The snow had grown heavier.
By midnight the city streets were almost empty, covered in a quiet white silence that made everything feel slower… colder.
But inside the temporary investigation office, the atmosphere was anything but calm.
Four red markers now stood on the large city map.
Day One — Police Station Explosion.
Day Two — Officer Mark Dalton.
Day Three — Harold Bennett, Records Department.
And somewhere in the city—Day Four was about to begin.
Detective Laura Hayes stood near the table staring at the map.
"Three victims," she said quietly.
"And we still don't know who he is."
Across the room Detective Rudra Sen was typing rapidly on a laptop.
"We checked every officer connected to those victims."
He sighed.
"No clear connection."
Laura turned toward the window.
"Then why target them?"
No one answered.Because the only person who might know—Was currently standing outside.
—
Mr. Endless walked slowly along the quiet sidewalk outside the building.
Snowflakes landed softly on his coat.His pale eyes moved across the dark city streets.Watching.Calculating.
The killer had established a pattern.And patterns always had weaknesses.
Mr. Endless stopped walking.His eyes narrowed slightly.Across the street—
A man stood beside a vending machine.
He appeared ordinary.Black coat.Hands in pockets.Head lowered.But something about him felt… wrong.
Mr. Endless studied him for several seconds.Then calmly crossed the street.
The man noticed.And immediately turned away.He began walking quickly down the road.
Mr. Endless didn't run.He simply followed.
Step by step.The distance between them remained constant.
Two blocks later the man turned into a narrow street.But when Mr. Endless reached the corner—The street was empty.Only snow and silence remained.
He looked around calmly.Then his eyes stopped on something near a streetlamp.
A small object tied to the pole.A gold Christmas ornament.Mr. Endless walked toward it slowly.
Inside the glass ornament was another folded note.He removed it carefully.
The message read:
Day Four begins.
Below the message—Another line.
Try to keep up, Mr. Endless.
Mr. Endless's expression remained calm.But his eyes sharpened.
"So you're watching me too."
He slipped the note back into the ornament.
Then looked at the street again.The man who placed it had vanished completely.
But the message was clear.The killer had finally spoken directly to him.The game had begun.
—
Inside the investigation office—
Laura looked up as Mr. Endless returned.
"You disappeared."
Mr. Endless placed the ornament on the table.
Laura frowned.
"What is that?"
Rudra leaned closer.
"Another decoration?"
Mr. Endless unfolded the note.Laura read it silently.Then exhaled slowly.
"He's challenging you."
Rudra looked surprised.
"Specifically you."
Mr. Endless nodded.
"Yes."
Laura crossed her arms.
"Why?"
Mr. Endless looked at the map again.
"Because he knows I'm close."
Rudra blinked.
"Close to what?"
Mr. Endless didn't answer immediately.
Instead he took a red marker and drew a larger circle on the map.
"This is the killer's hunting ground."
Then he placed a fourth point.Right in the center.
Laura frowned.
"You think the next attack will happen there?"
Mr. Endless nodded.
"Yes."
Rudra looked skeptical.
"That's the Central Christmas Market."
Laura's eyes widened slightly.
The Christmas Market was the busiest place in the city during December.Hundreds of people gathered there every night.
If a bomb exploded there—The casualties would be catastrophic.Laura grabbed her radio immediately.
"Alert all units."
"We're moving to the Christmas Market."
—
Twenty minutes later.
The Christmas Market glowed with warm lights and festive decorations.Children laughed.Music played from nearby speakers.
Couples walked between stalls selling gifts and hot chocolate.
It looked like a perfect winter celebration.But hidden among the crowd—A killer moved silently.
His eyes scanned the market calmly.In his pocket rested a small remote device.
The bomb had already been planted beneath the central stage.
A perfect location.Maximum visibility.Maximum fear.He checked his watch.
12:07 AM.
Time for Day Four.
But before he could press the button—
A calm voice spoke behind him.
"You chose a crowded place."
The killer froze.Slowly he turned.
Mr. Endless stood a few meters away.Snowflakes drifted between them.The killer studied him carefully.
"…impressive."
His voice was calm.
Almost amused.
"You found it faster than I expected."
Mr. Endless's eyes were cold.
"The bomb is under the stage."
The killer smiled faintly.
"Correct."
Laura and several officers suddenly appeared from the crowd.
Guns raised.
"Don't move!" Laura shouted.
But the killer didn't panic.
Instead he looked at Mr. Endless again.
"You really are interesting."
Mr. Endless spoke calmly.
"You enjoy attention."
The killer tilted his head.
"And you enjoy solving puzzles."
Their eyes locked.Two minds measuring each other.
The killer lifted the small remote device.One press.Hundreds could die.
Laura's voice turned urgent.
"Drop it!"
But the killer ignored her.He looked only at Mr. Endless.
"What will you do now?"
Mr. Endless didn't move.Instead he spoke quietly.
"You won't press it."
The killer raised an eyebrow.
"Confident."
Mr. Endless nodded.
"Yes."
"Why?"
Mr. Endless answered calmly.
"Because the bomb isn't real."
Silence.
The killer's smile slowly faded.
Laura looked confused.
"What?"
Mr. Endless continued speaking.
"The ornament message was too obvious."
"You wanted us here."
He pointed toward the stage.
"But the real attack was never the bomb."
The killer's eyes sharpened slightly.
Mr. Endless finished calmly.
"You wanted to test my deduction speed."
The killer stared at him.Then slowly—He laughed.A quiet, genuine laugh.
"Excellent."
He placed the remote device into his pocket.
"Correct."
Laura shouted,
"Arrest him!"
But before the officers could move—A loud smoke explosion erupted nearby.
Thick gray smoke filled the market.People screamed and scattered in panic.
When the smoke cleared—The killer was gone.
Only footprints remained in the snow.Laura cursed under her breath.
"He escaped!"
Rudra looked around frantically.
"He vanished!"
But Mr. Endless remained perfectly calm.
Laura looked at him.
"You're not surprised."
Mr. Endless shook his head.
"No."
"Why?"
Mr. Endless looked toward the rooftops above the market.
"Because he never intended to stay."
Laura frowned.
"Then what was the point of all this?"
Mr. Endless answered quietly.
"The introduction."
Laura stared at him.
"Introduction?"
Mr. Endless's eyes returned to the snowy city.
"Yes."
He spoke softly.
"Tonight wasn't Day Four."
Laura blinked.
"What?"
Mr. Endless finished calmly.
"…it was the beginning of the real game."
Far above them—On a distant rooftop—The killer watched the scene below.A faint smile crossed his face.
"Very good, Mr. Endless."
He turned and disappeared into the snowy darkness.And somewhere deep in the city—
Another ornament was already waiting.
Day Four had only just begun.