As the following Wednesday came about, most of the chatter going on in Inkopolis Square revolved around Lupin and his devious intentions. Inquisitive young Inklings inquired about the thief with their older friends; in turn, they were regaled with stories of Lupin's hijinks, mainly told with an air of wary admiration. One particular group of squid kids loitering around Crusty Sean's food truck managed to get the prawn's attention with their thief-related chatter. With his eyes narrowed, he leaned down from his counter and joined in.
"You guys ever hear about the time Lupin hijacked the Crust Bucket?" Sean asked, his crusty head propped up by a spindly arm.
"W-What? No way! For real?" shouted a green-haired Inkling girl, clutching her Swim Speed Apple drink with disbelief plastered all over her face. "What happened?!"
"I was packing everything up for the night, just about to lock up n' head home to watch some Rainmaker matches… then these two guys tear ass out from by the subway, right toward my truck!" the shrimp told with gusto. "I couldn't tell it was Lupin until they were right in my face, him n' his pal with the wicked Splattershot. He says to me, "Sorry big guy, no time for introductions!" and shoves me aside, then they both got in the truck n' drove off into the metropolitan district before I could even say a word! Buncha cop cars went barrelin' after them right after, guess they were bein' chased for cod knows what. Lucky for me though, I found the Crust Bucket right back in place the next day; guess they returned it once they were in the clear. Still though, the nerve o' some people…"
The crowd of Inklings giggled at Sean's misfortune as an uninterested individual sauntered past them, making her way toward the nearby Inkopolis Police Department. A flyer was in her hand, stating in big letters: IMMEDIATE HIRE FOR SPLATFEST SECURITY NEEDED, BONUS PAY INCLUDED. ASK FOR ZENIGATA AT POLICE HQ.
She was an older Octoling girl with short purple tentacles tied back in a pony; the gleam in her eyes told anyone who looked that she was of the no-nonsense variety. After a few more blocks, she eventually found herself at the bronze double doors of the police headquarters, and a few more steps inside brought her to the office of Inspector Zenigata. Having been poring over documents upon documents regarding Lupin's potential whereabouts for hours on end, he was currently in the middle of a much-needed power nap at his desk. His hat covered the majority of his face as he leaned back in his chair, his feet propped next to a mug of black coffee. His visitor didn't care that much about letting him rest, however. Without so much as a knock on his door, she waltzed in and whapped a hand down on his desk, making her presence known.
"Inspector, I'd like to join your task force to defend the Great Zapfish from Lupin!"
Zenigata awoke with a start, jumping in his chair and knocking the steaming mug of coffee to the ground. A spatter of brown seeped into the carpet beneath his desk as he instinctively brandished his N-ZAP '85, aiming its barrel directly at the brash Octoling's face.
"W-What? Who let you in here? You can't just waltz in here and sneak up on an officer of the law like this! Pulling stuff like that can get you killed, ya know!" he barked, giving her a quick ocular pat-down before swiftly re-holstering his preferred side piece. Regardless of her entrance, her reason for being there was enough to make him pause for consideration. "So, you think you can stand strong against Lupin, eh? That takes guts. What's your name?"
"Laguna," she replied with a hand on her hip. "I've had an eye on Lupin for quite a while now, keeping track of all his escapades with the gunman and the samurai. They intrigue me. And more than anything, they annoy me. Always evading arrest at each turn, no matter how much the law tries. It can't be that hard to snag a moron like Lupin. I bet I can do it."
The inspector gawked at her show of bravado; more than anyone, Zenigata knew the frustration of not being able to arrest Lupin the Third. Time and time again, the master of trickery had dodged the inspector's pursuit of justice, and it kept him up at night more often than not. She thought she could bring in Lupin? Well, where was the harm in letting her try? If anything, giving it a shot would bring her to the realization that it just wasn't that simple.
"Is that so? Well then… I, Inspector Zenigata of the Inkopolis Central Police Organization (or ICPO for short), hereby authorize your assistance with nabbing Lupin. After you've gone through a proper background check, of course," he stated with a smirk. "Come back here with your paperwork, then we'll set you up with our intel once you've been cleared. Understood?"
"Understood," replied Laguna. "You won't be disappointed, Inspector. When I set my mind on something, I get it done. Not only done, but incredibly so. Need proof? Here."
With that, the Octoling turned on her heels and started toward the door, flicking an identification card onto Zenigata's desk behind her. As she left his office, the inspector snatched it up and found his eyebrows raised just a tad higher than he expected them to go.
"Well I'll be damned… Rank X all across the board. Even in Clam Blitz…" he muttered, stowing the card away in his pocket. With a start, he heaved himself out of his chair and stood by the window of his office, lighting a cigarette for a quick puff. "Better watch yourself, Lupin. The true winner of this Splatfest just might be the law…"