[11:42am, L.G.D HQ]
"I cannot believe you would just let him be taken like that!" Ch'en yelled ferociously.
"I was tranqued, Ch'en!" Hoshiguma retorted. "And if I could've stopped it, I would have."
Ch'en wiped a tear out of her eye and took a deep breath.
"I know." She said, now quiet. "I know, Hoshiguma. I'm just a bit panicky right now."
"Sorry to disturb." An officer spoke, breaking the argument.
"What do you want?" Ch'en returned to her professionalistic persona.
"The suspect we brought in..." The officer paused. "He...escaped."
"Oh great..." Ch'en walked up to him. "You are useless!"
She shoved him out of the way and started walking over to custody.
[Zhang's Perspective]
This is my first time seeing the Lungmen slums.
Well, actually I've only seen a little bit, since the last hour has been spent inside this room inside a warehouse.
Suddenly, a voice booms from the comm speakers.
"Well then, Zhang." The malice is clear in his tone. "I'll get straight to the point. You've been captured, and your mother is looking for you."
Why did he have to mention her?
"You will be found eventually, only with one small difference..."
The skylight shatters from an impact, and a slam follows. I look to the broken glass and see a chunk of Originium on top.
"Let's see how much Madam Ch'en loves you...when you become the very thing she despises!"
His maniacal laughter is cut off.
The only thing I can do now is stay as far away from that mineral piece as I can.
[12:03pm, L.G.D HQ]
"Mada-"
"Shut it!" Ch'en snarled at the officer about to speak. "I'm not in the mood!"
She covered the second casualty's body, a result of the escapee's actions.
"Truly, certainly, absolutely, useless." Ch'en muttered. "Lost our only lead..."
Hoshiguma spoke up. "What will you do now?"
"I'm going to make a deal with Penguin Logistics." Ch'en headed towards her car.
"What about me?" Hoshiguma asked.
"Notify Beatrix about this." Ch'en replied. "We could use the help."
"Understood." Hoshiguma saluted. "Good luck."
Ch'en simply raised her hand and did a shallow wave without turning to face Hoshiguma before getting into her car.
"Why me?" She whispered before pulling away.
[12:36pm, Penguin Logistics safehouse]
Ch'en knocked on the garage door before announcing herself.
"Penguins, can you open up please?" She maintained her faultering politeness. "I'm here to make a deal."
"What kind of deal, Madam Ch'en?" A cheerful voice replied from Ch'en's side.
Ch'en turned to see a red-haired angelic girl standing in front of an open side door.
"One that you will be interested in, Exusiai." Ch'en tossed a box to Exusiai.
"What's this?" Exusiai read the box.
'Premium Apple Pie Deluxe'
Her eyes lit up as a smile overtook her face.
However, her joy was short-lived as Ch'en snatched it back.
"Hey!" Exusiai almost shouted before realizing who she was talking to. "That's mean, Madam Ch'en."
"You can only have it if you help me." Ch'en proclaimed.
"With what?" Exusiai still had a look of betrayal on her face.
"It will be easier to explain to all of you at once." Ch'en said. "Are you going to let me in or not?"
"R-right this way, Madam Ch'en."
Exusiai led Ch'en into the safehouse.
A nice living space with a white, black and red theme plus a vehicle workshop was the features that stoodout to Ch'en.
"Exusiai, you're back." A dark-blue haired Lupo greeted the Angel. "Why is Madam Ch'en here?"
"She will explain, we just need Croissant and Sora to be listening as well." Exusiai said.
"I'll get them." The wolf girl walked off.
"Make yourself comfortable, Madam Ch'en." Exusiai said. "Can I get you anything?"
"I'm fine." Ch'en sat on one of the sofas near a low table and put a carrier bag next to her.
Exusiai sat opposite her.
"So, um, what's in the bag?" Exusiai asked.
"Things." Ch'en continued to stare at the surface of the table.
"Oh..." Exusiai was lost at that answer. "I see."
Luckily for her, the Lupo returned with a Forte with orange hair and another Lupo with vibrant blonde.
"What does Madam Ch'en want 'round 'ere?" The Forte spoke with a thick Minoan accent.
"Croissant, show some decency..." The blonde Lupo said with annoyance.
"Sorry, Sora." Croissant replied. "Not used to visitors, me."
"Come on you two." The other Lupo said as she sat beside Exusiai.
"Coming, Texas." Sora and Croissant retorted at the same time.
Sora and Croissant filled the empty spots.
"I have come here today to make a request." Ch'en immediately spoke. "My son, Zhang, has been...t-taken, by a syndicate."
"Is it the one that's been making moves recently?" Croissant interrupted.
"Croissant..." The other Penguin Logistics members all spoke.
"I...yes." Ch'en struggled to stay composed. "I know you specialize in recon and intelligence trading, so I came here to ask if you could locate him or just anything that might be a lead to finding him. I've already got some payment for you."
Ch'en returned the apple pie to Exusiai then dug around in the carrier bag.
"Here, Texas."
Ch'en slid five 100 free Pocky tickets over to Texas.
"Thanks." Despite the monotone voice Texas had, she still quickly took the tickets and stashed them.
"Croissant, for you." Ch'en lifted several wads of LMD out of the bag. "$150,000 right there."
"Deal, no questions asked." Croissant smiled greedily.
"And Sora."
Ch'en finally pulled out a microphone maintenance kit of the highest quality and handed it to Sora.
"Madam Ch'en..." Sora gently took the kit. "Thank you so much."
"No problem." Ch'en turned back to address them all. "Please search as much as you can and report any findings to me, Hoshiguma or Beatrix Swire directly."
"Roger!~" Exusiai, now back to her usual self, agreed swiftly.
"Sure." Texas affirmed. "I'll notify the boss of this development later."
"You got it!" Croissant gave a thumbs up.
"I'll do what I can." Sora smiled faintly.
"Thank you, Penguin Logistics." Ch'en bowed her head. "Truly."
"You can count on us, Madam Ch'en!" Exusiai exclaimed, attempting to cheer her up.
[Zhang's Perspective]
These sadistic bastards...why are they doing this? Why are they trying to ruin my relationship with Mum?
Just pure insanity, I guess.
I just want to be back home...
[6:28pm, Ch'en's Office]
Ch'en sat at her desk, staring blankly at the wall opposite her, suppressing the urge to completely break down.
"Ch'en, are you here?" Hoshiguma called through the door, dragging Ch'en out of her trance.
"...Yes, come in." Ch'en responded.
Hoshiguma gently pushed the door open and entered the office, ducking to keep her horn from colliding with the frame.
"How did your plan go?" Hoshiguma asked.
"Perfect. The Penguins agreed to recon for Zhang." Ch'en explained.
"With no payment?" Hoshi couldn't hide the surprise in her voice.
"Only Croissant got money." Ch'en said. "The rest were easier to bribe."
"I see." Hoshiguma narrowed her gaze, then softened again. "Ch'en, you shouldn't lock yourself up like this."
Ch'en turned her vision to the Oni. "What are you saying, Hoshiguma?"
"I'm saying we should go out somewhere." Hoshiguma proposed. "Get some drinks at a bar or something."
"You know I don't drink alcohol much." Ch'en weakly protested.
"It doesn't have to be alcoholic." Hoshiguma said. "The sun's setting, so maybe we could observe the city lights or just go on a simple night walk afterwards."
Ch'en sighed. "Alright. It's not like I'm getting any work done here anyway."
"That's it!" Hoshiguma's face lit up. "Do you have anywhere in mind?"
"No, it's entirely up to you, Hoshiguma." Ch'en replied while putting her jacket on.
"Okay!" Hoshiguma held the door open for Ch'en before they both left.