After failing to find a hotel, Fiona and Cossette coincidentally met Jade, who had to return because of the clock tower. Jade helped them find a place to sleep and rest, at the home of a friend of hers named Naomi, a model.
Naomi: "So, my name is Naomi Petit. I'm 22 years old, a model and an actress. People also call me Diamond Blue. You're welcome to stay here, but please keep things quiet when I come back."
Fiona: "I understand. Thank you very much."
Cossette: "Thank you very much."
Naomi: "You're welcome, but…"
Jade: "Psst… Fiona…"
Fiona: "Yes?"
Jade: "Be careful… Naomi is an actress, yes, but she's known for appearing in films with a lot of… well… naughty things."
Fiona: "I think I should reconsider staying here. I don't want Cossette to be corrupted."
Jade: "No no, it's just bodies and stuff… nothing too bad."
Fiona: "I also don't want Cossette doing things like that… anyway… she'll stay with me the whole time."
Jade: "Like I said, she likes wearing light outfits, lightly covered clothes, nothing more. Her family is known for things like that. Her father had nine different children from eight different women."
Fiona: "Huh?"
Cossette: "Oh… isn't that a lot?"
Jade: "Anyway… she's nice. Maybe a bit strange, but she's nice. I have to go now. Goodbye, Fiona. Goodbye, little Cossette."
She left the house. Naomi returned.
Naomi: "I'm back."
Fiona: "Ugh…"
Cossette: "Ugh…"
She was wearing a crop top and short pants.
Fiona: "Well… that's okay… at least for now."
Cossette: "She's so pretty…"
Naomi: "Alright, my dears… upstairs there's a room where you can sleep. It's not cramped. And by the way, Fiona…"
Fiona: "Oh… yes?"
Naomi: "You're very beautiful, you know that?"
Naomi held Fiona's cheeks.
Naomi: "Oh dear… I touched your cheeks. You're really beautiful. Say, are you interested in becoming an actress?"
Fiona: "No."
Naomi: "You could become famous. You'd just have to show more skin… midriff… and more…"
Fiona: "Thank you, I'll pass. I'm not interested in that. Where can I put my hat?"
Naomi: "Just leave it on the table there."
Fiona: "Thank you very much."
She left it there.
Naomi: "Little Cossette, are you hungry?"
Cossette: "Uh…"
Naomi: "No need to be shy."
Cossette became nervous. Naomi was also wearing a sleeveless outfit, and from the back you could almost see her entire back.
Fiona: "Hmm… it's okay, Cossette. Answer her."
Cossette: "Blushes… yes."
Naomi: "Oh my, you're so cute. How old are you?"
Cossette: "Twelve."
Naomi: "Older than I thought. I thought you were ten."
Cossette: "Well, I only turned twelve two weeks ago."
Fiona: "Hmm?"
Naomi: "I see. Since you're hungry, I'll bring you some food. But then I have to leave, unfortunately, for a photo shoot for my modeling job."
Fiona: "Okay, thank you very much."
Cossette: "Thank you very much."
Naomi: "You're welcome."
They went upstairs. The room was actually quite nice. The window looked directly outside, between the city and the forest. There was one bed and a few paintings of plants and castles.
Fiona: "Okay… how about we rest for a bit first?"
Cossette: "Okay… but there's only one bed."
Fiona: "That's no problem. You sleep there, I'll sleep on the sofa."
Cossette: "What… no. Then I'll sleep on the sofa. You have work."
Fiona: "Hahh… alright then. Let's both sleep next to each other in the bed."
Cossette: "Oh… okay."
They lay down on the bed, Cossette next to Fiona.
Cossette: "Mmm…"
Before that, Cossette took off her jacket. Fiona also changed into the pajamas she always carries with her.
Fiona: "Cossette… remind me to buy you pajamas."
Cossette: "Mhm… okay."
They pulled the blanket over themselves and closed their eyes. Cossette fell asleep immediately.
Fiona: "Hmm…"
Cossette: "Hhhh…"
Fiona: "Hmm?"
Cossette slept deeply and peacefully. Fiona looked at her and gently stroked her head.
Fiona: "Hmm… warm…"
A few hours later
Fiona woke up and needed to get something to drink.
Fiona: "Hahhh… yawns… ugh…"
Naomi: "Well, that was quite a night. Goodbye, you two."
Unknown man: "Goodbye."
Unknown man: "Goodbye."
Fiona: "Sweats… Please don't tell me this is what I think it is."
Naomi: "Oh… Fiona… is that you? What are you doing here?"
Fiona: "Getting water."
Naomi: "Okay…"
Fiona: "Who were those two?"
Naomi: "Hic… you know… long workdays… one wants to… hic… relax… hic… I think you know what happened here… hic…"
Fiona: "Sweats… I really need to keep Cossette far away from this woman. This is truly indecent and disgusting. You do realize there's a child here, right?"
Naomi: "No worries… hic… I kept my mouth shut…"
Fiona: "Confused… Ugh… what… what are you doing in there… wait… I don't want to know."
Naomi: "Hic… ahh… I'm going to sleep now. Good night, dear Fiona… hic… burp… fart."
Fiona: "Uh… good night…"
Naomi went back inside.
Naomi: "Hahhh…"
She lay down on the bed.
Naomi: "Hmm…"
There was a drink in front of her.
Naomi: "Ghhhh…"
She grabbed the glass and smashed it.
Naomi: "Hahhh… how pathetic… there's a child here and I'm doing things like this… damn drugs… and beer…"
Naomi stood up.
Naomi: "Hmm…"
She looked up.
Naomi: "Arthur…"
The next day
Fiona: "Ugh… huh?"
She stood up.
Fiona: "Time to work… hey, Cossette…"
Cossette: "Hmm…"
Fiona: "Hmm…"
She stood up and put on her work outfit, the Victorian dress, and her jacket. She took the tie and tied it.
Fiona: "Cossette…"
Cossette: "Hmm…"
Fiona: "I'd like to let you sleep longer, but leaving you alone with Naomi… Cossette…"
Cossette opened her eyes.
Fiona: "Get up. We have work to do. Since you wanted to come with me, you'll have to come along."
Cossette: "Sorry… I slept a long time."
Fiona: "No problem. You're a child. Sleep is important. I'd like to leave you here to rest, but Naomi isn't someone you can trust with children."
Cossette: "But she's nice…"
Fiona: "Nice, but strange. Come on, put on your dress. We're going to the police station."
Cossette: "But will they just let us snoop around?"
Fiona: "Well, I have a detective ID. When I worked for the Dark Umbrella, I got one. And I also have one that has nothing to do with the Dark Umbrella. The exams had to be taken in other places too, like the Seibert School in Weimar."
Cossette: "You were there?"
Fiona: "Yes, six years ago. I also took an exam there. Meliodas advised me to have a detective pass not tied to the Dark Umbrella. It seems he knew I would leave someday."
Cossette: "Who is Meliodas? He sounds nice, even though he works for the Dark Umbrella."
Fiona: "He was like a father to me… and to many children who suffered under the Dark Umbrella. He's the reason human experimentation was banned there. Now hurry up a bit. We can eat on the way."
Cossette: "Okay."
After getting dressed, they left the room and went downstairs.
Naomi: "Morning."
Fiona: "Morning."
Cossette: "Oh, food?"
Naomi: "I made food for you… breakfast."
Fiona: "Thanks, but we have to go."
Naomi: "Hmm?"
Cossette: "Fiona… that's not polite."
Fiona: "Hmm?"
Cossette: "She made an effort for us."
She whispered. Fiona sighed.
Fiona: "Alright, alright."
Naomi: "Hehehe…"
They sat down.
Fiona: "Hmm."
Cossette: "Enjoy your meal."
They started eating, but…
Cossette: "Bbbb…"
Fiona: "Ugh… this tastes horrible… gulp… may I ask what this is?"
Naomi: "Well… mayonnaise cake… with fish, plus some vegetables and meat."
Cossette: "Bbbb…"
Fiona: "Another bite of this and we wouldn't be able to work all day… oh, I have an idea. Could you get some water, please?"
Naomi: "Of course."
As soon as she turned around, Fiona took the food and hid it in her hat. Then she took Cossette's food and put it in the hat as well, so Crane and Herold could eat it later.
Fiona: "Good… uh…"
The hat began to move strangely.
Fiona: "Uh…"
Cossette: "Huh?"
Naomi: "Here's the water."
Fiona: "Thank you."
She drank it quickly.
Naomi: "Oh, you already finished eating. Was it that good?"
Fiona: "Yes… very good. So good that I recommend you never cook it again. It could kill someone."
Cossette: "It really could kill someone."
Naomi: "Oh, you're so nice."
Fiona: "We have to go. Thank you for the food."
Cossette: "Thank you."
Naomi: "You're welcome."
They left the house and went to a corner where no one could see them.
Fiona: "Hmm… what's going on with that."
She took out the hat. Mr. Herold and Crane appeared.
Fiona: "Looks like they ate it."
She pulled them out.
Mr. Herold: "Booooah… what on earth is this disaster!"
Crane: "Are you trying to kill us!"
Fiona: "Sorry… I didn't cook it."
Mr. Herold: "Booah… I… I can't breathe… I'm about to soil myself…"
Crane: "Ugh… I'm going to puke… Fiona… please… warn us next time…"
Fiona: "Sweats… Oh no… Mr. Herold, you don't look good at all…"
Mr. Herold: "Ugh… whoever cooked this should go to jail… it's so catastrophically bad that you can't breathe."
Fiona: "By the way, catastrophically isn't a word."
Mr. Herold: "Oh… it tastes like mayonnaise… what the heck is this… did death itself prepare it?"
Fiona: "Hmm?"
Crane: "Tastes like old mayonnaise… urk…"
Fiona: "Yes, Sherlock, it's mayonnaise… green mayonnaise. Looks like it's at least two years old."
Mr. Herold: "And you gave us this!"
Fiona: "I wanted to hide it. You ate it. Not my fault."
Crane: "Oh… a pregnant woman could miscarry if she ate something like this…"
Mr. Herold: "Sniffs… ugh… is that fish in there… I can smell it now… ugh… I can't take this anymore. Is there a toilet?"
Fiona: "There's a public restroom over there. Go there. No one's using it."
Mr. Herold: "Okay…"
Fiona: "Make sure no one sees you."
Mr. Herold: "Okay… ugh… no… this isn't elegant, my backside… how could you… wait a bit… we're almost there…"
Fiona: "Sweats… oh no…"
Cossette: "Hehehe… they're funny. He's talking to his butt."
Fiona: "I feel sorry for them. I'll give them something tasty later."
Cossette: "But it actually tasted good…"
Fiona: "One more bite and we'd be spending the whole day in the toilet."
Cossette: "Mhm."
Fiona: "Come on, let's go to the police station."
They headed toward the police station. On the way, they bought cookies.
Cossette: "Mmm…"
Fiona: "That's definitely better than whatever Naomi cooked."
Meanwhile
Naomi: "Ugh… no wonder they wanted to leave so fast… this tastes awful… bleegh… I really should learn how to cook…"
Ba dum tss
Cossette: "Oh…"
Fiona: "That must be it."
It said Police Station.
Fiona: "Bigger than I expected. The one in Dehl was smaller."
Cossette: "Fiona, you said you completed your detective training in Weimar?"
Fiona: "In Dehl and Weimar. Dehl for the Dark Umbrella, and Weimar in case I ever stopped working there. As I said, Meliodas knew it was a good idea."
Cossette: "I see. Is Weimar nice?"
Fiona: "Hmm? It's definitely better than Dehl. As for Roselande, I'm not sure yet, I've only seen a small part. In the Weimar Realm, there were many things I liked. The food, the people, no executions for anyone under sixteen, which is rare. It's very social. Schools are free there. In Dehl, you aren't allowed private property. Even though the state pays for everything, they can knock on your door and take your house. That doesn't happen in Weimar."
Cossette: "Oh… is there a realm you want to visit someday?"
Fiona: "I'd like to visit Weimar again. Working there would be easy. Some inspectors like Eisenhauer already know me."
Fiona looked at Cossette.
Cossette: "I mean, is there a realm you want to visit that you've never seen?"
Fiona: "Hmm… the Slavic Realm, or Skandinova. It's cold there, but it sounds interesting."
Cossette: "Oh… but I heard it's so cold there that the sea freezes on top. Is that true?"
Fiona: "No, it just snows there. And there's something different. While the kingdoms of Grimmhoth always live in night, it's different in the Slavic Realm. Because of the snow, everything is much clearer. The moonlight makes the snow shine, like natural light."
Cossette: "Wow…"
Fiona: "Weimar lies in an area where several cities are also located. Elversbergen, Eichenheim, and the Wall of Hans Berlin."
Cossette: "Wow…"
Fiona: "After Roselande, I plan to go to Weimar. That's why I'm asking you now. Are you sure you want to keep traveling with me?"
Cossette: "Yes."
Fiona: "Good. Then let's go in."
Fiona: "Remy Thomas sent me to investigate a case. My name is Fiona Househould."
Cossette: "Hmm."
Police Officer: "May I ask why you are here, Miss Fiona Househould?"
Fiona: "Fiona is fine. I'm here about the murder of Damon Giroud. Are there any clues?"
Police Officer: "No… thankfully, a detective finally came again."
Fiona: "What do you mean?"
Police Officer: "Well… the detectives who took the case before immediately dropped it. They didn't want anything to do with it. Remy Thomas sent you, correct? We do know that. May I see your detective pass?"
Cossette: "Here."
Fiona: "Hmm."
Police Officer: "Fiona Househould worked for the Ainsworth family for about a month as a detective who worked with us. I see… so you worked with the Ainsworth family."
Fiona: "Did Mr. Giroud have enemies?"
Police Officer: "Mr. Giroud was reported several times. Abuse of workers, sexual harassment of female employees and even trainees. His company also raised housing costs significantly, causing many people to become homeless. Long story short, he made many people hate him."
Fiona: "I see. When was he murdered?"
Police Officer: "We don't know exactly… but it must have been during the evening midday."
Since Grimmhoth is always night, morning is called evening morning, noon is evening midday, and night is simply night.
Fiona: "I understand. Anything else unusual?"
Police Officer: "Three days before, he called us. He said someone was following him."
Fiona: "Following him?"
Police Officer: "Because of the things he did, he always believed someone wanted revenge. That's why he had so many butlers."
Fiona: "Hmm… I want to see the body. May I?"
Police Officer: "Of course."
They went inside. The police station was almost empty, though there were still a few workers.
Fiona: "Hmm… hello?"
Police Officer: "Oh, hello. How can I help?"
Fiona: "Detective Fiona Househould."
Cossette: "Your name on the card says Househould?"
Fiona: "I changed it before I went to Roselande. Hamilton was my foster parents' name. I replaced it with my biological parents' surname. Do you know why I barely have any money? It costs a fortune."
One month earlier
Elizabeth: "If you really want to continue working as a detective, you need to remove your foster parents' name."
Fiona: "How am I supposed to do that? I'd have to travel back to Weimar."
Elizabeth: "Not necessary. You can just call the Weimar training office. But you'll have to pay a lot."
Fiona: "How much?"
Elizabeth: "Twenty thousand Weimar coins."
Fiona: "That much?"
Elizabeth: "Yes. No problem, I can help you. You helped us, after all. You can pay us back later, take your time. If you want, you'll get a detective pass with your biological parents' surname, Fiona Househould instead of Fiona Hamilton."
Fiona: "I can't thank you enough."
Elizabeth: "Oh, it's fine. You can even take a day off as vacation. I spoke with Eisenhauer. He likes you. He said it's no problem. We already gave him your family name documents. You'll need to visit Weimar eventually. Until then, you can use our name, Ainsworth, to show you worked for us. That will be enough for now."
Back to the present
Police Officer: "Hmm…"
They followed him.
Police Officer: "What confuses us most is the body. Something is wrong with it."
Fiona: "Hmm?"
Cossette: "Hmm."
The door opened.
Fiona: "Cossette, stay here. I'll handle it."
Cossette: "But…"
Fiona: "You're still a child. Seeing a corpse could frighten you, and that would distract me."
Cossette: "Okay…"
She went inside.
Fiona: "Hmm…"
Police Officer: "Alright… here's the body."
He pulled back the sheet.
Fiona: "Ugh… what… it's melting?"
Police Officer: "Exactly. The body has melted in some areas, from the inside. Look at his organs."
Fiona: "As if there was acid in his stomach. How is that possible?"
Police Officer: "Do you think it was magic and not a normal killer?"
Fiona: "Hmm… it's possible magic was used, but for now it's just speculation."
Police Officer: "Hmm."
Fiona: "What's your name?"
Police Officer: "Henry Dubois."
Fiona: "Okay, Henry. Be so kind and leave me alone here for a moment. Bring me a photo of the deceased."
Henry: "A photo? Why do you need a photo?"
Fiona: "It's necessary."
Henry: "But…"
Fiona: "Just do what I say. Trust me."
Henry: "Okay…"
The officer left the room.
Fiona: "The organs… they're melted…"
She opened her eyes.
Fiona: "Eyes frozen in shock. He must have felt the pain."
She opened his mouth.
Fiona: "His tongue isn't melted. So how did it get into his stomach? This is strange. I don't think this is magic."
The officer returned with a photo.
Henry: "Here."
Fiona: "Thank you."
She put it in her pocket.
Fiona: "What I've learned is that he felt the pain, and the tongue wasn't melted, which means he didn't ingest whatever it was. Poison or chemical."
Henry: "Isn't there a way to find out exactly what happened?"
Fiona: "There is. I need a room where I won't be disturbed."
Henry: "Why?"
Fiona: "I have an ability called the Map of the Mysterious. I don't want anyone interrupting me."
Henry: "Okay… there's a room… actually, a building."
Fiona: "A building?"
Henry: "There's an old unused building next to us. No one lives there anymore. It's very old, though."
Fiona: "Hmph."
She held her staff and smiled.
Fiona: "An offer I can't refuse. Lead the way."
Henry: "Alright. And the girl?"
Fiona: "She's coming with us."
The door opened. Cossette was still waiting.
Fiona: "Cossette?"
Cossette: "Here."
Fiona: "Good. Henry, take us to that building."
Henry: "As you wish."
Meanwhile, in a mine
Dong
Mine Worker One: "Hahhh… a break would be really nice, don't you think?"
Mine Worker Two: "Yeah… it would… but where are the others?"
Mine Worker One: "Somewhere over there… wait, I'll call them. Hey… let's take a break."
No answer.
Mine Worker One: "Hello?"
He walked further ahead.
Crash
Mine Worker One: "What… ugh…"
They were petrified bodies.
Mine Worker One: "What is this!"
A figure appeared.
Medusa: "Hrrrrrrrr…"
Mine Worker One: "Ugh!"
Petrified
Mine Worker Two: "Help…"
The snake hair bit into his neck.
Fitch
Mine Worker Two: "Urk…"
He fell to his knees, tried to breathe, but couldn't, and collapsed.
Medusa: "Hrrrrrrrr…"
Meanwhile
Henry led Fiona and Cossette to the building.
Fiona: "Hmm…"
Cossette: "Small."
Henry: "As you can see, it's small. Is it enough?"
Fiona: "It'll do. Better than nothing."
Cossette: "But what are you going to do here?"
Fiona: "Think."
They went inside.
Henry: "Uh… what should I do?"
Fiona: "You can leave or stay nearby. Your choice."
They went further inside.
Cossette: "You're going to use the Map of the Mysterious, aren't you? I know you are. I was with the Dark Umbrella for a few months too."
Fiona: "You've never seen it. It might shock you."
Cossette: "Why didn't the Dark Umbrella look for me when I went missing?"
Fiona: "Because they thought you were dead. I did too. Edwardson kills anyone in his way. He didn't kill you because he wasn't cruel enough to kill a child."
Cossette: "Oh…"
Fiona: "Alright, this place will do."
It was a guest room. Fiona took out her pistol.
Fiona: "Listen carefully. Don't scream. Don't worry. To become a spirit, I have to shoot myself. Don't panic."
Cossette: "Okay."
Fiona: "Good."
She took out the photo. Her left eye moved like a clock hand. She aimed at herself and fired.
Bang
Cossette: "Huh!"
Fiona: "Urk!"
Cossette: "Ugh…"
Fiona collapsed to the floor.
Cossette: "Okay… okay… she said it was necessary."
Fiona returned as a spirit, traveling back to the moment when Damon Giroud was still alive.
Fiona: "Hmm… here I am…"
Damon: "You must listen to me. Someone is after me!"
He shouted. Fiona moved closer.
Police Officer on the phone: "Do you have evidence?"
Damon: "I… I don't have clear evidence, but someone placed a deer's head in front of my door. That can only be a threat. And someone was in my house. I heard it. Someone was looking around!"
Police Officer on the phone: "I'm sorry, Mr. Giroud. That's not enough evidence. You should just move. We have to go now. A family was murdered."
Damon: "What do you mean? I'm Damon Giroud! I'm more important than those damned peasants, those rats. There are plenty of them. You have to protect me. I'm a noble. I'm Damon Giroud, owner of Wolkenhaus. The company that provided housing here, water, electricity. Damn it. I am important!"
Police Officer: "I'm sorry, Mr. Giroud, but our duty is to protect everyone, farmer or noble alike. This is Meltz, not Etienne or Saint Troye. We learned from what we did to Havre Etienne. And don't forget that you once built weapons for Etienne and Saint Troye. From that moment on, we decided not to distinguish between nobles and farmers. If you don't like it, go to Etienne. Goodbye."
Beep beep
Damon Giroud: "Hello… hello! Damn police. I'm Damon Giroud. Why should I care about farmers. Just give them bread and soup and they'll shut up."
He screamed. Fiona was shocked.
Fiona: "No wonder he was so hated. Typical noble. When will you be murdered…"
She waited.
Fiona: "Damn it, hurry. I don't have much time. Only forty minutes left."
Crash
The window shattered.
Damon: "Ugh!"
He fell to the floor.
Fiona: "What!"
Several people in dark clothing and dark masks climbed in.
Damon: "Who are you… oh, I know you. You're that thief organization. The Dark Hoods."
Fiona: "Dark Hoods?"
Dark Hood Member: "For your deeds and the children who cried because of you, you will pay, Damon Gilbert Giroud."
He injected something into his stomach.
Damon: "Urk!"
Fiona: "Injection?"
Damon: "Aaaaargh… what is this?"
Dark Hood Member: "This is a syringe filled with chemicals. It will melt your organs."
He died on the floor.
Fiona: "I see."
Dark Hood Leader: "Let's return."
Dark Hood Member: "What about the daughter?"
Dark Hood Leader: "No. We don't kill innocents. Children shouldn't suffer for their parents' crimes."
They vanished.
Fiona: "I understand. Dark Hoods. I have to go back. I only have twenty minutes left."
She returned to her body.
Fiona: "Ugh… gahhh…"
Cossette: "Oh… Fiona, are you okay?"
Fiona: "Yes, I'm fine."
Henry: "Damn, I was worried."
Fiona looked at Henry.
Fiona: "What are you doing here?"
Henry: "I heard a gunshot."
Fiona: "I see."
Henry: "Were you attacked?"
Fiona: "No, I fell. Otherwise I'd be wounded."
Henry: "Oh… yes, that makes sense."
Fiona: "To solve the case, I need to explain something. I have the ability to become a spirit for an hour by shooting myself."
Henry: "What?"
Fiona: "It's called the Map of the Mysterious."
Henry: "Oh… I've heard of that. Did you find anything?"
Fiona: "Yes. But first, answer me. Who are the Dark Hoods?"
Henry: "What?"
Fiona: "They killed Damon Gilbert Giroud."
Henry: "That… makes sense. They're a group that robs nobles, sometimes kills them, to help the poor. At least that's what they claim. They wear dark outfits and black lilac masks."
Fiona: "I see."
Henry: "What do we do now?"
Fiona: "I want to know exactly why they killed him, and who they really are."
Henry: "That won't be easy."
Fiona: "Urk… ghhh…"
Henry: "What's wrong?"
She held her head.
Fiona: "Damn, my head. I need water."
Cossette: "Ugh…"
Henry: "I'll be right back."
He left and returned a few minutes later with a bottle of water.
Henry: "Here."
Fiona: "Gh…"
She drank it all.
Fiona: "Cough… normally it doesn't hurt this much. I must have stayed in spirit form too long."
Henry: "So there's a limit?"
Fiona: "Yes. One hour at most. The more I use it, the more it hurts when I return."
Henry: "I see."
Fiona: "I need to rest. Cossette, let's take a break for today."
Cossette: "Okay."
Henry: "Rest here a bit. There's no bed, but you can use your jacket for a few minutes."
Fiona: "Good idea."
She laid down her jacket and fell asleep on the floor.
Henry: "She fell asleep."
Cossette: "Mhm."
Henry: "Good. I'll go then. I have work. Take care of her, little Cossette."
Cossette: "Okay."
He left. Cossette sat beside Fiona and watched her.
Cossette: "Hmm…"
A few hours later
Fiona: "Ugh…"
She woke up and saw that she was lying on the floor. Cossette was beside her, apparently having fallen asleep while watching her. She slept on Fiona's shoulder.
Fiona: "Ugh… hahhh…"
Crash
Fiona: "Huh?"
She heard something. She carefully stood up without waking Cossette and went to the window.
Fiona: "Ugh…"
She saw someone outside wearing a black suit and a black lilac mask.
Fiona: "The Dark Hoods…"
She looked at Cossette, still sleeping. Fiona quietly left the building and watched them.
Fiona: "Hmm…"
Dark Hood Member: "Come out. I saw you."
Fiona: "Damn…"
She stepped forward.
Fiona: "You're the ones who killed Damon Giroud."
Dark Hood Member: "So you figured it out. Are you going to arrest me now to avenge his death?"
Fiona: "No. He brought it upon himself."
Dark Hood Member: "Hmm?"
Fiona: "Still, I'm a detective. It's my duty to catch people like you."
Dark Hood Member: "What's your name?"
Fiona: "Why do you want to know? To threaten me? My name is Fiona Househould."
Dark Hood Member: "I see."
Fiona: "Are you going to kill me now?"
Dark Hood Member: "Hmm?"
Fiona: "Or threaten me like the other detectives?"
Dark Hood Member: "Hmph… hahaha… we didn't kill or threaten them. Let's say this. No one is interested in solving Damon Giroud's murder because he deserved it. Don't you think?"
Fiona: "Indeed, he was apparently evil. The officer already told me why."
Dark Hood Member: "I see."
Fiona: "Still, I don't understand why you did it."
Dark Hood Member: "For the people who suffered because of him."
Fiona: "Hmm…"
Dark Hood Member: "Goodbye, Fiona Househould."
Fiona: "Huh?"
Someone struck her from behind.
Fiona: "Urk!"
She collapsed unconscious.
Dark Hood Member: "Was it necessary to hit her that hard, Henry?"
Henry: "Sorry, sir."
Dark Hood Member: "Either way, she's no threat to us. She was just doing her job. Give her the money and her reward. We don't kill or harm people who do their job. We don't kill innocents."
Henry: "Understood."
A few hours later
Cossette: "Fiona… Fiona… Fiona!"
Fiona: "Huh!"
She woke up.
Fiona: "What…"
Cossette: "Are you okay?"
Fiona: "Uh… was that a dream?"
Cossette: "Fiona?"
Fiona: "Cossette… are you okay?"
Cossette: "Yes."
Fiona: "Good."
Cossette: "Hmm?"
A few minutes later
Fiona: "Henry…"
They were back at the police station.
Fiona: "Henry?"
Henry: "Oh, hello, Miss Fiona Househould."
Fiona: "Fiona is fine."
Henry: "Sorry. Here's the money for your case."
Fiona: "Hmm?"
Henry: "You found out it was the Dark Hoods. You did your job. We'll handle the rest. Thank you."
Fiona: "Uh… okay."
Henry: "Goodbye."
They left the police station.
Cossette: "That was fast."
Fiona: "Mhm."
Cossette: "What do we do now? Are we leaving Meltz?"
Fiona: "No… not yet. I'll have to stay here for now."
Cossette: "Hmm?"
Fiona: "That group, the Dark Hoods. I saw them as a spirit when they killed Damon Giroud. They've caught my interest. I want to know who they really are."
Cossette: "Hmm…"
Meanwhile
Luis: "Hhhhh…"
Jade: "What do we have here… the Fool is here."
Luis: "Well, well… Jade."
Jade: "What do you want here?"
Luis: "Have some fun. How are you?"
Jade: "That doesn't matter right now. I hope you're not planning anything, Fool."
Luis: "Oh, don't worry. I'm just the Guardian of Jealousy."
Jade: "Hmph. Remember that I'm here."
Luis: "I do."
Jade: "Hahhh…"
She walked down the stairs.
Jade: "So creepy…"