Chapter Text
Zilch makes his way up the train station to the Amaterasu express, from having been sent on a mission from the world detective organization, one that requires him to go into the reclusive city of kanai ward. it’s especially odd that their isn’t anyone already here, after all the letter had told him that he would be working with 4 other master detectives. And while working with others is not something that he usually does, he supposes that for such an important mission he will allow it.
He makes his way into the first car as he looks around and stops at the map plastered against the wall, He doesn’t see anything suspicious about it, but it would never hurt to be careful around the Amaterasu corporation. when all of a sudden he hears something, his ears slightly point up at the sound before returning to normal as he pretends to still be deep in thought about the map on the wall. He suspects it’s a person as the train hasn’t moved yet, and there shouldn’t be any animals in sight.
He doesn’t have much time to mull over the thought as he hears the footsteps run towards him as he turns around and is met face to face with someone identical looking as him. He doesn’t take much thought as he dodges to the left as his imposter plunges a knife into the spot where he used to be. Thinking on his feet zilch sprints away to the door of the next car moving through it while hearing his pursuer in tow.
In the second car that he is running into he recognizes as the dining car, however he makes no effort to stop as he continues running into the next cars, down the long straight hallways, passing by some other rooms he can’t read due to how fast he’s running. He makes no note of them until he finally reaches car number 5.
He can hear the footsteps clamoring behind him as he turns the corner and reaches for the final Handle.
Opening the door leading outside he sees the familiar looking train station. Hastily he looks to the front and can see a girl much shorter than him wearing the same uniform he is in. Knowing that the imposter cornered him alone it’s likely that they will be deterred by company, even if not physically strong they might deter them completely. Upon discovery of this he quickly makes his way over to the stranger and takes a risky glance behind him. He looks behind him and the imposter is no longer there, or anywhere, it simply appeared like they had vanished.
When zilch makes it to the petite girl he takes another glance at his surroundings, just in case the imposter is still nearby. “Are you a master detective?” He asks the small girl. Despite her appearance, her outfit is enough confirmation, but it never hurt to ask in time of need.
“Indeed I am”, she says looking over to zilch before asking ”and is it correct to assume that you are as well?” Zilch takes his id out of his front pocket as confirmation of his identity, one thing that the imposter didn’t have, and replies with “zilch Alexander, they call me natures guardian”
As he tucks in his id back into his pocket, he gets closer to the girl before whispering “let’s head inside the train, I can guarantee someone is watching” before motioning for her to accompany him inside, the very suspicious, yet only safe place at the moment.
He looks over at the small girl who appears to be reading over the map. “I would advise you to be cautious, I’ve seem to run into an imposter of mine” he cautiously says to the small girl before leading the way into the second car.
“Will you give more clarity on this ‘imposter’ of yours?” The small girl inquires about as she tails behind him, sitting in a chair at the table nearby, while zilch himself sits in a chair near the wall. “Someone looked exactly like me and tried to stab me in the first car earlier, got the details of my ears and everything else right, just before you came, so not too long ago” zilch says before he looks out the rather useless window that appears to be permanently locked, before the two fall into silence.
He waits in the silence and thinks about the situation at hand, the perplexing circumstance he finds himself in.
A train soon to be full of 5 detectives, an imposter with murderous intent, Amaterasu corporation, and kanai ward. After a few minutes, snapping out of his deep thoughts, he hears the door to the first car open and looks over to see an old looking man come inside and sit down on the chair to his right.
Zilch nearly questions the newcomers legitimacy as the man does not appear to be in the master detective uniform, instead donning a big gray coat and a cane.
Before zilch can question the man the small girl steps in for him as she stares at the man before asking him “excuse me for asking, but are you lost? Perhaps you came on the wrong train? This is the Amaterasu express leading into kanai ward.” The girl continued to stare at him before turning it to a softer look, presumably thinking he was a lost stranger despite his rough appearance.
“Well why else would I be here?” The man asks and chuckles after his statement before settling himself in, his cane resting nicely in his hands as he relaxes his body against the chair. Zilch himself relaxes against his own chair, but not enough to where he would be defenseless against an attack, there is still an imposter running amongst after all.