ACCA: 13-Territory Inspection Dept. (ACCA13区監察課)

Rise and shine!

This is your morning report with the Badon News Station.

Our top story: His Majesty the King,

seen here addressing the public from Dowa Castle,

celebrates turning ninety-nine years young today.

Huh? I had no idea he was that old.

...including several events in Dowa itself.

Guess it goes to show ya how peaceful this country is.

Better hurry, bro.

You'll be late if you don't move it.

Yeah, yeah.

That reminds me, Lotta.

I have a business trip today.

Wha--? And you wait till now to tell me this?

How am I supposed to get your things ready?

Safe travels.

I expect you to bring me a souvenir.

Mm-hmm.

Oh! Your cigarette case.

Can't leave home without your signature prop.

"Jean the Cigarette Peddler."

Hey, Jean...

Can you bum me a smoke?

Get a load of the smoker.

Wow, someone's livin' the high life.

All right, people.

Fresh from Hachi-kuma on third avenue,

today's ten o'clock snack is roll cake!

Yeah!

It's not quite ten yet, but so what?

Ah, morning, Chairman.

Care for some delicious roll cake?

I'll indulge once it's ten o'clock.

Sorry, Deputy Chief,

I heard you'd be out so I didn't get you any.

You look like something's wrong.

Our department's 'bout to be shut down.

Huh?

Not that you need reminding, I'm sure,

but as you're aware, the Dowa Kingdom

is a federation comprised of thirteen autonomous districts.

Along with various other agencies

vital to the civic health of this kingdom,

ACCA was designed to function independently of the state.

It shares this in common with law enforcement,

medical, fire...

In fact a whole host of agencies it is ACCA's job to oversee,

thus facilitating their autonomy as constituents

of the federation.

I don't have to tell you that we here at ACCA Headquarters

take our duty as administrative watchdog quite seriously.

But might I ask you gentlemen

the ACCA Inspection Department's mandate?

Well, sir, we monitor and regulate the operations

of each branch, of course.

Precisely.

Your department was created roughly a century ago

in a time of significant political unrest.

Its primary function was to keep a close eye

on the outlying districts.

Inspectors were stationed at each ACCA branch

to supervise the flow and distribution of data

at a granular level.

Senior officials conducted random audits

to ensure the process's integrity.

My point being... your department's purpose arose

in response to civic instability.

Therefore...

We're being canned. Makes sense, I suppose.

Guess we all knew it'd happen eventually, right?

What can you do? We're obsolete.

It is unfortunate we'll be split up, though.

Say it isn't so!

Oh, and Jean.

You're still going out today.

Huh?

Good luck. The next flight leaves in 'bout half an hour.

The Inspection Department has been notified

of their termination.

Thank you.

ACCA will move forward without Inspection.

And we're certain this was a smart move?

The budget needs streamlining.

We're simply trimming the excess fat.

That's all this is.

Interesting point of view.

The Inspection Department has always ensured

things were above-board.

They kept us honest. Is that your idea of excessive?

They're only necessary in uncertain times.

A good inspector helps smooth out regional operations

even when, for all intents and purposes,

the country's doing well.

And they've done an admirable job.

But right now Headquarters needs to demonstrate its trust

in the outlying districts.

Trust?

Well, what's done is done.

We can assess the backlash later, if there is any.

Excuse me.

Anyone else find they can breathe a lot easier

when that man leaves the room?

Land as far as the eye can see.

This place is huge.

Bet you're thinking this is the middle of nowhere.

Not many folks out n' about now that the harvest is over.

Guess not.

We're mostly an agricultural district, y'see.

Take a guess how much of the nation's produce

comes out of Famasu... Ninety percent!

Can you believe it?

Impressive.

Pretty low crime rate too, I'm told.

Absolutely!

The residents are super nice. Couldn't ask for an easier job.

D'you like it here?

You bet!

Good. Glad it's so cushy.

Too bad we're getting shut down at the end of the month.

What?!

Watch the road, will ya?

What do you mean we're getting shut down?

It was bound to happen sooner or later.

Our department's a fossil.

Blame the peace and prosperity.

You had to know the other shoe was gonna drop

at some point.

Not so much, actually.

So what happens to us afterwards?

Well, you're a supervisor.

I'm sure you'll land on your feet.

The people I work with are like family!

I can't just give 'em the axe!

Let's grab the check, huh?

And just so you know,

technically my job includes evaluating subordinates.

Go over our stuff with a fine-tooth comb.

You won't find anything out of line.

I'll give you this much.

You people are organized.

On to the next stop.

Wait a sec... There's a little bit of business

I need to take care of while the branch director's on duty.

Still cartin' around those random

catalogs, Otus?

Well I'll be damned.

Feel free to hold on to the ones you like.

Yeah. Donut vending machines... you don't say?

That's a keeper.

Whatever helps pass the time, am I right?

So, uh... what was that about?

A company president I know asked me to do it.

Well... station rounds tomorrow, I suppose.

Ugh. It'll take forever.

This district is enormous.

What's the matter?

HQ.

Hey, Deputy Chief!

Don't forget to bring us presents!

Yeah, yeah.

Is Knot around?

What can I do for ya?

I need to take a look at the data logs for Famasu

and their inspector shift records.

Yeah. Sure thing.

Thank you.

Here, look at October third.

Um, 'kay.

The time stamp for your west station's data transfer

is off by five minutes.

Weird it's only the one day, yeah?

Yep, this data's been tampered with.

You've got to be kidding me!

Uh, I mean, how so?

How far to the west station from here?

By plane? About an hour n' a half.

Then we still have time.

This is sort of unexpected.

Especially with His Majesty's birthday festivities

in full swing.

This won't take long.

Are Constables Maiïs and Beets here?

I don't imagine so.

Municipal festivals tend to be high tide

for black market deals.

On October third, following an anonymous tip,

the constables conducted a warehouse search

on the outskirts of this district.

But there's no record of the search; care to explain?

See, I'm inclined to think they caught

some unlicensed tobacco dealers in action,

and in exchange for turning a blind eye,

agreed to take a cut of all future trade.

The shift logs would have to be changed to cover their tracks,

so naturally they'd turn to the one person

with the clearance to fudge the numbers.

What exactly are you suggesting?

Last I checked, compiling all shift data

and forwarding the records to HQ fall under

your job description.