"W-Why I see you're well acquainted with my products already." Piscium stammered, unable to maintain eye contact, "Why didn't you tell me?"
"Do you want to know where I found it?"
"F-Found it you say? Why I don't...know what you're..."
"I found it in the flooded sewers of Mulapin."
"T-the sewers?" Piscium pulled at his collar nervously, "H-How disrespectful to my merchandise! If I ever get my hands on them-"
"The main Earthbound base was in the sewers." Roko continued, "This flood has forced us out of our main base and we have reason to believe that this is an organized attack employed by Sirius."
"A-are you saying I'm responsible? That's preposterous! You've been having heavy rain for the past few days have you not? How do you know it's not the rain?"
"Aside from the fact that this rain should not be able to flood the sewer this completely and this quickly?" Roko scoffed, "The water inside the sewer is saltwater. Rain is freshwater so it's clearly not the source. If I would hazard a guess, the salt in your Sealiths would do well towards creating saltwater would you not agree?"
"I-I wouldn't know anything about that." Piscium said, sweating profusely, "You have no actual proof my Sealiths were actually responsible for-"
"This 'Fossil Sealith' was found to be contributing to the flooding. Enchanted to create water at an alarming rate. As you are the only seller of such 'fossils', you-"
"Did I say that?" Piscium whistled, "But you never know, someone might be counterfeiting my products. Happens all the time you know. Low quality replicas sold at a disgusting price. Makes me quite mad, you know."
Roko sighed, "The Sealith I found looks exactly like yours. Salt crystals and all. Are you saying someone else has access to the salty southern sea that you use to create yours?"
"S-So they've infiltrated my workforce!" Piscium continued stammering, "This is really concerning, I must investigate at once! If you'll excuse-"
Piscium stood up quickly and hurried to the door, abandoning his merchandise as he opened the door only to be met with a Melia on the other side, forcing him back in as she walked inside, forcing the nervous merchant away from the door.
"I have found documentation that a large supply of 'Fossil Sealiths' were delivered to Min al Az'al about a month ago." Melia said, passing some papers on to Roko, "Naturally, they were provided by a certain someone's business."
"Sit back down, Mr. Piscium." Roko stated, "We still have business to discuss."
Roko hadn't turned to look at Piscium. He had turned to look at Melia and then to the papers she had provided that he later tossed down on the desk after a quick glance. But he wasn't looking at Piscium. He just kept looking forward, at the seat that Piscium had left behind, expecting him to just walk back into view. Piscium couldn't tell what this man was thinking. His expression was unreadable and while his tone gave off a conversational gait, it seemed more like a courtesy than...human. But...it didn't seem like he was trying to hide anything. He did lead him on a little but he wasn't...attacking him. Accusing him or abusing him. Of course, there was always the chance that happens anyway if he did return to that table...but would a man after revenge really be so calmly asking him to return to the table? Was there something deeper? Some scheme he has planned? But if he was planning on doing something with him...would he not be trying harder to keep him here in this room? Melia was watching him sure but Roko hasn't made a move to stop him since he got up. Was it...okay to trust him? Could he still have something to gain now that all their secrets are out in the open? Against his better judgment perhaps, Piscium slowly returned to his seat.
"Thank you for your cooperation." Roko said as the nervous merchant sat back down, "Rest assured that the rebellion has no desire for now to persecute you or your business for your misdeeds towards us. More than that, we wish to implicate and expose Sirius in this scheme of his and your assistance would be of great help in doing so. Could you help us with that?"
"I..." Piscium frowned, "I don't want to make enemies of you or Sirius. One could be dangerous for me in the future and the other would be dangerous for me right now."
"You have my word that you'll be able to leave this base anytime you want with your life and goods intact. Any proof that we acquire from you can be obfuscated as us having it acquired it without your knowing. However, even if Sirius were to find out, I doubt he'd care for one little scheme like this. He's done far worse. Things that every man, woman and child know he is responsible for yet we simply do not have the proof or power to persecute him. Once we regain control over the courts we can hold him responsible for what we can and your help would be a great asset in those times."
"You're thinking pretty far ahead." Piscium frowned, "I...I'm not technically supposed to leak details about a customer's order..."
"I'm sure no one will blame you for giving information in the middle of an official investigation."
"Official? I don't think the rebellion counts as official anything."
"Perhaps. But we do have the police of Mulapin supporting us so it won't be hard to open an investigation on their behalf."
"You're working with the police?!" Piscium blinked, "That's unexpected. I figured Sirius would have taken control of the police already."
"He certainly left them with very little that's for sure." Roko nodded, "But what's left are people who wish to help the people as much as us."
"Well...if there's an official investigation I guess I don't really have a choice I suppose."
"I'm glad to have your cooperation in all this now. We'll need more information to ensure your own innocence in all this."
"What do you mean?" Piscium frowned.
"You said you provide an enchantment service for your Sealiths. Were you responsible for the enchantments on the Sealith we found?"
"If they're the same ones I delivered then no, they didn't ask for an enchantment on any of them. What's more, the enchantments I offer could never flood an entire sewer system. They're meant to fill up small backyard ponds to larger exhibition pieces."
"I see." Roko nodded as Melia made a note of the information, "So Sirius' own mages must be responsible for the enchantments."
"Most likely." Piscium agreed.
"Do you have any idea who could've done the enchantments?"
"No clue." Piscium shook his head, "With Sirius' resources, I assume any of his court mages could do something like that."
"I see." Roko nodded, "What exactly did he order? How much did he order?"
"It was a large order of 20 Sealiths of B Grade quality." Piscium replied, "I had to have them delivered in a small crate a few days after the order."
"Do you have any record proof of this sale?"
"Certainly but I don't have them with me..." Piscium said cautiously, "I'd have to dig them out...but do you not have proof already? Just now when your friend walked in?"
"They're circumstantial proof." Roko took the papers and spread them out on the table, "Eyewitness reports. Inventory logs. They're no doubt from you but we don't know if Sirius himself paid money for these. Your records would be the concrete proof we need to implicate him."
"You're very through." Piscium gulped, "I...could do this...but..."
"We're willing to compensate you for the troubles." Roko nodded.
"If this is an official investigation then I can't be accepting bribes so publicly, you see..."
"Of course. Then I'll like to make a commission."
"A commission?" Piscium raised an eyebrow, not quite what he expected but intrigued nonetheless.
"Our biggest concern right now is the removal of the flood." Roko explained, "And that means removing the enchanted Sealiths. We have our ways to traverse the water safely so it's a matter of reaching into the water to grab onto them in order to retrieve them. And the best way to do so in the middle of all that flowing water...is Sealith. They have a special property of ignoring the physics of water so I'd like to commission a sort of claw made out of Sealith that can reach out and grab the enchanted Sealiths. Preferably a mechanical one as we can't use a magical instrument for reasons."
"A claw?" Piscium mulled the idea over in his head, "I think I can make that. I have a mechanics degree. I can probably make something like that."
"Whatever it'll cost, we'll pay it." Roko replied, "Within reason. And we'll even take a small collection of souvenir Sealiths as well."
"Well, now that we have a business agreement, I'd be more than happy to comply." Piscium smiled as he held out his hand, "You certainly make an interesting bargain."
"You make for an interesting business partner." Roko shook the merchant's hand, "I hope with your help we can finally catch Sirius."
"I wish you luck on that front. I can only hope what I provide helps you in sorting out this situation."
"Undoubtedly it will." Roko nodded, "If Sirius ever does come after you, please know that we will do all we can to protect you from any repercussions."
"Heh. A few days ago I would've been doubtful of the Earthbound's capabilities. But you...you're something different. I'll watch your career with great interest."
"I'm just a man with a mission trying to get by." Roko sighed.
"Now. It's getting a bit late. Shall we grab lunch?"
"Of course. I'm sure we're in for quite the treat for today."
"Today's a seafood special!" Corissa cried, "It's a big seafood paella!"
"Wow, that...is a huge pan." Piscium blinked.
"It's called a paellera actually." Roko said.
"We have a few sauces, spices and additional toppings you can use to customize your plate." Corissa said as she gestured to a large display of said additives, "And we even got some nice refreshments ready for you to choose from!"
"Wow you really went all out." Roko chuckled.
"Would you like a plate?"
"I would!" Piscium said quickly shoving his plate out for a healthy supply of paella from the cafeteria angel.
"Here you go!" Corissa handed Piscium back his food, "Please enjoy!"
Piscium, smitten once again, probably didn't care that much about the food that he already knew was going to be good that much but made his way to the additives table anyway.
"What's the occasion?" Roko asked as he handed Corissa his plate as well.
"To celebrate your successful business deal of course." Corissa smiled.
"You must've been cooking this hours in advance. How'd you know I was going to succeed?"
"Of course, I had no doubt you'd succeed." Corissa said as she filled the plate with more food that Roko could probably eat in one sitting, "Come on, Roko."
"You sure have a lot of confidence in me." Roko chucked as he took the plate overflowing with food from Corissa.
"Plus, if you were having trouble I was ready to come up and bring in some tea." Corissa winked.
"Were you listening in?"
"Helena was keeping me posted."
"How?"
"Drone."
"Yeah, that'd do it."
"We're another step closer to finally lifting this storm right?"
"Well, the next step is getting rid of the water in the sewer, yeah."
"Then we'll have the main base back!"
"We will but that's a small point in the grand scheme."
"Really? What's the plan then?"
"What else?" Roko said as he turned towards the condiment table, "Infiltrating Muldingirmus."
In the days that followed, Piscium worked on that Sealith claw that Roko requested, ordering a large supply of Sealith expedited to M83 to work with. And among the documents that Piscium had come with the order, a small case of last month's profit reports were sneakily added in. And inside those reports was the sale made to one Min al Az'al. Around 25 Fossil Sealiths ordered. If all of them were utilized then that meant 24 more Sealiths to pick up. The paying account was...not directly from Sirius. It was a separate account tied to a different name whose business was being supported by Sirius. On a cursory glance, this may be enough to distance Sirius from the activity at least in a court of law. But all that meant was that they needed to do more research.
"This name is tied to a merchant's guild." Roko muttered as he looked over his notes, "I'll have to contact them and question them about this account. However...this guild likely seems to be controlled by Sirius. So...I'll have to trace this account's actions. See if any of this history is legit. If not then I can start looking for proof that this is just a burner account set up by Sirius and then..."
"Aranea! Are you here?!"
The small child that had been reading a book in the couch in front of him quickly looked up in terror and placed the book down, running over to hide behind Roko's desk. Before Roko could question Aranea, the door to his office opened up and Medeia bowed politely to him,
"Good afternoon sir. Do you know where Aranea could be at this moment?"
"Aranea?" Roko said, "Uhh...let me think..."
Roko placed two fingers against his temple and turned his head away as if to think but instead he was looking down right at the scared child huddling behind his desk. Aranea quickly and manically shook her head in response.
"Uhh no." Roko turned back to Medeia, "Sorry, can't think of where she could be right now."
"That's a shame. I was hoping to play with her a little today."
"What about Pluteum?"
"Mr. Gallus has started working as a police officer so he hasn't had time to visit much."
"Gallus has joined the police force?" Roko raised an eyebrow, "I'm not too surprised but it's still a little concerning. Has he given up on rebellion duties?"
"Pluteum doesn't know." Medeia crossed her arms, "I don't think Mr. Gallus has been contributing much to the rebellion so it's not unlikely he's changed professions."
"I see..." Roko mused, "I'll have to talk to him about it later."
"Will Pluteum not be allowed into the base anymore if Mr. Gallus is no longer a rebel?" Medeia asked, concerned.
"So long as Mr. Gallus and his family doesn't cause any trouble for us, he and his family are allowed to visit either base at any time." Roko replied.
"Okay! Thank you sir! I'll go help my dad with some work now. Tell Aranea that we should play some more whenever she's free."
"Of course. Good bye."
"Good bye."
The oddly polite child bowed once more before closing the door behind her. Roko sighed and turned to the child who was slowly poking her head around the side of his desk,
"She said that you should play with her some more when you're free."
Aranea looked a bit guilty but not quite guilty enough to regret her actions.
"Why do you hate her?"
Aranea looked up alarmed and quickly shook her head wildly in response.
"You don't hate her?"
Aranea nodded.
"Then why do you avoid her?"
Aranea looked away, her response too complex for her to overcome her shyness to say.
"Is it because she's pushy?"
Aranea's eyes darted around but she slowly gave a small nod.
"Do you dislike that?"
A more firm but still confidence lacking shake of the head.
"Do you like Pluteum?"
Aranea looked up at him blankly.
"You don't really have an opinion on him?"
Aranea looked around a bit guiltily and shrugged.
"Do you not want to be friends with them?"
Aranea shook her head.
"Then why do you avoid them?"
Aranea looked up at him with pleading eyes.
"Is it a secret?"
Aranea looked down and nodded.
"Well secret or not, you shouldn't do things to give people the wrong impression. You don't want Medeia and Pluteum to hate you right?"
Aranea looked sad as she shook her head.
"Then think about what you can do instead of what you can't do. In the meantime, I'll have to punish you by sending to your mo- I mean, to Corissa. She'll make sure you do your sentence of mandatory social interaction for a few days."
Aranea looked alarmed but slowly obediently nodded.
"Good girl." Roko patted her on the head, "Social interaction is important. We don't want you to become socially awkward now do we?"
"That's rich coming from you."
"Stop using drone to spy on people, Helena!"