The closed-door meeting had ended, but the weight in the air lingered—not from the weather but the looming reality that they had to pursue Elias. He was the key to unraveling their case. Zhu considered reaching out to HSO S6 for assistance; after all, the case had deep ties to Gatsby—or rather, Gavin Carter of Vesta Quarters. Yet a gnawing doubt crept in: HSO might be withholding crucial intel from her.
Back at her desk, Zhu pushed her lunch to the side without much thought. The sandwich was slightly over-toasted, but she took a bite here and there as she sifted through the investigation board software. Her eyes scanned the digital threads and connections, her fingers tapping with practiced precision as she tied the Hollow Syndicate cold case to the Golden Eridu Hotel Heist.
The faint sound of approaching footsteps broke her rhythm. "Captain," Qingyi called, her tone calm yet purposeful. Zhu turned her head, catching sight of the unmistakable two folders, black and other one bluein Qingyi's hand.
Her mood shifted instantly. A black folder could only mean one thing: interference. Zhu's brows furrowed as she reached for it, still clutching her sandwich. "What's this, Qingyi?" she asked, her voice sharper than intended as she took the folder.
Qingyi, ever composed, leaned slightly closer. "From the chief. It's marked ASAP." Her voice dipped lower, almost conspiratorial. "I've got a bad feeling about this. Someone might want to take over the case."
Zhu paused mid-chew, her appetite suddenly dwindling. "A takeover? From where?" she asked, her voice edging toward disbelief.
Qingyi slid into the chair next to her, placing the black folder on the desk. "NEDF… the Defense Force," she said, her tone neutral but her words heavy.
The mention of NEDF made Zhu's stomach twist. She set the half-eaten sandwich aside, her appetite replaced by rising frustration. "Why? We're making progress. Why now?"
Qingyi tilted her head slightly, her sharp eyes glinting faintly under the office light. "I overheard something," she admitted, keeping her voice low. "The chief wants Janus Quarters to focus on public security—city protests, riot control, and the postponed Advanced Weapons Convention. Our investigation isn't exactly high on their priority list anymore."
Zhu sighed, her fingers reflexively massaging her temple. "Unbelievable," she muttered, the bitter taste in her mouth now unrelated to her lunch.
Without hesitation, Qingyi extended her wrist, revealing a concealed wire that unspooled with mechanical precision. Plugging it into Zhu's computer terminal, she murmured, "Let me help. I'll make a copy of your investigation board, but you should remove anything linking the Pacifist to the case. They're going to want a clean version, and I can mask the file history to keep it from being traced."
Zhu hesitated, staring at the screen, the weight of the decision pressing on her shoulders. The heist is related to the cold case was hers—her time, her sweat, her emotional investment. Letting NEDF take it felt like a personal loss. "Fine," she relented, her fingers already moving to redact the Pacifist's involvement. "But this feels like a step backward."
Qingyi nodded, her tone reassuring. "It's frustrating, I know. But we'll keep a conventional board for ourselves. No one can override that."
Zhu let out a long exhale, her posture slumping as she began typing. Her frustration grew with every keystroke, erasing connections she had painstakingly made. "It's like watching all your effort being swept under the rug," she said bitterly.
Qingyi glanced at her, a faint smirk softening her otherwise serious expression. "Well, if it's any consolation, Captain, at least you didn't burn your lunch in the microwave again."
Zhu blinked, momentarily jarred from her spiral of frustration, and let out a small, reluctant chuckle. "Thanks for the reminder, Qingyi. Really uplifting."
Qingyi gave a subtle shrug, sipping her ever-present cup of hot water. "Just trying to lighten the mood. Don't let them get to you, Captain. We've got this." She whispered.
And for the first time that afternoon, Zhu felt a flicker of reassurance amidst the chaos.
Zhu flipped open the black folder, her eyes scanning the neatly typed contents. It bore the unmistakable insignia of NEDF—also mentioning HSO, a reference to an unnamed joint task force. The rationale for their interest was clear: the Etherflux was NEDF technology, and they were eager to reclaim control over the investigation.
"Of course, they'd want their toy back," she muttered under her breath, leaning back in her chair. A joint task force could be a compromise, but it would mean exposing her findings—and her growing suspicion that Elias was somehow involved. Protecting his identity was becoming a double-edged sword.
She leaned forward, pressing her fingertips to her temples. "Why does every step of this case feel like smashing into a wall?" she murmured, her voice tinged with exhaustion. Her thoughts spiraled back to Elias. Was he in danger, or was he intentionally staying hidden?
Her phone vibrated, pulling her from her thoughts. A new message flashed on the screen:
Captain, closed-door meeting at the conference room with NEDF.—Chief
Her pulse quickened as she stood, clutching the folder tightly. Across the room, Seth and Qingyi exchanged a quick glance, watching as she prepared to leave.
In the hallway, Jane fell into step beside her, a teasing smile tugging at her lips. "You've got this, Cap. We're right behind you," she whispered, her tone light but reassuring.
"Thanks, Jane," Zhu replied, her voice steady despite the storm brewing inside her.
As she approached the chief's conference room, the sound of faint murmurs filtered through the closed door. An unnamed NEDF liaison; a girl with a white hair with a fiery eyes was waiting outside. She squared her shoulders upon meeting her gaze.
"Officer Hotshot, let's go." The liaison muttered, joining her inside the conference room. Her gaze lingered longer towards her.
"Hotshot?" She mused, that word marked on her mind oddly.
She took a deep breath and stepped inside. A group of NEDF officers, their expressions stoic and unyielding, waited for her.
The weight of the folder in her hands felt heavier now, laden with the stakes of a case that seemed to grow more complex with every new turn.
The two-hour meeting was finally over. Zhu walked into their office, her posture composed, yet the heaviness in her expression betrayed her. She dropped into her chair with deliberate precision, hands moving instinctively to power up her computer terminal. The screen's faint hum filled the silence, and its glow caught the sharp glint of frustration in her eyes.
Qingyi, perched nearby, slid her chair closer with an almost mechanical grace. "So, how did it go?" she asked, her tone neutral but her wrist wires faintly twitching—a subtle tell of her anticipation.
Zhu exhaled, her fingers drumming against the desk. "As expected. NEDF wants full control over the heist investigation. Chief couldn't argue—it's their tech on the line, after all." Her words were calm, but the undertone of resignation hung heavily in the air.
The investigation board booted up on her screen, the familiar interface slowly materializing. But as Zhu scanned through the files, her shoulders stiffened, her breath caught. The board had been reset to Day 1—every lead meticulously built over the past week erased.
"What the—? Qingyi!" Zhu's voice rose in a mix of panic and disbelief. "What happened here?"
Qingyi leaned in, her expression unreadable, then smirked. "Relax, Captain. I overrode the critical evidence—anything tying Elias or the cold case to this investigation is safely out of reach. Let them piece things together on their own." She reclined slightly, wires retracting back into her wrist. "They can't trace it back to us. Remember, I'm a masterpiece of the White Star Institute."
Zhu blinked, processing Qingyi's calm assurance. Her racing pulse slowed, but the knot of frustration remained. "You could've warned me before giving me a heart attack," she muttered, her fingers running through her hair.
Before Qingyi could respond, the office door creaked open. Seth strode in, balancing a bag of takeaway snacks in one hand. Behind him, Jane trailed in, waving dramatically. "Hey, Cap!" Jane called, her voice light and teasing. "Thought you could use some sugar therapy after that power meeting."
Zhu looked up as Jane placed a snack box on her desk with a flourish. "Consider this a peace offering for having to deal with the brass. It's my way of saying, 'We've got your back.'"
For the first time that day, Zhu felt the edges of a smile creep onto her face. "Thanks, Jane. I needed that." She leaned back, opening the box and letting the familiar warmth of camaraderie soften the weight of her day.
Zhu forwarded the updated investigation board to the chief, silently praying he wouldn't scrutinize it too closely. From a glance, it looked solid—if you ignored the glaring absence of ties to the cold case. The missing link? The elusive mercenary known asThe Pacifist.
Slumping back into her chair, Zhu sighed and muttered, "Qingyi, what's the Blue folder for? -I haven't read it yet." Her fingers toyed with a pen as she tried to relax.
Qingyi looked up from her egg pudding mid-bite, casually licking the spoon. "Another case take over regarding our Cold Case, Deputy Yanagi mentioned Section 5 was originally tasked with it, but she pulled rank and Section 6 retracted the assignment." Zhu's heart practically skipped a bit in marathon upon hearing it.
Seth, who had been contentedly munching on his own snack, perked up like a cat hearing a treat bag. "Wait, wait—did you say Deputy Yanagi?"
"What do you mean by retracted?" Zhu asked, her brow furrowed betraying her calm.
Qingyi shrugged, shoving the last spoonful of pudding into her mouth. "Probably because she still wants you to handle it. Remember our visit to ERI? She saw how emotionally invested you were in the case. Maybe try reaching out to her?"
"You met Deputy Yanagi? Like,actuallymet her?" Seth interrupted again, eyes wide.
Qingyi gave him a sideways glance. "What's it to you, Seth?"
Seth raised his hands in mock surrender, an innocent grin spreading across his face. "I'm anabsolutefan. She's amazing—dedicated, sharp, and, well… uh, you know… attractive."
Zhu blinked at him, caught somewhere between amusement and disbelief. Clearing her throat, she adjusted her posture. "That's… awkward, Seth."
Qingyi snickered, a sly smile tugging at her lips. "Awkward is putting it mildly."
Before Seth could defend himself, Jane kicked his shin under the table. He yelped, rubbing his leg and shooting her a wounded look. "What wasthatfor?"
Jane smirked, crossing her arms. "For being Seth."
"Really?" he grumbled, scratching his head like a chastised cat.
Zhu couldn't help but let out a chuckle, shaking her head. "Alright, enough hero worship. Let's focus on the case, people. And Seth—maybe stick to admiring Yanagi from a safe, professional distance?"
"Yes, Captain." Seth mumbled, his face flushing as he tried to avoid Jane's smug expression.
The afternoon sunlight began to peek through the thinning clouds, casting golden patches of light across the city. It had been a dreary day, but the warm rays now streaming in added a gentle glow on Janus Quarters, glinting off the metal seats and tiled floor.
Zhu relaxed leaning on the doorway, her fingers nervously tapping her phone. The faint hum of conversation between Qingyi and Seth served as white noise, but her focus was entirely on the device in her hand.
She hesitated, glancing on the NEPS lobby with a lot of people still in line to file their administrative clearances and reports.Will calling Yanagi seem too desperate?Zhu thought, her thumb hovering over Yanagi's contact. She took a deep breath, straightened her posture, and hit the dial button.
The phone rang twice before Yanagi's voice came through, smooth and composed. "Captain, why the sudden call?"
Zhu swallowed, forcing a steady tone. "Hi, Deputy… I mean, Yanagi. I—uh, just catching up. Qingyi mentioned your section was tasked to take over our cold case?"
Yanagi's response was instant but calm, as though she'd been expecting the question. "Ah, yes. We were assigned to it since it's linked to Gavin Carter or Patient E-112. You know how it is—found inside the Hollows, making it technically our jurisdiction." Her tone shifted slightly, teasing. "But if you're free, why don't we catch up over dinner with the team tonight?"
The tension in Zhu's shoulders eased slightly. A small smile formed on her lips, and she tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "Sure, that sounds nice. Will Chief Miyabi be joining us?"
"I'll try to drag her along," Yanagi replied with a soft laugh. "But you know how she is—field missions galore. That said, shehasbeen dying to see you. Especially after I mentioned you have a secret admirer."
Zhu froze mid-smile, her grip tightening on the phone. "Wait—what? You told her that?"
Yanagi chuckled, the sound light and mischievous. "Sorry I let that slipped on my words, She was delighted. Said she has questions."
Zhu's posture crumbled as she slouched forward, her face flushing a deep red. She groaned, running a hand through her hair while Seth and Qingyi exchanged amused glances from their seats. "Yanagi…"
"Relax, Captain," Yanagi teased. "We'll save the interrogation for dinner. Don't keep me waiting too long—your secret admirer might beat you to it."
Before Zhu could muster a response, Yanagi ended the call, leaving her staring at the screen with an exasperated expression.
Seth, nibbling on a snack, tilted his head. "Everything alright, Cap?"
Zhu glared at him before burying her face in her hands. "I need a new best friend," she muttered, her blush still lingering.
Qingyi, calmly sipping her tea, smirked. "Oh, come on. Miyabi wouldn't trade you for the world."
"Lucky me," Zhu grumbled, earning a laugh from her team.
—
"Well, alright," Zhu said, leaning back into her chair, the faint glow of the afternoon light catching her profile. "We'll be having dinner with HSO Section 6 later. It's a good chance to ask for help on the Cold Case."
Seth's ears practically twitched at the announcement. His head shot up, eyes sparkling like a cat spotting the red dot of a laser pointer. "Wait… does that mean Yanagi will be there?"
Zhu sighed, rubbing her temple. "This isn't a fan-meet, Seth. It's for our Cold Case."
"I know, Captain!" Seth said, undeterred, leaning forward with almost childlike excitement. "But this is Deputy Yanagi! Up close! In person! That's a—"
Before he could finish, Jane, perched coolly on the edge of her desk, suddenly tapped her earpiece with exaggerated urgency. "Officer, come in," she said in a low, dramatic voice, her tone dripping with mock authority.
Seth froze, his excitement giving way to alertness. "What's going on?"
Jane straightened, her expression feigning deadly seriousness. "We've got a situation at Lumina Square. Bank robbery. Hostages. It's your usual patrol area, Seth. Too bad..." She sighed theatrically, shooting a sidelong glance at him. "Looks like you won't be able to join us for dinner with Ya-na-gi." Her tone rose on the last syllable, turning it into a playful jab.
Seth's jaw dropped. "What?! Come on, Jane!"
Qingyi snorted into her drink, barely concealing her laughter. Zhu stifled a smirk but quickly adopted her professional tone. "Jane, don't mess around."
"Oh, it's just a false alarm." Jane shrugged with an exaggerated flick of her hand, her eyes glinting with mischief. "No bank robbery. No hostages. Seth can keep his dinner plans—unless, of course, he decides he's not cut out for meeting Deputy Yanagi face-to-face."
"I am cut out for it!" Seth retorted, puffing out his chest.
Before Jane could volley back another quip, Zhu's terminal buzzed with an incoming alert. She frowned, glancing at the screen, her lips pressing into a thin line. Then, without missing a beat, she leaned back in her chair, clasping her hands as if delivering a grave announcement.
"Wait…" she began, her voice dropping into a tone of mock seriousness. "It's not a false alarm after all. Seth, gather up your gear—you'll need to respond. Looks like only the three of us will be making it to dinner tonight."
Her eyes flicked toward Seth, her attempt at dramatic flair so deliberate it bordered on theatrical.
Qingyi choked on her drink, barely able to contain her laughter. "Oh, wow. Captain, was that... you trying to pull a Jane?"
Zhu tilted her chin, feigning offense. "What? I can be dramatic if I want to."
Seth's mood plummeted like a cat realizing the treat bag is empty. He shot out of his chair, panic etched on his face. "No way, Captain! You're kidding, right? Right?" His voice cracked with desperation as he scanned her face for any hint of mercy.
Zhu held her stern expression for another beat before letting it break into a teasing smile. "Relax, Seth. It's nothing. You're still on for dinner."
The tension snapped, and Seth collapsed back into his chair, clutching his chest like he'd just dodged a bullet. "Captain, don't do that to me! I almost had a heart attack!"
"Consider it payback for all the gushing about Yanagi," Zhu said, her smirk widening.
Jane crossed her arms, shooting Zhu an approving look. "Not bad, Captain. Not bad at all. You might just give me a run for my money."
"Don't encourage her!" Seth groaned, clutching his head with both hands while Qingyi dissolved into another fit of laughter.