"Hm? That voice… is that Officer Chen?"
Hearing the voice from the doorway, Rope turned toward the entrance, trying to see who had arrived.
Unfortunately, Shirou was blocking the view so Rope could only hop off her chair, sandwich in hand and walk over to take a look.
Seeing that familiar figure she was sure that it was Chen.
She knew that voice well. Back when she used to freeload meals, it had practically been background music. Hearing it now somehow made eating feel even smoother.
Rope felt like she could eat several more sandwiches.
"Rope? You are here too?"
Seeing the familiar purple Cautus, Chen was a bit surprised, though not entirely.
She had obtained information about this place from an informant. It was said to be a location that took in infected children.
The informant did not know the exact situation inside. On the surface, it was just a shop selling daily necessities, occasionally taking small repair jobs for electronics.
Recently, a few children had been taken in which made it somewhat suspicious.
That was why Chen had come today, she wanted to take a look and confirm the situation.
She had used some free time from work, planning to pretend to buy something and leave.
That was how it should have gone…
But upon seeing people from Penguin Logistics here along with Rope, Chen froze on the spot.
Rope's presence made sense. She had not seen her for days and had even gone to check her old residence, thinking her Oripathy might have flared up. She found nothing there and later learned that Rope had moved out, with no one knowing where she had gone.
Since this place took in infected children, Rope being here was perfectly reasonable.
But that person from Penguin Logistics… what was his name again? Emiya Shirou? Or just Shirou, as he was usually called.
What was he doing here? He had just been about to serve her, it seemed.
So Shirou worked here?
Did people from Penguin Logistics take on side jobs?
Well, there was an idol and a street vendor among them so it was not impossible.
Still, seeing someone from Penguin Logistics here felt… oddly out of place.
In that brief moment, Chen thought through many things.
"…Do you two know each other?"
Caught between the two, Shirou asked Rope.
"You know, I used to treat the Guard Department as my home. They have food and lodging. Honestly I practically wanted to move in."
Rope gave a simple and direct explanation of her past.
"I remember that. Put your food aside for now. Since it is someone you know, you handle this."
Originally, Shirou had planned to let Rope finish her meal but since the visitor was someone she knew, he left it to her.
Although Shirou also knew Chen, they had barely interacted.
If it were Hoshiguma or Swire, he might have been more familiar but with Chen, there was almost no contact.
Still, those horns on her head… he felt like he had seen something similar somewhere before.
"Eh? Alright…"
Reluctantly, Rope put down her sandwich.
She wiped the crumbs from her mouth, made sure her face was clean and then walked over to Chen.
"Officer Chen? Officer Chen!"
Noticing that Chen's gaze was still fixed on Shirou, completely unaware of her surroundings, Rope perked up her ears and waved them in front of Chen's face.
"Hm?"
Snapping back to attention, Chen shifted her focus to Rope. For a moment, she had felt that Shirou looked somewhat familiar… perhaps she had eaten too much of his cooking lately?
His culinary skills were indeed impressive. Even Swire and Hoshiguma had praised him highly.
She herself was not picky. Her evaluation was simply that it tasted good.
"Officer Chen, what are you here to buy today? Or would you like to browse around?"
Seeing Chen refocus, Rope lowered her ears in satisfaction and began introducing the shop's products.
This was something she had learned over the past month and she was doing it quite professionally.
"I… I will just take a look."
Originally, Chen had intended to gather some clues from Rope but seeing that there were others around, she gave up on that idea.
Besides, Rope was clever and had her principles. Chen knew that well.
So this place was probably exactly what it appeared to be…a shelter for infected children.
There was no need to invest too much effort here. Just gather some basic information and report it back to the Guard Department.
Even so, her gaze still swept across the shop.
It was an ordinary, well-organized store.
There were items suited for various age groups. Chen even spotted a tea set that Hoshiguma had been using frequently lately.
"She bought it here?"
Chen knew that Hoshiguma had been searching for that particular style of tea set for quite some time.
She just did not expect to see it here.
"This one? Officer Hoshiguma bought one here before. Officer Chen, do you like this kind of style too?"
Although she had said Chen could browse freely, Rope still dutifully followed behind her, waiting for the right moment to promote products.
If she remembered correctly, the Guard Department's salary was quite generous. And since Chen and Hoshiguma were very close, the probability of her buying this… was quite high.
"I am not particularly fond of this style. If Hoshiguma had not bought it, I might have considered it. But now, forget it. Do you have a simpler mug?"
After brushing off Rope's sales pitch, Chen shifted her gaze toward the third person in the shop where Shirou was.
At that moment, Shirou was holding Rope's homework notebook and sighing repeatedly as if he were holding an account ledger. Anyone unaware might think the shop was failing.
She still felt that Shirou looked somewhat familiar. Before she could take a closer look a door nearby was pushed open.
Not the main entrance but the door leading to another room. A child stepped out, quickly closing it behind them. During that brief moment, Chen caught a glimpse inside.
On the other side was a kitchen, where a group of children were busy working.
The little girl who came out glanced at Chen, then ran over to Shirou and whispered something.
"Hm? Already? Oh sorry, I must have remembered wrong. I will go buy it now."
It was nothing serious, she just told him that the rice container was empty.
It should have been restocked a couple of days ago but Shirou had been so busy that he forgot. Checking the time, it had already been over a month since the last purchase.
It was indeed about time to restock.
"Rope, I am going to buy rice. I will leave the shop to you. And… Officer Chen sorry, I have something to take care of so I will head out. I will not be able to attend to you."
Grabbing his bag, Shirou hurried out the door, not forgetting to remind Rope before leaving.
After a brief pause, he also greeted Chen.
After all, she was a major figure in the Guard Department. Maintaining good relations was important.
Even now, Shirou still kept that in mind.
"Sigh… honestly."
Watching him rush off, Rope let out a sigh.
Not for any strange reason but simply because she and the children had carefully kept things hidden only for Shirou to expose it so casually.
He had said he wanted to be a behind-the-scenes boss, yet with someone from the Guard Department standing right here, he treated the place like his own home?
She could not even be bothered to complain anymore. Hoshiguma already knew anyway so letting Chen know probably did not matter.
When Shirou got back, she was definitely going to use this to bargain for fewer homework assignments.
A homework-free tomorrow was waiting for her.
"He is the one behind all this, right?"
Chen was not foolish. From Shirou's behavior alone, she could tell he held a managerial position here or perhaps even higher.
When something happened, the children went to him, not to anyone else.
And Rope's attitude toward him was different from how she used to act at the Guard Department, where she had always been cautious.
From these small clues, Chen could tell that Shirou held significant authority in this Fuyuki Shop.
Perhaps he was even… the founder.
She remembered why Swire had wanted to recruit Shirou.
It was because of his tendency to set aside his own concerns and help others first.
Someone like that establishing a place like this was not surprising.
Although she often argued and even fought with Swire, Chen still respected her judgment.
It was just that Swire could be unreliable at times. Without that flaw, she would truly be someone dependable.
"Cough… actually, I am the shop manager, you know?"
Even though Shirou had already exposed things, Rope still tried to salvage the situation a little.
At least she had made an effort.
"I am not stupid."
Hearing that, Chen felt her intelligence had been insulted.
Given Rope's past situation, let alone managing a shop, even holding a regular job would have been difficult.
She had once considered recruiting Rope into the Guard Department but she was still too young so nothing had come of it.
"Hehe."
Rope gave up explaining and tried to brush it off with a cute act.
"Forget it. How have you been living here?"
Seeing that she did not want to talk about Shirou, Chen directly changed the subject.
"Uh…it is pretty good here, at least there is food and shelter and no one nagging me all the time."
Since Chen had asked like this, Rope understood that she already knew what this place was about.
She had dealt with Chen often before. How could she not understand her intentions?
"I see. Then do your best here. Also, wrap this cup for me."
Hearing Rope's answer, Chen's expression softened slightly.
The Guard Department's duty was to protect the citizens of Lungmen.
But the infected in the slums were an exception.
Seeing that these infected children, who struggled to survive in the slums had found a place that could shelter them from the wind and rain, Chen felt genuinely happy for them.
"Of course. I will give you a discount on the cup. Come again when you have time."
Rope had never seen such an expression on Chen's face. She froze for quite a while before snapping back to her senses and packing up the black mug Chen had chosen.
She knew that, in ways she could not see, Chen had always cared about her.
After all, what kind of detention center served meals that rich?
There was meat, vegetables and even soup. That was one of the reasons she had been so reluctant to leave.
Chen's public image was strict and serious. That expression just now was probably something one could only see in private.
Too bad there was no camera. Otherwise, it would have been big news.
"If there is a chance."
Taking the packaged mug, Chen stepped out of the shop.
She turned back and looked at the storefront.
"Fuyuki Shop… what a strange name."
Her eyes narrowed slightly as she firmly etched the place into her memory.
Every street and alley in Lungmen, its docks, signboards and slopes, she kept them all in mind.
"Is that not Officer Chen? Good morning."
Just as Chen was lost in thought, a voice greeted her from behind.
Turning around, she saw a grinning oni man, someone she recognized.
"You are wandering around here at this hour? Do you not have work?"
If she remembered correctly, Phal used to work elsewhere in the slums. He should not have been here at this time.
"Oh, I changed jobs. I am helping take care of people here now. By the way, Officer Chen, are you here to investigate something?"
Although Phal always looked carefree and a bit silly, he was actually quite sharp.
After all, those who were not clever did not survive long.
At this hour, Chen showing up here meant she was definitely investigating a case.
Based on what he knew, she was likely looking into the disappearance of infected individuals.
From there, it was easy to conclude that Chen had marked this place as a suspicious location.
From his perspective, it did look rather suspicious.
After all, who in this world worked without expecting anything in return?
Shirou was an exception, he was practically abnormal in that regard.
"You are working here? Does Hoshiguma know?"
Hearing that Phal worked here, Chen immediately thought of Hoshiguma.
Phal was her subordinate. If he knew about this place, he would have reported it… or perhaps Hoshiguma already knew and had assigned him to help here.
Either way, it meant Hoshiguma was aware of this place.
"Boss Hoshiguma knows."
It had been a while since Phal had spoken with someone sharp. He was so moved he could almost cry.
When talking to Shirou, unless everything was spelled out clearly, Shirou simply would not understand. Unlike Chen or Hoshiguma, who could grasp the situation and even infer more with just a few words.
Shirou really should learn the art of conversation.
…On second thought, maybe not. Phal felt that if Shirou mastered it, he might end up being talked into silence.
"Sigh. So she knows. Then I came all this way for nothing."
Chen's first reaction was that she had wasted her time. If there had been any real problem, Hoshiguma would have been the first to show up with her weapon and tear the place apart.
After thinking it through, Chen also realized where those lunchboxes had been coming from… Hmph, among the three of them, she was the only one who never received any and had to rely on tagging along?
She would have to give Hoshiguma a piece of her mind later.
"Please keep this place confidential, Officer Chen. If people find out there is a Guard Department connection behind it, things will not go well."
Among everyone, Phal was probably the only one actively trying to conceal their identities.
After all, only he truly understood how many people's interests Shirou's actions had stepped on.
To put it bluntly, most people in the slums did not welcome the Guard Department. If it became known that this place had ties to them, life here would not remain peaceful.
Not through direct attacks like smashing the shop but through subtler methods, such as opening a competing store nearby to squeeze them out.
"…I will try. Anything else?"
Understanding the implication behind Phal's words, Chen could only give a tentative promise.
"That should be it. Please send my regards to Boss Hoshiguma… wait a moment."
Phal thought for a moment and realized there was nothing else to add. Hoshiguma would handle things more appropriately anyway.
He had originally planned to ask Chen to pass along his greetings but when he saw Rope at the door, munching on a sandwich and watching them, he decided it would be better to send a small gift.
The price was simple, he would have to sacrifice one day of breakfast.
Phal went back into the shop, packed his portion, then returned and handed it to Chen.
"Please give this to Boss Hoshiguma for me."
With his usual carefree grin, he said so.
"Alright. I will head off then."
Seeing Phal holding a sandwich, Chen finally understood where Hoshiguma's boxed meals had been coming from.
She… she was definitely not jealous!
It was just that there were two portions in the bag and if she remembered correctly, Hoshiguma had already eaten breakfast. When the time came, she would reluctantly help her finish one portion.
This investigation trip had yielded results which put Chen in a very good mood.
Not only had she made progress but there was also good food to eat.
The only problem was probably this person Emiya Shirou.
What role exactly did he play in all of this?
And where did that strange sense of familiarity come from?
Chen did not know. She could only investigate further after returning.
Speaking of investigations… there had been some progress during last night's inquiry but the person they captured suddenly died, sending everything back to square one.
Working during the day and investigating the slums at night was starting to wear her down.
But she did not show it.
She could not afford to show weakness in front of others.
Not even in front of Hoshiguma.
Forcing herself to stay alert, Chen walked along the street carrying her things.
Then she saw Shirou and he was walking toward her from the opposite direction.
After all, they had just met not long ago and his lack of obvious racial features made him easy to recognize at a glance.
There was also that lightning-like shape at the end of his eyebrow…
"…Hmm?"
As she passed by Shirou, who was carrying a large bag, Chen suddenly realized something.
She knew where that strange sense of familiarity came from.
It was that person wearing the red coat!
She had thought back then that his eyes looked very familiar!
If they were the same person, then everything made sense!
Chen turned around, about to go after him but then she saw Shirou stopping to help an elderly woman lift a heavy bag.
She halted her steps.
"…Forget it. It is just speculation."
Thinking about how Shirou might be the one taking in those Infected children, Chen decided to return and ask Hoshiguma for clarification before deciding what to do next.
He looked like a good person…
But she had not forgotten how he had talked back to her that night.