4 Days

Chapter 1 – 4 February 2029

Feeling uncomfortable and totally out of place, Phoenix walked through the electric doors towards the reception desk of the Prosecutor's Office. Snow was lightly falling outside and Phoenix took off the light blue knitted scarf. The sudden warmth inside the building felt like a blanket all over him. A nicely dressed women looked up from her computer and gave him a fake smile, showing her teeth. 'Welcome to the Prosecutor' Office. How can I help you?'

Phoenix swallowed. 'I am here for Edgeworth-Mr. Edgeworth, I mean, and I, err, would like to speak to him.'

She watched his every move. 'And what is your business with Chief Prosecutor Edgeworth?' the women asked him distrustfully while tapping with her finger on the mouse impatiently.

A few months ago, his friend and Chief Prosecutor of Los Angeles Miles Edgeworth was asked to move to the new Los Angeles Prosecutor Office, a different place from where he had his 1202 room previously. It was his first visit to his friend's new workplace and this woman did not seem to recognize or know him as 'the biggest rival of prosecutor Miles Edgeworth'. Phoenix started to fidget.

'He asked me to give him some information on a recent case.'

The receptionist raised an eyebrow. 'A case? What is your name, sir?' She kept being polite despite her obvious distrust.

'Wright. Phoenix Wright.'

'I do not see any appointment with your name in his agenda, sir,' she said to him, followed by 'I am sorry, but I would kindly ask you to leave.'

Phoenix failed to find his own cellphone in one of his pockets. 'Would you please call him for me?' he tried and gave her puppy eyes and an irresistible smile, or so he thought.

She sighed, feeling quite irritated by the situation. She must have gotten out of her bed on the wrong side, Phoenix thought. Then, she moved her hand to the telephone at her right side and pushed some buttons. 'Chief Prosecutor Edgeworth, I have a man here who says he has some business with you.' A short silence. 'His name is Phoenix Wright.' Another silence. 'Yes, I understand. Thank you, sir.' She ended the call and looked back up to him. 'He is able to welcome you in his office, but has a meeting planned at eleven thirty.'

'Alright, thank you. It won't take long.' He stepped away from the reception, but then returned. The same woman gave him an ugly look. 'Err, where is his office?' he tried to ask as nicely as possible.

'Third floor, room one,' she almost spat at him, not looking up again and focusing on the computer in front of her.

'T-thanks.'

Phoenix then quickly travelled upstairs, passing by many men in dark-colored suits. Three neatly dressed ladies at the coffee corner watched his every step until he turned around the corner. It was almost like everyone was able to smell the fact that he was a lawyer. He did not even wear his badge today. But even so, everyone in this building was suspicious of him.

Phoenix took big steps, on the end of the hallway he saw a room number and a familiar name. Found it! The door was already slightly opened. Nevertheless, the gentleman he was, Phoenix knocked on the door and waited for a reply.

'The door is open, come in, Wright.'

'Hi Edgeworth,' Phoenix said and entered the Chief Prosecutor's large office. The walls were from top to bottom filled with casefiles, books and other reading materials. The room had windows on two sides and Phoenix recognized the magenta-colored sofa and Miles's chess set in the corner.

'Wow, this is definitely different from your 1202 office. Already used to it all? Especially that secretary downstairs?' The latter question he softly muttered. Nonetheless, Miles heard it all.

'Mrs. Bloom? She is doing her work perfectly. I cannot complain,' Miles answered and pointed at the fancy leather chair in front of his wooden desk. 'To answer your first question, yes, I am quite used to this place already.'

Phoenix nodded, as in 'that is good to hear'. He then put the large and thick file in front of Miles and sat down on the chair Miles pointed at.

'Here you are, this is what I could find at home about the Tyson case.' Immediately, Miles opened it and looked through.

'Thank you, Wright. I did not expect you to bring this to me that soon. After all, I only asked for it yesterday afternoon.'

'No problem, I had to sort out all the files in my cupboard anyways,' Phoenix replied. 'Next time we meet I will make an appointment with you, your secretary downstairs thought I was some intruder or something,' Phoenix commented.

'That does not surprise me,' Miles joked and looked up with a smug face.

'Thanks a lot,' the spiky-haired man answered dryly and snorted.

'But in all seriousness, I would like to discuss something else with you.' The Chief Prosecutor put the file aside, rested his elbows on his desk and folded his hands together.

'Oh, what is it?'

Miles smirked. There was something Miles knew and he didn't. It was the same smirk as when they stood opposite of each other in the courtroom and Miles was about to announce that he had updated the autopsy report.

'I have a proposal,' the man with the cravat stated. Phoenix looked at his expectantly.

'Tell me. You like how you know something and I don't, right?' Phoenix said amusingly. The smirk on his friend's face became bigger.

'I do indeed. I am asking you if you are willing to come to the Netherlands with me for a few days. There is a special conference at the International Court of Justice in The Hague. It is where the primary judicial branch of the United Nations is located.'

'Are you inviting me to go to Europe?!' Phoenix summarized in disbelief.

'Yes, I am inviting you. I thought it would be nice for you to attend an important event like this.'

'Oh, wow, I- yes, I would love to go. I need to arrange a few things with Truce if I am going, but yeah- wow, awesome. Thanks, Edgeworth.'

'It is nice to hear you are enthusiastic about going. I will make sure my secretary arranges our flight and hotel. It will last four days and the Prosecutor's Office will pay for this trip, so you won't have to worry.'

'Woah, it cannot get better, right? Are there any things I must prepare for?' he asked Miles.

'Not you, no. I do have a presentation to prepare for, though. However, you must remember that this is a very important international conference and includes high ranking members of the judicial branch. It is one of the best and prestige international events concerning law.'

'I am fully aware.'

'Good. I will let you know when the flights are booked.'

'Thanks, Edgeworth. Really, thanks for asking me. I can't wait.' Phoenix was a bit flabbergasted. He could not say full sentences properly.

'You are welcome. Thank you for your information on the Tyson case. I will have a meeting in five minutes on the fifth floor, so we better leave.'

'Yeah, sure. We keep in touch, Edgeworth. Thank you again, I am looking forward to this.'

A small and rare smile appeared on the Chief Prosecutor's face. 'Now let's go, I do not want to be late.'

'Ah sorry, see you Edgeworth.'

'Bye, Wright.' Miles locked the door of his office and the two men separated ways.

A/N
Yay! A new Ace Attorney story I started!

A big thanks to confusedsiewmai, who beta read this chapter! It is really appreciated!

See you soon in chapter two, pals!