The morning sun shone through the diner windows, casting soft shadows on the table as Botan settled into her seat. She'd barely slept after the encounter with Ayame and Aki, but there was no time to waste.

"Just coffee for us," she told the waitress with a small nod before directing her attention to the others. Laplus, seated beside her, looked equally worn from the previous night, while Ame and Kronii exchanged glances, already sensing the importance of the meeting.

"So what's going on?" Ame folded her arms, leaning back on her seat. "Seems serious considering you want this out of the captain's earshot."

Botan leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table. "This conversation does not leave this table. Understand?" She eyed Ame and Kronii.

Both detectives nodded, their expressions hardening as they listened to what Botan and Laplus had to say.

"Last night, Botan and I had an….unexpected visit from Ayame and Aki." Laplus began.

Ame's eyes furrowed. "And you didn't arrest them on the spot?"

"Listen, they offered us a deal and we couldn't just pass up on it." Botan interjected. "Could make our lives a whole lot easier."

Kronii scoffed, picking up her coffee as the waitress set them down. "Now I see why you wanted the captain away from this."

Laplus nodded, sliding the piece of paper Ayame handed to them last night across to the detectives.

Ame and Kronii eyed the picture for a bit, noting its content.

"So you're telling me that this is the second most dangerous gang in the city, and their hideout is in a bakery?" Ame's tone remained firm.

"Sounds unconventional, right?" Botan took a sip from her coffee mug. "But it's probably just a front to keep what's going on inside low-profile."

Kronii flipped the paper over, her expression still a bit tense. "I see where you're coming from." She glanced at Ame. "We can probably infiltrate quietly and confirm their operations."

"Should be no problem for us." Ame gave a thumbs up. "We'll get you guys that search warrant in no time."

Botan and Laplus relaxed, glad that Ame and Kronii were willing to do this for them.

"I'll tell the others about this. Captain and Lieutenant Mori are out of town, no?" Laplus finished her coffee.

Kronii nodded, glancing at Laplus. "Yeah, they're at that inter-departmental conference till Thursday. Gives us a window to pull this off without too much scrutiny."

Ame leaned back, her gaze steady. "Good timing, then. We'll handle this quietly."

Botan sighed, giving the waitress some spare change as a tip as she started to clear the table. "I know this isn't exactly by the book, but this'll get rid of one problem on our backs."

"Agreed." The rest said in unison as they all stood up to leave the diner.

"I want to emphasize what I'm about to tell you all, does not leave this channel." Laplus announced through a private radio frequency as she sat on the passenger seat of a patrol car while Matsuri drove. "The captain and Lieutenant Mori cannot know about this."

Across the city, the officers listened closely, each of them stationed in their designated areas but united over the frequency.

Suisei and Miko exchanged glances in their patrol car as they looped around their section of the district.

Watame and Kanade stood guard at a random checkpoint within the city, turning up the volume on their radios.

Meanwhile, Noel and Bijou, both on foot, subtly slowed their pace to catch every word while still keeping an eye out for trouble.

While Nerissa and IRyS stood guard in a busy sidewalk, holding their rifles and maintaining police presence.

A moment of silence settled over the frequency as Laplus waited for any objections. Hearing none, she continued, her tone low and steady. "We have a chance to remove a major rival gang from the streets without stirring up a city-wide brawl. But to do that, we might have to ease off some pressure on Towa's crew, just enough to let this operation unfold. In other words, we'll be prioritizing our targets."

Kanade and Watame, stationed at the city checkpoint, exchanged uncertain looks. Watame finally broke the silence, pressing her radio button. "So, if we happen to run into Towa's gang in the field….what's our protocol?"

Laplus leaned forward, her voice firm but cautious. "Just let them through. We can't break what's part of our deal. Wouldn't want to piss Towa off for all we know."

There was a moment's pause as the officers absorbed the directive. Then, Suisei's voice cut in. "And how long are we expected to keep this up?"

Laplus exchanged a brief look with Matsuri before responding. "Just until we've dismantled the rival gang. Detective Watson and Ouro are working on it. Once we're done, we tell the captain."

Quiet murmurs of agreement passed over the channel, everyone understanding the risks of the current situation.

Central Police Checkpoint

"Have a nice day." Kanade returned the license to the driver. She turned around, walking back towards where Watame stood.

Watame held her rifle close, watching as the vehicle drove through the checkpoint. There was an underlying feeling that something was waiting for them later.

They both watched as vehicles continued to pass by, looking out for any suspicious vehicles to stop.

"You good?" Watame glanced at Kanade who stood beside her.

Kanade nodded, her eyes fixed on the line of cars. "Yeah. Just….on edge, you know?" She adjusted her grip on her rifle, exhaling slowly. "Just want to get through this day without any trouble."

"Same here." Watame chuckled, shaking her head. "Though, knowing the shit that we've gone through this whole month, this day won't be any different."

Kanade managed a tired smile, nodding in agreement. "Seems like we can't catch a break in this city."

They both stood in silence, watching cars pass by, the sound of engines echoing around the city buildings. Every so often, they would wave their hand to let a driver through the checkpoint as they kept their attention up.

"Feels strange, doesn't it?" Kanade asked quietly. "Turning a blind eye like this."

Watame sighed. "Yeah, it does. But Botan and Laplus wouldn't ask us to do this if they didn't believe it'd help. Still….it's such a huge risk, and if the captain finds out about this…."

"We're all going down with them." Kanade let out a long breath. "Captain's probably gonna send us all to the north."

Watame laughed, shaking her head. "Wouldn't mind that to be fair. It's much better up there than here."

The two shared a quiet laugh, the humor lightening the weight of their unease. Kanade leaned against the concrete barricade, her eyes scanning the street for any signs of trouble.

They trusted Botan and Laplus, and they knew that not everything goes by the book, especially with the current circumstances.

"I remember being sent there for a week after some misconduct during my first month in the force." Kanade brought up, chuckling as she recalled what happened. "KANADE! OMAE!" She imitated Subaru.

Watame stifled a laugh, shaking her head. "Oh, I can hear her yelling that from here! You must've really messed up if the captain sent you all the way up north."

Kanade grinned. "Yeah, I was a rookie trying to prove myself, and thought I knew better than anyone else. So I took things into my own hands, and didn't follow procedure….and let's just say the captain wasn't thrilled."

"I take it, you learned your lesson?" Watame gave her a playful nudge.

"That I did." Kanade laughed, letting her rifle hang loose on her sling. "Froze my ass off in an empty town with no action whatsoever. I remember Botan being there too, and all she was wearing was a damn tank top and cargo shorts."

Watame smiled, picturing the situation. "Course she was. She's probably susceptible to the cold by now since serving in the arctic."

"And all she told me was 'The cold builds character' like what the hell?" Kanade let out an amused snort.

"Yup, sounds like her." Watame nodded, confirming her. "Frostbite is probably just another badge of honor to her or something."

They both stayed silent again for a moment, watching the wave of cars continuing to flow by.

"We'll get through this." Watame gave Kanade a reassuring pat on the shoulder.

Kanade gave a simple nod. "Together."

West Downtown

"So how are you holding up?" Noel glanced down at Bijou as they continued to walk.

Bijou adjusted her grip on her rifle, a slight smile on her face. "Could be worse. I kinda regret taking this job, to be honest."

"Why did you take this job, if you don't mind me asking?" Noel slung her rifle around her shoulder.

"Parents said it was a way to toughen up." Bijou shook her head and scoffed. "I was an arts major for heaven's sake."

Noel chuckled, shaking her head. "An arts major, huh? Who would've guessed. Now look at you, rifle in hand, patrolling the streets."

Bijou rolled her eyes playfully. "Yeah, it's a bit of a shift from sketching in cafes to, well….this. But my parents thought I'd get 'real-world experience' this way. Said it'd 'build character.'" She sighed. "Guess they had a point, though. I learn a lot when I'm out on the field."

Noel nodded, giving her a reassuring smile. "You're tougher than you give yourself credit for, you know. Plenty of people wouldn't last a day out here."

"Thanks." Bijou glanced at Noel and smiled. "Still, I'd rather much be back at home making art."

Noel nodded, a warm understanding in her eyes. "I get that. This job really is tough. But hey, once we're done here, maybe you'll have all the inspiration you need for some amazing artwork."

"You know, it's a good thing you mentioned that." Bijou continued to match Noel's pace. "That's probably what I'll do after this all blows over."

"Well," Noel said, patting Bijou on the back, "I'll be looking forward to seeing those masterpieces someday. And in the meantime, you've got someone here who's got your back, no matter how rough things get."

Bijou's smile softened. "Thank you, Senpai. That really means a lot."

WcDonalds (Midtown)

Suisei pulled into the fast food chain's drive through before turning towards Miko. "What are you getting?"

"Just the usual, please." Miko replied, glancing out the window.

Suisei nodded, pulling into the speaker and ordering their breakfast. They then approached the window and paid the amount before they departed from the fast food chain, looking for a quiet parking spot on the street.

After finding a good spot, they pulled their food from the paper bags and started consuming their late morning breakfast.

After taking a few bites from her sandwich, Miko reached for the radio's mic. "Anyone free to talk?"

A moment of silence ensued, before the radio crackled and a voice of boredom came through.

"This is red element. What's up?" Reine responded.

Miko chewed on her food for a bit before replying. "What're you guys up to?"

"Well, you know, just hanging around the station." Reine replied, her tone bored. "The usual things us SWAT members do."

Suisei chuckled, leaning back in her seat. "Bet you'd rather be out here with us, huh?"

"You have no idea." Reine sighed. "But hey, at least we get to sleep in since the cap's out."

"Wow, lucky you." Miko replied, her tone sarcastic. "I'm sure you don't do that when she is here."

Reine snorted through the radio. "You got me." she laughed.

Suisei shook her head. "Anyways, how's the rest of the team holding up back there?"

"Ollie and Iroha are passed out in the break room." Reine replied, her tone of boredom returning. "Don't know where Lui and boss are."

Miko raised an eyebrow. "Passed out, huh? Must be nice. Meanwhile, we're here babysitting the city."

"Hey, someone's gotta be the backup in case things go sideways." Reine said with a yawn. "And right now, that someone's apparently just me."

Suisei grinned, taking another sip of her coffee. "Maybe we should call in for 'extra assistance,' just to give you something to do."

Reine laughed. "Oh please, spare me the paperwork. I'll happily stay bored if it means not dealing with that pile later."

Miko glanced at Suisei with a smirk. "Let's just hope things stay quiet. I'd hate to ruin Reine's peaceful day." She remarked sarcastically.

"Yes. Yes you would." Reine responded dryly. "But seriously, you all stay safe out there. If anything does happen, you know we've got you covered."

"Appreciate it." Suisei's tone softened. "Stay safe, Reine."

Bayside Passing (Industrial District-Midtown Crossing)

Nerissa and IRyS stood on the busy sidewalk, keeping an eye out as crowds of people flowed past them.

They would occasionally get those unhappy looks thrown at them by civilians as they stood there, keeping their rifles on standby.

"The public doesn't like us very much, do they?" Nerissa broke their silence.

IRyS let out a small sigh, glancing at a couple of passing pedestrians who quickly looked away. "Nope. Can't really blame them, though. Not after everything that's gone down lately. Especially at city hall."

Nerissa shrugged, though her gaze stayed sharp. "Guess it comes with the job. We're not exactly here to win popularity contests."

IRyS nodded, giving a half-smile. "True, but it'd be nice to get a nod or two instead of all these glares."

Nerissa chuckled, but there was no humor in it. "Guess all we can do is make sure we're protecting them, even if they'd rather pretend we weren't here."

They shared a quiet moment, watching as a few cars passed by and more pedestrians avoided eye contact with them.

Nerissa shifted her stance, her grip on her rifle tightening slightly. "You have history with one of the members of Towa's crew, right?"

IRyS let out a tired sigh, adjusting her sunglasses. "You could say that."

"Guess you and Laplus have something in common then, huh?" Nerissa continued.

"Yeah, I guess. But the difference is, Baelz was crazy from the start." IRyS remarked a bit dryly.

Nerissa raised an eyebrow, glancing at IRyS with a slight smirk. "So, what's the story between you two? She doesn't seem the type you'd cross paths with by accident."

IRyS shrugged, her expression unreadable. "Met her in high school. She was one of the crazier girls that I somehow befriended. She tried to keep her sanity in check, but It was only a matter of time before her darker side came out."

Nerissa nodded, her gaze softening a little. "That must be tough. Watching someone you knew become….well, what she is now."

"Yeah." IRyS' eyes hardened as she looked into the crowd of people. "But that was a long time ago. The person I knew is long gone."

Nerissa chose to remain silent, observing the expression on IRyS' face. There was a subtle hint of lingering regret and uncertainty.

"People change, whether for the better or for the worse." Nerissa broke the silence.

IRyS scoffed lightly, shaking her head. "She let chaos take over, fucking embraced it. That's who she is now, and I'm gonna be the one to kill her." She mumbled, her single blue eye turning into a matching red.

Nerissa's eyes widened, nodding nervously as she chose to remain silent again.

IRyS glanced at her, her expression hardening. "The person Baelz was is gone. What's left is just a monster in human skin."

Nerissa nodded slowly, keeping her posture relaxed despite the tension between them.

Not another word was spoken as they stood there as one hour remained on their shift.

Industrial District

Ame leaned forward on her bike, tapping her pen against her notepad as she observed the interaction. Okayu and Ao were speaking to one of the bakers outside. "If the mechanics are tied to this bakery, it's more than just coincidence. Could be a supply chain or even a meeting point."

Kronii squinted at the scene, her phone held low but angled just right to take a picture of the exchange. "Yeah. But we need more than pictures and assumptions if we want to build a case. What do you think they're talking about?"

"Could be anything. Maybe they're making deals out in the open, thinking no one's watching. Or maybe they're just talking about pastries." Ame smirked, her eyes narrowing as she jotted down more notes.

Kronii rolled her eyes, a small smile creeping onto her face. "If this gang's using a bakery as their front, I doubt they're trading recipes. We need to find out what's going on inside."

"Can't let them know we're snooping around." Ame pocketed her notepad. "Could blow our only shot at this."

Kronii nodded. "Agreed. So what's the play here?"

"I say we find the right time to sneak inside. We need concrete evidence if this is going to work." Ame crossed her arms. "Also, we need someone to check out the mechanics shop while we wait."

"Reine and the others are just at the station doing nothing." Kronii suggested. "We could send them in."

Ame thought for a second, thinking through with the idea before she grabbed her radio. "Reine, you girls still at the station?"

There was a moment of silence, before Reine's voice came through. "Yup, still bored as hell."

"Well, listen up. We have something for you." Ame immediately responded. "I need you and the others to head to PussyCat Customs. We just found out Okayu and Ao are possibly involved with gang activity."

There was a slight pause before Reine's voice came through again, her tone suddenly more focused. "Got it. I'll inform boss right away."

"Good." Ame responded. "Stay in touch, and let us know the moment you spot anything suspicious."

"Will do. Red element out."

"Think they'll pull through?" Kronii glanced at Ame.

"They'll be fine," Ame said confidently. "I'm sure Botan knows how to lead her team when it matters."

Kronii nodded, her eyes returning to the bakery. "Alright. Let's hope they lead us to something big."

The two detectives settled back into their positions, the hum of tension thick in the air as they waited for their next lead to emerge.

The Bearcat was back in action as the five SWAT members made their way to PussyCat Customs.

"Okayu and Ao are on their way back. Could be there already, so stay vigilant." Kronii announced on the radio channel.

"Got it." Botan responded, pocketing her radio. "Reine and Iroha, I want you two with me when we arrive at the shop. Ollie, Lui you two sneak up to the office on the second floor."

"Understood." Lui nodded. "But sneaking isn't exactly Ollie's specialty."

"Hey!" Ollie perked her head from the passenger seat up front. "I can be when I try."

Botan shook her head, smiling as she continued. "So what's the story, Reine? Blown head gasket?"

"Yup, seems the only logical thing. It'll buy us the most time while Ollie and Lui sneak about." Reine piped up from the driver's seat.

Iroha nodded thoughtfully. "And you're sure you can make it sound convincing?"

"Don't worry, I've got this. I've had enough car trouble in my life to make it convincing." Reine glanced at her rear-view mirror.

"Alright then. Iroha and I will be ready to move if things get messy." Botan assured Lui and Ollie.

Reine brought the Bearcat to a halt about a block from PussyCat Customs. "This is your stop."

Lui and Ollie stepped out as the rest pulled into the mechanic shop. As expected, Okayu and Ao were already there, working on some vehicles.

The Bearcat pulled into one of the garages, gaining Okayu and Ao's attention.

Botan stepped out first, Okayu and Ao already making their way towards them.

"Botan!" Okayu greeted. "Long time no see."

Botan gave a casual wave, her demeanor calm but friendly. "Okayu, Ao. It's been a while."

Iroha stepped out next, meeting the two mechanics. "Looks like you're keeping busy here."

Okayu smirked, brushing a bit of grease off her hands. "You could say that. What brings you here? Don't tell me SWAT's got engine trouble now."

Reine then stepped out of the Bearcat, scratching the back of her head with a sheepish grin. "Unfortunately, yeah. We've got some major overheating issues. Pretty sure it's a blown head gasket. You think you can take a look?"

Ao crossed her arms, eyeing the Bearcat with mild curiosity. "Blown head gasket on something this heavy-duty? You must've really pushed it."

Reine shrugged. "Well, you know how it is. Sometimes the job doesn't exactly let us go easy on the gear."

"Fair enough," Ao replied. "We'll take a look. Might take a while though, these parts aren't exactly easy to come by."

"That's fine." Botan interjected, her tone relaxed but sharp enough to keep control of the situation. "We're not in a rush, as long as you can figure it out."

While the two mechanics were engaged in some small talk and checking the Bearcat's engine, Lui and Ollie were already sneaking up the metal staircase to the second floor office.

Lui reached for the knob, twisting it softly, but it didn't budge. "Give me a sec." She whispered crouching down and pulling out a multipick.

"You carry lockpicks around? That's kind of cool." Ollie crouched beside Lui, keeping an eye on the floor below.

Lui smirked slightly as she worked on the lock. "You never know when they'll come in handy. And right now, I'd say it's pretty handy."

After a minute, the door softly clicked open. Lui pushed the door open gently, just enough for them to slip inside.

Ollie entered behind her, carefully closing the door behind her.

The office was dimly lit, cluttered with papers and tools. A lone desk sat in the middle of the room along with a dusty computer.

The two went to work, checking drawers and cabinets for anything out of the ordinary.

After scrummaging through a bunch of drawers, Lui found a few documents that stood out from the rest. She promptly took it out and examined it.

Lui's eyes furrowed as she examined the papers, most of which consisted of ledger dates and quantities. But the most concerning part was, it wasn't vehicle parts, it was guns. "What the hell?"

"Hang on a minute." Ollie whispered as she worked on opening a large brown crate. As she managed to pull it open, both their faces darkened.

Inside the crate were mass amounts of military grade weapons and ammunition.

Wasting no time, Lui's heart raced as she quickly snapped pictures of the incriminating documents and the crate's contents. The neat stacks of military-grade rifles, pistols, and ammunition gleamed under the dim light of the office. Some of the weapons still had tags on them, marked with serial numbers that suggested they had been stolen from government stockpiles.

Ollie reached into her pocket, pulling out her radio. "Guys, we've got a major find here. Military grade weapons are just stockpiled here." She whispered, keeping her voice low.

Botan's voice came through, calm but sharp. "Alright, get out of there. We're just finishing up." She then redirected her attention back to the mechanics. "Well, is there anything wrong with it?"

"Well, you're not wrong about the overheating. Looks like the radiator's been pushed pretty hard, and it's caused some wear and tear on the gasket too. But it's nothing we can't handle." Okayu straightened up, wiping her hands on a rag as she looked at Botan.

Ao nodded, glancing toward the Bearcat. "If you're okay leaving it here for a couple of days, we can replace what's needed and run a full check to make sure it doesn't give you any more trouble."

Botan smiled, giving a polite nod. "Appreciate it, but we might need it back sooner. Just patch it up enough to last a bit longer. We can get a full service later."

Okayu raised an eyebrow, her expression skeptical. "It'll run, but I can't promise it won't cause you more trouble down the road."

"That's fine." Reine chimed in, her tone light but firm. "We just need it good enough to get through the week.

"Okay….if you say so." Ao turned towards the Bearcat and started working on the engine.

Quarter of an hour later, Ao and Okayu finished up on the engine and shut the hood of the truck back down.

Ollie and Lui were already out by that time, waiting for the rest two blocks away.

"Thanks for the quick patch-up. Let us know if there's anything else we need to worry about." Botan handed over a bundle of cash.

Okayu lazily waved her hand, declining the payment. "No need. I'm sure you guys have enough problems on your backs."

"You sure?" Botan raised her brows.

Okayu smirked, leaning against the Bearcat. "Yeah, consider this a favor."

Botan nodded slowly, tucking away the cash back into her pocket.

"Just take it easy with the engine, okay?" Ao wiped her hands clean.

"No promises." Reine smiled, jumping in the driver's seat as Iroha and Botan piled in the back.

The Bearcat pulled out of the garage, leaving the mechanics on their own. They shared a glance before returning to work

"Mechanics are compromised. I'm sending you the pictures now." Botan reported to Ame and Kronii.

Ame and Kronii still sat outside the bakery on their bikes, nearing nightfall.

Ame, adjusted her grip on her radio, her expression hardening as she glanced at Kronii. "Got it. You guys did good. Get home safe now, yeah?"

"Stay safe out there, detectives. We'll see you guys tomorrow." Botan responded before the channel went silent again.

Kronii sighed, scrolling through the images on her phone as they came in. "They've got enough firepower to start a war. Looks like Okayu and Ao are deeper in this than we thought."

"Either they're directly involved, or they're being blackmailed." Ame crossed her legs. "Okayu and Ao love their jobs too much to be involved in something this big."

Kronii nodded, stealing a glance at Ame. "So what's the plan now?"

"We wait for them to close shop." Ame looked at her watch. "Then we sneak in."

Kronii raised an eyebrow, her tone skeptical. "You really think breaking into a bakery at night is going to give us more than we've already got?"

Ame smirked, leaning back against her bike. "We won't know unless we try. Besides, if the bakery's a front, there's got to be more than flour and sugar behind those walls."

Kronii shook her head, a small smile creeping onto her face. "You and your instincts. Fine. But if we get caught snooping, I'm blaming you."

"Deal." Ame glanced at the bakery again, her gaze sharp. "But we won't get caught. We've done this enough times to know how to stay quiet."

The two detectives settled back into their positions, watching as the last customers filtered out of the bakery.

As the final delivery made its way to the shop and the last employee closed shop, turning off the lights and locking the front door, Ame and Kronii dismounted their bikes.

They strolled up to the entrance, the bakery's sign inviting them in.