The Tradies Street in the district of Trost was the center of commerce in Paradis during the early times. Decades of economic growth and the rise of business clans led to the development of large-scale industrial centers in areas surrounding Mitras. The once busy thoroughfare now lost its significance and popularity among the citizens - its existence only being acknowledged through a museum label that briefly mentioned it as the location where the Reiss family had set up their first construction business. There were still some shops that had managed to survive despite the crippling competition. One of those that didn't was now a subject of interest in Levi's case.

The junior detective discretely took a photo of the closed down store's facade with his phone. The signage read "TD Gardening Supplies" which was a far cry from the business name indicated in the photocopied receipt he held in his hand. He was expecting a shop offering plumbing services but this discovery didn't really surprise him at all. Satisfied with the evidence he took, Levi returned to his car where his mentor was patiently waiting for his report.

"Well?" Erwin asked his junior partner as soon as he had settled himself on the driver's seat.

"Just as I thought... It's a fake business. I can't believe the city auditors failed to check this."

"Hmmm... Or someone from city hall is deliberately turning a blind eye. Let's hand over our findings and evidences to Fraud. They have more experience dealing with this stuff than we do."

Levi nodded his head. As much as he wanted to keep working on this case, it was out of his hands now. Had he not followed Mike's advice to seek his mentor's help, he would have been able to continue this in secret. However, tapping Bushy Brows had propelled the case forward and legitimized the investigation so he had no regrets reaching out to him.

"I do appreciate you bringing this up to me..." Erwin began.

His senior partner just entered mentor mode and Levi groaned inwardly at the looming pep talk he was about to hear for the next few minutes.

"...despite knowing that I also cared for her... I should have spotted the red flags before. Hange deserved the truth."

It was the first time Bushy Brows opened up about his feelings for the scientist. It was also the first time that he had shown him some vulnerability. If this was a mind trick that he was trying to play on him, it wouldn't work. Yet somehow, Bushy Brows seemed genuinely frustrated that it was hard not to believe that his attempts to connect with him were not made out of obligation.

"I just need your clout that's all... We both want what's best for her so getting you on board makes sense. Thanks by the way." Levi mumbled the last sentence at the same time that he started the engine.

Erwin chuckled. "You're not really comfortable expressing your gratitude, I can see that."

"Some keen sense of observation you got there." The junior detective scoffed as he backed up the car.

"Let's go home. We have to be up early for the Police Games tomorrow." Erwin closed his eyes to rest. He looked exhausted.

"Do you even need to? Mike said you'll just be watching from the sidelines just like what you've been doing ever since."

"I'm the spokesperson for the PPD. I represent the entire Paradis police, not only a specific precinct in these kind of activities."

"Even in intercity events?" Levi raised an eyebrow. "Too bad. My neighbor from 100 seems hellbent on 'beating your pompous a**' in paintball. Those were his words not mine."

"Just drive."


The next day...

Paintball was one of the most anticipated events in the Paradis-Liberio Intercity Police Games held in Mitras that afternoon. Each city had selected twelve-man squads from five different precincts within their jurisdiction to go head to head in competitive paintball sessions. Paradis and Liberio were currently neck and neck after winning 2 games each. The final and deciding battle was between Precincts 139 and 100. Both squads had a winning streak in their respective cities and were poised to maintain their record. The final game was to be held indoors - in a foreclosed medium-rise building that the PPD acquired for SWAT training. Participating squads had congregated in the holding room while waiting for the referee to arrive. It was there that Erwin spotted his fellow 139ers prepping their weapons. They all froze when they saw him walk through the door wearing the paintball uniform. It was a rare occasion for him to participate in the actual games.

"Hey buddy! Great to see that you're joining the action!" Mike slapped his former partner's back. "What happened to Gelgar though?"

"He got moved to another event." And by "move" Erwin meant that he made a call to someone in HQ to have him transferred to tug-of-war. It ended well for Gelgar anyway because their team had won the game.

"A last minute decision, don't you think?" Mike eyed him suspiciously.

"For sure. I'm lucky I got in to stand in his place. I wouldn't miss this chance to show Liberio how we work us a team. Call everyone, we need to think of a strategy first."

"You're kinda late in the game, bud. We already did that yesterday. We thought you weren't joining so we voted for Hange to be the team captain."

"Do you want to take over, Erwin?" Hange asked him.

"No, let's carry on with your plan. I believe in you." He gently placed his hand on her shoulder. "Can you brief me about it?"

"Sure."

While Hange explained the strategy to Erwin, Mike took out a small notepad and pen from his pants' pocket and nodded in approval at the sight before him.

"That's a nice way to support your girl, buddy. Erwin, +1". He mumbled to himself as he drew a another line in his tally sheet.

Meanwhile, Yelena spotted her room mate fixing the sleeves of his uniform in a corner. Moblit was alone but he was never really a loner. This was just how he condition himself before any competition. She slowly sneaked up behind him and gave him a bear hug without warning.

"Argh! Don't do that when we're at work, Yelena!" Moblit tried to untangle himself from her.

"At work? We're only playing games."

"This is still a work event." He clicked his tongue.

"An event meant for our enjoyment. Aren't you psyched at all? They put you in a game that plays to your strengths." She was clearly alluding to him being a member of the city's shooting team.

"This is different. It's a team sports. You need some strategy not just skill to win." Moblit tried to wriggle his way out of her clutches.

"Pfft! Boring! Hey... how about we do a bet? Whoever gets to take out the opposing team captain first will win. Never mind if the team loses. Game?" Yelena tightened her hug around him.

"Fine. Fine! You can release me now." Moblit sighed when his room mate did so just in time for Precinct 100's team captain, a hairy blond man who went by the name of Zeke Yeager appeared on their view.

"Good day, sir!" The lab assistant nodded at him then immediately left to mingle with his squad.

"I see you're consorting with the enemy." Zeke frowned at his co-worker.

"He is just my room mate." Yelena shrugged her shoulders.

"Is he something we should be worried about?"

"Nah. He's completely harmless. How about we take out 139's team captain first?"

"Don't touch her. She's mine. The midget is also mine. If you really want to be of use, try to get rid of PPD's top detective first." Zeke pointed at a blond man with a distinct bushy brows who seemed to have sensed his death glare because the said man scowled back at him. Yelena recognized him instantly. There wasn't a person in that room who didn't know who he was.

The referee finally entered the holding area and signalled both teams to gather around him so he could explain the rules. The game started shortly after. Fifteen minutes passed and both teams had already shed half of their members. The players chased each other into the second floor until only six people remained in each team. They entered a room dotted with wooden crates and found themselves at opposite ends. Not a single shadow moved as both squads took the time to re-group and rest. Thirty minutes into the game and nobody was still budging. The duration seemed normal for a casual paintball session but this was a competitive game made for the police. They would be shamed by their superiors if it lasted for more than 45 minutes. The game won't be stopped though if they prolong the session beyond that.

"Is there a time limit to this game?" Mike called out to the referee positioned near the wall to his right. "I can't hold my pee any longer."

"There isn't any. The game will only end if all members of the team are eliminated OR if both teams come into an agreement."

"My motherf**king bladder is going to explode any minute now." Mike complained loud enough for everyone in the room to hear. "How about I just go rambo? I'll take down as much enemies as I can before I go down myself."

"And drag me along with you? Hell no! We were instructed to cover each other's backs." Nanaba yelled at her partner even though he and Erwin were next to her hiding behind the same crate. She flashed a thumbs-up to Hange who was crouched behind another box with Moblit and Levi. Mike stifled a giggle which earned him a punch on the shoulder from his junior.

"Owwww!" He did not fake the reaction. It was a really strong punch.

The response they were anticipating did not take long. They heard the opposing team captain's voice speak from a close distance. "Hey 139! I have a proposal for you. We will surrender..."

Everyone on 139's squad was taken aback. Nobody had foreseen that negotiations would start that way. Something was surely amiss.

"Fuck you, Zeke! You traitor!" They heard a dissident voice from Liberio's side which was quickly silenced when Yelena fired a shot at the person who spoke against their captain. "You're out!"

"That is... unnecessary. Sorry about that." Zeke sighed. "As I was saying, we will surrender in exchange... for your team captain's phone number."

"We don't trust monkeys." Levi blurted out.

"Says someone who's never lied in his life. Stop playing innocent, midget! Does Hange know that you have someone else you call baby in your phone contacts?"

"The f**k are you talking about? That BB is... Erwin Smith."

"Erwin Smith? You... call your partner, baby?"

Shit! How did the monkey know that he was his partner? He would have to remind his niece not to divulge any work-related information to the monkey's brother. "Idiot! It's B.B. not baby! It stands for... " Levi spotted his mentor furrowing his bushy brows at him from across his line of sight.

"...for Best Boss."

"Do you promise to keep your word?" Hange interrupted the men before one of them charges the other.

"Of course. Why don't you let Ackerhole accompany you."

"Okay, we will come out. Hold your fire." The scientist motioned Levi to step out of their hiding place with her.

"Anyone who shoots 139's captain will only drink milk to our afterparty later!" Zeke warned his team. He smoothed his blond hair with his fingers before sauntering towards the center of the room.

"Hello, my dear Hange!" He gave her a wide grin.

"Hello Zeke!"

"You remembered my name? I am quite elated!" Zeke bowed down his head as if he was addressing the queen.

"Stop the flirting and get it over with." Levi gritted his teeth.

"Jeez, the midget is in such a hurry. Gonna piss your pants, too? You and Zacharias should have worn diapers if you're just gonna wet yourselves in fear. There's nothing much to show down there anyway."

"That son of a b**ch!" Mike shot up from behind his crate and aimed for Zeke.

Erwin immediately pulled him back to safety. "This is just a game. Don't let your emotions cloud your judgment."

"For the record, I am above average down there. Right, Nanaba? Owww!" Mike rubbed the shoulder that his junior partner punched for the second time around. "Why are you so mad all of a sudden?"

Oh s**t.

He knew he was f**ked as soon as his eyes met Erwin's stern gaze. He had been meaning to tell him about them but he and Nanaba agreed to hide their relationship until management decides to reassign them with new partners.

"We will discuss this on Monday." Erwin would have enumerated the fraternization policies of the police force right then and there but the enemy team captain started his trash talking once more.

"And where is Paradis City's pride and joy, THE most famous detective, Erwin Smith? Is he too afraid of Liberio that he's cowering behind a woman? Where are his balls? Should I file a case so he could take it on next?"

Erwin's nostrils flared while Nanaba and Mike quickly interlocked their arms with his to hold him in place.

"Does anyone have a pen so the monkey can shut up now?" Levi asked annoyed.

Everyone from 139 pointed at Mike's direction.

"Ah f**k it. Hurry up and return this to me." Mike flung the pen at Levi who caught it and handed it over to Hange. She scribbled down her mobile number on the other team captain's left palm as promised.

"This really made me happy, Hange." Zeke smiled at her. "Thank you for this. You know what? I jsut realized something. I'm really dying to shoot this midget at close range." He raised his paintball gun and aimed at his neighbor's direction.

"F**k you Ackerman!"

"Levi, watch out!" Hange pushed him out of the bullet's trajectory but the sudden force made her lose her balance in the process.

Everything went in slow-mo afterwards. The junior detective gawked at the scientist as she toppled forward with her pretty mouth and gorgeous eyes wide open in shock. Dutiful Moblit who was tasked to cover their a**es, popped out from behind a crate and fired his paintball gun twice as soon as they were a few inches out of harm's way. Levi guessed that he was able to hit Zeke because an ape-like cry filled the room after the shot was made.

Chaos ensued by the time they hit the floor with Hange landing on top of him. Levi heard people coming out of their hiding places and charging towards the enemy. Instructions were shouted, expletives exchanged, guns fired repeatedly until they were empty, and the number of players acknowledging a hit increased every minute. Levi didn't give a s**t about what happens to the game anymore. At that moment, he could only stare at Hange's worried face amidst the screams and gunshots coming from both sides. At one point, she raised her hand and yelled out some instructions to their squad. She looked so damn hot when she's taking command. Then she turned to him and whispered a question to which he replied with a nod. To his surprise, she went into full planking mode on him, just lifting her head high enough to keep their noses from touching.

After what felt like an eternity, the noise finally died down and the only thing he could hear now was the rhythm of her breathing and his heart pounding on his chest. Their faces were too close that he couldn't resist reaching out to fix her askewed eye glasses in place as a futile attempt to touch her. He would have loved to stay in that position for much longer if not for the growing bulge that he was starting to feel down there. He wanted to push her off in his panic but hesitated because he might give her the wrong impression that he didn't want her. If he didn't push her off though, she might take notice and think that he's an utter pervert. Neither scenario was ideal for him. Then someone cleared his throat and his a** was saved once more. Bushy Brows appeared and offered a hand to pull the scientist up. For the first time ever, Levi was actually relieved to see him there. On the other hand, Erwin did not look happy at what he saw.

"Did I hurt you?" Hange asked Levi when they had both risen from the floor.

"No. Not at all." He used his paintball gun to hide his crotch hoping his man meat would shrink back to its normal size fast.

"Did you get hit?"

"No, I don't think so."

"Mind if I check?"

S**t. "Go ahead."

Levi could feel a blush creeping up his face as Hange scanned him from head to foot, lifted his arms and feet to ensure that he's clear, then turned him around to inspect his back.

"F**k yeah! We won!" She raised both of her fists in triumph. Half of the room erupted in cheers while the other half groaned. She motioned her squad to follow her lead as she approached each player from Precinct 100 in order to shake their hands. Levi noticed the splatter of paint on her back as she did so. She had shielded him from the crossfire despite being hit herself. Now he understood what "Protect the lowest surface area" meant. Maybe everything was just part of her strategy. Even so, the way she looked at him when she asked him the question earlier still made his knees weak.

"Levi, is it okay if we stay close like this until this is over?"

The junior detective was just lucky that she fell on him but he wondered if there's a slightest possibility that she could be falling for him instead.

"Hey Moby," Yelena walked towards her room mate who was sitting by himself on top of a crate to take a rest. "Did you just shoot me?"

"Yeah. You were aiming for my boss."

"I saw you target my captain. I didn't really see you shoot at me but I know it was you. Oh well, no hard feelings. You know I can't stay mad at you. How about we ditch the rest of the event and go to the pub now? My treat, of course."

"Sorry, Yelena." Moblit jumped off from the crate when he spotted Hange beckoning him to come. "Our precinct is having a celebratory dinner after this. How about tomorrow? After you've cleaned your room?"

"Jeez. You just won the bet. You did not become my mother."

She watched her roommate from afar as he returned the high fives from his fellow team members before she went back to that part of the room where her own squad was chatting with each other. The losers still looked happy because the afterparty back at home would still proceed despite the outcome of the game. As for her, she hated losing the most. She might just go on her regular jog rather than drink milk all night. Zeke had meted out the punishment for shooting her own team mate even though she did it for him. What a shame. She really liked his bearded face but he was hellbent on pursuing the head forensic scientist of 139. Moblit's boss was obviously showing no interest in him by her deferential response to Zeke's wave from across the room. She probably thought he was older than her by a mile.

"Hange, you did great! I'm proud of you.. " Erwin placed both of his hands on each of her shoulders. "Just let me know if that guy harasses you in any way. I'll deal with him." He did not like Liberio's team captain's attempts to try and catch her attention.

"There's nothing to worry about, Erwin. I think he's harmless. I talked to him once.. when I slept over at Levi's house..."

Somehow the famous detective felt that everything was his fault. If he hadn't left Hange by herself during the captain's birthday party then she wouldn't have spent the night at Levi's place. She wouldn't have met his obnoxious neighbor. And more importantly, he wouldn't have been plagued by two men who were also vying for her affection.

"Let me handle this." Levi broke Erwin and Hange apart by walking in between them.

"Oi monkey!"

"Kid, we're done. We've already won." Mike tried to go after him but the junior detective already pointed the paintball gun at his neighbor and pulled the trigger.

Zeke blocked the pellet from hitting his face with the palm of his left hand.

"Ha! And I thought you're a sharp shooter!"

"I wasn't aiming for your face, dumb a**." Levi scoffed and started to walk away with the rest of his squad to attend the awarding ceremony.

"What?!" Zeke slowly turned his hand over only to find Hange's number completely covered with paint.

"F********ck youuuuuuuuuuu midgeeeeeeet!"