As Frediano closed in on the tavern where he would be meeting up with his dear friend, he heard music permeating from inside. Clapping, cheering, and feet stomping to the beat of the lutes and horns. It sounded like a party was taking place, and a big one at that. Not even noon, and there was already carnival goers celebrating the day away.

Frediano laughed to himself as he smoothed back his feathered crest. "They dare start the party without the Great Frediano? Preposterous! How can they starve themselves of my presence? Oh, they must be dying for my grand entrance! So be it!"

He stopped in front of the door, smoothed out his clothes, and took a deep breath. He went over a list archived deep within his mind, going over which entrance would draw the most attention. After settling on one, he pushed the doors open and waltzed in.

"Ladies and gentlemen of Echo Bell! The Great Frediano…has arrive!" He flicked his cape and posed dramatically for his adoring fans.

He waited to be showered with affection and praise, but relaxed when he saw all eyes were on the center of the tavern. Curious, he pushed his way to the front to see what could be more spectacular than himself.

To his amazement, the center of the audience's attention was none other than Armant and a Conkeldurr barmaid. Linked hand-in-hand, they stomped and tapped their feet against the floor to the beat of the music playing. The audience joined in, clapping in sync with their dancing.

Armant lifted the barmaid's hand and twirled her around him. Once he stopped, she returned the gesture in kind before scooping him up and throwing him into the air. He backflipped four times before landing and continuing with his tapdancing flair. He and the barmaid danced toward each other, clapping to the music.

"Woo! Yeah!"

"Looking good, my man!"

"What a time to be drunk!"

Armant and the barmaid joined hands again, where the former spun her in place and dipped her to the floor just the music came to its climatic finish. With one final stomp of their feet, the dancers posed to the crowd, who erupted into applause.

Frediano tilted his head. "Well then…" He stepped out of the crowd and approached his friend.

Armant lifted his dance partner and kissed her hand. "You danced divinely, my dear."

She giggled. "Oh, you're too kind, Armant. I haven't had that much fun during a work shift in ages."

"Oh, was I not dashing enough?"

"Nothing quite beats a drunken brawl between two archeologists getting into an argument over their discoveries, I'm afraid."

Armant laughed. "Can't argue with that!" He noticed Frediano approaching them and grinned. "Ah, there's my little buddy!" He knelt and ruffled Frediano's crest. "Glad you could make it."

Frediano laughed haughtily. "Well, I am the life of the party…though, it appears the party went on without me."

Armant chuckled and stood up. "Yeah, I had a few drinks and felt festive. Speaking of which…" He gestured to the brawl maid. "Fred, this is Raffaella, the lovely lady I was telling you about."

"I see." Frediano smoothed out his clothes and held his claws out. "Good day, my fair lady. I am Frediano Bellincioni, but you may refer to me as the Great Frediano!"

She bent down and smiled. "A pleasure to meet you, Great Frediano. Armant told me much about you."

"Yes, yes, I am a topic of vast interest. No need to remind me."

She giggled at Armant. "He's quite the little charmer himself. Armant, how about you two find a seat while I get some drinks for the table?"

"How thoughtful of you, my dear. Thank you very much." He waved her off as she went over the bar counter.

Frediano crossed his arms and glanced at his friend. "So…she's the special lady you've had your eye on?"

"Yes, yes she is."

"She…certainly looks like your type. She could crush a lesser man between her arms if she wanted."

"Yes, she is quite amazing."

Frediano nodded sagely. "Indeed, indeed."

After Armant and Frediano got themselves seated, they clanked their tankards together and guzzled down their drinks. Frediano partially moved his mask to drink his cup. Raffaella dropped off a couple platters of appetizers before returning to work.

Frediano leaned back in his seat and sighed. "You never cease to amaze me, my friend. Even at your age, you have a way with the ladies."

Armant laughed. "I've been in many relationships over the course of my journey. Doesn't really matter who with, I'm always down for a good time. Though, none really stuck since I was traveling all the time, and my dream to go exploring on the open seas doesn't leave much room for it. Not a whole lot of people like sequestering themselves on a boat for an indefinite amount of time."

"Definitely not. How can anyone appreciate the Great Frediano when he is the only one at sea?" Frediano parted his mask again to sip his drink. "I am still relatively new to the bounty hunting business, at least compared to you. What kind of wild endeavors have you experienced?"

Armant leaned back in his chair and thought it over. "Well, the last thirty years have been mundane. As a matter of fact, some of my wilder years were when I was still a shrimp." He sighed, setting his drink down. "I've regretted a lot of things since my youth. When you're young, you tend to forget your limits…and the limits of the world."

"Oh?"

"I wasn't a good kid in my day. I had a partner, and we would always get mixed up into trouble. He was the brains, and I was the muscle. We took and destroyed whatever we wanted. It was a good life at the time. No consequences, and no one to stop us. Back then, I didn't give much thought into my actions. I was just the weapon he guided, and I was okay with that."

Frediano tilted his head. "I could never imagine you being so complacent as a no-thinking brute."

Armant smiled. "Hard to believe myself. You do some pretty stupid stuff when you're young." He sighed, gently massaging his forehead. "But there's a time where the fun needs to end, and you begin to grow up with those consequences. I had to learn quick that there was repercussions for my strength."

"I am curious, friend. The rumors of your cursed strength. Are you actually cursed?"

"Heh. In a sense." Armant straightened up, resting his arms on the table. "The more I battle, the stronger I become. That may sound like common sense and basics of getting strong, but it's a bit different in my case. When I fight, my strength never wanes. It grows and grows the more I fight. I had to learn quickly how to control my strength. I have to limit how often I go all out. Last time I did was…well, to save your life against Grim Deadlock."

Frediano perked up. "Oh? Really?"

"It's why my friend and I were an unstoppable duo. He knew how to exploit weakness, and I knew how to destroy." Armant sighed. "I haven't seen him in well over thirty years. We had a bit of a falling out once I wised up to my actions. He was pretty infamous back in the day. Nowadays, less and less people know of his past deeds. Echoes of his influence can still be found in the wanted posters."

Frediano crossed his arms. "And that's why you lead such a cultured lifestyle?"

"I want to take my time to appreciate the beauty of the world around me, to see what I was missing out on in my days of being known as a destroyer." He shrugged. "Though, I got by as a teacher on occasion. Taught some promising apprentices how to best use their strength. Somedays, I regret my decision, thinking they may misuse my teachings. They always seem to forget why we use our strength?" He sighed. "Oh well. Can't change the past."

Frediano nodded. "A good outlook, friend."

Armant grinned. "What about you, Fred? You must have some tales of your own."

The Weavile laughed openly, grazing the tips of his claws to his mask. "Oh? You wish to know the secrets that hide behind this golden plate adorning my face."

"Well, not really. I've already seen your face, Fred."

"Ah, right." Frediano leaned back and hummed aloud. "Let's see, well…what do you wish to know?"

Armant glared. "I suppose my first question is why you have such an invested interest in the Lord of Shadows. He's quite the gloomy figure compared to you."

"Heh." Frediano tapped the side of his mask. "He and I are brothers."

"…What?"

"Yes. Brothers…of theatrics!" He stood up in his seat and posed dramatically for the tavern. "He is the decadent stain of evil that spreads like wild sludge across this pristine world, and I am the shining knight glowing in heavenly white that will slay him where he stands! It is my destiny written in the stars!"

Armant smirked. "Quite the wild imagination, Fred."

"Yes, yes, thank you." Frediano sat down and cupped his claws together. "That said, I do have another reason. Actually, it has something to do with the Lord of Shadow's activities."

Armant glared. "The burnings…"

"Something of a personal vendetta I hold. Many people were wronged by the Lord of Shadow's burnings. I intend to exact vengeance for his misdeeds. That is what a gallant and devilishly handsome hero is meant to do!"

"Hmm…" Armant looked off to the side. "You have a good heart, Fred. Try to remember that feeling. It's…a dying trait in this day and age."

"Eh? You say something, Armant?" As Frediano majestically flipped his cape, something fell out from the inner lining and onto the floor.

Armant noticed and leaned down to pick it up. "You dropped something."

"Eh?" Frediano leaned over the table and stared at the folded paper. "I don't remember carrying that."

Armant unfolded it and skimmed the text inside. His eyes widened in alarm. "What the—"

Frediano leaned closer and gasped. "Great galloping stars! What is this?!"

The capital is in danger. The Ritual of the Scarlet Flame will commence and set all within it ablaze.

Castle Visconti

After finishing his breakfast, Asterio reclined back into Evangelina's bed, burying his face into the pillows. His only company, Angelo, sat at the end of the bed reading a book. It was mostly silence between them, though that was mostly due to Asterio's lack of interest in speaking. Too lost in his own thoughts, the world around him faded into obscurity. The only constant was the mess of thoughts plaguing him.

He hesitated. He hesitated to kill. That never happened before. He never spared criminals from their deserved ends. It became second nature to him, a scary thought he lived with. Crime deserved to be cut down. All injustice deserved to be severed and executed with swift and cruel efficiency.

He looked into the eyes of Skill Hunter Harlow in her last moments, and he hesitated. Why did that happen? What possessed him to spare the subject of infamy from last year? It made no sense.

In that moment, he could've sworn he saw the feeble face of the once missing Princess Penworth. He recognized that look of terror. It was no different to her discomfort being around him just like any other poor soul forced to interact with the gloomy prince. Was it pure coincidence? Did he just simply mistake Harlow for Melissa? The fact they were both Buneary was an odd coincidence in of itself.

But the mere idea of Princess Penworth, who was defined for her innocence and frailty of the outside world, was laughable. No court jester would think to come up with such a farce of a jest, knowing the possibility of such an occurrence was as likely as the sea rising to swallow the land whole.

Besides, Princess Penworth was recovered from captivity weeks ago.

So…why does this bother me so much? Asterio wondered.

"…She was asking around for you."

Asterio shook from his thoughts and tilted his head up to acknowledge his knight. "Eh?"

"Monica," Angelo said. "She was wondering where you were this morning. She was hoping to go to the carnival with you today."

"…Oh."

Angelo smiled a bit. "Don't worry. I already shooed her off. Told her you were winded from the festivities and wanted some alone time. She understood and went off to the carnival by herself."

"…Thanks." Asterio leaned his head back and closed his eyes. "She's the last person I want to see right now."

"Hmm."

"…Angelo?"

"Hmm?"

"Why did you stick around for as long as you did?"

"…"

"Why were you willing to keep my secret?"

Angelo frowned, snapping his book shut. "Which one?"

"…All of them."

He closed his eyes and sighed. "Even if you don't always act like it, you're my friend."

"You're being dragged down into the same hell I carried myself to."

"Heh. I was made to be your sworn protector. As the future of the Echo Bell Kingdom, your life is more important than all others."

Asterio glared. "My life. More important?" He scoffed. "What makes my life more important than everyone else's? I'm undeserving of such privileges."

Angelo shook his head. "Even so, I take my job seriously. Azelia will need her own personal guard eventually, and so will your other sisters. Times are changing, and you and Evangelina are going make sure we stay at the top against all odds."

"But to have all this weight on my shoulders…" He sighed. "Angelo, can I ask you a personal question?"

"Shoot."

"Do you think I deserve forgiveness? After everything I've done, after all the lies and deceit, would I be forgiven for my actions? Would…Monica be able to forgive me?"

"…" Usually quick to the punch, Angelo couldn't muster an answer. His grimace told the prince all he needed to know. It wasn't an easy question for the faint of heart.

Asterio sighed and turned onto his side. "That's what I thought."

"…Asterio, I'd be careful with how you want to continue your friendship with Monica. Some things aren't easily forgiven."

"Yeah. Right…"

Five Years Ago…

"Nothing? Are you serious?"

With Sir Salvo assigned to protect Rubina during her trip, the Vermin Butcher investigation was passed over to a Gholdengo knight. Evangelina paid the knight a visit in private to discuss the details of the case. She sifted through documents and witness reports, trying to find a discrepancy in the findings. So far, everything looked airtight, and that didn't sit well with her.

The knight sighed. "I'm sorry, Your Highness. I'm doing the best I can, but we haven't come up with any new leads to the Vermin Butcher's activities. No new bodies have shown up for months. This is the longest he's gone without killing. We should be grateful for that much, but—"

"Yeah, I know." Evangelina glared. "How peculiar. The butcher is usually consistent with his killings. He strikes every three to five weeks. His last victim didn't show up for three months after the eighth. Now it has been another three months with nothing."

"Do you suppose he's slowing down?"

"Slowing down, or trying to keep his cravings under control." Evangelina crossed her tentacles and leaned back in her chair. "But what would possess him to do such a thing? He has been eluding the knights for all of last year. He is a crafty sort, taunting us, yet why now of all times?" She tilted her head. "Your thoughts, Balistreri?"

The knight shrugged. "None I can think of, Your Highness. If anything, with all the planning for festivals and our rebuilding efforts for Arcania, we would've had less security examining the streets."

"How strange." Evangelina tapped the tips of her tentacles together. "Still no identity found from the bite marks?"

"None."

"How can we not have their dental records on file? It couldn't be a foreigner doing all of this. Paying for daily lodging would be expensive, and you cannot afford a home without registering as an Echo Bell citizen. That would include various records to identify a culprit. So, how is someone evading all of this when they are leaving the most damning evidence around?"

Balistreri picked up a scroll and handed it to her. "Perhaps you should ask the coroner. Salvo said he was the best for the job, so maybe he knows something we're not seeing."

Evangelina unfurled the scroll and squinted. "Dr. Donato Muraro. Hmm, right. Perhaps it is time I met the good doctor myself." She rose from her seat and smirked. "You know, Balistreri, it is unprofessional to hand off your work to the princess."

He rolled his eyes and laughed. "If you weren't a princess, you would've taken my job years ago."

"Hmm, true. I will be back later. Hopefully with some puzzling questions cleared up." With that, she took her leave, preparing herself to meet this supposed, brilliant coroner.

Evangelina, accompanied by Sir Romano, found their way to Dr. Muraro's office in the city. It was tucked away in the back alleys, residing by a canal. The location gave very little in the way of lighting.

Evangelina glared. "Hardly a suitable location for a coroner."

Romano shrugged. "Well, he took the job, so might as see why he hasn't turned up results." He opened the door and stepped inside first.

Evangelina, tucking herself into her cloak, followed behind him. She cleared her throat and spoke with a commanding tone. "Dr. Muraro!"

They heard a clatter come from the short hallway leading to the office. They made their way in, stepping into a pristine, yet gloomy workspace. It was a modest size with cabinets, a water basin, and an operation table. Their eyes landed on the Indeedee doctor himself, who was shuffling through some scrolls in a drawer.

"O-Oh?" He looked over his shoulder and gasped. "Y-Your Highness!" He closed the drawer before bowing to her. "It is an honor. I wasn't expecting company today, especially someone of your status."

Evangelina smiled to herself. "I have an invested interest in the Vermin Butcher case, Dr. Muraro. I welcome a challenge to exercise the mind, and this has certainly been a puzzling investigation for the knights."

Muraro sighed, adjusting his tiny spectacles. "Yes, it has been a grueling year for all of us. So, was another body found?"

Romano shook his head. "Not today. There hasn't been a body in months. The princess actually wanted to have a word with you about your own investigation."

"Oh, really? I'd be happy to answer all your questions."

Evangelina approached him. "Doctor, you were hired by Salvo to run tests on the victims' bodies and determine a probable suspect. So far, your research has turned us up with nothing. I was curious as to how that might be."

Muraro frowned. "Is there something wrong?"

"Well, for a supposed coroner, you seem to be performing your duties…inadequately. You haven't turned up a single clue as to the identity of the Vermin Butcher. I am no medical professional by any means, doctor, but I would assume something would have pointed us to a list of suspects by now."

Muraro sighed. "These things take time, Your Highness. As sad as it may be, medical science today lacks the means to identify a culprit by more than a few factors. Fur samples can tell narrow down a species based off a variety of studies and information. Hand and footprints contribute as well. And, of course, bite marks are especially useful since someone Pokémon can have acute differences in their teeth that can pin a likely suspect. Though tests such as these are prone to error, and anything outside a significant link to the killer is out of our scientific possibilities."

Evangelina crossed her tentacles. "If the bite marks are our best clue, why have you not turned up results?"

Muraro shook his head. "I'm afraid the damage is too significant to accurately pin a culprit. The Vermin Butcher was thorough to make sure no evidence was left behind in his…ahem, meal."

Evangelina shook her head. "No, no. No one is that good. Nine victims, and none of them have a single piece of hard evidence?"

"You'd be surprised by the crafty minds that exist in this world, Your Highness," Muraro said. "Pokémon can be creatures of habit, and it takes a special few to exploit those habits. Our mystery killer, though depraved in a sinful taboo, is a man with great intelligence. All his victims had to have been studied and picked out after weeks of stalking to find the opportune time to feast."

"Hmm…" Evangelina glanced at the operating table. "Do you have your own personal theory on who the Vermin Butcher is, doctor?"

"I cannot say. I work with dead bodies, not conspiracy. It'd aggravate my insomnia more than the rest of the year put together."

"The cases have been that tiring on you?"

"Exhaustibly so."

She glared. "Well, try and humor me."

He sighed and scratched his head. "Who's to say? I'd put my money on the Savage Kin. They are monsters themselves. They'd fit the profile of your midnight snacker. However—"

"No one from Subterra resides in the Echo Bell capital."

"Precisely. And anything outside of reverting back to our old roots is out of the question. We spent a thousand years beating out that instinctual craving for meat. It's not impossible to return, but it can happen. It's instinct after all."

"What do you propose would reawaken those forgotten instincts?"

Muraro crossed his arms and thought for a moment. "Flesh, obviously, though simply tasting it wouldn't awaken those instincts. You either have that instinct at the forefront of your mind already, or something more primal forced it out. I can't imagine a civilian in Echo Bell undergoing such trauma, at least no more than the age of crime hasn't brought us."

"I see." She closed her eyes for a moment. "Perhaps you could show me your notes so I can study the victims myself."

Muraro adjusted his spectacles. "But I already gave the knights everything I documented."

"Come now, doctor, surely you must have some other information you were keeping to yourself. Perhaps some insignificant piece of trivia that we overlooked."

"Your Highness, I gave everything I could offer to Sir Salvo when he was in charge of the investigation. If he obtained it, you most likely have it."

Evangelina sighed. "If you say so. I was just worried you were slacking off on the job or something."

He frowned. "Your Highness, I've been working in the medical field for thirty years. No other than Salvo can attest to my skill. I've treated plenty of his injuries back when we were at war with Wick. That's why I can keenly say I didn't make a mistake in my autopsies."

"Fine, fine, I believe you." She adjusted her cloak and turned toward the exit. "Come, Sir Romano. Our business is done here."

He bowed. "As you wish, Your Highness." He made way for the door.

Right as Muraro sighed and turned away from them, Evangelina glanced over her shoulder and said, "Ah, just one more thing, doctor."

He looked back. "Yes?"

"While a grim business, I do hope the lack of work has not been a financial burden."

He sighed and laughed dryly. "I don't mind. If anything, it's given me time to rest. These last couple of weeks have been the most restful I've felt in forever."

"Hmm, good to know. Take care, doctor." She followed Romano out of the office.

Meanwhile, at Castle Visconti…

"You need all of these books, Your Highness?"

Exiting the castle library, Asterio and Angelo made their way to the main foyer, carrying an armful of books. Asterio nodded and said, "It's for my lessons. I was asked to draft a research topic of my choice. I've developed a keen interest in the different types of minerals found across Virdis."

Angelo smirked dryly. "You like minerals?"

"What? I have hobbies."

"Do you have a rock collection I should know about?"

Asterio looked away and pouted. "No comment."

"Oh my Arceus, you do!"

"Shut up!" He sighed and smiled ahead. "It's been two weeks. Rubina's already in Arcania by now. I wonder how she's getting along with the kingdom."

Angelo shrugged. "Well, knowing her, she's probably made some friends by now. I'm sure she's getting along well in her new settings."

Asterio frowned. "It's going to be painfully dull around here without her."

"Oh, you could always write letters to her."

"I suppose."

Angelo smirked. "Maybe you should send her a copy of your mineral essay. It'll remind her of how much of a dork you are."

Asterio growled. "I can and will have you exiled."

"Hahaha!" Angelo shook his head and sighed. "I know you're worried about her. Try and take it easy, alright? Arcania has our full support and guarantees they'll keep her safe."

"…" Asterio sighed and relaxed his body. "Right. Of course."

Right as they made their way to the main foyer, they heard chatter around the corner. Curious, they stopped and peered around to see Asterio's parents and twin sister greeting an Eelektross nobleman at the door.

Massimo bowed to the nobleman. "Count Elias Lehmann, welcome to the capital."

Elias bowed back. "I am honored to be welcomed into your home, Your Majesty. I look forward to conducting business with you. We've had some recent trouble in my hometown, and we could use the support of the royal family."

Corrina frowned. "Oh dear, that is right. Veritas is close to the border of the Outlands. I suppose you came in request for increased security."

"If you can spare it," Elias said. "Though, better fortifications around the town would do wonders. We are only in need of defenses to keep thieves out. We haven't been victims of gang attacks yet. I find those to be easier to dispose of, all loud and noisy."

Azelia grinned. "Don't you worry, Mr. Count Elias Sir! My mom and dad will do all they can to help—"

"Azelia!" Corrina scolded. "Do not speak so informally in front of our guest!"

"Oops!" She covered her mouth.

Elias laughed. "It is quite alright. I, too, tend to forget my own status among other company. I do my part to help all those in need." He frowned. "Actually, I would have arrived sooner, but a…troubling matter took up my time."

Massimo's mustached face visibly dipped. "Oh? Did something happen?"

"Some distance away from Veritas when I left, my coachman noticed a carriage submerged halfway into a river."

Asterio's eyes widened. What?

"Submerged? Oh dear, was there an accident?" Corrina asked.

Elias shook his head. "We aren't sure. We didn't find any bodies, thankfully. From our best guess, something spooked the steed and caused them to career into the river. There was some significant damage to it, so we aren't entirely positive if it belonged to a house or not."

Massimo nodded. "I see. We of the Visconti family would be glad to lend some assistance on the investigation, at least once we have our own affairs sorted out."

"Take your time. Ah, but for now, let us discuss the issues of Veritas."

"Of course. Follow us." The royals guided the noble further into the castle and ascended the stairwell.

After some time passed, Asterio and Angelo stepped out of hiding. The squire sighed. "You want to bet it was one of those Outland Freaks causing a mess? Wouldn't be the first time someone hijacked a carriage and…" He sensed the discomforting chill coming off of Asterio and looked up at him. "Bud?"

Asterio gripped his books tightly, his face twisted with a sudden onset of fear. C-Carriage…accident?

Later…

"Asterio, you're worrying over nothing."

Asterio lifted his face off his older sister's desk and scowled. "How are you not taking this seriously?!"

Evangelina had her attention on a board with notes pinned to it. "Unlike you, I'm focusing on matters that I can tangibly see."

"Come on, even you must smell something wrong here! You're always flapping your lips about conspiracies and rumors! A carriage mysteriously ends up in the river with no bodies?!"

"Things happen all the time on the open road, Asterio. It's a part of life."

He growled. "I checked the maps from Veritas to the capital. The roads that Rubina and Salvo took intersect where the carriage was found. S-Something must've happened to them! We need—"

Evangelina groaned and faced her brother. "You're just worried about Rubina."

"Why would I not be?! She's going to some backwater kingdom filled with mystics and freaks, and now I'm hearing news of a carriage accident?! We need to assemble the knights to check out the damage and make sure it's not one of our carriages! We need to find them and—"

"Enough!"

He flinched and backed off. Evangelia sighed and massaged her face. It was visible in her appearance that she was in a bad mood, and most know not to aggravate Evangelina Visconti when she was in a bad mood.

"Asterio, you need to think with your mind, not your heart. Let's think this through logically. They couldn't have been attacked by a low-class thief. The steed and Salvo could easily dispatch scum like that, maybe fifty of them at once. Two, it couldn't have been a hijacking mid-drive because our steeds were trained for such a situation. We're not ignorant to the Outlands and their tricks. Three, the series of events wouldn't add up."

Asterio frowned. "Huh?"

"Veritas is a couple of days from here, and Count Lehmann said he found the carriage before he left the town. They would've already been in Arcania by the time the crime scene was discovered. And there's no way the carriage hasn't been noticed for several days, meaning it likely crashed the day before Lehmann left, maybe the early morning."

Asterio's shoulders relaxed. "Still—"

"And again, Rubina has two trained knights watching over her, one of which having served in the war. You can't expect me to believe Salvo would be easily overpowered by some mangy thieves. He survived being lost on the battlefield for a week until he was rescued. What's a couple of knives and dimwits from the crime capital of Virdis going to do about it?"

"…" Asterio fell back onto his sister's bed. "I…"

Evangelina's face softened. "Look, I know you're worried about Rubina, but this is a good thing she's doing. She knows the risks of entering the east, but she wants to do a good service to help a kingdom that's been down on their luck. You're being paranoid. You can't let your feelings rule your life."

He sighed. "Easy for you to say. I can't shut off my emotions as easily as you."

"It's a skill you have to learn. You're going to be the king one day, and kings can't rule through emotion." She glared. "Though I love him dearly, Dad's not the ideal king Echo Bell needs. The people need someone who will crack down on the lawlessness infesting the streets. Why do you think I'm so interested in solving the Vermin Butcher case?"

"…You'd make a better ruler than me."

Evangelina shrugged. "Well, of course I would, but that's not my decision to make. Being your advisor's my next best plan. If it means helping our kingdom, I'll gladly serve as your shadow. You can be the face, and I'll be the one getting their fins dirty."

Asterio smiled awkwardly. "You scare me sometimes, sis." He sighed and rubbed his face. "Maybe I am being paranoid over nothing. Salvo will be there to protect her. I can trust him with that."

"There you go."

Asterio float off the bed. "By the way, how's the investigation going?"

"Ugh."

"That bad?"

She rolled her eyes. "That coroner doesn't know squat about anything. I bet I could do a better job of finding evidence than him. Why did Salvo recommend him again?"

He shrugged. "I guess because they were old war buddies or something."

"Typical. I think I'm going to look up Mr. Muraro's old war records to make sure he didn't get his medical training from a caffeinated Vigoroth."

"Harsh and scary, sis. Harsh and scary." He shook his head and floated out of her room. "I think I'll take a nap and cool off."

"Yeah, you do that. Rest well."

"Thanks. See you at dinner." He shut the door behind him.

Evangelina turned back to her board and squinted at it. "Hmmm. Something's not adding up…"

Present Day, Echo Bell Tavern…

Armant and Frediano loomed over the foreboding note that was mysteriously planted on the latter's person. It seemed like a joke, yet with their prior conversation being related to the topic, one couldn't help wondering what twisted fate landed this information on their path.

Armant glared. "Fred, are you sure you don't remember where this came from?" he whispered.

"My friend, I am many things, but a liar I am not!" he replied in a loud, whispery voice. "I have no idea how I happened upon this information."

"Someone must've slipped it in your pocket when you weren't looking. Did you meet anyone this week who could've given this to you?"

Frediano tapped his chin. "Let's see, there was that ball toss operator, the Claydol constable who is probably still looking for me, the family of Carbink I challenged to a mock sword battle, that Salandit who was asking for directions and sharing snacks with me, an old Torterra who got forgot where he was—"

Armant sighed. "Never mind." He glared at the note. "Still, whoever gave this to you must've realized you were a bounty hunter. They're pointing you in the direction of the Lord of Shadows."

"Eh?"

"The Ritual of the Scarlet Flame. It's tied to him. The information you acquired was correct. He's somewhere in the capital, and they're currently planning to turn the entire city into a massive bonfire."

"EGAD!" Frediano gasped, spooking nearby patrons. "The nerve! The Great Frediano will not stand for this transgression! I shall hunt them down and—"

Before the flashy bounty hunter could escape, Armant casually seized his cape and held him in the air. "Hang on a minute, Fred. If you make a scene over this, it might stir panic. This requires some finesse."

"Finesse? I am the master of finesse!"

"I'm sure you are, Fred." Armant stood up. "We should use this time to search."

Still dangling in the Machamp's grasp, Frediano crossed his arms. "But my friend, the city is so big. Where would we even start searching?"

"Hmm…"

"Something wrong, gentlemen?" They turned to Raffaella as she approached their table. "You've hardly touched your food."

Armant glared. "Raffaella, something just came up. Before you came into work this morning, did you see anything strange on your way over?"

"Strange?" The Conkeldurr barmaid held her fist under her chin and hummed. "No, I don't think so. Why? Is something the matter?"

Armant scanned the area briefly before handing her the note. "This."

She pinched it between her fingers and read it. Her eyes widened. "Oh dear!"

"Exactly. Can you keep this between us?"

"Oh. Oh y-yes, of course." She handed the note back. "Goodness, that's dreadful."

"Is there anything you can tell us that might lead us to a clue?"

"Well…" She crossed her arms and thought for a moment. Her eyes brightened. "Actually, I'm not sure if either of you heard, but there's been rumors about the circus lately. One of their members caused trouble across the city. They're still searching for her."

Frediano, still hanging by his cape, nodded sagely. "Ah yes, the Great Frediano heard about this icy seductress' rampage. Though, she wouldn't hold a candle to the icy spectacle when I was last here."

"Huh?"

Armant slapped his hand over the Weavile's mask. "Ignore him. Continue."

"Well, the Visconti have issued increased security around the circus. There are suspicions around them, but no evidence has been produced. They stick to the claim the Froslass operated under her own whim."

Armant held his chin thoughtfully. "How peculiar."

"Actually, when I came into work this morning, I passed by the circus. I think I saw a couple of hooded figures wheeling a cart out. I assumed it was just props, but I didn't stay around long enough to check."

"Something like that wouldn't go unnoticed, which means—"

"Of course!" Frediano exclaimed with a snap of his claws. "The Great Frediano has solved this caper! With the carnival being a prime hotspot, that will be where the most people will show up! Meaning they will commence their evil somewhere out of sight! Beyond the restricted path outside the carnival!"

Armant grinned. "They may even use secret alleyways to navigate. Brilliant, Fred!"

"Yes, yes, praise me—WAH!" Armant finally dropped the Weavile.

"Raffaella, during your lunch break, can you go to the circus area and perform some recon for me?"

The Conkeldurr curtsied to him. "Anything for you, Armant. Please make sure nothing happens to our wonderful city."

He flashed a toothy grin and a thumbs-up. "Naturally! Come on, Fred! We've got some ground to cover." He grabbed the Weavile by his cape once again.

"Why did you drop me if you were just going to—AND WE'RE OFF! GREAT FREDIANO, AWAY!" Swift as the wing, Armant dashed out of the tavern and leapt high up over the buildings with his trusted partner flapping like a flag in the wind.

Meanwhile…

Three bloodied bodies wrapped tightly in webbing dropped into the canal. Chihiro stepped away from the edge, licking the blood painted on his blade arms. He laughed softly to himself, twirling on one foot as the euphoria of death hung high on his mind.

"They weren't nearly as fun as I hoped, but at least I got some stimulation out of it," he said aloud. He glanced over at Iris and her two goons, all three weirded out by the eccentric assassin. "You should be more careful. If I wasn't around like I was, you would've been apprehended. I don't think your master would appreciate you failing to oversee his ambition."

Iris nervously shook her head. "N-No, of course not!" She clasped her hands together. "It's my dream to follow Ringmaster Itzal's ambition! I, too, want to see the flames of scarlet scorch the land at the pinnacle of happiness. I wish to remind the world of the fleeting pleasures of joy!"

Chihiro snickered. "Good girl. That's a very good girl." Arms tucked behind his waist, he walked along the canal's edge. "You have a lovely ambition, darling. Hold onto it with all your heart. It'll be your guide in this twisted world."

"Of course!" She snapped her fingers at her goons. "Start unloading the barrels! We're burning daylight!"

"Yes, ma'am!" They reached under the covered wagon and picked up the barrels.

Iris turned to the assassin as he scraped some blood off his cheek. "I have to ask, Mr. Fujimori. Why did you decide to join Last Autumn in the first place? And why are you willing to keep Ringmaster Itzal's plan secret from Terrowin if it opposes his own vision?"

Chihiro stopped and licked the blood off. He smiled to himself. "My dear, there's no grand reason for why I do what I do. Some folks have their noble or vengeful reasons. Some are in it for glory or fame. Me?" He twirled around and snickered. "Bloodshed…is all I know. What other reason could I need?"