At 10:00am, Monday. On the way to a new place called "Inkopolis Square."

Lai's POV

Sheldon and I were currently taking a train in the subway station and yeah, crowded with tons of Inklings and Jellyfishes. I ask Sheldon in curious.

Lai: Uhm... Are we heading the right way?

Sheldon: Of course yes! I have been taking this train through here for a few times.

Lai: Okay...

I turn my head and stare the view through to the window.. Sheldon asks me..

Sheldon: Are you feeling well?

Lai: Uhm... Yeah... I guess...

Sheldon: Still thinking about Callie?

Lai: Please don't ask...

Sheldon: Okay...

The train had stopped and the door had opened, a crowd of people were flooding out from the train and we tried to get away from them.

Sheldon: Come on! Follow me!

I followed Sheldon through the escalator. Then, we ended up in the alleyway. With some buildings are still in under construction.

Lai: Is this the place?

Sheldon: Yeah! This is a shortcut to the Square. And there's a launchpad in the end of the road. Maybe you can do some target practice with those balloons floating around here and I'll be waiting you at the launchpad.

Lai: Ah.. Okay..

Sheldon climbs up on top of the boxes and jumps to the other side of the alleyway... Then, I heard a scream..

Sheldon: Ahh!!!!

*Thump*

Lai: What just happened?

I stood on top of the boxes to look for Sheldon. I sweatdropped..

Lai: Are you okay!?

Sheldon: I'm fine! Just get yourself warm up and meet me at the end of the road.

Lai: It can't be helped...

I turn and look at the course.. Kinda remind me when I was a newbie. I let out a sigh in dissappointment...

Lai: *sigh* Now I missed the good old time...

I jumped out from the boxes and drew out my Splattershot Jr. Popping one of the balloons. Then I start proceed through the alley. Swimming through grates, along breaking some obstacles. Soon, I meet up with Sheldon.

Sheldon: You ready for the new era?

Lai: Yeah! My friends are there too, probably waiting for me as well!

Then, I ride the launchpad and it launches me straight to the Inkopolis Square.

Timeskip... At Inkopolis Square...

Whinter: Man! this place is so fresh, isn't it?!

Clementine: Yeah, it is!

There's a marker had tagged on the ground...

Whinter: Hey! That's must be Lai!

Clementine: Oh, we haven't seen him for a while!

When Lai had landed on the marker, he met up with his friends. Whinter and Clementine.

Whinter: Hey bro! So glad you came!

Lai: Yeah, me too.

Then, Sheldon jumped out from my back. Carrying a huge bag of weapon products. He took a deep breath of excitement.

Sheldon: Ah! Inkopolis Square! The all new nerve center of Inkling culture!

Clementine: Hey Sheldon! What are you doing here?

Sheldon: Well, my lady. I'm actually had started moving my business here. And Lai was helping me. I hope you guys will pay a visit to my new Ammo Knights store!

Clementine: Oh that's nice! We will!

Sheldon: Well Lai, I'll be waiting for you in the Galleria so you can take a look around whatever you want! And I'll start moving my things now.

Lai: *nod* Okay.

Sheldon had left to his store after bowing to them. Lai took a view around the Square.

Lai: Whoa...

Whinter: So what do you think? Isn't it fresh!?

Lai: Yeah, I couldn't agree more with you. Anyway, where's the others? Did they came here as well?

Whinter: Yeah! Let's check out on them!

The three of them were having a little stroll until they meet up with Vadelma, Logan and Marian outside of Ammo Knights.

Whinter: Hey guys! What's up?

Vadelma: Oh hi, Whinter! Our team were just checking out the new weapons in Ammo Knights.

Logan: Oh my cod, Whinter! Look at all those new weapons! Can't wait to try them all out!

Marian: Yeah! Look at those new specials too! (Heheh... Very interesting..)

Lai: You guys seems so excited about this.

Clementine: Well, the same goes to everyone around here. By the way, let's go meet up with my team! They're just near from the Deca Tower!

Whinter and Lai: *nod* Okay.

At the Deca Tower...

Clementine: Hey! What's you guys up to?

Tanrine: Ohmigosh! Is that a little Judd!? So cute!!!

Daisy: Let's take a wefie with them!

Clementine: Yeah it is.. And what about you, Angelo?

A pigeon just landed on Angelo's shoulder..

Angelo: *Approving nodding*

Clementine: Ahehe... I guess that's good for you. I wonder where's Taloupe anyway?

Lai: Must be with Cosmo from the Team Petal Splash..

Whinter: Let's go check them out!

At some stores around the Galleria...

Clementine: Hey Jonq... Whoa!

Lai: What's with your tentacles?

Jonquil: These are the new fashion Tentastyle I just got from the store! It'll be more fresher while dancing around the battlefield with these new Tentacuts!

Clementine: But where's your team, Jonquil?

Jonquil: Ah, Cosmo, Sorrel and your team, Taloupe were hanging around at the Shoal. Check out on them if you want!

Clementine: Alright, see you later!

Jonquil: Ah parceiro, I am gonna try them all out!

At the Shoal...

Lai: Hey uhm... What you guys doing?

Taloupe: We're just checking out the Shoal. And Cosmo seems to have fun with these new games.

Lai: Oh that's great, I guess...

Taloupe: I'll stay here for a while.. Can you help me check out the Grizzco Industries?

Lai: Grizzco what?

Taloupe: Grizzco Industries, it's just at the left side of the Deca Tower. I heard they're now recruiting employees for Inklings and Octolings, everyone was there as well.

Lai: Oh okay, I'll go check it out right now.

Taloupe: Thanks!

Clementine: Well, Whinter and I will stay here for a while. Have fun, Lai!

Lai: Oh okay...

He left the Shoal and checked out the Industries Taloupe was talking about. As he arrived, the scene was crowded with tons of sealings and he met up with Arnick and Tetrox outside of the Grizzco Industries...

Lai: What's with the crowd, Arnick?

Arnick: Oh, we're just finished working with Mr. Grizz because we're now short on cash and we could use for some private training with the Salmonids.

Tetrox: It was fun battling with those Salmonids! You should try it out!

Lai: Sounds great..

Arnick: If you did well enough, you can get a raise from Mr. Grizz or even some super bonuses.

Lai: Thanks for the info. I'll work someday if needed.. How's your team doing anyway?

Arnick: They're doing fine. Belladonna and Cyanthia are still working on their Salmon Run shift.

Lai: So what you gonna do next?

Arnick: We'll wait for them. But we can take a look around the Square while we can.

Lai: Right.

Arnick: Anyway, where's your team?

Lai: ...

Arnick: Yeah I get it.. Sorry. It's hard for you to be a real Agent.

Lai: It's okay... Let's just check out today's news already in the cafe.

He left...

Arnick: ...

Tetrox: Is he really okay?

Arnick: Probably, Tetrox. His path isn't easy for him to walk right now. Let's just follow him to the cafe first.

Tetrox: Okay..

They left from the Grizzco and went to the Cafe Cardamari, meeting up with Taloupe and Cosmo once again.

Taloupe: So what's there you guys had been?

Lai: Like you said, it's just a job for Inklings and Octolings. But I guess It paid well.. I haven't work on there so I don't really know much.

Taloupe: Well, still thanks anyway. The news was about to start now.

Cosmo: And let's see for "Who's this new DJ?" Everyone was talking about. They think they're fresher than me?! Hardly!

Arnick, Tetrox, Cosmo, Taloupe, Whinter, Clementine and Lai were gathered at the Cafe as the TV starts displaying the two new broadcaster. Pearl and Marina from the new Idol group called "Off The Hook". They start their live with some today's news.

Pearl: Y'all know what time is it!?

Marina: It's Off The Hook, coming at you LIVE from Inkopolis Square!

As they were in live, I notice someone's blushing...

Lai: Why you're blushing, Cosmo?

Cosmo: She's... She's beautiful...

Taloupe: Cosmo!!

Lai: Don't worry Taloupe.. He still likes you more.

Arnick: What a bunch of Idiots....

Lai: Hey, no negative feelings.. We've talked about this.

Arnick: Hmph.. Whatever..

Clementine: Guys! Listen!

Pearl: Uhm... Why is our producer freaking out? Read the teleprompter, Marina!

Marina: Huh? Let's see here...

The screens shows up about the Great Zapfish disappearance..

Marina: THIS JUST IN! The Great Zapfish has just..... Disappeared?!

Arnick: I knew it was Octarians!

Tetrox: *Nervous humming.*

Lai: Shh!!! Everyone's here!

Arnick: Oh sorry..

Pearl: Wait, like, for real?! I feel like I've heard this story somewhere before...

Arnick: Yeah... Feels like it was from two months ago...

Lai: (*sigh* The worst hasn't come yet.)

Marina reads another teleprompter, this time it was about the popstar, Callie from the Squid Sisters and she's a member of Lai's team as well.

Marina: There's more! Pop superstar Callie of the Squid Sisters has gone missing!

Whinter: What!!?? She's missing!? But where's Marie?! Could she had gone missing too?!

Clementine: Ugh... Shut your mouth, Whinter! He's listening.

Whinter: Ow...

Lai: ...

Lai: ......

Pearl: NOOOO!!! NOT CALLIE!!! This is terrible! Do something, Marina!

Marina: Uh... Ok, I'll put together a search part-

Pearl: Whatever.. I'm sure they'll turn up at some point. In other news...

Marina: But shouldn't we form a search party or someth-

Pearl: And that's all the time we've got! Until next time...

Pearl and Marina: Don't get cooked... Stay Off The Hook!

Then, as their live ended and the screen had showed back with some random advertisement...

At the studio...

Marina: Uhm... Shouldn't we do that, Pearlie? You know they're friends of us.

Pearl: But we're all busy here. Why don't you just try contact with them first?

Marina: I don't wanna interrupt between them.

Pearl: Ugh... Let's do that once we got time..

Marina: Thanks, Pearlie! I'll go take a research about them!

Pearl: Stop calling me that, Marina..

At the Cafe...

Clementine: Uhm... Lai? Are you okay?

Lai: Huh? What's wrong?

Clementine: Aren't you worried about her?

Lai: Yeah.. I am... But a part of me still have faith on her. I'm sure about it.

Clementine: How can you be so sure?

Lai: *smile* Hehe... We known each other for a long time and we always trust each other. So that won't be enough to take me down.

He took out two Star-Shaped Pendant named "Wayfinders". One is Lai's Azure Blue from his neck and the other is Callie's Magenta from his pocket.

Lai: I know her personality well. She always values her bond between Marie and I, same as we do for her.

Lai: And she promised to take care of it, but she must be dropped it in accident so I'm gonna return it to her once I find her.

Clementine: Aww... That's sweet of you. I wish Whinter was like you.

Whinter: Hey!

Lai: Heh... You guys.. Hm?

He received a message from Marie..

Marie: Lai? You there?

Lai: Yeah?

Marie: We're having a meeting so I want you to meet up with us in the Cuttlefish Cabin at Octo Canyon. Where are you now?

Lai: I'm in the Cafe, and I'll be there soon.

Marie: Okay...

He nudges his phone back to his pocket...

Lai: Sorry guys.. Gotta go right now.

Clementine: See you later!

Lai: *nod*

Timeskip... Inkopolis Square...

Lai's POV

I just walked out from the cafe and start heading to the manhole which it leads me to Octo Canyon through the underground channel. It was just beside from Sheldon's Ammo Knights. I looked around to check if anyone's here then I jumped in with my Squid Form.

End Of Chapter.

Bonus,

Splatoon 2 facts: According to the second artbook, Octo Canyon is just a short hour's trip away from Octo Valley by bus and train. The place itself holds the largest logistics base in the Octarian society and has many research facilities.