CB-3 7:22P.M.

The shots are coming from above? Are they up on the overpass?

How high is the angle of attack? Where could they be shooting from?

Doesn't matter. First I've got to——!

Nng——!

Oof!

I- I'm okay. What's this...? It's sticky...

A Sauin candle? Real lucky these were here...

You got one stuck in your horn too.

Huh? Oh, thanks. I guess I better yank it... out——!

Don't move, candle boy.

Quiet. Take cover behind that crate.

We lost Fronzo's signal. Oughta be around here somewhere!

Penguin Logistics is here too. Tell the boss as soon as you spot the target.

You can come out.

Oh, okay...

I appreciate your help, but you really don't wanna get mixed up in this. You better go somewhere safe.

I'd love to. It's been a while since I had a trip to Lungmen. But a job's a job...

Considering how I found you, I'm guessing your deal with Penguin Logistics isn't going so well?

...you could say that.

Err, who are you, exactly? I get the feeling you're not a typical passer-by.

Calm down. Let's just say I'm not your enemy.

Whoops, they're coming back. Hide.

Mamma mia! Those Penguin bastards got Fronzo! What're we gonna do?

That Bison kid's all alone. This could be our big break.

Can we really just yoink him in the middle of downtown Lungmen?

Mr. Capone says as long as we do it nice and quiet-like, hold off on the guns and bombs, Lungmen won't make a fuss.

Nobody's gonna go looking in those filthy old alleyways, eh?

Then we'll be the backup, you find the kid. Capiche?

Well, we can't stay here. Let's get going.

Let's see... over there. Let's say hello.

Ya find Bison yet, baws?

I'm wearin' shades, not binoculars. Gimme some space!

Aight... I see 'im. Waving at me.

Well let's go get him, then come back and ask this guy what they're up to.

Mmmf—— Mmmh——

Nah.

Looks like our lucky little Bison had a smooth landing. He can get hisself back here.

Um... he took a forty-foot drop onto a smooth landin'? How's that?

And the bad guys are kinda hunting for him. You sure we shouldn't go get him?

She's got him.

...She's back?

Exusiai, stay focused.

There they are! We gotta spring Fronzo!

Sigh. There's just no end to you people.

I think we lost them.

So what's Texas and the girls gotten themselves into this time? Who are they fighting now?

Can I really trust you?

I guess I better introduce myself. I'm Mostima. A Messenger for Penguin Logistics.

I think that makes me your colleague, for now. I usually work alone though.

...Mostima. I've heard that name from my father before.

(Not to mention a Sankta with black horns... the rumors were true. Better not ask about them though...)

Oh...? Good things I hope?

Erm... how should I say...? Just baseless rumors...

And after you saved me like that, I have no reason to doubt you. Sorry.

Don't worry about it. You got nothing to apologize for.

Thanks... Now we should share our intelligence... although I'm still pretty confused.

Basically, Penguin Logistics is in some kind of conflict with an arm of the Siracusan mafia.

Right. Got it.

Huh? You got it already?

I don't need any more. You need to stop thinking so much. Trust your instincts. That's the Penguin Logistics way.

Oh. So the trick is to just stop thinking, huh...?

They're a very special bunch. Common sense doesn't really work here.

...What about you, Mostima?

Are you always this direct with people?

I- I think so.

We need to get moving.

Follow me.

Eyo, you found the target yet?

There's too many people. Hey, I'm walkin' here!

C'mon, let's check somewhere else.

...I don't think they saw us.

Just keep going like this, and we'll figure out a way to meet back up with the others.

Right.

Hm.

Wh- what is it?

If we keep going like this, we'll end up...

G- getting caught by the mob?!

So that's where it was. It's been so many years since I've been back to Lungmen. All the signs are different.

Right... are you hungry? I'm trying to decide between matcha and chocolate.

......

Phew... It's getting late. Time to go home and sleep...

This is a great place to run a seafood stand. I can't believe how many customers came through. Hm? Is that...?

......

Hey.

I'll break this arm if I have to.

It's me, it's me! Let go!

Huh? What are you doing here?

I just closed up. I'm on my way home.

You're the one who's here spacing out—— Well, I guess it's not spacing out if you can flip around and snap my neck like that...

Did you hear that car accident just now, up on the overpass?

...aren't you supposed to be studying?

One must strike a balance between recreation and labor. If I spent the whole night before the exam cramming, I'd go in there with my brain totally fried.

Yeah, sure.

I heard some customers talking about it. I hope nobody died.

Same... but I heard something at the office. I guess there's some real unsavory characters mixed up in this...

Let's get this out of the way: I have nothing to do with any killers, gangs, or anyone in that world. You know that, right?

Everybody knows your deal—— Or maybe I should just say, with this attitude of yours, it's natural to be a little suspicious?

...right. I get it.

And there was a gas explosion on a highway in the outskirts just two hours ago.

A gas explosion on a highway? That's a pretty convenient explanation.

Hey, you're not thinking...?

I told you: one must strike a balance between recreation and labor.

...right. I get it.

So is this recreation or labor?

There we go. They can't do anything downtown like this. Too many people.

You ordered the matcha, right? This one's yours. My treat.

I don't see any mafia-looking guys, but... aren't we letting our guard down a bit too much?

What are you talking about? This place is a FIVE STAR recommendation. That's way more awesome than some mobsters.

You been able to contact Texas and them yet?

No, it was so fast...

So what's to be all nervous about?

......

Your ice cream's melting. You gotta calm down already.

Er, it's just... nobody could have predicted this. I should calm down.

These mobsters came aaall the way from Siracusa to Lungmen. We can bet they're not here for Sauin, right?

...They definitely have some other goal. One of them is me, but beyond that, I don't know.

We're in a good position. We managed to lose them. And with just the two of us versus however many of them, we have the advantage in scouting them out...

But how do we proceed? Should we start hunting them? No, the better move is to reconnect with Texas...

Heh. You seem a lot more like an ordinary Messenger than Texas and the girls.

Oh, sorry, was I talking to myself?

No, you're right.

We know the mob is up to something, we can't just go off half cocked.

But sometimes you gotta trust in the girls. I know they can be a little out there, but Penguin Logistics is a tough cookie.

It's kind of weird to call a logistics firm 'tough,' but... Forget it. It's not like I've got any room to complain.

Let's just take a walk, enjoy the scenery. And maybe by the time we run into Texas and the crew, they'll have this whole gang war all wrapped up?

...erm, really?

Ah...

Mostima?

You see that candy store?

It's really more of a stall than a store.

Hm, it is pretty old.

I came here on a trip to Lungmen years ago.

Back then... I didn't have any Lungmen dollars on me. Honestly, I must've looked a sight. But still, I found myself drawn to the candy.

O... kay.

That's what a Messenger does. We get into trouble on our long and arduous journeys.

C'mon, let's take a look.

......

Wow! It's a twinkly star!

Mister, how did you pull a star down here?

Sorry, but that's a secret I'll have to keep.

That's not a star! It's just a candy with some food coloring!

But I've never seen such a pretty candy before... you sure you don't want one?

Y- you're such a pain! Don't they have any cotton candy?

Of course we do. Here, give me your hand.

Oh... but I don't want cotton candy. I want that one...

I hate fruity candies! They're too sweet! And they turn your tongue weird colors!

Just take what you want. No charge. For Sauin.

Now it's getting late. You kids hurry home and get to bed!

Thanks, mister!

Hurry up! I wanna go to the toy store and check out the limited Sauin knights they got!

Kids these days have so much energy.

Did you want something? We've got these lovely Victorian gumdrops. Real imports. And they come with a candle for Sauin.

Hmm...

We're in no hurry. The night is young.

Ho ho. And so are you. You two must be here for the downtown Carnival.

(Mostima, who is this guy...?)

...you enjoy the nightlife, sir?

Not with these old bones I don't. But the candy I sell tends to make its way there for me.

Is there something special about this year's Carnival Gala? Looks like a lot of foreign guests in town.

Things have been quiet in this town for too many years. The people are definitely itching for the Carnival.

The Carnival brings in all kinds of characters showing up getting into all kinds of trouble. And that's pretty fun, isn't it?

Yeah, for sure.

The point of Sauin was always to see off the souls of the departed. If the living are having a good time, that's a decent sacrifice.

You really don't want anything? Last time, you stood outside with your face stuck to the display window. I thought I was gonna have to peel you off.

Wow, you remember me? That's kind of embarrassing.

Hah. How could I forget?

I'd love to. But I really can't be eating too many sweets before work.

That's too bad... Ah well, have a good evening, kids.

Do come again, when you have time.

Yeah. Of course.

......

The Carnival, huh? I heard it's the biggest festival event for Lungmen in years.

......Bison?

Sorry, I just had something on my mind...

It's pretty obvious what you'd be thinking about at a time like this.

But boy do you love thinking too much. Just go with your gut sometimes.

My gut... even a Messenger like you says to trust your gut?

You play it case by case. Like right now we're up here on a bridge, and there's a cargo ship passing down below us.

Okay?

And we got three disguised mobsters coming at us from both directions.

Wha!

It's too late now. They've been watching us for a while.

Since the candy store.

We- we're surrounded?

There's tourists all around us, so we can't fight.

But I'm not sure these guys have any hangups about that.

...so what do we do?

Jump.

I'm sorry?

Jump. Now.

Off the bridge——?

There you go with that thinking again. Hop over the railing. Take a leap of faith. Like so——!

W- wait a sec——

Welp! Somehow I feel like this isn't my first time in freefall....

It's... candy? Why is this freighter hauling candy?

But at least it looks like we lost them, Mostima——

......

Mostima?