Luna kneeled toward the edge of the rooftop, outside the billboard with a cop dog, pointing his finger at the title.

Join the Moreau City Police Department. Make the city safe for all citizens.

That ad sounded like the city needed more help to clean up the crime off their street. How many more cops and bounty hunters do the city need? That would only give Luna more competition.

She had lived in Moreau City enough to understand the crime rate never went down, or else she would be out of a job. And she would die from boredom.

Across the street from Luna’s position was the Asahi Hotel, one of the biggest towers in the city. A monument of glass and steel, reaching up to about a hundred floors high. Each level contained luxurious rooms with dozens of suits, entertainment lodgers, and a fine diner for the rich and the beautiful who loved to stand above the poor people below. Not even Luna could afford a room in that hotel, but she could still go whatever she wanted for business.

Luna looked down into the sheer drop between her position and the hotel. Good thing the wind wasn't strong enough to push her off the edge. Hovercars and air transports zoomed passed the skyscrapers. The street below was invisible, shaded by bright lights, making the city depth looked endless.

Luna thought about what would happen if she jumped. The fall would either feel endless or take only twenty seconds for her to hit the street. As a panther, she could land on her feet, but landing far would cripple her bionic legs. Of course, she wasn't afraid of heights, or else she wouldn't be on the rooftop.

Fiona, I am close to the site. Luna spoke subconsciously.

She didn't need to speak out loud like she was vocalizing to herself. Her mind-com link inside her skull gave her a telepathic like ability rooted in the massive wi-fi system across the city. Only her support can respond to her. Usually, the authorities were the only ones allowed to use mind-coms to communicate privately. Sometimes speaking to people through the link felt like they were close to her, although they could be miles away in the darkness.

Do you see the target? Fiona's voice asked.

Negative. He hasn’t shown up yet.

Then stay put.

The panther girl growled. I didn't sign up to wait all night!

If you move in rashly, you could lose him. Better late than never.

Errrrrrrrrh- he better not take long! Luna wiped the water off her face and stared at the inky sky.

Black rain clouds, mixed with smog, covered the stars. If the people wanted to see the beautification of stars, the city has them all. Sparkling lights, glittering spheres of holographic images all glamouring the entire cityscape. Everything in the district revolves around trading and commercializing benefits for the people. Advertising was everywhere like a plague, on buildings and through the skyline where the traffic could see them. Some holograms floated higher over the buildings for better views. Neon lights and spotlights flashed around to make the ads look brighter. Cartoon logos and realistic images looked solid, but they drifted through solid objects like ghosts. The audio from each ad could be heard from their digital speakers and accessed through cyber-enhanced hearing channels within ears.

A floating holographic billboard crossed the sky, displaying a nude female poodle spraying pink fur dye across her body while announcing, from audio, “Witness the new enhanced fur dye from Fabulous Grooming Works. No longer will your skin get itchy after changing your hair color. Always stay beautiful.”

Each ad avoided one another while sharing the airspace to keep their promotion moving without interruption. That would cause a lot of conflict between the corporations if their ads get clouded by their competition.

One advertised cyber parts for wings and tails, and another promoted jet packs that don’t crash into buildings. The next one showed a shark man squeezing a bottle of blue liquid ice down his mouth while a male voice shouted, “Drink caviar icy from Fishy World Shack. The best from the open sea!”

The last billboard was a giant video displaying a human and a cat man pictograms holding hands together in front of a cityscape while a female voice exposited, “Today is the anniversary of the mutation incident that birthed the Humanimal race. Ten years ago, a devastating mutagen bomb exploded in the middle of Jackson City. Those who survived became animal-human hybrids, dubbed as Humanimals. After the explosion, the mutation evolved into the Chimera Virus, spreading across North America and half of the world. To slow down the pandemic, the governments quarantined all the infected at Jackson City under strict martial law. Life in the city was hard for the Humanimal population, but mega corporations stepped in to provide them support. They became the new mayors of Jackson City, now dubbed Moreau City. The creators of the Chimera Virus still held a mystery to the world, but the investigation will never end until those responsible are punished severely. Although the incident was tragic, this anniversary was meant to remind you are all special. As long as you work, obey the laws, and serve your corporate benefactors, you will earn a healthy living in the city. Remember, hard work means wonderful rewards for your Humanimal community. Thank you for your service.”

The voice from the holo billboard repeated, but Luna turned away from it. She heard that message before last year.

In truth, the Moreau City Anniversary message was only projected to keep reminding the Humanimal citizens to be grateful, but how could they?

The city was more of a prison than a sanctuary, keeping them safe from the rest of the world who hated or feared them. None of them could leave the city without an expensive permit, and those who couldn’t work were left on the street to rot like leftover fast food in the dumpsters. Their benefactors were nothing but corporate overlords, supporting the Humanimal community as an excuse to make money from them. It sucked, but doing your own job to survive was all that mattered.

What a load of bullshit. Using her cybernetic eyes, Luna zoomed in on the hotel windows.

At the stairway level, a fat human in a red shiny business suit followed two human bodyguards in black suits, carrying laser rifles. He was bald with long black dreadlocks hanging down around his skull. A black beard hung around his mouth, short enough to view his entire thick neck. In his right hand, he carried a silver briefcase with an electronic lock on it. His men looked middle-aged, wearing black glasses.

Luna smiled a Cheshire grin. I found him!

Mr.Edger operated Ares Corp, a weapon manufacturing company. His work supplied arsenals for the military, CIA, and police forces, helping the country protect itself. But nobody knew what was happening within his corporation.

Rumors indicated Mr. Edger was secretly trading advanced weapons to criminals and terrorists from Moreau City. If the outside world knew where the illegal weapons were trading from, that would make Moreau City look bad. Who knew how many innocent lives were lost, thanks to Mr.Edger’s customers. The fat-rich human doesn't care about his country. He only cared about money and his selfish rich lifestyle. Luna would make him pay for his deception to the people who trusted him. However, executing him wasn't part of her contract.

To prove he was guilty, the Moreau City Police Apartment needed him alive to confess about his black marketing system. Not only they could put him away, but they could also find his customers to shut down his operation for good.

Where? Fiona asked.

He is moving to the fifth floor, Luna replied. Two guards are with him. Can I bust his ass now?

Hold on! He might meet one of his customers. You should watch them before engaging.

Luna hummed in frustration. Why? More men will cover his ass!

If you record their meeting, we can get evidence on Mr. Edger. Your recording will prove he is guilty.

Luna sighed. You got a point, but I’m moving in once their conversation is over. Okay?

Please don’t damage the suite. The hotel will sue me if you do.”

Luna giggled. You can trust me, commissioner.

Behind an enormous square window, Mr. Edger and his guards stepped into a red room with a long floor table at the center. Probably a private dining room no ordinary person could afford. Business people used those rooms for private meetings and fine dining. Nobody would disrupt them, except for the hotel staff.

Mr. Edger placed the briefcase on the table and sat down on his knees. His guards sat next to him and placed their weapons under the table.

A white catgirl in a yellow kimono entered the diner and approached Mr. Edger. She handed a black leather folder and whispered to him.

That catgirl looked pretty cute. If Luna was in there, she would carry that pussy straight to a private room and stay in there all night long. Too bad she wasn’t kneeling at the right spot.

Luna couldn’t hear them because her long-range hearing monitor couldn’t reach the hotel across the nosy air traffic. But watching the meeting without listening shouldn’t be a problem for her. She could tell what they were doing based on their movements and body language.

Mr. Edger read the menu and handed it back to the catgirl waitress. She bowed and left the diner.

After about five minutes, the catgirl returned with a tray of sushi and a clay bottle with a small. She placed it in front of Mr. Edger and bowed. She left casually before Mr. Edger ate his meal.

Luna struck out her tongue.

She hated sushi or anything with fish in it. She preferred fried chicken, dipped in good old fatty deep fry.

Damn! Watching those crooks eat was making her angry.

More men stepped into the room. Reptile Humanimals, wearing white suits and sunglasses.

The last Humanimal entering was an exception. He looked like a toad wearing a purple suit that couldn't keep his fat body in shape.

He sat down in front of Mr.Edger.

Mr. Edger opened the case, showing some kind of energy cannon rifle to the toad. It must be a new weapon, and he was giving it away to those criminals. What a creepy scum.

The toad picked up the weapon and examined it. He soon smiled and nodded to one of his men.

His lizard henchman placed a black case on the table and opened, flashing golden circuit boards, shaped like bars. Those boards contained bitcoins, probably worth a lot.

Mr. Edger smiled and shook the toad's hand.

I'm recording the whole exchange now. Luna replied.

Good! Record the entire meeting. Fiona’s voice ordered.

Luna soon lost focus when she spotted windows flashing below the hotel. That could only mean a firefight.

Oh shit!