(Case One) The Vanishing of the Arabian Celestial Compass

The sunlight streaming through the doorway bathed the entire office in a golden glow. The door creaked open, and through the radiance, a massive, towering figure stepped in.

A strong, muscular man, his broad shoulders filling the frame, walked forward. As his face came into view, he flashed a wide grin.

"Yo, partner! How's it goin'?"

Ryo's shoulders slumped in disappointment. He had hoped—just for a second—that the wish from Dusty was coming true, that some new client had arrived.

But no. It was just him.

Ryo sighed. "Kaji… What do you want?"

Kaji took a step forward into Ryo's office, grinning like a kid in a candy store. "Fantasy-chan is here to play and hear more of your legendary jokes!"

Ryo shot him a deadpan look. "Are you seriously saying that right now? It's early morning. Don't you have your usual torturous morning training at the station?"

Kaji puffed out his chest proudly. "I skipped it!"

Ryo's eyes widened in horror. "ARE YOU THAT STUPID?! The chief is gonna kill you when he finds out!"

Kaji waved a hand dismissively. "Hahaha, it's fine—"

But then, his grin wavered. His expression turned more serious as he glanced behind him, outside the door.

"I might've come here goofing around at first…" he muttered, rubbing the back of his head. Then he stepped aside, revealing the silhouette of someone standing behind him. "But this lady right here—she needs something from yo…"

Before Kaji could finish his sentence—

"HEY, YOU USELESS, BIG, BULKY SON OF A WORM!"

A furious voice rang through the office, shaking the very walls.

Ryo nearly jumped out of his chair. Kaji flinched so hard he almost lost his balance.

The voice roared again. "IF YOU'RE HERE TO PLAY AROUND—"

The air tensed.

"THEN GET THE HELL OUTTA MY WAY!!!"

The entire building practically vibrated from the sheer force of the yell.

Papers on Ryo's desk rustled violently. Somewhere outside, birds scattered in terror.

Kaji, looking like a soldier caught in enemy fire, snapped into a perfect salute. "YES, MA'AM!!"

Without another word, he spun on his heel, speed-walked to his car, and jumped in like his life depended on it. As he revved the engine, he rolled down the window just enough to wave.

"Good luck, buddy! You're on your own!"

Then—VROOM!—he peeled out, his tires screeching as he sped away, fleeing the crime scene like a man running from an exorcism.

Ryo stared from his seat blankly at the dust cloud left behind.

"...The hell just happened?"

He barely had time to process before the woman stepped forward.

The sunlight continued to obscure her figure, making her a shadowy outline against the golden light. But as she strode in, her features became clear—and Ryo found himself momentarily speechless.

Long, dark hair cascaded past her shoulders, flowing like liquid midnight. Deep, almond-shaped eyes held a piercing intensity, filled with mystery and purpose. Her warm, golden-bronze skin seemed to glow in the light, smooth and flawless.

Her face was striking—high cheekbones, full lips, a gracefully defined nose. Every movement she made was deliberate, regal, yet effortlessly seductive.

She was adorned in elegant silks that draped over her slender yet well-toned frame, the fabrics shifting as she walked. The robes, in deep purples, shimmering golds, and dark blues, hugged her figure just enough to accentuate her curves.

And atop her head—a silver crown, adorned with sparkling gemstones.

Ryo, despite himself, gulped.

His thoughts scrambled.

Who the hell is this?

And more importantly—

Why did she feel like trouble?

The lady stormed toward Ryo's desk, her long silks flowing dramatically behind her. Without hesitation, she slammed her palm onto the wooden surface, causing the desk to rattle. A few loose papers fluttered to the floor.

She leaned in way too close, her piercing eyes wide with frustration, her voice an eerie whisper that gradually escalated.

"You'll take my case, right…? Right…? RIGHT?!"

Her fingers twitched slightly as her voice turned more manic. "You have no right to turn it down! You'll take it, won't you?! HUH?! RIGHT?!!"

Ryo immediately raised his hands like a man under interrogation, leaning back in his chair. His mind was screaming DANGER, DANGER!

"U-Uh, ma'am, p-please calm down for a second!" he stuttered.

The lady's eye twitched. "I AM CALM!! CAN'T YOU SEE IT ON MY FACE?!!"

Ryo nervously glanced at her expression.

That…doesn't look calm to me…

"Riiight," he muttered under his breath. Trying to de-escalate the situation before she decided to strangle him, he cleared his throat.

"Ma'am, please… take a seat. How about some tea? Let's, uh… chat about why you're here, shall we?"

She glared at him for a moment before she inhaled deeply.

Then exhaled.

Then inhaled again, longer this time.

Finally, she huffed and sat down with a flick of her robes. "Fine."

Ryo quickly served her some tea, his hands slightly shaking. "This blend is known to calm the inner soul and bring a sense of peace," he explained, subtly hoping she'd drink enough to tranquilize a horse.

She took a sip. Then another.

Then she sighed and finally relaxed, her expression softening.

"...Apologies for my tone," she said gracefully.

Ryo smiled, though his forehead was still slightly damp from nervous sweat. "It's okay. You must be dealing with something really frustrating, which is why you're here, right?"

She nodded, placing her teacup down with a quiet clink.

Ryo took a moment to examine her more closely. She definitely isn't from around here. Everything about her—the way she spoke, the way she carried herself—screamed royalty.

Curious, he flipped open his notebook, pen at the ready. "You seem to be a foreigner, ma'am. May I ask for your name and why you're here?"

She elegantly tilted her head, gazing at him with a mysterious glint in her eyes.

"My name is Shahira Al-Munir," she said smoothly. "I originate from the noble Kingdom of Al-Munira."

Ryo blinked.

Shahira Al-what now?

He resisted the urge to whistle. Now that's a name…

His thoughts raced. Is she Middle Eastern? And… wait, she said 'kingdom'? Like, an actual monarchy?

Shahira's expression turned solemn.

Her voice dropped to a grave tone.

"My kingdom is currently facing a serious problem," she began. "We guard an ancient artifact known as The Celestial Compass. It was crafted by an ancient Jinn—an entity of immense power. For centuries, it remained locked away in our vaults, hidden from the world."

Ryo nodded, listening intently.

But then—

"It has vanished."

A chill ran down his spine.

Shahira's eyes darkened. "This artifact is not a treasure. It is a curse." Her fingers tightened around the teacup. "It must remain sealed—for the safety of the world."

Ryo suddenly felt like the temperature in the room had dropped.

Shahira continued, her voice laced with urgency. "If it falls into the wrong hands, the consequences will be catastrophic. The Compass serves as a guide to the Dark Realm—a world teeming with ancient, malevolent spirits."

The room felt eerily quiet.

"If these spirits are unleashed…" she whispered, her eyes cold as steel.

She leaned in, her next words almost a breath.

"The world will drown in a tide of nightmares."

The silence that followed was suffocating.

Ryo's grip on his pen tightened.

And then—

Plop.

His pen slipped from his fingers and hit the floor.

He sat there, staring blankly at Shahira like a man who just had his brain forcefully rebooted.

His mouth twitched. His face was frozen in a mix of shock and disbelief.

Shahira arched a brow.

Ryo slowly, very slowly, bent down to retrieve his pen.

Then he looked back up at her, his eye twitching.

"Ma'am...I'm sorry. Could you, uh, repeat that? Because that definitely sounded like some ancient-doomsday-prophecy-type stuff, and I wanna make sure I didn't just hallucinate."

Shahira let out a deep, tired sigh and facepalmed.

"Sigh… Of course. You're no different than the others."

Ryo blinked, confused. "What? What do you mean?"

She crossed her arms, her golden eyes narrowing with frustration. "Hmph! You just made that 'what-the-hell-is-this-person-saying' face. You don't believe me. Well, it's understandable… and it's not the first time."

Ryo tilted his head. "Not the first time?"

Shahira exhaled sharply, shaking her head. "I've been asking for help from the police, the military, scientists, even other detective agencies. I've traveled to multiple countries, seeking aid from their law enforcements."

Her fingers clenched around the fabric of her robe. "Even here in Japan… the police just shoved me away, not believing a single word I said."

Ryo scratched the back of his head. "I mean… their reaction does make sense. What you're saying does sound like something straight out of a fantasy movie."

Shahira suddenly leaned forward, her voice smooth yet chilling.

"Because it is fantasy."

Ryo blinked. "...Huh?"

Then—BAM!

Shahira slammed her fist onto Ryo's desk, her expression furious.

"WHICH IS WHY IT'S A DAMN PROBLEM!!"

Ryo nearly jumped out of his chair. "U-Uh… Ma'am…?"

Shahira clenched her teeth, her eyes wild with frustration. "Do you have any idea how many times I've asked for help? How many places I've traveled to?!"

Her hands flew to her head as her voice cracked with raw emotion.

"No one believes me! They all think I'm some delusional woman who needs to be locked up in a mental hospital!"

Her voice grew more frantic. "I've been searching for someone—anyone—who would listen, who would help!"

Her breaths became uneven. "Four months… Four months of wandering, begging for help, only to be turned away every single time…!"

Ryo sat frozen, watching as Shahira's strong, regal posture finally crumbled.

Her fists trembled. Her shoulders shook. And then…

Tears slipped down her cheeks.

Her voice came out softer now—weak, defeated.

"My people have tried… but even we can't find it." Her hands clutched at her chest. "We're all so lost, fearing that we'd eventually meet our doom… I don't know what to do anymore."

For a moment, the office was filled with nothing but her quiet sobs.

Ryo looked up at her, eyes filled with something he rarely let himself feel—pity.

Ryo starts remembering the supernatural event last night, even though he still thinks it's a dream.

He exhaled, his gaze sharpening with determination.

Then, he spoke.

"Ma'am… before I decide to believe you or not, I want you to prove it."

Shahira hastily wiped away her tears. "Prove what?"

Ryo leaned forward, eyes locked onto hers. "This thing called 'fantasy'—magic, supernatural stuff—does it really exist? You claim your kingdom has it, right?"

Shahira remained silent for a moment.

Then, with a slow, deliberate movement, she reached down toward her left thigh, where a concealed scabbard rested.

In one fluid motion, she unsheathed a dagger—its blade gleaming under the windows' sunlight.

Before Ryo could react, she thrust it forward, stopping just inches from his face.

Ryo flinched back, his chair tilting as he barely avoided the tip.

"Whoa—!"

Then—

The blade shimmered.

From its edge, a stream of water emerged, swirling around it in a hypnotic spiral.

The liquid moved like a living entity, coiling and shifting, defying gravity. Light refracted through it, casting eerie, dancing reflections around the room.

Ryo's breath hitched. His wide eyes were locked onto the dagger doing its magic, his heart pounding in awe.

The water spun faster, forming intricate patterns in mid-air, then—with a flick of her wrist—it collapsed back onto the blade, vanishing as if it had never been there.

A heavy silence filled the air.

Ryo's hands trembled slightly.

"...Wo…wo…wow…"

A slow, confident smirk curved Shahira's lips.

"So, Mr. Detective…" she purred, tilting her head.

"Do you believe me now?"

Still stunned by the incredible display, Ryo sat frozen for a moment.

"W...we...well..." he stammered, still processing what he'd just seen. "I guess I gotta believe you now."

Then, with a cautious look at the blade still dangerously close to his face, he cleared his throat.

"And ma'am, no need to shove your blade in my face. You can put it away now... please."

Shahira smirked, clearly satisfied, and smoothly sheathed her dagger. She then sat back down, crossing one leg over the other.

"Glad to hear that, Mr. Detective."

Ryo let out a quiet sigh of relief and grabbed his notebook and pen again.

In his mind: Looks like I gotta talk like some guy with eighth-grader syndrome now...

He adjusted his posture and asked, "Alright, I wanna ask—how does this artifact, this 'Celestial Compass,' actually function? I mean... it's been four months, and nothing planet-destroying has happened yet, so what gives?"

Shahira's expression darkened, her eyes sharp. "It guides you to a place... or rather, a gate. The fact that nothing catastrophic has happened yet means the compass hasn't activated."

Ryo tapped his pen against the desk. "Activated? What do you mean by that?"

"Like I said," Shahira continued, "it guides you to a gate. But when I say 'not activated,' I mean the compass hasn't moved its needle to point the thief in the right direction yet."

Ryo quickly pieced everything together. "So what you're saying is... after the compass was stolen, the thief hasn't been able to make its needle move? Which means... they still can't find this so-called hidden gate to unleash whatever nightmare creatures are on the other side, right?"

Shahira blinked, then smiled, clearly impressed. "Oh? You already figured it out? No wonder you're a detective."

Ryo chuckled, spinning his pen between his fingers. "Nah, it's thanks to a certain rambling nerd named Fantasy-chan, I've got way too much knowledge on this kinda stuff."

Shahira raised a brow. "Fantasy-chan?"

Ryo coughed awkwardly. "Uh… never mind, ma'am…"

Shahira gave him a strange look but let it slide.

Ryo continued, "So where do you think the compass is now? You said you and your people weren't able to find it. Does that mean it's been smuggled out of your country?"

Shahira's expression turned serious. "No. That's impossible."

Ryo frowned. "Why is that?"

"Our borders are tightly controlled. Our kingdom is surrounded by the sea, and our airport security is among the strictest in the world."

She leaned forward slightly. "We searched everything—cargo ships, private planes, even diplomatic bags. There has been no sign of smuggling or any unauthorized escape. In fact... no one has left the country since the incident to prevent any suspicious escape."

Ryo paused, tapping his pen against his notebook. "So it's still in your country... meaning, the thief is trapped inside as well."

Shahira nodded. "Exactly."

Ryo scribbled down a few notes, then looked up. "You keep saying 'kingdom'... but where exactly is your country?"

Shahira lifted her chin slightly. "My kingdom, Al-Munira, is located 600 kilometers west off the coast of Morocco."

Ryo's eyes widened. "I've never even heard of such a country before."

Shahira let out a small, knowing smile. "Most people haven't. Only billionaires abroad know about us. They come to us for lavish business deals and exclusive trade opportunities."

Ryo leaned back in his chair, exhaling.

"A hidden kingdom, an ancient doomsday magical artifact, and a thief lurking somewhere inside a sealed-off country..." He rubbed his temples. "Yeah, this is totally normal. Nothing fantasy-like at all."

As Ryo sat there processing everything, a sudden memory flashed in his mind—the strange-looking cat, Dusty had once told him about hidden lands.

His eyes widened in realization. "Wait... could it be—"

Before he could finish his sentence, Shahira suddenly reached out and grabbed his hand, boldly pulling him toward her. Her face was so close that, for a split second, it almost looked like she was about to kiss him.

But instead, she spoke in a demanding tone. "Go and pack your bags and ready your passport, Mr. Detective."

Ryo blinked in confusion. "Huh? What do you mean?"

Shahira flashed a confident smile. "We're flying to my country right now. My private jet is ready."

Ryo's jaw dropped. "Now?... Wait, wait, wait—we haven't even finished talking!"

Shahira's smile took on a darker edge as she let out an eerie giggle, showing how desperate she is for help. "If you don't come with me right now... I'll stick my dagger up your butt."*

Ryo gulped as a cold sweat formed on his forehead. "Uhh… okay…"

He wasted no time and quickly packed his clothes, weapons, and all the necessities. Within minutes, they were in a luxurious limousine, heading toward the airport.

Ryo's eyes widened in shock as he glanced around the sleek interior, complete with golden accents and plush leather seats. "This... is a freakin' palace on wheels..." he muttered in disbelief.

Shahira, sipping on a glass of expensive wine, smirked. "What, never been in a limo before, Detective?"

Ryo, still fidgeting awkwardly, scratched the back of his head. "S-So... fancy. Ah ha ha ha..."

Upon arriving at the airport, Ryo's shock didn't end. A massive, high-tech private jet awaited them. The crew members bowed as Shahira walked up the steps, and Ryo—still trying to process how his life had escalated to this—hesitantly followed.

Once they were seated inside the extravagant jet, Ryo exhaled, sinking into the ridiculously comfortable seat.

Shahira, sitting next to him, leaned in close, her lips curling into a beautiful smirk. "I look forward to seeing your investigation skills in action..."

Then, before she finished her sentence, she leaned into his ear and whispered in a sultry tone, "Detective Ryo..."

Ryo's face turned slightly red. "H-Hey! Too close!"

Shahira chuckled as she leaned back, clearly enjoying teasing him.

After a grueling 14-hour flight, they finally arrived in Al-Munira.

As Ryo stepped off the plane and onto the foreign land, he took in the sight before him—a breathtaking golden city surrounded by pristine waters, towering sandstone palaces, and bustling streets filled with people dressed in luxurious silks and ornate jewelry. The air was thick with the scent of exotic spices and flowers, and the sound of distant Arabian music filled the atmosphere.

Ryo let out a long breath. "Well… this is definitely my first weird case…"