Morning sunlight poured through the windows of Malfoy's bar.
The building was quiet.
For once.
No police.
No gunshots.
No alarms.
Just the sound of birds outside and the occasional creak of wooden floorboards.
Upstairs—
Saito slowly opened his eyes.
He sat up on his bed.
Then stretched his arms.
"Ahhhh..."
Several joints popped.
"That feels good."
He got out of bed.
Adjusted his scarf.
And headed downstairs.
The smell of fresh tea greeted him immediately.
At one of the tables sat Kaito.
Calmly drinking from a cup.
Meanwhile, behind the counter, Malfoy was organizing bottles and preparing for the day.
Saito smiled.
"Good morning."
Kaito looked up.
"Morning."
Malfoy also smiled.
"Good morning, Sir Saito."
Saito waved a hand.
"You don't need to call me sir."
Malfoy chuckled.
"I'll think about it."
Saito grabbed a chair and sat down beside Kaito.
Then accepted a cup of tea from Malfoy.
The warmth felt nice.
He took a sip.
Then leaned back.
"Another morning with no chaos."
Kaito slowly lowered his cup.
"...You just cursed us."
Saito frowned.
"What?"
Malfoy laughed.
Kaito shook his head.
"Every time you say something like that, something happens."
Saito pointed at him.
"That's not true."
Before Kaito could answer—
a loud crash echoed from upstairs.
BANG!
Followed by a familiar voice.
"Owwww!"
Then another voice.
"Watch where you're going!"
Saito stared at the ceiling.
Kaito stared at the ceiling.
Malfoy stared at the ceiling.
A moment later—
Rin came tumbling down the stairs.
Followed by Bomb.
And behind them—
Fanny was arguing with both of them.
"You almost crushed me!"
Rin pointed back.
"Then stop standing in the middle of the hallway!"
Bomb simply sighed.
Saito looked at Kaito.
Kaito took another sip of tea.
"I rest my case."
Saito groaned.
"...Fine."
"Maybe a little chaos."
Meanwhile—
at the Jaha Town Police Base.
The atmosphere was far quieter than it had been the past few days.
Captain Norway sat behind his desk.
Several files were spread across the table.
Most of them were reports related to Matthew's corruption case.
Norway rubbed his forehead.
Then flipped another page.
A knock suddenly came from the door.
Knock. Knock.
"Enter."
The door opened.
A woman in police uniform stepped inside.
Sakura.
Norway's sergeant.
She saluted.
"Captain."
Norway didn't look up from the paperwork.
"What is it?"
Sakura hesitated.
Then spoke.
"We have a special guest coming to this base."
That got Norway's attention.
He looked up.
"A special guest?"
Sakura nodded.
"Yes."
Norway leaned back in his chair.
"Who?"
Sakura took a breath.
Then answered.
"Lieutenant Jirin."
For the first time all morning—
Norway looked genuinely shocked.
"...What?"
Sakura nodded again.
"Lieutenant Jirin."
Norway immediately stood up from his chair.
The paperwork was forgotten.
"What is he doing here?"
Sakura shook her head.
"No information."
"He only sent a notice that he would arrive today."
Norway frowned.
That made no sense.
Jirin wasn't the type to travel without a reason.
Especially not to a small town like Jaha.
Norway crossed his arms.
"This can't be good."
Sakura gave an awkward smile.
"I thought you would say that."
Norway looked toward the window.
His expression becoming serious.
A lieutenant visiting personally meant one thing.
Something important was happening.
And knowing his luck—
it would somehow involve trouble.
The same trouble wearing a blue scarf.
Inside the prison cells beneath the Jaha Town Police Base—
Matthew sat against the wall.
His squad occupied the neighboring cells.
The silence was broken only by Matthew's muttering.
"Damn Blue Scarf..."
"Damn Norway..."
One of his men sighed.
"We're finished, Captain."
Matthew slammed a fist against the bars.
"We're not finished!"
Footsteps echoed through the corridor.
Clack. Clack. Clack.
Matthew looked up.
Captain Norway stopped in front of the cell.
Matthew frowned.
"What are you here for?"
Norway answered calmly.
"Unfortunately..."
"You'll be transferred to headquarters for your punishment."
Matthew's face went pale.
"What?"
"No..."
He stepped closer to the bars.
"Please, Norway."
"There has to be another way."
Norway slowly shook his head.
"There isn't."
"You made your choices, Matthew."
"Now you face the consequences."
Another set of footsteps echoed through the corridor.
Heavier.
Slower.
Every officer in the hallway immediately stood straighter.
An elderly man entered.
He had broad shoulders despite his age.
A long white beard.
Sharp eyes.
The room fell completely silent.
Matthew's eyes widened.
"...Lieutenant Jirin?"
The old man stopped in front of the cell.
He looked Matthew up and down.
"So."
"You're the corrupt one."
Matthew lowered his head.
"...Damn it."
Behind Jirin stood several officers.
Unlike the others—
each of them wore a faint yellow rope tied over one shoulder as part of their uniform.
They waited silently for their command.
Jirin didn't waste another word.
He simply looked at his squad.
"Take him away."
"Yes, sir."
The officers unlocked the cell.
Matthew and the rest of his squad were pulled to their feet.
One by one—
they were escorted out of the prison corridor.
Matthew didn't resist.
He knew it was over.
Norway watched silently as they disappeared down the hallway.
Jirin stood beside him.
Without taking his eyes off the departing prisoners, he asked,
"So..."
"This is the case you've been handling?"
Norway nodded once.
"Yes, sir."
Jirin remained silent.
His expression unreadable.
Jirin watched Matthew and his men disappear down the hallway.
Then he stretched his shoulders.
"Well."
"Let's have some tea."
Norway nodded.
"Yes, sir."
Inside Norway's office—
A kettle rested on the table between them.
Steam rose gently from two cups.
Jirin picked up his tea.
Took a slow sip.
Then let out a long sigh.
"Man..."
"HQ keeps getting on my nerves."
Norway calmly sipped his own tea.
"Well, sir."
"You always make sudden decisions during missions."
"And you rarely follow HQ's procedures."
Jirin shrugged.
"Those procedures are too slow."
He took another sip.
"When people are in danger, I move."
"I don't wait for someone sitting behind a desk to stamp a piece of paper."
Norway smiled faintly.
"I expected that answer."
Jirin chuckled.
"They've been trying to lecture me for years."
"But every time I ignore them..."
He pointed at Norway with his teacup.
"...the mission gets finished."
Norway couldn't argue with that.
"That's true."
Jirin leaned back in his chair.
"Besides."
"If I listened to every order from HQ..."
"I would've retired years ago."
Norway shook his head with a small smile.
"They're probably saying the same thing about you."
Jirin laughed loudly.
"Hahaha!"
"I hope they are."
The office fell quiet again as both men continued drinking their tea.
Norway took another sip of his tea.
Then looked at Jirin.
"I'm surprised you haven't retired yet."
"Like Lieutenant Harold."
Jirin chuckled.
"Well..."
"Harold had to return and take care of his homeland."
He smiled into his cup.
"But me?"
He shrugged.
"I don't think I'm ready for this retirement thing yet."
Norway nodded.
"That sounds like you."
Jirin's eyes wandered around the office.
They eventually stopped on a wanted poster pinned to the wall.
Blue Scarf Saito.
He stared at it for a few moments.
"Hmm..."
Norway noticed.
"What are you looking at?"
Jirin looked away.
"Nothing."
He placed his teacup on the table.
Then asked casually,
"So..."
"Where's Blue Scarf Saito now?"
Norway answered without hesitation.
"At a bar on the outskirts."
"I'm just waiting for him to make another move."
Jirin nodded slowly.
"I see."
He stood up.
Adjusted his coat.
"Okay."
"Then I'll be off to see him."
Norway looked up.
"You going to arrest him?"
Jirin smiled faintly.
"Maybe."
Then he walked toward the door.
Before leaving, he paused for just a second.
Without turning around, he said,
"Sometimes..."
"The easiest way to understand someone..."
"...is to meet them yourself."
The office door closed behind him.
Click.
Norway remained seated, staring at the closed door.
"...He's planning something."
He knew Jirin well enough to recognize that tone.
Whenever the old lieutenant said "maybe"—
it almost never meant maybe.