The
main character, having just recently agreed to become
Artem's partner, discuss the nature of X-NOTE, a compilation of anomalous civil and criminal cases from the Big Data Lab which Artem is investigating. Artem explains that Stellis has seen a strange increase in cases in the last three years, noting that the sharpest increases have been in missing persons and mental illness cases, and that he's investigating the reason for this rise. When the MC expresses confusion about why these cases would be passed to a law firm like theirs, Artem reveals the existence of the
NXX Investigation Team, of which he is a member, and states the MC should wait to choose for herself whether to join after they investigate a few NXX cases together.
Artem and the MC begin discussing the case of
Simon Bloodworth, a former employee of
Heirson Health Products who had been caught stealing controlled substances and reselling them to clients such as
Gordon Grant. As they discuss the case, Artem receives a call stating that Gordon Grant has just died.