Puzzle XII

"What is the date and day, Miss Shion?" 

Suzume asked, her arms crossed as she leaned against the wall, her knees crossed. She, Shion, Luke, and Alfendi, who had joined them on their travel to the Allinston Family's estate. Earlier, they arrived at Eggmuffin's Workshop, but the inventor wasn't home at the moment, and the chaos caused by the Serpent Phantoms occurred on Garget Street. And Suzume was not in the mood to deal with those idiots. Alfendi informed that Layton and Luke's father were waiting for him at the estate, and Mr. Allinston needed to see him. They were currently inside an elevator in the underground. 

"It is July 26, and it is Thursday..." Shion responded, looking at Suzume. 

"So, I've been in this city for three days, eh?" Suzume laughed quietly. 

"It is the same with me," Shion said. "I'm glad I ran into you in Japantown on that day. Now, I'm not alone cuz I have you by my side." She added with a soft smile.

Suzume nodded at Shion, feeling the same as encountering someone she knew from her native motherland in a foreign country, and glanced at Alfendi and Luke. Alfendi sat on the floor, his legs crossed in boredom; he held his chin in his hand. Luke was in a thinking pose, his back leaning against the wall. 

Suzume nervously turned her eyes away when Luke locked his eyes onto hers. 

"So, how are things in Japan? Is it different from Steam Bison?" Alfendi asked Shion in a curious tone. 

"Oh! I'd be glad to tell you all about Japan, Alfendi!" Shion excitedly exclaimed. "This elevator ride seemed to take forever to reach the top anyway." 

Shion was right. Why the hell was this damn elevator so damn slow? For a elevator being huge enough to carry probably ten people at a time and having plenty of space for only a group of four people currently, Suzume was feeling too claustrophobic. 

'Would you stop staring at me?'  Suzume thought, feeling Luke's gaze on her; she did not even need to look directly at Luke to know he was indeed staring at her. 'I refused to tell you anything about my father and family heirloom.' 

Shion's chit-chatting about Japan and Alfendi's curious responses were the only spoken voices in the elevator. Suzume and Luke did not say a word to each other, and it was best for both of them; Suzume was still resisting help, and Luke did not need to know much about her personal business in Steam Bison. 

'Again. The kid knows my purpose, but he doesn't know my father's profession and the history of my family heirloom....'  Suzume sighed. 'Why did I even bother to tag along with him to the mayor's house? What does the mayor need to have nothing to do with me...I wish I could have gone back to Japantown with Miss Shion.' 

Suzume had taken out her steam-powered flip cell phone from her skirt pocket. She opened it to look at the screen. It looked like a regular cell phone, but with the aesthetic of Steam Bison. It was golden in color and had a brown, old-fashioned clock icon on the front and back. Inside, it was light blue with a white dial, and the numbers were in brown.  

'I should text Mariko to let her know that I am okay...'  Suzume went to the contacts on her cell phone and stared at Mariko's phone. She also has Kiyomaro's cell phone in the contacts. 'Heh.' Suzume smiled bitterly. 'Why do I even bother adding Takamine's phone number?'  Suzume texted Mariko and put the phone back into her pocket. 

The elevator made a clicking sound, and it stopped moving. The door opened, revealing steps to a door. 

"Our ride is over. Let's go." Alfendi was the first one to step out. 

"Aww! I was getting to the good point!" Shion pouted, following Alfendi. 

'Finally.' Suzume exited the elevator and ascended the stairs. 

"Miss Mizuno." 

"Yes?" 

Suzume did not bother to turn her head to acknowledge Luke. 

"What was your life like in Japan before you got here?" 

Suzume froze at his question. He sounded curious enough. She did not know how to respond to his curiosity without sounding offended. She closed her twitching eyes. She did not want to be reminded of her unfortunate and unpleasant past. 

"I'm sorry." 

"Huh?" 

Suzume quickly reopened her eyes and turned her head towards Luke. The boy has an apologetic expression. 

"I do not mean to pry into your past, Miss Mizuno. I'm sure you have your reasons not to share your past with me." 

Luke was still a stranger to Suzume. He was not even close to being an acquaintance of hers yet. Yet the boy was so curious and concerned about her, a stranger to him. Was he also like this to every tourist he met?  

Suzume bit her bottom lip as her chest ached. She turned her head away from Luke. 

"My past is irrelevant to Steam Bison." 

That was all of Suzume's response before she continued her walk to the door above. Luke followed her in silence. Alfendi and Shion were already at the door to the outside, waiting for the two. 

Eastern Steam Bison 

At Sunset, Lenna entered a dungeon. She headed towards a certain door at the end of the hallway. She paused when she spotted a bespectacled, silver-haired girl with hazel eyes leaning against the wall. She has short, wavy hair and rose hair clips on her bangs. She wore a spaghetti-strap white blouse, a navy blue mini pleated skirt with navy blue knee-length socks, and black Mary Jane shoes. 

"Reina Fujiwara. I am surprised to see you in this dump." Lenna gibed, recognizing the girl. 

"And poor Miss Suzume Mizuno," Reina wickingly grinned at Lenna. "She still hasn't discovered her daddy's whereabouts. Speaking of which, why did you even tell her that you know something about Mr Tetsuya Mizuno's presence in Steam Bison, hmm?" 

"I only said that shit cuz I was bored as hell, Fujiwara." Lenna scowled at her. "Suppose, it is my mistake cuz it is most likely she'd start looking for me with or without the help of that detective brat and his mentor." 

"Yep. You are indeed a fool, Miss Lenna." Reina snickered at her. "Knowing Miss Mizuno, she would rather find you alone without help." 

"You speak as if you knew the girl personally." Lenna narrowed her eyes at Reina in a suspicious manner. 

"It is because she and I went to the same high school," Reina confirmed her history with Suzume. "She and I were rivals in the choir class. Honestly, I enjoyed competing with her. She and I sang a duet together once." Reina cast her eyes to the floor, smiling fondly at the memory. "And we also ended up at the same university. To think she and I would end up in the same American city for a summer break." Reina raised her arms up, spreading her hands out in excitement.

"Oh, how convenient," Lenna smirked at her. "You and Mizuno arrived in Steam Bison right on time for the upcoming talent show. Let me guess. You will be participating in it." 

"Yes. I am." Reina smiled brightly, clapping her hands together. Her eyes shone with enthusiasm. Then, suddenly, Reina lowered her head in a sudden, gloomy manner. "Miss Mizuno is such a disappointing one. She has the talent of a singer. She could have become the next Megumi Ooumi, but noooo....." Reina said in a dark tone. "...She wanted to become a nurse...Indeed....disappointing....She is also pretty...very pretty....and yet she doesn't even want to try to become Japan's next top model!" 

"Ah, I heard. Miss Mizuno's best friend, Mariko Nakamura, is a gravure idol," Lenna recalled the details she had heard from her client, Viktor. "She once encouraged her to become one just like her, but Miss Mizuno rejected the idea." 

"You understand me, Lenna!" Reina bitterly exclaimed. "Why would Miss Mizuno give up such a dream to that ugly skank like Nakamura?! Ugh!" Reina tousled her hair in anger. "Miss Mizuno inherited her mother's beauty! I do not understand why she isn't taking advantage of it while she is still young!?!" 

Lenna sighed in annoyed grief. She did not come here to listen to Reina's obsessive demands.

"Anyway," Reina took a deep breath. She smiled at Lenna cheerfully. Her expression was upbeat. "I heard there will be a prison break tonight." She informed Lenna. "Those idiots had sold themselves to the Aonokitsune." 

"Oh," Lenna snickered, putting her hand on her hip and her eyes turned away in amusement. "Zen, Nebula, and Reyson. They are so damned incompetent that I am surprised that they haven't been jailed yet. So, who is this Aonokitsune?" Reina refocused her eyes on Reina in curiosity. "This is the first time I've heard about such a group." 

"AonoKitsune is a Japanese criminal group," Reina happily explained to Lenna. "They offered their assistance for money. Blue Fox in English, in case you want to know the meaning behind their name." She gripped her fingers together. "Zen and his moronic friends had teamed up with AonoKitsune to break Miss Natasha out of the prison. 

"Are you serious?" Lenna gaped at Reina in shock.

"Yep!" Reina giggled. "Those idiots are asking to be jailed!"

"Indeed they are..." Lenna growled. "I do not care what they do, but what if they ended up talking, exposing all of us?" 

"Do not worry about it, Miss Lenna." Reina said, friendly patted on Lenna's shoulder." It isn't like those idiotic cops would have the evidence to arrest all of us anyway. They'd need that kid's help cuz they are that incompetent." 

"Yes, they are. And that man is afraid of the boy." Reina frowned. 

"Who?" 

"Just a coward. Anyway, what is your part in all of this? You'd be willing to team up with us criminals to surpass Suzume Mizuno?" 

"Hmm," Reina paused. Her expression suddenly became cold. Her eyes were full of revulsion. "Now the boy is hanging with Miss Mizuno. I'd do anything to tear those two apart." 

Lenna widened her eyes in surprise at Reina's answer to her question.

"After all," Reina turned her eyes away from Lenna and glared at an empty jail cell. Then, she smirked and added in a sickly sweet tone. "That boy is way out of her league..." 

Suzume, Luke, Shion, and Alfendi stood before a four-story golden and white estate. Steam-powered robots navigated the gardens, performing their assigned tasks. Four mechanics stood under a white Pergola with fake golden flowers on the top. 

"This is so beautiful!" Shion praised loudly. "Do you think so, Miss Suzume?"

"Yes..." Suzume agreed with Shion. "The garden is more beautiful than I, that is..." She added in a depressing whisper. 

"Huh?" Luke was puzzled by her self-derogatory comment. 

"YOOOOOO! Up here!!" Tweed's cheerful voice called out to Luke from the balcony. "We've been waiting for your arse, Luke! Geez! Hurry up! Dinner will start soon!" 

"Huh?" Suzume curiously glanced at three teenagers on the balcony. "Friends of yours?" She asked Luke.

"Yes. Tweeds, Crow, and Marliyn," Luke smiled at her. "We grew up in the same village. They've come here from England to visit Steam Bison and stay with me for the summer." 

"Enough with the chatting, Detective Luke," Alfendi grinned at him. " I am hungry now. See y'all inside." He walked on the path to the estate. 

"Are tourists even allowed in a place like this?" Suzume cautiously asked. 

"Of course! You and Miss Hibiki are my guests. So, Mr. Allinston does not mind."

"Wait! This is the mayor's estate?!" Suzume gulped in surprise. 

"Yep! I told you before, Miss Mizuno. The Allinstons are the wealthiest family in Steam Bison." 

Shion giggled at Suzume's reaction. Suzume's mind raced with thoughts. Why would Luke invite someone like her out of all people to a place like this? She was so nervous. She did not want to intrude on such an impressive-looking residence. 

"You are not used to visiting these kinds of places, right?" Luke assumed correctly. 

'I hate to be in the presence of a smart person sometimes,' Suzume sighed. "Yes. I'm not used to it. This place is too out of my depth. I grew up in a poor household." 

"Mr. Allinston was born in an impoverished family," Luke said to her. "Well, it is not my story to tell." 

Suzume was not dumb. She knew NOT all wealthy people were born wealthy. They have to work hard to become the people they are today. They have the talent, she does not. That was the only difference between her and Mr. Allinston, if what Luke told her was the truth; he could have just fabricated a detail from Mr. Allinston's personal life to comfort her. 

"Hmm, well, if Mr. Allinston is willing to share his life story with someone like me, then sure..." Suzume told him in a self-bitter tone. 

"Oh, Miss Suzume. You are having self-negativity thoughts again, are you?" Shion looked at her in sympathy. 

Suzume did not answer Shion. Luke silently led the girls to the entrance. Suzume was too occupied with her thoughts to notice the robots and the mechanics cheerfully greeting Luke.

'I wonder how Mariko is doing right now...?'  Suzume sadly thought of her best friend back in Japan. 'I wish I could have invited her to go with me to Steam Bison...'

"Welcome back, Detective Luke." A guard in a brown military uniform greeted him. He looked at Suzume and Shion. "Ah, guests?" 

"Yes. Do not worry. The ladies are harmless." Luke smiled, tilting his blue cap. 

"Of course, Detective Luke. Your guests are Mr. Allinston's guests," The guard opened the front door. "Welcome to the Allinston estate, ladies. Enjoy!" 

Once they had entered, a group of butlers and maids bowed their heads, greeting Luke, Suzume, and Shion. 

"Welcome! Mr. Allinston awaits you in his study, Detective Luke." A butler informed him. "We will assist the young ladies to a guest room." 

"Umm..." Suzume bit her bottom lip nervously. 

"Do not worry, Miss Mizuno," Luke softly beamed at her. "They will take care of you and Miss Hibiki." 

"If you say so..." Suzume's nerves were so fluttery that she turned her eyes away from him. "May I request Mr. Layton's presence?" 

"Huh?" Luke looked at her in wonder. Then, he smiled at her. "Sure. I'll let the Professor know." 

"Ahhhh...Forget about my request!" Suzume covered her blushing face. 'Oh, gosh! Why the hell did I ask for Mr. Layton?! What is going on with me?! This is so embarrassing!' 

"What is happening here, my boy?" Layton emerged from a guest room. 

"Professor!" Luke greeted happily, smiling at the men. 

"Gah! Please take me to the guestroom!" Suzume, embarrassingly, ran past Layton, still covering her face. 

"Please wait, miss!" A maid chased after her. 

"Please follow me." A second maid told Shion. 

"Sure..." Shion awkwardly responded, following the maid. 

"Is Miss Mizuno all right?" Layton asked confusedly. 

"Yeah, Miss Mizuno wanted to speak with you," Luke informed his mentor. "But, she quickly changed her mind. She is not used to being in the company of notable people..." 

"Well, she'd better get used to it," Alfendi emerged, eating a piece of meat from a skewer. "She is hanging out with you, the Great Detective Luke, and your mentor, Professor Layton, famous for his puzzle-solving skills in England." He grinned in amusement. "Anyway, my friends are waiting for me in Miss Allinston's workshop. The younger one." He walked off to the said workshop. 

Layton smiled at the red-haired young boy. Then, he saw that Luke had a worried expression. The maids and butlers carried on with their tasks in the mansion. 

"Are you thinking about Miss Mizuno?" 

"Yes," Luke nodded. "Honestly, I am more concerned about her than the museum robbery case." 

"I see, my boy. Miss Mizuno is the reason why you aren't focusing on the case." 

"I haven't been sleeping well," Luke said, his expression saddened. "I can't help but wonder if Miss Mizuno dislikes me." 

"I'm sure she does not dislike you, Luke," Layton gazed at Luke in sympathy. He placed his hand on his shoulder comfortingly. "Please give Miss Mizuno more time. I'm sure she'd speak to her about her problems when she is ready to rely on you." 

"Yes, you are right, Professor." Luke clumsily laughed. "My apologies. I guess I was pushy. Is Mr. Allinston in his office?"

"Yes, he is. He is waiting for you, my boy." Layton nodded with a smile. 

Maybe the mayor wanted an update on the museum robbery case or to offer a new one. Luke needed to come up with an excuse for the former. He and Layton headed to Mr. Allinston's office on the fourth floor. 

"Yay! We get to spend the night in this estate!" Shion hopped onto a full-size comforter bed. "This bed is sooo comfy, Miss Suzume!" Shion turned her head towards Suzume, who was sitting on her bed, her hands on her lap. "Hmm?" Shion grinned, and a teasing glint appeared in her eyes. "Thinking about Mr. Layton?~." 

"Huh?" Suzume looked at Shion, flustered with her question. "Well, honestly, I have no idea why I made such a request earlier...." She giggled, still embarrassed. "Still...I should leave and go back to my hotel."

"Huh?!" Shion gaped at Suzume. "Why?! We get to eat dinner and rest in this fancy mansion for free, Miss Suzume!" 

"How would I suppose to repay Mr. Allinston's kindness when I have nothing to offer, Miss Shion?" Suzume gripped her fingertips on her lap anxiously. "Besides, we haven't even met him yet. We should not be assuming things without his approval of us as his guests. He obviously already approved Triton and Mr. Layton." 

"Suzume..." Shion sympathetically gazed at her friend. She sat next to Suzume on her bed. "Please talk to me. Please share your feelings with me." 

"Miss Shion, I am just being realistic," Suzume said solemnly.  

"Miss Mizuno, Miss Hibiki." A maid knocked on the door. "Dinner is ready in the guest dining room." 

"So, I guess this means we aren't eating with the Allinston family," Shion said. "Do you feel disappointed?" 

"No. I do not feel comfortable eating with an important family." Suzume stood. "I bet Alfendi and other guests are stuffing their faces with food." 

"Yep! Now, I am hungry!" Shion cheerfully rose. "Let's go and eat a delicious dinner!" 

Luke and Layton did not expect to see his father, Clark, Sheriff Bobsley, and Johan in Bolt Allinston's office. Bolt sat at his desk. Bobsley and Johan sat on a sofa. Clark sat on a sofa chair, facing Bolt crossed a coffee table. A sentient robot arrived at the office, placed teacups and a teapot on the table, and exited, closing the door behind it. 

"Detective Luke, Mr. Layton!" Bolt happily greeted the two. "Please sit down! Sheriff Bobsley is here to talk about an important matter." 

Luke has a bad feeling about this. He glanced at his father, who nodded to him. He and Layton sat on the sofa, crossed from Bobsley and Johan. 

"Ah, young Luke and Mr. Layton." Bobsley smiled at the two in a heartfelt manner. "The High Commissioner is very concerned about those troublemakers: Zen's group, Serpent Phantoms, and Inferno Shadows. They've been causing trouble lately. In fact, they've been getting aggressive." 

"Yes." Luke agreed with Bobsley calmly. 'Damn it. The news has reached the higher-ups.' Luke cursed in his mind. "I think I do have an idea why they've become aggressive."

"As I expected of you!" Bobsley grinned at Luke proudly. "It has something to do with a tourist named Suzume Mizuno, right?" 

Luke gasped. Layton sighed. Bolt expressed his curiosity at an unfamiliar name. Clark looked at his son concerningly. Johan held a folder in his arm. Bobsley sternly gazed at Luke. 

"Now, please tell us everything about this tourist, Detective Luke. Jonah questioned Miss Mizuno at the police station a few days ago." 

"But the young lady did not give me a straight answer. She was very vague in her statement." Johan opened a folder containing a photo of Suzume and the information about her. "So, I assured her she was still afraid of the theft incident with Zen's group. Did Miss Mizuno ever reclaim her stolen belongings?" 

"Yes, she did," Luke answered clearly, looking at Johan. "After she confronted Zen's group." 

"She confronted them without protection?!" Bobsley exclaimed, gaping at Luke in shock. "Why was I not informed of this, boy?!" 

"I apologize, sir." Luke lowered his head in shame. 

"Please forgive my son, Sheriff Bobsley." Clark looked at the Sheriff in reason."The boy and Hershel have been too occupied with the museum robbery case." 

"I understand, Mr. Triton." Bobsley sighed, closing his eyes in frustration. A few seconds later, he reopened his eyes and returned his stern gaze to Luke. "So, Detective Luke. Once again, I want you to share every detail you do know about why the young lady is targeted by the three criminal groups."

"I do not have Miss Mizuno's permission to share the details, sir." Luke politely declined Bobsley's request. He austerely stared at Bobsley. "If she had shown distrust in me, you think she would tell you and your men, sir?" 

"Luke!" Both Layton and Clark scolded simultaneously. 

"I can't fault the young lady." Bolt finally spoke out after hearing enough details. "She feels unsafe in Steam Bison. She is too terrified to share her unpleasant experiences. No tourist of Steam Bison should not feel unsafe." 

"Mr. Allinston...." Luke's eyes glimmered in empathy. 

"The residents are right about one thing," Bolt frowned seriously at Bobsley. "The Steam Bison police force is full of incompetence." 

"Mr. Allinston!" Bobsley exclaimed in offense at Bolt's comment. 

"What the mayor said is indeed the truth..." Jonah agreed with Bolt.

"Silence, Williams!" Bobsley glared at the police officer.

"It should also explain why the police needed the assistance of my teenage son."  Clark tossed a criticizing look at Bobsley. 

"You too, Mr. Triton?!"

"I agreed with Clark, sir." Layton approved of Clark's criticism. 

"Mr. Layton!" 

Although Luke wanted to sneak a laugh, he didn't want to anger the police further. Bobsley shot a glare at Luke. 

"May you explain what is so damned funny, Luke Triton?!" Bobsley demanded, clearly upset by the criticism from the others. 

"Sir, I-" Luke has lost color in his face. He was so screwed now. 

Suddenly, a blackout occurred throughout the estate, alerting everyone in Bolt's office. 

"What the hell?!" Bobsley stood cautiously. "There's a blackout in the city?!" 

"No, sir." Luke stood, looking at the window. "Only here." 

"What is going on?" Layton noticed lights were still on in other buildings outside. 

"Everyone, stay here! I will deal with this!" Bolt quickly rose from his desk and hastened out of his office. 

"Sir, it is not safe!" Johan tailed after him. 

"Luke! Get back here!" Clark yelled once Luke ran out. 

"I'll take care of him, Clark. Stay here." Layton told him and left. 

"Not on my watch, Hershel." Clark followed Layton. 

"So much for staying here!"  Bobsley scoffed. "I am calling backup!" He took out his cell phone from his pocket. 

'What the hell is going on? Did the steam-powered machines finally give up or what?'  Suzume had stepped out of the bathroom in the corridor. 'Wait...the lights still on outside?' Suzume approached the windows. 'So, the blackout only happened here?! Shit...I need to get back to the dining room.' 

Suzume hurried to the second floor, where the dining room was. She instinctively pulled out her sai knife from her thigh holster under her long skirt. She felt a dreadful presence waiting for her in the corner.

And her instincts proved right; a person with a kitsune mask emerged from the corner and attempted to stab Suzume, who knocked their sai knife out of their hand with her own palm. 

"So, you people are also here in Steam Bison." Suzume backed away from the intruder, glaring at them in anger. "You are the Aonokitsune, a wanted criminal group that my father has been investigating for quite a while. I doubt you are here for Mr. Allinston and his daughters..." 

"My name is Katana, Suzume Mizuno, and you will come with me." The intruder, who turned out to be a female, quickly pulled out a kusarigama from her ninja clothing. "Quietly. My client demanded your presence." 

"So, Zen's group, the Serpent Phantoms, and Inferno Shadows aren't the only groups the coward had hired," Suzume dodged the sharp blade from the kusarigama when Katana struck her. "He also hired the Aonokitsune, a foreign criminal group, to do his dirty work. If he wants me, he should get me himself. I'm done playing with his games." 

Katana sliced Suzume's cheek with her second weapon, a kunai, in her left hand.  

'Huh?' Suzume felt the cut on her cheek and gaped in fear. 'Poison...?'

"Hmph! All talk, no bark!" Katana bellowed in disappointment. "You are the daughter of Tetsuya Mizuno, a high-ranked police detective! You should know how to fight!" Katana crashed her Kusarigama and Kukai with Suzume's Sai knife. "Ha! You managed to block both of my weapons with your one weapon! Colored me surprised!" 

Suzume attempted to kick Katana in the stomach, but failed when the latter quickly dodged her knee kick by doing a backflip; Suzume had backed away in time to avoid getting kicked by Katana. 

"Fair fight, Miss Mizuno!" Katana mockingly giggled. "But you will not last long with the poison in your body! You will pass out in no time! Once you do, I shall claim my reward once I take you to my client!" 

Suzume stood there, her Sai knife still in her hand. She panted as if she were having a difficult time breathing. She fell on her knees. 

"Nice! The poison is kicking in," Katana stalked towards Suzume. "Now, be a good girl and give in to the poison! Tee hee hee! I win! Let me help you to sleep faster!" Katana lifted her kusarigama above Suzume's head. 

Then, Suzume suddenly struck Katana in the stomach with a second weapon, a fukiya. Katana had backed away. It was fortunate that Katana wore a protective vest under her clothing. Katana was on her knees, quickly looking up at Suzume. 

"Impossible!" Katana exclaimed in disbelief. "You should have been passed out from the poison by now!" 

"Sorry," Suzume smiled proudly at Katana. "I am immune to poison.. It is in my Miyama blood, after all." 

"Miyama?!" Katana reacted in shock. "I know that family surname well! The only family that secretly feeds poison. to their offspring to build such immunity! You are the granddaughter of Shigeru Miyama, the chairman of the Yakuza Miyama clan!" 

"The cat is out of the bag," Suzume smiled coldly at Katana. "One more thing. The Miyama clan has also built high pain tolerance. I did not even feel a thing when you sliced my cheek." 

"No way....so, you are a monster...." Katana gasped in sudden apprehension.

"I'd rather be one than be killed by one." Suzume stalked towards Katana and pointed her fukiya at her mask. "Now, tell me the identity of your client." Suzume narrowed her eyes at Katana dangerously.

"Ahhhh." Katana breathed softly. "Not tonight, sweetie! Let us have fun again!" She responded with mocking laughter before she took out a smoke ball and tossed it onto the floor. "Until then, stay alive!" 

"Damn it! In a dark corridor, out of all places!" Suzume exclaimed, exasperated as hell at the overuse of smoke balls. "Thanks goodness of the moonlight." 

Suzume carried on her way to the second floor. Hopefully, Shion, Alfendi, and the other guests were okay in the dining room. She hid her weapons from view. Suddenly, a light flashed onto her face.

"Hey!" 

"Miss Mizuno!" 

It was Luke with a flashlight. Suzume sighed in relief. She thought she'd fight a second Katana. Luke approached her. Then, his eyes widened in concern. 

"You're bleeding on your cheek!" 

"Oh," Suzume wiped the blood off her cheek with her thumb. "I'm fine, Triton. I accidentally slipped against a broken glass." 

"Geez. You need to be careful." 

"Where are Mr. Layton and the others?" 

"They're okay. Mr. Allinston had moved everyone to an emergency room in the basement." 

"Then, why are you even here when you should be in the basement with them?"

"I was looking for you since I did not see you in the dining room with Tweeds, Crow, Marliyn, Alfendi, and Miss Hibiki." 

"I was in the bathroom when the blackout happened. So, do you know what caused the blackout?" Suzume followed Luke to the basement location since he had the flashlight. 

"I expected foul play," Luke answered. "However, the estate has high security, so I have no idea how the intruder managed to sneak in, but..." Luke blinked. "I do know one thing: the intruder wasn't here to target the Allinston family or the Allinston wealth."

"Then, who or what do you think they were here for?" 

Suzume questioned as if she did not know the answer herself; she knew damn well why Katana was here: to abduct her and bring her back to the same person who had been causing trouble for her in this city for almost a week now. 

'The question is how did she even know I was here....?' 

Katana barely arrived in an alley on Bullet Street. She leaned against the wall. She panted. She unlocked a hidden trapdoor at the end of the alley and sneaked inside. Once she was in the underground, she angrily glared at the person who waited for her at the end of a hallway. 

"You foolish girl," Kitsu disparaged her tonight's actions, having his arms behind his back. "What were you thinking, infiltrating the Allinston estate?"

"Oh, shut up, Kitsu." Katana snapped at her boss in rage, still feeling humiliated from her fight with Suzume earlier. "You never told me our target was a Miyama and the heiress to the clan! The bitch immunized my poison. as if it was nothing!" 

"Oops. I am indeed sorry for not informing you of the girl's connection with a Yakuza clan." Kitsu dramatically bowed to Katana. "Despite the girl having forfeited her title, the old man is still stubbornly acknowledging her as his heiress instead of Miss Mizuno's older cousin, Yutaka Iwagawa, the male heir to the clan. You can see Shigeru is totally playing favorites with his children; Takara Miyama, the youngest Miyama offspring,  will always be Shigeru's and Fumiko's most favorite and precious child, so it is natural they'd favor and adore their youngest grandchild over their older ones." 

"Whatever, asshole," Katana said in a resentful, dismissive tone. "I do not give a shit about the girl's family history. So, how did things go at your end?" 

"Ah, yes," Our clients have successfully broken their leader out of the Steam Bison prison." 

"Are you serious?" Katana was surprised at the news. "So, their leader, Natasha, is back?" 

"Yes." Kitsu nodded in satisfaction, clapping his hands in approval. "Those security guard fools relied too much on their steam-powered machines to do the job, so Zen, his friends, and my men easily infiltrated the prison. So it is all good! I can't wait to see that boy's and his mentor's reactions when they found out in the morning~." 

"So, that's why you wanted to help those idiots." Katana narrowed her eyes at Kitsu in annoyance. "So, you can get a kick out of that detective boy and his elder. What are you, a psycho?" 

"Now, now. I do not have the traits of a psycho, my dear Katana." Kitsu laughed at her "psycho" comment. 

"Yeah, sure. That's what ALL criminals say. Anyway," Katana just walked past Kitsu. "I'm crashing in for the night. I do not want to be disturbed." She opened the door to the hideout and closed it roughly behind her. 

"I suppose my group and I should stay low for now." Kitsu laughed in a wicked manner. "What would you do now, Luke Triton? Please do not bore me."