[-] Early in the morning, as the first light of dawn descends upon the land, Champion Street is already filled with the hustle and bustle of everyday life. The constant hawking of vendors and the aroma of various delicacies flood the entire street and every alley.
[-] Yet Champion Auction House is the only place that is enjoying "peace and quiet" on the bustling street, as there is a notice board at its entrance--Closed For The Morning.
[-] Champion Auction House, a prestigious establishment that recently appeared on Champion Street, specializes in auctioning rare and priceless items. Rumor has it that the auction house is owned by Fuuka Minami, the proprietor of Bamboo Cloud. However, Fuuka Minami has remained silent on the legitimacy of those claims.
[-] Flipping through the schedule in my hand, I realize today should be a business day for the auction house. Feeling a bit confused, I decide to search for an employee entrance to get inside and ask one of the auction house's staff for clarification.
[player] Huh? Why won't it budge?
[-] Although I unlocked the electronic lock with the access card, the door isn't budging at all, even when I push hard against it. It seems like... something is blocking it from the inside.
[-] Just as I start to wrack my brain for a solution, I receive a call from Ume.
[Ume] How are the preparations going at the auction house?
[-] As soon as the call connects, Ume gets straight to the point and asks about my progress. I glance at the motionless door before me and lowered my voice guiltily.
[player] I'm not sure if it's my access card that's acting up, but the auction house is closed, and I can't get in through the employee entrance either. So...
[Ume] You can't get in, huh? Okay, I understand. Go get some breakfast at Bamboo Inn. I'll meet you there.
[-] Although allowing your boss to personally resolve an issue is a risky move for a lowly employee like me, I don't have a better choice right now. I can't just force my way in, right? Ugh... Let's just get something to eat.
[-] Bamboo Cloud has many restaurants throughout Champion Street, with each catering to different types of customers. For instance, Bamboo Inn, located by the auction house, is all about fast food, with a menu featuring roasted dishes and snacks. Mornings are their busiest times, and there's always a steady stream of people coming in.
[-] I take a glance at the long line and start making my way toward the end of the line when one of the employees stops me.
[Employee] PLAYER? Let me take another look at the photo... Yes, it is you.
[player] Huh?
[Employee] Ms. Ume gave our manager a call about your arrival. Everything has been prepared, please come with me.
[-] Ume's efficiency is truly mind-blowing. I follow the employee inside under the envious gazes of the nearby crowd, all the way up to the second floor.
Bamboo Inn - Second Floor
[player] Wh-Why isn't there anyone else here?
[Employee] You're a distinguished guest that Ms. Ume personally notified us about. We don't have private rooms in this restaurant, so our manager cleared out the second floor for you to dine in peace.
[player] W-Wait a minute... I'm just a...
[Employee] Don't worry about it, it's only right that we do this for you. If you're satisfied with your meal...
[-] The employee approaches me and whispers with a wide grin on his face.
[Employee] Please speak kindly of our restaurant to Ms. Minami and Ms. Ume. Even though we're positioned as a budget-friendly place, our annual income is quite impressive and we rank among the top earners. So, the year-end bonuses and dividends... Hehe.
[-] I think I know what's going on now. Ume must have forgotten to explain who I am, so they've mistaken me for an inspector. But it's probably best not to say anything right now. Anyway... let's just get something to eat first.
[-] The second floor has a great view. More than half of Champion Street is in view through the exquisite wooden lattice windows, including the nearby auction house. I even have a clear view of the entrance.
[-] If they open up now, I can still make it... I wait for my breakfast to arrive while thinking about the work that is about to come.
[player] Huh?
[-] Are there two people on the second floor of the auction house? The view isn't very clear through the wooden grid window, so I push open the window beside me.
[player] ?!
[-] A woman is being strangled by a masked figure!!!
[-] In a hurry, I stretch half my body out the window to get a closer look, and I see her bending down to pick something up before passing it to the person behind her. It's a bit too far away, so I couldn't see what exactly it was... After that, the masked figure strikes her on the head, and her figure crashes to the ground, vanishing from my sight.
[player] A robbery?!
[-] It's an emergency! What should I do?
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