That afternoon, the sun was dipping down the horizon of the Urban landscape of New Eridu, but the hotness of the weather still lingers, like the mood of our protagonist. Now at the NEPS motorpool, everything is calm, in contrast with her mood.

Zhu Yuan sat at the western motorpool's office, legs and arms crossed as she fumed quietly. She couldn't shake the thought of Elias being a "Smooth Operator," thanks to the intel from some guy named Lighter. I will definitely kick your face when I meet you. So, you're a smooth talker with the ladies? I can't trust agents like you. She mused, listening to the recording on her earpiece.

Suddenly, the roar of an engine pierced the air. It was Seth, looking exhausted and covered in dirt from diving into a ditch earlier. Qingyi approached to assist him, raising an eyebrow. "You look like a local from the Outer Ring," she joked.

Seth straightened up, trying to regain some of his dignity despite his exhaustion. "Nah, more like a legit undercover agent this time!" he declared as he maneuvered the car into a parking spot. "Where's Captain?"

"Out there, probably still glued to Elias's podcast," Qingyi replied, gesturing toward the nearby office. She smirked, her tone shifting to serious. "Are you sure you weren't followed, Mr. Undercover Agent?"

"I'm positive no one tailed me," he said, feigning confidence. "I even stopped at a food stall for a snack, making sure Mr. Elias got back to the city first."

Zhu Yuan abruptly cut through their banter. "Good job, Seth! Let's head back to the precinct." Without waiting for a response, she rushed into the PUBSEC mobile, her emotions spilling over like an overfilled coffee cup.

Qingyi followed closely, sliding into the passenger seat. As she settled in, she noticed Zhu's head was leaning against the steering wheel, chin propped on her hand, deep in thought. Is she planning a heist or just plotting revenge on a certain smooth operator?

With a mischievous grin, Qingyi reached over and yanked off Zhu's earpiece. "Captain, you'll end up crashing our mobile! How many loops of that recording have you been listening to?"

Zhu jolted back to reality, eyes wide. "What? I was just—"

"What's happening to you, Captain? I mean, is it the stress or have you become a personal assistant to Elias's podcast?" Qingyi quipped, trying to suppress a laugh.

Zhu shot her a glare but couldn't help a slight smirk. "It's not my fault he has the soothing voice of a nighttime DJ. It's like he's luring me into a trance!"

"Just remember, Captain," Qingyi replied, her tone mock-serious, "trances are usually followed by questionable decisions—like calling him 'Smooth Operator' while forgetting to drive."

With a sigh, Zhu turned the ignition, the engine roaring to life. "Let's just hope my next questionable decision isn't driving us into a ditch."

Seth popped into the PUBSEC mobile after tossing his gear into the back. "You've only been in the Outer Ring half your day, but you seem…" Zhu trailed off, giving him a once-over.

Seth, disheveled and still dirt-covered, shrugged with a grin. "Yeah, yeah, Captain. A local wild cat of the Outer Ring. I had to improvise, but hey, mission accomplished, right?" Zhu smiled at him through the rearview mirror, navigating the road ahead.

Seth, feeling a bit bold, leaned forward. "So, any thoughts on Mr. Elias?" Before he could blink, Qingyi shot him a deadly glare and punched his arm.

"Just focus on driving, Captain," Qingyi said, her voice dripping with sarcasm as she casually leaned back, eyes on the road ahead.

Zhu gave a faint smirk. "…It's fine, Qingyi. I'm not in a trance now." Her tone held a hint of playfulness, though there was a momentary pause as they reached a stoplight. "I am curious, though. Elias seems to have ties with the Sons of Calydon. They call him 'Wayward Son,' there's the new Hollow Sphere in the Outer Ring, and, of course, he's smooth with the ladies."

Seth chimed in, "And that guy mentioned 'you left her without notice.'" His comment lingered awkwardly, and Zhu's grip tightened on the steering wheel. Am I jealous? she thought, her mind racing. I don't know this feeling... for Hollow's sake.

"…At least we can start investigating who he really is in the Sons of Calydon." Zhu's voice carried a slight edge now, her annoyance creeping through as her brow furrowed.

"Sure, Captain," Seth added cautiously. "But you know, this might end up being one of those 'it's not what it looks like' situations."

Qingyi stifled a laugh. "Yeah, let's hope it's more of a 'misunderstanding' than 'heartbreak.'"

Zhu shot them both a look. "Just... let me focus on driving before I leave you without notice."

They arrived at Janus Station in the early evening. Zhu Yuan expected an update from Elias, but her phone remained frustratingly silent. I should be one step ahead of him by now, she thought, mentally plotting her next move.

With a sigh, she shuffled through the documents for Patient E-112—Gavin Carter—from the Ether Recovery Institute. Her plan was simple: another round of interrogation, this time with Hyun Li, to see if he had any knowledge about Gavin. It was too late for anything formal, so she grabbed a tablet and headed down to the cell quarters, Qingyi following close behind.

"Mr. Hyun Li?" Zhu called out as they approached his cell, causing him to jump. She offered a small smile, trying to ease the tension. "How are you doing?"

Hyun Li stepped closer to the bars, eyeing her warily. "Officer? Is there a problem?"

"No, no problem at all," Zhu responded, her voice soft, almost soothing. "We just need a little more information—something about that lost package, or maybe a decryptor."

Hyun Li glanced between them, clearly unsure. "...I may need a lawyer first, Officer."

Zhu leaned in, attempting to project calm reassurance. "Come on, Mr. Hyun Li. I promise, no charges. We're just here to protect you." She added a charming smile, one that even felt a little forced to her.

Qingyi, standing next to her, raised an eyebrow and tried not to laugh. "Captain, that was... not your usual style. You tend to kick people into confession."

Zhu shot her a quick look but kept her composure. "Qingyi, I'm fine. I don't want to pressure him. Besides, it's already late."

Qingyi seeing her Captain's face makes her giggle.

"Alright, Mr. Hyun Li, how about this—cooperate nicely, and we'll throw in another dinner. No charges," Zhu reassured him with a calm smile.

Hyun Li hesitated for a moment, then nodded slowly, clearly considering the offer.

Zhu returned the nod, grabbing a pen for her tablet. "Okay then. Does the name Gavin Carter—or Gatsby—ring any bells?"

At the mention of "Gatsby," Hyun Li stiffened, his gaze darting away. "…Uhh, Gatsby, yes."

Zhu and Qingyi exchanged a wide-eyed look, both sensing an unexpected break in the case.

He sighed heavily, as if releasing a long-held secret. "…He was the one who hired me to create a program for that drive device. I told you it was for the black market, sort of."

The officers blinked at each other, their eyes communicating the same thing: We've hit something big.

Zhu leaned in slightly. "Do you know him personally?"

Hyun Li shook his head, a little more relaxed now. "No, they hired me off the inter-knot. Strictly professional."

Zhu's eyes sharpened. "And Elias? Do you know him? Are they working together?"

"Yes, yes… I know him. He's a consultant something like that. But Gatsby warned me. Said that guy couldn't be trusted. That's why I dumped the package before he went off the grid."

Zhu's breath hitched. Elias can't be trusted? Her mind raced. But why? There was something deeper at play here, and she couldn't shake the unease gnawing at her gut.

Qingyi, who had been watching with crossed arms, gave a low chuckle. "You know, Captain, this guy just spilled major intel for the price of an extra dinner plate," she whispered, her lips twitching with amusement.

Zhu shot her a deadpan look. "Not the time, Qingyi."

Qingyi smirked but held back further commentary, knowing when to stop—at least for now.

Zhu turned back to Hyun Li, scribbling furiously on her tablet. "So, to summarize: Elias and Gatsby know each other, whatever. Gatsby hire you to create a decryption program. Then Gatsby warns you Elias can't be trusted, which leads you to ditch the package before going dark."

Hyun Li nodded again, more confidently this time. "Y-yes, Officer. That's the exact story."

Zhu bit her lip in frustration. Another lead, another twist. Is Elias playing a double game? The headache she'd been dreading was now inevitable.

Hyun Li, looking uneasy, shuffled his feet behind the bars. "Pardon me, Officers, but... how do you know about Gatsby? Did he… return?"

Without missing a beat, Zhu replied, "We found him in the Hollows. Looks like he was hiding out there for at least a week. Unfortunately, he's showing signs of corruption and is recovering at ERI."

Hyun Li's face paled, his eyes widening in shock. "The Hollows?! He's still alive?"

Zhu nodded, her voice steady. "Barely."

"Thank you for your cooperation, Mr. Hyun Li. Remember, you're behind bars to keep you safe from..." Zhu paused, "Anyone, for now." The weight of the word felt like a stone in her chest. She forced a soft smile and continued, "And as promised, we'll get you that extra dinner plate... and maybe a dessert?" Her attempt at charm was more to ease her own tension than his.

Hyun Li, who had been stone-faced throughout his stay, seemed to soften, offering a grateful smile in return. "Thank you, officers."

With that, Zhu and Qingyi left the cell quarters, the clanging metal door echoing behind them. As they walked down the corridor, Zhu called in the special request for his dinner, marking the interrogation as a success. Her pace quickened as they neared the office, heading straight for her desk.

Zhu didn't even bother sitting down before firing up her terminal. The familiar hum of the computer filled the room as she started logging breakthroughs and evidence. Her fingers flew over the keyboard with practiced efficiency.

"Burning the midnight ether again, Captain?" Qingyi asked, leaning casually against the wall with her ever-present cup of hot water in hand.

"Just tying loose ends," Zhu replied without looking up, her focus pinned on the glowing screen. "Need to prep for a private briefing. This case is too sensitive."

Qingyi smirked, her gaze drifting to the digital board. "So, the cold case we've been chasing for ages—what's he doing on that board? I thought we were supposed to be helping him with the Crimson Veil."

Zhu's typing faltered for a brief moment, her fingers hovering over the keyboard. "They're connected," she murmured, her tone clipped but resolute.

Her thoughts swirled as she stared at the glowing screen. The Hollow Syndicate and Elias's Crimson Veil case—two threads of the same tangled web. If I push him too hard now, I'll risk exposing his cover and unraveling everything. Worse, I might jeopardize both cases entirely.

Zhu resumed typing, but slower this time, her focus split between her work and the nagging voice in her head. Staying close is the better option. Safer. For now.

Her fingers hovered over the keys again. She hesitated, then typed "Elias" into the board, tagging him under their Hollow Syndicate case file. The weight of it sat heavy in her chest. "I'm just keeping the possibilities that he's tied to the cold case." She mused staring at his name.

Qingyi, who'd sidled up closer, tilted her head at the screen and broke the silence with an unholy amount of amusement. "Captain, are you planning a date with him?"

Zhu's hands froze mid-air. "It's not a date," she said quickly, her voice betraying just a hint of indignation. "This is for the case. Remember the fest? The one with that Lighter guy?"

"Right," Qingyi replied, barely stifling a laugh. "A case-focused surveillance mission. With maybe a side of dessert. I hear the food stalls there are to die for."

Zhu finally turned to glare at her. "You're impossible. Sometimes, I really question how you're supposedly older than me."

"I am, just teasing you." Qingyi said with a straight face, taking a leisurely sip of her water. She turned on her heel, already halfway out the door. "But seriously, Captain, get some rest. You're way too tense to handle undercover work like this."

Zhu leaned back in her chair with a sigh, her gaze flicking between her notes and the blinking cursor on the screen. Stick with Elias, get closer, and crack the case. That's all this is. But a small, nagging voice in the back of her head wasn't entirely convinced.

"Alright," she said aloud, shaking off the thought. "Undercover it is. We're heading to the Fest."

Qingyi froze mid-step and turned back with an incredulous look. "Undercover? Aren't you the same person who said you 'hate pretending to be someone else'?"

"I did." Zhu shrugged, her tone carrying a resigned air. "And for good reason. Last time, I got so 'into character' I ended up running a street vendor's cart. For three hours."

Qingyi stared, then burst into laughter. "You—what? Did you solve the case or start a side hustle?"

"I solved it," Zhu shot back with a straight face. "And made record sales on steamed buns. Priorities, Qingyi."

As Qingyi's laughter faded down the hallway, Zhu turned back to her terminal, muttering under her breath. "Let's just hope this Fest mission doesn't end up into drinking fest."