I wanted to have more frequent chapters, but I started my new job and I haven't really had the time to write chapters (on top of other stories I'm writing that aren't on Fanfiction).

From here on out, I'll most likely be uploading one chapter a month, but you'll be able to find me on Discord if you want to read the chapters early. I've posted the server invite code in my first chapter.

Take care.

Chapter 6

"Hopefully you have something. Everyone here is skittish and won't release anything to me," Sylvia said through the phone, her voice tinny and robotic, a noticeable difference compared to hi-tech phones or a terminal.

"Craig said he was at the Gracious Gourd," I replied.

"I've been there. They won't show me the CCTV footage because they think I'm some cop that's ready to bust them."

"I'll be there."

"How long?"

"Five minutes."

"Okay. We'll be there at the same time," Sylvia said, and terminated the call.

"Was that Sylvia?" Jackson asked after I lowered the phone.

"Yeah. She wanted to get CCTV footage from the bar Craig went to but they didn't want to give it to her."

"What are you going to do about it?"

I got out of the chair. "I'm going to make them give it to her."

"Just don't cause a scene and make me arrest both of you," he said. I grinned.

"I won't."

Sylvia was waiting for me at the doors of the bar. When I walked up, she said, "I should have asked where Craig went to save myself time, huh?"

I grinned and she gave a groan, "Figured. How'd you know he came here?"

"Jackson let me talk to him."

"What did you find out?" Sylvia asked once we got seated and ordered our food and drinks.

"He hates Penelope, but not enough to kill Dawlkin." Sylvia nodded. I paused to take a sip of my drink, "Maybe you're right and he's not involved."

"I know he's not. He's the type to brag if he did."

I smiled, "That's why we're here to get that evidence for Jackson."

"Good luck. I managed to talk to the boss but he didn't budge."

I stood and Sylvia led me to a room in the back of the bar. I knocked loudly enough for him to hear. Sylvia walked back to pay our tab.

I heard footsteps behind the door and stepped towards the side with the knob. The door opened slightly at first. A moment later, it opened wider and the boss stepped out.

"You have something I want." I sounded ridiculous saying that considering I was a good half-foot shorter than the man and he was about thirty pounds heavier. I didn't care, since I know I could take him out in a fight. With his beer gut and unsteady stance, he wouldn't be a challenge.

"You with that lady cop?"

"She's my partner and I'm from Grimalkin." That gave him pause. I said, "There's an innocent guy in jail because some hotshot detective thinks he's guilty. You can get that man out."

"And why would I do that?"

"Because you'll be known to support corrupt cops. Who knows what that'll do to your business?"

The big boss hesitated. It was clear he was making his big decision. Maybe the biggest in his life. "Come in."

I followed him and eyed the big bodyguard that was inside the room. He was rough-looking with a scar and shaved head and meant business. Maybe it was just for show, but I wasn't going to test him.

The boss showed me the computer where the CCTV footage was being shown and I told him to pull up the footage from yesterday around 7PM. He did and it wasn't hard to spot Craig. He came in with the ugliest-looking sweater and a whole group of friends.

It wasn't fun to watch. It was just Craig partying and building a huge tab all the way until 1AM, which was when he left with two drunken friends.

That's when I realized the mixup in Craig's alibi. He went home at one, but didn't arrive until three. Based on the cameras on the building exterior, he walked home too.

I had the man send the video files to my terminal and I left the room. "I'll make sure a good word is put out for you."

"Who is the hot-shot detective?"

"Some smoker named Masamune."

"Could have said it was him in the first place. Hate that fucker." I didn't smile and continued down the hall without saying anything.

Sylvia said, "That was fast."

"Everyone hates our favorite detective," I said. Sylvia looked at me with a disapproving look before shaking her head, "I can't believe how you get these things done."

"What? I didn't beat up anyone and got what we needed. It's the best thing that could happen!"

She rolled her eyes with a smile, "Come on, let's get out of here."

We got into the car and we turned on File Sharing on our terminals. Seconds later, the files she needed were stored on her terminal. I redialed the number Jackson called me on and he answered, "Yes?"

"Craig's innocent. I watched CCTV of this man partying until one before going home. By that time, Dawlkin was already dead."

He was silent for a few seconds, "I was just going to clock out. Mind coming to the station before I do?"

"Sure."

We drove to the station, Sylvia in high spirits, and I made the drop-off before budding the captain a good night. I got back into the car and Sylvia said, "You've been driving all around town today."

"Yup," I said, shifting the transmission back into park. She was going to ask for a favor. "You wanna go to a secret place for an little escapade? I know a couple places."

"Gag," Sylvia said. For some reason, though, she looked like she genuinely considered it. It was the way her eyes lingered on me when she gave me that side-eye. "Just drop me off at my place."

"I could do that," I said.

"Thank you."

When I began driving, Sylvia asked, "Did you find out what Dawlkin did at Heldigras?"

"He's not a private investigator."

"Oh . . ." she sounded embarrassed. "Was I wrong?"

"I mean his job isn't like mine. He works for a company that finds animals that are owned illegally."

"Really?" I nodded. "What if you found someone who has a pet they shouldn't have and wanted to silence him?"

"That's what I'm thinking. I just wonder if Kelly is connected."

"That's why you want to find out where she worked. If she also worked for Heldigras?" She crossed her arms, "Where did you learn all this?"

"From a good teacher at Jie Long."

"Jie Long again. Were you with the Ryuusei Kyuushi?"

I said nothing.

"They hated you and kicked you out," Sylvia said. "Did you piss off the wrong person?"

I kept my eyes on the road. "I did."

"What happened?"

"It's a long story."

"We have a long drive."

"Not long enough to tell you everything."

"What about some of the story?" I stopped at a red light and glanced over. She had taken off her cap and her hair was back to its bright purple color. She picked up the pink cap on her lap and fidgeted with it. She pressed hard on the sides of the brim and let go. Put pressure, then let go, and repeat.

"I want to hear it from you personally. I do want to get to know you," She looked at me with that stupid look a puppy gives you. "No bullshitting, because you're clearly a good man and I don't know why you'd run from Jie Long."

The stupid look worked because I wanted to tell her. "Don't give me those stupid puppy eyes. I hate it because it works."

"I think you just have a thing for me," Sylvia said. "That's why it works."

I didn't entertain her with an answer and she grinned, knowing my silence was an answer.

The light hadn't turned green yet so I looked out the driver's side. "It was a small thing. Very small. One of the most insignificant things ever in the history of Jie Long."

The light turned green and I put my foot on the gas pedal. "Someone stole from the weapon storage room. A few kunais, paper tags, and other projectiles. Their heist was so sloppy that I found the culprit easily."

"Who was it?"

"Some student from the Water Faction. The Water Faction had been secretly selling Wood Faction inventory for money and writing the sold inventory as lost or destroyed."

I looked briefly at Sylvia and saw her watching me intently. I returned my eyes to the road. "This scheme had been going on for months, undetected by the Academy."

"Or so the official reports say."

"Or so the official reports say," I echoed. "I think you know better."

"It was ignored."

"Right. When my investigation brought things to light, the Water Faction wanted to give the money to the Wood Faction and sweep it under the rug."

"What about the Wood Faction?"

"They wanted justice, of course. They had been mistreated and stepped on for too long and they made it clear that all they wanted was me to be fair."

"You chose to turn in the thief?"

"Oh no," I said with a smile. "That's what the Water Faction wanted because it would do nothing in the long run. I revealed all my findings to every administrator in Jie Long and everyone in the Ryuusei Kyuushi.

"I made it clear that the thief was one specific student. That's why they go away for so long. I also listed every student who sold the stolen inventory-it took a lot of sleeping around to get that information."

"You slept with students?"

"Everyone was my age, I swear on my life. I didn't sleep with anyone younger than me and I was already nineteen at the time."

"Even if you account for that, that's immoral, unethical, maybe illegal."

"Not according to Jie Long's playbook," I said. Sylvia had no argument for that. Jie Long were the dirtiest players in Asterisk. "I forced every seller to assist every operation that shut down the trade network in Asterisk selling the stolen inventory. I accused every Water Faction student's inaction as the reason why the whole thing grew so big."

"Yeah," Sylvia said. "I remember that the Stjarnigarm was praising Jie Long for uncovering all those underground operations. I never saw your name mentioned, though."

"Of course not," I said. "It was the only way they could salvage any credibility."

Sylvia didn't say anything for a while until, "So you didn't just piss off one person, but everyone in the Water Faction."

"Also several academy admins who were favoring the Water Faction. My career didn't last too long after that. I'll bet some Water Faction students still want my head."

I heard the sound of air escaping the cushions as Sylvia sat back, letting all the information sink in. "Why didn't you tell me this earlier? You made it sound like it'd be an epic journey of proportions."

"I left out a lot of details in my explanation. I gave you the crash course."

"How long did it take to find all that out?"

"Maybe a year or two. It was easy catching the thief. Not so much everyone else . . . and all the admins allowing the whole scheme to happen. The Wood Faction pretty much swore loyalty to me, though. They're grateful for my efforts."

"So it's not a total waste of time."

"No."

"You're a crazy man," Sylvia said. "People like you don't exist in this world anymore."

"There's another person like me, actually," I said, slowing to a stop outside our destination.

"Really? Who?" Sylvia asked. I looked at her long and hard. She didn't get it, at first, but she eventually did. She made a face, "I'm not crazy. Nor do I sleep around students for an investigation."