"The robberies happening around En, who has a criminal record... her being marked as a suspect... and then her former accomplices suddenly appearing out of nowhere... I think everything is connected," Fee said.
"It’s a classic story," Anhel agreed. "Former partners who can't stand seeing one of their own go straight, doing whatever it takes to drag them back into the dirt."
"I was thinking the same thing," Yugo added. "But... I don't know. Something about it feels off."
"Off how? You think there's something else suspicious about this Sanga guy and his friend?"
"That’s it, but also not it. Ugh... how do I even put this into words?" Yugo groaned, frustrated by his inability to articulate the nagging sense of wrongness he felt.
Fee stepped in to help his brother, verbalizing the inconsistency for the others. "I think I know what's bothering you, Brother. What I found strange was that Sanga and his partner went out of their way to show themselves in front of everyone."
"...What do you mean by that, Fee?" Anhel asked.
"Let’s assume En’s old partners committed the robberies to pressure her. Their goal would be to corner her mentally by making the Security Force suspect her, then lure her back with promises of a 'way out.' If that were the case, wouldn't it be counterproductive to approach her in front of people like Melt or the Shop Master? People who are clearly on her side?"
"True..." Anhel mused. "Even if they tried to tempt her, your group was obviously going to stop them. If they were serious about recruiting her, doing it in secret when she was alone would have been much smarter and more natural."
"Exactly," Fee continued. "But they didn't. They barged into the shop knowing they’d be interrupted, revealed their names and faces to Brother and the others, and acted suspiciously on purpose. Even with Captain Jinba right there, they took a massive, contradictory risk. Why?"
"That’s it! That’s exactly what was bothering me!" Yugo shouted, clapping his hands together. Now that Fee had cleared the mental fog, Yugo added his own observation. "And there’s more. That Sanga guy... he gave up way too easily. Like Fee said, he barged into the shop despite the risks, but as soon as I stepped in, he just backed off. Isn't that weird?"
"Maybe they really were just worried about their old friend and came to check on her?" Anhel suggested, then immediately shook her head. "No, their tone was too malicious for that. Judging by what they said, they definitely want her back in their crew. But could it be they actually have nothing to do with the robberies?"
"There's one more thing," Fee added. "The eyewitness reports from the victims mention a woman who looks like En. Sanga and his partner are both men. It's hard to imagine anyone mistaking one for the other. So, if the robberies and the recruitment attempt are separate..."
"Argh! I don't get it! The more we talk, the more confused I get!" Yugo cried, clutching his head.
Anhel gave him a wry smile. "Well, we should probably leave the investigating to the Security Force. Let's stop the deductions there for tonight. More importantly, Yugo, give me back the transceiver I lent you. I want to add some new features."
"Oh, right. Hang on... it should be around here... Huh?"
Anhel had dropped the subject, realizing that theorizing without enough information could lead to the wrong conclusion. However, as Yugo patted his pockets to return the device, his expression shifted from confusion to cold panic.
"...Well? What is it? Where's the transceiver?"
"It’s... it’s not here. I think I might have dropped it somewhere."
"WHAAAT?!" Anhel shrieked. "Do you have any idea how much work I put into that?! Where did you lose it? Think!"
"U-Um... I took it out at En's Shop to show Melt, then we went to the back of the shop... I think I must have left it on the table!"
"You’ve got to be kidding me! You’re going back there first thing tomorrow morning to see if they found it! You can use my unit to help you search, but you'd better not come back without it! Understand?!"
"Y-Yes, ma'am!" Yugo squeaked, snapping to attention as Anhel brandished her hammer, her face a mask of pure fury.
She pulled the second transceiver from her cleavage and shoved it into his hands. Then, clutching her head, Anhel sighed heavily. "Ugh... if I knew this would happen, I should have built a tracking function in first. I spent so much time adding all those fun features you suggested, yet I missed the one that would actually be useful right now..."
"I'm sorry! I'll find it, I swear! Just forgive me!"
"Of course you will! And let’s be clear—I’m holding your weaknesses, Blaster and Fee, over your head! If you dare come back empty-handed, one of them is going to have a very bad time!!"
"Hieee! Save me, Brother!" Fee cried.
"No, no, no! Please, don't do anything to Fee!" Yugo begged.
The robbery was a mystery for another day. For now, Yugo had a much more immediate crisis to handle. He spent the rest of the night in a frantic, noisy mess with his companions.