The Degree
A Gift From Santa

The highway is filled with cars and electric motors that run slowly, there is a high-speed motor and noise speeding.

“Whoa! What is it?!”

“Didn't the electric motor not have a teknot?”

“Is it possible that the motor is still using oil or modification?”

The sport bike is black with two passengers wearing a leather jacket and a full face helmet. They are Ray and Indri.

The motorbike was obtained from a warehouse in the basement of Ray's house. There is no known reason why there are motorcycles and sports cars in there, but from Reid's opinion the objects were modified for development purposes.

Ray and Indri arrive at a boarding house in the village area.

“Are you sure this is the place?” ask Ray.

“Yes, I'm sure about this. Ben has given his address in the way we specify.”

Ray does not know how, but it may be the same as what Ray conditioned Terumi and others. Ray has asked them to send a letter to the address Ray requested to share the information.

“It has been one week since we first arrived and the death of Rani,” muttered Indri with a flat face. “At least, I'm sure they have some meaningful discoveries.”

Ray simply observed in silence and followed Indri behind. The current situation is that Ben and the others go to investigate the killers of Rani and Rina. They had obviously become so enraged that his partner had been killed.

Among them Ray knew that Indri was the most guilty. The deaths of the two girls were caused by an intruder among the wounded.

Before Indri had made a deal with Arthur to let the wounded join him. Indri certainly accepts it because he will receive DP income consistently.

It's just that no one ever expected that a group leader would hand over his group to someone else and infiltrate Rani's group.

Then, the reason Ray got involved with all this is because he became a suspect for the alleged murder of Rani and Rina.

Ray wasn't really involved in that. When all that happened, Ray was busy thinking about how to save himself because he was trapped in the middle of the ocean.

They are currently going to Ben's boarding house to find out the progress of the situation.

“Ben, it's me,” Indri said as he knocked on his door.

It took a little while until the door opened from the inside, there was a familiar face for Ray. A face that looks sleep-deprived and a gentle smile. She doesn't use her usual makeup, which means she can't use her Degree.

Ray finds out after he spends time reading Ryouma's handbook and memorizing it.

If the information is correct then the reason Ben always wears his makeup is the condition of his Degree use. Of course, there are several other conditions that have been disclosed but Ray still does not suspect if the pantomime will be very dangerous.

“Indri,” Ben said before finding Ray behind him and losing a smile. “Ray ... Morgan.”

Ray did not feel offended by the cold reception towards him. Ben must be very tired because of this, and the suspicion that Ray did not disappear at all. Ben could only hold it, but could not eliminate it.

After entering Ben immediately provided drinks for both. The place is not so wide because of the many bottles of alcoholic beverages scattered everywhere.

“It seems true that it is not good to let the men take care of the house,” muttered Indri while shaking his head.

Clothes scattered as well, what a house that is not maintained at all. Even Ray and Indri were reluctant to sit down, both of them just standing there. On the other hand Ben casually kicked the scattered bottle and sat down.

“One week you've always been with her, right?” ben asked with a little suspicion.

“Yes. Ray and I did not part at all.” Indri said it in a seductive tone.

He was not wrong, for one week Ray continued with Indri. They only parted when sleeping and bathing. The rest of them continue to be together including when Ray prepares the necessary things for some things.

“Can't you convey it in a way that doesn't make a misunderstanding?” ray said with a little annoyance. “I was with him, but we never did anything.”

Hearing that Ben took a deep breath and started laughing, he seemed as if he had just released the heavy burden he received.

“Ha ha ha ha, asshole! If that's the case, then Rani and Rina's killer is a copycat!”

Indri bowed and bit his lips in annoyance, “So, it seems that you have found something, huh?”

Ray is a little confused about why Ben changed his mind so quickly. His reaction when they had met before was very cold and had quite a deep hatred.

It was just like a person's hatred for the criminal who killed his parents. Ray felt that hatred before, but now it's all gone.

After thinking about it for a moment now Ray knows the reason. There was one thing that kept bothering him. Instead of investigating it together, why did Indri go off track and choose to stay with Ray to this day?

Suspicions should have been cleared since Indri found Ray floating in the ocean, but instead of joining his partner, Indri chose to settle down. Now Ray knows why.

“You and the others will investigate further the murder case while searching for traces of the perpetrator. While Indri will take risky actions by watching me very closely. Surely you guys aim to ascertain whether I am really white or not.”

Indri may suspect that Ray did a certain trick to commit the murder. Although not doing it directly, but Indri and Ben already know very well that Ray is a smart brain.

“Yes. There's a chance you manipulated some things before the drop and put the intruder with Rani's team. That is because you do not have anyone as a bodyguard and there is a possibility that you also use certain ways to be in two places in a short time,” said Indri.

Logically it is impossible for someone to be in the city and the middle of the sea in such a short time. Even Ray himself was convinced there was nothing like it, but the problem was that their current situation allowed the logic to malfunction.

“So so. You suspect that I have a Degree that allows me to move to two different places in a short time. But it's hard because I'm not— so it is. You guys also assumed I had one chance to make a request to Secret.”

Ray will use the opportunity to be moved to the same location as Rani and after the murder, Ray will use his Degree to go to sea after preparation. That is the scenario that Indri and Ben envisioned.

“For that reason we need to keep a close eye on you,” Ben said with a complicated face. “The fact that you guessed everything exactly is a terrible part of you.”

“So it's like that. Sorry for doing that to you, but this is necessary because I alone do not want to be eaten by you despite being by your side to help.” Indri smiled gently at Ray before turning to look at Ben. “Now can you explain your discovery?”

Ben nodded and began to describe his discovery in detail.

In short, for the past week Ben managed to sniff the trail of this suspect. It is not known if she has a face like Ray or anyone else because she hides her face with a mask and even wears a mask.

Even so Ben had a strong guess that that person was the one he was looking for. Ben had deployed Guren to follow him and asked him to provide a report periodically.

So far nothing has been confirmed, but from every move it has been confirmed that the person suspected Ben is a Degree user.

Although the clock had been hidden in such a way, Guren somehow found an opportunity to see the clock by accident. In addition, Guren sends a message that he has seen the person receive a gun through a unique drone that is different from other introductory drones.

“Market no longer send goods by teleportation, even now there is a fee for shipping. If the drone that Guren sees is different from the general, then it must belong to Secret,”, Indri said while touching his chin like thinking.

“Yes. I'm sure we're not the wrong person to target. You've been keeping Ray and making sure he's safe, then the rest is about how we act on it.”

Suppose the man used his face to commit a crime, then Ray would never be able to reappear to the city because he would be a fugitive of law enforcement.

In addition there is a possibility that the person could have cheated Terumi and the others. If things were like that then Ray could not imagine how much damage it would have done.

‘This person is just like a disease. If it is not handled then it will get worse.’

Indri who seemed to be thinking about something since earlier started to get something.

“You were right about that. We don't have to worry about a wrong target because this guy is definitely one of us. It's just that the question is about how we lure this guy. Obviously, fighting in public places is an idiot act.”

They are required to maintain the confidentiality of the Degree if they do not want to be a Secret quarry, Degree users, and even outsiders such as the police. What makes the last task difficult is because they cannot carelessly act.

There were fifty people holding the key, and even then it still needed to be selected and made only five people entitled to the golden key. If their target is one of those leaders then a super brilliant plan is needed.

“What do you think, Ray?” ask Ben. “I'm sure you've at least thought of something.”

“It not only benefits us, but also you. I'm sure you also don't want your name tainted,” said Indri.

Ray's plan to wait just now seems unworkable. He had guessed that Indri and Ben were not easy people to play with. Both may be aware that Ray will remain silent until the time he wants comes to itself.

It's not like Ray has nothing to say.

“From thinking about how to run the execution, shouldn't we pay attention to the people around first?”

Indri and Ben tilted their heads, both of whom did not understand what Ray was trying to convey.

“Let's review back. This bastard used my face to kill Rani and Rina. Somehow he might be like a Virgo who can hide his face with Degree.”

Virgo has been believed to be dead, Ray is convinced that this is a fact. Ryouma had also previously confirmed it indirectly. In addition, Ray believes it is not impossible that there are two or more people who have the same Degree.

“He can disguise himself as me, but that does not rule out the possibility of him being someone else or making others disguise themselves.”

Indri and Ben were surprised and stared at each other, both of them not thinking about it deeply.

“You mean,” said Ben, “can't this bastard be one of us?”

“Dan also not impossible this bastard can change the face other than his own, right?” indri. “If this is true then our opponent is really a troublesome bastard.”

Wrong target is not a problem if the killed are Degree users because in the end they will still kill each other.

However, it would be a big mistake if they mistook people and killed civilians. In addition to proving that this copycat is being pursued by Ray and the others, reports of missing persons will start popping up.

“It is important for us to have a way of identifying that the people around us are not fraudsters. I'm pretty sure I'm genuine, Indri also continues with me. And, you remembered your plan with Indri the past week. So, the three of us are original.”

Those in this room aren't imitations of scoundrels who like to go undercover. Ray does not suspect anyone inside, but those outside.

“Then it means we need to identify Hiroshi and Guren, yes?” murmured Ben as he closed his eyes.

“Luckily it was easy to trap that samurai maniac. I have a few things that can prove he's real. The problem is Guren. I don't even understand what he's afraid of or not.”

Indri himself is difficult to deal with Guren because every sentence he says is not known whether it is true or not. Even so Indri trusted the man and made him do some important work. Surely, another reason Indri did so was because he was annoyed by the man.

“Ah, you don't have to worry about him. I—” Ben wanted to say something but the prayer stopped because of a few knocks on the door that were quite loud.

Indri and Ben became so alert, while on the other hand Ray looked confused.

“What is it not your partner?” ray whispered to both.

“Not,” said Ben pulled the knife. “That's not the beat rhythm we agreed on.”

“That means behind the door is a stranger.” Indri started putting his hands on his gun.

A moment later the voice from behind the door began to call out.

“Is there anyone inside?! Hurry up, he's hurt!”

Ray recognized the voice of the woman behind the door. He was quite surprised that he would meet so soon.

Before anyone could react, the voice from behind the door spoke again.

“Sorry if this is disrespectful but I will be in!”

The door starts to open, Ben and Indri remain in full vigilance while Ray observes the surroundings closely to make sure he is not in a closed room.

Door opens. It showed Guren's battered face in such a way and was covered in blood. And, the one who had her body covered was the girl in Ray's group, Sakura Terumi whose face was panicked.

“Guren!” call Ben when he starts walking closer. “What happened to him.”

Indri retracted his hand and breathed a sigh of relief.

On the other hand, there are some things that bother Ray. Of course he's happy to meet Terumi now, but there's something odd here. Terumi is indeed a good girl, she will help anyone indiscriminately, but —

‘This is strange ... why did he bring her here instead of to the hospital?’

Coinciding with Ray starting to become suspicious, Guren started muttering something. It was enough to hear Ray and the others.

“... go ... Terumi ... fake ..”

“Hah?” Ben slightly choked and sculpted, he did not understand what he was saying.

Terumi raised her face and smiled widely like a madman. “This gift from santa!”

Terumi pushed Guren's body quite strongly, along with Guren who started to fall down, something fell from her body. A dangerous object that will explode in three seconds.

A bomb that had been set to explode right then and there.

At the same time Terumi ran and jumped out of the second floor. He fell facing the sky, while laughing convey, “Happy CHRISTMAS!”

Ben ran inside to get away from the bomb and shouted, “KARAT!”

THE DUAR!

A huge explosion occurred and destroyed whatever was nearby, creating a great fire.