The Time Detectives knocked on the door of the first victim's house in California, and a middle-aged man answered.

"Good day, we are detectives on the case of the missing women, and we've come to search for clues that will help us find them, starting with the young lady who was taken from this residence." Detective Loki told him.

"Whoa, you were actually serious about solving this case!" He exclaimed with surprise. "No offense, Mr. President, but I thought that was just an empty political promise, like most other presidents make to gain popularity!"

Loki held back his own surprise, momentarily forgetting he removed his disguise, but he didn't correct the man, believing he could use his variant's authority to his advantage.

"Are you any relation to the Miss Tiffany Greenburg who went missing recently?"

"Yeah, she's my daughter. I don't know what happened, but I haven't seen her since just after her college graduation party."

"Then allow us to help you find her." Loki asked, attempting to enter the house, but Mr. Greenburg stayed put in the doorway and blocked his entry.

"Hold up, you can't just barge in my house, detective! Don't you need a search warrant?"

"Don't you think finding your missing daughter is more important than having a special piece of paper?" Sylvie reasoned.

"There's nothing in here that can help you!" The man insisted. "You'll- you'll just be wasting your time!"

The mischievous duo exchanged raised eyebrows, meeting Fiamma's suspicious smirk. "Mr. Greenburg, you wouldn't happen to be hiding something from us, are you?" While he shook his head and denied the allegation, Sylvie placed a hand on his shoulder, and she searched his memories after the graduation party until she saw a younger-looking dark-haired man knock on their door. When Mr. Greenburg opened it, the two men talked, and he let the charming man inside, where he met and spoke with Tiffany. The two then left the house together, leaving her parents alone while both sides waved goodbye. Sylvie squinted and released her hold on his mind as she turned to Loki.

"That's odd, he did see his daughter get taken as plain as day, but it looks like she went willingly with some smooth-talking guy with dark hair. And he seems to be defending them both... he and his wife were even happy to watch them stroll off into the sunset together, never to return."

"Does that mean the case is over?" Fiamma wondered. "If the so-called missing people are just leaving with some prince charming, there's no crime."

"Or is there?" Detective Loki countered. "You said she was smooth-talked by a dark-haired man... does that not sound like a Loki to you? Did you hear a name, Sylvie?"

"He didn't say. He only referred to himself as a weary traveler."

"Well, we've solved cases on less information. Now may we search your home for clues?"

To their surprise, Mr. Greenburg shook his head again. "I can't... I can't betray my daughter... I can't betray him."

"I'll persuade him." Sylvie's hand flashed green, placing it on the man's shoulder once more. "Are you sure we can't look just for a moment?"

He nodded. "I'm sure!"

Sylvie took a step back, surprised at what she heard. "I thought I had him! How can he resist my enchantment!?"

"Is he the Loki?" Fiamma pondered. "Did he show you a fake memory, like when that Gullveig sorceress altered her memories?"

"I'm not sure. It looked like a normal memory to me, but I've never looked into another sorcerer's mind before!"

"I know you don't want to hear this, but perhaps your powers are waning due to your current condition?" Loki guessed.

"No, it's not my powers. I think Fiamma was right: there's something already in his head that my enchantment can't override. Either this man is the Loki or the man who took his daughter is!"

"Let's find out!" Fiamma proposed, igniting her hands.

Mr. Greenburg backed up a bit. "Y-you're threatening me!?"

"Not that way!" Loki rebuked. "You want to risk burning an innocent man alive!?"

"I was getting him out of our way for us to search!"

"We don't use brute force unless we know they're guilty, and then only if they resist arrest!" Loki argued, and them he suddenly facepalmed. "Ugh, now I'm starting to sound like Captain GoodyTwoShoes."

"Yeah, we use diplomacy and guile, right Professor Loki?" Sylvie reviewed.

"Correct! Ten points for Slytherin!"

Sylvie chuckled. "Mobius would be proud of that reference. Back to the case, I don't think this guy is the Loki anyway. Remember when I tried to enchant you, I couldn't even touch your memories. So, let's assume he's the victim of one instead!"

"That's it, I'm calling the cops!" Mr. Greenburg threatened.

Detective Loki smiled. "Ah, go right ahead. What are you planning to do, arrest the president of your own country? The police will undoubtedly be on my side, and perhaps they'll even prosecute you for false charges! Now, either you be civil and allow us to peacefully look around for evidence, the police force will do things in a much less friendly manner. Your choice."

The man paused and put away the phone, not calling 911 after all. "...Oh, alright, go ahead and search."

Loki then turned to his Fire Giantess companion. "That, my fiery friend, was diplomacy and guile."

"You threatened him with force too. What's the big difference?" Fiamma wondered as they began to search the premises.

Loki looked back to ensure they were out of earshot. "I employed deception to imply a threat, turning his own against him if he summoned the police here. That's guile at work, outsmarting him at his own game. And I persuaded him using my variant's authority to my advantage, talking him out of fleeing or resisting without displaying a show of force, ergo diplomacy."

"Long explanation short, he did it smarterrr." Healer summarized.

"Mr. Greenburg, is your wife as work right now?" Loki questioned.

"No, she went looking for the man you're looking for. I hope she finds them; he's such a well-mannered young man, he'll make the best son-in-law!"

Loki winced at the man's nonchalance, but he just shook his head and resumed his detective work. After a good deal of inspection, along the path the culprit took in the memory, they left Mr. Greenburg alone, not finding anything they could use inside.

"Well, so much for that house!" Sylvie remarked. "Where to next? Verity said there were disappearances in Hawaii, Fiji, Italy, Paris, England, Africa, and Japan?"

"Ooh, I vote Paris!" Loki suggested. "Or should I say ooh la la?"

"I second that ooh la la!" Sylvie smirked at her fiancè. "But be honest: are you hoping to sneak in something romantic?"

"Honestly, I am always hoping to sneak in something romantic, mon amour."

"I third the motion." Fiamma agreed with them. "The Earth from my universe has been completely destroyed since before I was born, so this is the first time I've been able to visit. Well, other than our trips to the Earths to introduce me to the other Lokis; there's a lot I don't know about this planet that I'd like to see. Heh, and a certain brother of mine practically begged me to bring him samples of the different foods here."

"Then it's unanimous; to Paris!" Loki announced. "C'est parti!"

The Time Detectives walked past house after house as they wandered the beautiful French capital city. They finally found the next victim's house behind a lovely garden and rang the doorbell. This time, a younger man answered.

"Can I help you?" He asked them in French.

"Yes, we're detectives on the case of the missing women across the globe." Detective Loki responded in the same language. "I am called Mr. Ouroboros, and you are?"

"Ah, you're here to ask about my big sister! My name is Matis. Do you have a search warrant?"

"Want me to try looking into his mind for clues?" Healer asked his host.

"Be my guest." His eager Symbiote promptly detached a small piece of himself, which discreetly latched onto the young Parisian man while the others continued to speak with him.

"It appears to be the same story as the last: that creep came in and smooth-talked this guy before walking out with his sisterrr. Ahhh, but this time... he left behind a little somethinggg!"

"Oh really? Show me!" The symbiotic blob returned inside of Loki and played Matis's memory in his head. The Jotun-Asgardian prince raised an eyebrow. "Well, there's a helpful bit of footage! Monsieur Matis, it would seem that you acquired a snippet of evidence from your dashing visitor, did you not?"

"I-I don't know what you're talking about." Matis nervously claimed.

"Oh, really?" Loki peered down, watching the man anxiously slide his hands into his pockets. He grinned. "Then I suppose that isn't a lock of hair from his head you're guarding in your pocket, is it?"

"What? N-no, what... what makes you say that? It's- it's my hair... it fell out!"

"Please, you're a terrible liar; make this easy on yourself and stop trying before you accidentally bite your tongue."

"...Fine, I plucked a hair from his magnificent black locks and kept it for myself to treasure! Please don't take it from me: it's all I have left to remember him by!"

"Sheesh, this guy is practically casting love spells on everyone he meets!" Sylvie exclaimed.

"We'll give it back, Monsieur Matis, we only need it to find this mystery man for ourselves! And once we find him, there's a very good chance you'll be able to see him again as well!" Loki persuaded.

"Really?" Matis pondered the possibility for a brief moment and gave Loki the hair, folded neatly in a red handkerchief. "Take the very best care of it!"

"Merci beaucoup, I shall!" At that, he tucked it away to safety. The detectives then left the house and headed towards the main square. "Sylvie, I hope you don't mind if we stop for some authentic French delicacies, with you still feeling nauseous from this morning."

"I don't mind at all! I'm actually starving right now, since I wasn't able to eat for most of today, and I'm really in the mood for some escargot now that we're here!"

"Now you're hungry for snails?" Loki grimaced. "So you're trying to make me vomit now, are you? Very mature."

"No, I'm serious!"

"You and your bizarre cravings! Are you sure you're really hungry now? You're not just going to-"

"GROWwWwwWWWwLLlll~"

Sylvie's emptied stomach confirmed her claims, responding to the aroma of the freshly prepared dinner entrees and baked goods. "Does that answer your question?"

Loki frowned and placed a hand over his own belly. "I thought that was me."

"It was." Healer assured him.

"It was both of you simultaneously." Fiamma elaborated. "You must have that weird synchronization that I've heard close couples get." She rolled her eyes. "Next you'll probably be finishing each other's sentences."

"And no, I'm not just eating to prove that I feel better!" Sylvie blew her hair upward in a huff as her tummy growled again.

"It would appear that our little Frigga is famished as well." Loki noted. "Then we must make haste! Garçon, une table pour trois, s'il vous plaît!"

The waiter kindly seated them and provided them a menu.

"Hmmm..." Fiamma glanced over the choices. "Ah frigid, I don't know any French! Do you see fillet of shark anywhere on this menu?"

"Not shark, but they have a wide variety of seafood and other meats."

"Are you ready to order?" The waiter asked them.

"I'll start with a sole meunière, coq-au-vin, salade niçoise, a chocolate soufflé, and some profiteroles please." Loki ordered.

"That is just to start with?" The waiter echoed in bewilderment. "That isn't all for you, is it?"

"It is indeed; I have an extremely hearty appetite!"

"He definitely does!" Fiamma vouched. "Anyone who can out-eat my bottomless-pitted stomach of a brother could finish one of everything on any restaurant's menu, easily!"

"If you say so." The waiter shrugged and turned to Sylvie. "And you, madame?"

"I'll have some escargot, the bouillabaisse, and the éclairs for dessert." Sylvie requested.

"Do you have anything spicy?" Fiamma asked in English.

"I'm afraid not, but if you'd like, I would recommend the beef bourguignon: it has a good mix of spices, even though it's not spicy hot. And tarte tatin is also quite good!"

"Alright, I'll have those two."

Soon, the waiter brought Loki the fish, chicken in wine sauce, salad, and desserts, Sylvie her snails, bouillabaisse, and eclairs, and Fiamma her beef bourguignon and caramel apple tart, after some freshly baked bread, and they all enjoyed their meal. Loki took another look through the menu when he finished.

"Lokiii, they have brains here!" Healer excitedly pointed out.

"Ughhh, and here I was hoping you wouldn't notice."

"And so many chocolatey desserts! I must try the combinations: I need to experiment with chocolate and brain-flavored desserts before I can open up that restaurant!"

"Are you still dreaming of that?"

"Yesss!"

Loki sighed. "Oh very well, but can you turn off my tastebuds while you try these... concoctions so I don't have to taste it with you!?"

"Your loss."

"It will be the least on my list of regrets, I assure you."

"Hey Loki, wanna be adventurous and try a snail?" Sylvie offered.

"Mmm, I think I'll pass, thanks."

"Oh come on, they're actually really good! Buttery and savory, not slimy at all!"

"Are you certain those aren't the pregnancy cravings talking?"

"Don't forget, you were wary about trying those durians in the Philippines, and you loved them after you tried them." Sylvie held one up to her fiancé. "Just try one!"

Loki wrinkled his nose and sighed again. "Fair point." Then he smirked. "Tell you what, I will try an escargot if you try a piece of brain."

She returned the expression. "Deal."

"Nooo, not my brains!"

"Oh hush, we can share one bite with my fiancée!" Loki scolded.

When the waiter returned to their table, Loki ordered the beef brains, along with a bowl of veal stew, ratatouille, a quiche lorraine, and two chocolate mousses. At once, he and his fiancée inserted a forkful of the respective brain and snail into each other's mouth, both smiling in surprise at the rich flavor.

Loki placed the brains and a chocolate mousse on his napkin along with the rest of his other desserts, and Healer excitedly mixed brain chunks into them. Loki paused his eating while his Symbiote tried each one, not straying too far from inside Loki's jacket to avoid scaring the other customers and staff.

"Yummm! So far, I like it in the soufflé the best! I want to try some brains in this cake and an eclair next!" Loki requested those two desserts after he finished his own food, and Healer sampled them after suppressing his host's taste buds again. "Mmm, it is delicious in the cake, and it really adds to the creaminess of the eclairrr!"

After the Parisian banquet was finished, they brought the hair sample to a lab to have it tested.

"So this isn't a human hair after all: it is the hair of a god, or at least a very powerful alien!" Loki discovered.

"But is it a Loki hair?" Fiamma wondered. "Is it Jotun?"

"I don't know. It could be Asgardian, and the hair of most Lokis wouldn't display Frost Giant characteristics since Odin transforms us into Asgardians. Why don't we take this evidence back to President Loki and Verity Willis for now, before we question the next witness?" He grinned and whispered to Sylvie next. "Then maybe we could come back later and take a romantic midnight stroll here in Paris?"

Sylvie raised her eyebrows. "Oui oui, mon amour!"