After their ten-minute stint in the isolation chamber with the suspect, the team was asked to hang out in the holding area for a bit. Zhu had requested the suspect's name, and medical condition—if they were available for her paycheck or clearance, of course.

They settled on a bench, with Seth pacing back and forth like a coiled spring, clutching his bottled water. He looked tense, clearly wrestling with the anticipation of those requested documents. Meanwhile, Qingyi leaned back, staring at the ceiling and fidgeting her foot back and fort like a restless kid.

"Seth, can you calm down a bit? It's quite embarrassing to have PUBSEC officers looking like this in front of ERI guards," Zhu joked, smirking at the spectacle.

"I can't help it, Captain! I feel like I've barely scratched the surface of our own institution. I can't believe we have an inter-agency like this," he replied, exasperated.

Zhu chuckled, glancing back at him. "Welcome to the club! Where the only thing tighter than our security clearance is our ability to maintain composure."

A minute later, a man approached, his shoes clacking against the floor like a metronome counting down to something important. Zhu's eyes darted to the corridor, and she stood up instinctively as he removed his mask, revealing a face that seemed far too serious for the casual exchange. He handed her a thumb drive with an air of importance.

"Captain, here are the files. It's encrypted and can only be opened at your station," he said, his voice dripping with gravitas.

Zhu reached out and clasped the drive tightly in her hands, feeling the weight of her curiosity. "Some information isn't available; you'll need higher clearance for that," he added, like a bouncer at an exclusive club.

"W...well, thank you, officer. Please do inform us, and send my regards to Miyabi," she replied in a tone that felt oddly friendly for the circumstances, as if she were chatting with a barista rather than a fellow officer.

As they were escorted back by ERI's vehicle at the main gate, Zhu couldn't shake her nerves about what secrets lay within that tiny thumb drive. What could possibly be so sensitive? Was it the long-lost recipe for the perfect Ramen, or was it something far more sinister? She sat in silence in the vehicle, staring out the window and lost in thought.

An encrypted thumb drive full of classified info. This day keeps getting better and better. Maybe I should've just brought a deck of cards instead of this growing anxiety.

Seth, still pacing mentally in the back seat, broke the silence. "What do you think is on it?" he asked, his eyes wide with a mix of excitement and trepidation.

"Probably the secret to eternal youth—or a grocery list," she quipped, trying to lighten the mood but feeling the weight of the unknown settle heavily on her shoulders.

"Isn't it a bit strange that there's classified info, as the officer mentioned?" Qingyi finally broke her silence, tilting her head in curiosity.

"Yeah, that's what's bothering me," Zhu replied, rubbing her chin thoughtfully. "I just asked for the guy's name and condition. And yet, they tell me I need a higher clearance? Something doesn't add up. That suspect must be involved in something shady. Instead of asking Mr. Smith, let's just consult Mr. Hyun Li over there behind bars. He might know our guy."

Seth's eyes went wide in shock. "What's Mr. Hyun Li got to do with any of this?"

Zhu raised an eyebrow, incredulous. "During the interrogation, he mentioned a missing person, right? That missing person tasked him with disposing of a decryption device for some kind of... black market gadget. You were there with me, Seth! How could you forget that?"

"Oh, right! Sorry, Captain! How could I forget?" Seth replied, scratching his head as if trying to remember where he left his car keys. "Maybe I thought it was all just a really weird dream... like the time I tried to train a ferret to be a sidekick."

"Ah, yes, the Great Ferret Fiasco of last summer," Zhu said, chuckling. "I still can't believe you thought you could teach it to fetch. At least this time, we're not dealing with a rogue ferret, just a suspicious suspect."

Reaching the gate, they hailed a cab back to the station, hoping the protests had calmed down under the sweltering afternoon sun. Spoiler alert: they hadn't. Traffic was a disaster, like a herd of turtles in a marathon.

By the time they arrived at Lumina Square, it was late afternoon. Hungry officers can't crack a case, right?

Instead of heading directly to the Quarters to check the provided files, Seth insisted on stopping for a late lunch first. At the table, Zhu couldn't shake her anxiety about what they might find inside that thumb drive. She barely touched her food, staring into the void as if expecting a cosmic answer to her dilemmas.

What is it about Elias that has me so tied up in knots? It's not affection, I swear! I mean, who has time for that in a case this complex?

But I wanted to share our progress with him... Her thoughts spiraled. Yet, the guy's tattoo says "Veil," and the syndicate he's tangled with is called Crimson Veil. Coincidence? Or just one of those annoying plot twists that this writer love to throw in to create unnecessary tension?

What if Elias found out that I decided to run our own investigation without telling him? Will he be mad at us? Or just at me? Maybe he'll give me the cold shoulder, and I can't even blame him. And it's not that I don't want him mad at me; it's that I promised him I'd help with the case! But look at me now, flying solo with my team and not including him. What a great friend I am. Award-winning, even.

Zhu's internal monologue was interrupted by Qingyi, who seemed to notice her distress and barely touched her own food. "Where are you having a monologue again, Captain? Should I grab a popcorn for this dramatic performance?"

Zhu blinked, a bit startled. "I wasn't having a monologue! It was just... strategic thinking!"

"Sure, because staring into your plate like it just betrayed you is a well-known tactic in the PUBSEC handbook," Seth chimed in, grinning as he devoured a plate of food that looked suspiciously like it could have a side job as a small mountain.

"Okay, fine! I'm worried, alright? Happy?" Zhu huffed, giving in. "I just want to make sure we're on the right track. Is that too much to ask?"

"Only if you plan on taking a detour through a maze of self-doubt," Qingyi quipped, smirking.

"I guess I'm okay with the lunch; I'll just grab J.D.'s dessert for me, okay?" Zhu declared, standing up mid-bite and striding confidently toward the station, her attractive figure accentuated by those tight pants that hugged her curves just right. It was a sight that even the most stoic of officers couldn't help but appreciate.

Seth watched her go, a mix of admiration and distraction evident on his face. "Wow, did it just get hotter in here, or is it just Captain strutting across the street?"

Qingyi snickered, nudging and giving him a suspicious look. "You know, Seth, I wonder—what if the one giving the desserts is Mr. Smith or Elias?"

Seth raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "What makes you think that?"

"I don't know, just a hunch," she replied, her tone teasing.

"What if it's the chief?" Qingyi shot back, a mischievous grin on her face.

Seth nearly choked on his drink. "What? The chief is married! Don't start spreading rumors like a gossip magazine!"

"Or maybe you're J.D.?!" Qingyi declared loudly, drawing the attention of several nearby officers, who were now all ears.

Seth's eyes widened in horror flushed. "What? No! Anyone could be J.D.!" he stammered, scratching his head as his ears flopped out in embarrassment, like a puppy caught in a rainstorm.

The officers exchanged knowing glances; it was clear they were all well aware of Zhu's obsession with J.D.'s desserts. Seth felt the weight of their stares, like he was being put on trial.

"Hey, don't get the wrong idea! I'm just asking Qingyi!" he insisted, waving his hands in a flustered attempt to defuse the situation. "And besides, Captain hates cat fur. I'm a Cat Thiren, okay?"

"Sure, but that doesn't mean you can't secretly moonlight as a pastry chef!" Qingyi shot back, laughter dancing in her eyes.

As Seth fidgeted in his seat, he muttered, "Great, now I'm a dessert suspect and a fashion critic. What a day."

Before sunset, Zhu, Seth, and Qingyi huddled around her desk, their breaths shallow as they prepared to unravel the mystery hidden within the thumb drive. The atmosphere in the room was thick with tension; it felt as if they were waiting for a storm to break.

Zhu plugged in the drive, and her PUBSEC computer sprang to life, displaying an encrypting software interface that resembled something straight out of a crime drama. Jargon from HAND flashed across the screen, making her stomach churn. She took a deep breath and typed in her credentials, her fingers trembling slightly.

The screen flickered, and suddenly, the profile they desperately sought appeared before them.

Profile: Gavin Carter
Alias: Gatsby
Role: PUBSEC Informant
Affiliation: Vesta Quarter Asset

Zhu's heart dropped, a chill racing down her spine. "He's a PUBSEC informant? And involved with Vesta Quarters?" she whispered, her eyes wide as saucers, disbelief etched across her face.

Seth, ever the comic relief, broke the tension with a nervous chuckle. "Well, I never signed up for a soap opera, Captain. This case just got a lot more complicated!"

Qingyi, leaning closer to the screen, furrowed her brow. "I'm actually surprised, too," she said, her voice quiet but intense, as if she could feel the weight of their discoveries pressing down on her.

Zhu's mind raced as she processed the implications. "If he's a PUBSEC informant, what does that make Mr. Smith? Or Elias if this guy is his primary informant?" she muttered, her voice rising with each question, echoing through the silent room.

"...A rogue agent? A double agent?" Her voice trembled, and her hands instinctively flew to her chin as realization washed over her. The overwhelming surge of emotions threatening to spill over. "I knew it... I knew he might be!"

She felt a storm of anger and betrayal swirl within her, battling against the glimmer of hope that Elias could be different. How could I have trusted him? A bitter thought crept in. And now, he might be playing us all along?

As the weight of her thoughts pressed heavily on her chest, Zhu took a step back, struggling to breathe. "We need to find out what's going on before it's too late," she declared, her voice firming with determination. "This isn't just about the case anymore. It's about trust—our trust in each other, and our trust in Elias."

Seth and Qingyi exchanged worried glances, the gravity of their situation settling in like a thick fog. The tension in the room crackled like electricity, each of them acutely aware that they were standing at the edge of something far more dangerous than they had anticipated.

Zhu straightened, her resolve solidifying. "We'll figure this out. Together." She sighed, "But I still offer him my help. I can't ignore the fact that he might need us."

"Captain, we can still play it safe around him. Let's see what his motives are," Seth suggested, trying to keep the mood light despite the seriousness of their discussion. "I mean, he does have that 'good guy' vibe going for him... you know, when he's not chasing informants."

"Sure, and double agents are good at that, too," Zhu replied, a hint of sarcasm slipping into her voice. She glanced at Qingyi, searching for her partner's perspective. "What do you think?"

"Of course, Captain. I'm your partner," Qingyi said without hesitation, her tone earnest. "But we need to be cautious. But there could be something above our pay grade we're not aware of. Remember Mr. Smith? Perhaps Elias is after Gatsby, who's tied to Vesta. He might be up to something bigger."

Zhu took a deep breath, the tension easing slightly as she settled back into her chair, hunching over as if the weight of the world rested on her shoulders. "I never thought I'd be handling a case this complicated," she admitted, rubbing her temples. "But one thing's for sure—if he pulls any funny business, I'll taser and handcuff him myself."

The group shared a nervous laugh, the sound easing the tension just a bit. For now, they would face whatever came next together, armed with trust—and a taser.

Even though the tension had lightened up, a nagging ache settled in Zhu's chest. She couldn't shake the confusion swirling in her mind. Was it concern for him, or was it something deeper?

She sighed, running a hand through her hair. "Am I really feeling something here, or is it just worry? I mean, it's hard to tell. One moment, I'm convinced he's a rogue agent, and the next, I'm wondering what he's hiding. Ugh, why does it have to be so complicated?"

She leaned back in her chair, the weight of her thoughts pressing down again. "Trust is fragile, and mine feels like it's hanging by a thread. I've got so many questions, and yet... I can't ignore the instincts that scream for caution. Maybe I'm just overthinking this.

With a frustrated huff, she shook her head, trying to clear the haze of uncertainty. "Right now, all I can focus on is this case. One step at a time."