"Shit, shit, shit, shit!" Kade immediately hides behind an empty dumpster as he hears metallic voices speaking in the distance, holding his breath.

"I need status on anything, Gorge" one of them said, a heavy, raspy voice belonging to a larger sounding being.

"Accessing central patrol machines…13 are currently active and searching. 1 is missing. Machine 7 cannot be detected in Ticking Avenue. Machine 7's signal cannot be located or disconnected, possible thief. Machine 10 near Lake Child Park has detected three living creatures half an hour ago. Machine 2 near Goring Street has detected one figure 5 minutes ago, unable to detect breathing signatures or proper temperatures. All other Machines have no reports of activity. Leaving the central patrol machine system" another spoke in a perfect, robotic tone as the heavy and raspy voice sighed.

"Fucking shit, I've seen not a damn thing from the sky for a while, they must have been quick, clearly residents. My flock has reported to have spotted 2 figures, they gave chase but lost them. Useless, all of them." another said, its voice occupied by heavy clunking gears and blowing air.

They walk past the dumpster as Kade takes a glance at them from behind. There he spots the same metallic dog who occupied the murderer of the missing man, a large metallic bird, and some sort of humanoid, the murderer of the missing man, with tattoos on the dog and humanoid’s back, and the bird’s left wing, reading: 'T.L.A 1 'Gorge'' on the dog, 'T.L.A 2 'Romance'' on the bird, and 'T.L.A 3 'Tailor'' on the humanoid.

And suddenly, a very unfamiliar singular whisper in his head.

'Hide!'

Tailor suddenly looks behind him, but Kade was quick enough to hide again thanks to the voice before he could spot him. Tailor turns his head back, continuing to walk with the other two as Kade sighs in relief.

"Those must have been the monsters she mentioned…how the hell do they even work? Fuck…I need to get back but how?" He checks for his phone in his pocket, lucky for him, but it proved fruitless, there was no connection, and even then, who would he call? He hadn’t gotten a number from anyone down here yet.

He looks back at where the door was, but it wasn't there anymore, just an actual empty wall in an empty, dusty, rusty old alleyway.

"I don't know this city enough to explore, and I only know about the bank but where was it again? Think, Kade, think…" he tells himself as he sighs. "Shit, I can't think of anything." He looked up from his thinking pose behind the dumpster as he noticed a small green slime boy staring at him from on top of it as he immediately backed away in shock from the slime boy, who simply stared in silence. He had no clothing but that doesn't really change much, seeing as he is only made up of slime that is in a humanoid shape, the only physical-looking parts were strange metallic copper balls meant to be his eyes and a small metal ball in the middle of his chest…and a Living Machine’s head where his ‘stomach’ would be, it slowly melting in what he would assume be the slime’s acidic properties.

"Um, hey, stay away please, I am stressed enough…" he asked as the boy approached slowly. "You human…smell…smell of…smoke…sister's smoke…" the slime boy said as he did visible sniffing motions as he nodded.

"Excuse me? I don't remember anyone smoking a cigarette near me…ah, wait a second…" Kade simply tilts his head before lifting his hand up for a handshake, after having gotten up.

"Kade Gears Wonder, detective and human of Heaven, may I receive your name, young gentleman?" he asks rather respectfully as the boy would shake his hand. The boy's hand was very sticky and wet, for obvious reasons of him being made entirely of slime, yet when he let go, no residue was left behind. Nor did it burn like the metal that was melting inside him.

"Tulip, name is Tulip, like pretty colored flowers!" he said, his voice was a bit gurgled and soft but still relatively understandable. "Tulip…cute name! Now, could I ask, what are you doing out here and do you know where the old bank was again? With the way to Polar Growth Town?" Kade asks nicely as Tulip thinks for a bit.

"Tulip was exploring, Tulip was told one human would be up here, Tulip then found you! And Tulip remember the way, Kade, follow Tulip" the slime boy began to walk without a second thought as Kade followed carefully, unsure if anything was detecting them or not, or if those unsavory characters were nearby, yet when he decided to look around him, he would notice a very, very thin membrane dome surrounded him, and seeing as there were a flock of the metal bird-like Living Machines right above them and not moving, this must be doing something to hide them from afar.

Eventually, the two reach the abandoned bank. Entering inside, Tulip continued on behind the empty counters to one of many closed vaults, Kade following. And right as Kade tried to remember the pattern Sugar had done to open it, he would see Tulip take a good look around the area before dissolving his body down to just a puddle of slime.

The puddle of slime began to seep under the vault door in a small crack, although the copper eyes and melting Living Machine head were left behind, being a bit too big, the metal ball core was able to follow along through the crack though. After what sounds like tinkering, the vault door began to open.

Tulip steps out from behind before kneeling down to the ground, gently tapping the ground until he eventually finds the copper eyes, placing them back into his head as they automatically fix themselves back to where his eye sockets are in the slime head. He then picks up the slimy machine head and just…gulps it down as it slides back down from the top to the stomach area of the body as it continues to melt.

Kade was no longer surprised at this point and simply nodded in silence, getting into the vault before Tulip closed it.

Kade takes it from here, lowering the lever that opened the vault door to close it again as he went to the cabinet Sugar went to, pressing a button there as the usual cabinets lower down to reveal that elevator shaft as eventually the elevator itself finally came up. They both step onto it as Tulip presses a button, the door closes and the elevator begins to move downwards.

"Tulip…what species are you?" Kade asks as respectfully as he can, simply out of curiosity and to break the ice. "Tulip is…Core Slimes…Core Slimes born from radioactive magic infused items. First item becomes heart, the core, core makes slime, slime becomes shape, item takes two more to become eyes, and then item makes shape humanoid, then Tulip is born! Tulip have iron ball core heart and copper eyes. Is radioactive so no touching, or hands be burny…" he said. Kade tried his best to translate the more child-like speech manner as he nodded. “And I assume you…eat the leftovers of those machines, hm?” he asked as Tulip nodded happily. “Metal tasty!”

"How curious…first Gorgeous People, and now Core Slimes, such things I've never heard in myths or stories…I wonder if I could write stories with these new fascinating people!" he chuckles at that thought as he wonders.

"So you mentioned I smelled like your sister's smoke. Do you mean those smoke photographs? Alexander used one on me to show me the incident of Timeless City at the train station, you know who he is?"

"Yes, Tulip knows Alex, Alex good friend of sister Molly, Alex very cool angel demon, they work together a lot" he said excitedly, like he was proud of that fact.

"Ah, I see…Molly…well, good to know you are on our side, you gave me quite the spook back there, but are you sure it was safe to explore alone?" Kade asks as the elevator reaches close to its destination.

The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

"Mhm, was safe, am slime, slime do no harm, machines detect slow for slime, very slow, can’t find breathing, can’t find warmth, Tulip very cold, Tulip move fast and is slippery, Tulip is like ninjas in old cartoons" he explained as the elevator eventually stops, the door opening to the already familiar scene of the distant town.

"Well, if you say so…I'll be heading back to the cafe, I thank you for leading the way, young sir, unless you are willing to come along? I'm sure the others wouldn't mind a young gentleman like you"

"Yes, Tulip come along to see good friends. You are Tulip's friend now, detective friend K.G.W!" he said before running off to the town.

"K.G.W? Oh! Wait, hey, slow down, I am still stressed about the door taking me to the wrong place!" Kade gives chase, following the very speedy slime boy as he smiles a bit.

'I wonder how the girls are doing up there…' he wondered to himself as he continued to follow, taking the time to appreciate the views this time…

-

Celeste was at her desk while Silvia slept soundly in her bed as she wrote down on documents and papers, although visibly more stressed. Silvia was terrified at first when she entered her room because of the ticking sounds, so she had to mute the digital clock as she sighed, placing the pencil down as she leaned back in her office here.

“And so the silence fills my mind with memories of silence. That empty home was such a torturous place to live in after you perished, dear…no more machines…no more sounds of gears and metal…just a silent woman and a crying boy. How cruel. So cruel…to leave me in emptiness, damnit…” she said to herself, she could feel tears go down her cheeks as she immediately wipes them away. “Enough. Work, Celeste, I don’t have time for this, Ria needs her reports on this…” she fixes her posture, sitting back up, picking up the pencil. And then, the sounds of the bed moving was heard as she turned the chair around to look over, her soft smile back on her face for SIlvia as she yawned.

“M-Miss?” Silvia asked as Celeste nodded. “Yes, little one?”

“Why were you crying?”

Celeste kept her smile as she tilted her head. “Forgive me, dear? I wasn’t! Who told you that?”

Silvia would point up as she continued. “The shiny stars…”

Celeste would giggle as she got up from her office chair, walking over and sitting down onto the bed as she pats Silvia on the head. “I think you are just tired, dear, how about you take a walk around the building? Maybe meet the other detectives here, okay~?” Celeste suggests as Silvia yawns one more time, nodding as she gets out from under the sheets, standing up as she hugs Celeste.

“O-Okay, miss!” Silvia responded as she let go, walking over to the door as she opened it slowly, stepping out into the hallway as she looked back, waving happily as Celeste waved back before the door closed. Her smile disappears as she falls onto the bed. “Ugh…maybe a nap will do me good…wait…” she would look over to her digital clock, pointing a finger gun towards her as she whispered to herself.

“Dirigentes Stella” and out of her index finger, a small meteor launches out to the clock as it softly hits it as the clock begins to tick again as she sighed in relief. “Excellent, no more silence…” she said as she lays back down properly, deciding to take a nap.

-

Silvia would look around the long hallway, seeing every room she passes by, each with plates of what and who's room it is. 'Castle Ling Yu's Office', 'Kade Gears Wonder’s Office Bedroom', 'Grear Roth Oath's Office', 'Ashwin Timothy Temple's Office' and many more. Each one she peeked in had a different looking room, a different aesthetic and general placement.

Castle's office had a person inside, working diligently on a strange old typing device. Their room was black and white, with simple furniture and decoration, made for work, not for fun.

Kade's office was as she remembered: a colorful office mixed with a bedroom. Cat toys were littered around on the ground, and so were some papers, a mess made by said cats that have wandered in and out through the kitty hole the door had. Obviously empty, as Kade was out at the moment, exploring beyond the lake…she hoped he was doing fine.

Grear's office was less of an office and more of a gym, filled with training equipment and two vending machines mostly meant to keep things cold rather than to sell. It was darker in colors, but had a lot more personality than Castle's office. No one was currently inside, and it seemed dusty already.

And the last room she decided to peek in was Ashwin's office. It was a lot more colorful and had a lot of cultural colors and furniture with the actual office supplies. A man was inside, taking a break it seems, although he was quick to notice Silvia through the glass window on the door and gave a very cheerful wave and smile, to which she responded back with a nervous wave.

She decided to enter Ashwin's office, he looked a lot friendlier and less busy than Castle. Silvia would knock on his door first before opening it, with a bit of struggle, entering the room and closing the door behind her.

"Uh…um…h-hello" she greets the man shyly as he smiles, taking a sip of tea. "Ah, hello my small friend, welcome welcome! Come, take a seat" his voice was cheerful and deep, and his accent was one she never heard off, being a lot more…just different sounding to her at least, it even sounded a bit like music in tone. She nods, walking over to one of the few colorful seats in the office, sitting down onto what was a comfortable red bean bag.

"Now, what brings the Silver Wanderer over into my little side home?"

"O-Oh, I was just…bored and c-curious, mister…" she said as he chuckled softly. "As children should be, how else will they shine! Ashwin Timothy Temple at your service, my new small friend, and if I remember Celeste's words to us…it was Silvia, am I correct?" he asks her as she nods.

"Excellent, my memory serves me well…as many others at this fine agency, I work as a freelancer detective, doing more of the smaller cases here and there, things the others wouldn't bother with in the first place, because they either want more excitement or just far too busy with other equally boring tasks…now, I am one to believe in myths and gods and all, but I have been informed that you really came from the Time Loss City?" he asks once more.

"Y-Yes, but…don't you mean The T-Timeless City?" she tried to correct him after answering as he chuckled once more. "No, my small friend, I was one of the many civilians down there who started calling it Time Loss City…do keep this a secret between me and Celeste and whoever else may indulge into it, but I am not…exactly from Raiden City. You may rest well knowing we all will serve to protect you, dear, for as long as the Steel Rooks Agency stands!” he said cheerfully as he looked out the window to the cafe next door.

"How about we get something sweet to drink and talk over? The cafe is quiet today so it'll be a quick come and go, hm? Something to help break the ice, I heard you had about half a carton of the chocolate milk to yourself, hm?” he teased her as she looked away a little in embarrassment as Ashwin chuckled.

She would hesitate at first at the offer, before thinking to herself. If Celeste and Kade trust him, then so will she, and so she finally nods, agreeing to come along to the cafe as he chuckles. "Excellent, darling. Wait in the lobby for me then, and I'll come by shortly!" he said as Silvia nodded once more, leaving the room and taking the stairs down to the lobby room. It was empty and quiet, until Lizzy walks in, noticing the little girl as she walks over. "Why, good morning, darling, you are up early. Is Celeste still in her room?”

"Mhm, she is, miss…"

"No need for formality, you know my name. Need only refer to me as Lizzy, okay?" she walks over to her front desk, prepping everything up as Silvia nods. “O-Okay, L-Lizzy…”

Silvia would sit down on one of the couches, waiting patiently for Ashwin. A few minutes pass, and he finally comes down from his office as he grins towards Silvia. "Shall we, Silver Wanderer?" he said, putting his hand out for her to hold onto. And she indeed does grab onto his hand, and a little tight.

"Need no fear, just think about…the pleasures of life!" He said to keep her cheered up as he waves goodbye to Lizzy. Silvia nodded, giggling just a little bit as they began to walk to the cafe down the street.

They shortly arrive, entering inside. Silvia would be ushered by Ashwin to sit down somewhere, and she does, sitting down by the windows as she waits patiently, now looking around the place properly.

Peacefulness. It was not a feeling she recognizes so often, always running around the old, broken city, hiding among the broken pieces of…everything. Signs, trash, buildings, whatever could hide her scent and body. And to be at peace is…scary. She was so worried of her head being chopped again, or her limbs, or maybe even all her organs except the heart.

Things thumbled in her head. Of worry. Doubt. Anxiety. Of whatever could happen in the future, what could happen now. Thoughts she did not want, but could not stop.

Why?

Ashwin would disturb the silence and anxious thoughts when he handed her a large glass cup of chocolate milk. And a big, friendly smile.

And she smiles back as they begin to talk to each other.