The two hedgehogs had both left the palace after receiving the location of the latest crime, and they retrieved some supplies to help them through their journey; namely a map, enough rings to last a week in luxury each, and weapons for Shadow.

In addition to his Alchemic abilities, Shadow used state of the art guns, revolvers, shotguns and the occasional crossbow. He made sure each weapon was loaded and ready for use before he went out. Sonic, however, rejected the use of weapons, although one could find him sometimes out training with a sword, pretending to be a medieval knight.

Shadow currently looked at his surroundings, the villages and markets that had sprung up around the palace.

"Great, isn't it?" Sonic asked, eyeing a pretty minx working a market stall.

"Yes, commerce and trade working alongside agriculture and machine-made goods. An integral part of society," Shadow commented as he kept walking.

"No, I was talking about her," Sonic let his eyes point at her. As soon as Shadow looked over, the minx waved at him and flashed a smile.

"Focus, idiot. We need to get to the spot on the map before its nightfall."

"Well, can't I run and you use your powerful 'alchemy-based steam engine' shoes?" Sonic asked.

"No. They'll draw attention, and that's the last thing we want: to be noticed. You making eyes at that girl at the market stall isn't helping, either."

"Hey, man. Stay out of my love life," Sonic became serious, or at least as serious as he could be.

Shadow laughed at that one, "What love life?" Sonic's reply was inaudible and signified the end of the conversation.

It took a few hours to reach their destination, and by then the sun had already set. An airship touched down on a roof, and began unloading supplies for the stores below. Airships were big, horizontal oblong shaped balloons with a gondola below, powering the balloon with steam and heat. The one Sonic and Shadow saw currently was a smaller model, designed specifically for the purpose of making deliveries like the one in progress. On the side was painted Addenia's mail service logo.

"Hey, um, Shadow, it's nightfall. You think we should find some shelter or something?" Sonic asked, looking up into the sky. Very few people were on the street now.

"No. I have an idea. You go up to that rooftop up there," Shadow pointed to the building that the mail carrier had just left, "and I'll stay here on the ground."

"And how does that help our chances of finding this murderer?"

"If you even glanced at the map we were given, you'd see that we're standing in front of an alchemist's house in the zone where most of the killings took place," Shadow's annoyance was clear in his voice.

"Fine. Then can we check into a hotel? We weren't given rings to let them sit in our pockets," Sonic said.

"Y-Yeah, fine. Whatever. Just go up there and watch for anyone suspicious," Shadow growled.

"How will we communicate?" Sonic asked.

Shadow thought for a second, looked around, and saw what he was looking for. He went into a store and came back out with a bell, one used by patrons to signal a clerk for assistance.

"If you see anything or hear anything, just ring the bell."

"A bell? Really?" Sonic took it and looked at it.

"Can you think of anything better?"

Sonic's answer was to climb the fire escape up to the roof. Shadow took his place behind some crates in an alleyway, making sure Sonic knew where he was. Ten minutes later, the sun finished its journey across the sky, and someone came out and lit all of the candles in the street lamps. The lamplighter was the only one outside that night, and even he was in a hurry. He left, and an hour passed, and then another. Midnight came and went. Shadow was actually dozing off when he heard the bell ring.

He peeked out from behind the crates to see a red fox sizing up the building of the alchemist. He leapt and began climbing the brickwork towards the top. Shadow stepped out from behind the crates and into the glow of a streetlight.

"Hey!" he called.

The fox took one look at Shadow and bolted down an alleyway. Shadow chased, making as much noise as possible to arouse the sleeping residents. He gathered enough speed and let his shoes do the rest. Steam mixed with the energy created by the chaotic mixture of chemicals, creating a propellant of sorts. Shadow literally skated down the alleyway, catching up to the running fox. The fox had no chance as Shadow pounced, eyes intent on his target. What he didn't expect was the target to duck and make him miss entirely. Shadow landed hard on the ground as the assailant got away. Sonic came running in immediately after the short-lived scuffle.

"Did he get away?" he asked, looking down the possible paths the fox could've taken.

"Not if you go after him. He took the left path," Shadow grimaced as he sat up.

Sonic took off down the path. Shadow didn't actually know which path he took, but it would look better on an official report rather than just saying he lost him after a fight. Sonic was right, a hotel seemed great then. Maybe they had a warm bath...

"Nope. Sorry," Sonic came walking back, shrugging his shoulders.

"Damn it! He'll be back, but not tonight. Let's go find a hotel," Shadow stood, and brushed himself off, "There should be one just down the road."

"Are we sha—"

"No. And that's that."