Prologue

Back in the day, when I fought in The War, things were much simpler. Things were black and white. You knew who your enemies were by their uniforms, by the way they spoke or where they pointed their rifles on the battlefield. But now, we're fighting a different kind of war. A war where the line between friend and foe is blurred beyond recognition.

A gray world.

Who's on your side in this City's wicked game? The Queenpins and their gangs definitely aren't our friends, but they've kept to their turfs in the North and the South for the most part. The Shrimps and the Deadbeats are preparing for war, but they haven't declared it. Hopeful Shrimps flock to the North to commit themselves to Gura's call. All the while, Deadbeats sharpen their knives and wait for the call to attack - eager to swing their weapons well.

But here in Central? That different kind of war is already being fought.

Blood has already been spilled on the Nephilim Jazz Club. People like that maid lady with the nice voice are playing both sides from her cafe. Even City PD can't claim to have clean hands. Not when Shrimps and Deadbeats could be among them.

Truly, we live in a gray world.

These harsh realities have brought us down to our knees. We're cowering here in the place that was supposed to be the fortress of justice in the city - our foxhole in the war that could soon be fought. We're desperate to find the truth in a gray world filled with lies and deception. Therefore, surely, packages of canned fruits and tea are but a drop in the bucket and…

…

"No." Ina interrupted Ame's monologue sharply. "Subaru and I are NOT going to forgive you so easily, Ame! And the same goes for you, Kiara, for playing along with Ame's insane stunts! You're enabling her!"

"Ahahahaha~" Kiara laughed uncomfortably.

The rookie detective was kneeling on the floor of Ina's office beside Ame. The two opened packages were on the floor beside them while Ina and Subaru loomed over them and cast heavy, disappointed shadows.

"Detectives." Subaru chimed in, speaking more formally than she did just an hour ago, "You do realize that City PD has protocols for bringing in evidence like this?" She raised up her pointer finger and wagged it at Ame's face, "First, you have to call Dispatch and inform Technical Services about your situation. Next, you…"

"Next, we wait for Technical Services to advise us about next steps, I know." Ame finished Subaru's spiel for her.

"Then why didn't you do that!?" Subaru squawked, shaking her fists at the kneeling senior detective.

Kiara saw Ame heave a sigh. She could tell that her partner was getting ready to methodically answer Subaru's question.

However, all of a sudden, Ina laid a hand on Subaru's shoulder.

"It's alright, Subaru." Ina spoke with a calmer tone now, "Now that I think about it, I can sort of understand why Ame pulled this stunt."

"You do?" Ame suddenly brightened up, "Then, can Kiara and I get off the…"

"No." Ina shut her down immediately, "I understand why you did this, Ame, but you still broke protocol. Things could have gone really bad!" A devilish smirk formed on Ina's lips, "Plus it's not every day that I get to play a parole officer and see Amelia H. Watson squirming and groveling before me."

Uwaaaah~ Dr. Ninomae is scary. I thought that nobody had power over Ame-senpai like this, but I guess I was wrong.

Subaru scratched the back of her head and hummed, "So… how exactly did you figure that out?"

"Hang around Ame long enough, Subaru, and you'll figure out how her monologues work." Ina spoke confidently, "It's an art and a science, really!"

"Ooh~! I see." Subaru nodded eagerly, "I thought that Ame just did that because she was stressed out."

"You wouldn't be wrong there, Subaru." Ame snickered.

"Quiet, doggie!" Ina hushed sharply.

Ame straightened her back and followed Ina obediently. If Ame had a tail, then Kiara would have imagined that it would be wagging by now.

Ina cleared her throat and provided her analysis.

"Essentially, Ame brought the package straight to us because she doesn't trust many people in City PD. But she does trust us." Ina deciphered the monologue for Subaru, "She's worried that the Queenpins have a mole or two embedded in the Police." She glanced at Ame again and asked, "That's right, isn't it?"

"Yeah." Ame confirmed, "I couldn't follow protocol and call in through Dispatch without risking Gura's or Calliope's moles from finding out about the packages."

"T-that's right!" Kiara chimed in as well, "When we were at Lemon Shark, Gura said that she'd find out if we brought her package to City PD. That's why I went along with Ame's plan."

"Moles in City PD, huh…" Subaru heaved a sigh.

"Then, there's the business of what the Queenpins are doing in their turf as we speak." Ina continued her assessment, "The Shrimps are recruiting members under the disguise of job ads that don't exist. I remember you calling me from the cannery about that."

"Mhm." Ame confirmed again.

"But what do you mean by the Deadbeats sharpening their knives, Ame?" Ina asked, "I don't think we've discussed that just yet."

"Ah. The new kid was the one who found that out." Ame praised her partner with a grin, "The floor is yours, Kiara."

"First name basis…" Ina muttered beneath her breath. Her brow furrowed ever so slightly and her ear-like flaps drooped.

"Did you say something, Ina?" Ame asked.

"Nope." Ina shook her head, forcing her flaps to stand in attention.

Instead, she turned to the rookie and urged her to speak. Kiara obliged and told Ina and Subaru about everything that she learned in the Mother Nature Cafe.

"The Mother Nature Cafe is compromised…!?" Ina grumbled beneath her breath, "It's gonna be a pain to look for a new coffee shop."

"You'll survive, Ina." Ame teased.

"Shush." Ina glared at the detective.

"I think it would be bad if you and the other officers stopped going to the Mother Nature Cafe all of a sudden, Dr. Ninomae." Kiara advised, "The Shrimps and the Deadbeats might figure out that City PD is onto something."

"Hmm, that's true…" Ina folded her arms and racked her brains, "We could probably keep tabs on the gang members who frequent the place too if we keep things on the down low."

"What I'm more worried about is this arms deal that's happening in three days." Subaru noted, "I can definitely do something about it if the deal was happening in Central, but I don't have that kind of authority in the South." She rubbed her chin and looked at the civilian clothes that Ame and Kiara were wearing, "Plus, you already have your aliases in the North: Amelon and Erika. That'll make it hard for you two to infiltrate the South."

"That's… true." Ame conceded.

"I might have a solution to that." Ina raised up her hand, albeit somewhat shyly, "I do arts and crafts when I'm not on duty. I've sewn a lot of outfits in the past, so I can make new disguises for Ame and Detective Takanashi."

"Really? You can do that for us, Dr. Ninomae!?" Kiara asked, pleasantly surprised.

"Humu. Definitely." Ina folded her arms proudly. All of a sudden, she paused and frowned, "I just have to modify the… uh… chest department."

"Heh." Ame snickered.

Ina glared at the kneeling senior detective. Ame pretended not to see it.

"In that case, I'll pitch in too." Subaru happily announced, "I'll pull my strings as Watch Commander to look for the moles here in Central and shut them down. Or, at the very least, I'll try to get them off of the switchboards so you two can phone in without worries." She then picked up the two open packages and added, "I'll have Technical Services repackage these things too! That shouldn't be too hard for them."

"We'd appreciate that. Thanks." Ame smiled at Subaru warmly. Then, she smiled at Ina as well, "I knew we could trust the two of you!"

"Hmph~!" Ina puffed up her cheeks and turned away from Ame, "Just don't push your luck so hard next time. Alright?"

"Ma'am, yes ma'am." Ame gave her childhood friend a casual salute.

"Humu, humu." Ina returned the salute, "Now then, before you and Detective Takanashi go to the hospital to see Miss Irys Hopewell, would the two of you like to join me and Subaru for an early dinner?"

"We could be convinced." Ame smirked, "Just… help me and Kiara back up to our feet. All this kneeling's made our legs numb."

Finally, Ina burst into laughter. Subaru, Ame and Kiara followed suit. Ina and Subaru then helped Ame and Kiara back up to their feet and the four of them made their way to the City PD's cafeteria.

While the quartet happily made their way down the Forensic Department's halls, however, a peculiar figure watched them passing by with keen eyes from the shadows.

Detective Kronii Ouro.

…

Queenpins

The Birds and the Best Friends

…

To Be Continued