Finally, here is my return to "Tales of Symphonia." This is a crime/mystery story that takes place directly after "Tales of the Departed" so you may need to read that story before you can understand this one. This is more inspired by a Chinese sitcom series that features a somewhat-crazy detective and his unorthodox ways of solving crime. I just changed a couple of their cases to make it fit in this story, and as not to plagiarize or copy. In general, it'll be a more light-hearted and funnier story.

Namco owns Tales of Symphonia. Hong Kong TVB owns To Catch the Uncatchable.

"And that's the last one. I don't believe I owe you guys anything anymore." Former undercover police officer Gilbert Irving signed his name to a cheque. It was two weeks after Cruxis had been defeated, and Gil had had a lot of time to recover from his wounds and check his bank account. He finally managed to put together a sum to return to his friends after all their efforts in taking care of his son during the last ten years.

"Seriously, Gil, you don't have to do this. We know you've had to do undercover work the last ten years, and we're more than happy to help you deal with Lloyd. You're a single dad, for crying out loud!" Frank Brunel, the blond-haired archaeology professor told him. Lloyd had spent a majority of his time at the Brunel residence, and developed a good friendship with their daughter Colette. The two only recently revealed that they were a couple and planned to go on a first date some time soon.

"No, it's only right I do this. Besides, I can afford to return the money thanks to a special yearly bonus from the police during the years I worked as a mole," Gil replied, putting his folders away, "It's totally tax-free, so I don't have to pay anything back."

"Do you still have enough to help you and Lloyd through the next little while? Don't forget that you're on sick leave right now, thanks to your cast," Lynn Sage, a grey-haired woman of seventy-two years pointed out. The Sage household was another area Lloyd spent time at, as Lloyd stayed with Lynn when the Brunels were unavailable. He also had a good friendship with granddaughter Raine and grandson Genis, both of whom were half-elves. It also didn't hurt that Lynn had been the pillar of support during some of Gil's harder times as a mole, even though she had no idea about it.

"I have more than enough," Gil responded with a grin, "I can pay this year's mortgage, put more savings into Lloyd's college fund, provided his marks will improve this coming year, and take us all on vacation." Gil whipped out a brochure on Altamira, and flipped to the pages featuring the penthouse suites. "My friend and fellow mole, Zelos Wilder, and I have decided to invite everyone involved in the fiasco to the resort to spend a week here, just to relax and wind down the summer vacation. I won't do too much, thanks to my cast and crutches, but at least we can let the kids have some fun. You're all invited, so if you're not doing anything then start packing your bags."

Everyone nodded, agreeing that it was a vacation worth going. After all the past events regarding Cruxis, becoming refugees, gathering summon spirits, Origin, and being blasted to the Derris Kharlan comet, why not take a relaxing vacation? "So is it just the three families here, or are there more people?" Frank's wife Phoebe asked.

"We've extended invitations to a few others, but only Sheena accepted to come with us. I've especially told Zelos not to be too flirty with the invitation to her or else he might just lose his teeth when she arrives," Gil explained, to the laughter of his friends. Gil had told them about Zelos' flirtatious nature, and they were well aware of all the rejections his fellow mole had received. So to make enticing remarks to the Mizuho native, and a strong woman in her own right, was only playing with fire.

But returning to a more serious note, Gil continued, "Mark Owen was invited but declined, saying he wants to help his brother Kuchinawa get through his court date first. Altessa also declined, and so did Seles, Zelos' sister. They're still recuperating from their ordeal in Cruxis prisons. Zelos told me Regal Bryant lives in Altamira, so he might drop by and say hi. And I didn't invite Presea Combatir, since she's still being investigated by the police." Cruxis had, against her will, sent Presea into the police to serve as their mole. While she was cured, the Special Investigations Unit, the unit she worked for, insisted on conforming to procedure and doing a formal investigation on her.

As the Brunels and the Sages left the Irving residence, going back to their homes to pack for their departure in two days, Gil hobbled back up the stairs on his crutches and slowly entered his room while Lloyd went into the bathroom. It was a routine for them now, as Lloyd would clean up for the night first, while Gil worked quietly in his room for a bit longer. But this time, the routine was anything but normal, as Gil received some news earlier that would change their lives forever. "We want to open a new sub-unit, run jointly between SIU and Major Crimes, to tackle issues common to both units," Arthur Noishe, his captain and the former Protozoan from the Kharlan war, described, "We want a new staff sergeant to lead while Captain Burton and I manage our own units, and we're wondering if you may be interested in this position."

And thanks to that, Gil had to re-organize his entire room, returning all documents relating to Cruxis to Noishe and getting new files set up. And above all, a lot of the things relating to Anna, his late wife, were also packed away, except for a little notebook that had her past ideas for novels and short stories. Gil flipped through the pages, once again reminded of the times when their family was together. Gil was a rising star officer in the force, while Anna had been an aspiring writer. Anna's stories were mainly historical in nature, putting characters in famous past events and their reactions to them, but there was one time when Gil challenged her to write a mystery or crime novel. "I'm a cop, not a history buff, so why don't you try something up my alley?" he recalled teasing her.

But what started as a joke over a decade ago now became reality, as Gil was inspired to write a series of mystery and crimes stories in a book of his own. It would be his tribute to Anna, even after all the undercover detective work he did. He was so caught up in organizing his notes for the novel that he didn't even realize Lloyd had stepped out from the bathroom, changed into his usual sleepwear and now stood at his door. "Dad, what are you looking for?" he asked, one eyebrow cocked upwards.

Gil glanced up from his desk, seeing his teenage son standing before him wearing only his boxer briefs. It seemed so long ago when he last spoke to his son without the need to hide anything. Back then, Lloyd was a six-year-old who spoke in a squeaky voice and loved running around the house energetically. Now, he was almost a man, which made Gil realize how much more he needed to do to regain all those lost years. What if he could get Lloyd involved in this book project? "I'm just looking for some things that I can do while I'm in Altamira," Gil explained, "I won't be running around the beach, or going swimming, or doing anything physical, so I thought I'd do something a bit more intellectual. Have you seen my laptop and charger?" he asked.

Lloyd's eyebrow rose even higher. "Dad, the only reason you're planning this trip is to relax. Why on earth are you bringing your work with you?" he demanded, slowly edging up to the desk and looking through some of the messy files for the box-like object.

"It's actually a new project I'll be working on. You see, I once challenged your mother to write a mystery or crime novel, and she actually entertained the idea after the first one got published," Gil replied, "Cruxis got to her before she could start the work, so I thought I'd do it on her behalf. And I was hoping you'd help me out by offering some ideas, although if you want to go swimming then I don't mind." He finished with a wink.

Lloyd smiled. Despite being so young when Anna's first novel was published, Lloyd still remembered how happy the entire family was. If this was his father's way of honouring Anna outside of his police work, then by all means he would join in. "You bet I'll help," he stated, "anything to make Mom proud."

"Dad, are you sure you don't want the bathroom? If not, then I'll change!" Lloyd called from the doorway. After a long, tiring flight, the three families finally arrived to their hotel in Altamira, and they couldn't believe their eyes. When they entered their suites, they were greeted with luxuries that were more common in millionaire circles. Each suite had a lookout retreat that had a panorama view of the beach, a large central entertainment area with a plasma wide-screen television, a bathroom with walk-in closet and spa, and all the room service they could get. It was truly an option for the rich.

"No Lloyd, I'm fine. I don't have to put anything in here. I just want to make this phone call first," Gil replied, tapping on his cell phone. Upon seeing the beach, Lloyd, Colette and Genis became excited and wanted to get down there as soon as possible. Each person occupied their respective bathroom as they changed into their swimsuits, leaving the rest of the group to collect their thoughts and belongings as they waited.

"That's right, except for your toothbrush, you didn't bring anything else," Lloyd recalled as he stripped off his shirt. He left the door ajar, so he could make a quick exit and race his friends to the beach. "You didn't bring your razor because you wanted to grow your goatee back, right?" Gil had shaved off his goatee when he, along with Lloyd and others, received an award for stopping Cruxis, but over two weeks with only slight trims here and there had his goatee growing back to almost the way it was before.

"That would be correct, now where on earth is he?" Gil muttered, dialling his phone again. Zelos told everyone he already arrived, but was consulting with the hotel manager over some details. Still, it was unusual for him to have a busy signal for that long, as Gil wondered what was tying up his friend. "Come on, Zelos, pick up."

Just then, the bathroom door whipped open, revealing Lloyd in his beach gear. He wore a pair of dark blue board shorts that ended just above the knees, and had a snorkel and swim goggles in his hands. "I originally wanted to go diving, but I don't have any flippers, so I'll just take my sneakers then," he told Gil, "I'm off, are you coming along?"

Gil looked up, caught completely off guard at his son's quick wardrobe change. "I have to grab some stuff first, so can I join you later?" he asked, "I can't do too many activities anyway, not with my cast still on. So no swimming, snorkelling, or volleyball for me. I'll just stay in the shade and make sure nothing weird happens."

Lloyd cocked an eyebrow. "You don't have to be a killjoy," he retorted, "I'll just hand out with Colette and Genis and see what we can do by ourselves." With that, the swimsuit-clad teenager raced off, leaving Gil still on the sofa alone. Sighing, the former undercover cop slipped his phone into his pocket and rifled through his bag.

By the time Gil had gathered his laptop and notebook, the rest of his group had already made their way to the beach, getting ready for a picnic lunch and an afternoon of surf and sun. There were sounds of the waves banging against the sand, children laughing as they played, and generally relaxation as people enjoyed this hot, sunny summer day. It made Gil look like an anomaly on this beach; while most people wore only swimsuits, Gil had a T-shirt with a short-sleeved jacket and pants that dropped to his knees, ending just above his cast. He was also wearing his dress shoes, making a difficult situation for his crutches to find balance even harder as he strutted awkwardly to a nearby bench.

"Hey Dad, you finally made it," Lloyd called, approaching his father with Colette and Genis, "Everyone's waiting for you. What do you plan to do?"

Gil opened his laptop and waited for it to load, while looking at the threesome before him. Colette had on a white spaghetti-strapped tank top and a brown summer skirt. Genis had on a straw hat and two-toned trunks that alternated between orange on his left side and white on his right. Its overall length was shorter than Lloyd's, as the waistband was at level with his pelvis and the bottom cut off just between his hips and knees. "I'm just going to relax and start doing some writing," Gil announced, "I don't mind having you stick around, but don't you want to go play with the others or something?"

Lloyd, Colette, and Genis glanced to the far right side, where the rest of the group had rested. Raine had a similar outfit to Colette, except her tank top and skirt were both dark blue. Sheena, who had arrived earlier, had on a burgundy one-piece and was talking with the other adults. None of Frank, Phoebe and Lynn had changed into swimsuits, but all had on summer-style clothing, with light-coloured, short-sleeved shirts and shorts. "Yeah, let's try and get some of them wet," Lloyd suggested, "especially Raine!" He giggled in glee as he charged off, with Colette and Genis closely following.

Gil shook his head, laughing at Lloyd's inner child as he loaded some files. He had a bunch of ideas already written down in the notebook, and was intent on translating some of them into a story in the next week. Before long, he was absorbed into his work, focusing solely on the monitor while occasionally taking quick peeks at his group. He knew it had only been about five to ten minutes since he started typing, but ideas were flowing from his brain, through his fingers, and onto the keyboard like a river. It was also around this time that a tall man in an aqua full-body wetsuit approached the other group. "That must be Regal," Gil murmured, "I don't recognize that guy outside of his suit."

"No, don't splash me! I don't want to get into the water! Aaahh!" the sound of Raine's scream echoed through the beach as Lloyd, Colette, and Genis managed to get her close enough to the water and drenched the female half-elf. Gil chuckled as he saw the threesome dash off with a soaked and angry Raine chasing after them, shouting various curse words. Wonder why she's so scared, Gil thought, maybe she can't swim?

Just then, a familiar figure approached from Gil's left, yellow flip-flops crunching against the golden sand as he inched his way forward. Gil lifted his head to see a very exposed red-haired young man standing before him. He only had on a pair of sunglasses and a purple Speedo, wrapped tighter around his privates than anyone had anticipated. In fact, the only other area unexposed, if the tight purple briefs counted at all, was his left wrist, which was enclosed by a large, white cast. Nevertheless, Gil welcomed the strange visitor. "Zelos Wilder, so you're here after all," he greeted, extending his hand.

The redhead returned the gesture as the two men shook hands. Gil and Zelos had had an opportunity to work together during their Cruxis case, with each representing their respective country of Sylvarant and Tethe'alla. Initially, they had not recognized each other's existence as moles. It led to a shootout where Gil shot Zelos' hand and Zelos hit Gil's shin, causing each side to sport similar casts. But their injuries weren't enough to stop the two from vacationing here. "I tried to reach you earlier, but your line was busy for a long time. What was that all about?" Gil asked.

"We were getting some details regarding room locations," Zelos replied, taking off his shades, "Sheena and I are staying by ourselves, so there's no point in getting penthouses for us. We moved to the floor right below you, and booked a couple of luxury suites. It doesn't have as many features as your penthouse, but it's still considered a high-class room. We can still get to each other's rooms easily, but saves us a bundle." Zelos then lowered his head to Gil's ear and whispered, "You know, for someone getting a Master's Degree, Sheena's got a pretty good body. You think bookworms or graduate students like her wouldn't be that gorgeous, but man alive! Just take a look at her!"

Gil shook his head again. "My eyes are on my laptop, not because I have pretty girls in bikinis here," he retorted, typing in another sentence, "my heart is set on only one woman, and her name is Anna Irving. I don't mind you speaking flirtatiously in code, since I use my son as a code as well; but don't take it so real or some angry girl will make sure you lose your already somewhat-revealing you-know-what real soon," he warned.

Just then, a strange silence descended on the beach. Gil and Zelos looked around and saw most visitors, particularly younger men, turning to the same direction like they had been mass-hypnotized. The two former moles followed and saw a beautiful young woman with shoulder-length brown hair and clad in a baby-blue string bikini marching towards them. She took each step carefully, as not to damage any part of her body, but there was a flirty tinge to her movements as well. Her eyes scanned the surroundings, and any young man near her melted like ice cream dropped into the sand. From his position in the shade, Gil guessed she was in her early-twenties, and stood five-foot-seven or eight, above the average female height. "Eye candy for you, Zelos?" he teased.

But oddly enough, Zelos didn't change into his girl-crazy mode and go gaga over her. In fact, there was a slight hint of irritation across his face, bordering on livid as the redhead quickly clenched and unclenched his fists. "I can't believe she's here," he angrily muttered, staring daggers at the bikini-clad lady half-strutting, half-posing towards them.

Unfortunately for Zelos, the lady spotted him, and made no attempt to hide her discontent with his presence. "Well, so the famous Zelos Wilder thinks he can appear in my presence just because he so-called saved the world? You know that the spotlight can't be removed from me that easily, despite all your efforts in the last few years," she snidely stated, "Unless you're now into modelling after getting fired by the Intelligence Bureau. Is Speedo so desperate for models that it has to hire you to market their products?"

"When I left Meltokio back then, I made it very clear that I never wanted to see you again, and I told you to stay away from my family and friends. So if you're up to any funny business, don't expect me to take it lightly. I'll expose your every dirty secret to the world!" Zelos threatened, jabbing a finger in the supermodel's face.

The lady, however, was unfazed. Glancing at her fingers nonchalantly, she calmly replied, "I'm a model. I've been a public figure for three years, and within the last year my work has made me a household name. I'm now a rising star in the industry, so what do I have to hide?" she retorted. Dropping her hand to her waist, she turned her eyes back to Zelos. "You, on the other hand, are a mole. You have your recent history covered by the government to protect your identity. Had it not been you receiving that award, we won't even know what you've been doing. So who's got more to hide here?"

Suddenly, the lull in activity at the beach changed to uneasy chatter as visitors gathered near the two, anticipating a world-famous supermodel go toe-to-toe against one of their world's saviours. Even Lloyd, Colette, and Genis, who were being chased by Raine earlier, made their way back and observed anxiously. All this prompted Gil to try diffusing the issue. "Guys, will you just calm down?" he requested, hobbling on his crutches to the antagonistic pair, "We're on vacation here, so try relaxing, will you?"

But before Gil could say another word, someone burst ploughed his way in from the back like a bulldozer. The mysterious figure bullied his way through Lloyd, Colette and Genis, shoving Genis onto the ground while spinning Colette aside. She fell right into the arms of Lloyd, who dodged just in time and managed to catch the falling blonde. "Candy! Candy!" he yelled, "I'm over here. I'm your biggest fan, Candy!"

Unfortunately for Gil, the fanatic was on a beeline for him. While the model's assistants protected her and Zelos was mobile enough to step aside, there was no way for the crutches-holding, dress shoes-wearing, goateed Iselia police officer to manoeuvre. The crazed fan rumbled through almost in slow motion, and Gil managed to catch a glimpse of his face. He seemed to be a nerdy type, a short, stocky figure wearing thick-rimmed glasses and a plaid T-shirt. He looks more out of place than me, Gil thought.

But as that ran through his head, it was like Derris Kharlan had just slammed into the planet as super fan ran into super cop. Like pins being smashed by a bowling ball at the alley, two entangled bodies hit the sand, kicking up the golden dust into everyone's faces. While the fan moaned in discomfort, Gil screamed in pain. "My leg, aaarrgh!" he cried, clutching his cast, which now had the full weight of this stocky young man on top.

Spectators could only stare in shock as the fan kicked and writhed to get free, still determined to get to his idol. Lifeguards had already shown up and wrestled the young man to the sand, subduing him while calling for back-up. All this time, Gil had nearly fainted from the pain, realizing full well that his cast might have been broken. From the far side, Gil's friends rushed in to check on his condition. Genis gingerly lifted himself off the sand while Lloyd and Colette continued their odd embrace. Lloyd had his nose buried into Colette's hair while Colette pressed tightly against Lloyd's chest, her hand feeling Lloyd's developing six-pack and two fingers rubbing the rim of his belly button. The two held onto each other in a probably unintended display of their affection while occasionally taking concerned side peeks at Gil.

Finally, the strange silence was snapped open like a balloon being popped. A livid Raine Sage, still dripping with water, marched up to the group. "What's going on here?" she demanded, her voice alone piercing enough to cause shudders among the tourists.

"Be careful, please be careful!" Gil called as he and Zelos tried to refit the cast. After a check-up from the First Aid station at the beach, it was determined that Gil was not seriously injured in the collision. However, it loosened the cast, meaning his leg might not get optimal recovery. Seeing how all they had to do was to reposition it, Gil chose not to go to the hospital and went with police to the station. As they waited for the officer in charge, Gil and Zelos decided to deal with the cast, with limited success.

"You got to get the other side, see?" Zelos told Gil, pointing at the loose end. He was the only member of Gil's group in the office, as Lloyd and company waited outside. They were all still in their swimsuits, as the events happened so quickly that they never got a chance to change. The fact that there was a supermodel in a bikini and a rather well-built man in a Speedo at the police station raised some eyebrows to passing staff.

Finally, the unit head stepped into the room. "My name's Lieutenant Arnold and I heard the testimonies given by all sides. This seems to be a typical super fan goes crazy for his idol case, and we determined that the so-called assaulter, Andrew Crocker, was of no harm to anyone. In fact, we found that he is a bit mentally challenged, to put it bluntly, and he only charged in and ran into you because he saw his favourite celebrity."

He turned his attention to the supermodel sitting to his left. The young woman had her eyes scanning casually around the station, her attention away from the table, and most likely the two men on the other side. It was almost like as if she didn't care for the past events. "Miss Candice Shallow, we understand that you're in town for a modelling project involving some precious jewellery, and had been staying in the hotel just up from the beach. You were taking a walk on the beach when Crocker ran into you. Since this seems to be accidental, the onus is on you to lay charges. Will you press charges?"

Candy whipped around to face Arnold, her eyes flashing in irritation but speaking in an annoyingly arrogant tone. "No, I'll let the 'Little Croc' go, since I should have expected that fanatics like him would chase me. After all, supermodels like me are bound to have fans, so why should I be surprised by what happened?" she smugly replied.

On the lieutenant's right side, Gil and Zelos rolled their eyes in disbelief. And they took no attempt to hide their disgust when Arnold offered the same to them. "We'll let him go too. There's no point wasting our time worrying about what some celebrities like to do with their fans," Zelos spat, shooting a menacing look across the table.

But Candy was undeterred. Instead, she volleyed her own verbal cannon at the redhead. "Hey, my time's wasted too. I have a photo shoot this afternoon, and a press conference tonight, so you think I'm not busy?" she snapped back, "Tomorrow, I'm going to be modelling for hundreds of VIP's, so I can't let certain wannabe heroes interfere."

Before Gil and Zelos could say another word, Candy got up and signalled to her assistants. They breezed out the door and headed straight for the exit, leaving all those in the office in shock. Shaking his head, Lieutenant Arnold packed the file and ordered the young man to be released. But before letting the two former moles off, he turned to Gil and Zelos. "It's great to see two fantastic heroes of the world visit Altamira. The Altamira police, and particularly our unit, have nothing but respect for you two. If you're not leaving town soon, maybe you should come give a talk about your experiences," he suggested.

"As long as you provide the food, there won't be any whiney supermodels who don't appreciate our work around, and Zelos and I don't show up half-dead, you got a deal!" Gil declared, "We'll be around for a week, so if you want us, we'll be in touch." Gil pulled out some scrap paper and scribbled his hotel contact information for Arnold.

Arnold picked up the sheet and studied the phone number. Clacking his tongue, he stared at the two former moles curiously. "You're staying in the same hotel as Miss Shallow. That's exactly where she said they'll be hosting the auction," he pointed out.

Gil and Zelos looked at each other with an exasperated expression. "Well isn't that a dandy? Just when you don't want her to be near, she has to book a room there," Zelos threw up his hands in disgust, "But then again, the jewel I heard they'll auction tomorrow will be an expensive one, so there's bound to be security around. Let's just hope we can avoid them, and you-know-who, altogether."

"Well, what do you think?" Colette asked Lloyd as they gathered at the hotel's dining room. Part of the group's exclusive package included meals served fine-dining style by the hotel staff, and Zelos and Sheena were also beneficiaries to this service. But certain activities to be happening in the ballroom later on that night was forcing them to have their dinner early, before being ushered out altogether for a larger group.

"What do I think about what?" Lloyd replied, confused by the blonde. The beach incident caused everyone to cut their entire day short, and most just opted to relax at the hotel rather than do anything else extensive. Lloyd, Colette, Genis, and Raine still hadn't changed out of their summer gears, but Lloyd and Genis did throw shirts on just to avoid showing up shirtless. But Lloyd and Colette took seats on one end of the table, almost like they had secrets they didn't want to share with anyone else.

"You know, back at the beach when that fan ran over us, I fell and you caught me, but you didn't let go for quite a while," Colette described, a coy look on her face, "Why such a long hold? You know I was fine, right?"

Lloyd blushed, trying to avoid Colette's eyes. "Well, you didn't want to let go of me either, and your hands did do their fair share of wandering around, so I could ask you the same question, can't I?" he retorted, turning to the side to hide his goofy grin.

But as everyone waited for their food to arrive, Gil pulled Zelos aside to a smaller table and demanded some answers from him. "It's pretty obvious that you and Candy had some history together, otherwise there wouldn't be that confrontation on the beach. So you want to give me some details or do I have to go mole-mode all over you?"

Zelos sighed. Unlike the rest of the group, he had to change out of his Speedo and into some more regular clothes, and now sported a sports jacket and cargo pants. "I don't want this to be a big commotion because it's not something I'm particularly proud of, but since we're pretty close, I'm willing to tell you," he stated in an almost-whisper, "I know Candy because she used to be one of Seles' friends, and highlight 'used to be'."

Gil leaned his head in to listen carefully as Zelos continued his tale. "Candy and Seles attended high school together, and had most of their first-year university classes with each other too. They've gotten along quite well, and I've come to know Candy when Seles invited her over a few times. Then suddenly, Candy wanted a part-time job to make some money for tuition. I wasn't too surprised, since I went through that stage, and Seles has been considering working as well, but what Candy chose as a career shocked me."

Gil almost choked on his water. "You find modelling shocking? The great chick-magnet Zelos Wilder actually disapproved of his sister's friend in choosing modelling?"

Zelos repeatedly tapped his finger on his lips, signalling Gil to quiet down. "It's not about modelling that I'm against. If I wanted to take her advice today and sign up for Speedo's models, then I wouldn't mind at all. But it's what she became that surprised me the most," Zelos murmured, glancing around to check if anyone heard them, "From the first audition, every photographer said Candy had potential. They wanted her to consider this as a long-term project, even forgoing her university years. That fame really got into her head, and she started becoming mean and snarky to everyone. She would snap at anyone who didn't give way to her, she got upset every time she didn't get what she wanted, and often said mean-spirited things to those who disagreed with her."

Gil rolled his eyes. This was another typical "let the moment get to your head" case where one was put in the spotlight and forgot about everything else. "So what did you do about it? And how did Seles react to her best friend chewing everyone out?"

"I wasn't in university with them. Remember that my post-secondary schooling was with the military, where they trained me for working in the intelligence for minimal price. In exchange, I must serve a mandatory four years in the army," Zelos answered, "But Seles did mention she felt their friendship becoming rocky, and how sometimes Candy would direct her frustration at her. So I finally confronted her about it, telling her that if she valued Seles' and my friendship, then she'd stop this act altogether, or we won't approve of her modelling career and cut ties with her."

"And I assumed she didn't take it well," Gil finished the story for Zelos, "She felt you were intruding into her spotlight, and that you're preventing her from advancing her career. You guys did cut ties, and then Seles got kidnapped by Cruxis. You offered to go undercover for the Intelligence Bureau as part of your mandatory service while she had her career shoot through the roof. Now, three years later, your rivalry renews with you being a world-famous hero and she being a world-famous model. Is that accurate?"

The redhead nodded. "But what hurt me the most was that even when Seles was kidnapped, she acted like she didn't care," Zelos added, "Seles was a former friend of hers, so at least she should have shown some compassion, right? But no, she had her career to deal with and didn't even bother to call our family. Do you think there's more I could have done to convince her, maybe approach it differently?" he asked Gil.

Gil shrugged. "You did all you could. While she turned a deaf ear, you ended up saving the world with my friends and me, so what more could you ask for?" Gil retorted, "This is people's main flaw: they're so quick to illogically put their faith behind someone or something that they sacrifice their own thoughts. They put their idols on a pedestal, and the idols think they're truly great and can never go wrong. Throughout history, this move has proven disastrous. Four thousand years ago, everyone believed Martel the Goddess and Mithos the Hero will end the war, and the world ended up being split in two. Three hundred years ago, everyone supported Lloyd Irving the idealist, my son's namesake, and his quest to create the new world, and the result was a decades-long civil war. And a few hours ago, everyone went gaga when a supermodel left the police station, and believed her body means more to society than two guys who spent years trying to dismantle an extremist organization that almost destroyed the world."

Just then, their food was brought out, prompting Gil and Zelos to move back to their original table. "I do agree with your points, Gil, and it's truly sad that people can't get this out of their heads. Blindly worshipping and putting faith in one person or thing won't lead to any good. I wonder if it's because we're moles that we're more sensitive to this, and won't give in to these crazy idol worships as easily," Zelos wondered.

Gil shrugged as he took his seat. His cast was successfully repaired by Phoebe the nurse, giving him better mobility. "Given that we lied to, cheated, and backstabbed everyone we met, I say that's accurate." With that, the two moles ended gloomier talks in favour of something lighter and happier as they joined their friends. Soon, the beach's events were forgotten as they rejoiced their time together and reminisced about some of the harder times they went through and how they managed to conquer them as a group.

All that was left for the group was dessert, and it wasn't even seven o'clock yet. But knowing that the dining room was booked, they had to be on their way. Lloyd and Colette continued to be somewhat lovey-dovey without anyone noticing. "That was the first time we actually hugged in public, other than the cutting of the Great Seed," Colette pointed out, "Looks like we're still not used to it yet, huh?"

Lloyd shrugged, the goofy grin returning to his face. "Our parents and friends know, and sooner or later everyone at school will know. But no matter, you know I still love you." Their hands crept closer to each other before their fingers entwined. The love between them was blossoming, and it was so tempting for them to display it publicly. "I really enjoyed the dinner. Can we consider it an unofficial first date?" Lloyd asked.

Colette blushed and smiled, and Lloyd took the chance to lift her hand up. He was about to bring it to his lips for a kiss when they were suddenly interrupted. "Everyone, I want you to meet someone," Sheena's voice called, prompting Lloyd and Colette to pull their hands back onto their laps. They glanced at each other with expressions bordering guilty and embarrassed while the attention was on the Mizuho native. "Before I came down for dinner, I met up an old high school friend also staying in Altamira. This is Masako, who was hired as Lezareno's warranty director two weeks ago. He's staying at the hotel while still looking for a place. Masako, these are my friends."

The dark-haired man in a suit nodded. "It's a pleasure to meet you. My current position at Lezareno deals with ensuring the effectiveness of our companies' warranties with our clients, and that means meeting with quite a lot of people. Of course, living in a luxury suite of this hotel, second in luxury only to the penthouse, doesn't hurt my clients' impressions, don't you think?" he explained, much to the laughter of the crowd.

"Masako originally invited me to his room tonight just to catch up on old times, but I think I speak for all of us when I say I've had too much excitement today to wander off," Sheena described. Turning back to her friend, she promised him that she would be there the next night. "Provided nothing weird happens tomorrow, you bet I'll show up."

As Gil and company departed the dining room, a press conference had just ended in the ball room. The topic of discussion was the auction of a very precious necklace in world history, where millionaires and other rich collectors would gather at the hotel the next day to bid on it. And to model the necklace out for the potential buyers was none other than Candice Shallow. "Please remember the auction begins at three o'clock, and the starting price is three million dollars," the head auctioneer reminded the press.

The reporters and stage staff were allowed to join with the auction cast to the dining room for a high class dinner, with Candice leading the way. "Why did you choose me for modelling jewellery two years ago when I was still into clothing and swimwear? Almost all my jewellery modelling was done in cooperation with you. And now, in my most dramatic show yet, it's also with you," she asked.

The man she posed the question to, a bespectacled, short-haired, slim individual looking very serious yet nervous in a suit and tie, couldn't help but smile. "You were a very special person, Candy. When every photographer you auditioned for praised you as a star, I had to come see for myself. And indeed, your appearance is perfect, so much so that it seemed like every valuable jewel was crafted all for you to wear and model. That's why, as the jewellery expert in my firm, I had to recruit you to work with us."

Candy had a sly grin creep across her face. "You sound worse than some of my richer fans. They're always saying stuff like that just to get me to go out with them," she retorted, "But you know how to make me happy, so I like that, Mr. Leonard Yancey."

Leonard looked apprehensive, not sure how to properly respond. "No, it's not like that. I mean, I want you to be happy and all, but…" he stuttered, not sure how to say it without making the scene more embarrassing. They were marching through the doors of the dining hall now, and in mere moments they were to be seated for their full-course meal. "It's just that you're a special person, and that's why big projects like this one, the modelling and auction of the Heart of Balacruf, a necklace with centuries of colourful history, I always ask only the best to approach it, and that's why I recommended you."

Candy nodded as the waiters put the guests in the assigned tables. Luckily for her and Leonard, they were at the same one. As the waiters pulled back the chairs for them, Candy sat down in an overly dramatic fashion, waving her dress back and placing her arms horizontally on her lap. "And why won't you recommend me? I may have been a rookie then, but I've modelled the most beautiful jewels for the most meticulous buyers. And I've always brought out the best of both myself and the jewel in these events. So if you have to choose a model, why wouldn't you choose me?" she haughtily retorted.

As dinner was served, the topic on everyone's lips was the auction, and how it would be the most successful event ever hosted. After all, with such a rare necklace, and such a beautiful model, what could possibly go wrong? Candy was well aware of the attention throughout the meal, and by dessert time, she received her fair share of well-wishes. "Make sure you rest up tonight, because tomorrow will be your big day."

But by nightfall, Candy was hardly in her suite. Making sure the halls were quiet and empty, she slipped into her street clothes and stepped into the nightlife. Knowing that there were casinos and bars on the other side of Altamira, she had the perfect place for a no-holds-barred party, away from all the functions and rules. The second she stepped into the bar, it was a totally different world, with DJ music replacing classical themes, lights of different colours flashing rather than plain brightness of a catwalk, and people dancing wildly everywhere instead of placing their attention on the model. Smirking, she went to the bar and ordered a beer. "Keep the change," she stated, slapping money on the counter.

The tall glass of cold liquid was placed onto the surface before her, and the brunette gulped it down in less than thirty seconds. "More," she demanded, slapping the bar. As glass after glass came, Candy started getting some attention from those around her. With all the young men flocking to her like bees to honey, Candy could not resist putting on her enticing side. "You ready for a real night out?" she teased.

The crowd nodded, some dizzily thanks to the amount of alcohol they consumed. Candy took that as her cue, and pulled herself to the dance floor. "Tonight, we're going to party!" she shouted, throwing her hands in the air, "I'm aiming to be the most popular girl here tonight, and anybody who offers me anything, will get time with me!"

Everyone around her cheered, and many reached for their wallets to get Candy's attention. The supermodel took it all in stride, downing beer after beer, and consuming some substances that weren't otherwise available in regular markets. Before long, the hours ticked past, and everybody in Candy's group dropped to the floor, passing out after arguably the wildest night they had in their entire lives.

And that's the first chapter. I know there isn't too many details on the actual crimes (yes, there will be 2 separate incidents) but some of these details are actually foreshadowing future moves. Please keep some of these things in mind next time!