiping away the sweat on his brow as he glared at Amen's car. "Employees only!" With a grunt he pulled out his phone and began to dial the police....
Amen glanced up from sorting through his smart-watch apps at the disgruntled employee, with a mildly irritated expression that soon turned to one of bemusement. "Lemme ask you a question...do you like your job?" Amen asked, not giving him the time to answer before stating. "Of course you fuckin' don't. But lemme ask you a better question. You like gettin' paid?"
The employee glared at Amen, rage on his face. "You gonna' pay me for my parking spot?" He asked with a crooked smile, adjusting his glasses.
Su-min tapped silently on her holopad, bringing up a number and promptly calling it, "Hello, Department of Immigration this is Investigator Park from the N.S.P.A," she paused to let them search up her ID, "I need to know about a witness to a case we're in the middle of. Neo-Punian, on a teachers visa, name is Johnny...Radish."
Amen erupted in laughter. "NAH! I mean you're gonna let me take your parking spot if you wanna stay gettin' paid!"
***
"......" the silent response on the other line responded, Su-Min amd Jong hearing nothing except static. After a minute or two Su-Min would hear her own name be echoed by an electronic voice confirming her ID. There was another period of silence before and angry bored sounding woman responded, "Johnny Radish, huh?" The old woman repeated, unconvinced. After a moment a familiar bing popped on from the other side as the woman stated in surprise, "Oh, he's....he's real. You'll find him in Inje Midtown," she continued, her shock apparent. "District 11," she added later as if Su-Min didn't know.
Su-Min was then forwarded an address, as the police line hung up without so much as another word.
***
"......" the silent response on the other line responded, Su-Min amd Jong hearing nothing except static. After a minute or two Su-Min would hear her own name be echoed by an electronic voice confirming her ID. There was another period of silence before and angry bored sounding woman responded, "Johnny Radish, huh?" The old woman repeated, unconvinced. After a moment a familiar bing popped on from the other side as the woman stated in surprise, "Oh, he's....he's real. You'll find him in Inje Midtown," she continued, her shock apparent. "District 11," she added later as if Su-Min didn't know.
Su-Min was then forwarded an address, as the police line hung up without so much as another word.
The employee gritted his teeth. "I'm gonna report your, scumbag! You immigrants don't rule the city, ya' know!" The employee spat at Amen's feet before turning toward the barbecue, to get the manager. A few other's in the parking lot laughed or commented at the sight.
"113 Dokso street, Inje," Park relayed to Jong who was illegally playing games on his phone while driving, "He should be home from work, by now."
Jong rose an eyebrow. "Alright, let's drop by the crime scene first, we're ten minutes out," Jong muttered as he squinted beneath the city lights. "Then we can pay Mister Radish a visit.
Scene of Un-Magnus' Murder, District 1 - Downtown
4:24 P.M.
Jong's car pulled up, having finally circled and found street-parking. The street was bright, lit up, and lined with a dozen or so citizens, perusing the pawn shops, restaurants, and second-hand stores. They were far away from the tourist lit heart of downtown, but this was still a fairly high profile location for a murder. Jong stepped out of his car, igniting his cigar and glancing around. At the alleyway a police line was set up, two N.S.P.A. robots standing guard as the holographic CRIME SCENE- RESTRICTED AREA flashed behind them, blocking the alleyway off.
"Show them your badge," Jong muttered as they stepped forward. "Get these bucketheads out of here."
Scene of Un-Magnus' Murder, District 1 - Downtown
4:24 P.M.
Jong's car pulled up, having finally circled and found street-parking. The street was bright, lit up, and lined with a dozen or so citizens, perusing the pawn shops, restaurants, and second-hand stores. They were far away from the tourist lit heart of downtown, but this was still a fairly high profile location for a murder. Jong stepped out of his car, igniting his cigar and glancing around. At the alleyway a police line was set up, two N.S.P.A. robots standing guard as the holographic CRIME SCENE- RESTRICTED AREA flashed behind them, blocking the alleyway off.
"Show them your badge," Jong muttered as they stepped forward. "Get these bucketheads out of here."
Park gave him a look of indignation, talking to her as if she were a first day recruit. She reluctantly pulled out her badge and flashed it at the robots. They paused, circuits and nodes whirring, before stepping aside and allowing her to step in, feeling naked without her gear and only one other person around. Su-min turned and waited for Jong to follow into the scene of the crime.
Jong laughed, pushing past the android's guarding the crime scene and entering. It was a small, tight space- the two buildings on each end spiraling high above them, and the alley stopping at a dead end. The ground was clean, but in glowing chalk an outline was drawn around what appeared to be a man the ground, though several limbs were missing and spread out across the crime scene. The body was now covered with a grey N.S.P.A. police cloth. Outlined footprints attached, seeming to mainly go from the body to a nearby dumpster, and back again. Faintly outlined were a second set of footprints, high-heels, walking in a straight line from the body out of the alley. "This is where he ate the victim," Jong muttered, looking down at the outline. "We don't have the case notes yet but I'm assuming he didn't leave much to be collected."
Jong rose an eyebrow. "No murder weapon found, and without an autopsy we can't be sure he used weapons..." Jong glanced up at the camera at the back of the alley. "But somehow he did all this without showing up in the city's eyes."
Jong moved toward the dumpster and glanced it. It was also wiped clean, though several spots were outlined where pieces of bone and body were discovered. "Nothing here, either."
Jong turned back to Park. Other then the camera and a wall computer mounted under a plastic rain shield the alley was bare, empty.
Jong rose an eyebrow. "No murder weapon found, and without an autopsy we can't be sure he used weapons..." Jong glanced up at the camera at the back of the alley. "But somehow he did all this without showing up in the city's eyes."
Jong moved toward the dumpster and glanced it. It was also wiped clean, though several spots were outlined where pieces of bone and body were discovered. "Nothing here, either."
Jong turned back to Park. Other then the camera and a wall computer mounted under a plastic rain shield the alley was bare, empty.
"They were lazy," Su-min shook her head, pulling out black gloves and a grey mask and slipping them on before kneeling beside the body. Her eyes instantly went to the socket where an arm should be, studying the skin and the type of tear it was - was the limb removed by a sharp blade, a dull blade, or perhaps by sheer force? She also studied the body's fingernails, looking to see if the victim had struggled and managed to catch any DNA from the perpetrator.
Though several damaged the body was clearly of a middle-aged Korean man, his ruined suit finely tailored. His nails had no sign of a struggle but were perfectly cut, dirtless. There was no struggle. The most work seemed to have happened on the face, the jaw mutilated beyond recognition- more so than the rest of the body, by far, which was simply cut and ripped apart.
"Check his pockets," Jong called as he wandered over to the wall-computer. "See if you can gank anything."
"Check his pockets," Jong called as he wandered over to the wall-computer. "See if you can gank anything."
"They're likely already cleaned out, but sure," Su-min glared at Jong for a moment, before moving her gloved hands over his inner suit pockets and pant pockets, searching for any clue...
They were cleaned out. Jong was a fool.
Jong leaned against the computer, drunkenly touching the keyboard and trying to activate it. A screen popped up, showing it to be some sort of maintenance computer for the Platypus Pawn Shop, though it was tightly locked down. Jong frowned. "Need some sort of hacker for this one," He sighed. "What's the verdict, detective? He looks pretty gnarled up, huh?"
Jong leaned against the computer, drunkenly touching the keyboard and trying to activate it. A screen popped up, showing it to be some sort of maintenance computer for the Platypus Pawn Shop, though it was tightly locked down. Jong frowned. "Need some sort of hacker for this one," He sighed. "What's the verdict, detective? He looks pretty gnarled up, huh?"
Park ignored Jong and moved her hands to the remaining leg on the body, taking off a clean, black shoe and patting down the sock...
The man's stinking, ice cold foot met Park's hand as she patted down the man's primitive appendage. On the side of the heel was a hard, square box a small light shinning through the silk stitched fabric. Park fished it out of the dead man's foot to find a tracker, Korean made, hidden away. Who was tracking it, they didn't know.
"I own a couple of those," Jong muttered as he approached the body. "They're not cheap. This man had money." Jong blinked down at the body. "Our killer didn't put a tracker on the body, a cannibal doesn't need to see where the cops transport the corpse of their victims. Someone knew he was walking into danger. Someone was trying to monitor his movement."
"I own a couple of those," Jong muttered as he approached the body. "They're not cheap. This man had money." Jong blinked down at the body. "Our killer didn't put a tracker on the body, a cannibal doesn't need to see where the cops transport the corpse of their victims. Someone knew he was walking into danger. Someone was trying to monitor his movement."
"Someones on the other side of that tracker, and you don't put a tracker on someone unless you think they might not go where you think they're going," Jong replied. "I think this man was lured here. He knew it was dangerous, maybe he told the wife, a friend, they decided to put a tracker on him..." Jong swallowed. "And somehow he died anyway."
The Korean woman glanced down at the body, a slight frown on her face. She dropped the tracker into an evidence bag, "I have one more thing I'd like to check..."
Park pulled a plastic pack with needles out of her satchel, ripping one out and attaching it to a syringe. She adjusted where she was sitting and entered the needle into a vein, ejecting the cold, dead blood from the mans body. With a pop she placed a cap on the needle and dropped the evidence into a plastic bag, standing, "I'll analyze it when we get back to the office. It might be the only piece of DNA we get from this case and I want to check the blood for drugs."
She swallowed, gently folding the plastic sheet back over the body, "Otherwise we should get going. They'll be here soon for the body..." Park muttered, "We were lucky they didn't follow proper protocol. Don't think the Commissioner will be as pleased to hear it."
Park pulled a plastic pack with needles out of her satchel, ripping one out and attaching it to a syringe. She adjusted where she was sitting and entered the needle into a vein, ejecting the cold, dead blood from the mans body. With a pop she placed a cap on the needle and dropped the evidence into a plastic bag, standing, "I'll analyze it when we get back to the office. It might be the only piece of DNA we get from this case and I want to check the blood for drugs."
She swallowed, gently folding the plastic sheet back over the body, "Otherwise we should get going. They'll be here soon for the body..." Park muttered, "We were lucky they didn't follow proper protocol. Don't think the Commissioner will be as pleased to hear it."
"The Commissioner is already taking a risk with us," Jong replied, the ash from his cigar falling and contaminating the crime scene. "She'll only be upset if it doesn't work." Jong looked at Park. "Still time to get to talk to Radish. The only thing that I'm worried about is the prints." Jong pointed down. "There are two sets. Our wolfman... and high heels. You saw the body, you think it could have been an ambush?"
Park shrugged, staring at him, "I'm not the detective, you are. But yes it's possible. Our senior wolfman had aliases, it's how he evaded the eye of the police for so long. I'd garner that our wolfman is doing the same thing, though someone who wears heals usually isn't too stressed about being caught, or getting in and out of a scene quickly and quietly. Seems like they were confident enough about the murder to be fashionable."
"In full view of a camera," Jong muttered. "Confident enough they wouldn't be seen." Jong touched his chin. "Johnny Radish was the only witness to one of these murders. He hasn't yet been interviewed, it's possible he could be our man. We should call someone... maybe Kyo, let him know we're going to talk to Radish in case things go wrong."
"You think something will go wrong?" Park asked, and for a split second there was worry, fear, on her face.
Minutes later, the doors of the Galbi Palace opened, letting the other customers in the parking lot in. The door was opened by a heavy set Korean man with slicked back hair and thin but visible scar off of his forehead. His attire was a very formal looking chefs uniform. One glance at him and one could immediately tell he was the proprietor of the restaurant, Curtis Soo, known to a select group of people as Don Soo. Behind him was the waiter who had filed the complaint.
"Come in, come in...we're gonna be extending happy hour today to commemorate our new drink menu, so please, enjoy," Don Soo smiled proudly as the last of the customers outside, barring Amen, let themselves in. He then motioned for the waiter behind him to walk outsid, to which he complied.
Don Soo took a glance at Amen, who had parked in a space right in front of the restaurant. "So this is the troublemaker, huh?" He asked his employee.
"Come in, come in...we're gonna be extending happy hour today to commemorate our new drink menu, so please, enjoy," Don Soo smiled proudly as the last of the customers outside, barring Amen, let themselves in. He then motioned for the waiter behind him to walk outsid, to which he complied.
Don Soo took a glance at Amen, who had parked in a space right in front of the restaurant. "So this is the troublemaker, huh?" He asked his employee.