Prologue: The Day Begins
Light snoring can be heard in a small Shang Mu apartment. It was rather early in the morning, a few hours before the first rays of sunshine could peek above the horizon. In the bedroom where the snoring emanated from, a panda with messy, vivid blue hair wasn't in a position most would deem comfortable for sleeping. But then again, with how her days typically go, it was understandable that the woman was sleeping like that.
A voice could be heard from an alarm clock nearby.
"Good Morning, Central Shang Mu!" The voice jovially greeted the brand new day. "Today is November 15th, 2010, and it is a beautiful day outside! A high of 68 Degrees, low of 40, with a chance of showers later in the day. Be sure to bring your raincoats!"
The panda stirred awake as she drowsily got up, sitting upright on her bed as she stared at the floorboards beneath her feet, sliding into a pair of pink slippers as she got up and turned on a coffee maker. The coffee maker would make a wet, draining noise as the hot brown liquid poured into a cup.
"Today, Mayor Zao reveals his plans for a "Battlesphere", an absolutely massive public works project which would broadcast sporting events and arena matches to a wide audience in Shang Mu." The voice continues from the alarm clock. "People from all walks of life can watch the Battlesphere's construction take place in the Entertainment District of Central Shang Mu, as it is scheduled to be completed in 4 years…"
Shame this is where all of my tax dollars go to. The panda sighs as she takes the coffee cup and takes a sip, spitting it out soon after. Wait… Did I accidentally buy Decaf?! The panda thought, wide-eyed as she looked at the coffee. Sure enough, it was Decaf, completely against what she had hoped for in regards of a refreshing drink of coffee.
"In other related news, the approval ratings for our Mayor have gone up! From 30% to… 31% since last month." The voice chuckled. "It seems that even with the planned revamping of the Commercial District, the poor Mayor just can't seem to catch a break!"
Minato looked at the alarm clock and sighed, turning it off. I'd rather not have politics ruin my morning, thank you very much. She thought as she made her way to her closet, pulling out a pair of long, dark gray pants, a blue shirt, brown coat, and gray knee-high boots, putting on the clothes exactly in that order.
She would then move to her bathroom across the hall, brushing her teeth with a green toothbrush and some blue toothpaste. When she was done, she spat out the frothy liquid from within her mouth and moved on to eat her breakfast at her kitchen.
Breakfast for Minato was a bowl of artificially flavored and colored Zao Flakes, combined with whole milk next to a small orange. Minato had a folder detailing a whole bunch of cases she had to deal with later in the day.
Four sudden heart attacks in the middle of the streets of Shang Mu since September 2010, a robbery from the central Shang Mu bank back in October… Minato sighed. I wish I had more help with these cases. Everyone else is too busy with that Kyushei case and they won't help me a single bit. It's like some sort of race to see who can get their name in the history books first.
Minato then put her dishes in the sink and threw away the scraps of the orange she just ate as she left her apartment, going to an elevator as it slowly descended.
Next to Minato in the elevator was a businessman and a construction worker, looking just as tired as she was. Perhaps even more tired, given their badges that signified them as government workers.
After the elevator descended completely and opened its doors, everyone in the elevator left immediately, leaving Minato as the last person out of the elevator. The panda would proceed to the garage next door and enter a small gray car. It wasn't much, only being able to hold two people, but then again, she didn't live with anyone else anyways.
The car revved to life as Minato turned the keys, the vehicle leaving the garage as the radio continued with the news broadcast.
"In other news, Senator Long has died of a heart attack in the middle of the street after giving a speech for a local charity." The newscaster spoke. "This is the fifth time an event like this has happened recently, and despite lack of evidence for any singular suspect, police believe that these heart attacks are all somehow connected."
Minato had heard of the heart attacks before. In fact, a few of her cases were regarding these heart attacks. However, try as she might, she couldn't get a single person as the culprit. Either this was just some deadly coincidence, or the actual culprit performing these heart attacks was somehow doing it from afar. But she couldn't be so certain regarding that.
Eventually, Minato reached the Shang Mu Investigative Offices, a smaller office building where most of Shang Mu's private investigation work took place. It wasn't anything special, but it was exactly here where Minato was in her element.
Entering the building into the waiting room, Minato already saw a few people waiting for the services of a PI. But then again, Minato didn't recognize anyone, and she never received any calls regarding a scheduled appointment. They were more than likely waiting for someone else anyways.
Minato then entered her office… And immediately fell asleep, the decaf getting to her.
Brrrrring…
"Mmmmhhh…" Minato groaned as she slowly got up.
Brrrrring…
Minato looked over at the phone she utilized as her work line, seeing that it was vibrating.
Who the hell could it be? Minato asked herself mentally as she picked up the line.
"Shang Mu Investigative Offices, you're speaking to Detective Hashimoto." Minato spoke into the other line. "Do you wish to schedule an appoint-"
"Great! I am in dire need of your services, ma'am!" A jovial voice spoke on the other end. However, Minato very easily recognized that voice. After all, it played on commercials practically 24/7.
"Alright sir, cut it out with the Mayor Zao impression." Minato deadpanned. "What do you-"
"Listen here, lady, I am Mayor Zao!" The voice spoke on the other end. "You gotta help me!"
Minato blinked herself wide awake. That definitely wasn't the decaf speaking. That was the actual Mayor of the entirety of Shang Mu speaking to her at that very moment.
"Y-Yes sir?" Minato asked, nervous. "What can I do for you?"
"I have heard about your exceptional track record with your investigations." Mayor Zao spoke. "And I believe that they can help clear my name of this whole Kyushei mess!"
"So… You want me to investigate the death of Kyushei on my own?" Minato asked the red panda on the other end. "I mean, that investigation is already cluttered with other investigators, both private and federal. If-"
"Look, lady, I need you to visit the Royal Palace later. We can talk about the case there." Zao spoke. "Besides, I don't have much time for an appointment! The people of Shang Mu are literally calling for my impeachment as we speak! Can't you take some time to talk to me and figure out what you can do?"
Minato sighed. "…Alright. I'll be there, twelve-o-clock sharp." The panda spoke. "See you then?"
"Thank you, Detective! Your service to Shang Mu will not be forgotten!" The red panda responded, then hanging up. Minato groaned soon after, slinking back into her chair. "…I thought he was a headache on TV. He's much worse…" The panda groaned...
Suddenly, the door to Minato's office swung open, a black bear carrying several files striding in. He had a large frame, with a grim expression on his face as he placed the files on the panda's desk.
"…I can't do this." Minato spoke without even looking at the files. "I have a client to meet with at noon, sir. I just got off the phone with hi-"
"Listen here, Moody, it's another heart attack case." The bear spoke. "I don't know what the hell you're doing lollygagging around here as senators and rich people are dropping like flies left and right! You gotta find the culprit behind these cases sometime in this decade, Moody. We can't exactly afford to be-"
"Mr. Wang, I just got off the phone with Mayor Zao." Minato interrupted. "Like I said, this case will have to wai-"
"Wait, hold on." The bear spoke. "Mayor Zao? You mean the guy who killed Kyushei?"
"Hang on, sir, there is no direct evidence that suggests Zao even did it. In fact, the location of Kyushei's death being found as a former Kakuchu HQ seems to suggest that he was killed by a member of the Kakuchu, not Mayor Zao." Minato spoke. "I'm getting off track anyways. Point is, this is a case that can affect the entirety of Shang Mu as we know it. I need to focus on this new case 100% if we want to put an end to this entire controversy, whether it be Mayor Zao or not. So can you please put the robbery case and all these heart attack cases to someone else? I promise I can find a culprit as soon as I can, and far quicker than anyone on this case."
The bear glared at Minato. "Yeah, I'll let you do the case, as soon as you quit sleeping on the job." The bear spoke. "But go ahead, do this whole case anyways. It sure as hell won't make a difference, especially if every other detective is already going at it."
Minato sighed. "Sir, I may sleep on the job, but I have had a 100% successful track record in the past, being the first person to find a culprit in every case I have been handed, and always getting the criminal in question behind bars." Minato spoke. "Just let me do the case without distractions, okay? I promise I won't disappoint."
The bear grunted. "Fine. I expect a culprit on my desk before the end of the year, got it?" He spoke, then taking the files with him. "Good luck."
Minato then sighed in relief as Mr. Wang left her office. "I swear, that guy doesn't have to be so obstinate…" Minato spoke under her breath as she went onto her computer and began typing up an initial report, based on the current facts presented at the moment.
Kyushei Ryuu Murder Case
Who: The victim was Kyushei Ryuu, former mayoral candidate of Shang Mu, and veteran of the Parusan Civil War. There are no confirmed suspects, however, Mayor Zao should be looked at.
What: The victim was murdered and buried underneath a collapsing warehouse.
When: The death occurred on November 2nd, 2009 at 9 PM, just about a week before the primaries of the Shang Mu Mayoral Election.
Where: Underneath an abandoned warehouse. However, investigators have noted that the rubble and underground cavity suggests that the abandoned warehouse was in fact the Kakuchu headquarters. More details are needed for confirmation.
Why: No motive for the murder is known, outside of upsetting the Election at the last second. Even then, this suggested motive is only a theory.
How: The victim was pierced with what looked to be a giant icicle. Chemical analysis suggests that the icicle is constructed of the same type of ice that forms glaciers in the northern seas. How such an object came to Shang Mu, let alone being pierced through the victim's abdomen, is yet to be determined.
Minato then printed out the document and put it in a folder, placing it in a messenger bag. She surely had a long way to go before she could find a suspect, especially if no other detective could in the year that transpired…
Author's Note: And so, Minato's investigation into the case of Kyushei Ryuu begins! How will events transpire for the blue-haired panda, and will she be the first person to figure out the truth behind the murder of the greatest hope Shang Mu had for its future? Find out soon enough, in the first chapter of Frosted Wings 2: Rewound Memories, coming next week!