Adela

Her ability can interfere with others' minds and perception of the past. So far, the recorded direct effect is influencing or altering memories. The duration and effect of the ability depends on the subject's condition. Besides causing mental influence, her shears, made of a material stronger than regular metals, can also deal physical damage.

The reason and exact time of power awakening is unknown. The nature of her ability severely hinders the investigation, but judging from the timeline of the spread of the Fog Alley legend, she must have already awakened for some time.

Although her physical appearance is normal, her physical abilities are actually far superior to those of ordinary people. It's not immediately apparent, but the subject has long been plagued by hallucinations and her memories show signs of self-interference.

An Eastside hairdresser as well as the subject of the Fog Alley urban legend. Appearing mostly in the dark alley at night, she's been accused of multiple crimes including attacking residents and obscuring their memories. Due to the nature of her ability, her victims' accounts are often dismissed as fiction. Incomplete research shows that she's victimized close to a hundred people.

With Chief's help, the subject has regained partial memories about the Fog Alley case. When her identity was exposed, she often severed all relationships and moved to a new place. It's believed that she aspires to the mundanity of daily life to compensate for the lack of close relationships. Through interactions with Chief, she gradually recognizes the MBCC as her new base and no longer provides her previous extreme services.

During the Fog Alley case, the subject fled after severing all the witnesses' memories about her. She then repeatedly escaped the FAC's arrests and was eventually captured by Chief and brought back to the MBCC.

The subject had repeatedly altered others' and her own memories, which seriously impacts her own mental state. It's currently impossible to verify if her obsession with the mundanity of daily life is linked to her past experiences.

The investigation shows that the subject lived with her mother since childhood, shouldering most daily chores and tolerating her mother's negative emotions constantly. Her past with her mother could be key to her awakening.

For her mother's happiness, the subject trimmed off both her and her mother's memories of each other. In the following years, she served her clients with her ability by cutting away their trouble-inducing memories until she was found out. She kept moving homes to protect her daily life, unintentionally spreading the urban legend surrounding her.

Some time after having fled from Sloane Street, Adela is arrested at the next site where the legend of Mad Shears emerges. After attacking numerous MBCC staff, she is brought to the Chief for interrogation. Neither of them remember anything of their meeting in Sloane Street. Adela confirms that she is Mad Shears, but denies any knowledge of the places where Mad Shears has appeared or the attacks that she has committed. The Chief opens Adela’s suitcase and produces evidence of her life in all those different locations, but still can’t detect any signs that she is lying. They realize that Adela has erased her own memory as well. Adela confirms this, saying that it allows her to live freely with perfect peace of mind. In a pocket of the suitcase, the Chief also finds a rusted old key with the address 12 Dorset Street and conclude that it must be where Adela lived before becoming Mad Shears. Although Adela doesn’t understand why that’s significant, the Chief decides to take her there to investigate the beginning of the mystery.

What you didn't expect was that Adela, the culprit in the events of Sloane Street and many more, had even erased her own memories.
You need to understand her motives, her starting point.
To that end, you initiated a program of investigation.

The Chief and Adela find 12 Dorset Street in a poor neighborhood of Eastside. Adela is skeptically bemused at the Chief's insistence on pursuing this lead, but plays along good-naturedly. The building is long-deserted, but the key works. Inside, the Chief looks around for clues while Adela habitually tidies the dusty apartment. Finding nothing to go on, the Chief resorts to more drastic measures to find answers. They hold Adela's shears, and see the thick hairs of discarded worries grow over the room. They touch the hair and are pulled into Adela's old memories. The Chief and Adela witness that Adela lived at 12 Dorset Street when she was a teenager. Her mother was irresponsible and alcoholic, clearly resentful of her lost youth and of her daughter. She pressured the young Adela to use her looks to become an actress, model, or other high-paying job so that Adela could support her, and ridiculed Adela for saying she wanted to be a hairdresser. Ultimately, Adela left home after they fought over her disapproval of her mother's new fiancé William; having been kicked out, she awakened as a Sinner, felt her hair growing, and cut it off for the first time. With the memories restored to her, Adela defends her decision to sever those worries, and tell the Chief that with them gone, both she and her mother were free to live their own lives without the burden of their codependence. She tries to leave, but the Chief produces more evidence -- a recording from somebody familiar with the residents of that apartment.

Witnessing Adela's past, the truth has surfaced. But things are far from over.

In the recording, the Chief talks with a waiter at the bar where Adela's mother used to work. The waiter tells them that her name was Mary Anne Kelly, and that she had been a promising ballerina until she became involved with a seedy man who impregnated and then abandoned her. She began working at the bar to support Adela, until she met William, a wealthy Phantom Entertainment executive. William disliked Adela, and when he proposed to Kelly, he said he would send Adela away to boarding school. The waiter recounts how Kelly rejected that idea, but the next day, when the other staff asked her about her daughter, Kelly did not remember her and never mentioned her again. Even without her memories of Adela, Kelly broke up with William shortly after.

Adela listens to the recording of the conversation impassively, as the Chief explains that they think Adela's argument with her mother was the result of miscommunication and that their difficult relationship could have been mended. However, Adela coldly replies that she's beyond caring -- these memories are more like somebody else's than her own. She praises the Chief's desire to help people, but says that she has a better and faster way of resolving her troubles. The Chief is forced to use the Shackles to prevent her from erasing both their memories of these events. Connected by the Shackles, their missing memories of their time together on Sloane Street return to them. Adela weakly acquiesces to the Chief's insistence that she learn how to face her past, rather than instinctively running away, but she doesn't believe that all the memories she's lost can be regained. The Chief promises to find a way.

After Adela fell into a coma, you called for staff of the MBCC to bring you back.
You recalled all the things that had happened in Sloane Street, the times you had spent together.
This time, you will not forget.

Some time has passed, and Adela no longer attacks the MBCC staff. However, she feels restless and claustrophobic in the Bureau, so the Chief arranges for her to have a field day where she gets to work in a hair salon in Eastside. As the Chief planned, Kelly enters the salon with a planted coupon for a free haircut. She doesn't recognize Adela, but Adela knows her; she immediately understands that this was arranged by the Chief, but silently begins to work on Kelly's hair. Meanwhile, Kelly talks about she used to dismiss the value of a hairdresser, but now understands how a good haircut can put you in a good mood. She works at a nursery, and has a difficult time dealing with the young children in her charge. To both her and Adela's surprise, the Chief asks if Kelly has heard of Mad Shears, and suggests that she seek it out so that it can get rid of her worries. Kelly declines, explaining that while the children give her hell, she loves them nonetheless. She says that she sometimes feels like she used to have a daughter, but she believes that she would have made a terrible parent. As Adela finishes the haircut, Kelly begins to cry, though she can't explain why, and apologizes for saying so much. Adela speaks her first words of the encounter, and says that it's part of her job to listen to customers' troubles.

After Kelly leaves, the Chief apologizes for springing this on her, but Adela thanks them. She says that she did not understand why the Chief wanted to keep their troubles, but now the hair she has grown because of them feels less like a heavy burden than like a reassuring weight, keeping her anchored. She is excited to continue forward into the future without having to run away.

Heavy memories can be remembered, and why should the future go on alone.

Though she hasn't shown particular interest in things other than serving clients, she often keeps flowers and fragrances in her cell, calling it a trick to mask the smell of hair spray.

The subject's highly likable character makes the Sinners and staff lower their guard and open up to her easily. After two attack attempts, the MBCC decided to hold an internal seminar to promote the importance of privacy. In response, Adela claimed that she was only trying to help them.

The subject has transformed her cell into a vintage-style hair salon where she provides various services to the Sinners in the Bureau. Rumor has it that she can produce anything from her counter, and many like to test that theory for fun. But this service has soon been restricted ever since she took out a forbidden weapon from her counter.

She invites Chief to an afternoon tea every week and always prepares ample treats beforehand. This is the only occasion that she insists Chief come alone as she prefers not to be disturbed by other Sinners. "Being by Chief's side is the mundane routine I dream of."

[Adela is polishing the scissors in her hand.]

Adela: You look a bit tired, is something bothering you lately?

Chief: ......

• Prompt: Are you going to cut off my worries for me?
• Adela: Hmmm... maybe you need a hot drink more than a trim. How about black tea?
• Adela: 😉

• Prompt: ...Please put the scissors down first.
• Adela: Relax, it's just a regular pair of scissors.
• Adela: 😐

[Adela gently strokes the ends of your hair.]

Adela: What kind of hairstyle do you want this time?

Chief: ......

• Prompt: Just keep it simple. I'll leave it to you.
• Adela: Got it. I'll take care of it~
• Adela: 😘😘

• Prompt: What's the latest fad? Uh... thunderbolt spiral exploding hair?
• Adela: Hmm... this look is too fashion-forward for you.
• Adela: 😦

⚠ Nostalgia

Adela is decorating her room.

System Notifications: Soon after joining the MBCC, Adela has transformed her room into her new hair salon. She's even recreated the decorations of her original hair salon the best she could.

• Prompt: Perhaps she's feeling nostalgic.

⚠ Hair Savior

Adela has some valuable advice to give on how to choose a shampoo.

System Notifications: Adela has recommended a suitable shampoo for each hair type, and the overall scalp health has significantly improved in the Bureau.

• Prompt: Thanks, Adela!

⚠⚠ Hand Cream

Inside the infirmary, the nurse is talking to Adela.

Nurse: Your wound is a little inflamed. I've cleaned it and redone the dressing. Don't forget to drop by every day to change the dressing.

Adela: I will, thank you.

Nurse: By the way, avoid water before it heals completely.

Adela: It can't get wet, I see...

System Notifications: The conversation from the infirmary grabs your attention. When you get closer, Adela happens to walk out.

• Prompt: Ask

Chief: Adela, did you get hurt?

Adela: Oh, it's nothing, just a small crack on the hand.

Adela: It'll heal soon. Please don't worry about it.

System Notifications: Adela reaches out the hand to you. There's a one-centimeter crack on her fingertip. Ointment has been applied, but it still looks a bit swollen. You also notice the skin on her hand is dry and rough.

Adela: It's a bit annoying I can't get my hand wet though. I still gotta shampoo the hair of my clients...

Chief: Why don't you take a few days off from the hair salon? Let your wound heal.

Chief: Your hand is cracked and inflamed because you shampoo too many clients' hair every day, no?

Chief: I keep a few good hand creams in my office, I'll bring them to you later. Remember to use them once your hand has healed.

Adela: Got it. Thanks, Chief. That's too nice of you.

⚠⚠ Handywoman

Lately, you've heard a rumor about Adela.

System Notifications: You've recently heard a rumor about Adela. She can seemingly produce anything from her counter. Out of pure curiosity, you decide to go and verify the legends about this mysterious counter.

• Prompt: See what Adela's up to

Chief: Good morning, Adela. Busy today?

System Notifications: Arriving at Adela's room, you find her humming a tune and cleaning her hair salon with a vacuum cleaner you've never seen before.

Adela: Hey, Chief. The weather's lovely today. Thinking of trying a new hairstyle?

Chief: Um... I'm quite happy with my current hairstyle. I do have a favor to ask though, can you help me?

Adela: Of course, Chief. Whatever you need, just name it.

• Prompt: Start with something simple

Chief: Um, I'm feeling like a bottle of peach juice. Have you got some by any chance?

Adela: Be right back!

System Notifications: Adela returns to her counter and you can tell from the sound that she opens a fridge. A minute later, she's back, holding a glass of fresh peach juice.

• Prompt: Let's take it up a notch

Chief: I know this sounds spontaneous, but I was also wondering if I could borrow a vinyl of the band Spaceship...

System Notifications: Before you finish, she gets behind the counter and somehow produces a record. Exactly the one you're asking for.

Chief: ...Oh? Um, yeah, that's the one, thanks...

• Prompt: Alright, this is getting a bit confusing

Chief: I'm curious, is there anything you can't get from behind that counter?

Adela: Seriously, yes. These are all unwanted items left behind by my clients. They serve no purpose.

Chief: The trimmed memories, huh...

Adela: Just some worthless objects. By the way, do you still need anything else?

Chief: Ahem, no. I'm only here to check out your counter. It's indeed as fascinating as the rumor suggests.

⚠⚠⚠ Mother's Pendant

Adela, who's usually easygoing and chatty, is pacing in the Outdoor Activity Area sullenly. Something seems off.

System Notifications: Adela, who's usually easygoing and chatty, is pacing in the Outdoor Activity Area sullenly. Something seems off.

• Prompt: Ask if she's okay

Chief: What's going on, Adela? Is something bothering you?

Adela: Oh! It's you, Chief.

Adela: No, it's nothing serious. I'm just slightly distracted by this thing...

Chief: What is it? Would you mind telling me?

Adela: Actually...

Adela: I've had this gem pendant for years, but I only found out today that it's in fact a locket with a photo of a young woman hidden inside.

Adela: I'm sure it's nothing important, but I somehow feel like I've seen this photo before...

System Notifications: You recognize that's Adela's mother. She's severed all her memories about her mother, including the early ones when Adela was still a child, but the related emotions surely cannot be so easily removed.

• Prompt: Just a beautiful stranger.
• Chief: It's just an ordinary woman. Though I must say, she resembles you in some ways.
• Adela: Oh? Now that you've said it, I do have her eyes.
• Adela: It's just a little weird that I'm so preoccupied with this...
• Adela: Chief, do you know why?
• Chief: Hmm... Can't say I do.
• Adela: Sorry for keeping you for so long. I'm sure it doesn't have any special meaning. I'll go back to work now.
• Adela: Remember, you're always welcome at my salon, Chief.
• System Notifications: Perhaps it's not time yet. Watching Adela return to her hair salon humming a melody, you can't help feeling a pang.

• Prompt: Perhaps she's someone important to you.
• Chief: She could be someone important to you. Otherwise, why would you have kept her photo for so long?
• Adela: But... I... I'm confused...
• Adela: She's only a stranger... Why do I feel so upset all of a sudden...
• System Notifications: Tears suddenly begin falling from Adela's eyes for some reason even she doesn't comprehend. She seems a bit flustered at first, but soon collects herself.
• Adela: Sorry, Chief. I'm such a mess.
• Chief: ...
• Adela: I should head back to my room and take a rest.
• System Notifications: Adela's steps seem particularly heavy. You watch her back and sigh softly.

⚠⚠⚠ Trimming

Your hair seems to be getting a bit too long these days.

System Notifications: Your hair seems to be getting a bit too long these days, but you're not in the mood to either visit a hair salon outside or trim it yourself. After thorough consideration, you finally decide to risk it and ask Adela for help.

Chief: Hopefully, this time I'll only get my hair trimmed off.

Chief: Small troubles can be enjoyable sometimes, after all.

• Prompt: Visit Adela

System Notifications: From afar, you see Adela in her apron, concentrating on cutting the hair of a Sinner who's dozing in the seat.

Chief: How professional... I'll sit here and wait for her.

Adela: Voila, it's done!

Adela: Rise and shine, handsome! Now, what do we think of this?

Sinner: Zzz... Oh!

Sinner: Hey, it's dope. You know what you're doing, Adela!

Sinner: Wait, isn't that Chief in the mirror? Are you here for a trim too?

Adela: Oh hi, Chief. Excuse me, I didn't see you earlier.

Sinner: I'll leave you two alone. I can rinse my hair myself, don't worry about it.

Chief: Hi Adela, I'm actually here for...

Adela: Say no more, you're here for a trim. Come take a seat! And don't you worry, I'll only cut what you ask me to this time.

Adela: ...And I'll do it for free.

Chief: Since when can you read minds...

Adela: I've been in this business long enough to tell with a simple glance.

Adela: Anyway, what hairstyle do you have in mind, Chief?

• Prompt: Smart.
• Chief: I think something smart and refreshing will suit me more.
• Adela: No problem.
• Adela: But I sense that your mood is the exact opposite of that, isn't it?
• Chief: Pardon?
• Adela: You're self-conscious about your hair, aren't you? No worries, I'll rid you of your trouble right away!
• Chief: Ugh... Hold on...
• System Notifications: Snip, snip.
• Adela: It's done, Chief. Are you sure you don't wanna open your eyes and check out your brand new hairstyle?
• Adela: Are you sure you don't wanna open your eyes and check out your brand new hairstyle?
• System Notifications: You try to feel if something's missing in you and are surprised to sense nothing wrong. You open your eyes to find that Adela really means what she says literally. She's given you this new hairstyle so you can feel more confident with your hair.
• Chief: ...Maybe try to word it differently next time?
• Adela: Glad to be of service, Chief!

• Prompt: More volume.
• Chief: Can you add more volume to my hair?
• Adela: Certainly. That may take a while though, is that okay?
• Chief: Sure, I'm quite free today.
• System Notifications: As Adela says, this hairstyle takes time to create. Luckily, time passes easily enough with the laid-back chatter between the two of you.
• Adela: Chief, do you sometimes think that peaceful, steady days like this are as precious as gold?
• Chief: I agree. But these quiet days are in fact quite mundane, when you think of it.
• Adela: What do you mean?
• Chief: What make these days precious are the conversations and interactions with those who matter to you. Don't you think?
• Adela: You're exactly right, Chief.
• System Notifications: Adela's busy hands pause for a moment. Then, they resume working dexterously on your hair again.
• Adela: Just like this, am I right?

The hairdresser's work uniform, after a simple cut and alteration by Adela, took on a different flavor.

It looks like you have some troubles. Don't worry, my hair salon is here for you.