[b]Central District[/b]

As Alex and Vice crossed words, the lady doctor on the other side of the room simply sat at her seat in awkward silence, until the two left. Breathing a sigh of relief, she wondered, "What was that all about?"

Glancing towards the nearby window, she realized, "Oh, that's right: the Supreme Chancellor has his speech soon...but sh-should I close up?"

---

[b]Back District[/b]

[color=pink]"So it was this way?"[/color]

"No, I said left!"

[color=pink]"Thiiiiis left?"[/color]

"You're just messing with me!"

[color=pink]"Heeheehee,"[/color] Claribel giggled.

The young boy at her heels, Claribel made her way through the narrow roads of the Back District, passing the occasional sweat-stink beggar or salty hooligan.

Taking a turn, the boy said, "We're almost there...but..."

Claribel waited for a moment, before asking, [color=pink]"What's that about butts?"[/color]

The boy admitted, "It's...quiet. It's normally busier around here."

Claribel said, [color=pink]"It's plenty busy, just not on the road. I hear voices coming from over there."[/color]

The boy gawked, "Huh, where? I don't hear anything." As Claribel moved towards a splintery door, slightly askew on its hinges, the boy said, "Hey, that's where I live!" As Claribel's hand moved towards the door, the boy watched anxiously.

---

[b]Back District Warehouse[/b]

"Ah, shit, shit!"

Breathing heavily, Fukubei sat against a crate in a dim warehouse. His pistol had fallen to the ground amidst a steadily growing mess of blood, dripping from his forearm.

"S-sir!?" cried on of his men, ducking as bullets whizzed by from the soldiers on the catwalks above.

Fukubei growled, "How the hell did they know we were coming!? Or were they here for something else? If someone snitched I'm gonna poke them in the eyes."

"Th-that's it?"

Fukubei blinked, before suggesting, "Uh...punch them?" The man shook his head, before Fukubei cried, "Kill their family!"

"That's too much!"

"Whatever," Fukubei grumbled, much to his ally's displeasure. Reaching into his sash with his good hand, he pulled out a blue baby Den Den Mushi, dialing a number, praying, "Vice you better be nearby or I'm gonna..."

"Die."