While the Dark Umbrella was investigating, Fiona, Sophie, and Siegfried had even examined the crime scene and found nothing... absolutely nothing. Unnoticed, they were being watched.
Meliodas: "And?"
Sophie: "Nothing... absolutely nothing."
Fiona: "It's strange. There really isn't even a single thing we could find that might help us."
Siegfried: "Mhm."
Meliodas: "Okay."
Lina: "I understand."
Violet: "Creepy."
Meliodas: "We'll probably need help. Maybe this Sandy can help us?"
(A few minutes later)
(Ding Dong!)
Sophie: "Doesn't seem like anyone is here."
Fiona: "Maybe she's still working."
Siegfried: "Hmm."
(Patch!)
The Joker: "Well now?... What are you doing here?"
Sophie: "Oh."
They turned around. It was Sandy.
The Joker: "Did something happen?"
Sophie: "Sorry for bothering you... Um... We'd like to talk to you."
The Joker: "Oh, not at all... You're not bothering me. Come in."
They went inside.
The Joker: "Should I make something for you?... Tea?... Cookies?"
Sophie: "Um... Not necessary..."
The Joker: "Please call me Sandy, okay?... No need to be so formal."
She walked to the kitchen.
The Joker: "Do you like it with a lot of sugar? Or just a little?"
Sophie: "Uh..."
They looked at each other. Fiona shrugged, then nodded.
Sophie: "Hmm..."
Fiona: "I'd like mine with sugar..."
Sophie: "Ugh... Um... Yes, but not too much for me."
Siegfried: "Same for me."
The Joker: "Hmm."
Siegfried: "Tell me... Are you single, Madam Sandy?"
Fiona smacked her own forehead.
(Smack!)
Fiona: "(Great... That was a shot into the open.)"
Sophie: "(Oh man... How can someone be that stupid... Even if she probably is interested in you, you idiot.)"
Sandy: "Hehehe... Yes... Why? Are you interested?"
Siegfried: "Just asking. You're pretty."
Sophie pinched Siegfried's leg.
Siegfried: "Ow."
Sophie: "Pull yourself together, you incompetent red-haired donkey."
Siegfried: "(Sweating)... Whoa."
Fiona: "(Sweating)... Um... Sophie..."
Sophie: "Huh?!"
She looked at The Joker, who was standing there confused.
Sophie: "Hehehe... We're just joking, right you complete idi... I mean... You wonderful young man."
Fiona: "(Sweating)... (Cough)... By the way... I don't know these two. I just met them."
Sophie: "Huh?!"
Siegfried: "What kind of friend are you... Instantly acting like we're strangers."
The Joker: "Heehehehehehe... You guys are really funny... hehehe... Hahhh... Okay... Your tea is ready."
She placed it on the table.
Sophie: "Thank you very much..."
Siegfried: "Oh... Then I'll stand up... There's no room after all..."
She sat on his lap.
Siegfried: "Ughh!"
Sophie: "Ughh.. huhh."
Fiona: "(Sweating)... (I want out of here, damn it... I'm losing my mind.)"
The Joker: "Hehehe... This works too."
Siegfried: "Definitely."
Sophie: "Damn simp!"
Fiona: "Shhh."
Sophie: "I mean... damn smurf."
Fiona: "Damn it Sophie, that doesn't even fit."
The Joker stood up.
The Joker: "Just a joke. I'll get myself a chair."
She walked away briefly.
Siegfried: "Hmm?... Why are you looking at me like that?"
Fiona and Sophie: "Simp."
Siegfried: "(Sweating)... Huh?"
She returned.
The Joker: "Here, I got a chair... Huh!"
She stumbled, but Fiona and Sophie caught her.
Sophie: "Ugh."
Fiona: "Careful."
The Joker: "Oh my goodness, you're fast... hehehe... Hmm."
She stroked both of their cheeks.
Sophie: "Ugh..."
Fiona: "(Sweating)... Mm!"
She pushed her hand away.
The Joker: "Huh?"
Sophie: "Hehehe... Sorry... Fiona doesn't like being... touched."
Fiona: "Be careful next time."
The Joker: "Yes... Sorry... hehehe..."
She sat down next to Fiona... without using the chair.
Sophie: "(Sweating)... Um... (Then what was all that drama with the chair for?)"
Siegfried: "Hmm."
Fiona: "(She's really getting close to me...)"
The Joker: "Well then... Tell me... What do you want from me? Is it about your bank account?"
Sophie: "No... We've been investigating the mayor's case."
The Joker: "Ohh... Yes... I understand."
She made a sad expression.
The Joker: "Yes... Terrible... I even met him once. A very kind man... Whoever did it must pay."
Sophie: "Hmm."
The Joker: "And... What does that have to do with me, hmm?"
Sophie: "Do you know someone who could help us? Someone who knows his contacts or something."
The Joker: "Ohhh... Hmm... Oh yes... Oh yes... I know someone, actually."
Sophie: "Really?"
The Joker: "Yes, yes... Mr. Blanco... I even have his address. You can ask him if you'd like... Though I haven't seen him in quite a while. But anyway... I can even lead you to him."
Sophie: "Not necessary. We can go ourselves."
The Joker: "Oh, nonsense... Nonsense... Gladly. It's about our beautiful city and perhaps the future of the people here... After all, the murderer could still be among us."
Sophie: "Yes."
Fiona: "(The murderers?... Hmm...)"
Fiona looked at her more seriously.
Fiona: "(Strange... Nobody talked about more than one killer...) (Hmm... Whatever... Maybe from the newspapers...)"
Fiona looked at her once more.
The Joker: "(Oh... What sharp hearing... I must have said something suspicious... Incredible. She listens to every word... Indeed... A detective should trust no one)... Hehehehe... Although personally I think the person is long over the mountains by now... I mean... What idiot would still stay here?"
Fiona: "Hmm..."
Fiona looked away.
The Joker: "(Phew... That was damn close.)"
Fiona: "(Cough)... (Cough)..."
Sophie: "Hmm?... Are you okay, Fiona?"
Fiona: "Sure... I'm fine... Probably my stomach again."
The Joker: "(Stomach... Is she suffering from an illness?... Ahhh... I see. Probably something related to mana flow...) Hmm..."
Fiona: "It's fine again..."
The Joker: "Um... Good... Then let me get ready. I mean, I can't go out dressed like this... Could you wait until I'm done showering?"
Sophie: "Take your time, Miss Sandy... You've been working and still want to help us. That's very kind."
The Joker: "No problem."
She went into the shower.
Sophie: "So what do you think? Can we trust her?"
Siegfried: "So far she seems fine... No reason to worry."
Fiona: "Yeah... She seems okay."
Sophie: "I think so too... She's willing to help us despite work."
Fiona: "Hmm..."
(After a few minutes)
The Joker: "I'm done... I'm just getting dressed now!"
She called out from behind the shower.
Sophie: "Yeah, no problem."
(A few seconds later)
The Joker: "Alright, I've got my clothes on. We can go."
Sophie: "Oh."
Siegfried: "Hmm?"
The Joker: "Hehehe, how do I look?"
Siegfried: "...You look wonderful."
The Joker: "Thank you."
Sophie: "Yeah... Beautiful dress."
The Joker: "Hehehe."
Sophie pinched Fiona's hand.
Sophie: "Say something too."
Fiona: "Ow?... Um... Yeah... You... look... fabulous."
The Joker: "Hehehe... Stop it... You're making me blush... Alright then... Come on."
They followed her and entered the train.
The Joker: "Mr. Blanco is a very honorable man... He liked working with the mayor. Though strangely enough, I haven't seen him for a while."
Sophie: "How long?"
The Joker: "Don't know... Several days... Four or three... Could be more. Hehehe... I work a lot, so I can't remember."
The Joker smiled.
Sophie: "I see..."
Siegfried: "Hmm... What's wrong, Fiona?"
Sophie: "Hmm?"
Fiona: "Nothing... I'm just not used to this kind of train."
The Joker: "Hehehe, the trains here really are different... They're slower... But hey, look around. Isn't the city beautiful? The houses... the towers... the smiling people and children. Isn't it wonderful?"
Sophie: "Yes."
The Joker: "Oh... There's the street we love here... Oh, this is our stop."
They got off.
The Joker: "Alright... We just need to go to that house over there."
Sophie: "Oh, so he doesn't live that far away."
The Joker: "About... twenty or thirty minutes."
They slowly walked in that direction.
The Joker: "(Humming)..."
Sophie: "You're always cheerful."
The Joker: "Ah... I got that from my mother... Hehehe... I just like seeing people happy... Look at all the people walking around... hehehehe... I was worried this place would become depressing after the mayor's death."
(After a few minutes)
The Joker: "Here..."
She knocked.
The Joker: "Mr. Blanco?... Mr. Blanco... It's me... Sandy Sinera... I'd like to speak with you... Well... Me and my friends here... Mr. Blanco?... Huh? The door is open."
Sophie: "Hm!"
Fiona: "Mm!"
Sophie and Fiona immediately became serious. Fiona moved next to Sandy.
Fiona: "Stay behind us."
The Joker: "What's wrong? Did something happen?"
Fiona: "Hmm... Stay behind us just in case."
She opened the door.
Fiona: "Mr. Blanco?... Mr. Blanco?..."
She drew her pistol.
The Joker: "Ughh..."
Sophie: "Hmm."
They entered.
Sophie: "Hmm... Ughh... Hey Fiona... Look at the wall over there."
Fiona: "Huh... Ughh."
Indeed, there was something there... a corpse.
The Joker: "Aaaaarghh... No."
She grabbed onto Sophie.
The Joker: "Mr. Blanco."
Fiona: "Hmm."
She checked his pulse.
Fiona: "He's dead."
Sophie: "Damn it!"
The Joker: "Hhh... Mr. Blanco..."
Fiona: "Hahh..."
They investigated the scene.
Sophie: "I found nothing."
Fiona: "Me neither."
Siegfried: "Hmm."
The Joker: "Mmm."
Fiona: "Let's leave. Sandy can't handle this for much longer."
Sophie: "Yeah."
They returned to Sandy's house. Sophie had of course called the police.
Sophie: "I'm sorry that... we dragged you into this."
Fiona: "Yeah."
The Joker: "It's okay... Mr. Blanco didn't deserve this... Promise me... that you'll do your best... to find this... horrible murderer... please..."
Sophie: "Yes... We'll do our best."
The Joker: "Thank you very much."
Sophie: "Go get some rest, Sandy... We'll take care of the rest."
The Joker: "Okay."
She went into her house and closed the door.
The Joker: "...Hmm... (...Smiles)... hehehehe..."
(A few hours earlier)
When The Joker said she was going to shower, she had lied.
The Joker: "Hahh... Looks like I'll have to handle this myself."
She climbed out the window, went to the train station, and rode there. It didn't take long. Then she ran.
(Ding Dong)
Mr. Blanco: "Ohh... Hello Sandy."
The Joker: "Hello, Mr. Blanco."
Mr. Blanco: "Did something happen? You're out of breath."
The Joker: "I need your help, Mr. Blanco."
She clung to him.
The Joker: "Someone is following me."
Mr. Blanco: "What... Who..."
He turned around to get his weapon.
Mr. Blanco: "Hmm... Where's my gun?"
The Joker: "Hehehe."
Mr. Blanco: "Urk!"
(Stab!)
Mr. Blanco: "Urk... Ghhh."
The Joker: "...Shhhhh... shhhhhh..."
She covered his mouth.
The Joker: "Shhhh... Everything will be fine... Stop moving..."
She used a needle... He fell dead to the floor.
The Joker: "Alright... Back quickly!... This time... I'll use... my Beasters..."
She summoned one of her Beasters. It looked like a horse. She used it and quickly returned to the shower, changing her clothes during that time.
The Joker: "There. I'm finished... (Hehehe...)."
(Back to the present)
The Joker: "Of course my sweet Beasters erased every piece of evidence... That way I killed Mr. Blanco before they could question him... hehehehe..."
(Meanwhile)
Sophie: "What's wrong, Fiona?"
Fiona: "Hmm... (I... don't understand... Somehow... I feel like I missed something... Sandy said... she hadn't seen Mr. Blanco in a long time... but his blood was fresh... It hadn't even been an hour... Also... the door was open... Whoever it was... they did it today... Mr. Blanco was murdered today... so why was he gone for three or more days?... Was he being followed?... No... He would've contacted the police... What if family members were captured?... No... That doesn't make sense either... Then why kill him?... If they wanted money, nothing was stolen... The murderer wasn't after the money... but after Mr. Blanco himself... Damn it... Damn it... But that's not enough...)... Sophie..."
Sophie: "Yeah?"
Fiona: "Did you notice that... Sandy took a long time to shower?"
Sophie: "Yeah."
Siegfried: "Isn't that normal for women?"
Sophie: "Um... Kind of... But her hair was still wet... so she didn't have time to dry it."
Fiona: "Yeah... Maybe I'm overthinking it... But I have a feeling that Sandy... might know something..."
Sophie: "Huh?... Was she the murderer? Do you think that?"
Fiona: "No... More that... she might know something but doesn't want to tell us... out of fear... Maybe she took so long in the shower because she knew something wasn't right..."
Sophie: "Then she's in danger!"
Fiona: "Hmm... Yeah... That could be. She's a bank employee and knew Mr. Blanco... Maybe you're right... I should check on her."
Sophie: "I'm coming too."
Fiona: "Okay."
Siegfried: "And me."
Sophie: "...(Sweating)... You can go... Bye."
Siegfried: "Mean."
Fiona: "Tell Meliodas that Mr. Blanco is dead."
Siegfried: "Okay."
(Meanwhile)
The Joker: "(Humming)..."
(Knock, Knock)
The Joker: "Hmm?"
She opened the door.
The Joker: "Oh... You two."
Sophie: "Hey."
Fiona: "Sorry for bothering you... We... think you're in danger."
The Joker: "Me?... But... Why?... I... I'm only a bank employee... Well... manager... but still."
Sophie: "You have connections. That could be dangerous."
The Joker: "Huhh..."
Sophie: "That's why we want to stay here with you for a while..."
The Joker: "Okay."
She stepped back slightly.
The Joker: "Come in then... (Cough)..."
They entered.
The Joker: "(Hmm... Not bad... This wasn't exactly my plan... but hey...)... Um... Would you like... something to eat?"
Sophie: "No, thanks."
Fiona: "We just want to make sure you're okay... Sandy."
Sophie: "Yeah."
The Joker: "That's really sweet of... you... Where... is the other one?"
Sophie: "Oh, the sim... I mean... Siegfried... He went back."
Fiona: "We don't want to bother you... We'll just stay here for a while... and leave by tomorrow morning."
Sophie: "Unless we're bothering you."
The Joker: "No, it's okay... hehe... Really... I was actually scared... of sleeping alone tonight... Thank you, you two."
Sophie: "Hmm, sure."
Fiona: "Hmm."
The Joker: ( Hehehe)