Recap:

He glanced up at me, curious. "What did you have in mind?"

I smiled uneasily at him, resting back in my chair and crossing my arms. "It's a plausible idea but I'm not sure if you're going to like it."

"You're right, I don't like it. This place gives me the creeps."

I smirked over my shoulder at him and we continued making our way through the dark streets. Both of us were fully armed but covered by a long cloak each.

"Trust me, I don't like this anymore than you do but we don't have much of a choice here."

"Paying criminals for information is bad enough but where the criminal is an arsonist? I might as well throw you in jail."

"Oh relax will you? It's either talking to the arsonist or to confront the higher officials. Take your pick, Fuji."

We soon reached the opening of the underground maze and I gazed down the stairs, which ended in a pitch-black hole. There was a slight rattling of metal as Nick lit our lantern with shaking hands. I rolled my eyes.

"Man up, will you? Come on, follow me."

I took the lantern from him and we began our descent underground. After a moment in darkness, the hallways of the maze were soon spotted with regular lanterns, lighting up the darkness. Moving by memory, I took several turns through the labyrinth, finally coming to a large wooden door carved into a stone building. Opening it without hesitation, we entered the building and moved upstairs. As we reached the top office, two burly guards met us, moving to block the path. I rested a hand on my 3DMG blade, ready for anything. Nick followed my lead and waited.

"Bruce. Liam. Either you two move out of the way, or I'll move you myself in pieces."

There was a tense silence before the two men stepped to the side, arms clasped behind them.

"Good to see you still remember me." I noted and swiftly moved past them and into the office. Nick was hot on my heels.

"Who the f-oh, it's you. Honestly, it's been a while since I last saw you, bella." Greeted the voice.

"I had intended to keep it that way but things popped up, Mizuka." I greeted back, removing my hood. John Mizuka, ex-serial arsonist. He didn't have any bodies under his name which was the only thing keeping me from whacking the guy myself. Now head of the Miyan Gang, Mizuka was extremely useful in terms of gaining information of the city or the Underground activities.

"And who is this lovely man next to you? Your boyfriend, perhaps, hmm?"

"No. This is Military Police Investigator Fuji. He's here on a case."

Mizuka stood up sharply, slamming his hands on the desk in front. His expression was livid. The door opened from behind us, smashing into the wall behind. Bruce and Liam stood in the doorway, ready to beat the crap out of us. Fuji had spun around and whipped out his gun, pointing it at them in defence. I remained in the same position, unfazed.

"So you finally did it, bitch. After all these years, you got the balls to bring the MPs here to arrest me, is that right?" Mizuka snapped.

"The fact that you haven't killed anyone is the only thing keeping you alive. Also, you wont have any balls to speak of if Twinkle Toes and Candy Floss don't back down from my partner."

"Your partner?"

I shifted my cloak away from my chest, displaying the Military Police logo on my jacket.

"Also, we're not here about you. I want some information regarding the illegal trading of stolen military weapons."

Mizuka pondered my statement before slowly sinking back into his chair. "Bruce. Liam. It's all right."

The door closed again with a click and I heard Fuji quietly sigh from relief.

"So, Military Police? I personally liked you better in the Survey Corps."

I remained silent as my answer. He continued, undiverted.

"Illegal trading? Stolen military goods? I'm afraid I don't remember what you're talking about."

I pulled out a small bag of gold coins and dropped it onto the wood table.

"You remember now?" I asked. Mizuka greedily swiped the gold away from me.

"Ah yes, it's all coming back to me now. I have been hearing stories of unusual shippings moving to and from the Underground City via these passages." He motioned for us to sit in the chairs opposite him. I instantly followed the instruction. Fuji copied my movement uneasily.

"Any idea who's moving the weapons to and fro?" I questioned. Mizuka shook his head.

"That, I don't know. What I do know, is that the Toria gang have also increased their activity somewhat once those shippings surface here."

"So they may be the distributors." Fuji assumed, leaning towards me. I nodded.

"It is likely that that's the case. But then there's the question of how they get their hands on it in the first place. There are several factories that specialise in making these weapons and most of them are in the Wall Rose district. The orders are then handled by the MP. When ordered in bulk, it's not surprising that no one notices when a couple are missing. Point made, there has to be some kind of network within the Military Police that moves a couple of weapons from the orders and are distributed on the black market."

"We'll have to find where exactly they are taken and then follow that strand to who does that." Fuji finished my thought.

"Speaking of who, do you know why the blasted Survey Corps are on my tail?"

My eyes narrowed a fraction. "No. Why?"

Mizuka shrugged, unaware of my secret. "Just curious. I may have to deal with them if they come too close to my…endeavours."

I leaned forward and leaned my arms on the table. "If you harm even one hair on the Survey Corps, I will personally come and do the same to you."

"Always a Survey Corps soldier at heart, aren't you, bella?"

"Final warning: stay away from the Survey Corps. Especially Corporal Levi."

An eyebrow arched. "Ah, so you know of his predicament."

I leaned back slightly. "Predicament?"

"The good Corporal seemed to be on the same case as you as he and his team were found wandering the maze earlier on. They had an encounter with the Toria gang and were sent packing, to say the least."

So that's what happened. "In any case, you leave the Survey Corps alone and I leave your ties to this case invisible."

"And if I cant leave them be?"

"Then you will not see the light of the next day."

"And the Military Police? You can threaten me all you want but the relations we have with the MP go far back than you can vouch for."

I glanced over at Fuji and he took the reins. "As long as you don't go looking for trouble then I don't see why I have to say anything."

Mizuka chuckled. "You are an interesting pair. Consider it a deal. I stay away from the Corps, you stay away from my case."