Judgement Executioner: The Sin Collector System

The rain was unrelenting that night pouring down heavily— smearing the gaslights across the window like bleeding stars.

Elias stood at the edge of the window looking at the city before him, there was a constant release of steam from the pipes of most buildings and some industrial complexes. He was still deep in thought about the events of the day, debating on what path he would choose to take.

He knew he was stuck as a sin collector with no way out, but what reason did he have to be one?

Just then the brass intercom buzzed with a harsh static, disrupting his inner thoughts. He turned his attention to it.

"Citizen Elias Graye. This is Constable Unit 17. We have your daughter in custody. Charges: break-in and theft of restricted components. Come to Precinct Nine."

His blood turned cold.

"Why can't I get a moments peace in this world?"

Navigating his way around Veilhallow was relatively easy, he asked direction of the folks around. Some were nice while others were not.

The station was dim, mechanical— rusted typewriters on the tables, clicking automaton scribes, smoke-stained walls. After filling in his personal details and officer took him to the investigation room.

Lyra sat behind the glass— soaked, shivering, defiant. Her eyes pierced him like ice picks.

"You actually showed up?" Her voice was laced with disgust and a bit of surprise.

"I'm here to take you home." Elias could not muster a smile in his tired state, but he made an attempt to.

And his compassion was not met with the same warmth.

"You don't get to say that."

A female constable leaned over and whispered into Elias' ears.

"She broke into a Mechanist Archive. Could've triggered a lockdown. City Law mandates a fine be paid."

"She's my responsibility," Elias said, voice low. "She's… young. It was a mistake."

"Oh is that what you folks say this days, well you can take her place," the constable said with a raised brow. "If you get what I mean."

He paused — felt the gear embedded in his palm heat up. For a moment, he sighed and dug his hands into his pocket and takes out a few silver coins which the constable snagged from his hand in one clean motion.

"Am I getting any change with that?" He protested but the constable simply unlocked the door. "Well, I guess not then."

Lyra walked out of the detention room and past her father, "You should have let me stay the night."

The constable reached out and grabbed her hand, she squeezed it tightly. "Don't be an ass to your father you little brat, I would kill if mine gave a damn about me."

Lyra broke free from her grasp as started to walk away, she said in a cold tone. "Well maybe we should trade then."

"Did she just say a dead man was better than me?" Elias said in disbelief.

The constable gave him a pitied look as she felt her pocket for her newly acquired wealth. "Kids these days sure are rebellious."

Elias left the station and followed Lyra.

They walked side by side under a flickering lamplight. She didn't thank him, didn't show any compassion for his action. Her arms were crossed, her emotions seemingly shut off.

The rain drizzled gently and with it came a very nasty wind that threatened to freeze their bones off, Elias had a jacket on and was holding up an umbrella, but Lyra stood apart from him. He was worried she would catch a cold under the rain and even offered her the comfort of his umbrella but she refused.

"Why'd you do that?" Lyra asked after a few minutes of them walking down the road side. There were very few people around, they were either workers going for their night shifts or people returning home after a long days of work. There were also a few drunk men on the streets, wasting away.

"Because I'm your father." Those were the only words Elias could manage to say that would make any sense.

Lyra bowed her head and bit her lower lip hard to the point that they nearly broke.

"You never were. Not really."

A long awkward silence followed, Elias finally decided to break the silence.

"What were you even stealing?" He asked, not expecting an answer.

To his surprise she gave him one.

"…Blueprints. Old ones. Labeled Graye's Omega Drive. I didn't even get to see it."

His breath caught, that name sparked something within the old Elias Grayes.

"Where did you hear that name?" He asked.

"A junk trader. Said my father was once someone dangerous. Someone who tried to change the world." She said with cold indifference.

"Junk trader?" He asked.

Lyra glared at him from the side before saying. "It's not like you have me much of an option to survive in the world."

"Oh God, did Elias deprived her of common luxury? Why did I get to be the bullshit father?" He thought to himself.

Elias stopped and sighed heavily, Lyra ignored him and continued to walk forward. "I promise I'll do better." It was a promise to both himself and Elias' daughter, for some reason he deeply cared about her. And the feelings were his and not the original Elias Grayes.

"Yeah right." She scoffed as she walked away.

Elias was about to walk again when a screen appeared before him.

[Warning]

There is an inhuman in the area, vanquish it and abrob it's sin.

Sin Level: 37

The gear on his palm burned again and he could feel the serpent writhing, fighting to break free. He looked at Lyra walking down the street that led to their home, under the dim lamp lights, he gulped down knowing that there was something watching them in the dark.

"What the hell is an inhuman?"