Night has deepened, and the little restaurant on the corner outside of Chinatown is almost empty. The doorbell chimes, and two people walk in.
Loggerhead: Scott, and Tall Officer, over here.
Poitier: Again, it's Poitier. Have you seriously already forgotten my name? It's only been three hours.
At Loggerhead's call, the two newcomers take a seat at her and Liáng's table.
Liang Yue: What's your status?
Scott: Couldn't find anything useful. Sorry.
Scott: I already asked the investigators who came with me to track down the other missing items, you know, to cover up for Loggerhead, but so far, they haven't found anything.
Scott: As for the person who stole the item, I haven't a clue.
Loggerhead: Well ...
Loggerhead: At least there haven't been any reports of arcane explosions or earthquakes. No news is good news, right?
Poitier: What about you? Any leads?
Liang Yue: Ms. Noire didn't take the film, but she refused to tell us anything about its curse or the former owner, Hé Rìjūn.
She lets out a deliberately dejected sigh, withholding the final message Noire gave her.
Poitier: Looks like I'm the only one who has good news.
Liang Yue: You do? What about?
Poitier tilts her head, gesturing past Scott to the darkened street outside the window.
Poitier: The illegal trade of arcane items. You told me to keep an eye on it.
Poitier: I contacted my guy who tracks all that stuff. Told me about this trader called Pug Dog, a middleman in the black market.
Poitier: He was pulled over for speeding this morning, but he actually paid the ticket right away. Can you believe that? I wouldn't be surprised if he shot the police car and ran away there.
Liang Yue: An outlaw suddenly behaving himself ...
Liang Yue: He must be up to something important. Something big enough to make him avoid getting into trouble over a speeding ticket.
Poitier: The officers thought the same, so they tracked him to this stolen car, right? Well, guess where it's headed—here, Chinatown.
Pug Dog: ...
A man with a deep, jagged scar across his brow saunters under the moonlight.
At last, he stops, slipping into a darkened alleyway. He has no idea that four silent pursuers are lurking nearby, hidden under a rookie vigil's Silent Shadow arcane skill.
Loggerhead: What's he doing?
Poitier: Waiting for someone's my guess.
Scott: A middleman for the arcane black market. So, he probably has the cursed film, and now he's planning to sell it to someone.
Scott: We should get him now, before the film's sold off. Come on, this is our chance.
Scott: Hm? Mmm.
Liáng clamps a hand over her mouth just in time, muffling her outburst.
Liang Yue: Shh. Someone's coming.
From the depths of the shadows, a figure emerges.
Not walking toward Pug Dog, but riding something. Perhaps—a wheelchair.
Noire: Good evening, sir. I hope I didn't keep you too long.
Pug Dog: You got the dough?
Noire: Of course.
Noire pulls a rectangular object from her coat.
Poitier: It's an envelope. Looks pretty thick.
Poitier is right. Pug Dog takes the envelope and pulls a handful of bills from it before nodding in satisfaction.
Pug Dog: All here. Dontcha worry, alright? You can trust me. Everyone in L.A. knows Pug Dog.
He stuffs the bulging envelope into his pocket before pulling an item from his jacket.
Pug Dog: Here's your stuff.
The item cuts an arc through the darkness, landing precisely in Noire's waiting hands.
Pug Dog: Heh. I like customers like you, generous and to the point. Alright, I'm outta here. Pleasure doin' business with ya. And hey, feel free to call me again.
He scans the area before turning back to Noire, lowering his voice.
Pug Dog: Seein' as you're a good customer o' mine, here's a bit of advice: Watch your back on the way outta here.
Noire: What do you mean?
But Noire doesn't get the chance to press further.
The moment has come. Liáng strides out from the shadows.
Liang Yue: Sorry to interrupt, but neither one of you will be making your own way home. Ms. Noire, Pug Dog.
Liang Yue: I'm afraid you'll be coming to the Arcane Affairs office with me.
Pug Dog: F**kin' cop!
COMBAT
Poitier: Shut up and stay down!
Pug Dog's attempts to fight back have been utterly useless.
Liang Yue: Ms. Noire, could you show me what he gave you?
Noire: Go ahead.
She hands a dusty gray box to Liáng.
Inside is an ordinary-looking film reel. But Liáng can feel the vessel containing Qiángliáng growing warm against her skin.
Liang Yue: Super 8 mm. This must be it. Reunion of the Three Swallows. Hé Rìjūn's final work.
Liang Yue: The culprit behind the strange happenings in Chinatown.
Yet for now, it lies quietly in her grasp, docile and unthreatening.
Poitier: Well, that was easier than expected. Half a day, and we've already tracked it down.
Poitier: Now all we gotta do is stop it from doing its arcanum-y thing. But how? Smash it?
Before Liáng can respond, Noire voices a polite opposition.
Noire: I don't think that's a good idea.
Liang Yue: I have to admit, Ms. Noire's right.
Liang Yue: Arcane items need to be handled with the utmost care. No one knows what will happen once it's broken. We could make things worse.
Poitier: Fine. Let's take these two back to the office first.
Poitier: On your feet, tough guy! We gotta go.
Pug Dog: Ugh. Damn it. How'd ya find me? Some asshole sell me out?
Pug Dog is yanked up from the ground. He reluctantly follows Poitier, grumbling and cursing under his breath.
But as he passes Liáng, he stops.
Pug Dog: Wait. You!
He stares.
Not at her, precisely, but at the figure cowering behind her.
Pug Dog: It was you! You f**kin' traitor! I shoulda known you were workin' with the cops.
Loggerhead tilts her head in confusion.
Loggerhead: Huh? What are you talking about?
Scott: Uh, wait, let me explain. This is just a misunderstanding.
Liang Yue: Don't worry, Ms. Scott. You're right. There has been a misunderstanding between you and him. Allow me to explain.
Scott heaves a sigh of relief, only for Liáng's next words to hit her like a thunderclap.
Liang Yue: You never had the intention of betraying him, nor were you working with us.
Liang Yue: You simply gave him the item you wanted to sell. That's it.