Chapter 2

The following day, the alarm broke the long night of silence. After a short while, Eula wakes up with a groan. She agonized over the dream being ruined by the pulsating sound ringing in her ear. Reaching over, Eula slaps the alarm, silencing it. Eula opens her eyes reluctantly, rising up from the bed. A few minutes passed, and she remained in that same position, feeling she did not get enough sleep. When her mind becomes active, like a switch activating a robot, she slides out of bed to start her day.

Eula began her day by showering, cooking eggs and toast with coffee, and sitting on her balcony, watching the city from the 3rd floor. A slight breeze hit her face like clockwork to her. Typically, the newspaper would be out in the morning. Still, it was the weekend, so she remained seated, drinking her coffee. Before she could further enjoy the silence, her work pager in the living room started to beep. Without a second thought, she quickly rose from her seat, heading towards the pager. Eula picks it up, reading the message before the fifth ring. Eula was called into the Commissioner's office for a debriefing. Oddly enough, to her, Eula questioned why she was debriefing when all the other cases she led resulted in one of her coworkers providing the debriefing. She placed the pager down and got ready to go to work.

Commissioner Ningguang read over the files at the Favonious Police Station, summarizing the events leading up to the bust. It came as a surprise when she learned about the total amount of drugs being smuggled. In response, she ordered the samples to be expedited. As Ningguang suspected, the drugs were pure. She thought the robbery, the drop-off, and the deal made were too risky. Either this was an elaborate plan for something bigger or the typical gangs trying to make a quick buck. Despite that, she wondered how they could have amounted to so many grams and their purity.

The long silence ended abruptly when there was a knock on the door. Seemingly not interrupting Ningguang's examination, she beckons the visitor to come in. Eula enters the room, and Ningguang ushers Eula to close the door behind her. Eula thought to herself, believing she would get scolded for hanging up on her last night.

"Commissioner Ningguang, I am here for the debriefing?"

As if on cue, Ninguang places the paperwork onto the side, interlacing her fingers and resting her chin on them.

"Yes, thank you for reporting so fast. I would like to discuss the report you submitted with you. It turned out you were on the mark seven months ago about the increase in drug-related cases. How did you obtain this information?"

Respectfully responding, Eula answers stoically, "Yes, as I mentioned on Page 7, paragraph 5, I reached out to the Inazuma Police for information about the drug war that has been going on after obtaining information from one of the informants."

Ningguang nodded in agreement with what Eula's document said, "Yes. Yes, of course, but how were you able to have the Inazuma Police divulge that information," she reiterated.

"Two criminals we captured in previous cases were on their top-most wanted list for undisclosed laws they violated. With Mayor Arlecchino's approval, we provided the prisoners over to them in exchange for information."

Ningguang put the pieces together as she was in the room when the Mayor signed the documents. She was assigned to replace the former Commissioner after he resigned for unknown reasons. Ningguang was not privy to it as she was tasked with reformatting the Favonius Police. It is still an ongoing process, especially with the increased state population of Fontaine civilians.

"The Inazuma Police very seldom cooperate with the other agencies of this country," Ningguang suggested.

Eula, sensing her skepticism about the matter, added additional context to the situation, "The Inazuma Police keep a tight lid on all their affairs; all law violations are usually handled swiftly, considering the fact these two committed crimes here, it's safe to believe that they would remain here to avoid the Inazuma Police."

"I concur," Ningguang pauses. She momentarily contemplated how deep this investigation went before frowning in concern for her subordinate, "This smuggling operation you've uncovered will surely anger many people."

"If I anger people for doing my job, then that means it's working," Eula responded.

"Indeed. The Itto Gang has been making threats, Detective."

Eula listens carefully as she's had multiple run-ins with the Itto Gang. They have avoided being brought down thanks to their shark of a Lawyer, Mona. She deduces that if they are behind the operation, this will no doubt allow them to apprehend them. Until that theory was shot out of the window.

"The problem is they are not the only ones at play here. Words from the grapevine informed me that the Itto Gang will no longer be the only ones watching. You may be targeted, Detective. I have decided to assign you a partner."

The words struck Eula like a sudden chill, leaving her momentarily speechless. Despite the looming threat against her, the idea of having a partner felt like a bitter insult to the dedication she had poured into her work.

"Commissioner Ningguang, with all due respect, I function best. Threats from thugs don't intimidate me as much as the uncertainty about trusting my coworkers."

Ningguang regarded her with understanding but remained firm. "I hear you; however, your partner will not be someone from the Favonius Police. You will be working with Agent Yelan from Liyue. She will be your new partner moving forward."

The news weighed heavily on Eula, amplifying the stress that had already swirled in her mind regarding the threats targeting her.

"But, Commissioner, I…"

Ningguang raised a hand gently to stop her and offered a reassuring smile, though it didn't reach her eyes. "I know. I know."

Yet, the smile faded, replaced by a serious and frank expression as she met Eula's gaze. "How many years has it been, Eula? Three?"

Trauma from her past clawed at Eula's mind, an unwelcome echo she fought fiercely to suppress. It had been three years since the Favonius Police stood at the pinnacle of its strength when morale ran high and justice felt almost within reach. But that light was extinguished the day tragedy struck. Amber Dayes, Eula's cherished best friend, lost her life while pursuing a critical lead on the nefarious activities of the Itto Gang. It was a fateful moment—the first and last time Eula had been separated from the one who completely understood her. In the aftermath, an internal investigation unraveled a web of betrayal, revealing that the killer had ties to the infamous Lawrence family, a powerful crime syndicate. The revelation sent shockwaves through the department, for it turned out that Eula herself was the daughter of the family's current boss. Whispers said she was nothing more than a spy planted within the police force. This notion poisoned her already tenuous relationships with her colleagues.

When the investigation finally concluded, the truth emerged: Eula had been abandoned as an infant at a weathered church, only to be adopted by Amber's grandfather, Sabastian. Those six months of scrutiny turned into a grueling trial, leaving deep scars that would not quickly heal. The coworkers she had once considered allies transformed into distrustful vultures, circling and waiting for any sign of failure. With unwavering resolve, Eula dedicated herself to proving that her commitment to justice was unshakeable and genuine.

She poured her heart and soul into her work, tirelessly investigating and enforcing the law despite the lingering shadows of her past. Slowly but surely, her efforts bore fruit, bringing about a significant drop in crime rates—until the calamity of the Fontaine flooding struck, threatening to sweep away all she had fought for.

"I do not need a partner," says Eula. "If we have the resources to provide me a partner, then that effort should be focused on other areas to bring these criminals to justice. I'll have to watch my own back."

Ningguang sighs and says, "You are a very stubborn detective, Eula." She leans back in her chair and continues, "This is non-negotiable. If I am going to make changes in this department, I need everyone to cooperate, including you. I don't want to end up signing papers for your transfer to a morgue just because of your foolish pride."

Eula keeps a poker face, but inside, she seethes.

"That being said," Ningguang continues, "this is not a reprimand; consider this a step in the right direction. The rest of the department is undergoing changes. Don't think I had noticed that you gave all the credit to the rest of the department when you closed most cases."

Eula's eyes slanted towards the floor, "It's because I wanted to ensure the Favonius Police's reputation doesn't impact the relations to the civilians."

"You're not doing anybody favors doing that. If something happens to you, then what? You believe there will be another Eula, or will the department change after you're gone?"

"I've thought about it and couldn't care less about the credit. I just love doing my job, Commissioner."

Ningguang smiles warmly, reaffirming to her, "You are the best in the force; make sure you remember that. You will be introduced to your new partner soon."

Against Eula's wishes, she reluctantly replies, "Yes, Commissioner."

Ningguang gestures silently towards the exit, dismissing Eula. Ningguang's body language made it clear to Eula that any further protesting would fall on death's ears. Without saying anything else, she turns around and leaves the office. Eula closed the door behind her; the thoughts of the entire meeting weighed on her mind in seconds. Eula closes her eyes, decompressing herself with a faint, deep breath. After a few moments, she walks back to her office. In normal circumstances, Eula would always move with haste, but this time, it was different. Like any other day, her colleagues watched her walk down the hallway without a fuss.

"Did she really give us credit from the bust last night," a female officer spoke.

"Yeah, she did; people say she spent countless hours building this case," another male colleague answered.

One of their senior colleagues interrupts the banter with a condescending statement, "So what? Does she expect us to play nice just because she gives us all the credit in her cases?"

Sergeant Baker's statement forced a long pause; Eula was used to that as Baker made the most vocal scrutiny after Amber's death. The level of influence Baker had in the department resulted in the rapid spreading of her discontent with Eula. Eventually, nearly the entire staff followed suit.

Eula eventually arrived at her office, immediately spotting a folder on her desk. In curiosity, she picked up the folder to read what was inside. Before she began to read, one of her colleagues dipped his head at the doorway, gaining Eula's attention as he spoke.

"Detective, you've got to check the news. They are talking about your case."

Eula drops the folder in disbelief, shouting angrily, "They what?"

Eula extends her hand toward the remote resting on the right side of her desk, fingers brushing against the cool plastic before turning on the TV screen perched in the left corner of her office. The soft glow of the screen illuminates the dim room as the news broadcast flickers to life. A woman with a polished demeanor reports earnestly, her voice clear amidst the murmur of background noise. A bold title scrolls across the bottom of the screen: "Drug Smuggling Operation a Success."

A knot of frustration tightens in Eula's chest as she watches yet another triumph of deception overshadow her dedicated efforts, all captured and sensationalized by Steambird Media.

"Charlotte," she mutters, her scowl deepening as the weight of her disappointment settles heavily on her shoulders.

Meanwhile, a few guys were watching the news and listening intently at an apartment building in an undisclosed location. One of the men turns off the TV after Charlotte announces that the Favonius Police are solving the case led by Eula.

Angrily, he squeezes the remote, "Detective Lawrence will pay dearly for this. She cost us millions of mora from that deal. This cannot continue."

Holding darts, one of the other guys throws one at a wall with Eula's photo mounted. His accuracy was on point when the dart hit the head, "Lawrence!"

He gets up from the couch, continuing, "Our sources are getting nervous, Rose. The other sects will catch a lot of heat with this."

The 3rd man, sitting on a chair backward, leaned questions, "So what are we going to do? Lie low till the heat dies down?"

Rose answers angrily, "Nah, we're going to show the people of Mondstadt that anyone that screws with us is going to get killed, and we will start with Lawrence."