So Here's What We Know [Julian, Makoto, Elyss]

Julian supposed he ought to be thankful, given the situation, that they had been able to recover as much information as they had. As it stood, what Elyss had brought back had been significant, at least enough so that he could cross-reference it with records sent to him by Lux Orior. There were thankfully rather few mercenaries who had served both in Iceland and in America, and most of those who had were still easily found on Earth, generally in locations far from the trail they had been hunting.

Only a single name, and a single news clipping, remained as a lead.

Organizing the last of his notes, Julian set copies of the full brief onto the table at which he sat, within the tea shop where he had first brought Makoto. He assumed that his squadmates would surely have received his summons by now, and so until they arrived all he could do was wait. After all, he needed not worry about anyone else entering this place.

"Why are we back here?"

Makoto asked while walking in, fashionably early as she normally tried to be. It was a familiar sight given she met Julian here but there was the issue that she had no idea what she was doing here given that Makoto had assumed that they'd all be leaning back to going to the World of the Living.

She didn't wait for an explanation, it was a rhetorical question while she looked at the file thoughtfully. Anticipating the point when he'd hand it to her. Where was the other one? The one she didn't like her.

"A pleasure to see both of you, as well."

Julian was quite aware that neither of his comrades seemed especially pleased to be here. However, he also did not care in the slightest. They could complain when the job was finished, it didn't matter to him.

"I'll cut directly to the chase, to avoid wasting any time. I have a lead for the two of you to follow. One of our chief remaining suspects is proving most difficult to find, but in my search I've come across something very interesting."

Sliding his own copy of the file's news report forward so that the two of them could see, he laid a finger on one of the portraits it carried with it, a small girl with platinum, pink-shaded hair.

"I don't suspect either of you read Ukrainian, but one Abalia Isaenko was slain approximately 20 years ago under the watch of one Roman Dufresne. I suspect it is no coincidence that we would find two names relevant to our search in this single place."

Sipping his tea, Julian then brought out a copy of another picture, a young woman who, even at a glance, resembled the Captain Commander, if a bit younger, with more energy behind her eyes.

"This is deceased young girl's sister. I've included the location of their family home. I imagine she would likely have more information for us, but be mindful of something during your travels. This young lady, apart from being a sovereign of this nomadic people, recently married with the acting Prime Minister of Vastime. I find it curious that such information would not have, at some point or another, crossed Abalia's desk. I will not immediately presume that they have hidden it from her, but it is worth keeping in consideration."

"Thank you for the clarification, sir."

She did appreciate his translation of it. Makoto wasn't particularly familiar with most earth languages, it'd be nice if they could all speak just one language like how it was up here in Soul Society. Well, for the most part. Most people came up speaking Japanese, the poor tourists that died and got brought up here didn't really find it as easy to begin with she imagined. You know, like Julian's wife.

"You think the Vastiminans withheld information like this from their own sovereign? Damn nobles..."

Sounds like something nobility would do. Mislead their sovereign and hope they made a nice little puppet figurehead, one would hardly believe that she was the student to the Head of a Great Noble Family who she cared a lot about but the fact she was a noble had nothing to do with that. In fact, the way she was so different to a typical noble was the one of the reasons that she liked her so much.

"So this guy is our best lead you think? Where do we find him? Should we have Abalia coerce the Tsunasyashiro and their surveillance resources to assist? Though I believe Kumanai already relinquished those to her... Which should make it a lot easier if we can surveil the realms for him and then..."

And then what? How did this guy even have the missing parts of Abalia's soul? Was it inside him? Did he have it stored somewhere safe? What if it was tucked away in a hidden place where he'd never give up the location to. This would be a real pain if that was the case. What kind of sicko would just keep his murder victim's soul on his person though like some memento?

"I will not cast accusations one way or another. While I would not be terribly surprised, I think it is worthwhile to acknowledge that we have precious few leads on this matter, and perhaps they have equally few. I, personally, would not think that this small bit of information would be enough to bring to her attention, not without the context of what Elyss has brought from our American outpost."

Julian could only shrug off the question of Vastime's involvement in this matter, and he frankly considered it more or less irrelevant. He had already looked through those records he was able to access from Vastime, and they had proven of little help. Wasting any further time on it would be fruitless.

"I believe making our search so straightforward is an application of resources too wide for this, and would likely draw such significant attention as to make our efforts at secrecy a lost cause. This man has managed to evade any notice long before this, even as he engages with what are, by all accounts, major events in the world. I do, however, agree with Elyss in that the best course of action is to return to the scene itself. The two of you ought to go and speak with this sister. I will stay here and continue to access what intelligence I am able. If there is anything I find which you ought know, I will send a hell butterfly without delay."

Closing his folder and pouring another cup of tea for himself, Julian rubbed his eyes, rather unable to hide his own exhaustion. While his dear wife did push him to take care of himself, this was a time sensitive matter that he could not afford to let pass him by. He had run himself rather ragged of late.

"Very well. We'll do that."

Makoto said in her monotone nature, eyeing off Elyss though it was a lot more thoughtful than she often looked at Elyss with. She was just thinking about somethings which weren't related but her head was still on the straight and narrow with this assignment.

"Roman is a highed gun right? I agree it's hard to hunt him as pursuers. Why would it be hard to make him come to us though? If we put a decent sum of cash up for a job maybe we could lure him out, one of us could even make a fine target as we are all profiled officers of the Gotei United. It would just mean that we'd need someone who was unaffilated with us to draw him in if we used ourselves as bait. If we did not create a job out of nothing."

She thought it was sound though risky. Just something to consider while the two of them departed to Ukraine to meet Abalia's sister, she did wonder a lot about that. What kind of woman she'd be.

"I think that is a good plan. Elyss is correct that it would be best to collect whatever information we can from this young woman about him before we go through with it, but I will speak to Abalia about the necessary funds and begin coordinating a bit of false paperwork. Elyss is correct that she would likely be the best candidate."

It wasn't really meant as an insult or anything, Julian simply wasn't the sort to mince words when the matter was as important as this. He couldn't exactly help but offer a small, almost apologetic smile in return at Elyss' recommendation for him.

"I ought to, yes. I think my own end of this assignment has reached the point where I can do little but wait for results, so I suppose I will do my best to refresh myself. That is not to say that I will be any less available should you require my assistance, of course. This assignment does take precedence over my immediate well-being."

Leaning back in a gesture of sheer exhaustion, rather than any real relaxation, Julian studied the two women before him briefly, before speaking once more.

"Do be careful down there, both of you. Even if Earth is ostensibly in a time of relative peace, there is always some danger or another down there. If I can offer anything else before you depart, please let me know."