It was just an hour or so after dawn when Lloyd made his way into the central square of the Doshin headquarters. He looked groggy, with dark circles under his eyes, and yawned every few minutes.
He found Makoto standing by the gate waiting for him, as he always did.
Once Makoto saw him, he said, "You look exhausted for someone who just had a day off."
"Emphasis on the 'day'," he replied. "It wasn't enough, especially considering that we were on duty every day for two weeks straight."
"At least you had one, so be grateful," Makoto said.
Lloyd looked around before asking, "So where are we patrolling today?"
"Let me guess, we're acting as guards for the high merchants again," he continued. "Ever since the hike in food prices started, it seems like it's all that we've been doing."
"Well, we are addressing the hike," Makoto replied, "but in a different way this time."
"What do you mean?" Lloyd asked.
"Both of us have been called for a major assignment," he replied. "We were briefed on it yesterday by the First Guard."
"How does it relate to the shortage?"
"Well, you know how, for the past month, all those low-quality mixtures of rice have been flooding the market and the price of the high-quality rice has spiked," Makoto said as the two of them walked through the gate. "A week ago, we got a tip from an anonymous source claiming that one of the richer merchants is the main source of the supply and that he is hoarding a large stock of high-quality rice so that he can sell it later at an enormous profit."
"Has any of it been proven yet?" Lloyd asked.
"No. The merchant refused to allow the guards who were sent to inspect his estate inside, so today we, along with a lot of other guards, are being sent to force our way in."
"How many?"
"Fifteen, I think."
"Isn't that going overboard?" Lloyd asked, shocked.
"Well, this man's place isn't exactly small from what I hear, so I guess it's necessary," he replied.
As they made another turn, they found thirteen guards already standing in line, and without a word they immediately joined them.
They stood quietly for a minute or two before Nishimura, the First Guard, appeared.
"Good morning," he said as he stood in front of them.
"Good morning, sir!" they all replied in unison.
"I'm sure those of you who weren't here yesterday have already been briefed, so let's not waste time and get moving while the morning is still ripe," he said.
"Equip yourselves with snare poles," he continued as he turned to leave. "Only the two guards whom I gave permission are allowed to carry swords."
"Be ready by the time I get back."
"Sir!"
He was only gone for five minutes, but by the time he returned they were all ready. Without another word, they headed out, the guards at the gate bowing to him as they left.
As they walked through the town, Lloyd couldn't help but watch the reactions of the people around them. Those insistent hawkers fled at the sight of them, while the huddles of men gambling during their breaks and making a racket suddenly fell silent.
To see that many guards together was cause for alarm. Lloyd could feel people's eyes following them as they passed.
Then the crowds began to thin as they drew closer to the district of the town where all the wealthy merchants lived. Compared to the bustling market square, it was deathly silent.
They came upon the gate of a large estate, and one of the guards banged on the door violently.
After a minute, the door opened and a female servant stood before them, confusion written across her face.
"May I help you, gentlemen?" she asked, trying to force a smile.
Nishimura spoke up.
"Step aside," he said, his voice sending a shudder through her. "We are here to conduct an authorised investigation of this estate on suspicion of numerous offences."
He didn't wait for her reply and simply walked past her. The rest followed, while the servant hurried into the main house.
Moments later, a plump middle-aged man stepped out with two male servants alongside the girl they had met at the gate. He wheezed, sweat already dripping down his cheeks.
"Chief Nishimura, what is the meaning of this?" he demanded. "To barge into my home like this unannounced."
"We are not here unannounced," Nishimura replied. "We sent an advance party, but you barred them entry. That is why we are here now—to conduct this investigation, even if it must be done by force."
"Though your cooperation would be appreciated."
"What are you talking about?!" the man yelled. "No one from the Doshin came here. I would know if they had."
Confusion spread across the guards' faces, including Lloyd's, but Nishimura calmly replied,
"Then your servants must have acted in your interest while you were away and neglected to inform you."
"Either way," he continued, "we are here now. So will you bar us again?"
"I don't know what you're talking about, but go ahead," the merchant replied. "I'm sure you'll find nothing."
"Good."
He then signalled the guards to split into groups of two and search different parts of the estate.
They moved past, and the commotion inside the four buildings could be heard even by Lloyd and Makoto, who had been assigned to search the sheds at the back of the compound.
The shed was dusty and stuffy, as though no one had cleaned it in a long time, but they still rummaged through everything, searching for the incriminating bags of low-quality rice.
They were about to give up when Lloyd felt something crunch beneath his foot after accidentally stepping on what he had assumed was a sack of unsold fertiliser.
He crouched down to inspect it, and Makoto followed after finishing his side of the shed.
The sack had fallen from a large pile stacked against the wall. They opened it, and sure enough, it contained the same low-quality rice Lloyd had grown accustomed to seeing over the past few weeks.
Before either of them could react, they heard the entrance to the shed creak open.
It was the Chief, accompanied by the owner of the estate, a look of horror painted across the merchant's face.
Nishimura turned to him and, in a cold, almost calculated voice, said,
"Mr. Suzuki... would you mind explaining yourself?"