Red: You're STILL saying you're innocent?
Jail again.
Red: Give it up already!
Red bangs the table!
Astosis: Scare tactics now? We've been sticking to our story from the beginning: MC is not the criminal.
Red: ...hmph. Care to explain away all the circumstantial evidence?
He mad.
Astosis: We must go over all testimony before we can say any circumstantial evidence is valid. That is why we are here.
Red: And the Poderna could be off planet by now! I KNEW offworlders would ruin everything!
More tablebanging.
Astosis: Please refrain from unfounded accusations and emotional arguments in cases of criminal guilt charges.
Red: Pffft, who cares!? A foreigner stole the Poderna, whether them or that other villain!
Gaisei's here too. MC and Gaisei look at each other.
MC: I didn't do it. / ...
Gaisei: ...can we just fight instead of all this circuitous talking?
Astosis: Quiet, you may yet be judged for your attack on the party hall. But back to the Poderna. If we hope to recover it, the truth is ever more important.
Red: ...
Astosis: I will interpret that to mean you agree then. MC, please tell us what happened around the time of the attack at the ball.
MC: Okay, so the lights came back and the Chasseur surrounded us...
Rewind!
Rando: Oh no, the Poderna!
Astosis: !!
MC: What!? Where's Maculata!?
Not there at least. But you know who IS here?
Chasseur: Stop, criminal scum!
Space French Guards with guns pointed at MC's party!
Astosis: ...what are you all doing?
Red: Nobody move! We're arresting everyone as suspects for the Poderna's loss!
MC: WHAT
Astosis: ...I'm responsible for security here. Shouldn't you evacuate the guests and detain the villains first?
Red: ...I know. We'll talk about your responsibilities later.
Astosis turns to Gaisei and the mobs.
Mobs: DAMMIT
Gaisei: Too late to back out I suppose. I'll just have to wait for a chance then.
Gaisei disengages and walks over to the mobs.
Red: Don't resist, outsiders!
Astosis: ...so, what's this about EVERYONE in the ball being suspects over the Poderna theft?
Red: Did I stutter? I KNOW those villains and the offworld security hired help are in collusion to steal the Poderna.
More Space French Guards surround MC's party.
Astosis: ...this is going nowhere. Can we at least do this elsewhere so we don't disturb the guests?
Red: ...fine.
Later
Some Space French Guards stay at the ballroom to investigate. Everyone else moves to that jail room. Everyone quits out of their hero suits.
Astosis: ...so MC and the others are suspected of colluding with villains?
Yohack: I-impossible! We were hired to help protect it!
Nessen: Indeed. We have no reason to steal the Poderna. Plus, we were in combat when the lights went out, so how did the Poderna disappear?
Red: We're looking into that...hey, get to doing body checks.
Blue and Purple: ...roger.
Body checks for Nessen and Yohack. Then MC's turn.
Astosis: !?
MC: wait what
They found a hidden pocket in MC's ball outfit. It had a gemstone accessory in it.
Red: ...that's part of the Poderna. Explain?
Astosis: Yes, explain. It would be unnatural for a criminal to be carrying that. I prepared the clothes and the Chasseur were the ones who checked them earlier.
Red: Yes, nothing was wrong earlier. This was stolen from the ballroom, which means either they or the villain did it.
Astosis: Then shouldn't you suspect the villains who clearly came to commit crimes first?
Yohack: Yeah! We were fighting when it disappeared! We couldn't have gotten close!
Nessen: Agreed. Couldn't the villains have a B team come in to steal the Poderna while we were fighting?
Gaisei: Excuse me, but there is no B team.
Red Wolf: Gaisei, what!?
Gaisei: We have already lost. Why resist?
Purple Wolf: Hmm, Gaisei makes sense. We didn't steal the Poderna!
Gaisei: We were hired to cause a disturbance by a thieves gang. Except we failed, so they likely cut us loose and fled already.
Red Wolf: Y-yeah! We didn't do it, have mercy!
Astosis: You expect us to believe that?
Red: Actually I found proof they're right.
Red points at some screen.
Red: Drone camera footage. No one came in or out when the lights went out.
MC: uhhhh, what about stealth suits??? / ...
Yohack: W-wait, what if there were anti-drone stealth suits or something?
Red: Do those things make weight disappear too? All doors stayed closed, meaning the only entry point was the broken window. Which leads to a balcony and the garden. No tracks were found.
Yohack: U-um...but MC stealing the Poderna is impossible!
Red: Prove it, thief. There were no external trespassers after lights went out. Suspects would have to be nearby the Poderna, meaning you and the villains. Conveniently, you're missing a member so they must have run off with it!
MC: Oof, where is Maculata? Also, tyranny!
Astosis: This is unacceptable! There needs to at least be some evidence prov--
Red: Shut up! Arrest them!
Here comes the handcuffs!
Nessen: Oof, MC we might have to make a break for it...
Yohack: Yeah they won't listen! We should try to find Maculata!
Nessen and Yohack stand in front of MC! Gaisei's been cuffed already as he stands up and smiles.
Gaisei: Ooh, violent resistance at false accusations? I am so in.
MC: N-now hold on! / wait Gaisei aren't you cuffed up?
(C) Gaisei: Oh, you're worried for me? I can still revenge kill one or two people like this if I have to. Or do other things if I had time to think of them, but alas.
Gaisei seems chill about this.
Astosis: All of you, please. Bide your time for now.
Astosis steps in.
Astosis: Let's say for now I concede that circumstantial evidence points to MC being the criminal for now.
Yohack: wait WHAT
Astosis signals for Yohack to wait.
Astosis: In return, Nessen and Yohack are to be released from suspicion.
Red: You expect us to agree to that?
Astosis: Your current theory means both cannot be guilty. I guarantee Nessen was only here by chance, a tourist I just gave a VIP invite to later. He wasn't even hired to help with security.
Red: ...go on.
Astosis: Yohack was sent as a substitute from his agency. Arguing that he has guilt means arguing whatever problem the original member to be sent was intentional sabotage and the Chasseur had missed this.
Red: ...who's side are you on!?
Astosis: The truth's. You insist this is some conspiracy, so there are no objections to clearing Nessen and Yohack from suspicion, I trust?
The Space French Guards have no immediate response. Astosis takes Nessen and Yohack to the door.
Yohack: Wait, let us stay!
Nessen: Yes, please!
Astosis whispers.
Astosis: Listen, this is a precarious situation. I'm sure MC is being scapegoated, but I can't prove it yet. Please go find evidence.
Nessen: But how do we even--
Red: Stop whispering and get out if you aren't suspects!
Astosis: ...yes, they will soon enough. Oh right, Yohack?
Yohack: Y-yeah?
Astosis: If you're going back to town, I wanted to tell you that window's the same as before, the memories are still there, and I've never forgotten about your parents.
Yohack: What...I mean, nothing! Let's go, Nessen!
Nessen: ...very well. Astosis, please handle things here.
Nessen and Yohack leave. Astosis smiles for MC.
Astosis: It's okay, I'll be your attorney. Wait a moment for the objections.
MC: ...okay. / Those fake charges won't get me!
Astosis: Good, time for the cross examination then. I won't let them attack you.
Astosis leads MC by the hand back. The Space French Guards shove MC into a chair at the interrogation table.
MC: Let me tell my side.
Red: Pfft. Don't think you can weasel out from the circumstantial evidence. Damn foreigners!
Title Card: Mayhem, and Now the Present
Red sighs and turns to MC after so long.
Red: This has gone long enough. No new evidence was found.
Astosis: ...gh. No objections...
MC: Wait just a bit longer!
Red: We officially arrest MC as the suspect for the theft of the Poderna. But before we move you to a detainment cell we have to parade this to everyone at the ball!
Astosis: Now hold on, MC's guilt hasn't actually been proven yet!
Red: If you want evidence you have until the trial. Not that it'll matter much. You'll be charged next after them, attorney!
Astosis: ...!
MC and the villains get moved elsewhere.
Later
Red: Citizens! Behold!
Public announcement on stream time!
Red: Foreigners stole the Poderna!
Shocked and appalled city of Courrèges!
Red: Not to worry, we caught the criminal and will have the Poderna back Soon™!
Torches and pitchforks getting broken out!
Red: Everything is under control, go back to our yearly fashion circus! Okay bring out the criminal.
MC: Wait just a bit longer, there's still a chance!
Astosis: We didn't make it? ...how regrettable.
Gaisei: Operator, can we get to flailing and swinging and probably dying yet? I do not intend on going down without a--
Incoming Space French Guards!
???: HOLD UP!
Space French Guard A: WHAT
It's a bird! It's a plane! It's--
Yohack: Hey we're back!
Nessen: I'm glad to see you're okay, MC. We're breaking you out of those cuffs.
Surprise! The Space French Guards are too shocked to stop Yohack and Nessen from approaching MC.
Astosis: Well done getting back! Now we should check the evidence and form a counterargument and--
MC: Would, but now seems like a bad time!
The Space French Guards suit up!
Space French Guard A: Jailbreak! Get them!
Astosis: Oh, so it seems. Get going, I'll handing things after.
MC: Sorry, and thanks Astosis! Everyone, rock up!
Yohack: Ready!
Nessen: Same!
Nessen and Yohack suit up! Also Gaisei joins in.
Gaisei: Excuse me, I'm taking part as well. I'd like to see how strong the Chasseur really are.
Red: When'd you break out!?
Gaisei: I hide things inside myself. Sloppy, sloppy investigation.
A blade coming out of Gaisei's arm slashes down the Space French Guards!
MC: O-okay wow. Whatever, it's go time!
Nessen: I-I kind of feel bad treating him as a decoy, but now's a good chance to escape!
Yohack: This way!
Space French Guard A: Get them!
Yohack: Oh no they noticed!
Nessen: So it comes down to violence after all. MC!
MC: Right, focus on breaking through!
BATTLE START (more happens after)
Space French Guard A: Oof! Call backup! Cut them off!
Yohack: Oh god we gotta go before they swarm us!
Nessen: This way, MC!
The party runs away to the masquerade ballroom! Yohack and Nessen lead MC to the Poderna's display area.
Nessen: We're here. MC, step aside for a moment please.
Yohack: Just like the blueprints said! It was like right here...
Yohack opens up a secret passage behind the Poderna's display stand! Loud moving noise!
MC: Secret passage! / OMG cool! / where does it go...?
---
(B) Yohack: I know, right!?
---
Nessen: We'll talk on the way. We should lose our pursuers first.
And so the party runs on in.
End of Episode
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