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Neon Shadows - Memories of Sin

In the shadow-soaked alleys of a city where memories are both currency and weapon, burned-out detective Maxwell Hartwell is known for his unique immunity to memory extraction, a trait that marks him as both an asset and an outcast. When enigmatic Elena Voss approaches him to investigate the murder of Victor Kane, a top memory trader renowned for his ruthless ambition, Max is drawn into a web of deceit that permeates the highest echelons of society. Max's investigation leads him deep into the underbelly of the memory trade, where human experiences are bought and sold to the highest bidder, altering personalities and histories at will. As he navigates this dangerous landscape, he's forced to contend with his former partner, Detective Sarah Lim, who walks a thin line between law enforcement and moral compromise. Throughout his journey, Max is aided by the Archivist, a secretive figure who trades in illicit memories, providing Max with information that cannot be obtained by conventional means. As Max delves deeper into the mystery, he uncovers a disturbing truth: Victor Kane's death is merely the surface of a much larger conspiracy that threatens to topple the precarious balance of power within the city. His investigation reveals a sinister plot to control the memory market, orchestrated by figures that blur the line between friend and foe. Haunted by fragments of his own inaccessible past, Max must navigate through layers of betrayal and manipulation, confronting painful truths about himself and those he once trusted. The closer he gets to solving the murder, the more entangled he becomes in a struggle for power that will define the future of memory itself. With the city on the brink of chaos, Max is faced with a choice that will not only determine his own fate but also the fate of a society where memories can be rewritten at will. As alliances shift and secrets are unearthed, Max must decide whether to continue protecting a world that has forsaken him or forge a new path that could lead to redemption—or ruin.

Arron_Alderson · Sci-fi
Not enough ratings
343 Chs

Chapter 192: Smoke and Mirrors

The city's heartbeat was a low, steady thrum beneath the night sky. Max Slade leaned against the brick wall of a dingy alley, his trench coat blending with the shadows. He pulled out a cigarette, the flare of his lighter casting brief light on his hardened face. He inhaled deeply, the smoke a temporary balm to his nerves. The storm they'd weathered left scars, and the fight was far from over.

Max glanced at his watch, the dim glow showing it was just past midnight. He flicked the cigarette away, watching it sizzle in a puddle. They were meeting a new informant tonight, someone with ties to both Renzo's and Vance's operations. This informant was their last lead, a ghost in the criminal underworld.

A figure emerged from the darkness, a woman in a tattered coat, her face obscured by a wide-brimmed hat. She approached with the wary steps of someone used to danger.

"Max Slade?" Her voice was a whisper, carrying the weight of secrets.