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"Your... sister?!" Mirii's mouth opened wide, as she lifted her posture. "You have an older sister…?"
Tonna's arms fell down: Hun walks back towards Mirii, while staring at Tonna. Bars was walking towards Grina with his eyebrows up. The woman slowly walks towards her office chair, sitting on it.
"… I… had an older sister…" Her sight was staring at the desk. "… she was called Ursula… a woman who was always reserved, closed in her little world of drawings. My parents never knew what to make for her passion… me, however… I… I liked her way of thinking about the world…"
Her mind was seeing Ursula standing still on her right, while smiling and putting her left hand on Ursula's right shoulder.
"… actually… I thought to follow her same steps, in the past. I wanted to become an artist too… … but one day, while I was attempting to draw like she would… … I noticed that I was fooled by my own expectations. I was seeing a drawing and nothing else. I wasn't feeling anything…"
She sniffed loudly.
"… still… my sister didn't seem concerned about it. In reality, she's glad that I could have my own personality… and not becoming her younger mirror. … she always believed in me… she always knew that one day, I would reach tops no one could ever think of…"
She sobbed.
"… being an Agent… that was my initial wish. That was the call I heard, when I failed the drawing test… not that my parents wanted that for me. Especially my mom… she was worried about me… … my dad always tried to talk with her about it. My sis too… … then, that faithful day came upon her…"
Her mind was seeing Ursula with her mouth downturned and her sight moving down.
"… before I would fully realize it, she was not there anymore… … I can't lie… I didn't shred tears or anything like that… but my eyes started seeing the world in a different way…"
Her fists were clenching on her desk.
"I… I felt alone… my parents wouldn't understand what it really meant for me, becoming an Agent… … only Ursula would had understood… … I remember promising to write her everyday… … she never did, for some reason… I never understood why, but that was really choking my throat."
A tear fell from her right eye.
"… when I least expected it… … Ursula went back home for Squidsmas. I thought this was the best gift I could ever get… but at the same time, it wasn't. She… she wasn't smiling… she wasn't talking to me… her face was so dark, that I couldn't recognize her…"
Her face went darker.
"… before leaving… she hugged me tightly… and said that one day, she would pass all her drawings to me. The reason…? They could speak to me… and say things she couldn't say in that moment… … …"
Other tears fell from her darkened face.
"… I received a pile of them, one morning… the first ones were all colored… … the others… th-they were all grey…" Her right hand took off her glasses, putting them on the desk. "… from there, I understood. I understood the truth behind all this silence… … and today… I-I have the confirmation…"
"Nnngghhh…" Mirii's eyes were releasing some tears. "I-I'm so sorry for th-that, Tonna…" She sniffed loudly.
"… I shouldn't cry… I did that in the past… …" Her fists were trembling. "… Mirii Kelpshell… you said that my sister was working for Project Neo…?"
"She was unaware of the whole situation, at first!" Mirii's right wrist drenched her red eyes, as she stares down the woman. "She was thinking to work for a simple company, not for this organization!"
"… grrrr… … grrrrrrrr…" Her fists rose in the air.
PUM!
They hit the desk.
"… Inkinators… for now, there is nothing more to say…" Her face was still darkened. "… you may leave the"
"HOLD ON!"
Mirii turns behind: Grina's forehead was full of sweat, as her right arm thrusts towards the woman.
"Wh-what's that supposed to mean?!" Her teeth gritted. "You… you want to stop Project Neo too?!"
"… grrrrr… they… they dared to take her off my family… the only person who could had guided me properly in this world… the only person who could have understood me fully… … grrrrrr… grrrrrrr!" The darkness fell out from her face.
Her eyes were red, her teeth were gritted, her nose wouldn't stop snorting.
"… Grina, I told you a question… do you remember?"
Grina's face turned blue, as she retreats her right arm.
"The… th-the question about me seeing you as an… g-gulp, enemy?" Her eyes were closed, as she was trembling a lot.
"… are you seeing me as an enemy… right now?" The woman growled.
"… ha, ha, ha, ha… naaaaaaaah! Wh-where did you get th-that crazy idea, now?!" Her mind was seeing herself as tall as a little ant, in front of Tonna.
"… then, I hope you'll not get in my way… trying to stop me and your friends." Tonna lifts her right fist.
Mirii's irises shrunk, as she frowned and returns behind.
"What do you have in mind?!" The girl frowns a lot.
"… gggggghhh… eeeehhhmmm… why we don't leaving this office, now?" Grina chuckles a bit. "Don't you see the volcano behind you"
"SHUUUTT UUUUPPPP!" Tonna took the laptop resting on her desk, throwing it towards the girl.
CRASH!
Grina jumped above while screaming and opening the door in less than one second! The other 4 Inklings ran off, as the woman kept screaming loudly.
"RUN FOR YOUR LIVES! SHE'S GETTIN' CRAAAZZYYYY!" Grina's arms were wide open, threw in the air.
Tonna's screams were getting fainter and fainter… until the Inkinators stopped in front of a door.
"Anf, anf, anf…" Grina's right arm was resting on the door. "… pheeew! Scarier than a horror movie, isn't it so"
She turns behind: the other 4 Inklings were all frowning at her. Grina's face became paler. Mirii was folding her arms.
"… open the door…" Mirii's head rose. "… the stage is all yours…"
Grina's mouth was waving.
"W-wait… wh-why are you all m-mad at me…?" Her right forefinger was shaking, pointing at herself.
"Girl, please do as Mirii said…" Bars' eyes closed.
"… sigh… alright…" Grina's head lowered.
Click.
The Inklings all entered inside the room: Bars pushed the door back. All their eyes were pointed at Grina, which irises were looking left and right and her face was full of sweat.
"… I-I was just saying a little question…" The girl swallowed.
"Girl, I thought you would understand…" Bars' mouth downturned. "At this point, it was no use…"
"What plans do you have in mind…?" Mirii lowered her head, while frowning.
"She wanted to take us out, girl!" Bars turns his head to the right, looking at Mirii. "She wanted you to quarrel with Tonna, so she would come in and start her speech to all of us."
"… is that true, Greta Inkolina?!" Smoke was coming out from her ears. "You were trying to interfere with our progress?!"
Grina was looking down: her hands were covering her face.
"Grina, I told you a question!" Mirii's mind was seeing herself delivering a blow. "Confess your true intentions!"
… … … … … eh… eh eh… eh eh eh… eeeeh eh eh eh…
The girl was shaking…
"AAAAAAH AH AH AH AH AAAAAHH!" Her arms opened wide, as her irises were shrunk and her smiling mouth was wide open. "… ladies and gentlemen… let Greta Inkolina tell you a funny story! YOU WILL LAUGH! LIKE ME!" Her right forefinger was pointing herself down, as her mouth was grinning.
A sweat drop appears on the other four Inklings' head, as their eyes went smaller standing right below a line each. Grina turned to her right, as her right hand rested on her chest.
"The story takes place in a wonderful, happy place… in a city! A girl and their friends… they were all happy being friends! And they liked to play games together and laugh so much! Eeeeh eh eh eh…! One day… that girl proposed to build a treehouse! But another girl didn't want to…"
She turns to her left, as her eyes closed and her left wrist rested on her forehead.
"She wanted to join the police! She didn't like the crime going on in the city… and she was ready to fight it! Aaah ah ah… but the protagonist didn't like that! At all! She wanted her friends to always be around her…! Besides, fighting criminals?! Totally dangerous! That would be no fun at all…"
She turns forward, as her arms opened and her eyes opened: her smiling mouth went wide, her irises were shrunk.
"Saying no to her would have been useless! So, what to do…? … ah! But of course! Why, we pretend to play police and arrest all the crooks… while me and my dear, boy friend started up the construction site! Everything was going rather smoothly… alas, that police job was killiiing her!"
AAAAH AH AH AH AAAAAAAH!
"… one day… the work was almost done… and the second phase created by the girl was about to happen… when suddenly… that other girl wakes up one morning, telling us a nightmare! The worst nightmare ever! It was a monster coming in this city… a fiction, right? You'll be surprised as me, then! Becaaaauuussseeee… EVERYONE BELIEVED THAT!"
IIIIIIH IH IH IH IIIIIIH!
"A nightmare! A NIGHTMARE I SAY! … everyone believed that… including me… … aaaah ah ah! Bu-but I was optimistic! All I had to do was challenging her crazy talks! Th-that was enough to shut her down for a moment… but nooooo, she was scared of that! She HAD to spill the beans just like that!"
EEEEEH EH EH EH EEEEEEH!
Her head lowered.
"… I knew that was bad news ever since the beginning… I-I mean, the girl knew… … and what would you know…? Actually that monster wasn't an overrated imagination… IT WAS REAL! RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!"
The girl starts running in place, turning to her right.
"EEEEEEK! THE MONSTEEEERRR! AAAAAAH!" She immediately stops, trembling a bit. "… eh eh eeeeh… the monster… arrived in town… it took ONE step… a ballerina step, mind you: tic!"
The girl was making sounds.
"The house is crumbling! All of it! Even the boy! Together with EVERYTHING! PATUUUM!" She falls on her bottom.
Her head was down: she kept chuckling.
"… is this how the story ends…? No… this isn't even the first half…" Grina's head rose, as she shows her wide grin. "… the girl has a will even bigger than the gone treehouse! She gets back up… she still thinks about her dear friends… SHE WANTS THE BEST FOR ALL OF THEM!"
Grina jumps back down, as her arms opened wide and her mouth was grinning.
"Her friends knows her plans, oh noes! And she says SCREW THAT! I'LL STILL MAKE THAT TREEHOUSE! GIVE ME THE NAILS AND THE HAMMER! ONE DAY YOU'LL ALL JOIN THE MERRY-GO ROUND I HAVE CREATED, THANKING ME FOREEEEVVEEEEERRRR!"
AAAAH AH AH AH AH AH AH AH AH AH AAAAAAAH… ah ah… ah… … … … … … … … …
Grina turned behind, as her face went darker.
"… go ahead… throw me the tomatoes… I deserve it… …"
…
…
Bars was hugging Grina.
"Girl… we are not mad at you…" His right hand was petting her right tentacle. "… especially me."
Grina's cheeks were blushing a lot, as her mouth opened wide.
"You know… I-I couldn't stand seeing Tonna gettin' all desperate for her sis… it wasn't fair leaving her alone, girl." Bars' eyes squeezed a bit.
"… I-I'm sorry for that… I… I-I'm so scared for you... …" Grina's eyes were a bit watery. "Th-the monster is so scary…"
"Grina, might I say something about your little story?" Mirii's head rose, as her arms folded.
"… you didn't like it, I know… I accept that…" Slowly, Grina turned behind. "… I'm a stinkin' fat Squid, at the very end…"
Mirii shakes her head.
"No. It's more about… a promise." She smiles.
"… huh?" Grina's mouth opened a bit. "A promise…?"
Mirii nodded, as her head turned to her right.
"I'm sure Hunley is thinking the same thing…" Her eyes closed.
The boy nodded, smiling too.
"Yes!" He turns his head a bit to the right, seeing the girl. "Grina, once we defeat this monster… we will build that treehouse together."
"YOU DO?!" Grina's eyes sparkled, as her fists were on her mouth.
Hun nodded. Mirii opened her eyes.
"This organization doesn't respect the moral values I have… it would be wiser to move out of this career, as soon as we solve Project Neo." Mirii's head rose. "Thanks to Tonna's true support, this time we might get deeper on the matter sooner than expected."
"… to think that name could had exploited the whole plan." Grina grins, as her hands were on her hips and her eyes were closed. "If you put things that way… I guess Greta Inkolina joins the party for real!" Her right thumb rose.
"Aside from Project Neo, we must attend the special school traded with our previous high school." Mirii's mouth flattened a bit. "Once we all have a degree, then we can think about returning to the normal days while also finding a real job."
"Why not competing in Turf War matches?" Grina shrugged. "We aren't that bad as fighters…! Especially with the ace in the team!" She smiles, looking at Hun.
The boy opened his mouth a bit, as his right forefinger pointed at himself.
"Me?"
"Yep!" Grina nodded. "No other Squid have your play style… thus countering you might be trickier than expected."
"Ah… if you say so." Hun chuckles a bit, as his left hand was staying behind his head.
"Trust me on that one!" Grina's left eye winked. "… ah! Speaking of Hunry…!" Her head pointed at Mirii. "Mirii, did you know what Hunry did yesterday?!" Her mouth opened wide, while smiling.
"… what?" Mirii's head tilted to her left.
"Why, he's finally cured from his disease!" She jumped once.
"WWHHHAAAAAAAAAATTT?!" Mirii's eyes almost popped out, as her jaw dropped. "… I… … I-I have no words…" Her eyes were getting watery.
"Well, Tonna said I got the permission for taking the machine… and that's what I did." Hun smiles, as he looks around. "I don't feel different from before… well, besides the relief I have now."
"… hearing those words… it's truly perfection incarnated." Mirii sits down. "… despite that wonderful achievement, Inkinators are far from done." Her head rose. "Stopping Project Neo is the ultimate goal we must reach, if we ever want to set things right in this world."
"Then, count on us!" Grina folds her arms, while grinning and closing her eyes.
"Like, what about we get walkin' in that new mall?" Bars' right thumb was pointing the door. "After all that screaming and acting, I guess it's time for the chillin'!"
"I'm ready." Mirii smiles, standing up. "I will utilize my smar"
Her irises shrunk.
"… how could I forgot?!" Mirii's hands covered her mouth. "I still didn't find my smartphone!"
"Aaaaah, don't worry about it!"
Mirii's eyes stared at Grina, as she was smiling.
"They confiscated it while you were playing the game: I bet that Tonna is on her way to retreat that in a jiffy!" She grins a bit. "For now, let's just get going! The opening might happen soon… and I so want to see it!" She bends forward, as her fists clenched. "Maybe it's going to be fresh fun!"
"… alright." Mirii nodded. "Might as well. I really want to get back on shape, since I'm unprepared for action… a little walk might do the trick." She smiles.
"Yay!" Grina small-jumped consecutively towards the door. "Fun fun fun, here we gooo!" Her left fist rose towards the ceiling.
The other Inklings laughed a bit, as they were all walking towards the door as well.
…
Good evening: this is Lala speaking from WIT's Department 753. What can I do for you?
Oh, good evening: I'm Tonnalisa Pinna, Agent Chief of IST. I would like to receive a suspect list for explicit request from the Investigation department.
Yes, I need the ID number from the investigator requester.
The ID…?
Miss Pinna, every investigator in the whole world is under a list together with their ID: without it, I cannot lend you the requested suspect list.
… 00347825897.
Hmm… let's see… … ok, the ID number has been found. Investigator active in the country… uh-huh… uh-huh… alright, everything seems fine.
Glad to hear.
Miss Pinna, can I have your birth year date, residence location and phone number?
Wh-why?
Legal procedures. This is necessary, otherwise I could be arrested for unauthorized cooperation.
Ah! … I'm born in 1986, my residence is in Inkopolis, the phone number is the same one I'm using for talking with you.
Ok. Let me insert the data… done. The computer is now looking for your ID…
My ID?!
Yes: this is used to verify the caller. Oh, the results are arrived. Let's see… uh-huh… uh-huh… … oh… oh…
… s-something wrong?
Miss Pinna… … I'm terribly sorry, but you cannot take suspect list n. 9873.
WHAT?! THAT'S THE ONE I NEED!
Miss Pinna, I calmly ask you to keep your voice at acceptable levels. I can answer all the questions you have.
S-sorry…! … why I can't take that suspect list?
It's explained in the Additional Notes: Investigation n. 65557 proved that familiars cannot check this suspect list, so the suspects will keep their privacy and are protected by additional charges.
… no… s-so, she was right…!
Hmm? Excuse me?
… Lala, isn't it? Forgive me for this, but… I absolutely need that suspect list.
You are requesting this in the behalf of an investigator? Let him do the request, then. However, the investigator will be fully responsible for keeping that suspect list in secret and out others' eyes.
… gaaahh… p-please, Lala…
Miss Pinna, if you are insisting on this simple explanation, I'm afraid the call will
Please, this is very important! I-I'm the younger sister of Ursula Pinna… none of my family talked to her for a long, long time…
The suspect went missing? Did you report this
No, it's not that… it's about her job. She couldn't phone anyone… or sent any letters.
… I see…
She returned once, for Squidsmas… and she never smiled once at us.
… Miss Pinna, I can perfectly understand the pain you and your family are suffering… but unfortunately
Please! I must know! There is nothing more I can do to get the truth! Please!
… … … … sigh… look, there is another way to get that information…
Really?!
The Additional Notes doesn't say anything about splatted suspects. What I can do at this point is just checking Ursula Pinna… … … … there she is. Ursula Pinna… huh… disappeared together with Suspect n. 37.
DISAPPEARED?!
… the information sheet confirms that she and a man were brought in Department 490 for interrogation. … … … Miss Pinna, I read here that an investigator will reach your office for interrogation.
WWWHHAAAAAA?!
According to the request, suspicious activity was going on around a videogame known as Inknet Wars. An unknown feature communicated with you some days ago, using the Debug Mode.
… nnnnnhhhh…!
Investigators suspect that you interacted with Suspect n. 37: is this true?
… I-I'll not talk until the day an official investigator will walk in my office.
Miss Pinna… it's very probable that the investigator in question… is me.
You… a-are an investigator?!
We are all investigators, Miss Pinna. It's an essential requirement for entering the WIT. I'm reading here that the investigator is yet to be decided… but I already sent them the caller who contacted me. That will automatically assign the role to me.
Ggaaaahh…! I… I heard rumors about this team you are working for… are you going to take me away from my office?
No, not this time… although, I'm really looking forward for this meeting. For years, investigators are working on the Project Neo case.
W-wait, I-I have nothing to do with that!
Yet, you wanted that specific suspect list… after the suspicious activities coming from that game.
NO! It-it was all a coincidence! Just recently I got news about my sister…
From who?
… I cannot reveal the name.
You must. Conceiving information is enough to force you to walk
Are you the investigator for this case? I thought it was still needed to be decided… and what you just said was nothing more than probability. I'll talk once I receive confirmation.
… hmpf, Tonnalisa Pinna… can I give you a friendly advice…?
Yes, sure.
As an investigator working exclusively for the WIT, my words have powers… powers going beyond your imagination.
… grrrr…
If I say that your testimony was rather flawed… no one can stop me from taking you away from your little office of luxury…
Is that a threat?
… I would call it a warning. Hiding information from us is futile, Miss Pinna. I'll get to know that name, sooner or later…
Wh-why you care so much about that?!
Hmpf. Keep acting by using that tone, Miss Pinna… that would only improve your chances for passing the rest of your days on the top of a mountain.
You can't do that! You can't even prove it!
This phone call is registered… every single word of it.
GAAAAAH!
I hope your honesty will shine in the upcoming testimony, Miss Pinna. Of course I'll call you once I receive the awaited confirmation.
Grrrr…
One more thing: no one must know this, am I clear?
… f-fine…
Good. Goodbye, Miss Pinna.
-click-