Matilda: Cabinets, cabinets, and more cabinets.
Matilda: Who is in charge here? I was under the impression this was an important department, no? Where is the security?
The ever-curious Matilda weaves her way through the rows of filing cabinets. She has read about this department in books detailing the Foundation's history.
Matilda: "The department contains all known objects which have produced dangerous or mysterious arcane phenomenon."
Matilda: Some even say it contains "Every arcane mystery—solved and unsolved—that has ever been recorded."
Matilda: But of course, the biggest mystery of all time, the "Storm," still defies them.
Matilda: As it does for us all. It seems, with every department turned to the study of the "Storm," there is little time to spare for these more trivial puzzles.
Her footsteps echo through the empty department, and the odd sense that she's being watched settles over her.
Silence can be comforting, but it can also be unsettling—a breeding ground for loneliness, dredging up long-buried unease.
Matilda: ...
Matilda: I wonder how Mama is doing. Madam Z said she would keep an eye on her, but still no updates.
She finds herself pausing, her gaze lowering to the ground.
But only for a moment.
Matilda: No, bring yourself together, Matilda Bouanich. This is your mama, the greatest mother of all time. What could possibly have gone wrong?
With renewed confidence, she picks up her pace, her pale ponytail bouncing behind her.
Matilda: Now her most outstanding daughter runs an important errand for the Foundation, unlike some others who have dedicated their valuable time to a vacation in the name of "reviving the Uluru Games."
Matilda: Still, one must hope they will succeed in making the games as grand and sublime as they say they were in the distant past, or else ...
Matilda: Hmm?
Just as she passes another set of shelves, something catches her eye.
???: Everything's fine here. Now, on to the next row.
???: Oh. This is one of my favorites.
Matilda: What is it?
???: An excellent question, Miss. See that serial number on it?
???: AN-003, a water sample from the Pèilín River. Number 003.
???: There are hundreds of thousands of samples, collections, and records here, but no matter who you ask, this particular one will always make their top list.
???: Collected in a remote city in China. When the investigators arrived, they found that it had been isolated in time. All its inhabitants dressed and lived as if they were from the late Táng Dynasty.
???: They were completely unaware of the state of the world beyond their lands, as if trapped in a time capsule from the forgotten past.
Matilda: Oh ...
The liquid inside the vial is clear and pristine—less like river water and more like a perfectly liquefied gemstone. Matilda can't help but stare in fascination.
Matilda: But how is that possible? Did no one ever leave the city? Not even to travel or do business?
???: You're a clever one, Miss. Yes, it seems the investigators were confused, too. In the end, they realized that an arcane skill was affecting the Pèilín River.
???: Sadly, it seems the arcane energy was dissipating by the time they arrived, and they weren't able to figure out its cause.
???: This is the only sample they were able to recover. Laplace has been begging for access to it. They're eager to unravel the mystery.
Matilda: Wow. That is indeed a most intriguing claim.
???: It's not just a claim, Miss. It's real. Wait.
???: Ms. Matilda Bouanich?
The careless young staff member only now seems to have fully recognized Matilda's presence.
Matilda: You've heard of me?
???: Yeah, of course. Who hasn't heard of the Bouaniches and their star investigator daughter. Didn't you know that everyone's been talking about you since you joined the Foundation?
???: Actually, my mother and I went to visit you. Oh. But I haven't introduced myself.
Scott: Constance Scott, I'm a fellow graduate from SPDM.
Scott: Of course, now, I'm just a record keeper here.
It doesn't seem like false modesty. Every top student of the SPDM was granted the honor of having their name inscribed in the school's hall of fame, but Matilda has never once come across the name Scott.
Matilda: Actually, I've been looking for you as well, Ms. Scott. Commissioner Pedra asked me to give this to you.
Scott: A letter? What's it about?
Matilda: I couldn't say. But he had a most unpleasant look about him as he gave it to me. Then he asked me to review my report on the events in San Francisco.
Matilda: Are you alright? Your face has grown quite pale.
Scott: I'm fine. I just have a bad feeling I know what I'm about to read.
Having bid farewell to Matilda, Scott makes her way to a secluded room within the department, the letter clutched in her hand.
She carefully closes the door behind her, and, with one last glance around the room, opens the envelope. A single sheet of paper floats out from within, one carrying a heavy message.
Pedra: The investigation has been concluded. Unfortunately, their findings were exactly as we feared.
Pedra: The suspect must be apprehended ASAP, and all efforts must be made to retrieve this arcane object before either cause further trouble.
Pedra: You must leave immediately. Her last reported sighting was in Chinatown, Los Angeles.
Vendor: Oranges! Fresh oranges!
Tourist: Sorry, could you say that again? Zhǐ Mǎ Wǔ? And that means paper horse dance? Okay. I got it.
Chinatown Resident: Hey, shopkeeper! Got any Siu Yuk left? No? Then give me a piece of Char Siu and some Bak Chit Gai, please.
Child: Wow! Daddy, look! There's a dragon on the floor. That's totally cool!
People speaking many languages meet and weave around each other on the crowded avenue. Liáng wanders among them, stopping every now and then to take it all in.
Poitier: Welcome to Chinatown. How do you like it?
Liang Yue: Yes. It does give me a certain sense of nostalgia. Do you come here often, Ms. Poitier?
Poitier: Yeah, I guess so. I mean, outside of work, it's been a while. Three years or so.
Liang Yue: Only once in three years? I don't think you can consider that "often."
Poitier waves a hand, glancing down the lively streets on either side.
Poitier: Yeah, well, it's a fun place for a day trip, sure, but things are different when you put on the uniform.
Poitier: Remember that private eye back at the hospital, Zhōu? You can get an impression about how people see the police around here from him.
Liang Yue: You mean that the residents here don't cooperate with the Arcane Affairs division?
Poitier: Well, it's complicated. There's a lot of language and cultural barriers. Folks here just don't turn to the police to solve their problems. Even when they do, we feel like we have no idea where to start.
Poitier: The thing that surprised me the most was how arcanists of all kinds and humans live so closely together here. I guess it's the same in China, isn't it?
Poitier: I remember this one time, we had a call about a break-in. When we got there, it turned out the shopkeeper was a big white bird as tall as I am.
Poitier: And this other time, we're chasing down a lost puppet for some lame-ass puppeteer. Anyways, so I ask an old lady if she'd seen a doll nearby. You know what she said?
Poitier: Well, I don't know what she said, but she started going off about me being a Lǎowài.
Poitier: Now, give me some credit. I might not speak Chinese, but I do know Lǎowài means foreigner. So, excuse me? Like I'm American, baby—born and raised.
Liang Yue: Heh heh. Sorry.
Liáng knows she should remain serious, but she can't help but be tickled by Poitier's indignation.
Poitier shoots her a glare, but then heaves a quiet sigh.
Poitier: That's not even the half of it.
Poitier: The thing is, I don't hate it here, although I can't say I love Chinatown very much either. To be honest, most of us on the force haven't found a way to make inroads with the people here.
Liang Yue: If that's the problem, why don't we try to understand things step by step? Maybe then we can start fresh? We're here anyway.
Liáng turns back and examines the archway at the beginning of the road. They have already been in this "other world" for a while.
Poitier: Yeah, it's worth a shot.
Poitier: If we're gonna get anywhere, then we'll have to start here.
Poitier: But we need to check another task off our list first.
They cross the street and turn into a narrow alleyway.
Poitier: Should be right there, down the alley. Feeling excited, rookie?
Poitier: We're about to pay a visit to your favorite director, Noire.
Liang Yue: Favorite? What? No. I just like the movies, that's all. I've got no specific feelings for the director.
Liáng can't hold back her rebuttal, but under Poitier's teasing gaze, she stops herself.
Liang Yue: Maybe just a little. I am curious about the mind of the director behind such great movies.
Liang Yue: But this is strictly a police matter, so I will act with professional self-restraint.
Liang Yue: Actually, I've made a request with the Vigiles Intelligence branch for a file on Director Noire and any related events. We should get it soon.
Poitier: You've got a file on her already? Feels like you're going a bit overboard, rookie.
Poitier: It wasn't actually the director that called us. Her assistant did. Later on, Noire herself contacted us and said the so-called threat was just a misunderstanding.
Poitier: Normally, we'd leave it at that. There's too much real crime out there to bother with a case where the victim doesn't think anything happened.
Poitier: Still, according to Dispatch, the assistant was real spooked over it. The operator got the feeling we should give it a second look, so they kept the file open.
Poitier: But look, this is just a follow-up and an excuse to come down here. So, keep your mind on the real mission.
Liang Yue: Got it, ma'am.
The scene from the Division of Arcane Affairs yesterday flashes across Liáng's mind.
After leaving the hospital, they immediately returned to report their findings and highlight the dangers lurking behind Chinatown's strange events.
But the higher-ups had a different take on things.
Poitier: It's been reassigned to the local precinct.
Poitier stands in the doorway to the Deputy Chief's Office and shakes her head. Liáng immediately catches the subtle shift in her expression.
Liang Yue: What's wrong? What does that mean?
Poitier: Nothing, kid. It's just most of the force aren't trained to deal with arcane crimes. Don't get me wrong. They're good, capable officers, but I'm worried.
Poitier: If this was any other case, I'd keep my mouth shut, but come on, this is clearly our department. This case has arcanum all over it.
Poitier: I don't think they know what they're getting into.
Liang Yue: ...
For a brief moment, neither speaks. Then, Liáng's eyes light up.
Liang Yue: Ms. Poitier, I have an idea. What if we ...
Poitier: We prioritize Noire's case, which just happens to put us in Chinatown. So, there's no harm in asking a few questions about our other investigation.
Poitier: I knew there was a little rebel in you, Liáng. You like to bend the rules, just not break 'em, am I right?
Liang Yue: Um, not too often.
Liang Yue: Actually, I think we're obliged to take Ms. Noire's case seriously, even if it wouldn't help us with the other case.
Liang Yue: Please wait a minute. It's my communication device.
Liáng pulls out the communication device often criticized by Foundation employees for being too bulky. Poitier leans in to get a better look. Her chameleon comm perched on her chest stretches its neck in curiosity.
Notification: SPF-I Portable Contact Device activated. You've received a new message. Downloading attachment.
Notification: Download complete. Please check your mailbox.
Poitier: Message? What's it about?
Liang Yue: It's from the Intelligence Department. They've found her records.
Liang Yue: Ms. Noire is registered with the Foundation. There might be something in her files that can provide us some clues.
She opens the pinned email and scans through the attached files. Her expression turns serious.
Liang Yue: Wait. Is this ...
