Four days after her conversation with Hikari, Oulohara spent the afternoon shopping for mission necessities with what little money she had. Even though she worked as a Peacekeeper, her pay was meager. She was barely compensated for her work, despite Hikari's constant efforts to lobby the higher-ups for a raise.
She lived in the heart of City H, a section of the First Society known for its vast collection of shops and restaurants. The wide variety of establishments was the highlight of the city, though it had cost her a fortune just to move there.
A travel outfitter near her apartment complex was her first stop. As she entered, she was immediately greeted by a fragile-looking woman wearing blacksmith's garbs dyed in hues of green.
"H-how's your day going, ma'am?" the woman asked from behind the counter.
"It could be going a lot better… the price of everything in this city is insane, y'know?"
"Yes, indeed. It's s-shameful, really. What are you looking for today?"
Oulohara nodded in agreement and tapped her chin, humming in thought. "Well… I think I need something for protection. And maybe some new luggage?"
"For protection—as in a weapon—y-you'll need a license."
(A license… I have my Peacekeeper's badge, so that should be fine,) Oulohara thought.
"Right. I'm a Peacekeeper, so here." She reached into her pocket, pulled out her wallet, and presented her credentials.
The lady took a long look at the license before softly pushing it back into Oulohara's hand. "That won't do," the woman said.
"Excuse me?"
"E-even though it's a valid Peacekeeper's license, it isn't a weapon license. You must have a specific permit to purchase a weapon," she explained.
Oulohara sighed, trying to stay patient. "Yeah, but this is a combined license. As Peacekeepers, we're authorized to carry and use weapons at our disposal if the situation requires it."
"I-I understand that, but it doesn't allow you to purchase a weapon for yourself. You are meant to receive your equipment from the First Society government, not a private seller," the woman countered.
Oulohara wanted to throw her license on the floor and scream. She had bought weapons from other shops before, but according to this lady's explanation, it sounded like Oulohara had been doing so illegally this entire time.
***
"Hello ma'am, sir. I've got some important news for both of you."
"Y-yes…"
"Please, tell us."
Hikari sat in a private, top-floor meeting room with two others. Next to him sat a male canine-hybrid and a female feline-hybrid whose stomach was noticeably swollen with pregnancy. The room was dim, illuminated only by a few lights near the metallic table.
"We have confirmed the location of your children. But please, do not let your hopes get too high just yet; we are only at the beginning of this investigation. While we have identified where they are, we don't have their exact whereabouts within that location. However, we do have a prime suspect," Hikari said, his voice serious and authoritative.
Their eyes widened. The woman's eyes filled with tears, while the man's expression shifted between relief, confusion, and budding anger.
"It doesn't make any sense… I don't know why they targeted us! Years ago, it was this Society kidnapping our people, and now it's happening again. How can we be sure it isn't… that it isn't…"
"That it isn't our people again?" Hikari finished for him. "That was thirty years ago, and it was driven by a public outcry. The people who committed those crimes are either still in prison or deceased. But I understand your concern, sir. I can confirm one thing: we scan every migrating individual using Magia Loti to check their past and current mental state. We've recently increased those screenings by 25 percent. We also hold monthly pat-downs and background checks. Rest assured, we know if someone has a history of these crimes."
Hikari reached under the table and pulled out a file filled with photographs.
"We have evidence of suspicious behavior gathered from several Societies. I can scan over a few pages with you, but I can't show the full report since it's partially classified."
The woman perked up, moving a bit too fast for her condition. The man lightly grabbed her shoulder to keep her steady.
"A-absolutely, please tell us!" she cried.
"H-hey, don't overwork yourself," her husband whispered.
Hikari opened the file as the man guided his wife back into her seat.
"Possible suspects—specifically the Societies involved—are Two, Seven, and Six. Two has had recent scandals involving rising illegal activity. Seven has been issuing more bans against migration. And Six has been dealing with illegal trading and bidding," Hikari explained. He flipped through the pages until he found a specific image: a man's prison mugshot.
"This is the final bit of information I can give you. This man is a criminal with past convictions for trafficking, drug dealing, and illegal child labor. He's been our prime suspect since he escaped the Blood Pit three years ago."
The couple froze. The man looked particularly stunned.
"The Blood Pit? He was locked in there in 2913, right? By Third Society military troops due to a pact between the Third and Sixth. I remember the news from when I served in the military."
"Correct," Hikari replied. "His street name is Sueño. We never obtained his true name."
The woman turned to her husband, her tail swaying nervously, before looking back at Hikari.
"I… I served in the military, too," she said quietly. "In fact, I was part of that mission. Specifically, I was in charge of Sueño's transportation to the Blood Pit."
"W-what?" her husband stammered.
Hikari leaned forward. "Really now?"