The PPDKB counter was unusually quiet that morning.

Most of the officers were out attending meetings and assignments, leaving the office with a rare sense of calm.

Izhan stared at her laptop screen.

"Bland. Too bland."

Siti, the counter officer sitting beside her, looked over.

"This is peace."

She smiled.

"No strange customers. No urgent complaints. No one rushing in with a problem."

Izhan sighed.

"But I wanted an adventure."

She looked at her internship logbook.

"At this rate, my report is going to be boring."

Her K-pop playlist continued playing softly from her laptop, filling the empty counter area.

Then Krishna and Rozman walked out from Block A.

"Izhan."

She immediately looked up.

"Yes, sir?"

"We're leaving."

Izhan blinked.

"Where?"

"JPNS," Rozman answered. "We have an event with the state government."

Her eyes widened.

"State government?"

Rozman nodded.

"You should come along."

Izhan pointed at herself.

"Me?"

"You're part of the team," Rozman replied casually. "You might as well see how things work at the state level."

Krishna gave a small nod.

"Just remember. Observe more than you speak."

Izhan quickly closed her laptop.

"Understood."

Siti watched her pack her things.

"Your boring day didn't last very long."

Izhan smiled.

"I knew something would happen."

Bobo was already waiting for them downstairs.

The PPDKB Fortuner was running, ready for the journey to JPNS.

"Ready to go, everyone?" he asked as Krishna and Rozman approached.

Then his eyes shifted toward Izhan, who was carrying her notebook and laptop bag.

He paused.

"She will join too?"

Izhan looked slightly unsure.

Before she could answer, Rozman opened the passenger door.

"Yes. She's coming with us."

Bobo raised his eyebrows.

"An intern?"

"An intern who has already handled two investigations," Rozman replied.

Krishna calmly added,

"She is here to learn."

Bobo nodded slowly.

"Alright then."

He glanced at Izhan through the mirror.

"Welcome to the road trips of PPDKB."

Izhan smiled.

"Thank you."

She stepped into the vehicle, unaware that this was another small sign that she was no longer just observing The Menders.

She was becoming part of them.

Krishna returned to his usual seat at the back of the vehicle. Meanwhile, Izhan chose to sit beside Bobo in the front.

Bobo glanced at her and smiled.

"Oh my, you are certainly an enthusiastic intern."

Izhan laughed.

"Just treat me like a co-pilot."

She said it jokingly, but her excitement was obvious.

Behind them, Rozman was already focused on his tablet, catching up on his work and updating his reports.

A trip to the capital city would not bother Krishna.

The only thing that could make him feel unwell was being forced to spend too much time on his phone.

Ping!

A notification appeared.

A message from Pans.

Pans: How was my DEO doing?

Krishna looked at the screen and smiled slightly before replying.

Krishna: Still surviving.

Pans: That doesn't sound like a proper answer.

Krishna: Busy morning. Heading to JPNS for an event.

Pans: State-level work?

Krishna: Yes. Mostly meetings, discussions, and listening.

Pans: Sounds exhausting.

Krishna: It's part of the job.

Pans: Make sure you eat.

Krishna glanced at the message.

For some reason, Pans always reminded him of things he often forgot.

Krishna: You sound like Rozman.

Pans: Maybe Rozman gives good advice. 😂

Krishna smiled.

Krishna: Maybe.

They arrived at JPNS an hour before the event was scheduled to begin.

While waiting, Bobo excused himself to send the department's vehicle for a quick wash. The PPDKB Fortuner disappeared into the nearby car wash station, leaving Krishna, Rozman, and Izhan near the entrance.

A man in a blue suit approached them.

"Ah, PPDKB's DEO and his team."

Krishna immediately recognised him.

"Director Roshin."

They exchanged greetings.

"Nice to meet you, sir," Krishna said politely.

"We are doing well, sir," Rozman added.

Roshin smiled before lowering his voice slightly.

"Good."

Then he leaned closer to Krishna.

"Hope you are still holding on to the case from three years ago."

Krishna froze.

For a brief moment, his calm expression disappeared.

His eyes widened slightly.

Beside him, Rozman frowned.

He knew exactly which case Roshin was referring to.

Before the conversation could continue, Krishna quickly shifted the attention.

"Allow me to introduce our intern."

He gestured towards Izhan.

"This is Izhan."

Izhan stood straighter.

"Hi, Director Roshin."

Roshin looked down slightly.

At 155 centimetres, he was only a little taller than Izhan, who stood at 147 centimetres.

Yet despite their height difference, his presence carried the authority of someone who had spent years leading at the state level.

His expression softened.

"An intern who attends state-level events?"

Izhan smiled.

"I want to learn as much as I can from my seniors."

Roshin looked impressed.

"Good attitude."

Rozman nodded proudly.

"She has already assisted us in solving two cases."

Roshin glanced at Izhan with new interest.

"Two cases?"

Izhan suddenly felt the attention shift toward her.

A few minutes later, another delegation arrived.

PPDKK.

Leading them was their DEO, Amirshah.

At 180 centimetres, the muscular officer towered over everyone around him. Even Director Roshin had to look up slightly when greeting him.

"Director Roshin."

Amirshah lowered himself slightly before shaking his hand.

Then his eyes shifted.

Towards Izhan.

The young intern froze.

A familiar face.

"Sir, remember me?"

She waved.

Amirshah stared for a second before his face lit up.

"Wait..."

A huge grin appeared.

"You're Izhan. My student from SMK Arcadia!"

Izhan smiled.

"Yes, sir."

The reunion caught everyone's attention.

Rozman watched with amusement.

Then he glanced at Krishna.

The DEO's calm expression remained...

But his eyes told a different story.

"PPDKK, huh?"

Krishna crossed his arms.

"I heard they're always at the top."

Rozman raised an eyebrow.

Was that jealousy?

He chuckled and placed an arm around Krishna's shoulder.

"Relax, boss."

"Your intern just has a lot of connections."

All the District Education Officers had arrived.

Together, they made their way to the seventh-floor conference hall of JPNS.

Inside, every table bore the name of a district.

PPDKB.

PPDKK.

PPDSD.

PPDTW.

One by one, the DEOs took their designated seats.

Behind each of them sat one or two accompanying officers—their trusted aides for the day's discussions.

Krishna took his seat at the PPDKB table.

Rozman settled in directly behind him.

Izhan quietly occupied the seat beside Rozman, notebook already open.

She looked around the hall in amazement.

So this is what a state-level meeting looks like...

At the front of the hall, Director Roshin exchanged a few words with the guest of honour.

Yang Berhormat Datuk Seri Panglima Masidi Manjun, Sabah's Minister of Finance II, had been invited to officiate the event.

Today's agenda focused on one thing:

The future development of schools across Sabah.

The morning session centred on the development of dilapidated schools across Sabah, followed by discussions on the state's education budget and infrastructure priorities.

By lunchtime, the delegates gathered at the JPNS café, a surprisingly modern and well-decorated space for a government building.

The PPDKB trio joined the PPDKK delegation.

As everyone took their seats...

Izhan somehow ended up sitting beside Amirshah.

Again.

"Oh, so you're continuing your studies now?" Amirshah asked warmly.

"Yes, sir."

Across the table, Rozman noticed where she was seated.

He glanced at Krishna.

Then back at Izhan.

A grin slowly spread across his face.

Unable to hold it in, Rozman gently patted Krishna's back.

"What?"

"...Nothing, boss."

Krishna narrowed his eyes.

"I know that smile."

Rozman simply picked up his drink.

"What smile?"

"The one you're wearing right now."

"I don't know what you're talking about."

Krishna glanced across the table.

Amirshah and Izhan were still chatting.

"...She certainly knows a lot of people."

Rozman nodded.

"She does."

During lunch, a man wearing a songkok approached the VIP table.

Clutched in his hands was a thick blue file.

He stopped before Director Roshin and Datuk Seri Panglima Masidi Manjun.

"Excuse me, Director."

His voice carried quiet urgency.

"I have a concern regarding my school."

Both men turned their attention to him.

The headmaster's weary expression suggested this was not a new problem.

His name tag read:

Khairul
Headmaster, SK Rumpai Laut.

At that moment, Izhan happened to walk past the VIP table on her way to the dessert counter.

Her eyes lingered on the blue file for only a second.

Another complaint?

She reached for a slice of cheesecake before returning to her table.

"I think a headmaster just reported something to Director Roshin."

Amirshah looked up.

"Which school?"

"SK Rumpai Laut."

He nodded.

"Some headmasters were invited today. They probably know each other."

Izhan frowned thoughtfully.

"I overheard him mention a failed roof replacement project..."

"...and cracks that have been there since last year."

Silence.

Amirshah stopped eating.

His expression changed immediately.

Krishna noticed.

A faint smile appeared on his face.

He knew that look.

That school belonged to...

PPDKK.

Rozman leaned slightly towards Izhan.

"Different district."

She looked at him.

"Don't start investigating."

"...But—"

"Jurisdiction."

Izhan pouted.

"...Right."

Across the table, Amirshah quietly put down his utensils

"I think..."

"...my afternoon just became very busy."

Krishna calmly took another sip of his tea.

"Good luck."

The Investigation Continued