Three days after the news broadcast, Eula found herself seated at her favorite bar, the dim light illuminating the familiar surroundings. Her mind replayed the troubling 20 year old case file that was on her desk. It documented the murder of an elderly woman named Celine Culas, whose lifeless body had been discovered in her opulent estate.

Celine was a wealthy property owner, with multiple estates scattered between Liyue and Mondstadt, making her a notable figure in the community. Initial reports suggested a burglar had broken in, presumably to steal valuable possessions, resulting in Celine’s life being taken. The Favonius Police had closed the case as straightforward—an open-and-shut situation. However, as she dug deeper into the details, she noted that Celine's estate had security cameras and guards on duty that fateful night. Despite the heightened security, the guards claimed they saw nothing unusual, which struck Eula as odd. She couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss, especially since this old folder had inexplicably ended up on her desk. It felt too convenient, too orchestrated. Eula was left with the unsettling sense that important information was being deliberately withheld, and the rush to close the case—a mere week—seemed suspicious.

As she sipped her drink, contemplating the glaring discrepancies and the feeling of being in a web of secrecy, Eula was abruptly interrupted by two regulars at the tavern. The pair, known for their penchant for starting trouble, approached her table with the usual bravado, further complicating her thoughts about the unresolved mystery that seemed to haunt her.

The bartender rolled his eyes as one of the men sat beside Eula, inquiring if the seat was taken and thanking her for it. Eula closed her eyes, disregarding his attention-seeking demeanor. The stench of alcohol on his breath each time he spoke slowly irritated her, but she maintained her composure. When the man leaned in closer to her face, Eula drew her concealed sidearm from her upper thigh. He didn't see her arm move but suddenly found the barrel blocking his entire vision. It took him a moment to realize what was happening, and he froze in fear. The other man, who had been observing, backed away and fled.

Eula did not turn her head but focused on her next drink, warning the intruder sternly. "Listen carefully, you piece of shit. If you don't vacate in three seconds, there's an AG round with your name on it."

The bartender doesn't seem fazed by Eula's threat; after all, she had threatened to shoot many times before without actually pulling the trigger. It was safe to assume she wouldn't do it this time. The frightened man didn't register what had just happened until Eula began counting down. Seizing his chance, he fled. Eula then holstered her weapon and placed her arm back on the table.

"Hey, Omar, give me another drink," she said, her mood shifting.

Omar chuckled and replied, "How many was that, Detective?"

Eula opened her eyes and glanced at him. "None. She's still fully loaded."

Eula cracked an amused smile for a moment, but it was soon interrupted by another person sitting next to her. A woman with a short dark blue haircut, dressed in a dark blue blouse and holding a small black purse, walked to the bar to order a drink. She silently took a seat on the stool next to Eula. Omar eventually served Eula another round while bringing the other woman's order.

As she sipped her drink, the stranger asked Eula, inquiring, "Tell me, Detective."

The sound of this woman's voice prompted Eula to pay closer attention to what she was about to say. Eula surmised that this woman was not a regular at the bar; the click of her high heels suggested she had either just come from a party or was on her way to one. She ordered a light drink and appeared to be alone, indicating that she may have intended to speak with Eula. Eula decided to play along with her assumptions.

"Do you always brandish your weapon at unarmed civilians, or is this a coping mechanism for your own safety?"

Omar's eyes darted behind him as he cleaned glass cups, shocked that someone would ask Eula such a direct question. His curiosity piqued about who this woman was. Meanwhile, Eula remained composed despite her previous encounter. She took another sip of her drink and set it down immediately afterward. To Omar and others around, this was usually a sign of an "oh shit" moment.

She didn't look at the woman beside her but slightly opened her eyes, focusing on the inside of her glass.

"It's quite simple, really," she continued. "Anyone who feels entitled to invade someone else's personal space has essentially signed an unwritten waiver, agreeing to accept the following consequences."

In an act of defiance, the woman smiled and added, "Is that so? Then, I would like to sign that waiver to see what those 'consequences' are.

Eula's eyes darted upward, and she wore the familiar expression she always had when on a case or making an arrest. The confidence in the woman's words made Eula quickly consider what her endgame might be. Clearly, Eula was interested in this situation. She recalled her conversation with Ningguang, which could have been a form of retaliation. Eula sensed that this woman was in control from the moment she sat beside her, leaving her with few options.

One option was to force the woman to reveal her intentions through intimidation, as Eula had done. Another option was to probe for more information, though it was clear the woman was not easily fooled. A third option was to deflect and make an exit. While she could have thought of more possibilities, given the exposed environment of her usual safe drink spot, only one option seemed viable.

"Guess we'll have to take this outside," Eula confidently declared.

Following through on her statement and redirecting the situation before consequences could be enforced, she aimed to examine and analyze the woman beside her.

The woman played coy, saying, "Aww, but it started raining when I arrived. It'll get my dress wet."

Eula shot back, "Making complaints already? I'm disappointed."

"Orchid," the woman replied with a smile, not looking at Eula.

Eula quickly realized that "Orchid" was either a nickname or a codename; instead of giving her real name, the woman showed one of the cards she was holding. Eula realized she was outgunned in this game. Her next goal was to escalate the situation and get this Orchid character to use a bluff to reveal more of her hand.

Eula chuckled lightly, her eyes twinkling with curiosity. "Where's your calling card?"

"Oh, silly me," Orchid replied, a playful smile creeping onto her face as she reached into her elegant purse. Seizing the moment, Eula quickly drew her sidearm, only to find the cold steel of Orchid's gun aimed squarely at her. The tension in the room thickened as their gazes locked—two women, fierce and unwavering, each poised on their bar stools with weapons drawn.

As the silence hung in the air, Eula's focus sharpened, her ears picking up the sound of rapid footsteps rushing toward the bar from outside. A chill ran down her spine as realization dawned: Orchid had revealed more than just her intentions. These footsteps signaled a potential retaliation party, and she was the alarm. Eula was in control only as long as she maintained her aim on Orchid. Calling for backup was no longer an option; the innocent patrons around them were at risk.

With steely determination, Eula commanded, "Omar, get everyone out now!"

Without hesitation, Omar bolted to the back, urgency etched on his face as he shouted for everyone to evacuate the building.

"It's too late, detective," Orchid stated ominously, her voice dripping with foreboding.