Chapter 3
Bumi wiped his eyes quickly, forcing himself to focus. "There has to be more…"
His fingers moved rapidly—switching angles, scrubbing timelines, opening every available camera feed tied to that night. One video after another, the same figure appeared. However, every single time he was censored. Black boxes followed the person whole, leaving behind only fragments and speculation of its movement.
Bumi leaned closer, his brows tightening. "…Why?"
That person had interacted with his father before everything happened. "They should be in the records…"
Yet, nothing came up. No name, no report, no trace; it's like they never existed.
Growing annoyed, Bumi opened a new tab. Search after search filled his screen.
"How to remove video censorship."
"Reverse blur AI."
"Recover hidden surveillance footage."
He read every forum, watched every tutorial and used every available online tool. However, nothing worked. Either the software crashed, or there was clickbait or closed forums with no answers; Bumi was making no progress.
"…Come on…" he muttered, frustration creeping in. "…Fine."
He navigated to the official Shin Tamasek Police portal and submitted a ticket. "Inquiry regarding unidentified individuals in released surveillance footage…"
Just a few minutes later, a notification popped up. "Ticket Updated."
Bumi immediately opened it.
"Thank you for reaching the Shin Tamasek Police portal. For security, privacy and safety reasons, those not involved in any criminal activity are censored.
If you suspect that we made a mistake or require further assistance, please contact our support hotline.
This ticket will now be closed."
"...That's it?"
He grabbed his phone and dialled. "Thank you for contacting Shin Tamasek Police Services—" A robotic voice replies, "—For enquiries regarding surveillance footage, do note only those involved in criminal cases will be shown. If you suspect there to be a mistake in censoring, please submit a ticket through our official website."
Bumi froze. "I just did that."
"Beep." Call ended.
He stared at his phone, then the screen. "What?"
Bumi felt like something was off; there is no way this issue has never been reported.
"Can it be a one-off? Are they hiding something?" Bumi starts speculating. He began downloading everything he could just in case the footage got taken down.
Getting desperate to find any sort of answers, he turned to the only other person he could…
Aurora's house sat just a short walk away. A row of small white minimalist bungalows, each lined with neatly trimmed plants: clean, organised and well maintained. In stark contrast to Bumi's ageing apartment block—its once-white walls now yellowed, vines creeping along the edges.
Bumi stood at her gate.
"…Right." He knocked.
No response except a series of noises.
"Clack."
"Rustle… rustle…"
"THUD!"
"…—ah!, Ow!"
Bumi blinked. "…What is she doing?"
"THUD!"
"—Give me a second! OW, OW, OW!"
Bumi winced slightly. "…She really hasn't changed…"
"Click!" The intercom buzzed to life.
"Ling Fam—Ouh… It's you." Her voice was flat and cold. "What do you want?"
Bumi straightened instinctively. "I need your help—"
"No."
"Aurora, just listen—" he tried to explain himself.
"I've heard enough." Her tone sharpened. "All this time, I was hoping you would learn to move on."
"But—" Bumi tries to muster a reply.
"But here you are," she continued, "still trying to prove your father isn't a murderer."
"I don't care what you think anymore. The truth is simple. He took stimulants, lost control, and my parents died because of him."
Bumi opened his mouth, attempting to respond; his guilt held him back.
"I have to study for the SSS entrance test." Her voice still lacking worth. "Goodnight."
"Beep..." The intercom cut.
Bumi stood there, silent.
"Damn," he repeated softly. He still can't get himself to properly face her.
Bumi decided to take a detour on his way home. If he's not getting help, he at least wants some snacks to distract himself.
On his way to the store, he turned into a narrow alley. A shortcut toward a convenience store. Although lacking cameras and light, it shortens his trip by half. Or at least it was meant to.
"Oi. Look who it is!" A voice called out, familiar but not friendly.
Bumi froze.
From the shadows, a group of three stepped out.
His old classmates.
"Well, if it isn't 0%." The biggest one of them snarked while the rest laughed. "I knew I recognised that face."
"How's it been? Are you still playing lawyer, defending your dad?" Chirped the smallest.
"Not surprising," the last added. "After all, what's the saying again? The apple doesn't fall from a tree? With how you lack Synarc, your pops probably had little to begin with."
"Are you guys hungry?" one of the bullies said, eyeing Bumi. His intention was clear. "It's my treat, guys; let me just withdraw some cash."
"Leave me alone." Bumi muttered.
"Leave you alone? Ha… You guys hear this? 0% here thinks he can tell us what to do." The biggest of the bunch retorts. "You know what? I'm feeling generous; kneel down and kiss our feet, apologise for telling us what to do and… heck, why not call yourself useless like your father? Maybe then we will just take your cash without hurting you."
Bumi clenched his fist. His anger swelling.
"All this time, I was hoping you would learn to move on." He recalls Aurora's words.
"Move on, huh?" His fists loosened. All the fight with him left just as quickly as it came. "I guess it would be best if I avoid being sent to the ER."
Slowly, he began to kneel.
"That's enough." A calm voice cut through the alley.
A man in his early thirties in casual clothing with slicked-back hair stepped forward. "Let him go, guys."
The bullies laughed. "Uncle, mind your own business."
"I just made this my business," the man replied calmly.
"…Fine, if you are that willing to be a victim too, then we will ask to take your money as a donation too."
"4% release." The bullies exclaimed. Circuit board patterns flickered beneath their feet.
"7% release." The man responds.
A system voice echoed overhead: "7% release authorised."
Circuit-like patterns spread across the ground; instead of flickering, it stays.
The bullies lunged, all casting various spells.
"Clink." The man flicked the coin into the air. "Cast—Enlarge."
The coin expanded instantly, forming a metallic wall, blocking the attack completely.
"Shrink." The barrier collapsed back into his hand
.
"Fling." This time he shot the coins forward. "Cast—Enlarge."
The coins expanded to the size of a pizza box mid-flight. The weight appears to have increased, but momentum is unaffected, making the impact pack a punch.
The bullies were sent flying before being pinned against the wall of the alleyway by the coins.
The man dusted his hand lightly. "Honestly… I hate overtime."
He turned slightly before bowing and apologising. "Sorry, that must have startled you. I'm from the SSS. Don't worry, you're in safe hands."
Bumi bowed repeatedly. "T-Thank you, sir—thank you so much—"
"It's my job," the man said simply. "Other than handling Syn Beast, it's the job of the SSS to also ensure Synarc isn't abused."
The man turns to the three semi-conscious bullies. "You three… just stay put for now. I had to work overtime to handle you guys, so it would be best if you don't annoy me further."
Bumi once again thanks him for everything.
"Hi kid, I apologise for eavesdropping, and I understand it's none of my business, but if that's what you truly believe in, that your father is innocent," the officer continued, "then don't let other people's beliefs shake yours.
Bumi froze, his eyes widened as he recalled words of his father's voice echoed in his mind.
Bumi clenched his fists. "Um… Sir, I have a question to ask."
Bumi, seeing this opportunity to talk to someone of authority with the potential to uncover the truth, took his chance. "I—there's something I need help with…"
The officer listened quietly, then shook his head. "I can't do much in this department. Not part of my job scope. I can help ask around though."
Bumi's expression fell slightly.
"Hmmm. However," the officer added, "there is another way."
Bumi looked up.
"If you become an SSS investigator, you'll gain access to restricted investigations. You could potentially pull up older records as an excuse to solve new cases."
Bumi's eyes lit up; there's a chance for him to uncover the truth.
"But to get there you need to pass the basic SSS examination. Unfortunately… that includes the basic SSS physical test." The officer said, stretching his head. "With 0 synarc resonances… uhhh… Good luck."
Knowing that there was still a chance to prove his innocence, something in Bumi changed. Hearing his father's words from someone else, knowing his dad is innocent and that not all hope is lost. He compares his life till now, directionless, meaningless and lonely. Now there is a path, some sort of way. "I'll do it."
His voice was steady, eyes determined. "I'll get in… I don't need Synarc."