After the first appearance of a stray, cases started to show itself one by one. It took one incident to shake the whole world with an out-of-ordinary existence called stray. 

Some said it was a gift from heaven, few believed it's a curse. Nevertheless, none could decipher how they appear or why they were waiting until now to manifest.

So to prevent another incident (and more accurately the pressure of the people), the mayor issued a local law. It forced the stray to register their ability and keep track of their criminal status before taking out a judgement upon them once they were found violating the law. 

On the other hand, the law or as it is now called Stray Protection Act made by the senate and mayor Anzel, has made large contribution in apprehending unregistered stray by forming a team or as they called it. Stray Investigation Unit. 

For sometime, it earned the praise for their job well done but at the same time, garnering hate because of their main members. It was because they were, without a doubt, people from different background, and dangerous.

A killer, conman, thief and many more like it have joined SIU willingly. Dangerous people.

At first glance, they were docile in appearance but the second a mission came up, they become the best in their field. 

If it came to be known that SIU harboring a dangerous people or simply put a criminal. Not just the government, also the system will collapse and stray will roamed the streets, commiting who knows what later in the future.

That's why their identities were kept a secret to prevent the public scrutiny.

Why was the mayor insisted on a criminal?

Let's go back to the time before stray investigation unit was formed.~

A meeting was held between the high-ranking peoole. 

Mayor Anzel, Chief Willhelm, Vice Chief Alicia, and lastly the board of senate.

A man known as Mayor lead the meeting as he talked calmly, "This is the proposal I already submitted to the board of senate."

Chief Willhelm nodded, along with Vice Chief Alicia. 

The board of senate already take a look at the proposal and silently watching the leader of the unit to know their opinion before giving their decision. 

Nevertheless, the two of them still not saying a word after a while. 

Vice Chief Alicia was the first to break the silence.

"All of them are criminal." Vice Chief Alicia bluntly said. 

"Correct." Mayor Anzel responded calmly.

"Why?"

Mayor Anzel crossed his arms on the table as if to show his authority. He never expressed his emotion, but his next statement completely blowed away his entire facade. 

"Isn't it interesting? A criminal as well as a stray might be the only one to catch a stray since they had the experience, right?"

"But won't it create unnecesary attention to SIU once it was discovered?"

"Probably. If it came to light, not just the leader of the SIU but all of us in this room will face punishment for letting this through. Our government will collapse, that's for sure." 

"Then—"

"It's because of that, we will have to push forward." 

Vice Chief Alicia decided to listen as she slid back to the chair and put down the papers. She wasn't about to easily agree like Chief Willhelm but she can listen to a reasonable opinion. 

A man's voice coming not far from her, scratching his chin and slumped his back. 

"The board of the senate have a different opinion than the mayor. We believe stray should be bound by the rule strictly in case something bound to happen." He stopped and some woman, probably another senate continued for him. 

"Have you ever heard about the story where US was hiring pirates to fight the britain army? A logical solution based on a historical approach. Using stray to fight stray, a method that simple and easy, don't you think?"

"... that means the law has deceived people."

No one answered as she still continued. 

"All of you using the registration system to gain information about stray and used them to fight another stray under the pretext of becoming legal citizen?"

"..." 

"So what?" Chief Willhelm raised his voice.  "Don't you think 'deceived' is a crude word, Vice Chief Alicia?" 

"But it's true, right? The fact that the info you got was from the registration system was correct and these files proved what I'm saying is true." 

Vice Chief Alicia glared at him. She never getting along with the man ever since he stole the leader position from her right under her nose. She's the one who did suggest to the mayor and yet she got pulled into managing things from behind the scene. 

Like an idiot, Vice Chief Alicia thought.

"And besides what makes you think they will do what you ordered? Take a look at this mafia, for example."

She flipped the paper and showed it to them. 

"This is one of the criminal you will recruited into the team. Hardly someone you can trust to uphold the law when they're the one who breaks the law." 

"No need to worry. All of them in this file already registered their ability and signed an agreement with SIU. What matters now, do we agree on this arrangements?"

Vice Chief Alicia sighed inwardly. She can't change his superior's mind unless she changed her tactics but right now, she didn't have one. 

"Unless you have better idea or someone you can recommend from the long list of registered strays, I suggested to agree on this proposal." Chief Willhelm stated, not leaving an argument for the other person. 

He seemed blatantly supporting this proposal that the mayor suggested or rather forcing to accept it. 

Alicia, with a headache, turned to the board of senate and asked.

"What is the board's opinion regarding this proposal?" 

"Our opinion haven't changed but we also opened to a suggestion if it didn't put a burden on our current economy." 

Makes sense, Vice Chief Alicia thought. 

Elm City already in a state where it needed a stability of income to support itself and obviously the new unit will put a burden on the budget. She can't help but wondered how to keep the team together once it is made. She sighed unconsciously and earning the chuckle of everyone in the room. 

"Alright, if anyone agreed, then—"

"Wait, can I say something first?"

"Yes?"

"I will be the one to put the team members once the unit has been made. Is that alright?"

Before the mayor could respond, Chief Willhelm answered. 

"I don't mind at all. As long as it didn't hinder my work." 

Vice Chief Alicia frowned. He said it as if she would make a mistake in assembling the team or worse, messed the team up. 

That settles it. I can't work together with this man, Vice Chief Alicia thought.

"Thank you, Chief Willhelm. I look forward to working together with you in the SIU office."

"Likewise." 

The two shook hands but anyone can feel the pressure between them. 

"Alright, let's end this meeting and hope for the better future in Elm City."~ 

And that's about it. A meeting that started with proposal and ended in approval without as much of a discussion, leaving the mayor in some kind of victory over his proposal. 

The worst kind of man called Mayor Anzel, reigning the meeting and controlling the flow of discussion as if he planned it from the start. 

It was neither a good luck or bad luck, simply a fate that has its downside for all of the citizen in Elm City.

For that, there's no other choice for that matter but to accept it.

A new unit, Stray Investigation Unit.