Chapter 1 “Social Snobbery” Part 1

Location- Industrial Warehouse

(Early in the morning, a bustle of movement disturbed the quiet night at a raw chemical warehouse situated in Stellis City’s Industrial Zone. A group of warehouse clerks that should have been on break opened the warehouse doors as they manned robots that lugged barrel after barrel of raw materials which were loaded on carts.)

(The man called Raven moved to hide himself behind storage containers, and adjusted his night-vision goggles, turning on thermal imaging.)

(Raven tapped on his earpiece three times and silenced it. The voice in the comms was effectively cut with it.)

(The reprimanded clerk scratched their neck and went quiet. Soon after, the raw materials were loaded into the truck, and they drove away. The opening and closing of the warehouse doors, and even the workers’ small dispute, was semi-audible through Raven’s earpiece. His brows furrowed. He must have picked up something in their conversation… either that, or he was simply dissatisfied with the quality of his gear.)

(His fingers were like a blur as he typed away on his smart watch, pulling up information on the warehouse owners. Raven pressed his earpiece, and sent his last transmission of the night.)

Without waiting for a confirmation on the other end, Raven turned and stalked away with the stealth of a black leopard, fading into the pitch black tar of the night…

~~~~~~

Location- Outside the Law Firm

(It’s Saturday morning, and the CBD building is quiet. Compared to the usual hub hub from workers rushing about on a business day, the silent streets were quite unsettling.)

(Just as I walked through the office doors, I nearly crashed into a deliveryman as he halted me on the way to the dessert shop.)

Little Intro:- ...

Bio ALIAS:- Rosa SEX:- Female AGE:- 24 HEIGHT:- ?cm OCCUPATION:- Attorney

"Appearance" She has shoulder-length brown hair that is braided and tied with a ribbon. She normally dons a formal work attire with a red cardigan. However, she also wears different attires.

Personality Throughout the story, She is seen to have a just and righteous personality. As a lawyer working at Themis Law firm, she has a strong moral compass that leads her in making upright decisions. In one of drawings released by Mihoyo, it is also hinted that She represents Themis — the Goddess of Justice. She is also a hardworking individual, who refuses to rest when she is unable to close cases. However, sometimes she is portrayed as a workaholic who is married to her work. She is also very smart and knowledgeable in many areas. She is able to observe details and make the correct judgement, and has some background knowledge in music. Other than that, She is also a kind hearted person who is helpful to many. This can be seen through how she never hesitates to help those in need.

Trivia:- • She learns the violin since young, and was the first place in a competition • She's parents specialise in bioengineering (or another similar profession) • She's codename in NXX is Rosa, which is 蔷薇 in Chinese. • She was the top in school after Luke left. • She is hinted to be not scared of ghosts. • She takes the humanities stream in high school (文科)

Back to Story

~~~~~~

Location- Zuo Ran’s Office

(I-is this the Zuo Ran I’ve come to know? The chief of Themis, the youngest elite lawyer in the industry, Zuo Ran? He sat, slouched in the leather chair, as the first rays of the morning sun shone through the windows and onto his face, but it did little to erase the fatigue that had settled between his brows. At this moment, he appeared almost as if he were a traveler who had just returned from a perilous and long journey, and had finally put down his heavy bags and had a moment to breathe. But not before the weariness settled in.)

(Zuo Ran loosened his tie and sighed. Compared to his usual immaculately pressed suit, seeing him like this was like unlocking something that wasn’t meant to be seen by others.)

~~~

[Investigate Zuo Ran’s tie]

~~~

[Investigate books]

~~~

[Investigate papers]

~~~

(Zuo Ran pressed his temples as his brows knit together.)

(Zuo Ran’s voice sounded raspy. It seems like he is mustering up strength just to respond to my questions.)

~~~

Location- Break Room

(An enticing aroma wafted from the coffee maker. Just as I was preparing Zuo Ran’s mug, someone’s device started vibrating.)

(The notifications were coming from a tablet beside the coffee maker. I pressed the power button, and the screen lit up to life.)

~~~

[Investigate notification]

~~~

[Investigate passcode]

~~

[Investigate back of tablet]

~~~~~~

(Just as I was about to set the tablet down, the screen lit up with yet another notification.)

~~~~~~

Location- Zuo Ran’s Office

(By the time I came back, Zuo Ran had begun to organize the case files. He was focused as he poured over the information, and the fountain pen between his fingers did not rest as it took notes and circled important details. Judging by the parcel wrapping in his trash bin, I’m guessing he has already begun looking into the new case. I carefully brush aside some of the documents and place the coffee mug by his hand.)

(The office doorbell suddenly rang.)

~~~~~~

Location- Themis Law Firm’s Reception Area

(By the front door, a man and a woman are arguing.)

(Suddenly, the man named Lu HaiYang stepped toward Xue XinRan and grabbed her wrist.)

(I separated the two, and pushed XinRan behind me.)

——-

*To Be Continued*

Tears of Themis : Chapter 1 “Social Snobbery” Part 3

▌ Location-Themis Law Firm’s Reception Area

(My arrival seemed to have made Lu HaiYang lose his will to fight. He hesitated and left without causing more trouble. After he left, Xue XinRan let out the sigh she had been holding and crumpled to the floor. I hurriedly called for Zuo Ran, and we helped her into the office.)

~~~

▌ Location-Break Room

(Bader Law Firm is Stellis City’s largest law firm. Ever since their so-called ‘trump card’ lawyers lost a case to Zuo Ran, Bader has considered us to be their biggest competitor, and never misses a chance to bump heads. Honestly, no one at Thermis has taken it to heart, although it sure looks like the other party’s pride has been sorely wounded…)

~~~ Interrogation Start! ~~~

[The interrogation section requires you to ask about certain topics until you receive the required about of clues (this chapter requires 3 clues). All others are extra information about the case.]

▌ [About the man at the reception area]

[Flashback]

[Flashback Ends]

▌ [More about the Incident] (Receive ‘Incident Appraisal Report’)

[Flashback]

[Flashback ends]

▌ [About past entanglements] (Receive ‘Promotion Refusal File’)

▌ [About the affected customers] (Receive ‘Customers’ Medical Records’)

▌ [About other sponsees’ attitudes]

▌ [About the pesticides used in the restaurant]

▌ [About employee]

~~~ End of investigation! ~~~

(Xue XinRan pulled an envelope out of her canvas bag and pushed it in front of Lawyer Zuo and I. I opened the envelope and pulled out a stack of banknotes - about a thousand dollars. Everyone has been favoring electronic payment methods, yet Xue XinRan, she…)

(The envelope in my hand suddenly felt heavy. Zuo Ran took the envelope out of my hands and handed it back to Xue XinRan with both hands and a gentle smile, something that I rarely see.)

(Just then, Zuo Ran’s cell phone started ringing. His expression soured as he checked the caller ID.)

(Zuo Ran bowed towards Xue XinRan, and left the break room in a hurry. Judging from the tight timeline of this case, I think I should start investigating immediately.)

(Zuo Ran was still in his office by the time Xue XinRan and I left the firm. I sent a quick text to let him know where we were headed.)

~~~

▌ Location- Zuo Ran’s Office

(In the office, Zuo Ran was on the phone, and he was furious.)

——-

*To Be Continued*

Tears of Themis : Chapter 1 “Social Snobbery” Part 5

▌ Location- Commerce Avenue

(As we approached the restaurant, Xue XinRang suddenly pulled me toward a side road.)

(I’m guessing it’s to be expected in the CBD area, but even the less frequented side roads are kept meticulously. The entranceway had a comforting atmosphere, as a light breeze picked up the delicate scent of camellias kept in flowerpots.)

(After we rounded the bend, I stood still in place. We came face to face with someone who felt both familiar, yet foreign. He resided in every single one of my precious childhood memories, and yet, he had disappeared from my life eight years ago without a trace.)

(He turned at the sound of my voice as his amber eyes widened in shock, recognition, and finally, lit up with joy.)

(He ran toward me, and his bright smile instantly took me back to a sunny afternoon, eight years ago…)

[Flashback]

(The warm summer winds that rustled through the trees, and the birds that perched on its branches filled the skies with a lazy song. The colorful years of childhood melded away as our voices changed, but now, the memory only grew clearer in my mind…)

▌ [Examine Xia Yan’s face]

▌ [Examine Xia Yan’s key necklace]

▌ [Examine Xia Yan’s book]

▌ [Examine the window]

[Flashback ends]

(Our promise to each other lies in the past, so why does it feel like we’ve only said goodbye yesterday? It turns out, our childhood memories are ingrained in my heart, where a mere eight years apart would do little to erase it…)

(I was about to ask him the same thing, looks like he beat me to it.)

(Xia Yan reached out and he tried to grab hold of my wrist. When we were little, this was his method of begging for forgiveness when I would jokingly pretend to be upset with him. But today…)

(His hand paused midway, and he quickly pulled it behind his back.)

(Perhaps my enthusiasm was contagious as Xia Yan’s body gradually relaxed again.)

(Xia Yan flinched, but smiled at me once more.)

(My gaze wandered and settled on the Sherlock pendant Xia Yan wore, and it clicked in my mind.)

——-

*To Be Continued*