Whether bumping into Rope was good luck or bad, Hoshiguma wasn't entirely sure. But one thing was certain: her rare opportunity to get some fresh air was officially over.
The recent incidents in Lungmen had kept the L.G.D. so busy that even the front-desk service staff had their leaves canceled. Everyone had entered a state of extreme emergency. To ensure no one else could infiltrate the L.G.D., Hoshiguma had even begun living at the station since yesterday, ensuring at least one Inspector was present if anything happened.
"Big Sis Hoshiguma, what brings you here today? I'll tell you what—I actually earned some money today! How about I treat you to a meal?"
Rope hadn't expected to run into Hoshiguma either. She was eager to share the joy of receiving her first sum of money that wasn't "stolen goods," wanting to repay Hoshiguma for her long-term, selfless care. In the past, since her money was mostly ill-gotten, she never dared mention it.
But this time was different. Although the day started with an attempted theft, the money was earned through a day's work. Even if it involved a bit of pity from Jeanne, to Rope, this was her first "clean" paycheck.
"I'll have to pass on that. Come back to the station with me first. Once we're done, I can be the one to treat you to dinner."
Hoshiguma was curious about how the girl had "earned" money, but she remembered her mission. Whatever questions she had would have to wait until the task was finished.
"Eh! Big Sis, I really didn't steal it this time! While the start of the day was questionable, this money is clean! I truly got it through legitimate means!" Rope explained frantically, assuming Hoshiguma thought she was being arrested for theft.
"I know. I'm bringing you in to understand the situation. You just witnessed a brutal gang clash, didn't you?"
At those words, Rope went quiet and nodded, obediently hopping onto the back of the motorcycle bound for the L.G.D.
"Why do I still have to go to the police station today of all days!" she lamented.
"By the way, there was someone else with you, right? Why are you alone now? Where did your companion go?" Hoshiguma recalled Swire mentioning a platinum-blonde girl.
"Ah, you mean Miss Jeanne? She just wanted to walk around the slums. I earned my money by being her tour guide for the half-day! She should be on her way to Forest Road now."
Jeanne? Hoshiguma hadn't expected such a coincidence. She fit the description of a platinum-blonde woman perfectly, but why would someone who just arrived in Lungmen dive straight into the slums? If she were a tourist, shouldn't she be at Pacific Place or some landmark? Diving into the slums was... suspicious.
However, Hoshiguma didn't head to Forest Road immediately. How to handle Jeanne would depend on Ch'en's opinion. She hoped Ch'en would be back by the time they reached the station.
Meanwhile, Jeanne had arrived at Lin's Candy Shop on Forest Road. It was an elegantly decorated store. To be honest, opening such a shop here felt like a waste; had it been moved to a busy commercial street, the antique décor alone would have drawn crowds.
Although the door was unlocked, the shop was empty. The owner seemed incredibly carefree, leaving high-end candy—a luxury item these days—unattended. One might think they'd be worried about being looted by gangs. But then again, when the owner is the mob boss himself, no idiot would dare rob the place. As for petty theft, the owner likely wouldn't care about a few missing candies.
Seeing no one, Jeanne walked in to wait, browsing the selection of sweets.
"I didn't expect a customer to arrive the moment I stepped away. My apologies. This old man was just out handling some business. See anything you like? I'll give you a discount."
Before long, an elderly voice came from behind. A man-sized giant rat walked out from the back room. In Terra's terms, this was a rare "Ancestral" individual. To Jeanne, however, this gentleman looked remarkably like Master Splinter from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Aside from the fur color, there was almost no difference.
Knowing that he and his syndicate were intimately familiar with Lungmen's sewer systems, the TMNT vibes only got stronger. Jeanne looked at the back door, half-expecting four turtles dressed as Higashi ninjas to hop out at any moment.
"What is it, guest? Ah, my appearance is just a bit 'Ancestral.' I am still of the Zalak race."
Lin Gerui saw Jeanne staring silently. Given her hair color—a rarity in Yan—he assumed she was a traveler shocked by his appearance. Upon seeing her platinum-blonde hair, he realized this was the "troublesome individual" his subordinates had reported. He hadn't expected her to arrive so quickly.
Jeanne, meanwhile, was observing the Rat King. This cane-wielding elder looked far more withered than someone his age should. She wondered if it was from overwork or something else, but he looked nothing like the spirited Rat King she had seen in Talulah's memories.
How many years had it been? How did that energetic man become this? He looked like he had aged thirty years in a fraction of that time. Was it a side effect of his "Ancestral" nature, or simply because rats have shorter lifespans?
The Rat King saw the slip of paper, confirming Jeanne was the one. He turned and signaled for her to follow him into the back. They passed through a short corridor leading to his home. This was his most frequent residence among his many properties, and the most heavily fortified.
Many of the non-load-bearing walls and the flooring were infused with massive amounts of sand. Coupled with the Rat King's unique Originium Arts, this was his ultimate home-field advantage.
Jeanne knew all of this because she had seen it through Talulah's memories of her childhood in Lungmen. However, this familiarity raised the Rat King's suspicions. He noticed the girl seemed remarkably comfortable with the path to his home—was it a special ability?
His secret passage was filled with traps; one wrong step could result in being buried alive by sand. The current path had a layer of very fine sand on the ground to prevent them from triggering traps by mistake. He wasn't even walking on the "correct" path, yet every step Jeanne took behind him was precisely right!
He didn't speak, simply continuing to lead the way. After several tests, he was certain she knew the way to his home, as she never once hesitated. Soon, they emerged into a modestly decorated house that looked much like the one in Talulah's memories.
"Now that you're here, please have a seat. My subordinates were incompetent, forcing you to make this trip. Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Lin Gerui. Friends on the streets give me face and call me the Rat King."