Headmaster Khairul carefully opened the blue file and laid several photographs on the table before Director Roshin. DSP Masidi Manjun leaned in to examine them as well.

"Here's the problem, Director."

He pointed to the first photograph.

"Block A developed these cracks just one month after the repair works were completed."

He slid another photograph forward.

It showed a classroom without a roof.

"Our pupils are currently studying in a temporary classroom beside the administration block."

Director Roshin adjusted his glasses and studied the attached inspection report.

His eyes stopped at the date.

December 2020.

The pandemic had undoubtedly slowed many development projects.

But this...

...had remained unresolved for far too long.

A brief silence settled over the table.

Across the café, Amirshah was halfway through his lunch when he noticed the discussion.

He froze.

Almost instinctively, he looked towards Director Roshin.

Roshin met his gaze.

Without saying a word, he simply beckoned him over with a small wave.

Amirshah quietly placed his spoon on the plate.

"...Excuse me."

The PPDKB table watched him walk towards the VIP table.

Krishna took another sip of his tea.

"It looks like lunch is over."

Amirshah flipped through the photographs, his expression gradually turning serious.

"I thought this issue had already been resolved."

Headmaster Khairul slowly shook his head.

"It never was, sir."

He pointed towards another photograph.

"After the storm struck the west coast of Sabah, the damage only became worse."

DSP Masidi Manjun nodded.

"Several areas were affected by that storm. While it wasn't on the same scale, many compared its impact to Tropical Storm Greg in 1996."

Amirshah closed the file.

"I'll contact my officers immediately."

He looked at Khairul.

"This shouldn't have been overlooked."

From across the café, the PPDKB team quietly watched the exchange.

"Looks like PPDKK has a big problem," Izhan remarked between bites of her cheesecake.

Rozman folded his arms.

"Could be an administrative error."

He paused.

"If the case was mistakenly marked as resolved at the district level, everyone above would assume the work had been completed."

Krishna remained unusually quiet.

There was the faintest hint of satisfaction on his face.

Rozman caught it immediately.

"So..."

"...you're enjoying this?"

Krishna looked genuinely puzzled.

"What?"

Both Rozman and Izhan stared at him.

Izhan spoke first.

"We can't intervene."

She pointed discreetly towards Amirshah.

"But..."

"...you can."

Krishna raised an eyebrow.

"As another DEO."

Rozman nodded in agreement.

"An unaffected district can provide an independent opinion."

"No conflict of interest," Izhan added.

Rozman smiled proudly.

"That's exactly how inter-district consultation works."

Krishna looked at the pair for a moment before letting out a chuckle.

"So now my own team is assigning me work during lunch?"

Izhan grinned.

"Consider it... mutual assistance."

Krishna sighed with mock resignation.

"...I knew inviting the intern to JPNS would cost me something."

Director Roshin closed the file.

"I suggest consulting another district."

Amirshah nodded. "A second opinion?"

"Exactly." Roshin looked across the café. "I saw you having lunch with PPDKB."

His eyes shifted to Krishna.

"That should suffice."

At the PPDKB table, Izhan blinked.

"...I literally just said that."

Rozman chuckled.

"Looks like the Director agrees with you."

Krishna sighed as he stood up.

"There goes my lunch."

The gentlemen gathered around the VIP table, with Director Roshin informally overseeing the discussion while DSP Masidi Manjun observed with interest.

Krishna looked at Roshin.

"May I bring my team into this discussion, sir?"

Roshin glanced towards Rozman and Izhan.

"Of course."

His eyes lingered on the young intern for a moment.

"I'm curious to see how the three of you work together."

Amirshah opened the file and laid the documents on the table.

"As with any consultation, let's begin with the records."

He briefly summarised the timeline before passing the file around.

Rozman spoke first.

"In Kota Belud, two schools were also affected by the remnants of Tropical Storm Krovanh."

He flipped through the documents.

"But both repair projects were completed by March 2021."

Headmaster Khairul leaned forward.

"Our school is still waiting."

He looked at the calendar on his watch.

"It's already May."

A brief silence settled over the table.

Rozman looked at Amirshah.

"How is your Assistant DEO from the Planning Sector? Bon Sew, wasn't it?"

Krishna raised an eyebrow.

"Nice move, Rozman."

Rozman looked back.

"Hmm?"

"Checking on your fellow Assistant DEO."

Rozman smiled faintly.

"Planning officers tend to understand each other's headaches."

Izhan stretched her neck.

"2020 was a strange year."

Everyone turned to her.

"One moment we were studying from home..."

"...then suddenly, I had to do my internship in person."

She shrugged.

"Everything changed so quickly."

Krishna looked at her.

Amirshah did the same.

They understood what she was getting at.

Director Roshin nodded thoughtfully.

"You're suggesting the transition from work-from-home back to normal operations may have caused something to be overlooked?"

Izhan smiled sheepishly.

"Just a possibility, sir."

Amirshah immediately took out his phone.

"Excuse me. I need to clarify something."

He called his Assistant DEO of the Planning Sector, Bon Sew.

As the call continued, those around the table exchanged glances.

A fresh perspective had uncovered possibilities no one had considered earlier.

Krishna then turned to Headmaster Khairul.

"This isn't my district," he said gently, "but we'll do our best to help."

He glanced at the photographs once more.

"Based on what I've seen..."

"...this should have been processed as an emergency repair."

Director Roshin gave a slight nod but remained silent.

The final decision still rested with him.

Amirshah switched to a video call.

Bon Sew's face appeared on the screen.

"Bon," Amirshah began, "I need clarification regarding the repair project at SK Rumpai Laut."

He turned the phone, revealing everyone seated at the table.

Director Roshin.

Datuk Seri Panglima Masidi Manjun.

Krishna and the PPDKB team.

Bon Sew's eyes widened.

Amirshah spoke calmly.

"PPDKB is consulting us."

"JPNS is reviewing the case."

"Help us understand what happened."

Headmaster Khairul held up the documents before the camera.

"These are the reports we submitted."

Back at PPDKK, Bon Sew quickly searched the case number in the district's system.

His fingers froze above the keyboard.

The project record appeared.

Repair completed: 15 December 2020.

He scrolled further.

Then came the moment of truth.

Nothing.

No new submission.

No follow-up report.

No record after 18 December 2020—the day the storm struck Sabah.

Silence filled both ends of the video call.

Krishna noticed the change in Headmaster Khairul's expression.

The headmaster slowly spoke.

"We submitted one."

Bon Sew looked up.

"...You did?"

"We sent another report after the storm."

Bon Sew searched again.

Still nothing.

Rozman leaned towards Izhan and whispered,

"Now this..."

"...is a top-tier query."

Izhan nodded.

"The report exists."

"...but not in the system."

The entire table fell silent.

Khairul spoke firmly.

"We sent photographs after the storm."

Bon Sew slowly shook his head.

"I never received them."

Silence.

Krishna held out his hand.

"The file."

Amirshah passed it to him.

Krishna studied the chronology.

"The contractor completed the repairs."

He turned another page.

"Then the storm hit."

Another page.

"The school submitted a second damage report."

He stopped.

His finger rested on the bottom corner of the document.

"...There's no receiving stamp."

Rozman leaned closer.

"So the report never entered the system."

Director Roshin gave a slow nod.

"The repair project wasn't ignored."

He closed the file.

"It disappeared within the administrative process."

No one spoke.

A single missing document...

...had left students learning beneath a temporary roof for months.

Director Roshin looked at Amirshah.

"Classify this as an emergency repair."

"Yes, sir."

"And include SK Rumpai Laut in the next phase of the dilapidated school development programme."

"Immediately."

Across the table, Headmaster Khairul finally let out the breath he had been holding.

For the first time in months...

Someone had listened.

After the event concluded that afternoon, Headmaster Khairul made his rounds.

He thanked Director Roshin, Datuk Seri Panglima Masidi Manjun, the PPDKK team, and finally the PPDKB trio.

"It may have been a consultation..."

"...but it gave us hope."

Amirshah then walked over to Krishna.

"Thanks for the consultation."

He glanced at Rozman and Izhan.

"You've got a great team, Kris."

Krishna blinked.

For years, he had quietly regarded Amirshah as a rival.

Apparently...

...the feeling had never gone both ways.

"It was nothing, Mir," Krishna replied. "Just doing my duty."

Rozman coughed.

"Directed by the Director."

Izhan covered her mouth, trying not to laugh.

Amirshah turned towards her.

"You're lucky to have mentors like them."

Before she could answer—

"She is."

Krishna answered a little too quickly.

Rozman immediately hooked an arm around his shoulder.

"Easy there, boss."

Amirshah leaned towards Izhan and whispered,

"Are they always like this?"

Izhan nodded with a straight face.

"As the permanent third wheel..."

"...I can confirm."

Amirshah burst into laughter.

Moments later, Bobo arrived with the freshly washed Fortuner.

"Ready to head home?"

The trio climbed aboard.

As the vehicle left the State Education Department, the afternoon sun slowly disappeared behind the hills.

One week later...

A Facebook post caught Krishna's attention.

Repair works begin at SK Rumpai Laut.

He quietly shared the news in the PPDKB group chat.

Krishna: Looks like the roof is finally going up.

Then, without another word, he printed the report.

It joined the growing collection inside his vault.

One case closed.

Many more remained.

Bonus: Amirshah's appearance