CHAPTER 389: ARC 6, CHAPTER 5: CONSULTANT

"There was a dragon, a whole dragon! And I couldn’t get one good shot of it!"

"It was a shapeshifter Alicia, not an actual dragon," Fumeko replied. "And that’s how you greet people at the door?"

"Not unless you’re the tax collector," she uttered as she pulled the door open to usher the brunette in.

"What?" Fumeko squinted as she stepped foot into Alicia’s apartment. It was relatively small, but cozy best fit the scene before her.

Her footsteps made but two clacks on the wood before it was met by pinkish-white high-pile rugs that decorated every inch of the floor. Fumeko took off her shoes and set it on the rack by the side as Alicia shut the door behind her.

Sinking a few centimetres into the carpeting, Alicia walked ahead and invited Fumeko in proper. "Considering you didn’t get injured, I’m surprised you’re not out there trying to find something to write about."

Alicia put a hand out, "Y’think they’ll let me anywhere near this sorta thing? The amount’a restrictions they have has my hands bound, legs tied and eyes taped shut."

"As if that ever stopped you."

"Ooo, y’know me well little detective~ I was going ’round town, picking up any scoops I could find before you rang."

A long velvet sofa, infested by throw pillows of various hues, sizes and designs, sat facing the window on the other side of the room.

Beside the window was a small round table with two chairs and potted plant that gave way to look out of the 4th floor of the building and onto the street below.

Behind a chair, the oven was shut while a kettle steamed on the open stove. "Sorry I stopped you," Fumeko responded. "Could’ve used more useful information."

"I was already at’home by the’time you called me, so no harm done. Didn’t think you’d come by for’a friendly visit considering everything that happened yesterday."

Fumeko crossed her arms, "Who knows. Maybe I wanna go out on the town tonight."

"Oh? Well plans can be arranged little detective, the option’s not off the table yet-"

"I was kidding," she said cheerlessly.

"Were you though~?" Alicia held a hand on her own waist and cocked her head to the side.

"..."

"Alright, alright, make yourself comfortable, I’ll get us some tea. Want anything to bite?" Alicia ambled over to the stove.

"I’ll eat anything," Fumeko took a seat on the sofa.

"I believe that," Alicia chuckled and picked up the kettle with a cloth. She wore nothing more than a pair of blue shorts and a loose white t-shirt as she began making tea.

Fumeko looked around the room. Dozens of records were stuffed in a short shelf next to a gramophone at the end of the sofa’s arm. On top of the radiator were a few plants; some were yellowing while others seemed healthy.

An alcove led towards two doors, presumably the bathroom and Alicia’s bedroom, to which the door was ajar. Pressed up against the side of the alcove was a desk.

To little surprise, it was crowded by all sorts of papers and articles—from files to notebooks. Clippings of various news pieces and photographs were stuck onto the wall behind the desk, all the way up to the ceiling somehow.

Besides the mess of papers and pens, were various small tools and three different cameras—only one that Fumeko recognized, being the one Alicia usually had on her; the other two seemed older.

By the time she could discern more or look at the radio on the coffee table, Alicia approached her with a few biscuits popped onto a plate and two cups of freshly brewed black tea.

Fumeko took the cup and saucer in hand, "Thought you’d be living in a bigger house."

"With a reporter’s salary?" Alicia raised a brow as she took a seat next to the brunette, facing her.

"Aren’t you supposed to be famous?"

"I’m flattered y’think that. But there’s more potential in anonymity; there’s a reason my name’s in small text on the papers y’know. Can’t really get’a good scoop and do what I do if the whole of Burnetrout knew me, now can I?"

"Fair enough, but fame can get you a lot more places," Fumeko’s eyes darted to her tea and she took a sip.

"That’s why y’gotta know the right people. Having someone else have the fame t’get you there is enough. Besides, what am I gonna do in’a bigger house all by my lonesome?

Fancy equipment’s pricy—fancy information’s pricier if y’want everything t’go over smoothly. And here I am, giving you the information free’a charge, just for you little detective," Alicia beamed brightly.

"Yeah, yeah," Fumeko took a few biscuits. "So?"

Alicia sipped her tea. "The detective up top’s trying t’smooth things over. The GAS have the entire scene surrounded, alongside the pigs; no traces left behind by the escapees.

Interrogations of the caught cultists amounted to as much as you’d expect."

"Nothing?"

"Didn’t let out so much as a peep."

"The blood of one of the new gods must’ve been injected into them before they even attacked. I’m not sure which one, but I feel like Ambrose might just fit the bill," Fumeko pondered.

"Then there’s the bullet."

The brunette faced Alicia, "The bullet?"

"Top secret—or so they say. Apparently a type’a bullet for the magic lot. Mage-piercers they call it, but still in the experimental phase of the GAS. It’s meant to break through enchantments and protections. Who knows how the cult got their hands on it."

"Who knows?"

Alicia smiled.

Fumeko tilted her head once.

"I can string up’a few stories I’m sure. You can bet there’s been some infiltrations by the cult nobody knew about."

Fumeko stared.

"Don’t look at me that suspiciously now detective~ I’ll let’cha know when I get something more concrete," Alicia took a sip of her tea.

"Can’t give away all your secrets and contacts," Fumeko uttered and set her empty cup aside.

"Don’t worry I’m not hiding anything; I’m on your side, just don’t want you t’get any bright ideas and muck about with my sources." Alicia pouted, "I need t’keep them around for any future scoop."

"I get it," Fumeko grumbled. "For the record, I wouldn’t’ve messed around and confronted any of your contacts directly."

"Sure you wouldn’t; well, maybe not you specifically," Alicia took a biscuit off the- "Your father wasn’t kidding ’bout the appetite," it was the last one there.

"I need food to think," she defended.

"Here’s some food for thought then; a lot of those bullets were specifically found by where the grand alderman was."

Fumeko furrowed her brows.

"Interesting innit?"

"They knew people with magic would be present, but if they were trying to assassinate the grand alderman, any bullet should do."

"It’s not unlikely Lady Pinberry was wearing enchanted attire or had magical protection. Makes sense considering the event no?"

"I guess," Fumeko held a hand to her chin; she then sighed. "I feel like I have nothing to go on. We don’t even know what the cult wants to do next, we’re sitting ducks. I don’t even know what to think."

Seeing the frustrated brunette, Alicia let out a chuckle and folded one leg onto her sofa, "Just think. Don’t try to find the right answer, just keep asking stupid questions till something bites. Just go through every ridiculous possibility."

The cult’s next move... Maybe there was some clue they missed, something they could use? Maybe it was in something Ambrose said; maybe there’s something southwards? Just some lead would be-

Fumeko’s eyes bubbled open wide, "Feather."

_

Kineko cheered as Asobi drew illusory letters that danced on the child’s homework. Meanwhile, Jotou and Hotaru were finishing up their late breakfast at the dining table. The door opened up and in came Kazuo, somewhat tired it seemed.

"How’s everything going?" Jotou got up from her chair.

Kazuo tossed some files onto the table, which Hotaru grabbed. "I don’t know how to answer that kid. Regardless, everyone’s been pardoned for the acts of vigilantism by the Grand Alderman herself. So including some damages to the courthouse, you’re off the hook—barely."

"About the cult I meant."

"I’m sure there’s some trace, maybe not physical. Magic isn’t my forte, so any sort of mana detection has to come from the government." Kazuo sat down.

Jotou crossed her arms, "Convenient excuse. Even so Mr Namora, you’re way too feverish about the cult to not have anything to go on," she peered downwards.

"Jotou," Hotaru looked from reading.

"I’m not wrong am I?" Jotou turned to look at Kazuo. "Even then, Fumeko can look into more magical detective work if need be."

"They have Mrs Aetherton, I think they’ll be fine."

He put a hand up to his temple, "Magic came easy to her, but she never really focused much of her effort in that direction. Morgana knows as much about magic as I do, which is not to say nothing, but."

Kazuo sighed, "Regardless, you’re not granted permission to spearhead or collaborate on any sort of official investigation into the Deuctus Cult. That being said, Lady Pinberry hasn’t restricted you from any sort of actions either."

"And what exactly does that mean for us? Does she want us to work on it or not?" Jotou queried.

"I think she wants you to help of your own volition," he answered. "The four of you are still registered members of the Adventurers Guild.

Adventurers are more archaic here in North End, but it does give you some freedom to act when danger is close or when chaos like the courthouse happens.

The only grey area is the fact that the cult’s a state problem, not a monster or a commission from the guild; once it’s in the country’s hands, any sort of investigation or jurisdiction is no longer on you—at all."

Jotou tightened her lips, "Like I care about that when something like yesterday can happen again."

"I understand kid, I do. I don’t want the entire government body to come crashing down and only then you’re allowed to help. There are such things as civilian consultants. Do what you want and keep your heads low; you’ll figure something out."

Hotaru breathed out, "Thank you for the support, but I’m more worried for Burnetrout. News of this can’t be slowed down. We’re people with power, we should do something.

We don’t even know when or how the cult might show up again; what if, they attack somewhere else and we can’t be there? Sorry, it’s just my thoughts," Hotaru voiced.

Jotou uncrossed her arms, "Can you at least tell us where they might attack next? If you have a theory anyway."

Kazuo massaged the bridge of his nose, "Could be a hundred places kid. To know their most likely target, I’d need to know their most probable objective."

"Well, their first objective was getting Ambrose out of there by any means necessary while adding dramatic flair. I don’t like the idea that we got tricked into revealing their presence, but I do think they just took advantage of it.

There were so many other ways to reveal their presence using the evidence Fumeko got. Hell, they could’ve handed it anonymously to the police if they wanted to."

"I don’t follow. They have a pension for the dramatic, it makes sense weirdly enough," Hotaru argued.

The blonde knitted her brows, "Really? I get that maybe the greatest detective in Burnetrout could get his hands on it and sniff out their plan, but same thing would’ve happened, just a different way. Their actions seem calculated, but it feels brash."

"That’s just the cult. Regardless, a title is just a title kid, I’d think you’d know a lot about that. I still need things to go off of and I can’t be sure I would’ve figured it out; high likelihood though."

"Very humble."

"Their objective... Brash..." Kazuo’s eyes darted around as he faced the floor. A hand got closer till he held it to his chin and his eyes widened bit by bit.

"What?"

The chair screeched back as Kazuo got up, "I’m gonna have to ask you to watch Kineko for me a bit longer, I need to head to the Dolpool Police Department."

Not even a few seconds later, he was rushing out the front door, not explaining anything while Kineko and Asobi by the coffee table looked back in confusion, before continuing to do what they were doing.

Jotou and Hotaru scrambled to follow, but were too puzzled to do so. "Is Meko still at Alicia’s?" Jotou hurried for the phone.

"Probably; what’re you doing? Stop!" Hotaru caught up and grabbed Jotou’s wrists, just as Jotou was about to pick up the phone.

Jotou glanced to her held wrist, "We gotta let Meko know and check where she is."

"You’d be calling and tipping off a mouthpiece of the city, don’t," her ears bristled.

"Hotaru-!"

"Think for a second, Kineko’s right here and the cult knows our faces; we’re definitely targets. Someone needs to look after her too and nobody’s more qualified than us in this instance. Let’s just listen to what he said.

We’ll keep our heads low and we’ll let him investigate. We can ask him later and I’m sure he’ll tell us anything he found; if he doesn’t, I’ll make sure he does. Okay?" Hotaru lowered her head.

Jotou paused to stare for a moment... "Meko still-"

Hotaru’s ears spiked up more, "She will leap into the problem too. Let her have her time, we don’t need to go take action when no one’s asking us to. Okay?" she asked again, her eyes wide open.

...

...

Jotou relaxed her hand. "Fine," she exhales.

Hotaru let go of the blonde’s wrist, "Thank you."

"You’re scared aren’t you," Jotou stated without a pause.

Hotaru curled up her fingers... and looked away.

"About me? About all of us?"

"Maybe..."

Hotaru was taken into a soft hug from the blonde. Jotou sighed, "I’ll be patient."

The redhead hugged back, "Thank you."