Both boys ran in, trying to figure out why their friend was making such a loud noise. Only to come to the most underwhelming sight all day.
Ravine was on her knees, crying a cartoonish waterfall of tears from both eyes. "THEY'RE GONE! HOW?!"
"...Really? Are ya squiddin' me?" Sandbar balled his fist. Now he had gotten up early for absolutely no reason.
Trident merely growled to himself. His own pride concerning the fact that his plan went to waste and not to mention the fact that Ravine didn't get what she wanted upset him greatly. "Tch...just order them online," he muttered while adjusting his glasses once more.
The blue squid girl crawled over to them, grasping Sandbar's shirt while her eyes welled up with tears. "Y-you don't understhand...those thhoes were one of a kind. They can't be bought anywhere elthe!"
"She is correct," the voice of the jellyfish store clerk called out to them. "They were worth five hundred thousand cash, and now I am unable to make sale!"
Both boys reeled back in shock. Completely perplexed as to why some shoes would cost that much. Not only that, but exactly how on what was left of Earth was Ravine able to afford them.
Trident gave his weeping friend a look of confusion. "Uhh...Ravine...how did you get that much money?"
By now, she had let go of Sandbar's shirt, and wiped her tears off her face. Sniffling once, twice. "Oh, well...I've been working extra hourth at the coffee shop downtown, I juggle that job and my posth at Ancho-V Games. It wath really gonna help my practice if I ever get back into doing Turf Wars."
Sandbar decided to ask later about her job life. Instead focusing on the shoes. "So if these things were that valuable, that's sorta grand theft, right?"
"Obviously," Trident responded. "Something of such great value being stolen is punishable up to 20 years."
"Welp, looks like we're gonna have to hunt 'em down."
"Excuse me?"
Ravine was confused as well. "Huh?"
"Those shoes mean a lot to ya, so we mas well try and find 'em. I still ain't got nothin' better to do anyways. Ya'll in?"
Exasperated, Trident gave a sigh. "Ugh. You clearly intend to snoop around for trouble like you always do. I may as well watch your back to assure you don't end up in the wrong palce at the wrong time or something."
"...H-hey! If you're gonna try and find the shoes, then lemme help too!" Ravine shouted, making it known that she was in as well.
Sandbar replied with a simple nod. "Alrighty then. If we're gonna figure this out, then I know the perfect place we should start."
"Seriously?"
"What, Tri? Ya can't investigate on an empty stomach!"
They had all traveled to Inkopolis Plaza and got a table to eat some Deep Fried Schwaffles. Apparently, this was Sandbar's idea of a starting point. Meanwhile, Ravine was happily munching on her crusty confectionary, letting them both speak.
Trident rolled his eyes. "Honestly, you two are completely spineless."
"Well actually-"
"I know already. Don't finish that sentence. Anyway..." The sky blue inkling took out his Squidphone X, swiping through a few pictures on it. "I asked the store clerk to send me the video footage of his store in the past 24 hours. For some reason, he couldn't give it to me while we were there, so I had to wait. I despise Cloud saves sometimes."
Sandbar was very intrigued at watching the footage. "Well, c'mon and show us!"
"Ye!" Ravine shouted in agreement.
"Alright, here we go." Trident turned his phone facing them both.
On the screen, the replay of last night's footage from the shoe store would play. Nothing happening for several house, but the Z-Stripe shoes were there.
"Nothin' yet," Sandbar spoke up, "Hit fast forward."
Trident nodded and tapped his phone to speed the video up. It continued to show nothing...nothing...until finally, there would be a silouette visible on the screen. A figure with multiple suction cups and a slender body.
"Aha! Got somethin'! I bet mah bottom that it's one of them darn Octarians."
"What? Are you serious?"
Ravine let out a loud belch after finishing her food. Looking up at the sky with wonder. "Hm...what would they want with a pair of shoes anyway? They don't even have feet."
The boys gave it some thought, before shrugging it off. "Not sure, but for now we should focus on tracking those shoes down. This could possibly lead to something much bigger."
"Eh," the yellow inkling raised a brow, "Whatcha sayin', Tri?"
"If my hunch is correct. This is more than just a mere theft. This has to be something much more intricate if the Octarians are going out of their way to steal valuable footwear."
"Right, I say we head to Octo Canyon and blast 'em up!" The sole girl of the group was more than excited at the idea of being violent in order to get what she wanted.
"Hm...sounds like a plan. But if we're headin' out, we'll need to prep ourselves." Sandbar suggested while gettign up from the table. "Let's all go home and get our gear."
"OOOH the team's back together! The USS Seawolves back in action!" Ravine shouted gleefully at the idea of them all working together once more. "I'mma get my special Brella~!"
Trident rose from the table next. "I'll arrive with my Charger. I do expect you both to be on time though. Last time we did something like this, it cost us dearly."
"Ya ain't gotta bring that up. I know that Tortuga's kinda...gone now because of that."
The mood of the conversation shifted harshly. The three of them becoming quiet. Until finally Ravine broke the silence. "I miss her...she always knew what to say and helped us think better."
"Yeah...I wonder where she is."
Trident groaned once more. "Ugh, look at yourselves. Complaining about that which you can't control. What's past is past. I say we do this in her honor and get those shoes back. How about it?"
Both Ravine and Sandbar replied with confident nods.
"Good. We meet at the entrance to Octo Canyon tonight."
And with that, the group dispersed...