In the early morning in Igwynt, at the apartment complex on Southern Sunflower Street, Dorothy and Gregor were having breakfast together in the living room. This was one of the rare moments they had spent together in recent days.
While eating breakfast, Dorothy occasionally yawned, prompting Gregor to ask with concern.
"Dorothy, you’ve seemed very tired and out of energy these past few days. You’ve also been coming home later than usual. Is the pressure from your studies too much?"
"Ugh... I guess so. If I want good grades, I have to work harder. Sigh... It’s exhausting," Dorothy replied while eating a piece of bread. Seeing her like this, Gregor encouraged her warmly.
"Looks like studying isn’t easy at all. You’re working so hard, Dorothy. Just make sure to balance work and rest—don’t immerse yourself entirely in studying. It’s okay to relax sometimes."
"It’s fine, Gregor. You know my goal is to get into college. As a girl, if I don’t put in extra effort, how can I even hope to pass through those gates? Besides, I can’t let you down, can I?" Dorothy said as she finished the bread and quickly drank a glass of milk.
"Alright, I’m done. I’m off now. See you later!"
Dorothy grabbed her small shoulder bag, opened the door, and walked out. Watching her leave, Gregor, still seated on the sofa, smiled with contentment.
"Hehe... Dorothy is really growing up and becoming more responsible. I hope she can truly get into a good college," Gregor thought to himself, feeling proud of her diligence and dedication like any parent would.
Dorothy, however, was secretly relieved that St. Amanda’s School was located in the western outskirts of the city. If it had been somewhere within Gregor’s reach, the occasional visits he might make could have exposed her reputation as the "Queen of Absences."After finishing breakfast himself, Gregor put on his coat as usual and left the apartment. About 40 minutes later, he arrived at the Cypress Fir Tower.
Gregor entered the building and, after collecting a key from the receptionist, Mrs. Ada, took a hidden passageway that led to the Serenity Bureau. He greeted his colleagues enthusiastically upon arrival.
"Hey, good morning, Brandon! You look like you didn’t sleep well last night."
At the corner desk in the hall, Gregor greeted Brandon, who appeared distracted. Brandon managed a weak smile in return.
"Yeah... More or less, Mr. Mayschoss. I haven’t been resting well these past few days."
Noticing Brandon’s condition, Gregor’s eyes flickered with an idea. After checking their surroundings, he leaned closer and lowered his voice.
"Listen, Brandon. Don’t take this the wrong way, but I’ve heard some not-so-flattering rumors about you from my night patrols... something about your personal life being a bit... messy. My advice? If you can’t control yourself, find a girlfriend and settle down. Constant recklessness isn’t just bad for your health—it could mess up your work. Worse, catching something would be a disaster."
Gregor spoke in a tone of friendly admonition. Brandon froze momentarily before forcing a smile.
"Haha... Thank you for your concern, Mr. Mayschoss. I’ll take your words into consideration."
"Of course! We’re colleagues, after all. Think about it seriously. Anyway, I’ve got to go," Gregor said cheerfully, leaving Brandon’s desk to chat with others. Meanwhile, Brandon remained seated, his gaze darkening as he watched Gregor walk away.
"Hmph... Maybe you should worry more about yourself..."
Brandon thought bitterly. He was waiting for a signal—one that had been prearranged. When the time came, he would carry out his final mission in the Bureau, claim his reward, and return to his society in glory.
"Hurry... I can’t wait any longer. This dull place, this boring job—I can’t stand it a moment more. If it weren’t for my father and his tedious ways, I wouldn’t even be here. The society is where I belong; only it can satisfy my desires..."
Brandon’s gloomy eyes swept over his colleagues as he silently fumed. He glanced at his watch. It was 10 a.m.
"Soon... just thirty more minutes, and the signal will come—the signal to lure the hunter squads away."
Suppressing his excitement, Brandon continued to wait. But just then, an unexpected voice broke his thoughts.
"Gregor! Urgent matter—come to the chief’s office immediately!"
In the crowd, Elena approached Gregor, who had been idly chatting with others, her tone tinged with urgency. Gregor froze for a moment before responding.
"Got it."
He quickly followed Elena toward the corridor. Watching them leave, Brandon frowned slightly.
"What’s going on? The flowers shouldn’t arrive for another thirty minutes. Is this some other emergency?"
Puzzled, Brandon stopped a colleague passing by and asked.
"Tony, seems like there’s action again. Do you know what’s going on?"
"Oh, that... Seems similar to last time. Mrs. Ada received flowers again. I just saw them upstairs. Same scenario as before. Might be another big case," Tony replied.
Hearing this, Brandon’s brows furrowed, confusion written across his face.
"So it’s flowers again... Why did the action start early?"
…
Igwynt’s Serenity Bureau Branch Office, Chief’s Office.
Gregor, Elena, and Turner stood in the office. A bouquet of fresh flowers lay on the chief’s desk, an eerily familiar sight reminiscent of the morning the Burton case began. The only difference was that Chief James wasn’t present.
"Flowers again... Can’t these guys come up with something new? Are we supposed to clean up their mess again? Hmph..."
Turner complained bluntly, spreading his hands. Meanwhile, Gregor, staring at the bouquet, noticed a thick card-like note amidst the flowers.
"This time, it might be different," Gregor said slowly.
He reached for the note, only to realize it wasn’t a card but a thickly folded piece of paper. Exchanging a glance with Turner, Gregor carefully unfolded it, revealing a map.
The three scanned the map, their expressions growing solemn. After a moment, Gregor turned to Elena and said decisively.
"Elena, send a report to the chief immediately. Request clearance for an urgent operation at the Flooded Dockyard. Time is of the essence—hurry!"
"Understood!"