"Huh? Nep's not here?"

Confusion filled IF's voice as the oracle of Planeptune gave her rather shocking news. Neptune hadn't been kidnapped, she hadn't been wounded, and she hadn't been forced out of the Basilicom. The most unheard of thing to have happen had actually happened; Neptune went out on her own to get some work from the guild. "How'd you even manage to get her to go do her own work?"

Histoire shrugged. "I haven't a clue why she decided to do work herself. She just woke up, ate her breakfast, grabbed Nepgear, and told her they were going to do some quests. I for one certainly welcome the change in Neptune's work attitude. Would you like to come inside for some tea?" The small girl floating on top of her book moved to the side and made a welcoming motion inside. IF gladly accepted, figuring it would be best to talk with Histoire about some of the recent issues that Planeptune had been having with some outlaws.

Entering the room that the girls usually hung around in and taking a seat in one of the comfy chairs surrounding a table, IF yawned, closed her eyes, and rested her head back. Histoire, who had just entered the room with a pot of tea and a few cups resting on her book, took notice of the girl's tiredness. "Is everything alright, IF?" The oracle asked.

IF opened both of her eyes and glanced towards Histoire before sitting up and responding. "Yeah, I'm fine. I've just been a bit tired recently with all the shenanigans going on around here recently with that new group of felons. Speaking of which, would you mind talking about that now? I figure now's a decent time to share any information we know."

Histoire nodded, setting down the tea set on the table. "Why yes, of course. Let me pour us some tea first." The small oracle grabbed the handle on the pot and lifted it up. Or rather, the oracle tried to lift it. Her small frame would not allow her to lift something of that size.

IF watched Histoire struggle to pick up the pot, fighting her urge to giggle as she smirked. After a few more moments of watching the girl fruitlessly lift the tea, IF moved her hand to pick up the container herself. "Don't worry, I got it. Just tell me what you've found out."

After taking a breath to recover, Histoire started to tell IF of the recent information she had obtained. "Not too much is known about this new organization besides that it is named LiWa, and they're distributing chips previously used and given out by ASIC members."

Finishing pouring the cup of tea meant for Histoire, IF thought to herself for a few seconds with an inquisitive hum. Her eyes widened as she had a moment of realization. "That makes sense then. According to information I have, they're two former ASIC members that are trying to revive the group. I'm guessing that the 'Wa' part of the name is based on that rat Warechu's name, but that makes me wonder who forms the other part? The only other member I can think of is the Underling, but Un isn't in the group name."

Histoire shrugged. IF shrugged back. The two grabbed their cups of tea and took a sip. "Histoire, I'm home!" A familiar voice called out, breaking the silence between the two. Looking towards the doorway, IF saw the less lazy lilac-haired girl of Planeptune Nepgear enter.

"Heya Gear, where's Nep?" IF questioned curiously, knowing that Neptune and Nepgear had both gone out questing.

Nepgear shyly giggled. "She… saw one of the places she regularly gets pudding at had a new flavor so she just bolted off without me."

IF shook her head and sighed. "Typical Nep for ya." After offering another chuckle to IF, Nepgear left to go to her room and get changed out of the clothing she'd gotten dirt on due to combat. IF took another sip of tea.

…Before spitting out half and almost choking on the other half as Neptune burst through the door carrying several bags filled with pudding. "Oh Histy, I'm hoooOOOOME!" IF had nearly fallen out of her chair in shock, while the Planeptune oracle looked completely unfazed and unamused.

"I'm glad to see you've returned Neptune, but why did you buy so much pudding?" Histoire asked, both happy that Neptune had actually done some work and annoyed that she had purchased an obscene amount of pudding.

"Isn't it obvious Histy? I just did a bunch of work and boy, I am huuungry!" Neptune responded joyfully, setting her bags of pudding down on the table next to the tea. "I've gotta make sure I'm properly nourished in order to maintain my solo quest capable form! I'm a strong independent Planeptune CPU and I don't need no help!" One of IF's eyes twitched. Neptune went off and did a single quest without her and now she was acting all high and mighty. Neptune had even brought Nepgear along, so it wasn't even a solo quest! Oh well, Nep was Nep.

One of IF's nine phones rang, breaking her train of thought and grabbing her attention. IF took the phone out of its holster and looked at the message. Taking the last sip from her small cup of tea, IF turned to look at Histoire. "Thanks for letting me stop by Histoire. I'll be heading out now to see if I can find anymore dirt on LiWa. One of my sources just gave me a tip on where something might be happening. Apparently something strange is happening down in Leanbox."

Histoire smiled lightly and nodded in response. "Of course, IF. Come by anytime. I'll be wishing you good luck on your search."

Meanwhile, Neptune pouted and grumbled like a child not getting dessert after dinner. "Oh come on Iffy, I just got here! I'm not gonna wanna do anymore work if you just leave every time I come back!"

A chuckle and shake of the head came from IF as she saw the CPU plead. "Maybe some other time Nep, right now I've got some important business to attend to." Neptune didn't like that answer at all, but she could at least respect it.

IF was stopped one more time as she got ready to open the door. "Hold on a sec IF!" Nepgear called out as she ran down the hallway. She stopped a few feet away from IF before revealing why she had stopped the mercenary. "You said you were going to Leanbox, right?" IF nodded, prompting the candidate to continue. "In that case, do you mind if I come with you? I hear there's some kind of new glasses technology that Macrosoft is showcasing and I'd love to see it. I heard that in one demonstration they controlled a robot and moved virtual furniture around a room!" Stars started to form in Nepgear's eyes. It was easy to see that she was excited for this (especially the robot part).

"S-Sure Nepgear, I don't mind at all." IF responded to an overly excited Nepgear. "Just keep in mind that when we get there I'll be doing guild work, and it'd be nice if you could help me out when I do start to-"

A loud shout came from the other side of the room, interrupting IF. "WAAAAAAAIT!" startled, IF and Nepgear both turned to face the shouting CPU. "If Nepgear goes to Leanbox, Vert is gonna to try and get her sister-stealing hands all over Nepgear! She'll even resort to the big guns," Neptune paused for effect, "Inappropriate coddling!"

The two girls looking at Neptune sighed. "Don't worry about it Nep, I won't let Vert brainwash your sister."

Neptune stared at IF for a moment, making sure that she didn't have any signs on her face saying that she was scheming with Vert all along. "Alright alright, but make sure Vert doesn't try anything funny with Nepgear! At all! If I hear of anybody coddling my lovely wittle bitty sister I'll be peeved! I'll be so mad that I'd say…" Neptune trailed off, thinking of what word to use. "BEGOUCH! Yeah!"

IF smirked and stifled a laugh. After reassuring Neptune one more time that Vert wouldn't get too personal with her hugs with Nepgear, the lilac-haired CPU and brunette mercenary duo started to make their way to Leanbox.

Travelling the road with Nepgear, IF pondered on what the future had in store. One thing especially stuck on her mind was Neptune's new work attitude. It was, reasonably, a major surprise that Neptune was doing her own work for once. Though she was happy for the slacker, she couldn't help but be concerned for her own selfish reasoning. With Neptune not coming to her and begging for help, IF would have quite a bit more time on her hands that she didn't know what to do with. Well, she assumed that currently the newfound time would go straight into her work hours, but she wondered what she would do afterwards.

A phrase was stuck to IF's mind for some reason. "I'm a strong, independent Planeptune CPU and I don't need no help!" The brunette pondered over those words again and again and again. With that attitude, IF hoped Neptune didn't get overly confident and rush into something she shouldn't.