The next morning, as the sun rose over the city, Kosu and Jinpei gathered at a local café to discuss their plans. The atmosphere was light, filled with the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and the chatter of patrons. However, the mood quickly shifted when a news bulletin blared from a nearby screen, capturing their attention.

"—In shocking news, a man believed to be a former associate of the Black Sun has been found assassinated in the City Hall prison overnight. Authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding his death and are urging citizens to remain vigilant."

Kosu felt his heart drop. "No... it can't be," he whispered, disbelief washing over him.

Jinpei's face turned pale as he processed the information. "That's the man we captured. How could this happen? We were just with him!"

The café fell silent as others began to absorb the news, murmurs of shock and confusion rippling through the crowd. The weight of what had transpired settled heavily on Kosu and Jinpei. They had hoped that bringing the man to City Hall would lead to valuable information about the remnants of the Black Sun, but now it seemed that someone was willing to go to extreme lengths to silence him.

"Why would they kill him?" Kosu asked, his voice strained. "He could have revealed everything about their operations."

Jinpei shook his head, anger flaring within him. "This means the Black Sun—or whoever is left of it—knows we're onto them. They're trying to protect whatever secrets they still hold. This isn't just an assassination; it's a warning."

As the realization sank in, the atmosphere in the town hall shifted to one of panic. Officials hurriedly convened, issuing statements and mobilizing the police force to ensure the safety of citizens. The urgency in their voices was palpable as they urged everyone to report any suspicious activity.

"Stay vigilant," the mayor's voice echoed through the hall. "We cannot allow fear to take root. If you see anything unusual, do not hesitate to contact the authorities."

Kosu and Jinpei exchanged troubled glances. The city was on high alert, and the sense of security they had once felt was rapidly eroding.

"We need to find out who did this," Jinpei said, determination igniting in his eyes. "We can't let them get away with it. There must be clues left behind."

Kosu nodded, his resolve strengthening. "Let's head back to the prison and see if we can gather any information. Maybe someone saw something or heard something that can lead us to the assassin."

Without another moment to waste, they hurried out of the café and made their way to City Hall. The atmosphere was tense, and the air crackled with uncertainty. As they approached the prison entrance, they were met with a flurry of activity—guards were stationed at every corner, their expressions grim.

"We need to speak to someone in charge," Jinpei insisted, pushing through the throng of officials.

After a few tense moments, they were granted access to the holding area. An officer met them, his expression serious. "You two should be cautious. The situation is delicate. We don't know how deep this goes."

Kosu swallowed hard. "We understand. But we need to know everything about the assassination. Any details could lead us to whoever is behind this."

The officer sighed, shaking his head. "Unfortunately, the body was discovered too late for a thorough examination. But there was a disturbance reported in the cell block just before the incident. We're still piecing together what happened."

"Can we see the cell?" Jinpei asked, urgency in his voice.

"Follow me," the officer replied, leading them down a dimly lit corridor.

As they approached the cell where the man had been held, Kosu felt a knot of anxiety twist in his stomach. The door stood ajar, and the scene inside was chaotic—overturned furniture and signs of a struggle were evident.

"This is where he was kept?" Kosu asked, scanning the room for any clues.

The officer nodded. "Yes."

Jinpei took a deep breath and turned to him. "Can you tell us about the events from last night? Anything unusual?"

The officer shook his head, frustration evident in his expression. "Honestly, nothing happened. We had routine checks, and everything seemed normal. The guards reported no disturbances until they found the body."

"Are you sure?" Kosu pressed, disbelief creeping into his voice. "There must be something."

The officer sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "We checked the CCTV footage. There's nothing out of the ordinary. The man was placed in isolation, and no one went in or out of his cell."

Jinpei felt a wave of anger rise within him. "We need to see the footage. There has to be something—anything—that can give us a clue."

After some hesitation, the officer led them to a small monitoring room. The screens flickered to life, showing various angles of the prison. Jinpei leaned closer, his eyes scanning the footage for any sign of activity.

As they reviewed the recordings, they saw the man being escorted to his cell. He appeared calm, perhaps even resigned. The guards locked the door behind him, and for hours, nothing happened. The footage showed a quiet night, punctuated only by the occasional patrol.

Then, suddenly, the scene shifted. A loud, piercing scream echoed through the monitors, reverberating in the small room. Kosu's heart raced as he watched the guards rush toward the sound, their expressions filled with alarm.

"Play that again," Jinpei instructed, his voice urgent.

The officer rewound the footage, and they watched the scream again, the raw terror evident even through the screen. Jinpei's brow furrowed as he focused on the moments that followed. "When the guards reached the cell, it was already too late," he murmured, frustration lacing his words.

The footage showed the guards bursting into the cell, weapons drawn, but the man was already lifeless on the ground. There were no signs of a struggle, no indication of how the assassin had entered or exited.

"This doesn't make sense," Kosu said, shaking his head. "If no one entered or left the cell, how did he end up dead?"

"Exactly," Jinpei replied, his mind racing. "It implies someone or something got in without being detected. There must be another way."

Jinpei asked, "What about the device used to neutralize magic powers inside the prison? Is it still active?"

The officer nodded, a hint of frustration in his voice. "Yes, it's always active. We have to ensure that no one can use magic to escape or cause trouble."

Kosu furrowed his brow, deep in thought. "Do you know the identity of the man who was killed?" he asked, hoping for any piece of information that might shed light on the situation.

The officer sighed, looking down at his notes. "His name is Takada. There is no record of him engaging in any illegal activities before. We believe he has no connection to Black Sun and was paid to do something inside that facility."

Kosu exchanged a glance with Jinpei, their concern growing. "So there might be someone behind him, someone related to the Black Sun," Kosu murmured. "But it seems like he knew something important, something they didn't want to get out."

"Exactly," Jinpei replied, a sense of urgency creeping into his voice. "If Takada had information about their operations, killing him would ensure that it remained hidden."

With the gravity of the situation settling in, they knew they had to dig deeper. The prison was not just a place of confinement; it had become a battleground for secrets that could threaten the city. They needed to find out more about what Takada knew and how someone had managed to silence him so effectively.

"Let's check the surveillance footage again," Jinpei suggested. "There might be something we missed."

As they began to review the footage, they felt the weight of the city's safety on their shoulders. The shadows of the Black Sun were still lurking, and it was up to them to uncover the truth.

Kosu and Jinpei were deeply troubled by the news, and they knew that they had to take action. They believed that there might be more information in the town's dungeon that could lead them to the culprit. After all, they had encountered many strange things during their previous dungeon exploration.