Since it was very late at night, Ichino quickly hopped in his car to get back home, with a feeling of anxiety and distress lingering on his mind.
"I'll be instantly butchered if my cover is blown, I don't know if my fake identity will hold up long enough and if anyone will even recognise me. Not even talking about how I'll begin tracking this slippery bastard of a guy." – Ichino
*Ichino sighs*
"What a pain…" – Ichino
The aging detective finally makes it home absolutely exhausted and makes it to his undisturbed wife… or so it seemed.
"You let that rodent escape, Ichi?" – Ichino's wife
"Huh!?" – Ichino
"Kyra! I thought you were fast asleep" – Ichino
*Kyra smiles*
"For a pro detective you sure are pretty bad at telling these things" – Kyga
"Pfff… shut up" – Ichino
The couple finally fell asleep along with the soothing and quite unusual, silent night.
The next morning…
Haru tried to keep her eyes shut from the ray of sunlight stinging her eyes but slowly gave in and decided to wake up. She scrubbed her eyes for a few moments and stretched her arms to awaken her body.
"UWAAAA" – Haru
"Ugh… 7 am that's way too early for a day like this!" – Haru
"I wonder if grandma is awake" – Haru
Haru heads downstairs and finds her grandmother preparing some herbs and roots.
"Do you always wake up this early on Sundays, grandma?" – Haru
"Oh, Haru you're awake? Come, help me with this" - Grandma
"What do you plan to do with those, anyways?" – Haru
"Ohh… these are going into storage. I'll use them later on." – Grandma
"Ahh... I see" – Haru
"Anyways, Haru, how is school going" – Grandma
"It's fine grandma… but... I feel like I'm losing touch with Miyuki" – Haru
"You mean that Hatsuzuki girl?" – Grandma
"You know how she is… she never talks to anyone but me, so I have to leave her behind sometimes" - Haru
"Well that's unfortunate. Maybe you should spend more time with her" – Grandma
*Grandma gives a warm smile*
"Maybe you're right, grandma. I should call later today if she wants to hang out. Thanks grandma" – Haru
"I'll always be here for you dear" – grandma
Further north up the town…
Takeru awoke from his deep slumber, one which he always has due to watching way too many movies into the night on Saturdays. He opens his eyes with an irritated attitude.
"Hnng god damn you, sunlight! I knew I should've closed the blinds better, it's Sunday for god's sake" – Takeru
Takeru walks out of his room and to the kitchen where he finds his uninvited guest from last night.
"Woah, I did not take you to be the early waking type at all" – Takeru
"Had the habit since I was a kid. My mom made me." – Reginald
"Ya want some coffee?" – Reginald
"Damn, that's awfully nice of you and sure" – Takeru
"It's the least I could do for someone as generous as you. You're letting someone who you barely know AND who is also a thief stay at your house" - Reginald
Takeru takes a sip from the coffee. His eyes open in amazement.
"Holy… this thing's succulent!" – Takeru
"Learned a few tricks from mah mom" – Reginald
"If you can handle the house while I'm out I'll be happy to let you stay longer" – Takeru
"Ughh… Guess I have no reason to complain" – Reginald
"Heh" – Takeru
"Hey, about those men from yesterday, were they from the agency?" – Takeru
"Nah, I lost those guys way before that, right from the explosion. The ones from last night were from The Red Sect" – Reginald
"THE WHAT?" – Takeru
"Wait… don't tell me ya don't know what's under your feet right now" – Reginald
"Are you, like, serious right now, that's pretty hard to swallow... cuz look" – Takeru
Takeru then opens the window blinds.
"What in the holy god…" – Reginald
What stood in front of the young creature was an immense, overwhelming tower, none other than the establishment known as the agency. Reginald starts shivering, causing him to instinctively jump back into some kitchenware. Takeru promptly gives him a hand.
"You okay man?" – Takeru
"I-I can't believe it!" – Reginald
"Now you see why I wouldn't buy into your crap" – Takeru
"It isn't crap. That's the most mind fucking thing here. The Red Sect has some balls setting up camp in an area this precarious" – Reginald
"Why don't you take me there?" – Takeru
"WHAT?! ARE YA MENTAL. IT'S LIKE WALKING RIGHT INTO YOUR DEATH GRAVE! – Reginald
"Calm down... we'll just take a peek, if you are being legit, that is" – Takeru
Reginald tries to avoid Takeru's gaze and sheepishly lets out a short response.
"I don't wanna..." – Reginald
"Oh, maybe a quick call to the cops would change your mind?" - Takeru
"God help me…" - Reginald
Reginald forcefully accepts and leads the teenager to the dark depths of the stinking sewer hole.
"Yep that's how far I'm going see ya mate" – Reginald
"Nope" – Takeru
"wha- "– Reginald
Reginald suddenly feels a pit in his stomach forcing him on the ladder down the drain.
(Reginald to himself) "I know humans are strong but this guy…"
"So, about The Red Sect... what can you enlighten me about them, I'm only aware of the shallow stuff" – Takeru
"Those guys are crazy people; they do the most heinous things that are out of the sane man's imagination. Some rumours say they tryna make hybrids... utterly repulsive. They also deal in drugs, slave trading and serial killings but I suppose that is the tip of the iceberg." – Reginald
"Sounds pretty bad..." – Takeru said, as he halts in his tracks
"Hey shouldn't you be actively trying to go back up the ladder now?" – Reginald
"…" – Takeru, back on his way down
"Oh god" – Reginald
The hesitant duo gradually makes it to one of the entrances of the lair. They hide behind one of the many pillars laid out in the area. Takeru, taking a short peek, is stupefied to find out Reginald wasn't lying after all…