Narrator- Elite Soliders- 9 Externals & 2 Internals
(Lord of the Fries Restuarant, 2:15 p.m, Day 26- The Day of the 3rd Internal Dragon Part)

Narrator- Mizumi, Ayumi, Livon, and Tegan visited a nearby restaurant to have lunch there. Upon sitting at one of the tables, they saw a huge banner on one of the walls.

Tegan(while reading the banner)- "Those who are unable to pay the bill will be required to work in the restaurant for a day."

Mizumi(to livon)- This banner is for you, livon!! Hmph, I heard you went broke a while back due to your gambling!!

Livon(to mizumi)- Tsch!! I have money; don't worry about me!! And that broke incident you are talking about happened more than a while ago!! To be precise, the days when you were being ignored by Hinaka!!

Mizumi(with a frustrated face)- Hmph!!

Livon(to mizumi)- By the way, how come you came alone into this restaurant?! I thought, wherever Hinaka goes, you go along with him!! Like a buy one, get one deal!

Mizumi(with a frustrated face)- ...........

Ayumi(to mizumi)- Why didn't Hinaka come anyway? Didn't you invite him??

Mizumi(with a slow voice)- He said he is busy cleaning the bathroom.

Tegan- Leave this chitchat aside for a second. Let's order something first. (everyone starts reading the menu card)

Ayumi- I will take "Biryani".

Mizumi- Hmmm. Mine is "Dal Makhani with Naan."

Tegan- "Sambar Idli", I suppose.

Livon(while reading the menu card)- 16 bronze coins, 20 bronze coins, and 2 silver coins!! (takes out his wallet and checks how much money he has) 4 bronze coins?! (checks the price of the cheapest dish) No other choice. (in his mind)

Tegan(to livon)- What are you ordering, livon??

Livon- I will order a "Samosa".

Mizumi- Hahahahahaha!! So you don't have money after all!!

Livon(to mizumi)- I am just... I am just on a diet, that's why!!

Mizumi(to livon)- Diet for what?! To lose weight?! Your weight looks perfectly fine to me!!

Livon(to mizumi)- I am just eating smart, damn it!! Do you even know how many calories one single samosa carries?! Its 262!! That's about 12% of our daily intake. If I take a milk tea with sugar, boom, my lunch is complete!! With the appropriate amount of calories as well!!

Ayumi(to livon)- Now I see how you survive being starved whenever you go broke. You become a calorie-tracking machine!!

Tegan(while keeping a hand on livon's shoulder)- It's okay. We understand. You eat whatever you want; no one will make fun of you.

Livon(in his mind)- He is feeling petty for me?!

Ayumi- Waiter!! Waiter!! Waiter?! Is no one here to book our orders?!

(Outside Kitchen)

Manager(to waiter)- Where did you go?! Customers are calling out for you!! Quickly go and take their orders now!!

Waiter(to manager)- Okay, okay. I am going. Relax a bit.

Manager(to waiter)- And yeah, talk politely with the customers!! Don't you dare scare them with your serious face!!

(Waiter enters the Dining area)

Waiter- So, what do you want to eat?!

Mizumi(to waiter)- Eldon, you!?!

Eldon(with a stunned face)- What are all of you doing here?!

Ayumi(to eldon)- This should be our question!! Not yours!! Why are you acting like a waiter?!

Manager(to ayumi)- Because he is a waiter, that's why!!

Tegan(to eldon)- Is the money you receive from being a soldier not enough to cover your daily expenses, that you have decided to do a part-time job now??

Mizumi- Hmph, of course it's not enough!! He is a gambler, just like livon, after all!!

Manager(to eldon)- So you gamble, that's why you didn't have money yesterday?!

Eldon(to manager)- No, that's not the reason!! Stop listening to them!! I had already told you that the reason I didn't have any money to pay you yesterday night was because I mistakenly left my wallet at home!!

Ayumi- Ah, so you are one of the victims of these restaurant rules, I see.

Manager(to eldon)- Whatever the reason, you are a waiter right now, so act like one!! All you have done till now is make customers run away from this restaurant!!

Eldon(to manager)- It's not my fault that they ran away!! Waiters are considered lower class, which is why customers think it is fine to mess around and say anything to them because they know they won't say anything back due to the fear of losing the job!! That's the reason it's important for me to show these mannerless customers how to respect every working individual, regardless of their jobs!!

(Another Waiter enters the scene)

Waiter 2(to manager)- It's true customers can be unmannered sometimes, but since eldon started working here, there has been quite an improvement in their behaviours!!

Manager- That's good; that's very kind and generous of him. But that doesn't mean he has to show his bad attitude to every customer he meets!! Not every one of them is mannerless!!

Tegan- I doubt that can be changed; that's just the way he is.

(Somewhere from another table)

Customer 1- I didn't know I was in a wholesale market.

Manager(to customer 1)- Oh, I am sorry, sir. Etremely sorry!! It's going to be quiet now, don't you worry.

Customer 1- It better be.

Manager(to waiters)- Back to work, everyone. Eldon, quickly collect their orders and come to the kitchen.

Ayumi(to eldon)- Are you carrying all the dragon parts with you right now??

Eldon(to ayumi)- Yes, I have them.

Mizumi(to eldon)- Keep it safe then. You also know how much struggle it took to get them.

Eldon(to mizumi)- You don't need to remind me of that. I already know. These dragon parts aren't going anywhere!!

(At the Customer 1 Table)

Customer 1(to eldon)- Bring me "Creamy Tomato Pasta".

Eldon(to customer 1)- Sure. Anything else.

Customer 1(to Eldon)- Hmm... a mocktail too. And bring them quickly, please!!

(A Lady barges in from the front door)

Customer 2- Heyyy manager!! Manager?! Where are you!?

Eldon(with a surprised face)- Who is she??

Customer 2- Come out, manager!! My stomach is hurting like hell because of the food your restaurant made!! You are a scumbag who serves rotten food to a beautiful teenage girl like me!!

Narrator- Customer 2 makes her strides towards the kitchen, but she stumbles, and as she was falling, she grabbed Eldon's coat, which resulted in him falling down as well.

Customer 2- Ow, ow, ow, ow!!

Eldon(to customer 2)- Don't you know how to walk?!

Customer 2- It's the fault of your restaurant's tiling! Blame them for having such garbage designs!!

Eldon(with a confused face)- Tiles fault! Are you insane?!

Customer 2- Better, blame the person who gave acceptance for these tiles, and that person would be the manager!! So in the end, it's all the manager's fault!! We should all blame him!! (stands up and begins walking towards the kitchen)

Eldon What... has my life gone down too?? Here I am sitting on the floor, totally dejected, while some unknown people are coming in and insulting me for no reason. Why didn't I just bring my wallet along with me yesterday??

(An Old Lady enters the scene)

Customer 3(to eldon)- Do you need a helping hand to stand??

Eldon(in her mind)- An old lady who herself is using a stick to stand is offering a helping hand to me... Hmph, there wouldn't be any better motivation than this, I suppose.

(to customer 3)- Thanks, but I am fine. (then stood up)

Customer 3(to eldon)- It's my first time here. So could you tell me what's the tastiest dish in your restaurant??

Eldon- Well.. I don't really know since I have only been working here for less than a day. But if you really want an answer, then that "Veggie Wrap" looked quite tasty when someone ordered it.

Customer 3(with a smile)- I will take that then. (begins walking towards the washroom)

Narrator- Customer 1, meanwhile, was leaving when Eldon saw him.

Eldon(to Customer 1)- Where are you going?? Your tomato soup is coming right up!!

Customer 1- This is the problem with this restaurant. People over here are so complacent that I can't stand it!! I didn't order tomato soup; I ordered creamy tomato pasta!!

Eldon- Yeah, that!! It will be here any moment. Just wait for some time.

Customer 1- No, I can't. I am sorry.

Eldon- If you have wasted your time this long, then why don't you waste it a little more and leave after eating.

Customer 1(with a frustrated face)- Fine. (sat on his table again)

Narrator- Eldon goes to the kitchen, gives the cooks the orders, and waits there. Meanwhile, the lady and the manager were arguing.

After the pasta gets prepared, he goes outside and hands it over to Customer 1. While he was leaving for the kitchen, he brought his left hand forward to look at the time on his watch; this is when something happened.

Eldon(in his mind)- Where the hell is the bracelet???!!!! The ring... the platinum ring is gone as well!! (starts checking the pockets) The jewel is not here either!! Where did it go??!!

(to elite soldiers)- Guys, by any chance did I give any of you the dragon parts??

Tegan(to eldon)- No, you didn't!! Why are you asking this?! Where are the dragon parts you were carrying?!

Eldon(with a confused face)- They are missing.

Livon(with a stunned face)- What???!!

Eldon- I had them before I went to the kitchen, but now they are gone!!

Tegan- That means the people who you contacted with before going to the kitchen are the ones who have it!! Let's start checking them thoroughly!!

Mizumi(to eldon)- How many dragon parts are missing anyway??

Eldon- Three. I brought 3 dragon parts with me today: the platinum ring, the bracelet, and the red jewel.

Narrator- Elite soldiers start checking the three customers but couldn't find any of the dragon parts with them.

Mizumi(with a frustrated face)- Hmph, just when we thought things were going smoothly!! And what were you saying earlier, Eldon, that the dragon parts won't be going anywhere, so what happened now?!

Eldon(with a depressed face)- I don't know, and I am sorry. How could I ever let someone get the better of me?!

Manager(with a confused face)- I will call the enforcers for help!!

Livon(to manager)- Na, na, that isn't required. This matter doesn't concern them. This is our Elite Soldiers matter!! We will handle this on our own.

Ayumi- One of these customers must have some sort of invisible element with them. That's the only logical way they were able to get the dragon part from eldon.

Mizumi- Maybe they are simply good thieves.

Ayumi- Hmmmm, possible.

Tegan- Kindly the three customers be seated on your seats. We will come one by one for the interrogations.

(Customer 1 Table)

Customer 1- Tsch!! Coming here was the biggest mistake of my life!!

Livon(to customer 1)- Your name and age??

Customer 1- "Cyfrin", 27 years old.

Mizumi- Where are you from??

Cyfrin- World Palace

Mizumi- Ohhh!! And your reason for coming into this country??

Cyfrin- I am a tourist. I like discovering new things.

Livon- Which locations have you visited till now??

Cyfrin- I have visited the Dragon Palace............ the Talos Bridge, and a few other sites.

Livon- What did you like and dislike about the dragon palace??

Cyfrin- I liked how the palace was preserved even after all these years. Shows you the excellent work done by Hana and her men. What I didn't like was the lack of exciting things in the environment. There is nothing worth seeing inside aside from..... some plain buildings!! I think hana should add a museum or something else to make it more interesting.

Mizumi- What about your family??

Cryfrin- I don't think this question is relevant to your investigation.

Livon- Just answer!!

Cyfrin- Both my mom and dad are staying at the World Palace.

Tegan- We want their address.

Cyfrine- Okay. (writes it on a piece of paper and hands it over to the elite soldiers)

Ayumi- What do you know about shakti??

Cyfrin- What do I know about shakti? I suppose it's a very rare thing that not many possess. Sorry, but this is all I know, I am not really into the shakti stuff.

Ayumi- Do you have any knowledge of the stolen items??

Cyfrin- No. If it's related to shakti, then I have zero interest in it. Hmph, for your kind information, if I had stolen your dragon parts, then when do you think I stole them exactly? Because I was hardly near the waiter for like 30 seconds or so.

Ayumi- 30 seconds is enough for a pro to steal.

Cyfrin(with a smirk smile)- Hahahahahaha!! You are right. It is actually enough. But still, I am not the one who stole it.

(Customer 2 Table)

Tegan- I think I've seen you somewhere. but I can't remember where.

Mizumi- What's your name and age??

Customer 2- Name "Nyx"♡ And age 32♡

Eldon- You are 32?! And you were calling yourself a teenage girl earlier!!

Nyx- How rude!! I am a teenage girl in my heart and body!! Age doesn't matter!!

Eldon- It does matter!!

Nyx- No, it doesn't!!

Livon(to eldon)- It's okay, boy. Keep it calm, keep it calm, keep it calm!!

Eldon(to livon)- What do you think you are doing?! Do I look like a dog to you??

Livon- Hahahahahahahahaha!!

Eldon(to livon)- Be within your limits, or I will destroy you!!

Tegan- Aaah!! I remember you now!! You are that Elite Soldier who turned into the Leader of Enforcers in the Aquatic Country!!

Nyx- Yep, that's me!!♡♡

Ayumi(to nyx)- Then what brought you all the way here??

Nyx- I had some matters to discuss with my former comrade "Eclipse" at the Abyss Prison.

Livon(with a confused face)- Eclipse...?! What matters??

Nyx- I can't tell you that. That's confidential♡

Tegan- Being an enforcer doesn't make you off the suspect list. Tell us, why did you steal the dragon parts?? What kind of ulterior motives do you have??

Nyx- Damn, damn, don't shout, please. My ears are delicate, you know!! To be clear, there is no reason for me to steal the dragon parts. I have a clear background; I don't have any financial issues, nor do I have any grand ambitions like other people. So all in all, I am not your thief.

Eldon- You said that the food you ate at this restaurant gave you a stomach ache. But when exactly did you come to eat it?? I didn't see you at any time!!

Waiter 2- Excuse me, sorry to interrupt, but she did come. She came when you were actually on your lunch break.

Eldon(with an awkward face)- Oh, I see.

Livon(with a smirk smile)- Hmph!!

Nyx- If you guys want a clue, then I can give you one. I saw that male customer with a platinum ring in his hand before I went to the kitchen to talk to the manager.

Mizumi(with a stunned face)- .......

Cyfrin(while taking out a ring from his chest pocket)- You probably meant this.

Eldon(to cyfrin)- So you do have one?!

Cyfrin- This is an ordinary platinum ring, not your dragon's part. Examine it if you don't believe me.

Eldon(after examining)- He is telling the truth. It's an ordinary one.

Nyx- Oh well. At least I tried to help you guys♡

(Customer 3 Table)

Tegan(to customer 3)- Good afternoon, aunty. We want to ask you a few questions. Would you kindly answer them for us??

Customer 3- Sure.. sure, go ahead.

Tegan- First, a basic question: what is your name and age??

Customer 3- My name is "Tokino", and I am 74 years old.

Tegan- Okay. Are you from the Dragon Country??

Tokino- Yes, I am.

Tegan- Could you then provide us with your home address??

Tokino- I don't have one. I live in an old-age home. It's a few streets away.

Livon- Any blood relatives??

Tokino- A son.

Livon- And where is he now??

Tokino- Enjoying life with his wife. He threw me away after I spent all the money to get him well-educated.

Livon- I am sorry to hear that. Are you aware what dragon parts are??

Tokino- If you mean the ones that were referred to in the "D&D Book," then yes, I am aware of them.

Ayumi-Then, you should also know how powerful and valuable they are, don't you??

Tokino- Yes, I know. I would be lying if I said no.

Mizumi- I have confirmed with the old age home. She is telling the truth; she has been living there for the past 5 years.

Eldon- I don't think that this aunty is our thief.

Livon- Yeah, I also think the same.

Tegan(to eldon)- Eldon, do you think that the staff members may be responsible??

Eldon(to tegan)- No. I have already checked them; they don't have it. Regardless, their background is clear as well.

Cyfrin- If your little interrogations are done, then I think it's time for me to leave now.

Mizumi(to cyfrin)- Wait!! We still haven't found the culprit.

Cyfrin- That's not my problem. Volunteering for this interrogation was more than enough. You guys have zero evidence against me, so I can leave whenever I want!!

Ayumi(to cyfrin)- But as a citizen, don't you have a duty to wait and help?!

Tegan- It's okay, ayumi. If this gentleman wants to leave, then let him. (cyfrin leaves)

Mizumi(to tokino)- Aunty, I think you should also go now.

Tokino(to mizumi)- Okay, thank you. I hope you find your dragon parts quickly. (then leaves)

Eldon(with a confused face)- What kind of shakti did the culprit really use to get the dragon parts??

Tegan- They probably didn't use any shakti. It was all skills. Because if they really had used it, then there is no way none of us wouldn't have sensed such close quarters shakti.

Livon(with a confused face)- Then why weren't we able to find the dragon part with any of them??

Tegan- The culprit first used their skills to get the dragon parts and then used their shakti somewhere else to hide them.

Eldon(with a stunned face)- .........

Nyx(to tegan)- Nice deduction skills you've got there. I am impressed♡

Tegan(to nyx)- Who do you think the culprit is??

Nyx(with a smirk smile)- .........

(At the Streets)

Tokino(while wearing the ring)- Hmph!! No more playing around. It's time for retribution. The Carnival will be mine and mine only!!

Narrator- Tokino's skin began transforming, taking on the characteristics of an old man. The old man wore a hooded t-shirt, but beneath that there was a tattoo of a dragon on his arm. A ring popped out of his skin, and he then wore it.

(At the restaurant)

Eldon- That old lady........... went to the washroom after having a chat with me.

Livon(with a stunned face)- Shiiiitttt!!

Narrator- Livon, Mizumi, Eldon, and Ayumi quickly ran to the street. They began searching for that lady but couldn't locate her. They saw an old man ahead of them, wearing some what same clothes as the lady, and decided to approach him.

Livon(to the old man)- Excuse me.

Old man(to livon)- Yess??

Livon(in his mind)- He is a...... male!!

(to the old man)- Nothing. I thought you were someone else. I'm sorry for bothering you.

Old Man(to livon)- It's okay. Mistakes happen to everyone. (then began walking)

(in his mind)- Like it happened with me earlier. Hmph!!

TO BE CONTUINED