Reincarnated Into A Dead Woman's Body In Another World-Chapter 396: Arc 6, - 12: Au Revoir

"Think it’s better this way kid?" Morgana shuffled papers on her desk.

"We think so. I mean, you can handle these kinds of things better, unless I’m wrong," Fumeko raised a brow.

Barely giving a tilt of her brow, the detective in blue stood up, "I’m sure it’ll take time, nothing’s gonna be solved in a day." She had an envelope in her hand that she handed to the secretary bird by her side.

Kira took the envelope in her beak and walked towards the large open window behind Morgana’s desk. She hopped up on the sill and flew off with a flap of her pearly white wings.

"I am worried about this place. If the cult decides to attack the company..." Fumeko looked around Morgana’s office. Files, books and documents clogged the shelves, while a coat holder hosted a number of jackets and extra shirts.

Plaques and trophies were in cases, ones that looked like what a school or university might award—cheap, gaudy and nonetheless official. "They won’t," Morgana answered bluntly.

"Huh? What makes you so sure? Considering the detectives here are the most capable at figuring out the cult’s plans," Fumeko furrowed her brows.

Morgana folded her arms, "They won’t. The cult may be anarchists, but their terrorism has method and limits. They don’t see Burnetrout as a threat, nor do they particularly care about threats. Their enemy is the regime across the pond.

Call it a hunch or an educated guess, but unless we have something they particularly need, which we don’t, they won’t bother us. If this place does get attacked, it won’t be targeted—it’ll be like the great fire."

"If you’re that confident..." Fumeko muttered.

"You got any sleep kid? You look about ready to keel over," she examined up and down.

"No, but I’ll get some soon enough," she let out an involuntary yawn.

"Well whatever the case, take care of yourself kid. Get back in one piece," she patted the brunette’s head twice.

Fumeko pouted, "I’ll try." She ruffled her own bangs and looked up, "Speaking of which, can you, make sure dad gets enough rest? I don’t think he’s sleeping well, not that I expect him to with everything going on."

Morgana closed her eyes in, content? Pride? Regardless she opened them back up and said, "I think for what it’s worth, the cult coming back might be good for your father."

"..." Fumeko sighed. "I know. Dad’s been doing this for a while. Anything with the cult gets him to act more feverish and motivated," the brunette’s eyes averted.

"Sharp eyes, sharp mind kid. Ever since that case got wrapped up fourteen years ago, his work’s gotten to a point where missing pet cases ain’t too special."

"At least he’s found something to fire him up again."

"Your dad’s a damn good detective. But even he gets burnt out of his work and god knows when that happened. You’re still fresh on the scene kid, so forgive your dad for being tired.

The world looks different to you than him; comes with age. Someday, when you’re older with a kid of your own, they’ll be the bright-eyed newbie while you’ll take the place of exhausted detective."

Fumeko squinted and her nose wrinkled in doubt, "Considering the cases I take on while adventuring, we’ll see if that happens. I can hardly picture myself taking care of a little brat either."

Looking down at the brunette, Morgana smirked. For the first time, Fumeko heard Morgana laugh behind closed lips.

"What?"

"Nothin’ kid. Take care, alright?"

"Yeah, yeah."

_

"Y’sure you don’t want any tea detective?"

"I think I’ve had enough to drink today," Fumeko absentmindedly looked around Alicia’s apartment. "I just came here to say bye before going to South End."

Alicia turned from her desk, her hair at the front held back by hairpins, "Came all the’way out for little ol’ me, when a call or a letter would do? How sweet~"

"Thought I’d say it proper and all," Fumeko stepped closer to notice a disassembled camera on Alicia’s desk.

The reporter continued to fidget with a few small screws on certain parts with one of the charms on her bracelet, which was a tiny screwdriver. "Lenses got’a little dirty, some bug must’ve flied in.

Well, safe travels, pack for pollen allergies down where the forests’re thicker—spring season’s buzzing. If you catch a scoop down there, save it for me will ya~?"

"I’ll try..." Fumeko raised a brow.

"Now that couldn’t be said over’the phone?" Alicia chirped.

"Another thing," Fumeko’s eyes glazed over.

"You broke up?"

Fumeko’s eyes bubbled, "H-how- What- Yeah, but how- Why am I even asking?"

"Congratulations little detective, you’re back on the market and aren’t lying t’yourself no more, give yourself a pat on the back and some fresh ice cream," she continued her work on her camera.

"Well, thanks to your advice."

"I take my payments weekly," she put her hand out in jest.

Fumeko ignored it, "I’m not sure about ’back on the market’ though... I’m not really keen on doing anything at the moment. I want my head on the case; which you should be doing too."

"Oh? C’mere for another reason then?" Alicia noticed a small piece of paper in Fumeko’s hand. "Don’t tell me it’s a love letter little detective, I’m much too old for ya."

"Alicia..."

"Alright, alright, I’m done teasing."

"If we find anything down there about the case, I’ll let you know."

"I don’t think the phone lines down there connect to Dolpool and the letter’ll take it’s sweet sweet time- Oh! Unless you’re talking ’bout your little trick-"

Shadows warped around the note Fumeko held and wooshed away, reappearing in Alicia’s shirt pocket. She then pulled out the note that said ’Hi’. "Just so you’re familiar."

"Oh come on now, do I look like the type t’forget? I’ve already felt your slithery shadows in my trouser pocket, I’ll know if you send me somethin’~!"

"Uh huh... Whatever, I’ll send them to you hoping you can do something with it and also work with my dad. You can do that, right?"

Alicia’s pink eyes widened, "Wowie-wow~! Been here for’a few weeks and look at you, being all responsible-like," she spoke with a giggly tone. "I’ve been doing that for years little detective, far before you came along, ain’t no need t’tell me."

"No need to mock me..."

_

A tall clocktower of gothic make ticked with thousands of exposed gears from large to small. Each face, of which there was four, showed a different time while a large metal phoenix sat on the spire atop.

From a distance, they could see the clock facing them tick to seven. The dawn had crested over the dreary sky of Dolpool and early carriages were ready to depart from the station.

A loud whistle shrieked across the station and parked horse-drawn carriages set off with a crack of their reins. Within one spacious six-seater, sat five who were ready for the adventure—their bags strapped on top and at the back.

As the carriage picked up speed, they all turned out the window to the gathering of people who were bidding farewell to other carriages.

With a little light brown-haired girl in his arm, the tall detective in his coat waved goodbye with not a smile, but with concerned eyes. He had to let her go... Even though he convinced himself of it, it was still hard to do it.

Kineko on the other hand, waved gleefully to those departing and shouted out something, that got muffled out by the clopping of hooves and the secure window. But they could make out that she said bye-bye to them all.

Speedily and securely, the carriage went through the streets of Dolpool, passing by the gothic and eccentric architecture. The people wearing the most bombastic, ’hey, look over here!’ attire.

The early signs of mass hysteria beginning to spread within the populus as the police were scattered and fearmongering turned into graffiti.

What all to expect? What all was there to see? Asobi cheerfully kept her eyes out the window, watching everything pass by. Then she turned to see the carriage; why was it so quiet?

Jotou was sat in front of her by the window, while Hotaru was on the complete opposite side at the other window. Fumeko was also staring out the window with her chin in her palm, leaving an empty spot on the seat between her and Jotou.

Tiffany quietly fiddled with her fingers, sat in between the elf and the redhead; she kept her gaze on the carriage floor. Asobi blinked a few times, then gulped silently.

She tilted her head to the side and made a little noise under her breath. Perhaps there was something she could do to cheer them all up? Or maybe this was not the time?

And so, their trip to South End began. Excited, stressed, anxious and hopeful—for what was to come or what was already present in the carriage of five...?