Ace Attorney Investigations: Moonlight

Chapter 8

- November 5th -
- Canada, Lake Hotel -
- Kotoko Minami's POV -

Mr. Q and I waited around for Miss. Kirigiri and her new friend. He had ordered room service for me. I was surrounded by chocolate, cakes, pizza...

"Are you sure this isn't going to cost you too much?" I asked him, shoving another bit of cake into my mouth.

"Interpol has classed this as a business trip. Anything I purchase is supplied by Interpol." He told me, "It's really no problem...  you looked like you were starving."

"I was!" I nodded, "It was only for a few hours, but that suitcase was really cramped... any longer and I would've run into some problems..."

Just as Mr. Q was going to respond, Miss. Kirigiri and her new friend walked in. I jumped up and ran towards them.

"K-Kotoko... you really have missed me." She smiled softly, "I forgot to introduce you. This is Zero. She'll be helping our investigation."

Zero stuffed her hands into her pockets and didn't mutter a response.

"I'm still the older one, huh?" I grinned at her, trying to get a response.

"H-Huh?" Zero eventually stuttered, "What... there's no way you're older than me-!"

"I'm taller, too!" I stood next to her to prove my point. "Aren't I, Miss. Kirigiri?"

Mr. Q pulled Miss. Kirigiri aside. "Julia, I need to talk to you. The ring-"

"Yes, did you find anything else out about Fiona Walker? Or the ring?" Miss Kirigiri looked over at his laptop. "Honestly, if you've been able to manage that and take care of Kotoko..."

"I-It wasn't any trouble-!" Mr. Q cleared his throat. "Well, the ring... it does prove that Autumn is linked to Moonlight. I needed another ring as confirmation, but they're definitely the same."

"Moonlight... we need to find their base of operations." Miss. Kirigiri told him, "We can't afford any more casualties."

"Speaking of casualties..." Mr. Q turned on the TV, "... China appears to have suffered a massive explosion. If I recall, weren't they the ones that rejected X's idea?"

Miss. Kirigiri frowned and looked at him. "Q, what are you suggesting? Moonlight... they have moles in Interpol?"

"It wouldn't be out of the question." Mr. Q explained, "However, I can't tell if it is X or someone else... I wonder whom his benefactors are."

"You need to get back and help them, then." She responded, "Take Kotoko. If you're correct... you need help."

Mr. Q nodded. "You find Greyerl. Zero, you know where it is, correct?"

"Well, duh. It's the last safe place." Zero grinned childishly. "I hope you like the weather in Turkey..."

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- November 6th -
- Turkey, Greyerl Apartments -
- Zero Mystere's POV -

I kicked down the door of our holiday home. Just wanted to be fancy, you know? In front of D.

"Greyerl is a holiday home?" D tilted her head. "What's so important about this place?"

"Father always kept his secrets here. As a kid, this was our little holiday home..." I told her, frowning. "... There's a secret hidey-hole somewhere. I just know it!"

D put our suitcases down and sighed. "My entire investigation is riding on this, Zero... I'm not playing escape."

I began to pull random books out of a nearby bookshelf. "You're the one to talk. I cut off all contact with my father, and yet... he sends me you with his dying breath."

"He cared about you." D smiled at me. "I could tell..."

"Don't be dramatic. He didn't care about me." I glared at her. "Are you saying he held out because of me?"

"He did die thinking of you." D held my shoulders, distracting me from my book-throwing. "Look, Zero... wait, is that a doorknob behind the bookshelf?"

I gasped and shook her hands off of my shoulders. D helped me push the bookshelf out of the way (much to my annoyance). Sure enough, there was a door behind the bookshelf.

D opened the door, dust piling out. It was a small, tiny room. A messy one, in fact. Documents and pictures were scattered about.

"Seems like your father was investigating something." D picked up a nearby photo. "Looks like... a woman. There's a Moonlight ring on her finger..."

"What's wrong?" I asked her, jumping up onto a seat. "You look confused... it's just a picture."

"I was just thinking... Q..." D stared at the photo intently. "... This woman has some of his features. I may be overthinking, but... from what I can tell, it's possible that this woman is Fiona Walker... the leader of Moonlight and his mother."

I blinked for a few seconds, taking it in. "Damn," I eventually said, "And I thought I was the one with parental issues."

"He was looking for her. I suppose I'm here to finish the job." D smiled faintly. "There's a scanner... ah! This might be it!"

"What was he scanning for?!" I jumped up, desperate to see the device she was holding. "Let me see-!"

D turned to me with a smirk. "It looks like we've found a new clue, Zero. We just need Q to boost the signal."

————
- November 6th -
- Interpol HQ -
- Joe Ashen's POV -

Drew and I were having a lovely time, chatting in my office. Slightly stress-free. More than normal.

That is, until X burst into our office with a grin.

"M! Good news!" He declared, not bothering to knock. "China have agreed to everything! The voting is unanimous!"

"Um, what...?" Drew tilted his head. "What... I thought the voting fell through."

"They changed their minds!" X jumped up excitedly, "The system is going live in... oh, about 79 hours? I've got lots of work to do!"

"So why are you telling us?" I asked him, trying to prevent a glare.

"Well, I won't be able to work with Interpol much anymore." X told us, "I've been asked to head it all by my benefactors."

"Your... benefactors..." I narrowed my eyes. "... Who are they? You've told us nothing about them."

"I-I'm not supposed to say... they're private benefactors, after all." X avoided eye contact. "I'm sorry, M... I, um, really enjoyed working with you."

X rushed out of the door. Obviously in a hurry.

"J-Joe... I don't like this, not one bit." Drew turned to me. "X is practically giving Interpol jobs to machines. We can't afford to lose any more agents...!"

"Drew, calm down." I squeezed his hand in an attempt to soothe him. "I'm sure we'll think of something..."

Drew nodded, leaning onto my shoulder. "I hope we hear from D soon..."

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- hatty