"Hello, sir. Has someone named Grace come by your shop today? Here's her photo."
Koleda showed the photo to the hardware store owner, who was sitting at the counter reading the daily paper.
The owner barely reacted. He merely moved one mechanical eye out from behind the newspaper, glanced at the photo on Koleda's phone, and replied:
"She hasn't come to my shop today, but she did stop by half a month ago."
Koleda said, "I see... Thank you, sir."
After leaving the hardware store, Koleda looked at the darkening sky, frustrated and worried. She had already asked at all the shops Grace visited, both frequently and infrequently, but none of them knew where she was.
She had also just asked Ben and Anton, who were holding down headquarters, and learned that Grace hadn't simply forgotten about her and gone back early, either.
After searching for nearly an hour, Koleda felt that something might really have happened to Grace.
Just as Koleda was about to contact an officer, her phone rang. She looked at it-hey, it was Grace.
Koleda answered, "Hello, Grace, is that you!?"
Grace said, "Hey, sweet pea, Grace here!"
Hearing that familiar voice and relaxed tone, it seemed nothing had happened. Once Koleda heard Grace's voice, her lingering worry vanished, leaving only anger.
"Grace!!! Didn't you say you were going to buy some spray paint? Where have you run off to now! What's taking so long!? Do you know how long I waited for you at our meeting spot!? You wouldn't answer your phone, so I had to go to all the trouble of searching everywhere for you! None of us could find you, and we thought something had happened to you! Do you know how worried we were...?"
On the other end of the call, Grace was restrained in an interrogation chair in an interrogation room, holding the phone that was still pouring out words in her one free hand.
Sitting across from her at the interrogation desk was a female rat Thiren trainee officer, assigned to watch her.
(Note: the one who would have a connection with two succubi in the future.)
Grace listened with a slightly guilty conscience to Koleda's angry yet caring words, though they went on a little long.
Koleda said, "Can't you give me, your president, a little peace of mind?! You even made me worry this much on a perfectly good day off! Where are you now? I'll come find you. It's getting late, and we should've gone back ages ago."
At that, Grace felt rather embarrassed and said awkwardly, "...Well, sweet pea, I'm at Public Security right now."
Koleda said, "Huh? What are you doing th... Wait, you-you didn't..."
Grace said, "Oh, I just lost control a little by accident. Something happened, and I need you to come over. It's the Public Security branch at Lumina Square."
"..."
Koleda said nothing. Instead, she stood frozen, slapped her forehead, and held her head. From Grace's brief description alone, she already had a rough idea of her current situation.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Heili. I was far too rash earlier and actually mistook you for a thief. I apologize."
Having mistaken Heili for a thief earlier, Seth immediately bowed to him in apology once he learned what had happened.
Sitting in an office chair, Heili was drinking milk tea through a straw he had brought himself, inserted into a spot inward from his chin. He nodded and replied:
"I have accepted thy apology. Thou needst not dwell upon it."
His words were quite easy to understand. At least Seth understood what he meant, and his previously rigid tail began swaying again.
After thanking him and chatting for a little while, Seth went off to carry out the patrol assignment he had temporarily put on hold.
Meanwhile, Qingyi sat at her workstation beside them, leisurely sipping tea. Her mature, composed, yet idle manner stood in stark contrast to Seth, who looked full of energy but was rather impetuous.
Heili watched Seth greet Qingyi before rushing out, then asked her curiously:
"My friend, thou art so at leisure. Hast thou no work?"
Qingyi quietly took a small sip before replying:
"Ah, well, I have nothing to do. I don't usually have much work to begin with, and besides, today's my day off.
"But a certain five-star good citizen of New Eridu, acting in the name of justice, unexpectedly dragged me into this. After an unforgettable experience, I was simply forced to work overtime."
Listening to her mildly resentful reply, Heili recalled the entire process of Grace forcibly locking the female officer in her grasp and apologized:
"This was beyond my foresight. Nor did I expect that woman to show no regard for thy office. Thy ordeal was my fault. I can make amends to thee."
Qingyi said, "Never mind. Settling disputes is part of my job. There's nothing to apologize for.
"That lady named Grace, though-she seems to have a particular fondness for machinery."
Heili said, "Indeed. That woman pursued me for dozens of li. Her obsession runs deep."
"Oh, Senior Qingyi, aren't you off today? What are you doing here? And who's this beside you?"
Just then, a female officer entered the office.
She wore an officer's administrative uniform fitted with tactical accessories on her upper body, paired with close-fitting combat trousers that allowed greater mobility. She also carried the Riot Suppressor k22 advanced launcher, custom-made by Public Security for elite officers.
She was none other than Zhu Yuan, leader of the Janus Precinct's Criminal Investigation Special Response Team, an elite officer renowned for her rigor and efficiency, who had perfectly closed every case she took on and whom her fellow officers regarded as a candidate for future commissioner.
"Oh, Zhu Yuan, you're back. Let me introduce you two. This is Heili, a friend of mine.
"Heili, this is Zhu Yuan, leader of the Criminal Investigation Special Response Team. She's my team leader too, and quite the rising star in Public Security."
Heili sucked up the last of his nearly empty milk tea in one gulp, rose, and shook Zhu Yuan's hand.
"I am Heili. A pleasure to meet thee, Officer Zhu Yuan."
Zhu Yuan said, "Hello, Mr. Heili."
After the introductions, Qingyi briefly told Zhu Yuan what had happened to her and Heili.
Qingyi said, "That's what happened, but there's nothing left for me to do. Now I'm just chatting with him about everyday things and waiting to clock out."
Zhu Yuan said, "I see. I never imagined you and Mr. Heili would encounter something like that, Senior Qingyi."
Heili said, "Fortune was indeed unkind today, squandering my precious hours."
Qingyi said, "I don't think it's a big deal. Luck turns sour sometimes, that's all. Zhu Yuan, it's almost time for us to clock out. Start packing up. Tomorrow's your day off."
Zhu Yuan said, "All right, I'll go get my things in order and submit a few reports to Chief Bringer while I'm at it. It won't take long. Please carry on chatting, Senior."
As Heili watched Zhu Yuan return to her workstation to organize her things, his gaze swept over the commendation banners and awards on the wall once more.
He couldn't help remarking to Qingyi:
"Time flies like a shuttle, like a white steed flashing past a gap. Before, I paid no heed to the circumstances of thy work. Yet now, having observed thy colleague's words, deeds, and achievements, I am certain she is no ordinary person."
Qingyi said, "Indeed. I told you she's a rising star in Public Security. Her future is boundless. Oh, right, there's actually something else I'm rather curious about."
Heili said, "Oh? What dost thou wonder?"
Qingyi pointed at the shopping bag Heili had been holding all along. "I'm just curious what sort of books you usually read. I've noticed you've held on to that thing the entire time. Judging by the outlines, they seem to be books.
"I vaguely remember that when we spoke before, you weren't interested in many kinds of books. You called them dull things, as I recall."
"Well... I suddenly recall another matter. I shall take my leave."
Momentarily at a loss for words, Heili suddenly announced that he had something to attend to and said goodbye. Then he strode away, leaving the place as though fleeing.
Watching Heili's departing figure, Qingyi puzzled over his reaction.
"What an unusual reaction. Even if it's a private interest, there's no need to flee at the first hint of trouble, is there? Could those books really be something he can't let anyone see? Hmm..."
As Heili walked out of the police station's main entrance, he passed Koleda, who had hurried over, then headed straight toward the black private car that had been waiting by the roadside for some time. Two of his own Iron Guards in suits stood beside it.
An Iron Guard respectfully opened the rear door for Heili, then took the military greatcoat he had removed, folded it briefly, and tucked it into the trunk.
Heili got into the car. Only after the Iron Guard started driving did he finally open his purchases, unable to wait any longer.
They were indeed books-comic books, in fact. Their covers were pink, and the title was "The Magical Girl's Hollow Legend."
If anyone outside his household found out that this was the sort of thing he liked to read, he might truly decide to stop concerning himself with worldly affairs.
Still, that wasn't the only reason Heili had left in such a hurry. His allotted time off outside had also come to an end, and he had timed his car ride back to the manor accordingly.