“Blue Envelope Case, Number 1148? Is this right? ” Sue looked up at Gloria and asked.

“Yes. That sounds like so.” Gloria nodded: “I mean - I’ve heard about it, but - there’s no easy way to get access to it right?”

“I asked Turner once, he told me our archive only has copies of very old ones. I don’t think they have copies of cases more than 200.” Sue sighed: “And those cases are really, and I mean really, old. Most of them have been resolved already.”

“So this means - the only way we can get access to this information is through someone on the inside.” Gloria nodded as she scratched her jaw: “You know what? I think I know just the one.”

“That’s too risky.” Sue shook her head: “You know he’s a cop, right? Your saving him may not mean as much to him as it should.”

“Well, I’ve gotta try. I’ve - ” Gloria shook her head, as she hesitated to openly admit it: “I’ve wasted enough time.”

Sue sighed after thinking for half a minute : “Okay, do you need backup? I can go with you.”

“I’d appreciate that, thanks. But - not directly with me.” Gloria nodded as she put the manual back into the box: “This is good - and I have the suspicion that this - this grimoire was related to the underground temple. And given everything - it could be connected to everything we’ve seen right now.”

“Yeah, yeah.” Sue looked up at the ceiling, then looked her friend in the eyes: “When do you wanna go?”

“When I hear back from him.” Gloria chuckled, as she sent the message she just crafted to the number of Detective Marcus Cai: “We need to meet in person, right now! ” Followed by a detailed address of an internet cafe - the same one in which she spent a few hours before going into the docks area and finding the detective.

It did not take long before a response was sent: “On my way - 10 minutes.”

“Shit! He’s closer than we are!”

It took them 14 minutes to get to the internet cafe, and through the front door, Gloria could already see him sitting in a corner, facing the entrance, his face lit up by the cheap computer screen.

Sue went in before Gloria, and sat in a seat somewhere close to Marcus, next to two other female guests. The owner of the internet cafe came over with a greasy smile. Just when he was just about to pressure Sue into renting more hours and buying drinks she did not need, Gloria came in and sat in the seat opposite to Marcus, just on Sue’s right side. The owner was instantly de-energized when he saw her, and just left Sue be.

“So, how do you wanna do it?” Marcus asked with a smile, eyes still fixed on the screen in front of him: “It’s kinda loud here.”

“Sword of Light and Feathers ONLINE, do you have an account?” Gloria asked.

“I - I can’t say I have.”

“Open it, register a quick account, then give me your account number.” Gloria shook her head.

It took about two minutes for Marcus to pass a small piece of paper with his account number. Gloria logged into her newly created account, added Marcus’ account as friends, then started a voice chat.

“This is creative. But I’d assume you still can’t say the ‘bad’ stuff here?” Marcus asked.

“Safety first. Don’t say anything stupid.” Gloria responded: “I’m here to call in the favor.”

Marcus sat straight in his chair, and he turned off his phone: “Okay - what do you need? I’ll do my best. ”

“Your best wouldn’t be enough. ” Gloria narrowed her eyes and made her voice stern: “And I wouldn’t consider it repaid if it is just your best. Are you a man of your word?”

“Of course. ” Marcus nodded.

“I need to get access to a Blue - a case. I want to know everything anyone has on it.” Gloria responded, while sending a blue envelope emoji to Marcus via text chat.

“How do you know about this?”

“Doesn’t concern you.”

“Okay. Do you happen to know the number?” Marcus sighed, then asked: “But, to make it clear. There are things that are off limits to us - in practice, I mean. In theory anyone in our depar - in our clan, has access to it, but it has been pretty clear that we shouldn't just pick anything to look into. ”

“One, another one, two plus two, then two to the power of three.” Gloria responded with a prepared answer.

Marcus became silent, a frown appeared on his face. Gloria couldn’t help but try to peek at him from beside the monitor screen - it seemed that his facial expression had become quite stern.

“What? You’re not gonna do it?” Gloria asked, impatient.

“I’m afraid I can’t do that.” Marcus sighed: “It’s not that I don’t want to - I cannot. There is something critically important going on, lives are at stake. And - what you’re asking is kind of a landmine, wired to alerts. If you touch it, it will explode and attract hostile - hostile monsters. Even if we don’t get hurt in the process, the savory types that follow will be nothing but trouble. ”

“I don’t really care. ” Gloria did not even hesitate: “Let them come.”

“That’s not up to you, you do not have to care about your own life. But these people are not above - you know what I mean.” Marcus sighed: “And - like I said, people’s lives were at stake here.”

“So - what you’re saying is, you don’t wanna help?” Gloria narrowed her eyes, her voice became colder.

“That’s not what I said.” Marcus shook his head and lowered his voice: “It’s - well - it’s more than complicated. But - how do you feel about becoming a consultant? ”

“A consultant?”

“Yes, off the books, if you’d like.” Marcus nodded: “This will let you in on some of the things we know, and when possible, you can even exchange information and - help us in some of our investigation, and we can in turn in the name of investigation look into the information you want. This is just a thought, you don’t need to answer right away, but - this would be the best plan I can offer you right now.”

“I don’t have this kind of time.”

“Well then you’ll have to make time.” Marcus’ voice became stern as well: “Listen, this is big, it connects a bunch of people and groups. You ever wonder why I was there, where you found me? I was looking into similarly, if not more dangerous things.”

“... fine. I’ll reach out when I have made a decision.” Gloria stood up and left.